Luv2scuba

I am just starting to look at this surgery and can't seem to find any surgeons in my area. It looks as if i'll need to travel to Erie and Hamot (2.5 horus) or Magee's Woman's in Pittsburg or Alegany gen, pittsburg too (both 3 hours) . Any other ideas? Has anyone used either facility? Thanks, pat

Hi, today was my 5K and i finished first over all in my age division! Thanks for all your help! Next month is a 6 K and I want to run that in the time it took me to run today! You guys are the best! hugs, Pat

Name...........Start Lbs......Current..........Goal.......To Go Laurr925..........240...............240...............220........20 luv2scuba........201...............201...............185........16

I do love diving, i havent done a lot the past year but hope to change that this summer. Thanks for the suggestions. I thought about the water yesterday while i was running. The other thing i thought about was that our weather last week went from temps below freezing to temps in the 60's literally overnight, with some pretty high humidity too. I will give your suggestions a try, and alternate strenth training and running and not do too much. I'll also give the solid protein a try. You girls are certainly an inspiration to keep going, i love reading this thread. hugs, Pat

Hi! I haven't posted to this thread before but have been reading here for a while. I've been doing the C25K and just finished wk 8. I was banded 2/16/09, was doing C24k before banding and after i went back a couple of weeks and have been building up. I've signed up to run a 5K on 5/16/09. Here's my problem -I'm running the time but no where near the distance and last week i really felt i hit a wall about half way thru the run and had to walk some of it. So i'm wondering if i'm overtraining, not eating the right stuff before i run? I get up at 4:45, and have a cup of chia latte mix that i make. The mix has nonfat dry milk, protein powder, some Equal and spices. I heat it with 8 oz skim milk. I drink that and try to be at the park by 6:00 to start my run. After my run i come home and do a workout video, lately has been the biggest loser power sculpt. On the days i don't run, i walk between 2 & 3 miles and come home and do the biggest loser cardio max video. So i've been doing about an hour to an 1.5 hours of exercise a day. Sundays is a rest day, tho as a family we try to something together, geocaching, a walk or something, but nothing real intense. Do i need to eat something more before i work out? If so, protein or healthy carb (oatmeal?)? Am i over training? My weight loss has kind of stalled at right around the 200 mark. I'm scheduled for a fill this Wednesday, my 2nd. I'm averaging between 65 and 80 gms of protein a day, and between 1000 & 1200 calories. I eat healthy carbs, fruits and veggies. My whole grains consist of steel cut oatmeal for breakfast and maybe whole grain crackers for lunch. No potatoes, rice, pasta or bread. Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Pat

I get my ticker from www.tickerfactory.com after you create one, you can copy and paste the bbc code into your signature in the user cp here. Good luck.

i will try to get the group stuff finished this weekend and get the address to you by monday. Thanks!

Congratulations on being under 200! You are doing great! I had my surgery with Dr. Ali on 2/16/09. I was 220 on DOS and today am 208, i can't wait to get below 200! I had my first fill this past Tuesday, a small one of 1 cc. I've been exercising inside, using Wii fit and only last week, getting outside to walk/run. I'm happy with my decision and pleased with my progress. adoptmom, I'm thinking of starting a yahoo group for those of us who had surgery at Hamot. Would you be interested? It would be a simpler form of this, but mostly for those of us who used Hamot. Hope you both have a pleasant day! Lets stay in touch. Pat

It is hard to get all the protein in when you are not hungry. I use Isopure or a protein bullet as the cold Water in my Jello and add an envelope of knox Gelatin to it also. It can add up to 17 gms of protein for 1/2 cup of jello. And it doesn't make it taste any different. Feeling really tired can be a sign of dehydration so make sure you're getting enough fluids too! My nutritionist also suggested using double strenth milk (1/3 cup of dry nonfat milk added to 1 c. skim milk) to boost my protein. I add it to my Soups and my carnation instant Breakfast, in the blue box (the liquid supplement my surgeon recommends). I was using the double strength milk in my pudding before surgery too, and can't wait till next week when i can have pudding again. Hope you're feeling better now! The gas is the worst of it, in my opinion! I had lots of gas on Sat, of course the day i had an event to attend! I love the isopure and the proslam's! I mix it with jello, or crystal light, it sure does boost the protein! Hope you're feeling better! i found i can sleep on my right side with a pillow tucked under and against my incisions. I was so tired of sleeping on my back! I hear ya, try supporting your tummy with a pillow or an extra blanket to see if it helps. I'm feeling pretty good. Still sore, especially around the port site, which i expected. I went back to work this week and i'm tired at the end of the day, but not unbearably so. Hope everyone has a pleasant day. hugs, Pat

Congratulations! Great loss! Wow! Already off meds, that is terrific! Awesome loss! Great job! Great loss! Now for my stats - I started pre-op at 228.2, at surgery weighed 220.4 and for my first band weigh-in was at 216.6. So that gives me a total of 11.6 in 2 weeks! I don't see my surgeon for another 3 weeks. I see my PCP next tuesday and i know he will be pleasantly surprised - cause i will be close to a 20 lb loss in about 6 weeks WE are on our way! Congratulations everyone! hugs, Pat

Happily on the other side. I had my surgery on Monday, home late Tuesday afternoon. Doing well, not much pain, just sore. Feeling better every day. Katy, my heart goes out to you! Sending postive thoughts and energy your way! hugs, Pat

Congratulations to everyone! Sounds like everyone made it thru with flying colors! My surgery was scheduled for 7:20 am, i ran a few minutes late getting in there as they couldn't get an iv site started. But once that got in, i was on my way, and it was all good. I've had little pain, in my shoulder, i found a heating pad helps alleviate that. I'm sore on my incisions but nothing too bad. Yesterday was a blah day, feeling tired and sore, had a hard time drinking much of anything. Today I'm feeling much more like myself. Finding it much easier to drink. We are part of a very elite group now, congrats everyone!

I start my pre-op diet on monday for surgery the 16th. I'm allowed carnation instant Breakfast, skim milk, Jello and no calorie drinks. I'm glad it's only a week! Pat

Hi all, I start my pre-op diet on Monday. 6 packs of Carnation Instant breakfast in skim milk. I'm allowed to have sf jello and no calorie beverages as well. Glad it's only a week! How is everyone else doing?

Hi all! It's been a while since i've written, but i've been here reading and reading. I got a call this afternoon saying that my surgery has been scheduled for 2/16! I start the pre-surgery liquid diet the 9th. I see the surgeon on the 10th. After all these months of waiting, it's happening very, very fast! I wanted to share with you, cause you will understand the emotions i'm feeling right now! I'm not even sure i can begin to describe it! Thanks for listening! Hugs, Pat

Hi! I got the call today, my surgery is scheduled for the 16th. I'm going to Hamot hosp, in Erie, Pa. Dr. Ali is my Dr. I think i'm still in shock. It doesn't seem real yet. Looking forward to getting to know all my fellow banders! Pat

Adoptmom2-3, I'm glad things are going well for you. I'm glad to hear that your experience has been good. I hope i'll be able to submit to insurance by next week. Pat

BG, I hear ya! I have the prettiest spreadsheets that track my weight loss! I totally agree with you about the mindset thing. I have to find a way that i can eat for the rest of life. No more diets but lifestyle changes. And i'm not sure i totally understand that or how to do it. Some say we can't really comprehend the changes the band will make until we actually have it. I, too, hope for a normal (whatever that is!) relationship with food. I asked the Dr. that did my psych eval if i could continue to see her for body image problems and i have an appt. after the first of the year to set up a treatment plan. Maybe we should start with my relationship with food and why i overeat? Or is it really cause my "shut off" valve doesn't work? This journey certainly has been confusing so far! Great post!

Hi, Good luck on your surgery! February isn't that far away! I can't wait either. take care and let us know how you make out. Pat

BG, We share so many of the same traditions! Belsnickle came the other night to my children. We adopt a family also, and in the past spent part of Christmas day working at a Christmas Dinner for people who have no one to share the holiday with. We make our favorite Christmas Cookies too, can't make them any other time of the year. Christmas Eve, we read the Christmas story and the Night before Christmas. We also have a pickle on the tree and the first to find it gets a special gift that Santa leaves (usually a new board game that we play later on).We always put Baby Jesus in the manger on Christmas eve, usually after we read the Christmas story. Stockings are opened before any gifts and are fair game until everyone else is awake. We have our favorites foods for Christmas day too. We always get to open one present on Christmas eve, and it is always new pj's, so we look decent in those pictures on Christmas morning. We also light a white candle and put it in a window to welcome the Holy Family and let it burn all night (it sits in a dish of sand for safety reasons). We have our jammie day on Christmas day. We stay home, in our jammies, watch movies, play board games. Our Christmas dinner is something easy to prepare, or prepared the day before to just heat up. We just spend the day together. I love the holidays too! Pat

Congratulations! I hope to be at that point in about 1 month, but i'm not sure I'll be as calm as you are! Pat

Congratulations Shassy! Please keep in touch and let me know how your surgery goes.

Happy Belated Thanksgiving Everyone! Sounds as if everyone had a great day! With my family, a holiday is never just one day but a multiple, this time a three day feast! I did ok, wt up 2 lbs yesterday and already 1 of those is gone, so thinking some was just water. I had a nsv too. I had cleaned out my closet and taken the clothes that were too large for me. I had intended to give them to my mother and sister who have always been about the same size as me. I was pleasantly surprised to find that most were too small for them and fit my neice (22). I'm glad someone can use them regardless. And they are out of my closet never to return! Good luck So and Joanne on your upcoming surgeries! Hope everyone has a great day! Hugs, Pat

Hi Sandi, I live about 3.5 hours north of pittsburgh, so we are going to Erie for our surgery, it's not much closer 3 hours on a good day. Not a lot of difference in time, but i am more familiar with Erie than Pittsburgh. It's nice to meet another bandster from Pa. Which hospital are you using? Happy birthday Phyll! Welcome May! Hugs, Pat

Lets see, i've seen the surgeon, completed my 6 month diet, have my stress test next week. The surgeons office is making appts for chest x-ray, blood work and ekg. I have an appt with the nutrionist. And i need to make an appt with a pschologist. Surgeon says i will be having surgery in Jan. Can't wait! Pat