dreamers

I didn't exercise during my journey. Well not much to speak of anyway. I started walking in the evenings after the first hundred lbs came off and that's all I have done. However I did try to be more active which wasn't hard since I had a lot of energy. I am forever doi g something in and around my home because I too have a lot of responsibility besides working 50 hrs a week. Going to the gym doesn't thrill me and i dont like to wak alone in the dark so i picked up a used treadmill so I can walk inside.
One of the reasons I kept my calorie count at 1000 was because I didn't exercise. I averaged 10 lbs each month for 22 months.
So now I am maintaining.... And with the treadmill I should have no excuse not to walk..ie weather, time, responsibility. I am working on it.

It really touches me reading about the emotional side of things cos i know that's how i got here.
Emotional eater all the way and to top it off, a really emotional person! hah!
I eat for all the wrong reasons... To Celebrate, togetherness, happiness, defeat, depression, comfort...
Almost every life situation has food involved. I grew up in a house where everyone was so busy that our quality time was spent around a table filled with amazing home cooked food so i guess that's the core of it.
I am so disappointed in myself... i have lost a huge amount of weight 3 times in my life (got down to a bmi of 24) but always gained it back over time.
That's why i am getting the lap band. Cos i either "diet" or let go completely, i don't have stability. I need to be taught how to eat all over again and not have a 'feast or famine' mentality.
To everyone feeling ashamed, you are not alone. I feel it every time i walk into a room full of people, order something from a restaurant, go clothes shopping, look in the mirror, socialize.... the list goes on.
Chin up guys, we are all beautiful regardless of our size. Let's just try and lose weight so we can be healthy and buy cute clothes haha
WE GOT THIS.

For me, I really enjoyed eating out (mostly fast food) and lazy. After getting to where I felt my weight was a lost cause and insurmountable I didn't care anymore and just ate more. I wasn't happy with myself so those few moments of euphoria eating a Portillo's beef sandwich, fries, etc was a momentary high for me. It's been a great feeling not hiding or drowning in food anymore. I have also found that I can make many foods at home that are still very tasty and not feeling deprived.
The biggest challenge for me in all of this has been the emotional aspect of eating.

Idk ? Think it was being uncomfortable with my looks , depresstoin , hate me myself more everyday for being fat, and maybe punishing me ? I also like foods , think that food was use as some kind of comfort , I'm so unhappy with me that eating was the only temp thing that made me feel good at the moment then it was back to be ashame of myself , also all the medication that I'm on , some make me hungery and want to eat , some just say that they can make you gain wieght , I'm on a lot of mental Meds for bipolar , pts, anixitys, depresstoin , blood pressure . And then I got to big to do much activity , that I. Just stay in my room . It hurt to much to do much of anything , it gotten alittle better sense I've lost some wieght now

Don't forget the emotional side of things. .....when someone talked to mr about the need to lose weight, I felt they did not love me or felt ashamed of me and I would eat more....hiding behind the fat.

I think food and over eating meant way more to me than i ever realized. Banded 10/10. Most if the time this journey is really neat. Losing 39 pounds already. Feeling better about myself etc etc. except meal times. I have 5 older kids and husband. Eating is this big deal. I feel left out sometimes. Is this normal??

great post!

Never been stuck so far. I chew and chew and chew.

I got 2cc's in my band now.. and I drank the Water fine, as I drink my Protein shake, I do feel a difference. Oh man.. she tried to find the port, well she found it but took awhile to get the needle in place.. ya that hurt, she had me do a crunch and hold.. Ouuuch... she did said that would be the worse of it as the next time it will be so much easier.
Saw the nutritionist today at my primary care office, and well, seems sorta expensive. I have insurance.. but she doesn't qualify for it since she is not a "licensed" Nut, only certified. I like her a lot, very caring.. she wouldn't give me any real info though until I make a decision to buy the package. She suggested I go on the HCG. 350. for the first month and 100.00 a month following up on her visits Is that a normal price? I have never been to a Nut before and not sure if that is a bit pricey or I should keep looking. She has written a book, and has appeared on good morning america and on the cover of people's magazine...her name is Camille Tirzah. Maybe that is why It seems pricey. I didn't know this, just called my primary care for an appt with a Nut. SHe has lost 100lbs herself and seems very sincere. What do you all suggest? That is a bit pricey for me.. but if it is the norm, hopefully I can come up with some plan.
<3

for destynee

I am the same way.... but I have to do liquids the first 24 hrs so usually dont notice.... Also dont forget... as you lose weight, the fat around your stomach is reduced and that can effect how your band offers less restriction without warning

Yes. It's now been 2 years and 3 months since my surgery and I have lost a total of 70lbs. (From 223 to 153) It took about 6 months before I started losing. It came off slow and steady. The first year after I posted this, it was mainly because it was too tight and I just couldn't eat anything. But, the past 6 months, I've been able to eat and I'm still losing. So, after all this time, I'm finally at that "sweet spot".

What I want to say is I am doing the same. I lost 2 last week and I want to keep it off. I have started eating hard boiled eggs ( just the white) for lunch and when I feel hungry and it seemed to help. Also a Protein Shake in the evening ( 120 cal one) . I was hungry alot but I made it! I just wish this band would help me feel full like it should! I honestly feel no restriction except that if I am not careful I get very stuck and then it comes up.
(((hugs))) to my fellow band strugglers !!!!!!! Stay in touch.

My two cents....for what it is worth.
Remember that you are worth this and you are not a failure because your weight loss journey is different from those around you. In my three years I have come to realize that everyone is different even with the band. For example, I have great restriction, but I can eat bread. I always have been able to and waiting around for bread to get stuck to let me know that I have restriction or can't eat anymore is not going to help me at all.
I lost 10 -15 lbs in the first month and basically hit a plateau that lasted nearly a year. Then I gave up, was depressed avoided my doctor and gained a lot of that weight back. My doctor wanted me to have a gastric bypass, even encouraged me to run the new testing and thankfully my insurance company denied it. He basically wrote me off as a patient.
New doctor gave me very different support and aftercare. Some things I have now learned:
(1) I need a low-carb diet. I eat 45-55 gms of carbs a day. Thats it, and a lot of that comes from fruits and veggies. The funny thing is that with carbs, they are either slider foods (potatoes) foods that get stuck, (doughy foods, rice) or sweets/nuts (high calorie, high sugar, high fat) and they often trigger cravings for more carbs!
(2) I eat at regular intervals, every 3 hrs. Some people say they don't get hungry for 4-5 hrs. Not me. I'm hungry. If I rely on just hunger, I eat too much, if I to wait for 4-5 hrs I am starving and again I eat too much, too fast or make bad choices. Seriously figure out how long it takes you to get hungry and set your meals around that. I had an alarm on my cell the first week to remind me to eat because I am not starving at that point and sometimes miss the hunger signals, but I know if I go past the 3 hrs pt bad things happen. I also know if I am hungry between then it is probably dehydration and I'm not getting my fluids in.
3. Eat slowly. If I eat my 3/4 cup to 1 cup of food in less than 15 or 20 minutes I am eating way too fast and likely to eat way too much. You'll find if you are only eating softer foods you eat them faster because they don't get stuck. I have to force myself to eat Proteins like chicken or steak and fresh veggies because I am afraid they will get stuck and they require me to be very careful with the chewing. The other day I ate carrots too fast and they were stuck! Ugh. The old me would have stopped eating raw carrots. The new me knows I ate them too fast, and didn't chew well enough. Also know that I will get full on a smaller amount of carrots than I will lunch meat, or yogurt. If I can eat it that fast it is probably not that good for me!! Time yourself. I've done it and having that external cue to keep you on pace helps. Note: If you follow this guideline with portion size, small chews and length it takes to finish a meal and are still getting food stuck you are too tight!!! I know it sounds counterproductive, but being too tight means your body thinks it is starving and you WILL NOT LOSE ANY WEIGHT!! Get the unfill, let your pouch heal and go back to the basics. My dr. does not like people relying solely upon Protein supplements for regular maintenance...so in his opinion you need to be able to eat lean meats without getting stuck.You can also be too tight and go over your calories because you tend to rely on soft mushy foods that are not going to keep you full and that are higher calorie for the volume.
4. Track your calories very very carefully. The've said it before and it is true. One of my biggest issues for me with this surgery was my slow metabolism. My body adjusts very quickly to a reduced caloric intake. You are not losing any weight because your body is adjusted to the amount of calories you are taking in. If i ate the amount of calories the calculators say I should to maintain weight (even without exercise I would be gaining 2-3 lbs a week! Trust me! I have tried.) I have to stay on a strict 1000-1200 calorie diet. If I am around 1400 or 1600 I gain. And when you break it down that is not a ton of calories and one pudding cup, cookie, or yogurt can quickly throw me over my daily goal. I may be eating what I would call a healthy diet but now post lap band for me healthy means getting lots of Protein, paying strict attention to carbs, and focusing on non-starchy veggies. Very different from my BFF. If the scale is not moving I have to take a very serious look at what I am eating, own what I ate and make adjustments. My guess, if you haven't lost weight you are probably taking in the same amount of calories you were before the surgery just in a decreased volume. Again, doesn't mean you're eating ice cream all the time, but you would be amazed at how many calories you can take in even with the band. Someone said he does 3000 calories on a calorie cycling regimine for his high cal day.
I know its hard and I know you may feel like people assume you aren't following the rules or are doing something to sabotage your success. Please don't give up!! I have run into plenty of guys and gals who struggle and this journey is a mental and physical one! Don't judge yourself or your success based on what others have done on the boards it will only make you feel more depressed. Set your own goals and Celebrate them, no matter how small. I Celebrate tracking all my calories (especially if I have missed a day or two!) Adjusting behavior patterns and breaking internal cues and triggers can be hard. Your body does not want to lose weight, it thinks of that as starvation. You've got to outsmart your body and for some of us it takes more work than others!
Good luck!

Day two since surgery. I still feel pretty good. I haven't really wanted anything to eat or drink but, I am making myself sip on Protein Drinks and crystal light. I don't have a lot of pain but, I am just really sore. I had to have a hiatal hernia repaired and that is more sore than the rest of it. I am still pretty slow to get going in the mornings but, once I am up and about, I feel fine.

So far so good. I have not had a lot of pain, just soreness. He had to repair a Hiatal hernia that I did not know I had. I am thinking that is where the soreness under my chest bond is coming from. I have been tolerating Water and crystal light well. I haven' really wanted anything else right now.
I am so excited about the journey I am about to take. Thank you all on this board. You are an inspiration and a huge help for so many!

I have that mindset as well.... I had a medical device installed in my body by by choice... there is NO WAY I am going to do anything to jeopordize its ability to function the way it was intended. Having a band issue scares me to death.

I am 23 years old. In oct of 2011 I got my band put in. Over the course of the year I slipped 4 times. Sept of 2012 I got a whole reconstructive revision of my band. I wasn't ready to give up on the band yet. They offered me the sleeve and I declined. I am trying so hard to really succeed this time around... Yesterday was my 3rd tightening since surgery. I now have 8.5cc's in me. And I feel like this 1 did it. As I drink I'm getting full but what effects me is that empty feeling in my stomach. I am doing all support groups and trying my very best this time. I hope this is a new journey!! Just sharing my story for support

Congrats on 88lbs! Why not sign up for a class? Something fun like dance or kickboxing. Sometimes we need that accountability to give us an extra push. Clean out that fridge, go grocery shopping with a healthy meal plan, and start fresh!

I've currently been carb cycling to break a plateau, but when I'm not or on a high carb day, I don't count carbs at all.
I love bread, Pasta, potatoes, rice, etc and I refuse to deprive myself and live without them.

Day 4 to treadmill. Day 8 elliptical. Day 15 swimming.

Don't forget to get the amount of Protein per your doctor. It should be the first thing you eat.

I wasnt required to do a pre op diet so the 13 lbs is since surgery. My advice would be to just hang in there! It will be hard the first couple of weeks but i promise it does get better. Best of luck to you

Well I was banded November 13th I had my two week ost op appt. I lost 15lbs!!! Since surgery!! I started my Journey last November atarted dieting in January starting weight 288 as of today 221 I havent been this weight in years....all smiles!