SpecialK

Hello to Mt. Carmel Bandsters -- I hit my 4th Bandiversary today - March 17, 2008 to 2012! Keeping about 120 of the 135 total I had lost off and fighting with 15 lbs but I'm not giving up. I am figuring out what a Lifetime commitment means. I had a 2 cc unfil in December and it allowed me to eat almost anything my heart and attitude desired through the holidays and up to mid-February. Than I got a 1 cc fill and got some restriction back. Going back for another follow up appointment with Dr. Miller and will see what he says because I haven't lost weight since the new fill but I want to take it slow and not get too tight. Anyway, here is a picture on my bandiversary today with the Care Bear I took to the hospital for luck! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/gallery/image/43758-kathy-4th-bandiversary-with-good-luck-bear-2012-0317/

I am in the same general boat as you except I'm further out and have more to lose in total- I've lost 140 lbs and I have 60 lbs to go and I got too proud of my accomplishments because of the compliments I was getting, I was learning what foods were easier to eat, and I also went through tremendous stress with losing my job, a parent, and just losing focus. I decided to go back to my counselor that I can see for depression and she is really helping me and I am getting back on track with wanting to do this for me - for my survival, for my health. I finally called my lapband surgeon's office and have an appointment for a fill. I had been staying away because I had gained about 15 lbs back and was ashamed but I talked to another lapband person I really trust and she said, go see him! I am also considering going to an OA meeting with that friend - I really still have a desire to overeat when I am under stress, I just choose the wrong high calorie foods that are easier to eat. I can't go back to not knowing what those foods are, I just have to decide to let them go for another period of time to get this last 60 lbs off. I have been working out in the yard and walking throughout the summer here in Ohio but now I've had to get back inside to the gym. I got 5 days out of 5 at work at our gym and I'm so proud of myself. I now keep looking at sweets and high calorie foods and thinking do I want to blow the calories I burned off or do I want to see that scale go down! Down baby down! Hope this helps you. Bottom line, we have to choose to do the right things and it is hard!

I can relate - 4 years ago when I decided to get information about lapband on my own and get all the way through the qualifications process, the last thing I did was get the records from my Primary care doctor sent to the surgeon's office as part of the 5 years of documenting my weight history and related medical supporting issues like high cholesterol. She was a doubter right up to the day I had the surgery but interestingly enough, she is pretty darn happy I have lost 140 pounds! Hang in there and do what is right for you.

Hi there to the Mt. Carmel bandsters and others in Columbus, OH who are still working the program no matter how slow. For me I'm maintaining my 135-140 lb weight loss within +/- 5 lbs but would still like to kick it in gear and finish off my last 50 lbs and then reward myself with the tummy tuck I need to get rid of the excess stomach skin. I've been tempted to get my arms done later this year as I am very frustrated especially in the summer now with having to hide my arms and not wear anything sleeveless out in public. Rules out sundresses too unless I put a shrug sweater on top. BUT --- I would do it all again to anyone who is still checking in here on this website. I don't come here as often as I did when I was first banded because I'm busy living and enjoying things in life I never could have before losing 140 lbs. Planning to join a couple other bandster friends again at Polaris Mall in north Columbus, Saturday June 11 from 2-4 pm in the Food Court area. We sit in the corner by Chik-Fil-A and the Great Indoors - there are small children rides in that area. We usually are at a table by the corner/wall.

Congrats to both of you upcoming May banding buddies. We have our Columbus group informal get together on the 2nd Saturday each month at the Polaris Mall food court area - 2-4 p.m. we sit in the corner by all the kiddie rides by Great Indoors and Chik-fil-A. Post on here to let us know if you guys need anything or questions. I was actually feeling pretty good the next day after surgery so if you are up to a outing, stop at the mall.

Hi friends. Let's keep helping encourage each other. I did drop 2 more pounds this week using my Medifast 5+1 program and I am feeling pretty satisfied with myself. It is amazing to me to get it in my head again that 1/2 cup of oatmeal or a small Protein bar is enough to fill me. I guess I don't want to share a post of what are the easy foods to eat around a band -- sweets and dairy primarily, crackers, chips but I know now I just can't keep them in the house. I do keep sugar free Hard Candy at my desk at work and in a dish at home to satisfy my sweet craving. I found that it gives me something to suck on and distract myself and I can't eat too many of them, it lasts longer than a candy bar which I can wolf down too easy. Yes, this is a mental battle but I am committed that I want to do this. Hang in there with me friends. Send me a private message off this board and I'd be willing to exchange an email address for contact off line. Kathy

Wow- was it a year ago I walked for the MS Walk at the Columbus Zoo! Time has flown by. Ladyroz - what did you say about your lapband changing and you're on mushies again? Kathy

Here is the link to the source I found for bariatric quality Protein enhanced oatmeal, protein enhanced Soups, etc. These were in the range of $10.99 a box of 7 servings versus the equivalent Medifast 7 servings were about $15. http://www.bariatricchoice.com/bariatric-diet-protein-foods-11.html

Here is the link to the Medifast website I found. I ordered the Women's package. See my prior post of what came in that. http://www.medifast1.com/how_it_works/index.jsp

I have tried a couple approaches so far in 2011 to get back on track and get losing again. Proud of my total loss so far but know I need to finish my journey and was plateaued out for a long time. From early January to early March I tried the new WW Points Plus system but I quickly found that when they kept advising us we could do unlimited vegetables for the bulk of our eating, and unlimited fruits, plus lean meat and counting points for any processed foods, I found I was still eating too many processed foods because they were the easier things to go down. I couldn't eat alot of bulk on vegetables due to my restricted level from my band. So unfortunately for me, I didn't stick with this new WW program. I still think it is a healthy weight loss approach I just wasn't making progress and was getting frustrated. Sounded so much like my weight loss efforts before my lapband. So I kept seeing articles for Central Ohio Nutrition which is a protein shake based program and the cost of a supervised program was out of my reach financially for now. I did find a program on Medifast that was approved by doctors as a bariatric program approach for pre- and post-surgery patients and I decided to try this. I ordered the Women's program for a month and started it two weeks ago. I have lost 7 lbs in those 2 weeks and have been satisfied on what I had to eat. It came with the following types of foods in packets that are mixed with water or ice, and you eat 6 times a day, breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, evening snack. Scrambled eggs Oatmeal Protein snack bars - 4 different flavors, peanut butter was really good! Soft Serve (ice cream like) Pudding Soup - Chicken noodle and Chicken and Wild Rice Brownie mix Pancake mix Shakes - chocolate, vanilla, banana creme, strawberry Hot drink mix - cappacunio So the program calls for using 5 packets chosen as you wish from the options above and 1 Meal of Lean Meat and Green Vegetables and 1 tsp of healthy oil, I used olive oil or canola. All the packets are virtually equal in calories and protein value - about 100-110 calories each and 10-12 grams of protein each. So with 5 of these packets and a lean protein meal, I have definitely stayed within a 60g-70g protein level a day and I'm thinking with 600 calories from the packets and 200-400 calories from the lean protein/veg meal, I am probably consuming close to 1000 calories a day. So after 2 weeks, I have used up about half the packets of food received in the prepared box for a month supply and I am committing now to order some more to keep going another month. I did make some adjustments in what I think I will order. I didn't find the Pancake one that helpful to me. I think I could fix 2 egg whites for breakfast as my substitute for the powdered scrambled eggs. The pudding and soft serve were nice evening treats but they weren't portable to work for eating as lunch or mid-day snacks. The hot drink cappacuno was good but I had previously ordered Syntrax Nectar/Matrix protein drinks where I could get the equivalent of about 100 calories and 10g protein to mix with my coffee as a hot drink I enjoy. The same Syntrax company has an Orange Creme protein mix which also was a good option for a shake besides chocolate, strawberry and vanilla which are easily available in retail stores. The value of buying the packets is that it is all packaged up for you -- no prep work to get ready. I plan to measure out snack size baggies of the cappacuno and orange drink and feel I will be good. I did have a couple days where I used a canned protein drink like Slimfast but it was 170 calories for the same 10g of protein - not bad but I am trying to stay at 1000 calories or below and can't do that with Slimfast as too many substitutes. On the Pancake one - it tasted and looked okay as a pancake but without syrup or lite margarine I couldn't eat this as well as eggs or oatmeal as a breakfast. I'll post some additional links here because I found that a box of 7 soup packets for about $15 on Medifast are similar to a box of 7 with same calories and protein for a couple other brands. I found a bulk container of protein enhanced oatmeal also for less for a 20 serving container than individual boxes of 7 packets for 21 servings would have cost. If the convenience of the packages already done is what you need, stick to that. If you are a cost conscious person, maybe a few substitutes for cost reasons would be okay but keep to 1000 calories and 60-70g protein a day. I have not been overly hungry - after the 2-3 hrs after breakfast, I am ready for my snack, and etc. But I was supposed to be doing this approach to 6 small meals anyways and I had gotten away from it. Will post as I continue along and share honestly what is working and what is not.

Congrats Bugwitch -- I had my surgery in March and our little group that month was called the Shrinking Shamrocks! You're gonna love the progress. Also, for all, I am so proud to report that I did get my act together and started setting my alarm for 5:30 a.m. and I'm going into my job where I have a great gym for workouts and I'm hitting the treadmill and weight machines at least 3 days a week. Trying to get up to even more. Today I did 20+ minutes with Walk at 2.7 MPH and then JOG at 4.2 MPH for 2 minutes so a 50/50 mix of walking and jogging. Really gets the heart rate up and a sweat going. I am trying to get my endurance up to where I can do 30 minutes of the 50/50 combo and then try to get to a higher percent of jog compared to walk. Key is get moving and stay moving! I'm not going to let life pass me by!

Thought I'd add to this to bump it up on the list. We are still getting together in Central Ohio at the Polaris Mall monthly for in person support. We are from different hospital programs, some self pay. Now most of us are past the 2-3 year stage but we welcome newly banded or those considering as well.

Its been awhile since I posted on this Mt. Carmel bandsters link but I'm still out here working the band! Had a great visit this past weekend with other bandsters at our monthly Polaris mall gathering. I still appreciate them for helping motivate me.

Bugwitch - why did you choose Mexico for your surgery? Cost due to no help on insurance? Best wishes on your decision about lapband or sleeve. I am 3 years out now for my lapband and glad I made that choice. Interesting that my hospital program (Mt. Carmel)did the analysis about offering sleeve but most people are good candidates for either lapband or RNY and they aren't doing too many sleeves. Let us know which you chose and why. We try to stay open minded; We'll be meeting once again at Polaris Mall on 2nd Saturday in March 2-4 pm in the food court area near Chik-fil-A and Great Indoors. This next month will fly by! Best wishes.