Chickie

The trouble with banding is, everything is so darn individual. What works for me in terms of a fill, may not work for you, or anyone else. Some people find their sweet spot within a fill or two. Some ten, and some never.

Oatmeal is GREAT. Make it nice and thick, and it will stick in the pouch for hours. It is actually my brekky of choice. Oats and a banana. Yummy.

No marathon's yet. I do plan on running at least one or two in the coming years. My goal is to do a Tri before I turn 30. But this year, I only have a couple of smaller runs happening. Mostly because I have had so much time off running due to my TT back in August.

LOL, Yeah, I know that the US only started banding in '01. That's why I added the Aussie part. People tend to call you a liar if you make a statement like that, and not qualify it with "I'm in Australia, and the people I know are Aussies". Everyone just assumes you are American.

Be careful not to end up so filled that you can't eat more than a couple of shrimp, and a couple of Beans. More often than not, it is counter productive. Restriction is where you can eat a small meal, and stay full for a couple of hours after. Not eating so little that you are starving yourself. Small healthy meals are are what you should be looking at when you ask yourself if you have restriction. Are you staying full for at least a couple of hours after eating some Protein, carbs and veggies? As opposed to feeling depressed because you look down at your plate and see less than an starving child in a third world country would eat? Full is often described here as a bursting at the seems type feeling, whereas it should really be described as a contented feeling. Full and overeating are often confused. And how often should you have a fill? That is between you and your doctor. Often doctors will not do fills any sooner than 2 weeks apart. Why? It can take 2 weeks for any swelling to go down that the fill may have caused. And it also gives you a chance to get used to the new fill amount, also to see if you have lost any weight. Because if you are losing weight, while eating small healthful meals, and exercising, you do not need a fill.

I don't know who has been banded longest here, but I do know of a couple of bandsters off the boards who have been banded for about 10 years (I am an Aussie, and we have been banding since the late 80's, early 90's) Both have had a few minor issues, but are happy with their bands still.

I am 2+ years banded. I have no idea how to avoid erosion, or slippage. I guess I was/am just lucky.

I like the idea of tracking on Spark People, Fit Day, or that other site, all your food and exercise. Every. Single. Thing. You will be surprised just how quickly it all adds up. In the meantime, maybe kicking the exercise up a little? A power walk? Walking a little longer? A skipping rope for 5 minutes a few times a day? (the rope is fun, and burns quite a few calories)

Ok, I just read that you have the 12ml band. How many ml? Do you have room for another fill?

Hi Phili. You don't say anything about having had any fills. Have you had one (or more)? Do you feel restricted?

In my opinion there is no "better surgery". Rny might not have been my choice of surgery, but for others it has worked very well. Really, you have to look at your lifestyle, the way you eat, the way you exercise, and look deep within and ask yourself if what changes you are prepared to make, then decide what surgery is better for you. And there are other surgeries beside the LapBand and RNY. There is also the DS, and the Gastric Sleeve. If you are still at the looking stage, they are worth looking at too.

I said pretty much the same thing... But somehow, when you say it it sounds so much better! :hail: Sometimes I wish I were better with the written word.

I started running again after a break a couple of months ago, and I am running 5km (just over 3 miles I think) in 35 minutes, and walking for about 20mins at 6km/h on the treadmill, per day. I then go out with DH 4 times a week, getting him started on the Cool Running Couch to 5k program, and on his off days with the C25K, we walk about 3 or 4k. So So I walk / run / drag DH jogging for about 2 hours a day at this stage. Usually covering somewhere around 8 or 9 Km.

Wow, I wish that the man who raped me when I was 8 had forced me to pray instead. If you honestly can connect perverts who RAPE children, with prayer, you are doing something wrong. Seriously.

Hi Judy! I thought the same thing, that I would look way too thin at my medically ideal weight. So I set my goal at the upper end of a healthy BMI for me. I got there, and while I looked ok, I was still a little chubby looking. Although I did not plan on losing more after that, I ended up losing a further 10kg / 22lbs, and am now at a BMI of 19, and look pretty darn good. Not too thin at all. I think it was that I was just unable to see myself as anything other than obese. Good luck!

Hi Brumbie! There are a few surgeons in Brisbane (mine is the best though! lol) http://www.lapband.com.au/Search.asp?state=QLD,#Bottom http://www.blairbowden.com.au/ (Auchenflower) http://www.lapbanding.com.au/ (Greenslopes and Ipswich) http://www.sunnybankobesitycentre.com/ (Sunnybank) I hope that helps a little.

I just wore my undies.

I took supradyn (I waited for it to go flat) for the first year, now I just take Cenovis women's multi, when I remember to take it that is.

Thanks Lianna! I got to goal almost a 9 months ago now, and and I am just thrilled with the way my lifestyle has changed. It's not really about weight, or weight loss any more, or even trying to maintain. It's funny, as obsessed I was with losing weight, I got over it pretty quickly. I got to goal, and found other things to focus my attention on, and I am happier now, than I ever was. I have become the person I always wanted to be. I am doing everything I wanted to, and that feel pretty darn good.

I hope you are feeling better Karen! Hi Jelew! Good luck with the Optifast.

I am fairly sure that is an urban legend. The skin that is removed during a tummy tuck is usually so thin that it would be unsuitable for skin grafts.

I wonder if the sex drive increase has anything to do with exercise. I notice that after a good long run, I am ready to jump on my DH as soon as I run through the door. Perhaps it's the testosterone? Endorphins? Magic fairy dust? Whatever, I will not complain!

Yes. I have / had PCOS, and after about 3 months, I started getting my period every 28 days. I can now time my period with a stop watch. Yes again. With my hormones sorted out, I did notice a big upswing in my sex drive. Not that it was bad before, but my sex drive did get a lot stronger.

Yeah, I saw that... I am often amused by the people who take in so much protein because they don't want their hair to fall out. I have never really kept track of protein, and I still have a thicker than thick head of hair. Wouldn't 70 odd grams of protein a day be hard on the kidneys? And 800 calories a day? How the hell are these people going to survive long term? The idea of the band is to restrict, not starve. But yeah, you are dead on. We would be told to get f%@#$d.

John, the way it was worded was misleading. Sorry if I offended you.