bobby_hamrick

I save a considerable amount. Really going out isnt as appealing as I can prepare what I like and what works. Before well I;m guessing over 200 a month easy, modestly really spent at food joints. Its easier to eat healthy and cheaper. I eat really well. Top notch vitamin and protien supps with salmon, chicken, and organic veg and nuts every month at less than what I spent on fast food. Some quick choices I eat are rice bowls(U.Bens) preservatives I know but time is a factor

Thanks for that post. It was on the money. You are so very right!

How do some of you exercise and eat? There are a lot of us really getting it on against the bulge and I want to hear your tactics... :smoke

I would be very surprised if this was like the rest for you! You wont be able to gain the lbs back! Patience. Once your restriction is there you will learn to eat better without the drugs and really after a while youll notice the new diet in place. Every fill can bring a new diet by the way.. When I was banded I decided to commit to losing this weight. I started the exercising 4 weeks later. Since that time I have had ups and downs with dieting or rather eating. 5 fills later I am correct. The last fill was a year apart. When I got the last one foe a few weeks I thought about getting it taken out some but didnt. Pushed forward and rededicated my exercise program. The fill eased or I adjusted to it and now it is perfect. I was stuck at 235 then (02/08/05) I am 216lbs now. My biggest problem was liquid calories/margaritas actually/ I quit that too as I drank every week. My routine is 4 miles 3 times a week and atleast 2 weight training sessions. Its strict but I have made leaps and bounds lately. Make the commitment and go to it. You made a real sacrifice. Financially and personally so finish it. You have the tool you need now. Not a magic bullet! A tool! Good Luck....

There isnt many men here so Congrats! You need anything let me know

Ben Zuckerman, a 57-year-old bottling executive from King of Prussia, Pa., was not surprised last year to find himself carrying more than 290 pounds on his 6-foot-1 frame. Mr. Zuckerman said he could look back on decades of binge eating and failed diets. full text of article deleted by moderator

On Friday I was eating fine. I consider my band perfect for me now by the way. Restricyion and freedom wise. Well I had eaten some Turkey roast which I chewed well and ate little prior to this. Afterwards It was like I'd had a fill for like 2 and a half days! Finally on monday I can eat. Sat/Sun. Protien shakes and little food! Strange. I figure either there was some irritation or something stuck. HUNG CHOW again baby! Happy top be normal again! Any ideas

Trying! Again!

Anyone else reading or read. Your thoughts?

Well I'm still chipping away. 216 lbs now. It looks like so much more though. I have been gettin a lot of new comps! Dont you love that! Nothing better to build your confidence. I have missed my goal of 209 by 05/25/05 my 36th Bday I may add! but hey 25lbs since Febuary! I am on track! I have started running at night and I love it. I do 4 miles 3x a week now @like 3-4AM. Nice and cool and I have the place to myself. Anyway I thank all of you for the kind words and support! I will advertise my new Goal. 199 lbs by 07/25/05. Its a lot I know but goals arent suppose to be easy! I think the scale can be misleading at times. Your body changes in many ways while exercising! A book I read I want to suggest. YOU the owners manual. I'm sure you have heard by now. Its true. This book can teach you a lot about YOU! Very simple terms and info you need to know...!

You did not have surgery to give up, not to mention the money! Patience. You will be proud when this thing works for you!

I use this more and more. I can throw 3-4 chicken breast in and flavor wit seasonings of choice. When done I can make chk. calad., BBQ, Alfredo, whatever! Use pork too. Also running to krogers for those small salmon filets weekly with mashed tators on hand! I still dont eat bread/ I can eat most anything carefully and in moderation!

That much since January? Over 30 lbs is a great deal! I'll take it in 4 months any time. Have you ever lost that much before? Patience....Good Luck

I SEE HUGE DIFFERENCE.... I feel the same about my mirror yet I know I've lost. You look great and for one year...... Keep it up. This thing is a patience thing...Little at a time gone for good!!!

a little mayo added does wonders/samidge no bread! On another note, some days I can eat a steak and mashed tators/next day I'm pushing to get enough calories down. Timing is everything for me! I'm very happy where I am and hope to report great progress here soon. I really want 209 by 05/25/05. That would be a great Bday present for myself.

I can tell you that when I had my last fill I couldnt hardly eat anything for a few weeks. Now I can eat again but not as much. Maybe you heal and adjust to new feelings in your stomach and or learn how to eat again each time, it did feel as if I'd stretched it out cause I could eat more and more. When I say more I mean like a rice bowl (uncle Bens) is a big meal for me now. Another issue is before the last fill I could eat quite a bit and was stuck at weight too. Now the Doctor said I'd really lost some weight and some of that was in the area of my band therefore I wasnt as restricted...I was 239 then and I am sure I am atleast 217 now, since 2/05. I did rededicate the exercise program at that time too though to lose more weight.

I too could eat anything at your stage. Pizza, whoppers, anything. Now I know better to even try. You will get there.....

Im with you at 219. I was going great and now I am slipping. Ice cream, eating out. Thats the reason. Exercise is great. You post and I'll post too. Time for an adjustment/attitude not band. My bday is 5/25 so I'd like 209 by then. Big order bt I can do it and so can you so lets get it on!

You will know when they get it rite! There will be no doubt. they should be able to get closer the next time by watching the Barium and adjusting as they go....

Thats how it is. new fill new diet. I was very concerned with my last fill. I was very restricted but when I thought about it I was finally eating like I was suppose to with the band finally!. The situation eased over three weeks and now I am perfect so I say give it time and be very careful learning your new diet. Say goodbye again to some more lbs too!!! Toast- no way. Pasta - rarely Oatmeal - most of the time - smooth potatoes - mashed with gravy only. eggs - sometimes. coffee&tea before eating-most of the time and a good idea for me! meal replacement shakes for breakfast with vitamin supplements inside. - always.

i WENT BACK TO THE dR. BECAUSE OF THE SHORTNESS OF BREATH. iT WAS THE EFFECTS FROM SURGERY AND GAS. fOR ME THAT IS. tHE CAR IS WHAT MADE ME THE SICKEST FOR THE FIRST WEEK THEN IT WAS GONE!

I done the welbitrum. I went from hero to zero in sex life dept. and yeah I dropped a few lbs. I quit that quick and never took any more like it. Got a divorce instead!!! Worked great. Never felt better after that!

While making this journey I have had many anxieties. In the beginning I wondered if something was wrong because I could eat. Later after fills it was better and I was losing but not enough. More fills until finally I was rite. Then I thought too much restrictin I cant live like this. I did and it subsided after a couple weeks and now its just rite. Anxieties! Like life I know I have to be [patient and learn what I can do with this tool I bought. Many new people and old here go through many of these situations. The people who really have the understanding and have lost so much have the answers. Its appreciated.

I feel like I understand most of time when I can eat or cant. I shouldnt say understand but recognize. There are days I can eat a lot if I am careful and cheat by drinking ofcourse. There are other days it just isnt happening. Now even when I cheat I eat less than most every one else around but too much for me. What I dont get is how is it that some times I can eat things and some times I cant. I'm guessing its the chemistry somehow. I do know if I add fiber to my breakfast protien shake I aint eatin nothing for 5 plus hours. I can eat steak most of the time with care and I do try once a week at least as I need the protein and amino's....Med. Rare !!! What kind of experiences do you have like this?

okay I have drank quite a bit since banding and at time sickly. First I make sure I have eaten a couple hours before. I figured out that a lot of time my stomach is really empty then the magarita hits the eruption!!! I have since swore off alchohol because I drank too much. Lots of empty calories I may add and a negative weight loss reaction I may add. I had no problem drinking most of the time. Pray for my sobriety as I am entering the 3 week period with no drinking at all. It will be a first in 15 years if I pass 30 days with no booze at all! I can not drink beer at any time by the way, not since my last fill!