Jachut

You sound just like me - turning what should be a natural process (eating when you're hungry, duh) into a complicated mathematical endeavour. Personally, I think its insane and its one severe downside of giving bandsters such specific diets pre and post op (although we know they're for a reason). So what if you dont make your calories or Protein on a given day, really? You'll probably make it up on another day when you're hungrier. The whole point of the pre op diet is that you will have an extremely low calorie intake, and the fact is that its not a healthy way to eat for the long term. On that small variety of food and such a small intake, over time, you would develop nutritional deficiencies - and as an adult in a society that eats utter rubbish, you probably have them already. This is NOT adequate for your body long term, that's the entire point of it. That's why you lose weight and your liver shrinks, your body is forced to meet its needs by basically eating itself up. there's no gentle way of saying this, lol. You are obese enough to be having weight loss surgery. Therefore you have plenty of stores to get you through this. You wont keel over and die in the space of a month or two. Just do your best to get the protein in, and remember that after surgery, you will be back to a more varied diet and may well be on here asking how to keep your calorie intake DOWN until you get restriction.

Well, it stands to reason tht i you could eat (say) 3000 a day pre surgery that if you eat about at or less you arent going to gain. Your nody still a the same metabolism and orks the same way afterall. Over time though if you ls your calorie needs will drop.

Love it. But not more than Cookies. Horrible, processed, full of trans fats and artificial ingredients supermarket cookies. We have a brand here called Scotch Finger, kind of a shortbread sort of thing. Dipped in coffee. Morning, noon, night. Six or seven of them at a time (almost 100 calories each). Anytime is the right time for a coffee and a bikkie. Sigh. Its just a blanket ban for me. I will never be able to eat cookies one or two a day. If I'm going to have them, I've accepted I'm in for a major calorie blow out and planned accordingly around it.

These things NEVER work. But its just so enticing. Seriously, why not try it if you want to? If you can afford to spend the money whatever the outcome, then why not? I'm very intrigued by a product here called Slimstix, lol. I just want to lose 5lb. And...... this is on a whole nother scale, but I've recently been prescribed testosterone cream - I have very low blood testosterone levels (way below normal) and am having all sorts of problems because of it, but the main thing I've noticed is very obvious loss of muscle and strenght and a very obvious (albeing small, not registering on the scale) gain of belly fat. Of course I want my libido back, my bone density to improve, my mood to be better and all that, but what I'm really hoping to see is a flatter belly, lol.

In truth, I didnt try that hard. I did try though. My successful banded dieting was very similar to my unsuccessful non banded dieting. I improved my meals - chose healthier foods, and altered the carb/protein ratio (a recent trip on a school camp where we were fed mountains of cheap white stodgy food reminded me just how much of that sh*t I used to get through thinking it was healthy) a little. But I am and have always been a hopeless dieter - there was plenty of cheating - lots of treats in the form of Cookies, a muffin, a nice coffee etc. With the band, the only difference was that the portion sizes of everything were a lot smaller and for a long while there, I simply couldnt eat muffins, cake and things like that. I cheated less, as I always did when dieting too, but I still weakened and caved quite regularly. So all in all, it wasnt that hard. What I changed the most was my exercise habits. I took up running and was (and am) absolutely dedicated to it. I will move heaven and earth to get my run in despite any obstacles. Perhaps I was very lucky, but with the running and with being 5ft 10, I didnt need to drop calories to anything below about 1500, I lost well on that. I've NEVER had the sort of restriction from my band that could keep me at the 800 to 1000 calories others talk about and I never found the need to eat that little anyway.

I like mine plain with walnuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, some chia seeds and a drizzle of honey. Grain free "muesli". Really yummy and it gets me through the morning. Sometimes I defrost berries overnight and add those in too.

I am and always have been a perfectionist - but I can be very all or nothing. I was either going to sit around stuffing my face and getting fatter or I was going to lose a spectacular amount of weight. Not for me this "normal BMI" stuff. I was always aiming for the very bottom of my healthy weight range, to get as thin as I could. Not for me walking and moderate gym work. I was always going to try to run a marathon. I dont always achieve my goals, but luckily, that doesnt bother me that much. I havent run a marathon and accept now that I never will. My main problem with having such ambitious goals is never getting started, once I'm on the path, I'm quite capable of adjusting to a more reasonable goal. As it was, I did get right down to a BMI of 19 at one stage (looked horrible, have regained to about 20). It was actually quite easy despite being an "i eat what I want in smaller quantities" type of bandster. I think due to the all the running I do. I will go to my grave protesting that cardio IS king when it comes to weight loss. Well, it worked for me, anyway. But would I do "whatever it takes" to get there? No. I just hate strength training, if that was really necessary, I would have settled at a higher weight. Would I do strict low carb?. Not a snowflake's chance in hell of that happening. Would I give up wine or chocolate completely? Never. And would I have a full body lift, breast work, brachioplasty and thigh lift, spending 50 grand on my body? Nope, not even if I had 50 grand to spend.

My morning "muesli" - greek yogurt, walnuts, pumpkin, sunflower and chia seeds, cold hardboiled eggs, snall cans of salmon and tuna, babybel cheeses, cans of chick peas and three bean mix and my recent fave indulgence from the local thai restaurant - chicken satay skewers.

You know, it was so easy to just start another diet. Because deep down, I knew nothing would change. I wouldnt have to face my fears, my issues, I wouldnt truly change my eating habits, the status quo would remain and my obesity and my eating would fulfil the same (unidentified) needs it always did. Getting banded - now THAT was hard. Because I knew this was it, everything had to change and for once in my life I really had to face up to what I had become and what I was going to have to do to be what I wanted to be. It doesnt matter if nobody understands that. Their judgements dont touch me, I dont care personally.

I'm in a very similar situation, but like you, grateful that I've had the success I've had and confident that anything can be dealt with. For me, I just never got back my normal restriction after I unfilled and once or twice there's been confusion as to how much Fluid should be in my band versus what's there when its removed. I had a barium swallow and am seeing my doc on the 15th, but I looked at the films and it "looks" ok, lol, I madly googled what eroded bands would look like on xray and it doesnt appear to be the case, but a leak means a new band just the same, doesnt it? Oh well, what will be will be I guess, and its good to see you're taking the same approach, what point is there in getting stressed and worried and frantic about it all. You've changed, and any non restrictive periods will be temporary and you wont regain all that weight. I've got a little I'd like to shift, but a few pounds is very doable. Keep us posted, and be thankful you're here in Australia and not fighting insurance companies and such.

Ok, so everyone assumes that problems after the band will be physical. But I too have been "too skinny" - not entirely as a result of the band but because of cancer too - and I too loved it. I fought tooth and nail to stay that way, despite the advice of my doctors, and my family. And even despite my best efforts (I was unfilled), I did gradually gain a bit, not quite up to pre cancer weight but I have really been affected by that regain - heck it was only 12 lb or so - and have finally at the old age of 44 ended up in the psychologists office. To me, as a perfectionisit, there is no such thing as too thin and I know logically that I have no need to lose more weight, no need to eat restrictively and every right and reason to relax and enjoy eating now that I am a normal weight and have a band to keep portions under control. I feel 'gross' at 145lb and 5ft 10. I truly feel fat. I obviously have always been an overeater and sugar and I do not have a functional relationship. But I have never been a binge eater, anorexic, bulimic or had anythign that could be called an eating disorder. That has been brought on probably by the stress of cancer yes (I definitely used my weight as the only control I really had during active treatment) but also by the band and my success at weight loss - I wanted more more more success. I am really addicted to the high of standing on the scale and seeing that I weigh less than I did yesterday.

That's fantastic! But am I the only one thinking, WTF, only a man would get on a scale where other people could read the number! There is no way on earth I would EVER do that! I still feel the need to lie about my weight. If anyone asks me what I weigh I always knock off a kilo or two! That's why I've never bungee jumped.

I am still struggling with this at six years out, in fact it really got out of control along with a lot of symptoms of extremely restrictive eating whilst I was unfilled and going through cancer treatment. I am working with a psychologist, but truth is, I dont think its curable. I think I will always be this way and in many ways, although I voluntarily sought help (not for this alone) I'm not sure I even want to change. The thought of not dieting and always trying to fix my body is really scary to me.

Brooks Brooks Brooks all the way. I wear the Adrenaline, I have wide, flat slightly inward rolling feet - which would fit the description of the feet of many heavy people - and they are brilliant running shoes. I am on my 5thor 6th pair. But really, itsd impossible for anyone else to advise. Different shoes fit different people and whilst I would certainly have some derisive things to say about NB shoes that's based only on my feet and my experience. I know Asics are good shoes too but I find them way too narrow and not good for me at all. I think NB, Brooks, Asics are all well made good quality shoes though. Generally, with shoes, you get what you pay for.

Smaller portions of normal food, lots of running and a lot of headwork centred around lettng go of food rules and the idea of guilt around good and bad foods ( the hardest part for me). Plain, simpke, logical. I dont know how much Protein i eat, no idea how many grams of carbs or even really calories in a day. When i exercise i go all out.

I dont really worry that something will happen to my band, more that i still think about food, not eating food, restriction and losing weight all daybevery day. Im thin, but dont think i will ever lose the fat mind.

With ease, its a guaranteed safe restaurant food for me. I always choose risottp if its on the menu. I know it wont get stuck, yet its not so absolutely delish that i will overeat.

It increases the risk of erosion but Ive never seen that actually quantified in anything Ive read. This is only my opinion, not medical advice but I would think constantly vomiting and having the pouch full would be more of a risk with regard to slippage. If you are not able to see a doc for a while I would be very careful to not fill the pouch too much - eat little and often, do everything ypu can not to get stuck and vomit and be very aware of of overeating slider foods, our bodies tend to drive us to get the energy in anyway we can and you end up living on chocolate and icecream. If you can avoid that and lose wight your band may even loosen up enough.

Oh god PLEASE get this checked out right away. I learned the hard way there is NO reasonable excuse not to investigate rectal bleeding right away. I know it will frighten you but im going to say it anyway because it will mean youll do something - I had fairly innocuous rectal bleeding which was both red and black and tarry - it was hard to recognise that but in hindsight it just smelled weird, sort of metallic. I even posted on here a few times. In the end i had a stage 2 rectal cancer and have just come through the hardest eighteen months of my life. I had no other symptoms. He needs to go and ave a colonoscopy as sdoon as possible. Im sorry to be alarmist, but i put off doing anything about it for six months and my doctors all freaked at me, time is really of the essence as to pick this disease up in the early stages mean you can avoid chemo, which is beyond foul and has left me with a lot of other minor health problems.

Yes, henias dont heal. But unless theyre causing real problems, its often difficult to get a doctor to repair them as so often they just recur. Ive been fobbed off for years by gp's over my 'incisional hernias' at each end of my caesar scar. When i showed my colorectal surgeon, he freaked. They're advanced inguinal henias with quite a lot of bowel and omentum protruding, and at jigh risk of strangulation. Theyre getting fixed in March. I never knew i had them till i lost weight! But theyve grown heaps! So do keep getting them checked out when you visit the doc.

I had a very brutal radiation induced menopause last year - i had rectal cancer. It has been beyond horrendous. Ive had hot flashes, depression (to the point of suicidal thoughts), panic attacks and extreme fatigue and lethargy. I got extremely thin following my bowel resection and have regained about 15 lb over the last year and am still very thin, but ive really noticed the change in my body. I can literally feel my strength and endurance draining away by the week ( i was extremely fit, still am, just less than normal for me), i have definitely lst muscle and gained abdominl fat. I can barely be allowed out of the house on my own, i lose my car constantly at the shops, or will be out driving and forget where Im going, etc. But the worst has been INSANE sugar cravings, my body is literally screaming for energy. I strted HRT two months ago and am seeing a psychologist, but Im also about to start testosterone therapy (very l levels) and my doc says thats fantastic for mood, lethargy, fuzzy headedness and libido - did i mention i ave no libido at all and even when i force myself it just doesnt really feel that good anymore. Menopause is a BIG deal for women, its mo laughing matter.

We dont get told to focus on protein in Australia, and I dont like protein shakes, so quite simply, I never drink them. I never replaced that protein with anything other than three normal meals a day. I doubt I get 100 grams plus of protein a day, I dont count, but I lost weight, very successfully and have kept it off for a good couple of years. You just dont need to worry about it that much. Eat a balanced diet and you will get enough protein. Post op, I did make smoothies with milk and fruit. Perhaps yogurt. You can always chuck an egg in tool.

Bootcamp is absolutely awesome, and you can do it as a beginner,you just go at ypur pace. The beauty of having ypur "butt kicked", which is really just a desire to keep up, is tgat ypu will get results that far far outstrip walking. Circuit training is a combined cardio/ strength routine where you use big compound moves with usually a combination of body weight exercises and heavy dumbells/barbell/even sandags and such and you move quickly from one exercise to the next -again awesome fast results and true functional strength gains not just big but fairly useless biceps. Most bootcamps will be loosely ased on a t least some circuit training as circuit lends itself so wll to. Group setting.

It took me two years to lose the last 20. My goal was always ambitious, but once id hit the top of my healthyweight range it had slowed right dow and i figured for the longest time thats where id stay, not that i was particularly appy about it. Im a terrible perfectionist so i kept at it and eventally got under 150 - at five foot ten that was ok for me.

Wow, glad to be of service :-)