ctarantino

I'm now 6 days post op and every day I wake I feel better and soooooo happy I did this! Definitely needed my tool back. Minimal pain, I'm off all pain meds. I take Carafate acid reducer and reflux meds and nausea meds on occasion. I haven't gone # 2 and have taken colace so today gonna bring out the big guns (dulcolax) and hopefully poop. ((Sorry tmi))) ???????? backed up my belly is still beyond swollen, but can feel I'm losing weight. I'm sipping Water and Protein Shake by day. At night I sit with the family and have my broth and a 1/4c tea before bed. So complaints here and so happy this is behind me!!! Happy Sleeve day to others and my revision sisters!!! ????????????????????

I had a MAJOR slip last Saturday, 18th. I went to the gym in the morning was fine. By 3pm I started to get a dull ache, went away and I thought it was cramps but by 6pm it came back and I was in pain! Lower left abdomen, go to belly button then follow to front side under ribs. I didn't suspect band and was surprised, sad, and shocked!!!
CATscan revealed the major slip, lapband cut out to save my stomach from dying.
Please go to ER or call your dr. they said I was lucky my stomach was being strangled, it takes time for band to slip but pain comes on and can be serious. It may be a slip but may not, best of luck!!

Add me too! I'm ctarantino512. I need support!!!

Worked out everyday for 8 days now! I've been to the gym 7/8 I had to stay home cause of snowstorm and no babysitting at gym but I'm in it to win it! Keep up all the great work everyone!!!

Hello fellow August 11 Banders!!!!
Checking in after all this time!!! How is everyone?
I just completed my first half marathon on Subday. I can't believe my old post as a newbie runner starting C25K to running 13.1 miles. It's been amazing and I've taken my goal and surpassed it. Weight wise, health wise, physically, mentally, I'm living a normal life. I gym 3-4 days a week, and started crossfit training.
I started at 236 pounds and my lowest was 128 back in April. I now go between 130-140. I'm still trying to follow rules, I had the band loosened due to reflux and bad heartburn so trying to control portions. Still logging on MFP for almost 2 years. I hope everyone has stories to share good or bad and trust me there's been struggles here n there. It's getting through with help n support. My Best to all Banders!!! :-)

Hello banders! I really want to start checking in and hope everyone out there is doing well. I feel this board helps me so much and when I can look back to the begining when I was just banded helps too!
I am now officially down 60lbs. its funny, it doesnt seem like a lot but when I type it now and look at that numbers I guess it is.
I completed the couch to 5 k program today, just in time too, I have a 5K this Sunday at JFK airport here in NY. I am so ready to do it and I set this goal for myself a long time ago and started the C25K program the day before Thanksgiving. I had a few hiccups with the program at week 3 and 6 but stuck with it and feel I am ready. I actually run a steady 3 miles now for almost 2 weeks.
I hope everyone is good out there and if you are reading this check in, we all need support, even if we are doing good or some not good, we all go off and have to get back on. Let's check in and help each other...anyone???? lol :ph34r:

I've been losing quite a bit the last few weeks. I'm not sure why. But all of a sudden I started losing something almost every day. A half a pound here another pound there I lost I lost weight everyday for about two weeks. One thing that Helped was getting a friend to be accountable to. He doesn't have a weight problem himself. He is just someone who's really anxious to help me. It's been a huge difference and I started exercising more. Maybe I actually will join the gym if he'll go with me. I hate to go to the gym alone.
I've now lost about 54 pounds. I started at 376 and I'm down to 323.4. I got a fill this week, but it didn't seem to make any difference. My surgeon was a little upset that I waited so long to get another fill. I haven't gotten one since December. So I think I'll go back next week or two and get another feel because I simply can eat too much. But I have to say I'm not nearly as hungry as I used to be.

If you want to count calories, I recommend my fitness pal. I swore I'd never be a calorie counter, but now I'm very conscientious about it. It makes you accountable to yourself and allows you to realize what you are putting in your body. Stuff everyone always told me, I just had to be ready for it.
If you join, my username is corilinn. Friend me, I'd be more than happy to cheer for you!

Im doing my first banded 5K Apil 15th. How do you carb up before a run bring banded? I cant really eat any carbs so Im wondering what to eat leading up to my run and the night before?? Any info will be helpful THANKS SO MUCH!! :-)

Remember, your body can only process like 20-25 g Protein at a time, so doing a lot at once isn't going to help. I drink an powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury chocolate splendor shake in the morning- it does taste like chocolate milk to me- they have a sample pack with 2 chocolate, 2 vanilla, 2 strawberry, 2 unflavored and 2 chicken broth you can buy at unjury.com. I tried a bunch, this is my fave.
I also eat greek yogurt, it has a lot of Protein, and eat canned chicken or tuna (mix with a little no-fat mayo if you need it moist). I don't have any problems getting in my protein with these tips. I also keep track with my fitness pal, a free app on my android phone (not sure about iPhone). It lets me log all my food and exercise, and keeps track of my nutrients. Easy to track protein that way!

Hello August bander!! How is everyone? Its 6 months today I got my band. I have been doing well and loving the band (sometimes) It is kinda tight and I like it like that, it helps me make the right decision to eat. Old habits or you can say bad habits are hard to break. I log my food everyday on my fitness pal, I look for help and advice from friends or family when I struggle. I was never a Breakfast person and now with the band I find I dont like to eat breakfast so I have a Protein Shake every morning. I try any and all shakes and usually stick with the Isopure, 2 splenda in a blender. lunch is usually Chobani with some Protein granola in it, by lunch I have usually had my protein for the day. dinner is always different. Meals I enjoy CHILI always is good, chicken depending on how its cooked,turkey sausage keilbasa with kraut, I love the crockpot and try to mix up meals in there. Crock cooking helps because my daughter is 3.5 and son is 17 months doesnt leave me much time to do much when I am home with them and my husbands days off rotate so im alone and not always easy and by the time I get them in bed it is almost 8:30/9pm and I'm done by then!!!! I started couch to 5k, I was religious with it but its been cold and I have weened off a lil in the following weeks. Since my husband leaves for work by 6am I have to be up and dressed to run by 5/5:15AM if I wanna get it in. I have been doing it usually 3 days per week and go to the gym once a week to get in a Zumba class. I love it and lots of fun! The weight was slowly coming off and I am happy with that. i am still not done and still a work in progress LOL I have lost 49 pounds and I started at 236, was 231 the day of surgery and now I am at 187..ugh 1 lb away from 50...SOON!!!! Once I started running the weight flies off, so anyone thinking they cannot do it, you can and its a basic simple training program that works on interval run for a minute or two then walk then run...interval training has worked wonders for me. I am so proud of all of us and we are keeping our heads high and doing it! Somedays are better than others, some things are tolerated one day and not the next. I still hate eating with people, I go out to lunch with coworkers but usually play it safe and get a chili. I skip most carbs- bread, Pasta, pizza, Bagels, cereal (all was a staple everyday or once a week) I have changed everything I used to eat and feel terrific. I on occasion will eat slider food and regret it but for the most part I follow the "rules" I stay focused on my goal, i am liking my willpower, determination, and my 50lb weight loss verses the guilt I would feel for going to mcdonalds and pigging out, or the clothes not fitting and me getting angry or upset with myself and saying "thats it Im going on a diet" and failing the next day. Its not always easy but the NSV's I have had these 6 months will carry me another 6. I like walking into a regular store and buying clothes at Macys, not sweating from a flight of stairs, and most of all even if the scale doesnt move I know I am not on a diet but I have changed my lifestyle for the better. Wishing eveyone the same success!!! I have an incredible support system from online bander support groups, friends, neighbors, family, books, LBT, and my husband. I am here if anyone nees any support, advice, or a kick in the arse LOL best of luck A11's keep on with your journey and dont ever quit! keep your eye on the prize!

I've never been much of an exerciser, that's part of my weight problem (food, of course, being the other). I know that part of weight loss both in these weeks before my surgery and once I have it is going to involve exercise and...I'm just wondering where to start. I don't know if workout videos are quite right for me, but I'm afraid I'll get bored if my exercise is just walking around the neighborhood. I've started taking the stairs more at work....not ALL the time, but more than I was.
After I heal from the surgery and am cleared to exercise, I'm going to join Curves. I went there before and really loved it. But...I need something to do in the meantime. I just need that kick in the butt for motivation.

In Itunes app store it's: C25K
Happy Running! :-)

I was banded on 8-11-11, starting 236lbs I am now 3 months later 202....so close to ONEderland!!! Down 34lbs

Good luck today Meg!!!! I'm 7 days....ehhh well I guess cause it's 5am 8 days post op but I feel great! I don't know where my energy all day comes from since I'm barely eating but I've lost 12lbs in these 7 days. Maybe being lighter or because I take my B12 but I feel motivated and terrific. I have my routine of Protein Shake at Breakfast, usually Soup at lunch and/or dinner, Jello 7pm dessert. I take a water bottle with me ALL day and take sips. Best of luck to all and wishing everyone happy success on their journey!!!

Hey Banders!!! I'm on day 3 of Opti fast, it's okay maybe I thought it was going to be sooo bad it's actually better. Last night while kids sat for diner I had chicken boillion, it was sooo Delish lol I never had just a bullion cube before and it tasted amazing. My dad came over with of all things pizza for my daughter, he is the best dad/ grandfather but a complete enabler and growing up in an Italian family where we had several kinds of bread at all times didn't help my eating habits. So back to the pizza, I go to warm it up, smell it, okay I took a bite.... Then spit it out! Major victory for me!!!
Wishing all the other Aug banders well!!! Tmrw is August and we start, see many of you Post Op!!! Stay strong!!!