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If you take this journey, you will find that you don't have to ask those questions! This is one decision I made in my life that I will never, ever regret if I live to be 100! (And HEY, I just MIGHT!) :ohmy:

Mnn2501, at only eating 1/2 - 3/4 cup of food for each meal, I have real difficulty getting in 60 - 90 grams of Protein a day! (i.e. Had a small sausage for breakfast today and was absolutely stuffed and it was all of 6 grams of protein!) I have such great restriction that I have to supplement my daily with shakes (not replace meals, just supplement them). :ohmy:

I am SO glad you posted this thread! Being relatively new, I often wonder what happens in the coming years--and now I can see a real success story continues!! It does seem sometimes that the only "old" banders who ever post here are those who say they've totally lost their way and have gained back 50 pounds! So it so refreshing to hear from someone who proves the band DOES work forever!! Our heartiest congratulations to you both, Dow and Deb!! :sneaky: Your picture looks mahvelous, even WITH the extra 50!

My Bariatric Center recommends 45 minutes, so I make a mental note of my finishing time with each meal. I know my meal has digested by the time I drink again. Only one time I had eaten something and had about a cup of Water left in my bottle and swigged it down--believe me, it's the LAST time I'll be doing anything like that again!! Instant pain! My worst (hunger) time comes between my 12:00 lunch time and 5:45 dinner time (workout after work), so I have a Protein shake around 2:45-3:00 which satiates me totally until dinnertime. Think you're doing just fine!

Trystelle and Heather, I am howling!! (1) Yes, Happy, one true side effect is the sudden desire to go to the Mall and buy something that fits and looks good!!! (2) A sudden desire to swivel your hips when you walk, just a little bit! (they swivelled themselves before ) (3) A sudden desire to go out into the sun and (oh no!) put a bathing suit on! (ooops, with much LESS tanning lotion m'dear!) (4) A sudden desire to wrap your arms around someone special--and now you can really get your arms around them! As you can see, the side effects are endless--and I sure hope they NEVER end...:eek:

It IS scary, isn't it!! Because for so long, we couldn't lose a real pound to save our lives and then suddenly it starts coming off. And the head hunger is overtaken by a yearning to become smaller and smaller...unreal. Yes, Grace is right, though--you eventually WILL get some hunger back and you WILL chase demons--but you are developing the strength to stave them off right now! The discipline we develop is amazing and I still can't believe what a different body and sense of being I have now. What a rush!!! You have put it so well--I never would have dreamed something this wonderful could happen to me!!

In the seven months prior to being banded, I read these threads like the bible--BUT I took it all with a grain of salt, which is what you have to do. Generally when people come here, it's basically because they have questions or a problem--so you just have to figure it out for yourself. As Apples2 said, this is like one big family--yes, we are sometimes dysfunctional--but we are all going through the same issues--and we have faced the same public ignorance and we all have said "I've had enough of my old life and I am willing to make the changes necessary to have a new one." And there are those of us who DON'T do the research--who think this Band is a magic wand! And those will be the ones who find themselves mired in a situation they can't control with their prior habits and will be on this board looking for answers. Whatever this board is, it has certainly provided me with respite when no-one else can understand me or what I'm going through, not even my sweet sweet husband!

I too had nothing in my band post-op; as of now I have had four fills and finally got restriction on my third for about two weeks. Yes, it's tough when there's no restriction, but discipline should be our middle names! You have to continue eating properly, eating only a small amount at a time, (chewing, chewing, chewing!) and do not get off track--that could jeopardize all the good work you've done so far! Hang in there--your time will come, too! :wink: ********* PS Here's the instructions I made for myself because I had such trouble making a ticker! For the Ticker Factory: go in and create your own ticker (be sure to remember your password!) At the end, highlight everything in the top box (the bb: box), right click and hit Copy. Then come into this site, sign in and go to My Account on the top. Then go to Edit Signature on the left. Left click in the big box. Then right click and hit Paste. You should see your ticker appear. Be sure to go to the bottom of the page and click on Save Signature. When it comes back, you'll see your ticker at the top of the page. (Then to change it, all you have to do is to double click on the one at the top of the page)...

My pre-op diet was for 17 days and was all the same (except for the campbell's soup). First few days were a bear, but then it got so much easier (and I lost some weight, which made it all the better!) :wink:

I've belonged to Curves for five years now and the "stations" in between the machines were originally called "resting stations", which meant just walking in place or maybe a little dancing. Now they seem to promote aerobic activity on them, so many people jog or do jumping jacks even! However, this is your choice totally!! Everyone does what they want to do--even if you want to just stand in place and swing your arms around, it would be fine! Now on to the machines: the squat machine will have to be off limits, I'm sure, because there is great pressure put on the legs/feet (you get under and actually lift the bars up with your shoulders and then squat down and up). The leg press may hurt your feet also (you are seated with your feet up, pressing on two metal plates), so you may have to forego it too. I have bad knees and I never have a problem with just skipping a machine and going on to the next station. You should be the one to decide which ones hurt your feet--you should be able to do 85% of the machines there, though. And right now they are having a food drive (they do it every March)--bring in a bag of food (or just a few items) and they waive the initial fee for joining. As everyone said, they will allow you to try it out, so do that and make your decision from there! :wub:

Wow, Blund, I can think of NO BETTER way to Celebrate your 44th birthday than to start your new life!!! My suggestion to you is that if you celebrate with cake, dinner out, etc, be sure to get an early celebration in--by April 10th I would say, so plan on that. Once you start preparation for surgery, you're on your way and shouldn't look back........!!! :wub:

Cakegal, I really thought I was eating sensibly before: Cereal for breakfast, tuna croissant for lunch, meat and a side dish for supper--so besides working out four days a week, I couldn't understand WHY I couldn't lose any weight. I was positive it was my metabolism, and maybe it was in part. But now, OMG, I really SEE that I was eating far too much, and WAY too many carbs!! It was a cup of cereal, a huge tuna croissant, and dinner was (example) three barbequed spareribs and 1/2 box of Kraft macaroni and cheese!! My portions now are 3/4 cup and under and believe me, I am STUFFED when I am done eating!! I now drink water--ooooouou, I would never have touched Water before. An eight ounce glass was more than enough for me in one day!!! Now I drink a minimum of three bottles a day--and I LIKE it! (The more water you drink, the more you get to liking it I find!!) :wub: Carbs are now my enemy and Protein is my best friend--and the shakes just satiate me so much! Your whole life will change--unbelievably! But it WILL revolve around you, too, in that you will be constantly assessing what you have done for your body today: did I get enough protein, did I drink enough water, did I take my Vitamin, get my Calcium? YOU are going to be just fine, trust me...

You ARE my story exactly! I've worked out since 1983 and didn't have a lot of co-morbities associated, i.e. diabetes, sleep apnea. Did have acid reflux and my knees have arthritis (but look at my age, for heaven's sake!)... And yes, my scale kept climbing, climbing, climbing! In the six months I went to the nutritionist, I lost a TOTAL of six pounds (and I really think my high weight was just on a bad day, luckily... ). I honestly thought this Band would never work for me, NEVER! But here I am--I still work out four days a week (two at the YMCA and two at Curves)--I'm not sure I like your doctor's recommendation that you quit working out :confused2: what's up with that???? Have faith, cakegal, it DOES work--as long as we maintain the discipline to let it help us. But it also means we have to totally submit to a life change. That's the key...:wub:

Well honestly, I have never considered using a Protein drink as a meal--merely as a supplement for getting sufficient protein in daily. I have a shake in the afternoon around 3:00 between lunch and dinner--and it satiates me totally so I'm not tempted to grab something else. Then if I find I haven't gotten in enough protein, I'll have another one during the evening. The powdered shake I use (IDS Multi Pro) is made with Water, tastes terrific, has low carbs, 110 calories, and 23 grams of protein for 6 ounces. I don't find canned shakes appealing at all--if I use them at all, they are strictly for convenience sake. I think you're having flashbacks of using Slim Fast in place of a meal--I think you'll do better keeping it real food for your meals, honestly...:wub:

Have a look at Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, books, DVDs & more They have a gazillion flavors and types (in all different sizes too) and some even have free shipping! That's how I found my favorite, IDS Multi Pro in Belgian chocolate which I mix in just Water, and it tastes terrific! But each of us is different and it's good you're starting early to find out which one fits you! (Sorry, but all the canned ones--and the unjury--taste just nasty to me!) :wub:

With my restriction, I cannot get my 60 - 80 grams of Protein in daily, even with drinking skim milk. So every day I use IDS Multi Pro belgian chocolate powder with water--and it tastes terrific! (amazon.com has a ton of various flavors in different sizes) I keep a mental note of how much protein I've had, and if I'm still short in the evening, I'll have another. (I checked with my surgeon just last Friday, and he approved of one to two shakes a day.) I have yet to find a canned drink that doesn't taste tinny, that is really good. (I keep Zoic on hand for convenience only, because it has 1/2 the calories of Slim Fast Lo Carb, less carbs and fats and more protein--but it tastes as bad as all the other canned drinks--that have low carbs, that is)...:wub:

I forgot to add to try to make sure you get a sports bra with a wide band around the bottom (with hopefully good elastic in it). A thin band at the bottom allows the bra to ride up and over--not good! Whereas the wide band tucks those puppies away for good! :wink2:

I've worked out since 1983 and was up to a 42C. Lessnless is absolutely correct: Champion makes an excellent sportsbra! I also use Under Armour Sportsbras which do a good job of supporting the kids too! The difference is that Champion's is mostly cotton and heavier, so it provides good support. Under Armour is a nylon/polyester and so is lighter (for summer) so you're not quite so tightly held. With both, I always make sure I get the "Racer Back", so there's excellent support and no bother with "straps". And I find a lot of mine on Ebay (I only buy the brand new ones!)--sometimes you can get a really good deal, even WITH the shipping! :wink2:

Jamd, please recheck that date--maybe April 30th??? (April only has 30 days, sweetie) :thumbup:

Yes, Shortgal, my surgeon is extremely conservative on fills! In fact, on Friday when he learned I'd gotten restriction for two weeks on the last fill, he said "Well, I'll put in .25cc this time"--at which I said, "Oh, you can put in .50cc" and he did. I WAS envious of those other banders who say they get 2cc or 3cc at a clip--but then when I read about the "overfills" and "unfills", I think "Better Safe than Sorry"!! Our perfect time is coming, I'm sure m'dear!!!

That's the way it has been for me. With my third fill (2.5cc), I got real restriction for about two weeks and then it got loose again. With this fourth fill I got Friday (another .5cc, up to 3.0cc), I was afraid to get too much, but now I'm not a whole lot tighter than before--thinking I should have gotten 1.0cc! But I've never read where anyone said the Band gets tighter over time...:confused2:

I found out something interesting last Friday: My surgeon originally talked to me about the bypass because I had acid reflux, which he said could be exaggerated by the Band. Friday I went in for my fourth fill and I happened to say to my surgeon, "Well, at least I don't have the dumping syndrome". And he said "The way we do the bypass now, THERE IS NO DUMPING SYNDROME!" Boy, was I shocked! Knowing everything I do now, without the fear of dumping, I can't positively say which one I would have chosen! Now, I love my Band, don't get me wrong--but it DOES seem that advances have been made. (Especially, too, since there's no fear of liver failure any longer with bypass).

What I must say is that your BMI is only 35.8. Have you checked with your insurance company about coverage? The reason I ask is that most insurance companies require a BMI of 40 or greater. And if you are having ANY doubts at all, your best bet would be to wait until you are absolutely sure that this life change is exactly what you want--because I know you also read about those persons who think this is a quick fix to all their problems, only to be confronted by other issues they weren't prepared for. As for me, I studied for seven months before I allowed myself to be wheeled into the operating room--and I knew it was absolutely the best thing I could have ever done for myself. (Only sorry it wasn't available many years ago). :shades_smile:

I also have bad knees and have belonged to Curves now for five years. First of all, the squat machine is totally out! (the one where you are standing under two shoulder pads and you squat down and raise up again). Avoid the leg curl (the seated one where you curl your legs around the padded bars) if it hurts your knees and also the leg press (seated where your legs are up pushing on two metal plates). The inner and outer thigh machine (seated spread-eagle where you bring your legs in and out) shouldn't affect your knees. If you have a leg extension at your Curves-you may not- (standing, where you press back with your foot), test that one out for yourself. When I've had issues with my knees, I don't hesitate to skip that machine and go on to the next aerobic pad. And you can then just time 25 minutes around, instead of "three times around on the machines". I got a steroid shot in my worst knee last August and it has lasted until this past month, so that may be an idea for you! It may just be a while until you reduce the amount of weight bearing down on your knees. I work out at the YMCA also (weight training) but I adjust my program there also to accommodate for my knees. Working through the pain isn't an option for us--because it IS pain and not the good "burn" of working muscle groups. Whatever you do, don't give up--it's all so worth it! :thumbup:

I bought my digital Taylor scale at WalMart for about $35.00 and it's the best scale I've ever had! It's always right on the money, even if it doesn't always give me the answer I want....:biggrin: