Ceradad

Top weight:379 Ideal weight: 240 Current weight: 301 Initial BMI: 47.4 Ideal BMI: 30 Current BMI:37.6 I was banded on Aug 28, 2007 by Dr. Jones in St. Louis Park, MN. I had my information seminar in Nov., 2006. I had been considering this procedure for a couple of months. One of my officers at work had it done a couple years ago. After speaking with him about it, I decided it was what I wanted. This was a huge step for me as I had not been kind when he had his done. I thought he had taken the "easy" way out. However, after thinking about my life, current, past and future, I knew I had to do something. My adoptive father died suddenly when I was 18 of a massive heart attack. Even though we were not biologically related, I have the same build as he did. He never got to see my sister get married. My brother or I graduate. Never met any of his grandchildren. I did not want this for my daughter. She deserved to have a father in her life. So, after going through 6 mos with a dietician and a big battle with my insurance company (I'll get to that in a later posting), I had a date set in late August. I played an entire softball season at a weight I never would have thought I would get to. It SUCKED!!!!! My knees hurt all the time. Even went to State, lower division but still. Leading up to my surgery, I had to go on a 10 day liquid diet. Very rough time, got dizzy alot. However, I lost 23 lbs in those 10 days alone. Since the day after my surgery, I have missed a total of 5 days w/o at least some form of cardio. One of which was Christmas. I've lost close to 80 lbs while increasing my muscle and losing bodyfat. That's enough for now. I'll post more ramblings later. Edit: Did legs last night. Here it is for the record. Circuit training: 1-Single leg leg press: 250 x 12 2-Single calf raise: 250 x 12 3-Leg Curl: 140 x 12 4-Leg Press: 160 x 12 5-Abductors: 130 x 12 6-Adductors: 130 x 12 Repeat this circuit 2 more times for a total of 3 circuits. Hangout on assisted chin/dip machine: 50 lbs taken off, hung for 30 secs. Machine ab crunch: 65 x 10 x 3

10 days of liquid diet leading up to it. Including, last day being only clear liquids.

Right now, I've got 4 albums downloaded on mine. 3 are Christian rock bands (one local in TC's) and one that is Christian/Alternative. 3 are on the harder side. If you like hard rock and want something with a better message give them a try. Here they are: Red-"End of Silence"- Little harder with some ballads. Very good music Destnd Furthr-"Fire by Night"- Local Twin Cities band with a very good following. They put on a GREAT show. Again, a little on the hard side with a couple good ballads. P.O.D.-"Atlantic Greatest Hits"-Hard rock with some rap. No Gangsta. Mainstream band that has some very good Christian songs. Casting Crowns-"Altar and the Door"- Couple very good songs with some good beats. Others are very good "normal" songs. Good mix of hard and normal songs. Gets my blood going when I need it and back to normal when I don't. I have it on shuffle so I get a mixture.

I've done both working out at home and belong to a gym. I even had my own set of weights and a squat rack. Thought it would be easier to get the workouts in. Instead, I've found that to get circuit training done, I need the gym. Also, even with a treadmill at home, I find it easier to do cardio at the gym. The one I belong to has the greatest room EVER to do cardio in. They call it "Cardio Cinema". They have a HUGE room with all sorts of cardio equipment in it lined up. They darken the room and put a dvd on a projector that goes on a big screen that is about 15' x 8' (guestimate). It's the absolute best. Combines my need for cardio with my love for movies.:pray2:

I've actually found I eat more spicy foods now than I did pre band. Don't know if it is due to the fact I am eating less so I want more taste or what, but I eat more spice now.

I almost always have approx. 1 1/2 eggs scrambled with a little cheese on it and a small container of yogurt. Then, glass of milk midmorning with lots of water. Usually good for about 4-5 hrs.

Hey all. Hope all is well in each of your journeys. I've been praying for everyone on this thread that God helps each and every one of us with our recoveries. For an update, I cracked the 300 lb barrier last week, on the good side. Then, went up north for my annual "ice fishing" trip with the guys and went back a few lbs. I've worked my butt off this week and again this morning was at 302. I'll have to work a little harder before my next visit next Thur. to the dr. Oh well, I actually don't mind it too much. Again, I hope all of you are doing well. For those in Siberia with me, hope you stay warm this weekend.:pray2:

On days I work, I go in at 5 am and do 50 minutes on the treadmill @ 4.0 mph with the incline btwn 1.0-3.0. I've worked my way up to that. 4 nights a week I do circuit training with weights. Muscle burns more calories than fat. On my off days, I go in for btwn 1.5 hrs to 2 hrs on the treadmill. Same speed/incline. I just want to make sure I get to my target weight as quickly as possible. The P.A.'s I see say that is maybe a little above and beyond what is expected, but like the results so far. Right around 80 lbs lost in less than 5 mos.

...do you find yourself adding more spices to your food since your banding? I have found that I put tabasco on my eggs in the morning now and I eat alot of food with buffalo wing sauce on it. My lunch every day is a buffalo chicken salad I make with chunk chicken, Anchor Bar buffalo wing sauce, fat free ranch dressing and some dill pickle relish in a whole wheat wrap. Anyone else have this kind of craving?

Could I get in on this a little late? Anything that I can use to help hold me accountable, the better I stand at accomplishing my goals.

Hello again all. Thanks for all the welcomes and the congrats! I have found reading this thread to be very helpful. For an update, as of this morning, I am down to 302. Only 3 more lbs to crack that dang 300 barrier I've had for so long.:whoo: My goal was to be around 280-290 for softball when it starts at the end of April. May have to change it to around 250-260:D

I drink a glass of milk, something I learned during my 6 mos pre op with a dietician. Takes the edge off. Plus, it gives you a good amount of protein.

Hi all, I was banded on Aug 28, 2007. Just found this forum and I like it alot. I started out at 379 10 prior to my surgery when I started my 10 liquid only diet. That SUCKED! Dropped 23 lbs alone there. One week of Clear Liquids and 1 week of whole liquids post op. Followed up with 2 weeks of pureed foods, never thought pureed chicken w/fat free refried Beans would taste SO GOOD!!!!!! As of this morning, I'm down to 302. I am in the gym every morning before work for 50 minutes on the treadmill and 4 nights a week for circuit training w/weights. On my off days, I do 1-2 hrs on the treadmill. Before the banding, I was almost ashamed to tell people I was getting it. Now, I tell everyone who asks if I've lost weight about it. Used as a tool, it is the best ever. I can still eat what I want, just not as much. Thanks for the great forum to share.

This goes away. Don't worry too much about it.

Suellen, what I finally had to tell my wife was that I had to lose almost her entire weight to even be close to my "ideal" weight. I graduated hs at 250. I plan on getting to that again. I'm w/i 55 pounds of that as of this morning. Once I told her that, she stopped arguing. I think loved ones are as guilty of seeing us as they want to as we are/were. Talk it over with your physician. They should back you up. When I spoke with mine the first time, I was scared he would laugh at me. To my surprise, and a little shame, he agreed quickly it was a good idea.

I have averaged over 30 miles a wk on the treadmill since my surgery in late Aug. of '07. I plan on getting somewhere btwn 1000 and 1500 miles this yr. Wow, just stating that is amazing.

Hi all. I'm new to the forum and am really glad to see this thread here. I was banded on 8/28/07. To date, I've lost 75 lbs. I work my butt off at the gym (literally). I prayed alot prior to my surgery and when I was going through the 6 mos prior that I had to go to a dietician. I truly believe God is ok with this as he wouldn't want my daughter to grow up w/o a father.

Nope. I want them to be there as a reminder of what I had to go through for my "do over". If they are gone/diminished, I won't have that.

I'm 4 mos after my surgery and I still have days where the port area is a little painful. I was told at my first post op visit this is normal. With the port being attached to your muscles, it makes alot of difference. If it is too painful, I would suggest calling your surgeon and making sure. No sense in trying to gut it out (no pun intended) if there is a problem.

The band does not come off after you lose the weight. It is on you for life. Unless, someone makes a miracle pill or something. Then, that is your choice. But it is there for good. I can feel your pain on the issue of the pics. While I never cried, I am a guy :bounce:, I hated to see them. At my church, we do a food drop to families every Christmas and I hate seeing my pics from the last couple of years. This year there is a huge difference from last year. It is worth it. Risks are minimal compared to full gastric. Good luck in your decision. Remember, no one can tell you what is right for you. If you feel this is for you, then it is. It took me almost 5 months to convince my wife it was necessary. Now, she is proud of the progress I've made. Again, good luck.

Ok, so I forgot all about these forums after my surgery. I had my band put on 8-28-07. It has been amazing. Before I started my 10 days of liquid diet leading up to the surgery date (something I'm seeing is not common), I weighed in at 379 at 6'3". After surviving the liquid diet pre op, I was down to 356. Now, 4 mos. later, I'm closing in on 300 (304 this morning). How have I done this? Two words: pure torture. I am in the gym every morning doing cardio. I average over 30 miles a week walking on the treadmill. 4 nights a week, I am in doing circuit training with weights. In the 4 mos since my surgery, I've missed only 4 days in the gym. 2 when I went to Dallas for a Cowboys game, Christmas day (gym was closed) and the Friday after Christmas because we went to Des Moines for Christmas with my family. I have not had an adjustment yet on my band. Truthfully, part of the reason I am in the gym so much is to put that off. I hate needles.:nervous I am hoping to use all of you as support when I start to feel weak and that I can offer some support to others. Thanks for a great forum for me to use.