Thats All Folks

Try Water aerobics. It will take the stress off your knees while giving you a great work out. Stationary bikes are great too because they give you movement and exercise without putting weight and stress on your knees.

I'm not familiar with the Fitbit so I'm not sure if it includes your BMR for sure but I'd assume it does. I do know that if you have a calorie deficit of approximately 800 calories a day, you'd burn 5600 calories a week. 3500 calories make a pound, so you'd be burning off more than a pound a week, which is great!

BMR is your Basal Metabolic Rate. Essentially this is the amount of calories your body burns just keeping you alive and functioning. If it says you burned 2207 calories and you ate 1376, then yes, you burned more calories than you consumed. Exercise doesn't have to be formal exercise, like at a gym or running. Exercise is simply moving. For me, my exercise is walking. You're obviously getting some exercise just in your daily routine. Sounds like you're doing well

wow your doctor moves fast! If you're worried about a leak, just have him check the Fluid in your band. It's super easy, all he has to do is withdraw the fluid in the band to measure it and immediately put it back in. By doing this you'll know whether or not you are missing fluid.

It looks like you were banded in October, so I'm guessing you've had maybe 3 fills? It's possible you just don't have adequate Fluid in your band yet. For most people it does take multiple fills over time before they finally really feel the presence of their band. Be patient, it will come

It sounds like you need to talk to your doctor. Make an appointment with your surgeon and get his opinion.

That's awesome you found a great surgeon. Like you, I'm incredibly blessed with an outstanding surgeon that not only strongly supports the Lap Band but he's been a huge source of encouragement and support for me on my journey. It's nice to know there's others out there!

I've not done it from my phone, but I know from a pc you can click on your own profile then there's an "edit profile" button on the right upper side of the page.

Your hormones could very easily be causing your breakouts. Do you notice them more around the time you'd be ovulating or your period?

First, please out your profile so we can help you. When was your surgery? How many fills have you had? Keep in mind fills aren't to stop you from eating anything. They're to find the right Fluid level to allow you to be satisfied on less food for longer periods of time.

It depends completely on your anatomy and band size. Some people (like Pattygirl and Carolinagirl) have their hunger dimmed great without a fill. Then there's others that feel like they don't have a band at all when their band is empty. There's absolutely nothing wrong with fills- or not getting fills. It's all a matter of personal necessity based on your own anatomy.

I know two people here who's not had fills yet and both are doing amazing. Carolinagirl had a band with plication and has never had a fill and Pattygirl (no plication) has never had a fill. Both women are losing extremely well. In both their cases, they simply don't need one yet. They are proof that weight loss absolutely nothing to do with fills but rather calories burned versus calories consumed.

YAY!!! That is so awesome, congratulations!!!!

I keep mine behind my driver's license, so if I'm in an accident and they're going for my ID they will have no choice but to see the Lap Band card too.

Don't be sorry or humble, be proud!! You're doing great! Congratulations!

The truth is the matter is, what doctor's mean by "restriction" isn't at all what patients often (incorrectly) mean by restriction. Dr. Simpson explains it very clearly: "When talking about the band, some patients talk about restriction. Let's first be clear about one thing: the purpose of the band is not restriction; the purpose of the band is to lose weight by suppressing the appetite. When band professionals talk about restriction we are talking about something totally different than "restricting what a person eats." In fact, many band surgeons avoid talking about restriction so as to not confuse patients. The band works by dimming the appetite, and this provides a conscious control and decision made by the patient, it does not work by "making" a person do something, or keep them from eating too much." Too often band patients expect the band to stop them from eating. They keep going in for fill after fill until they can't eat and as a result end up too tight. It's these same people that also end up talking about a swollen esophagus, dilated pouches, and slips. Your approach is totally logical and realistic. You're not expecting your band to do things it's not supposed to do and you're mindful of the problems that can occur if you're too tight. Not to mention, it's your band and your body. You're smart to take control and be clear as to what you want as well as what you don't want. I think you're doing great

1. My 2 mile walks, especially since before I couldn't even make it to the corner 2. Being able to walk without a cane 3. People's reaction to seeing me who haven't seen me in a year or more 4. Flying without needing a seat belt extender 5. Not worrying if I'll fit in chairs 6. Being able to be active in my kids' lives 7. Not feeling like a total embarrassment to my kids (though they never made me feel that way, it's just how I felt) 8. No longer having a sleep apenea. In fact, no longer snoring at all. 9. Having hope for my future

I have one but I've never used it. I just order half portions or off the children's menu. I've never had a problem doing either.

I would go see a good Gynecologist not your PCP. They will look for things that a PCP will overlook. They'll do more thorough testing, too. Have you considered abdominal hernias? I would think a doctor would see that but it's a thought. They're very different than hiatal hernias and can produce the same sensation and symptoms you're describing. (I know, I'm looking at yet another surgery for them soon). If the Gynecologist still finds nothing and your surgeon doesn't see signs of an abdominal hernia, I would find a good internest to step up the diagnostic process. I've never gone through specifically what you are, but I did go through years of a "mystery illness". It cost me my job, my happiness, and almost my sanity. Heck, people started to tell me how it was "all in my head" and nothing was wrong with me. It wasn't until a couple years and many doctors later that a doctor finally asked me "Have you ever been tested for MS?" I didn't even know what it was at the time, went home and Googled it, and cried because I knew that was what'd been wrong all those years. Sure enough, one MRI and a week later, I was diagnosed with MS. My point is- don't give up. Keep going from doctor to doctor if you have to but do not take "nothing is wrong" as an answer. Keep at it until you find the source of your pain. My heart and prayers go out to you.

Pretty much when you stop losing and hit the maintenance phase. Until then, expect periodic fills as your stomach shrinks and the band needs to be re-tightened. Even after that, it's possible for a little Fluid to evaporate and need a little fill every couple years.

The truth is, if you honestly don't feel you can change your eating habits and make good food choices for a lifetime, then maybe the band isn't the right choice for you. The band can't stop you from eating anything. It can't make you choose a Greek yogurt instead of ice cream. It can't make you stay within band sized portions nor can it stop you from eating around it. Then there's the fact most junk foods are slider foods. chips, ice cream, Cookies, and other processed stuff pretty much liquify when you eat it so it slides right through- which means you can eat a ton of it without physical discomfort. The band is just a tool not a magic cure for fat. Nobody wants to diet, but the truth is, if you want to lose weight you have to change the way you're eating. That means restricting portions and calories. Some people do alright without counting calories but they are the exception not the rule. But even those that don't count calories still have to significantly reduce their calorie consumption and eat healthy. Otherwise, you won't lose. What the band can and will do for you is help you to feel satisfied on less food for longer periods of time. But it will forever be up to you to eat healthy, small portions. I'm not saying this to be harsh, I'm just trying to give you an honest answer. The band goes around your stomach not your brain. It can only help control your hunger not the decisions you make about what you eat. Best wishes with whatever you decide.

It takes a lot more than that to ruin the band or cause damage. Especially since the foods you ate are all slider foods so they just pass right through anyway. Don't beat yourself up, just learn from the experience and move on. Tomorrow is a new day so just start over fresh and keep going forward. Best wishes.

The ladies above offer wise advice. Meals should be your last concern right now, you need to contact your doctor ASAP. Heartburn and reflux can be a sign of a band too tight or a slip.

Congratulations with all your success!

Unless your wrists are huge, I don't think it matters. I actually have a tattoo on the underside of my left forearm and it's just shrank with the rest of me. Now if you wanted it somewhere like your tummy or hip, I'd definitely say wait until after you lose so it doesn't get droopy. But I highly doubt weight loss would effect a wrist tattoo.