Jachut

I'm exactly like you, I get stuck and have to wait for it to work its way down because it wont come back up. I'm positive this is why I dont PB much in comparison to others - its becuase others PB easily and not because I"m such a perfect bandster that I never make mistakes. I've been stuck for an hour once, till I finally PB'd spectacularly. Usually it can last 20 minutes to half an hour, although if it goes that long, its usually followed by a PB. But I've never ever eaten something, thought Oh, that's not quite right and pbd it back up. Its always a long drawn out affair.

Oh, that's SO true. Me too. I was always always always going to become obese. I managed to hold it off for a long time, but having a couple of babies was the final straw for my body, the weight really began to pile on after that. As it was I really DID get banded to prevent future weight gain but this little band would have been a big help to me earlier on. I just dont see it as "so extreme" the way others do. I just cant understand why its OK to have fake tits and cut your face to bits and inject yourself with botulism, all in the name of looking better but a lapband is suddenly EXTREME. There's pills to lower our cholesterol and our blood pressure and its OK to take drugs all your life to prevent health problems related to those, and to start them when you're not already so far gone that the damage is done, but to get a lapband at a BMI of 35 is EXTREME? It does the health prevention job of about six drugs in one drug free solution! One can never be sure, you dont know what's round the corner, but in all probababily getting on top of this problem now will improve the quality of my life for 50 years to come. I'm going to be that marathon running granny! I just think its completely blind not to be able to see the virtue of preventing really serious obesity in the first place.

I really think for a lot of us, there's no fixing it. I've never really had bad emotional or non hungry eating patterns that you could define as disordered eating. I just ate a lot because that's what it took to fill me. When it got to 4pm, OK, I wasnt starving, but I was definitely "interested" enough to eat a lot of whatever was there. Since having a lapband, that interest has decreased. There just isnt that "headwork" for everyone, everyone's journey is different. Many people just have appetites that are larger than their body's energy needs and no matter how much headwork you do, that wont change. On the other had if you're an emotional eater and chocolate addict, perhaps a lapband isnt the best choice. But that is true whether you're 200lb or 400. 25 or 55. Fatme, nobody's attacking you, obviously some of us have misunderstood what you're trying to say. Sometimes things come across in writing differently to what you intend, if so, sorry to take you the wrong way.

Ok, I've thought about it and I disagree to some extent. I mean, yes, surgery is a last resort but where is it written that you can only reach your last resort after a certain number of years? Like McMadame, I was on my first diet at 12 years old. Its not a quick solution, the lapband is a fairly recent invention that's had a fairly length period of being an unusual and little known surgery where statistics on the guinea pigs were being compiled, and of late, its come into its own as an effective solution to obesity for many people. That's why people appear to be jumping on the "band wagon", because we've reached the point where we have a history, some statistics, some experts to train surgeons etc. I dont like the implication yet again that some people are somehow more "worthy" than others of being allowed the priviledge of surgery. The only difference here is that its agist instead of thin-ist (is that a word? If not, it is now!) In fact I'd argue that its often the most long term and heavily obese patients that have the least ability to really change their outlooks, lifestyles and activity levels. I really believe my journey was much easier for the fact that I was light enough to be active and to run, I was not as disordered in my eating patterns as some others (hence why I got to a BMI of 36, not 56) and I had a much less extreme lifestyle overhaul to make. I certainly dont know many 60 year old morbidly obese people that would be able to take up running or triathlon! That's a huge generalisation I know, but its got some merit. If I have the money to pay for it its my right to have it, no matter what anyone else thinks. There's enough of it to go round, I dont understand why people seem to feel their territory is being invaded by the less obsese - yet again more fodder to fuel my belief that there is every bit as much bias and prejudice against thinner people from fat as vice versa.

Nobody ever really likes my story, it tends to cause arguments lol. I lost 100lb give or take, went from a BMI of 36 to 22, did it over a 2 year period, and did it by eating from ALL food groups, never buying a single Protein shake, never counting protein, I eat carbs, wholegrain bread most days, I ate fairly high calories (1500 or so a day) and I run for an hour five times a week or so and ofen go for a swim or something as well. What I didnt do - protein first, low carb, high protein, incredibly detailed regimes of strength training with protein shot this, Protein Shake that before and after training etc etc. I did everything 'wrong' according to modern wisdom, which I consider nothing more than an unproven fad, same as every other lifestyle gospel we've been taught over the years - 20 years ago, people would have agreed that lots of cardio and a high carb low fat diet was the way to go, nowadays they think its all strength training and protein. There is and was plenty of so called scientific evidence to back it all up, as much for the high carb low fat stuff 20 years ago as there is for the high protein stuff now. I think its ALL bollocks personally. I think what I achieved simply indicates that if you eat less and move more, you will probably lose weight. I know that I certainly havent given myself diabetes and wasted all my muscle with my carb and cardio focussed approach. Worked for me anyway. Slowish, but without any baggy loose skin to boot and I have PLENTY of muscle, I've not wasted all my lean body tissue away either. For some reason, this tends to mortally offend people, I think people LOVE a real regime, something to cling to that they believe heart and soul will work. I'm sorry, I dont have one. I stopped being a piggie and couch potato basically.

That happened to me recently, I got a fill in May which I probably didnt really need, and it was OK, tight but good tight, I could eat, I wasnt PBing and I dropped to 68kgs! I was pretty thrilled with it. Then over a month or so it began to tighten, I didnt really notice, but I began eating lots of slider foods like chocolate, rather than real foods, then I had my period and went on a plane flight at the same time, and I spent the whole weekend away virtually unable to eat, did a 10km fun run too! I had a .2ml unfill and now I am having NO trouble getting through 1800 to 2000 calories a day EEEEEEK, that's 1800 to 2000 calories of healthy food, not chocolate, so fruit, vegetables, wholegrain bread etc - which means I'm pretty darn loose and certainly way looser than I was at this level before I had the fill. I've resettled at around 70kg which is fine for me, not changed sizes, all my clothes fit but the mental side of not being in the 60's sucks, lol. I'm not sure what I'll do now, I guess as long as I'm not gaining, given that I'm at goal anyway, I may as well just enjoy this normal eating. I obviously burn off 2000 a day. Sorry, I'm rambling, but yes, that's happened to me and the tighter you are, the more things like flying and periods affect you. A small unfill totally fixed it and I didnt really want to do it but I realised that being too tight is bad for your band, and I want my band long term.

Could you *really* put the effort in though? Statistically its pretty much a given that nobody loses large amounts of weight and keeps it off. Those that do are very very unusual. It just is unlikely to happen. Its not as if any of us dont have motivation and willpower, none of us wanted to be fat. But we couldnt Just Do It. I'm a real stickler for not being lazy, being honest with yourself and well, just getting on with it. But to a degree thats hypocritical because I couldnt just do it either. I'd tried many many times to lose weight. That's if you count starting ANOTHER diet as just doing it. Me, I chose to view it as STOP, take a good hard look at what you're doing, its NOT working so why are you persisting in this destructive behaviour? Really, the definition of insanity is to do what you've always done and expect a different result.

I'd have to echo Chickie, the difference in your body with the last 20 lb or so (when you're talking about a goal weight with a BMI in the low 20's that is) is MORE than with the first 60, honestly. I've changed so much in the last year or so and barely lost more than about 15lb. If you're the kind that wants to pick a BMI goal weight of 27, 28, 30, then that really doesnt apply quite so much. The biggest difference was boobs. I had boobs 20lb ago, now I dont, lol. They just suddenly deflated totally. I *do* have loose skin there, but I always did, its no surprise to me. Those are getting done. But its a totally different type of job now than it was 20lb ago. I can see now that I need a lift but also a small implant to fill in the empty skin. I have breastfed 3 babies for a total of over six years though, so that has a lot to do with it, they were ruined before I lost any weight. They were big and saggy before, now they're like tennis balls in a footy sock. Being pear shaped is a big bonus in the weight loss game though. Pear shaped people like me who never carried weight on the stomach anyway tend to escape quite well from the tummy tuck, but then again, my bum has dropped and looks a bit sad.

I had a weight loss of about that size and I dont *really* have loose skin. Oh, its there, but I'm 41, I do believe had I been 20 when I lost this weight (not that I had weight to lose at 20!) I wouldnt have had even what I have. I'm just a little saggy in the backside, lol, but nothing major, certainly not surgery worthy. I can put on a bathing suit no problem and wear whatever I want to without worrying about rolls, lumps and bumps. I lost weight slowly, did a lot of running, and was just lucky - no stretchmarks after having babies either.

I'm banded, I tend to be a 3 meal a day eater, with maybe an afternoon snack. I dont find I need to eat mid morning and I never eat anything after dinner, never did even pre banding. I just worked it out myself, I do what suits me, have never had a meal plan or a set of rules or anything. That included the drinking rules, my doc doesnt really have strong feelings on that and I dont find it makes any difference at all to me, with the exception that I cannot drink when I'm full! I usually have a coffee at night after dinner.

Exactly Kat. People post their own private pity parties and turn savage when they dont like your practical advice. I'm busy too - 3 kids, a job, full time study, a house, a husband that's gone at 7 am and not home till 8 pm and I find the time to exercise. But that's somehow different becuase I'm *lucky*. I *like* to exercise. Huh? Even if I could swallow that, it drives me crazy when people insist on thinking that I'm telling them its running or nothing. I run becuase I like running, everyone else doesnt have to! Just exercise! Then they turn round and say that that kind of blunt, practical advice isnt helpful. How is mollycoddling someone helpful? Perhaps the fact that people cant take sensible advice must *might* be part of their problem?

You're fairly early along so there's not a lot of risk yet, but I would check your blood pressure just to be sure. I had bad headaches BUT it was last trimester and I was mildly pre-eclamptic - but again, that didnt start till 35 weeks or so so dont panic. When I was pregnant with Eliza I developed a really bad headache that gradually worsened over two weeks, I was only about 9 or 10 weeks along, bit of a worry, but it turned out to be a sinus infection.

5ft 10, 154lb and an Australian 12 which is a US 10ish. I'm usually a medium here on top, which is your small.

Yeah, I think so. Different strokes and all that, despite the potential for argument. I think its all about the struggles of losing weight as well as the mechanics of it.

I would say the same thing - having big muscles is not the be all and end all of fitness. If you like them, then there's not a thing in the world wrong with working for them, as long as you realise that you also need cardiovascular fitness. There's an awful lot of body builders out there than cant run 5kms. And just having muscles doesnt increase your metabolism exponentially, you still have to do the diet side of it (unfortunately). Its between you and your wife but at the end of the day YOU have to like how you look. And if big and built is your thing, go for it! I think muscles only look fat if you have a lot of fat covering them. Within reason, some people build to the point where they look really weird, they cant dress properly, becuase their thighs and arms are huge etc. But again, that's totally personal choice and how you like to look! Oops, I've wondered into the men's forum. I actually am meant to be doing an assignment on the shoulder joint.

Lol Foofy, I was watching the marathon too and cringing at the chafe factor. I mean, even the thinnest women have a touch of flesh around buttocks and thighs, dont they? I did a fun run yesterday morning, and believe me, being about 8 degrees C and mid winter here, I was NOT wearing a bikini, lol. When I put that thing on, I dont MOVE!. Something might fall out. Once arranged on my beach towel with all bits firmly tucked in, I'm staying there! Wanda, what do they do for the blood clot? Medication? Will you be able to exercise normally eventually? That's rough luck, they do so much to try to prevent that happening these days, and yet it still does. Hope you are better and out of danger very soon. Till then, try to remain postive, this will work for you when you're back on your feet so to speak.

Oh, you soooooo dont want to know, lol. Are vanilla slices an Australian thing too? Here goes. And yes, I ate three, yes THREE over the course of Saturday and Sunday. I did run 15kms on Sunday though! But the trouble is I washed them down with wine. Well, it was my BIRTHDAY! So the calories dont count, right? I'm no reformed fatty/superhuman diet dynamo. I fall off the wagon. That never matters as long as you get back on. Ok, here goes, a vanilla slice is layers of choux pastry and vanilla custard topped with yummy white icing. We call them snot blocks in our part of the world. I ask you though, does this not sound like it was meant to be? We were in the car going to do the grocery shopping, heading for the fruit and veg wholesaler we shop at. I suddenly had a really big craving for a vanilla slice, it must be 10 years since I last ate one. What do you know, they had trays of six going for $3 at the front of the fruit and veg place. How weird is that? So of course, I had to buy them. But that's not my fault right? It had nothing to do with me or my choices, right? If I had any self control I wouldnt have needed a lapband, okay? That's what I mean, nobody is going to crucify anyone for making a bad choice or a lazy one. Absolutely all of us do it at times. Its what you do afterwards that counts. And I know for sure, that without the exercise I do, my dietary indiscretions would have way more effect on my weight. As it is, I tend to stay very stable despite these brain farts. But am I moaning about being 3 or 4lb heavier this morning? No. I know why I am and I know what I need to do for the rest of the week. If someone comments that one shouldnt eat vanilla slices becuase they make you fat, they're not going to get an argument from me, because its TRUE. Even though I dont want it to be. And sadly I cant make it untrue by attacking the person who points it out to me.

SCREEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAM! Doesnt this drive you absofreakinglutely NUTS? I have taken to walking away from the computer and slamming my head against the brick wall when I read this. It is said to me at least once a day on this forum. It is the ONE thing guaranteed to have me up for a fight. I really really really hate it. If someone wants to ruin their own weightloss chances and wallow in their own disgusting misery that's their business but do NOT belittle how much effort I made and continue to make on a daily basis. Its not as if I dont fall off the wagon too. Hell, I ate nothing but vanilla slices and booze all darn weekend (my birthday, lol). I've put on 4 pounds in 2 days. But when that happens, I get back on the bike and get with the program again. I even enjoyed it, everyone needs to let loose in a while. I am not some freaking superhuman wonder upon whom god bestowed this magical effortless weightloss. I worked for it and I still do. I'm not a reformed fatty as I was accused of being yesterday, I am not devoid of sympathy for those who are struggling. But what are you going to do? Do it or not? There's only two choices no matter how many excuses you put in the way, isnt there? You either want it or you dont. I just dont see why those that have managed to come out on top, even if its a precarious seat, have to bear the brunt of negativity, jealousy and enmity from those who are still finding their way. If they have so much energy to spare, they ought to be devoting it to their own journey.

That's exactly what I do, read the title, think oooh interesting and go on in. In fact my computer screen is so configured that I cant even see the forum its in without purposely scrolling across. And obviously it IS a problem Susan because more than once, a thread has been disrupted by arguments like this because people take it as you poking your nose in where you werent welcome. I'm always willing to apologise for that if its what happens. But not to people who accuse me of barging in in my bikini to patronise :-)

I've had fantastic results with mine, I've gone way past my original goal weight and I dont have much in the way of loose skin to show for it. I guess I was a slow loser but I was fitter, stronger and more able to exercise from the get go, I got over the surgery very quickly, I didnt have health problems that would prevent me from exercising, etc etc and I suspect I didnt have some of the enormously challenging eating/coping/emotional problems that come from being severely obese for a long time to overcome either. Its got way more to do with your attitude and how committed you are to losing weight than it has to do with your starting weight. I vowed never to diet again and I havent, I eat what I want in small quantities, I choose well 9/10 of the time and I exercise regularly. Commitment to that is all it took for me.

We have one side of the family that is solidly built, that's Dad's side. German heritage, and we're all tall, and pear shaped. Tend to be heavy, but getting to a BMI of 36 was really alarmingly heavy to me, way fatter than mum, dad or either of my sisters. My youngest sister is built like me, but just has never got beyond a BMI of (I'm guessing) 31 or 32. Mum's side is short and round, lol. My mum has never been obese, but her sister is, but she's a diabetic and has been since infancy, she got massive at one point but lost it all and never regained it. But her daughter, is very very big, probably a BMI of 45 or so. But those are the only two in our family. So I dont think I can blame genetics for my weight, it was much more poor lifestyle choices and lack of time that led to poor choices. Plus the common post pregnancy suddenly home looking after babies all day type weight gain.

Believe me, if you can eat a cup and a half of Pasta in five minutes flat, you need a fill. If you can eat a cup and a half of pasta but it takes an entire hour, that doesnt necessarily mean you need a fill. It means you should stop eating after 20 minutes or so. You can still eat a LOT of food if you nibble it over a long time period, very bad habit to get into. But being able to eat faster over time is a sign your restriction is lessening. You dont HAVE to have a fill unless your weight loss is suffering, but if you can eat a lot in a short period of time, your band would be pretty loose. With good restriction, if you do that, you'll probably be sick and definitely suffer discomfort.

Exactly Heartfire, that's what happened. This entire thread is not even about weightloss or me parading around in a bikini, its about a very strange, very angry and very rude person who went off the deep end at quite a moderate post that was intended to be helpful. Typing in caps, abusing someone for their avatar photo and belittling their challenges, only to come back with I had a miscarriage so there!, completely forgetting the fact that probably several of us here have suffered the same tragedy, is seriously warped. So maybe, even though the people in my world who suffer sleep apnoea manage to look after themselves, I had no business speaking up without a medical degree. More likely I inadvertantly posted in a June 2008 thread where the advice of longer term bandsters wasnt wanted - this is a real problem with the way this forum works by the way, this happens ALL the time, becuase lots of us use the New Posts function. There was no call for what spewed forth, and the OP is entirely responsible for the direction this thread took. I'd feel awful if I pounced on someone who only wanted genuine advice. I didnt, and nor did anyone else, we responded to the abuse we got for daring to presume to know her.

There is the skin thing to consider, and I dont want to lose any more weight either, for exactly that reason. But with the age and what you used to weigh when you were 20 issue, again, its a choice but there is absolutely NO physiological reason why you cant weigh at 47 what you did at 20. None at all. People get heavier as they get older because they get less active and fail to eat less to compensate. Simple as that. You can easily weigh what you did at 20 if you decide you want to. Heck, I weight less at 41 than I did at 16, AND I wasnt even *very* overweight at 16, just slightly over the top of my healthy weight range.

Unfortunately, it takes quite hard work to lose weight with a lapband. But I dont think one single person on this forum wasnt a little bit deluded that it would be a bit magical and effortless, so dont get down on yourself. It is ENTIRELY normal to not lose (and even gain after doing that stupid Optifast!) at first while you work it all out. And out of any group of obese people, you are definitely going to find some whose bodies simply do not behave the way they are meant to when calories are restricted. You have to watch the calories, exercise regularly and get good restriction, which can take a few months. And then you'll be away. So just take it as a learning experience, dont worry about it or feel guilty about it and look towards getting all the elements working in harmony. Good luck!