beckn

Now this is what I am talking about! Thanks for all the positive replies and encouragement. I want to get this weight off now and am ready to do what I need to do. Yes, I know what is needed and now I have my mind set to do it. I am looking forward to hearing from you and hope I can be an inspiration to you as well.....we are in this together!! Also, does anyone know how to reset my PIN on the tracker so I can update it.

Hi Adorkbl, Thanks for your post. Yes, I am starting to do some light walking, about 30 min a day. I am looking forward to start some swimming now that the weather is getting warmer. I am also going to get my bike tires pumped up for some easy bike riding in the park. I have let my back pain keep me from too much exercise but I know that is important for health and mobility. I have to say that the two accidents kind of set me back mentally, but I am coming out of that and ready to take control of my life again! Like I said, it will be baby steps but slow and steady is a good way to go. I am also looking to improve my eating habits again. I kind of got off track over the winter but now I am willing to make the healthy choices I need for weight loss and improved health. I just need support and encouragement. I hope I can get it here and hope that I can be a positive influence for others. I am going to make an appt with my surgeon soon just to make sure my port is fine. I think it is because I haven't had any problems in that way. It was good to hear from you and I wish you all the best on your path.

Hi there. I was banded May 2008 and initially lost 85 lbs. I am 5'-4" and started out at 228. I got down to 143 and hoped to get to 135. I am 62 years old. I was doing well and then I was T-boned in an auto accident when a young man ran a red light. I sustained some back injuries. Then 5 months later a woman on a freeway on ramp rearended me when the car in front of me came to a dead stop. I sustained another spinal injury. Needless to say I have been dealing with lots of pain and mobility issues and many spinal treatments. I have slowly gained back 15 lbs due to decreased activity and exercise and then not following my "lean and green" program. Anyway, I am making a new start today with baby steps. I will start a light walking program and adding a protein shake meal a day. I haven't been on this site for three years and thought this would be a good place to look for support. I haven't been back to see my surgeon in a year because I am embarrassed over my weight gain. I feel like my port is okay but I should check in just to be sure. Any positive words of advise will be greatly appreciated. I don't want to hear any negative posts. I want to hear from others who have overcome challenges and helpful encouraging stories. It is really not all about the weight loss but how we feel about ourselves and how to improve our health and wellbeing. I know that I felt so much better when I was in my 140's. I want to get back to that weight. I look forward to hearing from you. Maybe we can help each other on our journey to health and happiness. P.S. My ticker is really out of date since I haven't been on to log in my weight loss. I tried to edit it but forgot my PIN. I can't figure out how to set up a new PIN and new information...any tips????

Hi There and welcome! I had my band done at Enloe on May 12th with Dr's Ludwig and Simchuk. My whole experience from the pre op time through surgery and now post op has been wonderful . If you can, come to the support group meeting on Wed the 26th of Nov from 6:00pm-8:00pm at the Enloe Esplanade Building, corner of Esplanade and 5th Ave. It is going to be a good one. There you can meet some of the other banders. It is open and free to all. Best wishes on your journey and keep in touch. Becky

clv811....Barnes and Nobel works for me. The weekends are good and I also have Monday and Tues off next week. I have a doctor appt Monday at 8:30 but will be free after that. My only plan for Tues is to vote and then my day is open. Let me know if one of thoes days works for you. Also any other banders out there please join us. I would love to meet you all if I haven't already. I am one of the nurses you may have seen for your pre op labs and assessment. I hope to hear from as many as possible. The banders are my favorite patients. Becky

I just wanted to tell you that I am interrested in getting together with some other Chico banders out there. Maybe we can start thinking of a time and place and see what happens. Becky

The Thurs group meetings are the post op classes and you should go to thoes for sure. The support groups are on Weds. Double check that with Kathy at Dr Ludwig. Tomorrow, your appointment is for Dr Ludwig to look at your incisions and see how you are feeling. They will not be doing a fill yet, it is too early. A big weight loss is not expected at this appt because you are still healing and have some swelling still. The fills usually come at about 6-8 wks after surgery. They are not that bad, just a quick poke usually and it is over within a few seconds, no big deal. Right now you just need to concentrate on getting your water and proteins in......sip sip sip:thumbup:. They will be asking you how much protein you are getting a day and how much water you are getting and if you are having any pain. I live on Arbutus Ave off of Mangrove. Let me know if you want to get together soon and if there are any other Chico banders out there please chime in. I would love to meet with you too. It would be fun if we all got to know each other and to support each other between the Wed support goup meetings. I know, I can use all the help I can get right now to stay on track. Have a great day!

I have been able to buy some size 16's in the regular stores. I used to wear 18-20's. It was nice being able to buy some of the summer clothes at Costco which have not fit before. I have given a lot of my clothes away and hope to be giving some more away soon. I can wear some 14's now so I think I am losing inches as well as weight. I would love to meet for coffee some time soon. I am not sure when the next support group is. I think it will be Nov 12th but I am not sure. I'll try to call Kathy at Dr Ludwig's office tomorrow. I really need to start going to the group meetings to keep me on track and motivated. I hope you are doing well. Keep in touch. Becky

I do enjoy the 9:00 am water aerobic class when I can make it. I generally work 9:00- 5:30 or 10:00 to 6:30pm most days so I can't always make the class. I haven't been to a support group yet. I am going to try and make one this month. I was hoping that by just eating less I could reach my goal weight but it does take work...Lap band is not an easy way out, just a tool, like they said from the very start. It takes constant work. I am just happy that I have lost 30 lbs and have been able to keep it off so far. I want to work at getting to may goal weight so I can be healthy and happy with myself. I do not regret having the surgery and look forward to continuing with my weight loss journey. It will be nice to have local support from other banders in the area. All the best, Becky

Hi Cindy, It sounds like you are having gas pains. Are you chewing Gas X tablets? That really helped me in the first two weeks. I think the worst is over for you now. Just be really careful about what you eat right now. Instead of french fries try a little mashed potatoes. Yams and sweet potatoes are really good right now. I put a little butter substitute or plain yogurt on mine and it is very good. You really have to eat tiny bites and chew chew chew. That has been hard for me to learn because I have always been a fast eater and used to taking big bites. I use a small spoon and little plates and cups. It helps. This is a whole new way of eating for us. I have to remember to put my spoon down between bites and really concentrate on what is in my mouth. My biggest challenge right now is getting in a regular exercise routine. I belong to In Motion too and always enjoy going there. It is such a beautiful gym. I really enjoy just getting in the pool and using the kick board and my fins and just go back and forth. I just have a hard time making the committment to doing it. I hope we can encourage each other. It helps to have buddies. There are others out there that want to start a support group. That would be awesome. Take care and I look forward to hearing from you again. Becky

Hi Cindy, It sounds like you are having gas pains. Are you chewing Gas X tablets? That really helped me in the first two weeks. I think the worst is over for you now. Just be really careful about what you eat right now. Instead of french fries try a little mashed potatoes. Yams and sweet potatoes are really good right now. I put a little butter substitute or plain yogurt on mine and it is very good. You really have to eat tiny bites and chew chew chew. That has been hard for me to learn because I have always been a fast eater and used to taking big bites. I use a small spoon and little plates and cups. It helps. This is a whole new way of eating for us. I have to remember to put my spoon down between bites and really concentrate on what is in my mouth. My biggest challenge right now is getting in a regular exercise routine. I belong to In Motion too and always enjoy going there. It is such a beautiful gym. I really enjoy just getting in the pool and using the kick board and my fins and just go back and forth. I just have a hard time making the committment to doing it. I hope we can encourage each other. It helps to have buddies. There are others out there that want to start a support group. That would be awesome. Take care and I look forward to hearing from you again. Becky

Hi, yes count me in. I really need support with the holidays coming up!! Becky

Yes, you are correct. I thought that we may have met. I am such a show off with my surgery scars. You gave me your on line name and I put it in my pocket and it went right into the laundry:unsure: How are you doing? I just got back from a little trip to Portland and I was not very good with my eating. I didn't plan well and ended up doing impulse eating. I really need some support right now on getting back on track. I have an appt with Dr Ludwig next week and I know I will have not had any wt loss:angry_smile: It is my own fault because I have not been exercising the way I should be. Oh well, today is a new day and a new start. I am off to work soon. I am glad that we connected. Best wishes, Becky

The Chico meetings are the last Wed of each month from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Esplanade Building ( I think I have that right, I haven't been to one yet and need to) I would feel better knowing that there are other banders there. I would like to hear from any of you that are attending. thanks, Becky

Hey Sandy, my band date was May 12th. It is nice to meet another bander from Chico. Are you going to the meetings and if so have they helped? I am kind of stuck and need some motivation, especially with all the holidays coming up. Any tips on getting good protein and staying within the calorie limit of 900-1000 a day? My hair is reallly falling out but I get sick of the protein drinks. I have been taking Biotin to help stop the hair loss. Becky

Hey Sandy, my band date was May 12th. It is nice to meet another bander from Chico. Are you going to the meetings and if so have they helped? I am kind of stuck and need some motivation, especially with all the holidays coming up. Any tips on getting good protein and staying within the calorie limit of 900-1000 a day? My hair is reallly falling out but I get sick of the protein drinks. I have been taking Biotin to help stop the hair loss. Becky

Have you Chico people been going to the support groups on Weds? I have not been able to make the group meetings because of work but I am hoping to start going. I heard that there were mostly gastric bypass people there and it would be nice if a bunch of us banders got together for support. Becky

Hey, I live in Chico and Dr Ludwig did my band. I had surgery in May. Welcome!!

I have been feeling a little discouraged lately too. I was banded in May and have lost about 28-30 lbs (it varies each day) I am kind of stuck and probably need a fill. I have had 3 fills. The first was 1.5cc, the second was 0.5cc and the last one was 0.3cc. I still have some productive burping when I eat too fast or eat bread. I have started exercising a little more but probably need to do much more. I guess I thought if I was eating less I would lose more weight. I seem to be drinking more alcohol lately and I know that isn't a good thing calorie wise. I have wine in the evening for back pain. I used to take lots of Ibuprofen for the pain and now I can only have Tylenol which doesn't do anything for the pain. I swam for an hour today and then soaked in the hot tub which felt good and then I walked my dog in the park for an hour. Now my back is killing me and I am having a glass of wine. Has anyone else had pain control problems since having surgery? I sure hope my weight loss improves soon because I am starting to think that this is all I am going to lose. Thanks for listening.

Hi Leah, I have been feeling somewhat discouraged lately too. I had my band on May 12th. I lost about 15 lbs pre surgery and have lost about 8 lbs since surgery. I have had one fill. I am only able to get a few bites of solids before it comes right back up. I do better with the protein drinks but it is difficult not being able to eat with my family. I am only getting in about 800 cals per day and haven't dropped a pound in 2 weeks. I have been exercising every other day for 30 min. In the past if I ate under 1000 cals a day I dropped weight like crazy. I can't figure out what I am doing wrong. My cals are good low fat proteins and I am eating zero junk foods. Occasionally I will have a 4 oz glass of wine. I have lost about 23 lbs since May 1st so I should be happy I guess, but I sure thought it would be more by now. I wanted to be under 200 for my son's wedding on July 19th. I now weigh 205. Help!! Becky

Thanks Gwen, that was a great post for all us regular exerciser wanna bees. Becky

Even better!

It is the little things in life that mean so much. Wishing you happy bubble baths forever!!!!! Becky

Yeah, I can't wait till I can throw all my old granny panties away and get some sexy ones from Victoria's Secret!! Ha Ha....Not!! But at least some cute hip hugger panties. I haven't had any weight loss for a couple of weeks but my clothes are getting loose too. I am bagging up some to take to the next suport group. They have a clothes exchange. Becky

Yeah, I remember how hard it was at first to get out of bed. I would roll onto my side and then push up using my arms then swing my legs to the floor. Once I was up I was fine. I am now able to sleep on my tummy and side instead of my back. I use lots of pillows to support my back and one between my legs. It does get easier each day until it is just a memory. Becky