mcgreen

aren't the stats that 50% of people who get the band will lose half of their excess body weight in the first year? There is a bell curve around that so some people do extraordinarily well and others are in the 30lb club. Your weight loss is GREAT! Think of how much better physically you feel, look at old photos and don't think that the weight loss has to stop. it DOESN'T! If you are unhappy with the loss, look at your diet and activities and see what you could change to maybe boost it a bit. You are doing great so reward yourself for doing so well by focusing on what you've accomplished and what you still CAN do!

I'm in for the challenge. I'm convinced that to truly lose the weight that I want to lose I'll need to exercise more than 5 days a week. Water is very hard for me - I don't have a desk job and I can't interact with some of the people who come to see me with a water bottle in my hand It was easier when I could chug it thanks for starting the challenge!

I really appreciate everything yall have posted about your exercise routines. I'm a new bandster but am convinced from reading the stories of people who have lost 100+ lbs that the majority of them have done it with exercise and the band helps with cutting down on food so the loss can continue. Increasing muscle mass will increase the basal metabolic rate so it works for you on so many levels to exercise. I go to the gym 6 days a week and at this point am doing primarily cardio. In about another month, I'm going to get a trainer and start on the weights. I do 30 minutes eliptical (and OMG I didn't know I could sweat like this!) then 15 on the treadmill to cool down. I love the eliptical cause it doesn't hurt any of my joints. Ideally I want to become a runner but think I need to lose about 60-70 lbs before I try it. I'm going to focus on getting my CV system in top shape by increasing resistance on the eliptical and varying the routine I do on the machine. I was worried that it could be harmful to exercise daily that you need some breaks - it looks like many of you are successful with daily exercise which is very encouraging thanks to yall who have had success in posting what has worked for you- its an inspiration and allows me to ignore a lot of the negative stuff on this board

I think it depends also on your health- the more medical problems you have, the higher the chance you'll need pre-op tests. I think they recommend a low carb diet to many people prior to surgery in case you have fatty liver to try to reduce the size of the liver but I didn't get any specific recs from him

this really hit home with me - I think that's true for me in many ways. Like you, I'm doing this for my health, so I can wear cuter clothes and I'll ignore the icky love stuff if guys start hitting on me.... at least until I can handle it to the thread starter- hang in there and its great you are thinking about this! getting our heads where we need them to be is so much of our battle

I did two business trips last week and had no problems. Worst case scenario they private screen you and you can show them your port scar. good luck!

I'm almost 1 month out- on mushies (primarily protein shakes with some soft foods cause I'm picky) - for me, even getting in 60 oz of fluid a day, I'm constipated and need to take colace. I hope the capsules don't get stuck after my first fill! Fiber is good if you take enough water in otherwise it constipates

that definitely scares me- also as I'm self pay, there is no way I could afford a 2nd operation! I'll officially be 4 weeks tomorrow and am going for a fill on Wed- I think I can advance my diet to regular stuff tomorrow - going to call the MD's office to be certain its ok to do it before being seen. I miss beef!

no seat belt extender on the airplane!

I very much understand how you are feeling. I'm a band newbie- but part of the reason I did it was to try to get my older brother to consider WLS. He weighs over 400 lbs and has 2 small kids. I'm hoping that my success (and it WILL happen) will help him to make a positive choice for himself. Honestly, I don't think the band will help unless someone is mentally ready and even then - our head hunger is still there so pushing someone isn't likely to help- it might set them up for failure Hugs to you for wanting good things for your close ones!

that is very true- the diaphragm's nerves send referral pain to your shoulder so whatever irritates the diaphragm can cause your shoulder to ache. Gas can do it if it puts pressure, the surgery itself can cause irritation to it and that's part of why its so hard to treat. Nerve pain doesn't go away easily with pain meds so I don't even try those any more

for me the only thing that works is lying flat on my back. At the first sign of it, I lie down and within 30 minutes it goes away. During my lunch break today at work, I was on the floor in my office for 30 minutes trying to head off a bad attack. I think the shoulder pain has been the worst part for me- it can last several weeks according to my doctor's handout. hang in there!

The article didn't bother me- good for them for being able to lose that much weight! I hope that they are successful in keeping it off. I lost 70 lbs in college and gained it back + another person's weight over the next 15 years. For some people it works, others it doesn't and they need extra tools. The 2 things that struck me the most about the article was first that the majority of the people were under the age of 30 and 2nd - most of them exercise daily. I think the article did a bad job on focusing that the key was calories in <<< calories out. I'm hoping one day to give up my belief that "I'll run only when chased by a person with a knife" It does suck that more attention isn't given to people who undergo WLS- it is an effective tool for many and more publicity will help decrease the stigma that some associate with the surgery

I'm self pay and am using park plaza purely because in case of a *rare* emergency, I thought it was better to be in a full hospital (paranoid medical person here) glad to see so many people with positive experiences! My surg is in a week (eek!)

thanks for the recipe!

that's great to know- thanks! Do you find that if you add the protein to thicker stuff - yogurt; sugar free pudding that the taste isn't too obvious ( for the "no taste" protein

congrats and good luck to everyone! my date is 5/21 - luckily I don't need a pre-op liquid diet. That's going to be the hardest part for me- I don't like soup and then the mushy stage- I can't stand eggs. Thank goodness for places like this board to pick up hints of ways to make this journey better!