HealthyNewMe

Name, real or screen~ HealthyNewMe Goal weight for September 30th~ 185 Weight on September 1st~188 Age~ 54 City/State~New Orleans, LA Dietary goal for September~ Continue to monitor REFINED CARBS Exercise goal for September~ Add resistance/weight training Personal goal for September~ Clean out the last two closets in my "kid's bedrooms" Date banded~ 8/22/13 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 139 pounds Favorite Fall Activity~watching/attending FOOTBALL games, especially as a BAND MOM

My MIND MONKEYS had run amuck for decades. Still deal with them on a regular basis, but have retrained some of them.

It took me about 7 to 8 months and about 6 fills to get to the GREEN. I, too, lost all along the way. From as little as 3 pounds a month to as much as 9-10 pounds a month. I hit my first stall or plateau last doctor's visit. Those stalls SUCK, but it is what it is. Normally, that's when I would have thrown in the towel on another DIET, but now, I just keep on keeping on. The scale will move again, but I'm sure my weight loss is slowing down. Best Wishes to you. I don't think it is wise to compare yourself to others bc from what I read on this site, 100 people have 100 different answers and 100 different experiences.

Welcome. I think the shoulder pain is from gas from the surgery. I started my weight loss journey at 53. I now feel like I'm 33. You are right...... Take hold of your health while you're still relatively young. I have totally become a HEALTHYNEWME. Just came back from my one year check-up and besides the weight loss, I also had a blood pressure of 107/65, a loss of 13 inches around my waist, from 45 inches to now 33 inches. I wear a size 12 in clothing. I am at the gym SIX days a week, doing 65 minutes a day on the elliptical. I am not saying these things in a bragging way, but really to offer you hope that you, too, can start to feel healthy again and get back the quality of life that you deserve. Best Wishes!

The beauty of getting older is that I finally figured out that NUMBERS are just that......NUMBERS. There is NO NUMBER on a scale or chart that can define "HOW HEALTHY I FEEL."

I freeze banana and strawberries and add that to Premium Protein vanilla shakes. Thick, milkshake consistency. I add PB2 to the chocolate powder protein with Water and ice. I, too, bought a Ninja.

Today is my ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of having this beautiful piece of plastic placed in me...... What a difference a year makes: I'm at the gym SIX DAYS A WEEK !!!!! My elliptical and I have a SIXTY-FIVE MINUTE affair every day !!!!!! I eat like a NORMAL PERSON !!!!!! I LOOK like a NORMAL PERSON !!!!!! My BLOOD PRESSURE has been in the 107/72 range whenever taken !!!!!!! My SOCIAL LIFE is phenomenal !!!!!!!!! I wear a size 12 pant, a size 12 dress, and a Large shirt !!!!!! I buttoned and zippered my daughter's high school uniform skirt that she wore five years ago (cleaning out her closet after she moved out last month and I couldn't resist trying it on)!!!!!!! I weigh less than I did on my wedding day 26 years ago !!!!! I had the added pleasure of watching my husband become a HEALTHYNEW ME...... He's lost 60 pounds and is at the gym six days a week too!!!!!! I've met so many wonderful people on this forum...... I had the pleasure on meeting in person GoWalking and LisaCaron and I have spoken on the phone with Rebeccaabrooks86. Can you tell that I'm in love with my band?????

Getting rid of the scale and weighing just at the doctor's office was THE MOST LIBERATING THING that I've ever done in 53 years!!!!!!!

I just came off of a SIX WEEK stall. Very normal....... Very disappointing, but very normal.

Of course you're nervous.... and excited too, I bet. I am one year out as of TODAY. It's a life changer....... I'm with your friend..... If you could do it on your own, you would have. To me, that is proof that you are headed in the right direction to reclaim your health and your life. Best wishes on YOUR JOURNEY!

Well, I think EXERCISE has been the key for ME.... Could barely walk into the gym 15 months ago. Could barely sit on a stationaty bike and pedal for 10-15 minutes. But, through the encouragement of my husband, I continued to go. Now, I'm at the gym 60 - 90 minutes a day, six days a week. I know I'm not answering your question about the BAND, but it's because of the BAND and the continual weight loss that I have become a successful exerciser. Band related success...... Frequent follow-up appointments, with FILLS as needed to get to the GREEN. I eat ONLY when I'm hungry. Cut out most all refined carbohydrates. Lots of Protein. Lots of Water. I don't get on the scale daily or even weekly. I liberated myself from letting a number determine my worth. ENJOY THE RIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Only weigh once a month...... It's very liberating!

I see Dr. Michael Thomas at WhyWeight..... I have no idea how much his office charges for fills since mine were covered with my surgery. Best wishes!

Good for you!!!!!!!

I pureed soups for that phase. I still eat pureed soups for a day or two after a fill.

Can you drink/eat broth? I found that eating/drinking hot savory broth was so much better than always having a cold Protein shake. You can do ANYTHING for two weeks (or however long)......Best wishes!

I'm not defending your mom....... I'm 54 and my 90 year old mom (who has weighed 120-124 pounds her whole life) used to drive me crazy about what I ate, when I was dieting, did I exercise, etc. You are right, SHE HAS NO CLUE what your life is like. But as a mother myself, I can tell you one thing for sure....... She's scared about the surgery and her daughter having "elective" surgery. Best wishes!!!!!!

I think the whole "doing the same thing (exercising ) for THREE WEEKS makes it a habit" is BS...... THREE MONTHS..... I still say BS My exercise HABIT didn't become a legit HABIT until six to seven months of daily exercise. To be honest, I've been exercising six days a week for 15 months now. Through a two week Disney/Beach vacation, and through two weekend vacations....... I am SCARED to death to take off more than one day a week bc I'm afraid it will be the beginning of the end. You need motivation?????? Get someone to commit going with you until YOU GET BACK IN THE HABIT.

I'm not a Breakfast eater, although I like breakfast foods...... On the rare occasion that I eat breakfast, I can say this....... I will not share my bacon. I like it way too much!!!!!!!

That GREEN ZONE is one fickle place to find..... I thought I was in it TWICE, only to realize that it had eluded me yet again. I think I was seven months out and had six fills before I found it. Just got "tweaked" again with another small fill on Tuesday though. I was told that for some people, they may need a slight fill adjustment after being in the GREEN as they continue to lose weight. I don't know...... I just keep trying to uphold my committment to : 1. Exercise daily, 2. Make follow-up appointments every six weeks, 3. Make good food choices 90% of the time, and 4. Enjoy my current weight loss !

I eat soup and gumbo all the time. I'm a year out. I don't think it is considered "DRINKING."

I was told they only meet once a month to review the files...... But, I will tell you this. Once that board meets, and you get the approval.....it's a VERY FAST process. I met my surgeon on a Thursday, and I had surgery the following Thursday. Coming up on a year for me........ AUGUST 22.

Soup is usually on the LIQUIDS menu most doctors prescribe, so it is acceptable during the liquid stage. Was your question whether or not you could have the solid part of chicken noodle soup? OR is the liquid considered "drinking" while eating? As far as drinking while eating, every doctor has their own protocol. Lots of debates on this site with that very question. Just follow what your doctor told you. Best Wishes!

You are ROCKING the banded life. Congrats and Best Wishes for continued success.....

Best Wishes for a successful surgery and banded life. Dr. Thomas is a great surgeon, and the follow-up visits have been great. Once you are a few weeks out from surgery, I can offer two bits of advice...... Schedule and go to ALL of your follow-up monthly appointments and get into some EXERCISE routine. I have a follow-up appointment tomorrow and since I will be one year out on August 22, I think they will start scheduling appointments every three months. I now exercise SIX days a week......If I can do it, just about anyone can do it.