KarenG.

I really don't think that you should worry about it too much. There are plenty of very good surgeons who have really good reasons to stay with the VG band and many, many people on this board who have had fabulous results with it. Ask him or her why - maybe there is a good reason.

I did my last of this weeks runs. It was very dark out when I got up - this fall/winter thing sucks! I think I may be able to progress to the next week. JM - I am sure it is muscle gain and you will have a big drop soon. There is just no way you could be doing this much exercise and not losing.

Hi Donna, I have a labradoodle too (a mini)!

so excited for you and will be looking for updates. Are you having the surgery in NY? How much time do you need to take off of work. For that matter, how much did you have off after the last surgery before your new job?

I absolutely MUST get up early and do my last week 3 run. It has been raining for days here and I have been getting up, looking out the window and opting to workout at night inside. Just putting here for reinforcement! You guys are all doing great!

I am just trying to "keep going" at this point. Not worrying about hte speed. I figure there is always time to speed up later once i have the time down.

Do it! Why not most of us are only on week two.

that is ridiculous.

Jmcambra - yes you do wear the strap around your chest. I took a day off from working out today - i figure 3 days on, break, then 4 days on? 3x per week running, one day swimming, and 1 day long, loong walk and one day elliptical machine.

The problem is that I haven't felt hungry since my last fill so it is really hard to know when I am satisfied. I know - such problems!

Thanks guys - I took your advice and ate like 2-3 ozs of hamburger meat for lunch and I still got the lump feeling - not bad though. I can't believe how little it takes!

hi losin - I came home from a really bad day at work and did my second run of week 2 (I know I am a day ahead of everyone) and I felt so much better afterwards. During I was huffing and puffing and wondering if I was going to make it.

Is it unusual that I feel full 15-20 minutes after eating? I am taking a full 30 minutes for my meal. The problem with this is that when I am full I am really really full - like uncomfortably so. Any thoughts?

I can't believe that you just started running in January! So amazing - I will look for you when I go to cheer my friend at the finish line in the park on Sunday. Hoping to do a 5K myself this spring.

Isn't as bad as I feared because we get longer rest/walk periods. I found that made all the difference - by the end of the walk I was mostly ready to go again!

10 bags of sugar?

I started last week and I was fine. I am only about 2 1/2 months out. Maybe check in with your doctor - I was given specific instructions when I asked about when I could lift weights, etc.

Name...........Chall. Start Wt........Current......Chall. Goal.............To Go abckids..............303.........................3 03...........270......................33 alwayscurious........245......................245. ............212.................33 Amelia40...............270.................... 270................240................30 areellady...............232....................226 .5...........212.................14.5 argon..................162...................155.2 ...............142...............13.2 Ariel....................207.................... 199 ..............182..................17 aussie_jode...........212......................212 .............190..................22 BabygotBack..........164.....................164. ............145..................19 Babygrl1234...........215......................205 ............190.................15 Becky42................253.....................248 ...............220...............28 bekafina.................225.....................2 25.............199................26 Cherrybomb...........311....................306 ..............291................15 chickatee..............203.....................196 ..............175................21 chocolate_snaps......344....................342... ...........299................43 cQQlgirl..................225...................21 8................185..............33 Chris_NJ................284....................259 .................250..............9 cindyluhu...............194....................194 ...............180.............14 dacer123...............243....................243. ..............223................20 Denise...................170....................17 0...............155...............15 Denise..................244.....................24 4...............220................24 Desertbunnee.........232....................207. .............180................27 DonnaD................185.....................185. .............170................15 eclipse..................215.....................2 12..............199................16 faithmd................303.....................303 ............ 283...............16.7 glindab................ 277.....................269...............250..... .. .......19 gonnabfree............231....................231.. ..............205................26 Guinessgirl77.........241...................241 ..................210..............31 gweniper..............253.....................236. ...............223...............30 hf2havefun...........240......................240. ..............210................30 ihadenuf................216....................216 ................190................26 itsjustducky...........317....................317. ................297...............20 james2539............235.4.................235.4 ................220.............15.4 jfran……………………….212………………………204……………………..196………………8 jglong54...............206....................206. .................195.............11 jadrad7.................224....................224 .................200..............24 jazzystouch...........246......................246 ...............220...............26 Jeni 85.................237....................230 ..................207..............23 joisey....................307....................3 07................290...............17 josiebies...............188......................1 70................165................5 JulieNYC................155.....................14 9.................136..............13 Kaelin's G-Ma.........272....................272............. ......220.............12 KarenG................. 240.....................227...................215. ...........12 katalin.e................230.....................1 79.................150..............29 Keekahari..............230......................23 0..................215............15 Kellymovingon........207......................196 .................187............9 Kimmie.................296.....................290 ..................270.............20 ladydi............. .....233.....................228.................2 08...............20 legster..................261....................24 0................228...............12 LeslieLee...............216.....................21 6................186...............30 LifeLover..............289.....................275 ..............259................16 LilMissBandAid.......276.8...................276.8 ............265...............11.8 lisa_in_toronto.......180......................180 ................160...............20 losingjusme...........273.....................270. ...............238................31 luvinke..................225.................. ..223..................195..............28 maddog.................230.....................230 ................205..............25 marcar35...............277.....................268 ................250............. 18 mcgreen...............236......................220 .................210..............10 METALBAND...........187.....................179... ..... .......167..............13 momlambert..........207...................204.5... ............185..............20.5 mpalen.................229.....................229 ................200................29 Peache8887...........330.....................306.. ...............275..............31 pmmegm..............248.....................248... ...............228..............20 Rainer..................298................... 273..................258................15 robgoblin87............279...................279.. ................250...............29 SC2VA..................233.....................233 ..................200..............33 sdakotaRN.............254.....................254. ................225..............29 Short C................. 166....................166.................146.. ............20 Soniacan...............198.5..................198. 5.............175.............23.5 Stacy73.................259.....................23 8...............230...............8 Sunny112..............215.....................157. ...............140...............17 Suzzzie. ...............349....................334......... .......320................14 sweethot143..........197....................188... ...........175.................13 tanderson..............231.....................231 ...............199................32 teacher.................236.....................23 6.............200................36 ToniaPatt …..........286……….....……......283………......... 243.… ........…40 UK-Lady...............255.....................223.... ...........210.................13 Wannabthin...........231......................222. .............211................20 want2beme...........225.....................225.. ............195................30 wen.....................288......................2 84..............255................29 Whosyadaddy.........388.....................369... ...........335................43 __________________

Hi, I think that is a bit excessive too. I have been losing weight steadily for the past 2 1/2 months (still very new) as I have been losing I have gained oodles of energy. I workout about 5 times a week now but not for an hour each time. The days when I am really busy I try to do higher intensity exercise and on the weekends I do longer walks. I think you should just try and do as much as you can and you will see that you will soon feel like doing more.

i had a about 100 fever a few days after surgery. my doctor told me that anything over 101.5 is something to worry about. I would call and check in anyway.

that is really great. I have noticed the weight picking up this past week - totally exciting. You could always start week 2 and then stop and not run the entire minutes - build up to it and then repeat week 2?

I know we are still a month out but I was thinking we should share some recipes. I will go to my parents so the turkey is up to them but we all always contribute 1-2 sides. Last year I made breads and pies! ooops. I was thinking of some veggie thing - and a healthy dessert. One of my cousins is a veg. so we are always trying to include things that she can eat.

<p>I am going to do the first run of week 2 today (try) and see how it goes. I am doing a breast cancer walk tomorrow so I won't have time to go run (or energy) .. I am accepting the fact that I may not be able to do it.. I am still on liquids from the fill yesterday.</p> (edit) I actually did the week 2! My lungs were burning but managed all 6 intervals. The walking intervals are longer and that made it possible for me. My dog is loving this!

Depends on your insurance plan. I did not need a referral for mine and paid $250 for my entire hospital stay etc.

Hi - I don't know him but usually they review your health and tell you about the surgery. I met with the nutritionist the same day but alreaady had a letter from a therapist with me. I was very nervous but it was aa a breeze.