LindaD

I exercise at least 30 minutes a day, more on weekends. My goal is 6-8 hours a week, most of that being cardio but I also do weights at least once a week. I log all my food - every bite. The Daily Plate is a GREAT place to log food - the database is better than any other I've tried (including fitday and sparkpeople). I just strapped on my GoWearFit for the first time today. That will help monitor my activity, with a better estimate around calorie burning and such. I drink Water. I avoid breads, cereals, rices. I work to get my Protein in (probably less than I should - I'm hitting about 50g a day, I guess). The band helps me by lessening my appetite, helping me to be full on less food, helping me eat less frequently. But I still take full control of making sure I do my exercises and by choosing the right foods to put in my body. I'll give the band credit, but I give myself credit too. I hope you find some ideas that help you get where you want to be. Good luck!!!

I just had shrimp for the first time at 8 weeks post and I had some issues with it. My surgeon said that you want to chew until the food is the consistency of toothpaste. I don't think shrimp breaks down like that - it doesn't ever become complete mush no matter how well you chew. I would avoid it, I think.

That I wouldn't need to stock up on so damn much Soup. LOL I'm not a big soup fan but I knew it would be important during the few weeks after surgery before I could eat "real food", so I stocked up. Boy, did I stock up. Way too much. LOL That life after the healing isn't that much different than life before surgery as far as eating goes. Oh, sure - I eat a lot less and I avoid some things. But it's not like this HUGE thing that impacts my entire life. I don't need to buy all sorts of special foods, I don't need to eat differently than my family with regard to what we serve. I just eat less of it, and less in between. It's pretty much a non-issue, really.

18 days ago?? Sweetie, be patient! Give it time. Goodness. I too lost a lot pre-surgery. After surgery, I actually lost a little the week of clear liquids and then - I was so hungry - I actually GAINED some. But you just need to give it a chance. You seem determined to fail, and I really think attitude has to be part of it. I know you're discouraged, but step back and tell yourself "I'm not looking for results NOW, I'm looking for what I have in 3 months or 6 months" or whatever. Log your food, exercise, see what happens. 18 days is way too soon to throw in the towel and to declare failure. Give your body time to heal and adjust. Let yourself get to the right fill level. See if it works as well for you as it does for others who may have also failed at many other (every other) weight loss attempt. Good luck.

When I am avoiding the scale, that's a bad thing. It means that I am in denial about what I would see. I realize those who are obsessive, who let themselves get down in the dumps over no-loss or whatever, might need to avoid it. I don't think it's a problem for me. Being willing to get on the scale FOR ME means being willing to be culpable, to take responsibility for my eating and exercise. Avoiding the scale means avoiding the truth of my choices. So I'm good with it...

RM, congrats to you and continued success!!! To us both, to us all. I am still on Cloud 9 (I've posted that more than once tonight on the board LOL). I mean, sometimes I contemplate my new reality and I want to cry tears of happiness. I can't stop smiling about it. Last week, I had a 5 day business trip. Then my husband and I did a little 4 day get away. I was definitely out of my normal routine - I missed my workouts, and I didn't eat as carefully as I do in my routine. And not only did I not gain weight, but I lost a half pound. Oh, it wasn't 2 pounds or 4 pounds or whatever, but I LOST WEIGHT WHEN I WASN'T EVEN TRYING. I'm deliriously happy.

I was banded about 8 weeks ago and have lost 66 pounds (need to update my ticker) but a bunch of that was pre-surgery. LOL Still, if the current rate keeps up, I will likely be considered a fast loser too, I guess. I'm working out a lot, and am very happy to be able to eat a reasonable diet (in variety and amount) and feel full and satisfied. As for the hair loss... there are many other possible reasons. You can't just assume it's malnutrition or even not enough Protein. Hormonal changes can create hair loss, and we all know that our metabolic system (which we have just impacted in a major way) is tied into our hormonal system too. I lost hair after every pregnancy. I assure you it wasn't malnutrition. LOL Nor was it lack of protein. I am losing hair now, but I am eating enough and getting enough protein in. So I think perhaps it's another cause, or maybe even a combination of causes. I'm not panicking because I've been through this massive hair loss thing before, post pregnancy. I am pretty confident it will stop eventually, before I'm bald LOL and in the mean time, new hair IS coming in even as the old hair comes out.

When your body is metabolizing fat for energy, there is a by-product called ketones. The state is called ketosis. Many people who follow a low-carb diet, where they deprive their body of carbohydrates and force the conversion of stored fat for energy, are very familiar with the breath issue that is present. Get some sugar-free mints and remind yourself "My body is converting fat for its energy use. This bad breath means I am losing weight." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketosis

Not tellin'. :)

I had been flip-flopping on the decision for 5 years... I would convince myself to do it and then I'd talk myself out of it. My loved ones would tell me they loved me how I was, they would worry about the risk. And so I'd put the idea aside for awhile until it came up again. What finally got me off the fence -- my company was being acquired. I knew my existing insurance would cover it, but the new plan was an unknown to me - maybe it wouldn't. That is what got me moving. I had planned to have the surgery before my insurance changed, which was due to happen Jan 1 of 09. I started in April of 08 thinking I had plenty of time. I jumped through all the hoops but in October Aetna denied my request. I was devastated and thought it might all be lost. Fortunately, my new insurance covered it and I switched surgeons and jumped through more hoops and had it done in May - over a year from when I made the decision.

While I was healing, on liquids and soft foods, I was HUNGRY. I mean, really hungry. For me, it wasn't feeling deprived, it was because my body was asking for real food. I had been on liquids for a long time. I had dropped weight during the pre-surgery and post-surgery liquids phases. Are you sure it's not just plain hunger? Once I got past liquids and soft foods, I slowly expanded what I ate and I swear I have not felt deprived at all. Now, frankly, I would not eat a Subway sandwich - it's just too much bread and bread causes me issues. But I do have pizza and lots of other stuff. I feel so very satisfied with what I can eat, and I'm a person who has felt deprived on every other diet I've been on. Now that I have the ability to eat a reasonable variety, and to feel satisfied on small amounts, well, I'm still on Cloud 9 over it all - it's incredible, amazing.

I think there are different degrees of stuck. Even before my Lapband surgery, I had this condition with these esophogeal rings (where my esophagus is constricted at a point) and I would get stuck prior to the lapband. I have had some issues since getting my band too. I guess I've been dealing with this for about 5 years to some degree. Sometimes, it's a moderate experience getting stuck. You just have to wait and let it pass through. It sometimes takes a minute, and it sometimes takes longer. This still happens with my band. But if you get REALLY stuck, you will know it. Seriously. LOL Several months ago, I went to the ER because I had gotten stuck eating steak (this was before my band) and for 3 hours, I was just miserable and in pain and the saliva won't stop. After 3 hours, I didn't think it was going to resolve on its own, so I sought help. (It did resolve, the gross way, while I was waiting to be seen.) I have gotten stuck rather badly ONCE since the band - just last week. It took a bit less than 2 hours for it to resolve. It was awful. Something like that definitely cannot play out around other people.

OK, it was morning, I was on Day 2 of my cycle, and I was away from home. Add to that I felt very stressed once it started (and I already knew that wouldn't help, I was TRYING to relax), and I suppose that explains it. I haven't had a major stuck issue since, but I've had a few minor ones. Out of town again next week so I will be VERY careful.

That is just awesome!! Congrats to you!! I'm not too far behind and hope to join you soon. You should be so proud of yourself. Sure, the band is part of it, but the person with the band still has to do the actual work, right?? What an accomplishment!

I find it so interesting the varying approach surgeons take. I wasn't given any restriction on liquids or mushies after my fill - I even asked and they told me "Nope, just take it easy, but if you over-do, you'll know and then you won't likely try THAT again." LOL They're right! I got stuck really bad trying to have little bites of a toasted bagel half with Peanut Butter. (I know, I know!!) and I'll not do that again. I still haven't been brave enough to try beef (other than ground) or salad. My doc asks that we wait 8 weeks after surgery, and I'm there, but I'm having tightness problems and so trying those now is scary. I have 2.4cc's in my band and just that .9cc's that were added has made a big difference. I MUST take smaller, slower bites and chew really good. Today, I had about 1/2 cup of pistachios for brunch and 6 shrimp for dinner. The shrimp were not jumbo or anything, but they were decent sized. I could not have possibly taken another bite. And each shrimp was cut up into 3-4 bites. And STILL I had a minor incident with feeling stuck for a bit. Working on it... getting the hang of it.

I was banded 5/29 and it has only been in the past few weeks that the port tenderness is finally gone - it definitely took longer than the other incisions. But now it's all good - I can lay on my front or my port side (as opposed to my starboard side? hahah) without any issues. It just took extra time. The other incisions are just closing up your small wound, but the port is also stitching the port to the abdominal wall - so it's a bit more to heal, I'd think. Hang in there!

I was REALLY sleepy those first few days, which may have to do with the pain meds more than anything. I stopped taking those after Day 3 and I was fine. Depending on the ages and the need to lift them, I would imagine it might be OK... my youngest is 5 and I had no problems. If your kids are not babies/toddlers, I would imagine you'd be just FINE.

This past weekend, my husband and I did a getaway without the kids. I wore a short-ish skirt and a nice (non-stretch) blouse. I wore heels, with an ankle strap and I buckled it myself. It is so much easier to shave my legs and I do it almost daily now. And I find it easier to assume various positions during our getaway, if you know what I mean. Ahem. As for travel... my airplane seatbelt has a long tail now! And I can use my tray-table or even open my laptop and work on the plane. I'm thrilled. Every single day I find something that is better or easier because of the weight loss. I'm still riding on cloud 9 with regard to this whole thing. I couldn't be happier...

I had that tightness in my chest for the first month and it eventually lessened. I'm not sure mine was nearly as much as yours, given that you're having trouble with fluids even. I didn't have any issues drinking. Did your surgeon put some amount of fill in the band at the time of surgery? It could be that you may be tight already just out of the starting gate. My surgeon put 1.5cc's in at the time of surgery. My first fill post-surgery was July 8th and I now have 2.4cc's, and it does feel tight - I am working on getting used to this, but just that .9 cc's of Fluid makes a HUGE difference in how I eat and how much. Good luck! (From Linda who is really still to new at this to be giving advice, so take that into consideration when you read my post! LOL)

Well, I made it through the rest of the trip OK. Whew. It's going to be an adventure because I have 5 weeks of travel in the next 10 weeks. Yikes. I'll be paying close attention over the coming week to see how things are and try to determine if it's too tight or if I'm just not eating carefully enough. Wish me luck. Also - does one's cycle (period) impact tightness at all? I mean, it seems like a dumb question but what do I know. LOL

I had my first fill on July 8th so it's been a couple weeks. Over the past couple weeks, I didn't have many issues. I mean, I could feel it was more restricted, and I was being very careful. But I have a pretty good routine going at home, access to the foods I know will be OK, etc. This week, I'm on a business trip. This means I was subject to lunch being provided at business meetings and dinners out with colleagues. Stuff like that. I've been careful, I haven't over-eaten, I've tried to take really small bites and chew really well, etc. But I've had a few minor incidents of getting stuck. And then this morning, I had a major one. I ate Breakfast in the hotel and I got stuck. I tried to wait for it to resolve before I had to leave - I wanted a long time, until 8:45. My meetings started at 9. Finally, I got into my rental car and drove to the office but I sat in my car in the parking garage waiting for it to either go down or up. It finally resolved at 9:30. I was very late for my workshop (that I was supposed to be leading). Sigh... that was stressful. Really stressful. I'm sure the stress didn't help. I need to be way more careful and only eat "sure things" when I'm traveling. Also, my band feels tighter this week than it did last week. I wonder why. Just venting, I guess. I need to research the best things to do when you're stuck - lie down? Stretch? Be still? Be active? Does anyone know?

Just adding to this.... I am traveling for work this week. I wore a top that was size 14/16 yesterday!!! I picked it up at Lane Bryant on clearance. I never try things on - I just figured it was a good find and I could wear it once I get to that size. Well, I tried it on at home and it FIT! Not too tight - it fit WELL. So I packed it and wore it yesterday and I felt so good all day. It looked so cute. I have no scale this week while I'm out of town and it's making me nervous. LOL I'm just trying to be good so that when I get home, I'll be happy when I step on the scale.

I went to the gym today for the first time since the week before my surgery. I've been working out nearly every day at home on my treadmill, but I was waiting for the 6 week mark to go to the gym and do a more rigorous workout. The day was today. It felt great. The good news is that I tested my blood pressure while I was there. In fact, I did it 3 times over the course of my 2 1/2 hours there because I kept thinking "Surely, that can't be right." LOL I am well below the hypertensive and pre-hypertensive levels. I AM IN THE NORMAL ZONE!! It was 112/75. It felt so damn good to see those numbers. :smile:

I had the issue with deep breaths for the first few weeks after surgery. It eventually went away. :smile:

Awesome!!! Good for you! I always still did that stuff - I would put a suit on and swim with the kids, etc. But recently was the first time I looked FORWARD to wearing my brand new size 18 swimsuit. :lol I enjoyed it so much, I order another swimsuit - a tankini. These will do fine for summer '09, but I'm already looking forward to buying 1 or 2 more next summer. In a smaller size, of course. LOL