MollyBrown

Sorry.... I cuss when I get mad.... Please excuse, but saying darn and butt and things like that just don't get the frustration out of me...

Collectively I sure hope we don't give a shit about people calling us cheaters. They can go straight to hell as far as I am concerned.... I am working harder with this band then I ever did before. Anyone who thinks I am a cheater can kiss my ever decreasing ass....

I was banded on 11/09/07 and I am only at 30lbs lost. I am constantly comparing myself against others on this site and sometimes I let it get to me, the fact that I am so behind everyone. But then I say the following: Down from 26 to 22 No longer taking Metformin (for Diabetes), My A1c is 6.4 without meds since October No longer taking cholesterol medicine, since October Cholesterol down from 220 to 164, ratios are great... My face looks great, no sallow pale skin And Sunday someone at Church said "what are you doing, you look like you are melting". Fast isn't good, medium is great, but slow is still good because it is still a move in the right direction.... Good luck!

I absolutely love the Biggest Loser.... I know it is not realistic because they are not in their home environments, with the temptations and distractions that we all have, but I still love it.... I like the orange team, mother and son. I think she is doing it for him. I don't think the yellow team is creepy, I just think he loves her so, so much. I know what it is like to have someone love you more then you love them. It is really a sad thing for both of them. Hopefully losing the weight and gaining confidence in themselves will either find them back together or strong enough for them to move on....

Jen in PA: We all come to this site for similar reasons, but the type of support we receive varies because some of us need the straight talk of folks like Make 33 and some of us need the more sympathetic support of the others in this strand. Please don't be mad at Make 33 or be afraid to post anymore because you are afraid of the negative response. Regardless of how you received Make 33's response, you probably walked away with something to make you rethink what is happening. And thankfully there were some other folks in the strand who provided the type of support you needed in the way you needed it. I guess I am the type that can look at all of the responses, not feel judged, and still walk away with information to make me re-think my behaviors to make this band work. I have been through similar things that you have been through, but not until I was at the 8-10 week timeframe. I was pretty careful during the first 6 weeks to make sure my stomach healed, but I did slip twice during the first six weeks, but it was more about what I ate and not about how much.... Try to connect with your Dr and nutritionist to get some additional support. Good luck and we all pray for you.

I was at a size 26 in November of 2006 and lost about 20 on my own, I got banded in November of 2007 and have lost about another 30, and have gone down to about a loose 22. I went through my clothes and am able to wear the ones I wore on the way up the scale. I am going to try to do this for as long as possible because they are good quality clothes. I have supplemented with a few new shirts. The real bumper is my shoes. About six months ago I decided I had hit a point in my life/career where I could pamper my feet a bit with new shoes. They are getting to big now.... I can't wait until I hit the size 20's again.... Good luck...

I was banded on 11/09/07. I lost 9lbs during the pre-op diet and put 7 or so back during the surgery phase. That was totally depressing. My doc has you do liquids two weeks, mushies for two weeks, and then soft for two weeks. I lost pretty fast during that phase. I focused on Protein, protein, protein... My doc will not even consider a fill until you hit 6 weeks post-op. The holidays hit and with no fill I did not lose much, but I did not gain as I usually do. January has been marginally successful as well. Since surgery I have lost right around 30lbs plus or minus a pound here and there. I probably could have lost faster if I did not eat the Cookies during the holidays. Also, I hurt my knee right after the surgery (freak accident), and I am only now mending and getting into exercising. The exercise REALLY makes the difference. I see some of the folks on this site who had surgery around the same time as I did are up to about 40-50lbs lost. I feel like such a not-loser, but when I look in the mirror, I look great.... Healthy, good skin, all my hair.... It is hard to argue the slow and healthy route. The band is definitely something you need to work on. It is not the quick fix like gastric bypass, but it allows you to have a more normal life, eating small amounts of food but you can assimilate the Vitamins in them. I would prefer slow and healthy then fast and horrible skin, hair, and saggy skin. Not that all bypass patients have these problems but they certainly have a higher rate of it due to malabsorbtion. Take heart and hang in there. It will work if you work it....

I haven't been doing as well as I need to either, and I think I have been far worse than you. I have been tracking calories up until this weekend, and I am doing around 1500-1600 calories a day, with to much coming from liquid forms of Protein which is why I think I feel hungry. This weekend I took our Sr. Youth Group to a weekend retreat and a weekend away from my structure with a bunch of garbage eating teenagers was not good for me. I am going to bust my butt this week, and I think I am going to try to stay away from the scale this week. Maybe next weekend the scale will have a big surprise for me. So the goal for this week, walk 30 minutes each day, work out twice, eat no more than 1200 calories a day, and try to get more "real" food in me versus Liquid Protein. Wish me luck...

I feel hungry (less since my first fill back on 01/07/08), but initially I did not. The first three weeks after surgery I did not feel hungry. But there is another person on this site who was banded the same day as me and she has never had a fill and swears she is NEVER hungry. I am so jealous :cry Anyway, I know there are folks who have the band and are five or six months out, they originally lost 20 to 30 pounds but have not gone any further. I don't mean to judge that success, but I sure hope this does not happen to me. Honestly I am worried I might be, but I am going to fight the good fight and keep trying. I am still glad I had it. I have twangs that I should have had gastric bypass, but I really like my hair and bone mass to much to have gone that route. Plus the DH would not let us gamble with the mortality rate. Good luck with your decision.

Isopure is sold by the each or by the case at GNC and The Vitamin Shoppe, individually they are quite expensive but it beats buying a case of stuff that makes you gag. I have tried the Alpine Punch (like the best), Pinapple-Banana-Orange (liked it originally but came to not like it unless it had Crystal Light in it). I also tried the Blue Raspberry and could not finish it. I use pink or yellow lemonade Crystal Light. I strongly recommend the Muscle Milk Lite too, the Chocolate Mint does not sound that great but it is GREAT, it tastes like a Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookie in milk.

I do not have the protocol, but I have the APS (or actually the APL because I am very tall and I guess my stomach was large). Anyway, I had my first fill yesterday of my 14cc band. He gave me 5cc's. He said it is likely that this will not do much for me, but he starts out slow. I am on liquids for two days. The fill process hurt less than I anticipated but it still hurt, no numbing or anything. I do feel a tightness today, I have been burping a bit, and liquids are making me feel satiated. Not sure if this helps, but I thought I would tell you my experience.

I can't believe I am doing this. This is my official start photo from my highest weight (308 lbs, 11/18/2006). I started losing on my own, threw in the towel and got banded 11/09/07. I am down to about 260is now. No photos since being banded, down about 27ish pounds. I will have to do one soon.

Nature's Best® Isopure Zero Carb 40g per 20oz. - Alpine Punch 916049 12 bottle(s) Ready to Drink Regular Price: $44.99 Gold Card Price: $35.99 or $38.99 at The Vitamon Shoppe without the special gold card that costs you money. If you add one tube of Crystal LIght to the Alpine Punch, the taste improves from totally acceptable, to pretty darn good AND 40g or Protein. You can drink 1/4 of the bottle throughout the day and achieve nearly your entire protein count for the day. Also: Muscle Milk Lite Ready to Drink, chocolate Milk or Chocolate Mint. 8.5 ounces which is good for our little stomachs. About 20 grms of protein per but I hear they are developing a 25gm formula. I REALLY REALLY like the Chocolate Mint one. Can purchase on line at much less than at GNC or The Vitamon Shoppe.

Hey Marylanders! Anyone planning on attending the lap-band support group on January 16th at St Agnes? I am for sure. I received my first fill today... Yikes, I am so afraid of needles. I was thinking as he whipped out the three inch needle, "why in the hell did I pick a weight loss tool that requires me to be stuck with a big honking needle every so often?" Dr. Singh was great though. Apparently I received the "new" band called the Allergan/Inamed AP band that can fit up to 14cc. I thought my first fill would be 1cc, oh no, he put 5cc's in it. I can't wait to see how it goes. I am on two days of liquids now. My stomach hurts a little tonight, but I am a big cry baby. How is everyone doing in 2008? Lets connect if you decide to go to the support group.

I have lost 25 since surgery, but 48 pounds since November 2006. My face is where it makes the greatest impact. I tend to lose all over so all of my clothes that still fit are sagging, I have gone down from a 26 to 22 or sometimes 24. It seems like the 22's I own are lose but the ones in the stores are a bit tight. The thing that is so frustrating for me is that I have lost 48 pounds and it is still pretty hard to tell except for the face. :huytsao

Andrea, I was banded on 11/09/07, and I have been fighting the same 4 pounds for the entire month of December. It is really starting to piss me off, because even though I have cheated here and there, the calories are not way off, I am usually between 900 and 1300 calories a day, even with the cheats and I have gone up and down. The past two days, I have been SOOOOO good, I get on the scale and it said that I gained 1.4 pounds. I have stopped cheating now that the holidays are over. I have an appointment on Monday to discuss a fill. We need to stay strong, get and stay on track. Please send up prayers for us...

My nutritionist said 60grams but I voted 80 to 100. I have noticed that if I have at least 80 I am not as hungry. I was using Isopure, I came to think of it as ISOPUKE when I could not have anything but liquids. I am back to loving the ISOPURE Zero Carb Ready to Drink, 40grams per 20 oz. If you put one tube of crystal light into the bottle and shake it up, it is MUCH MUCH better. I drink 1/4 of the bottle every two hours or so and I am rarely physically hungry. Mentally hungry is another story but the ISOPURE even helps with this too. I also LOVE Muscle Milk Light, chocolate Milk or Chocolate Mint. 8.5 ounces and 20 grams.

I can eat pretty much anything although that doesn't mean that I should. My go to food is whatever is sweet. I am trying desperately to stay away from sweet things. I have had a little bit of beef, asparagus, pineapple, and no problems. SMALL bites and chew, chew, chew. Once I get a fill, this might all change, but I sure hope I can always eat asparagus, I really love it.

nc_longhorn: You are doing great! Keep up the good work!

I thought I ate fast until I met my husband (11 years ago). He used to shovel several bites into their mouths, chew twice and then swallow. It is kind of disgusting (I am so glad he does not read these posts). Anyway, even though I am not yet restricted (no fills yet). I am practicing. Our new rules at the dinner table are as follows: take a bite, I chew 30 times (my husband and daughter need to chew at least 10 times), we put the fork down between bites, and we talk in between bites. And, if my husband or daughter want seconds, they have to wait 15 minutes to get seconds. I know it sounds rather Nazi-like, but it is helping. Now I have to figure out how to slow down when we are on the run. Anyone have any ideas about eating slowly on the run?

Hey there Maryland Bandsters! I was looking on the Home Page page, and down at the bottom, there is a US Local Support Forum, and Maryland is posted there. Do we want to move there and add threads there?

When it comes to weight loss and health, maybe we should call them New Life Resolutions instead of New Years Resolutions. But I think my New "Years" Resolutions will take the shape of something like this (I haven't got it all figured out yet, but this is what I am thinking): January 2008: Walk at least 30 minutes every day on treadmill, work out with weights 2 times a week. Lose at least 10lbs in January. Fill out diet journal every date. Have at least two fun dates with my husband-no kids. February 2008: Walk at least 45 minutes every day on tread mill, work out with weights 2 times a week. Lose at least 10lbs in February. Fill out diet journal every date. Have at least two fun dates with my husband-no kids. March 2008: Walk at least 45 minutes every day on tread mill, work out with weights 2 times a week, and incorporate at least one yoga/stretching class/video a week. Lose at least 10lbs in March. Fill out diet journal every date. Sometimes writing stuff down really helps you get results. I know setting goals (writing them down) and measuring my performance against my results at work really helps me get things done, figure out where I need to improve, and strategize methods of improving when I fall short on a task. Have at least two fun dates with my husband-no kids. I think I need to put some time into thinking about this and making my plan for 2008. What are you all going to do, for your new life and new year resolutions?

A nice new feature could be the date each response within a thread was posted.

I thought I would post this because some others have eliminated or reduced their meds since being banded. Two Monday's ago I went to my PCP, he chewed me out because I have not resumed my meds since my 11/09/07 surgery. I told him that I did not add the Metformin back because I was having low blood sugar dips pre-surgery and I have been testing and haven't needed to add it back. Plus,the pill is big and because it is time released, you are not supposed to crush it. I also went off the Zocor cholesterol medicine. This really ticked him off because we had a bit of a battle over it to begin with. I told him I was trying to see how much of my cholesterol problems (which when I started total chol was 210, trig were really high, and the ratios of good and bad was way off), but all in all not a super serious cholesterol problem compared to some. Anyway, six weeks after surgery and no medication, my A1c was 6.4 which is great, my daily numbers could be a bit lower right now but I have been cheating a little with the christmas Cookies. But, drum roll please, my cholesterol is down to 164, my bad cholesterol is only like two points to high. I was really excited by this. I felt like rubbing my doctors nose in it but I didn't, I know he only wants me to be healthy, and physicians are so programmed today to recommend a pill versus letting nature take its course. Sorry, I have a habit of being long winded... O, today is my birthday, officially 45. Hopefully this time next year, on my 46th birthday, maybe I will be somewhere snow-skiing or doing some thing active. Take care...

Today my Dad said something about getting to much protein can be harmful. However, my surgeon recommends that I get at least 60 grams daily. When doing some research, I have found a couple of sources that say I should get around 90 grams a day, and unless you have a kidney issue, you really cannot get to much protein. Does anyone out there know a lot about this topic? I found the following guidance on estimating the protein we should get and another about how much protein our body can process per meal: How much protein do we need? Our protein needs depend on our age, size, and activity level. The standard method used by nutritionists to estimate our minimum daily protein requirement is to multiply the body weight in kilograms by .8, or weight in pounds by .37. This is the number of grams of protein that should be the daily minimum. According to this method, a person weighing 150 lbs. should eat 55 grams of protein per day, a 200-pound person should get 74 grams, and a 250-pound person, 92 grams. How Much Protein Can You Absorb At One Time? The biggest protein myth is that you can only digest 30 grams of protein at one time. Find out what's wrong with this belief and just how much protein you need. This is a common question. I also get variations such as, how much protein can you digest at one time? There are two ways to answer this, because there really two questions being asked. 1) How much protein can the digestive system physically absorb into the bloodstream from a meal? And the MORE IMPORTANT QUESTION... 2) How much protein can you body actually utilize? The answers... 1) About 95% and higher, unless you have some type of digestive system malfunction. So if you get convinced by supplement companies to drink a 42g protein shake in 5 minutes, you'll still probably absorb at 38 or more grams of that protein. Your muscle growth is not limited by the amount of protein you can DIGEST or ABSORB. Your muscle growth IS LIMITED by the amount of protein that your body can utilize for protein synthesis. So the answer to #2... 2) A lot less than you think. You really don't need 40, or 30, or probably even 20g of protein per meal to keep your protein synthesis humming along. See Nutrition Help Expert Brad Pilon's post on "How Much Protein Do We Really Need" Any protein that your body can't use for growth will be shuttled into a process where it is broken down (de-aminated: meaning the nitrogen is removed from the molecule and it becomes a carbon skeleton) to be used in energy pathways. Now, there are benefits for eating extra protein (in my opinion) when dieting, mainly that it helps to suppress appetite. But the bottom line to the question I am asked almost everyday is... a) Your body can digest and absorb almost all of the protein you eat without problem. Your muscles can only do so much with protein...the muscle growth process is RARELY, if ever limited by the amount of protein we consume. Almost all of us can easily get enough protein for maximum muscle growth without the need for eating 50g of protein 6 times per day. Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler, and Gunter Schlerkcamp excluded, of course. Overall, I'd think twice about the need to slam down a 40-50g protein shake...just think of the children and puppies you'll save by not gassing them out with protein farts.