pinkdots410

I keep hearing the need to UP calories because the body goes into "STARVATION" mode. If that's the case, why do anorexics lose massive amounts of weight and are stick/bony thin, eating way less than 500 calories a day? I too, am at a plateu. Had my surgery in May of 2008. Started at 289 and I am holding STEADY at 226. I am at a "sweet spot" but am not losing weight. I have the perfect level of restriction. I can eat chicken and good protien and am full quickly. I do splurge on the weekends. I just don't want to have to "diet". I 'm guessing I consume around 800 calories a day?? and probably more on the weekends...(I don't track) I am beginning to think that I am not meant to lose weight and be "thin". I admit, I haven't been exercising like I should be. Honestly, it's hard to just 'turn on' the PUMPED UP, READY TO EXERCISE mindset, if I was able to, I would and probably would not have needed the band in the first place. :ohmy:

I dream of that very moment....it was tooooooo long ago (10 years and I am only 29) that I fit into a size 10!!! Congrats to you!!!!!!!!!! You are at my goal! :huh2:

I use Optimum Nutrition - I get it from GNC...tastes ok - it's unflavored...I think they are all chalky...so I jsut chug and go! lol

A day in the life for me is: I usually skip Breakfast or have a yogurt if I get hungry. I am typically not hungry until around noon...but I like to have *something* before then. I currently am on fill number 5 and I am really tight! I am even contemplating an unfill...as I have to eat slow and chew really really well...My days generally look like (samples of what I'll have): Day one - Breakfast - oatmeal and Water or coffee Snack - yogurt, a few mini pretzels lunch - soup and a cheese stick Snack - a few pretzels and cheese stick dinner - a small portion of whatever my husband makes... (usually meat and veggies of some sort) and/or Protein shake Snack - sherbet Day two - Breakfast - Protein Shake and water Snack - yogurt Lunch - grilled chicken and gravy Snack - orange juice and cheese stick Dinner - grilled chiken and gravy Snack - sherbet On the weekends, I splurge a little and have a few bites of "junk food" - pizza, cheesesteaks, subs...MIND YOU - I mean literally 1 or 2 bites...it either gets stuck and comes back up, OR I don't have an interest...my mindset about food has changed soooo much. It's really crazy! (in a good way) Rules for me are - as much protein as possible. I have to have my meat with some type of broth or gravy or it gets stuck and comes right back up! So I try to get good sources of protein in there and be sure to take my Vitamin. I wish you the best of luck!! Feel free to ask any questions! :thumbup:

Hello ladies! Great thread. I guess Oprah's situation goes to show, it doesn't matter how much money you have, the personal chefs, fitness coaches, stylists, etc. you have, you still need to WORK for weightloss and continue to work for that matter. Oprah has said many times before that she is addicted to food. When food has that much power over a person, to gain and lose the same 50-100 pounds that any times (I mean come on...over how many years?? Would she just get the Lap Band already, lol), maybe WLS should be an option. If I were her, I would be all over the Lap Band and work it for what it is, a TOOL to help her meet the weightloss goals she wants and keep them!! Obviously what she was doing before hasn't been working...she did look great though! When she does lose the weight, she looks amazing!!! I guess it comes to a point where she just gives up and cave in to all the endless treats that are at her fingertips...I would probably be the same way. :thumbup:

Hi Dawn! Hello Philly girl! I was banded on May 19th. I am a bit of a slow loser, but I am really happy with my progress! Slow and steady. I would have never been able to come this far without the Lap Band! Good luck to you with your surgery! January is a good month to start...starting the new year as a new you! LOVE IT! :blushing:

Hi Gina!! I am from PA too - I live in Philly... I was banded at Barix Clinic in Lanhourne, PA - was the easiest thing I had to do....I only regret not doing it sooner! My surgeon is great and the team is awesome! Wishing the best of luck with your pre-surgery diet...hang in there!

Good for you for taking the first steps to a healthy you!! You should be ready to find her. Being unhealthy and OBESE is NOT ok...it took me too long to realize it! My husband was scared at first too...be he got over it, lol. I wanted this too bad and wasn't going to stop until I had it!! This was the best decision of my LIFE! Please feel free to read my blog and go back to the beginning...I still tear up reading where I was and how far I have come. I am completely off of my high blood pressure meds and it feels GREAT! Good luck to you...I wish you the best and DO IT GIRL! You are worth it!

I love reading posts about clothes!! I can not wait to wear a short dress without tights!!! It's so sad that I have wear black opaque tights/spanx with every dress...I don't even like to wear them now...I want to just wear a HOT dress, bare legs and pumps!!

Hello Everyone!! I am doing well...plugging along with my weightloss!! I am happy with the progress though...slow and steady wins the race. It's good to see this post back up at the top...keep up the good work everyone... have will-power during the holiday season, even though I know it's hard. hehe...one thing I know for sure...cookies go down really easy! :frown: Take care everyone!

Just a sip of soda is very uncomfortable going down. I was addicted to regular ginger ale...can't have it anymore...it hurts and isn' worth the pain or risk of slippage!

Yeah I know what you mean, it's hard NOT to compare your own progress with others... Especially when you see others who have been banded on the same day and have lose 80 pounds?!?! How is that possible? :thumbup: My metabolism is really slow, has always been. I knew I would be a "slow" loser...and I am happy with it. Even now with being really tight and only eating seriously maybe 500 (if that) calories a day...I am not losing as much as you would think. :smile2: Everybody (literally) is different.

Hello all!!! Slow loser according to what? The rest of the May bandsters? :thumbup: I guess you could say I am a slow loser, but my doctor thinks I am doing GREAT!! :smile2: And any loss is better than what I would be losing without the band!

6 months anniversary is in 2 days...can't beleive how the time has flown by!! I am thrilled to have the lap band and couldn't have made a better decision. I am a slow and steady loser...not *really* counting but following non-scale victories...I feel amazing and have so much more energy. I regret not getting this sooner...spent far too long being obese. I am enjoying the updates...everyone seems to be doing really well. Keep up the good work guys!!!

I will continue to shop in Torrid (my absolute favorite store in the mall) as they go down to a 10 and that is my goal!! Can't wait to purchase a pair of designer jeans from Neimans or Nordstrom!

I am not *thrilled* with my weightloss either compared to the bandsters who have had surgery the same month I have. BUT please understand that alot of the posters who have a total lost number in their signature are also including the pre-op diet results (which have included drastic liquid diets, medifast, milk diets, pretty much very strict diets to shrink the liver). Personally, I think it is misleading. I think the tally should be after the LAP BAND was put into place. Just my opinion! I have not had to go on any pre-op diets and had "last supper syndrome" for almost an entire month before surgery. So while others who were required to go on a pre-op diet had a head-start, I was most likely gaining weight by pigging out. :biggrin: After comparing myself to others and being angry and stressing about it, I decided to not track my pounds on this site. I know what I have lost and I am proud. I feel amazing and think I look damn good. Overall, I am happy with what I have accomplished with the band. I know without it, I would prpbably be HUGE and still on blood pressure medicine (which I have since gotten off of since surgery)! Slow and steady wins the race! That's my newly adopted motto!

For me, it is LIGHT chocolate SOY milk...can't get enough! It is low in fat and has decent protein...has sugar though.... When it is ICE cold, it tastes like a milkshake! YUM!

I had to jump in here ladies!! I agree that Chris Brown is a lil cutie - but I have 3 MAJOR crushes!!! :banghead: TYRESE AVANT WILL SMITH

omg Janette!!! girl you look fabulous! your loss is very noticible! keep up the good work!!

Bumping this up! Let's see those progress pics!!

I just did a search on this topic, but the posts were directed to new bandsters only! I am almost 3 months out and I still have port pain! It is really bad today. Like a pulling soreness type of thing... it's really weird and I am starting to worry...I hope I didn't damage anything! :w00t:

Hello all! I am still in Bandster HELL - going at it on will power alone. I am not losing any weight to my knowledge...I am refuisng to get on the scale right now. I was getting too frustrated with not seeing it move! My clothes feel about the same - I willl let that be the judge for now. I go in on the 15th to get a second fill. I am fortunate that my fills are done through flouro and my surgeon keeps filling until I have restriction (I thought I did for the first fill, as I didn't know what restriction was). I want it to be uber tight. I'm talking "eat 1/2 cup of food and feel stuffed" tight! Let's keep this thread at the top, it's always fun to see how everyone is doing at the same stage! :biggrin:

If you have a Lap Band blog, please post it here. I have the link to my blog in my signature...feel free to read it. I enjoy reading about other people's journey too! Here's wishing us all continued success!:biggrin:

Congratulations on your surgery! Take it easy and get some rest. This is the hardest part but it does get better.

:biggrin: Congrats to you! I am happy with my decision too! I say a prayer everynight, thanking the Heavens that I decided to change my life and that I was approved by insurance and the surgery went well!