jayres14

You are totally right, Jenn. I just need to get it started and the energy will come. I have a Wii but the Wii fit game is so boring to me. I need to find a more exciting game to keep me interested. I did get on the elliptical for 20 minutes today and really didn't get tired on it. I could have gone longer but my daughter woke up from her nap. Congrats to all of you and thinks for the advice.

What helps me is thinking about when a brilliant bander reminded me that weight loss is not a slide, but a set of stairs. When you eat much fewer calories that you used to, your body goes into starvation mode. It knows you are getting less food and calories and reacts to it. Your body will hold on to a few pounds in case it needs them and once the body realizes it doesn't, it drops them. The cycle then repeats. I don't know how much truth is to that info, but I have noticed that when I hit a plateau for a few days and start to fret, I wake up one morning and am at a new, lower place on the scale, where I hang out for a few more days before a drop. It usually takes a week and a half to see the pound or two on the scale, but as long as I am moving down and not up, I am satisfied. Also, remember us women retain water like a sponge before and during menstration and before and during ovulation, so that is two weeks out of the month. Keep your head up, we are all in this for the long run. Your hard work will pay off. Good Luck!!

I'll do the walk of shame and admit that I have not been exercising at all. I have still been losing weight without but I need to start firming up. I am a teacher, and not one of those that sit behind a desk. I am up on my feet teaching seventh graders, constantly walking and dancing around the room, and with what little I eat anymore, I don't have the energy to exercise when I get home. I also have a four year old daughter with special needs at home who takes up all of my evening, which I am glad to give her. I do plan to start using my elliptical soon and get a routine going. The issue I have is finding the energy to get on it, or do any other exercise for that matter. Does anyone have some super ideas on boosting energy since our calorie intake is so low? I get my daily protein but I feel like it is not enough. Thanks for any sound advice.

If you are doing the post op diet "before" your surgery, you are not going to get an actual assessment about what it will be like after the surgery. To a non banded person, what we eat would probably make you want to chew your arm off. But to us banded ones, eating little is satisfying and all that is needed without feeling empty. The best part is, no matter how much you want to pig out after the surgery, you just aren't able to without a consequence so it helps with disciplining yourself. Just remember, nothing tastes as good as thin feels! Good luck!

Yay!!! Great job!!

Scale and NSV today!! I weighed in at 180 this morning! I am on my way to my 70's!! 34 pounds lost total!! I had three different women today compliment me, they all know about the band. One said I was looking great, the other two told me I was wasting away, in a good, not demeaning way. Maybe I just need that extra boost but I like when people comment about how much better I look now. I am under no illusion that I was that great looking at 214. Maybe I still have some self confidence issues to work on, but it is nice to feel support any way I can get it.

JUSTMERMP- Yay for your NSV!!! I am so happy you!!

These are all really good responses, and I totally get what y'all are saying. I usually try to compliment others when I notice a weight loss, if nothing else but to be nice and hope it makes their day better.

Haha, those are good! My husband said the same thing to me about the "oh, I notice" part. I guess most men have learned it's better not to say anything at all to risk it being taken the wrong way.

Usually, when someone loses a lot of weight, people notice. They comment on the weight loss, ask questions, encourage, maybe even say hateful things. I get all of that, what confuses me is the people that DO NOT comment on the weight loss, DO NOT ask you what you've been doing, DO NOT have their own opinions on it, seem completely oblivious about it. I guess the reason I am thinking about this is because I went to a football game yesterday with my two best friends, who I have not seen in person since before my surgery three months ago. They do not know I had the procedure done, I would prefer to tell them about it when we have a chance to really sit and talk. Neither of them commented or made any remarks about me losing weight. Surely there is no way the didn't notice. I've lost thirty pounds so far and am now down to 184. Although I still have a long way to go, it is very noticeable that I have lost weight and I find it odd that they and a few others have not. I know these women's deepest secrets so I am pretty sure there is no way they would be too embarrassed to ask me. I wouldn't think it would be jealousy b/c they have never been that way in the past. Has anyone else dealt with something like this? I'd like to hear other's experiences. Thanks

Has anyone been a self pay customer, had a problem with the band, got insurance to cover the repair?? I am frightened on a daily basis that the unthinkable will occur and I have to go back in for surgery to repair or replace the band. I am still paying for my surgery which cost $12,000 and if something went wrong that I had to incur costs, it would devastate me financially. I read on here where another bandster had a bill of $28,000 for an emergency slipped band repair. I am hoping to hear if someone got insurance to cover a repair being self pay to begin with and how they made it happen. This is very valuable information, if it exists, to many of us living in fear. Thanks

This lap band journey is difficult. We have to change our life styles, we have to handle many things with care. We have to prepare ourselves mentally for the opinions and possible ridicule from others. My question is, what do you tell yourself every day? How do you get pumped up in the mornings? What helps you when you are having a rough day or not seeing the scales drop? What inspires you?? This is what I tell myself every morning, "I may not be where I want to be yet, but i am closer today than I was yesterday!" I am looking for some more inspiration.

I suggest a blood test to check thyroid level. I did this and discovered my thyroid was barely functioning. I am now on a daily med and have TONS of energy!!

I am still taking my thyroid medicine. Even with the weight loss, my levels stayed the same. My doctor said i'd probably be on it for life. I don't think the two are related, as in losing weight will not change the thyroid out put since it is hormonal. Not totally sure about that, but remember reading something like that once.

Never beat yourself up for a few indulgences every now and then. As hard as you work, you deserve an occasional treat. As long as you are still losing weight, you are doing something right. Just keep in mind that for every indulgence, harder work will be required. I have an occasional small bowl of ice cream or a piece of cake. I just remember to do an extra five to ten minutes exercise. It is all about moderation. Good luck to you!

I am three months post surgery and I still have port pain. Some days worse than others. Price I pay to lose weight.

This is a wild stab but do you think it could be gas pains? I often find when I have eaten less than a normal day or when I have to do liquids after a fill that I am extra gassy and sometimes get gas pains on my left side lower abdomen. Might not be your problem but worth thinking about.

Congrats!! I am so happy for you and this awesome experience you had!! Not only do you have confidence, you are building happy memories with your daughter! Keep it up!!

I wonder why that happens? What does the band have to do with getting drunk quicker? I noticed the other night that after only a few sips of a margarita on the rocks that I was already feeling tipsy. It seems to me that the drink would go right through the stoma so it would be digested the same for the banded versus the regulars. Maybe it is because we eat less so there is less to absorb it?? IDK, but that is very interesting. Anyone know the real facts about it??

I'd prefer to have it pass through than to vomit, or for better words, spit up like a baby. Less chance of the band slipping. To each his own...

I want to share what I do when I carelessly eat and get a piece of food stuck. When I get stuck, which happens more than it should (yea, I know... chew, chew, chew), I have found that raising my arms above my head to stretch and taking deep, long breaths helps to get the food to move and get unstuck. I often times pace the floor too when this happens. I, knock on wood, have never vomited from being stuck and i'd like to think this method helps. Hopefully this advice will help someone in the future, if not, just ignore the post. Happy losing weight!!

Good topic, daisy, and I commend you for putting yourself out there like this. Does your step-daughter know about your band? If she does or even if she doesn't, I think you could use a little bit of manipulation to address healthy eating. If I were you, I would casually ask her one day if she would mind helping me look up some healthy recipes to try to help with the diet. You could tell her that you are bored with the same food choices and are looking for new ways to spice things up. Flatter her and tell her you know how smart and creative she is and that you think she could offer valuable help. Maybe you could ask her to go shopping with you to buy the ingredients and make some of the stuff. It would be a great bonding experience and also make her some what aware of healthy foods. I have often found, especially as a teacher and a mother of an autistic child, that when you approach a touchy topic as needing advice for yourself, the reaction is a much better one that just preaching. It humanizes us non-perfect adults. Good luck to you.

Thanks ladies, I am glad to know others have not had any problems with using it. I do agree that I will probably not be able to lay on my stomach anymore b/c of the port. That's okay though, when I get smaller, i won't have to turn for an even cook!! :lol:

Forgot to ask my surgeon, will laying in a tanning bed affect the band? I find that outside temps and weather conditions make me tighter and looser on different days. I know the port has some metal on the back side. And YES, I know tanning beds are bad for you, and YES, I know self tanners are a better option, but I own a tanning bed and I like to keep a little shade on my white body and the warmth helps my bones in the winter time. If you have spoke to your doctor about this and have a legitimate answer, please let me know. I will make sure to ask when I go back, but that may not be for a while.

I am so sorry this is happening to you. I know it is important to have a strong support system and it sounds to me like your PA is not being a good cheerleader for you. I have a good relationship with my surgeon but something struck me as odd. My surgeon has never checked the total fluid in my band. I have had 4 fills and the amounts were 2, 2, 1, and 0.5 (none when the band was put in.) Maybe he doesn't check the level each time b/c he is the only one that has ever put the fills in. Anyways, some days I can tell the band is there, others I could eat my weight. I hope both of us figure out what we need. Good luck to you and be proud of your accomplishments!