Kimberly Collins

I will agree that two fills probably won't put you into being restricted. It took me 5 or so to get restricted. I still remember that fill. I actually felt the band snug up and that was the day it started. I do think that 1100 calories is reasonable. If you go too low, it can slow you metabolism in the long run and make it to where you will be able to eat even fewer calories. I was told I could do 800 for a very short term (2 weeks or so at a time) but then go back up to 1000 or more for a while, then go back down for 2 weeks if I wanted.

I lost nothing for a year. Nothing. Turns out, I have hypothyroidism. I had a really good loss right after I started my meds, about 25 lbs. in 3 months. Since then though, it has been agonizing. I lose maybe 1-2 lbs a month if I am lucky. Since 2005, I have lost about 75 lbs or so. I am still losing at a snail's pace. But, I am now wearing normal sizes and am no longer morbidly obese. I am almost out of the obese zone. I have also lost more than 1/2 of my weight and continue to lose--slowly. At this pace, I will be at my ideal weight in 2-3 more years, which is fine with me. I know it is horribly frustrating. But, for every pound you lose, you are smaller than where you were. It adds up over time. And, don't expect exercise to have any real effect on weight loss. Eight hours of moderate exercise a week doesn't even burn a pound. My weight loss doesn't differ even with vigorous exercise. Even Bob Harper admits that it only helps if you do it several hours a day. The reason you do it is to strengthen your heart a lungs, and maybe lose a few extra pounds a year. Just hang in there. Something is better than nothing. I've averaged 12 lbs a year, but I am so happy that I kept working and am where I am now. No more sleep apnea, no more high cholesterol, I have really great blood pressure, and my resting heart rate is down. My Lupus and Fibro pain are greatly reduced. I am having a flare now and have little pain. It's worth the wait.

I don't know, but mine showed up in the CT scan and the radiologist freaked out. He thought the port and tubing was part of the band that came off. This was in 2005, so it wasn't that common to see them. I saw it and showed him what everything was for when he came across it again.

I have Lupus and severe allergies along with fibro. I have been banded for 7 years with no problems. It has actually helped my issues because of the weight loss.The only issue I have is that after I get a steroid injection, I can't eat much for a week or so. I know steroids are supposed to reduce inflammation, but they also cause massive water retention. I wonder if that could be the problem. Anyone else ever had this side effect? I try to avoid tablets b/c of the errosion factor, but I get tested yearly and am fine in that regard.

Mine was repaired when my band was put on and it changed my life. I literally never have heartburn anymore, ever.

I make a faux tuna salad with chick peas instead of tuna. So good.

I eat a lot of Soups with Beans and a grain like barley, stirfrys with tofu, beans and rice based dishes, and salads. I will confess to eating quite a bit of Amy's frozen food. It's so good and quick to make. My go to Snacks are fruit, veggie sticks with lowfat Greek Yogurt ranch dip, and Mary's Gone Crackers with Wayfarer's We Can't Say It's cheese hickory "cheddar" spread.

As important as exercise is, it's absolutely untrue that you cannot have results without it. as a matter of fact, unless you work out hours a day, you won't get much weight loss from it. I work out about 5 hours a week at high intensity and end up burning about 2250 a week, which isn't even a pound. You would have to do vigorous exercise for 7 hours a week in order to lose even a lb. Harvard Medical actually did a study that shows it doesn't contribute significantly to weight loss. I exercise so I will feel better and to make my heart and lungs stronger, as it does not help me lose weight at all. I went 3 weeks not working out b/c of an injury and lost the same amount I always do, .5 lbs per week. I always average that much, even in weeks where I have worked out 9-10 hours in the week.

It's an addiction trade off. I am having this issue. I have taken up drinking wine, where as I never drank pre-band. I am not an alcoholic, but have decided to not drink at all b/c it hampers my WL.

I am a vegetarian, so my diet is very different from most people here. I also have a milk allergy, so I generally do not consume milk products except yogurt, which for some reason does not make me cough, sneeze, itch, etc... Protein is the big challenge in a veg diet, especially since a lot of veg protein is also full of carbs. I do watch my carbs in that I don't eat bread, only have Pasta once a month, eat who grains like brown rice and quinoa. This actually works well for me because I feel foggy and listless when I restrict carbs too much. I will generally have a cup of coffee, then wait until I get hungry for Breakfast. I often have a tofu scramble or 1/2 Amy's veggie burrito for breakfast, and the other 1/2 for lunch. I will generally have a serving of fresh fruit with lunch. If I get hungry before dinner, I have raw veggies with a dip made of low fat Greek yogurt, buttermilk, and herbs. I keep the snack at around 100 calories. Occasionally, I will have a few walnuts and an apple for snack instead. If my allergies are doing okay, I might have a low fat mozzarella stick. Dinner is typically a stir fry with tofu or replacement meat, a salad with quinoa and nuts, a bowl of homemade Soup with some kind of Beans and a tiny bit of pasta, a veggie chili with beans, or a low fat burrito bowl. If I get the munchies, I may have some fruit or a few Mary's Gone Crackers sticks and twigs, which are whole grain and have protein. I will say that my big focus is consuming plenty of fruits and veggies b/c they are low cal, filling and gives me plenty of cancer fighting nutrients. My diet works for me. Wine is my big downfall. I am trying to stay away 100% b/c it makes me bloat and adds too many extra calories.

Bob Harper on BL said that the contestants have a cheat meal every week. He said that it is actually good for your metabolism because it kicks you out of diet/starvation mode. For me, it keeps me from going nuts and feeling deprived. I can't keep anything naughty in the house though. If I do, I will eat the whole bag/box/whatever. I am a compulsive over eater. If I watch what I keep at home and allow myself an occasional indulgence, I tend to do fine. My weight loss is super slow, but I am also still working on really listening to my band. Right now I am focusing on following the rules to a tee to see if I can't speed things up a bit.

Could you sleep first then get up and workout?? Working out gives me energy for the rest of the day.

I had mine repaired then too an recovered very quickly.

I ignored how big I had gotten as well before surgery. I look at pics of myself and can't believe that was me.

I slip up a few times a month. I hate myself for it. The scale also pays me back. I had gotten into onederland and slipped with pepperoni (one of my trigger foods that in no longer welcome in my house) and am now sitting at 200 again. I am mad at myself. I try to learn a lesson from it. It's hard though b/c we are human and aren't perfect.