betty_s

Quest bars, best ever.

Where is your evidence for your statistic that 99% of us are fat for being lazy? That obesity is a disease called laziness?

You are still to early to worry about things like "Pouch Tests", etc....things like that are for those who have been at their goal for some time, know their band intimately, and can detect the slightest changes....
I don't like the term "Pouch Test"...however I do a variation every 6-8 weeks, and believe me I Know when I need to, and I know the difference it makes for me......
Also, it will not give you something you never had.....only restore

Thanks for the tip!! That's what I really need, is just some guidance on the right workout routine. I suppose a personal trainer wouldn't be out of the question either, but I think I'll start with the good old trusty internet haha

My sister has done insanity and T25, she likes it, esp for a quick workout. You can also go to bodybuilding.com and find workout plans that are built for woman and you can pick them based on you goals (gaining muscle, toning, etc). They usually give you a 4-12 week workout plan and some of them come with meal plans, like Jamie Eason's LiveFit Trainer, which i've done before in the past.

You're in a stall.. Your body is in shock from surgery and trying to figure out what happened. Stalls usually happen for every wls patient at around 3-4 weeks. I wouldn't be worried, at this point your body is still healing. Plus, your calories are still pretty low and your body probably thinks its starving. Keep off the scale for a few days/weeks. It'll start coming off again soon.
Pouch tests are more for veterans who have been slacking on their eating or eating too big of portions, or just need a reset.

You're in a stall.. Your body is in shock from surgery and trying to figure out what happened. Stalls usually happen for every wls patient at around 3-4 weeks. I wouldn't be worried, at this point your body is still healing. Plus, your calories are still pretty low and your body probably thinks its starving. Keep off the scale for a few days/weeks. It'll start coming off again soon.
Pouch tests are more for veterans who have been slacking on their eating or eating too big of portions, or just need a reset.

You're in a stall.. Your body is in shock from surgery and trying to figure out what happened. Stalls usually happen for every wls patient at around 3-4 weeks. I wouldn't be worried, at this point your body is still healing. Plus, your calories are still pretty low and your body probably thinks its starving. Keep off the scale for a few days/weeks. It'll start coming off again soon.
Pouch tests are more for veterans who have been slacking on their eating or eating too big of portions, or just need a reset.

Just wanted to throw it out there. It has been a dream of mine for some time to become a competitive bodybuilder in the female fitness category.
I know it is hard to get in calories and Protein when you are trying to bulk with a sleeve but the way I figure it, I can do quite a lot with supplements on the Protein and calories front. We'll see.
Good luck to all of those that are currently on a path to strength and wellness!!

The Dreaded Stall, Post Op Questions for different surgeries, or under general weight loss forum.

My name entry:
PLATEAU BUSTERS FORUM

Sorry to hear about your port flipping!! Glad you were able to get it fixed. I was banded in February, not April, but I'm not too far off and I'm doing great! I'm down 40 pounds so far and I feel so much better, not to mention my health is getting back on track! I chronicle my progress in my blog, so there are pictures and stuff if you're interested in reading more about my story. The link is below in my signature. Best of luck to you in your journey

I was banded 4/11/14
I was doing great! Lost about 33lbs. But I started to eat more then I thought I should so I went in for a fill. Got my first fill did good then needed more. This happend 2 more times.. He was having a hard time getting to my port. Well come to find out my port had flipped. :,-(
I was very upset. But I got my port flipped back yesterday. I was and still am in pain. Very sore from it! He also filled me to 4cc's cause I only had 2cc's in the band.. He also removed some fat so he could get to the port easier. My tummy is very bruised and I'm still sore but I know it's totally worth it! I just can't wait to get back to the gym and back to normal so I can start to lose weight again!! Anyone else have a port flip? How are u doing now that your better/back on track?

I went to the Dr. yesterday for my one month check up. I had lost 30lbs since my surgery. He told me I should wait to get my first fill and then see in a month if I need one. He said I'm losing weight at the right pace. Is this normal?

Yes, and as long as you continue to lose weight you may not get a fill. Are you feeling hungry between meals?
If you're dieting to lose weight, some of these docs think that's just fine and won't give you a fill till you stop losing or scream loud enough that you're starving.

It's pretty typical to wait 6-8 weeks after surgery for a fill so since it was your one month appointment it definitely seems normal that they said to wait. When I went in for my first and second fill my surgeon said he does look at weight loss as a factor, but he said just because I'm losing steadily doesn't mean the band is at the right fill yet. He said it can just mean I'm doing a good job restricting my calories if I'm losing steadily but can still eat more than what is expected. Just be very honest with your surgeon about what you can and can't eat and they will help you decide when the best time for a fill is. Chances are you will get one at your next visit. Good luck with everything

"Can anyone else relate?"
yes, you have identified one of the major realities in most of our daily social encounters!!!
I too was amazed at the overwhelming food displays and promiscuous presentation of ever greater orgiastic opportunities masquerading as endless 'enhanced food opportunities'.
My own sensitivities retreated from such embarrassing displays and unwanted assaults on my sense of Bandsters Reality.
My notion of "Sport Eating" evolved from such fantasy spreads.
Social gatherings often more resembled little other than disguised oink-fests. Conferences that relied on sugar-laced gooey disease inducing frenzies momentarily interrupted by some group meeting followed by more sport eating opportunities!
I do believe my 40 years of Morbid Obesity led to the last 25 years of my Type 2 diabetes.
I had to unlearn decades of maladaptive and personally destructive Eating Behavior such as you clearly have identified.
Escape from the Food Prison requires daily discipline. Develop your own Food Survival Kit to use in place of those Belly bombs and pancreas deranging plate-side devices.
You can do it.

Every time I walk into the kitchen at work and see leftover donuts, Bagels, Cookies, sandwiches, etc., I just look down at my body currently clothed in size 8 slacks and a medium blouse and that's all I need to walk out again without taking a damn thing. I used to be in a size 26 slacks and a 4X blouse. Enough said.

My BMI was about 47 (295 - 5'7'') and I was actually turned down for lap-band by my original surgeon. I saw his colleague and he said he could def see me being successful with the lap-band at thats what i chose.
i'm 7 weeks post-op, almost 40 lbs down, and feel alive again. You need to make the decision you're comfortable with. Yes the lap-band requires more intuitive eating, learning your soft stops, but I think anyone could be successful at any surgery if they really want to.

Name, real or screen: Betty
Goal weight for July 31st: 250
Weight on July 1st: 263
Age: 26
City/State: Richmond, VA
Dietary goal for July: Keep on low-carb, hopefully get another fill.
Exercise goal for July: Maintain my 5 days/wk lifting 3 days/wk cardio
Personal goal for July: be comfortable in my skin
Date banded: May 8th, 2014
Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet: 40 lbs
Favorite July Activity: enjoying the outdoors/any Water activity.

Have you tried logging your meals into a calorie counter and looking at your macros just to get an idea what your daily intake looks like? I find that is most helpful to me.
I'm a little newer post-op than you, but I just stick with Proteins and some veggies, never much room for more. I try to measure everything. I'm less than a week out from my first fill.
I think if the 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of food arent keeping you full for few hours, you may need another fill. If its head hunger, I control that with a stick of gum and some Water.

My last fill was about a year ago. Since then I've been holding, and not using weight. Recently, I started watching my diet more closely, and pushing up my time at the gym. That has resulted in a what is starting to show as a trend for a 1 pount a month weight loss, maybe a tad more. I guess that is far better than gaining! I've lost 50% of what I'd like to use. I feel a lot better, and even at this point I'd consider the band to be a success... only because it would be an effort to put on weight!! Being able to maintain loss is a big plus, but I really want to shed another 50 pounds... my BMI says I need another 100 gone, but with the lapband that would be a hard row to hoe.
Besides increasing my time at the gym, I've been watching my diet and trying to sub Protein calories for carb calories, with some success. My band allows me to eat almost anything, providing I eat slowly and chew properly.
I have a follow up in July to judge my progress. My band is working to a good degree, but a smaill voice says to add .3 or .5 CC and to see what happens. I think a small fill my curb my need to nibble carbs at night (tablespoon of Peanut Butter, etc.) On the other hand, I like the freedom to be able to eat what I want, even in moderation with some attention to chewing properly, etc.
I don't want to end up being stuck drinking coffee in the morning, or being punished for eating the "wrong" food.
How do you determine when the best compromise has been reached--too tight vs. too loose?

That's been a tough call for me. I am trying to make sure I am eating healthy,hard to do, forcing drinking greens plus. When I start eating sliders because it is easier, or more satisfying, I have to make myself stop, evaluate the restriction or or lack of planning.

I had not been filled for a year and had similar feelings and thoughts as yours but scheduled a fill anyway. I'm so glad I did. I am tighter, I am eating less, I am losing more. I'm much tighter in the mornings than before but if I go slow, I can still eat eggs and ham.
I saw today on another thread where they were talking about fills being an art and not science. I agree. I got a .5 fill and that sort of scared me!! But it's turned out for the good.

Hello fellow tweaker!!
So I went in one month ago for a slight fill and was surprised he gave me .5 CCs. And it took about a week to really settle in. And once again I thought I had this eating routine down pat but nooooo. So, for me it's not the chewing part, it's the eating too fast and big part that seems to cause me problems.
But, I'm very happy with where my band is now and working on slowing down is a meal to meal chore. I'm back in the green zone once again and loving it.