blondegal_

I watched a documentary about this. To run faster you have to strengthen and lengthen your hamstring. Now we can't actually grow any more but you can lengthen your hamstring by properly stretching. You can look up exercises that target your hamstrings to stretch and strengthen. Also as a woman we tend not to run correctly. We have a side-to-side motion. So concentrate on keeping your body aligned and move your arms in sync with your legs with your hands reaching up towards your ears and elbows kept close. Then think about taking larger steps. Stretch it just a little bit. After you get used to that, stretch that stride just a little more. Look up exercises for hip flexors. Having loose hips will also help your stride. Best of luck reaching your goal!

Lisa - Get out of my brain! Been feeling this way lately. I've had to break down and buy clothes for work so I hit the after Christmas sales. And now those are too big. Still wearing them but it does make mornings grumpy. I too am trying to hold off and buy summer clothes. So know I'm there in the trenches with you.

Go in and act like nothing is wrong. Talk to everyone, smile, and concentrate on the customers. Don't say a word about her to the others. Ask them about their lives and don't say much about yours or anything about her. Rise above it and they'll see she's being silly.

The taste was ok for the cheese sauce. Just like some Protein powders are only ok. But I actually found it was more calories than I wanted to use on something that's just ok. I gave it to a relative that has a toddler that is currently not eating meat. She mixes in with other cheese stuff and says the whole family doesn't notice. But again that would prolly be more calories than I would want to eat. For the poster that said the chicken broth was salty, I found that if I mixed it with 10 oz of Water (or even veggie broth) instead 8 oz I didn't notice the salt. I also used it as a broth base for other Soups and as long as I didn't add any additional salt I thought it was fine. As for their chewable Vitamins, you're not going to get around that taste. They have a lot of Iron and that is just gonna taste like a Vitamin no matter what. But of all other comparable vitamins, I still think they are best in taste and offer the most vitamins.

I'm going to agree with seeing your doctor but disagree with getting a fill. You might be just a little tight and then you don't eat quite right (big bite, fully chew) and you irritate the band. Then you get in an awful cycle of being stuck, being hungry, and then eating too much when it's possible. Try to beak this cycle - do liquids/mushies over the weekend. Measure out your food, eat mindfully, think about every bite, stop as soon as you feel any discomfort, and then go back to eating when it passes. Or if you've lost interest in the food throw it away. You need to look for a feeling of satiety. Not fullness. A disinterest in continuing eating not a roundness in your tummy so to speak. Eating with the band is a process. It's very different than the way I used to eat. And not just the amount, the mechanics of it are just different. Best of luck in your journey.

Have had one in my elbow. It caused no band issues. Elbow actually hurt more for day and half but then got better. Good luck.

Walk Swing your arms Belching might help

Ice pack helps with the incision pain especially where the port is placed. Chap stick - lips were so dry after surgery. GasX strips - melt in mouth so one less thing you have to swallow.

Whether or not you have WLS you might consider a few sessions with a therapist. I encourage you not to go thru life being comforted by food. You are worthy of being the best possible you. Best of luck!

This happens to me also. PMS, too much salt, allergies seem to make the band tighter. On these days I take the 2-3 bites and then stop. I do something else until I feel like I can eat more. Now this may seem like grazing which we are advised not to do. But I've measured out the amount of food and counted the calories and only do this on tight days. So sure it might take an hour of a few bites here, a few bites there to eat. But if I didn't do this I would get hungry and then try to eat too much too fast and get stuck. So maybe try stopping at that first twinge of feeling stuck?

How does completely stopping make you feel? Are you able to get rid of items that aren't flattering? These are questions I ask myself. I go thru stages of buying stuff. And then I get so busy with work and other stuff that I don't think about it for weeks. But if I ever felt like I HAD to shop/buy to feel good about myself then I would seek help. And it can be a real issue. I have a friend who spends money that she and her husband don't have. Only you know....

I buy jewelry and purses for goals. I thought about clothes but I just buy them when I need them and in years to come I'll remember a certain bracelet was my 50 lb mark and clothes will be long gone. And I'll get a manicure for a little pick me up.

Have never liked the cold and yes now it worse. Also I have hypothyroidism and that makes it worse. Ugh.

If you're allowed dairy, two tablespoons of heavy cream is 100+ calories. In the early stages when I was trying to get in a bit more, I added this to my Protein shakes and Soups. I stopped when I entered mushies food stage as I was then getting in the recommended calories. I found this to be very easy to do as two tablespoons isn't much to add especially when about 4 oz of liquids made me feel SO full. Best of luck!

Yep. If I was 6 inches taller I'd be at a perfect weight. But nope, I'm short so I need to lose 30 more pounds. :-(

Went to doctor this morning as I feel like CRAP. Was told to follow BRAT diet until my gastro problems resolve themselves. (Thankfully I don't have the flu.) For the most part though, I don't eat bananas, rice, applesauce, or toast. Just wondering what others have done when told to follow this diet. And honestly, the upper respiratory infection is kicking my butt and I don't even feel like eating.

Thanks everyone. I can tolerate everything on the list. Just seems like a lot of carbs. But I'm not eating much anyways. Just trying to stay hydrated. Ugh.

Time for a visit to your surgeon/doctor? I hadn't been for a few months and felt like I was losing momentum and a check up was just what I needed.

Just a thought on the meds - if what I'm taking might get stuck I drink a full glass of Water 30 minutes before taking it. Then at the time I drink some warm tea before and after. The water before ensures there's nothin built up above the band (I have allergies and feel like mucus sometimes does that) and then the warm tea seems to relax everything. Best wishes on getting back on track.

Sometimes it is about the numbers. NSVs are great, but to be healthy I need the numbers to reflect that. So as of today (14 months out), I have lost over 110 pounds. I have less than 30 pounds to lose to reach goal. I have lost 41% of my original weight. And for me, the number that got to me the most today – 80%. I have lost 80% of my excess weight. So if you're starting out on this journey, don't get discouraged by the statistics. Do your own math. Know what you need to lose. Know the percentages. Understand what it's going to take to lose the weight. And then set a realistic time period for reaching your goal. Believe in yourself, more than you believe in the stats. Best wishes on your journey!

So how many calories are you eating daily?

Thanks everyone!

My understanding is that food does not sit in the pouch. It passes thru as you slowly eat and that stimulates the nerve and helps us feel satisfied and eat less. Food sitting above the band can cause dilation. I know I've read on this forum about studies that were done that show the food passes thru.

This is just me.... But I don't think I could handle the port on my chest. I'm not to goal yet but my collarbones now stick out. I still have boobs but there is not other fat in that area. A port there would be extremely noticeable on me. Would make me never want to show any cleavage. Lol. But like I said, that's just me and my two cents.

I've never drank coffee but got my caffeine fix from sodas. I gave those up as instructed by my doctor. So I drink English breakfast tea now. The Twinings brand can be found in most stores. I also often drink chamomile tea at night since it is caffeine free. Most brands are ok though I do stay away from generic/store brands as the tea just seems old. You can also shop at Teavana which is a speciality store. My favorite from there is berry kiwi coloda. Tastes kinda like strong red kool-aid.