FeliciaLevy75

CONGRATULATIONS!!! :success1: :biggrin:

First, this is not a judgment, just a fact. I had my day in this sunshine. I don't anymore but I don't fault those who want to. Enjoy! Keep in mind that while a state may have lax rules on the subject and only prosecute over an ounce, or whatever the rule is... marijuana is still illegal in the United States. The federal laws trump state laws and relaxations of the laws... while your local neighborhood city cop may choose not do anything more to you than write a ticket or give you a warning, the feds can shut you down and make life miserable in a little 6x6 cell. DEA, Title 21, Section 812 Schedule I, item C,: (17) Tetrahydrocannabinols (aka THC)

Started out at 304 and now at 272.2! 31.8 down; 5 pre-surgery and 26.8 post-surgery on May 15.

19 months and that's it? That's not the band, that's poor management of the person, the diet, and any side effects that should have you running to the doctor. That is not a reason to decry all American surgeons and tout the run for the border. Fishy is an understatment: Excuse me? What about that is NOT an advertisement? One bad experience with one doctor and all of a sudden we're all supposed to go international? You share no history, just vague details here and there as an 11th hour plea to make this all seem real. If this was real, if you cared about sharing your story as so many others have done, you would have done it with care, with detail, and with the knowledge that your chosen approach would be received just as this thread shows... with caution, skepticism, and doubt. You wonder why we're skeptical? You claim you're allowed your say, but you jump on everyone for wondering how any of this fits together. You have been the most negative, inflammatory person on here. Someone who really was having issues that needed to be aired would be more in tune to the community aspect instead of taking their ball and going home: I second that decision. Don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out.

Name.............Current......Goal.........To Go Bunkey1965......240..........219...........21 dreamsize8.......216..........190...........26 FeliciaLevy75....272.2..........256........16.2 laura bough......215..........190...........25 liz_hager..........169..........150...........19 NukeChik..........227..........197...........30 thininside28......271.5........245...........26.5

286 was my starting. I am down to 276. :smile2:

Congratulations, Thininside! Liz, are you keeping a tracker of those who are taking part?

The pencil eraser is a good way to measure it. Then chew it until it can't possibly be chewed any more, regardless of how chopped it may be in preparation. You essentially want to make it a thick liquid by chewing it so thoroughly you have no chance of getting pieces stuck.

If you eat small amounts of food (my doc says 4oz by WEIGHT) when you have your meals, and you chew, chew, chew... then you shouldn't be worried about stretching. If you are waiting to realize you are full, then the possibility exists that you can stretch it (I said CAN, not WILL; everyone is different). Have you called the doc and let them know you don't feel you have any restriction?

Amisha, welcome! Love your intro. I started exercising about 2 weeks after surgery. In addition to walking every day, I started doing some very light exercise with a balance ball, but only if I didn't feel I was straining in any way. The point for me was to just move. My doc cleared me for elliptical almost right away - based on my comfort level - because of the low, low impact. As my pain decreased, I increased everything a little. I still won't do anything that requires me to lay on my abdomen, and ab exercises are done only with great care. Heal first, firm up a bit later... so says the doc. The caffeine thing is up in the air. I have gone decaf when I order coffee or coffee-based drinks, but I haven't been militant about it with my tea. Caffeine makes you hungry, which is why it is usually off the list. I rarely have it, but when I do, I stick to green tea (better for you) when I can, but I don't freak out if it's not decaf. Carbonation is evil. Cold compressed gases in a heated, closed environment (a la stomach pouches) = expansion and stretching. Hopes this helps. Again, welcome!

What do you consider slow? I've lost 28 in a month, 34 including the week pre-surgery (without consciously dieting). Everyone is different. Most people trying to lose weight will lose between 1-3 pounds a week, which is generally considered pretty good. Considering each pound is about 3500 calories (give or take, I know it's not exact), that's a difference of 500 - 1500 calorie deficit PER DAY. Looking at that, 1-3 pounds is pretty good. If it helps, look at it in a larger (no pun intended) scale: using the above, the average would be 2 pounds per week or .285 pounds per day. Stay with me on this: .285 pounds per day sounds like nothing, but is the same as 8.55 pounds per month, which is the same as 102.6 pounds per year. It took all of us a hell of a lot longer than 1 year to gain and keep the excess we're carrying, so why does it seem insurmountable to lose weight on a steady basis and shed 100 pounds in a year? I realize that everyone is different and that not everyone will have a banner week every week. The point is that slow and steady = lifelong good habits, health, and success. Keep your chin up, follow your doctor's orders, and watch what you are eating (yes, calories, fat, and bad carbs still count on the band!). You can do this.

My roommate and I have 2 spare rooms, actually. :sad:

I found this on womenshealthmag.com today. Thought it was interesting: Break out the air freshener. A group of overweight people who inhaled sweet smells (green apple, peppermint, vanilla, or banana) when they were hungry lost an average of 30 pounds in six months. Alan Hirsch, M.D., neurological director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, believes the scents suppressed rather than stimulated appetites. Can't stand room spray? Go au naturel: "Just having the smell of a green apple on your desk could suppress your hunger," Hirsch says

Nature Made Adult Multivitamin, Chewable, Orange. I think they're great. I got mine on Drugstore.com, but they're in stores, too.

I had three weeks of full liquids then on to food, starting out soft. Now that I am eating, and since people are talking about hunger, I thought I would share my hunger-killing tricks (i.e. they work for me, some are doctor recommended, but no promises to the general public): 1. Focus on eating all your protein first, per the doc. I usually do 2.5-3.0 oz lean protein like chicken or fish per meal then, if I am still hungry, I make the other 1 oz veggies. 2. I still do protein shakes in the morning (1-1.5c of non-fat yogurt, protein supplement, and frozen fruit or Starbucks SF Mocha syrup and ice). They are thick, full of protein, and I am not hungry all morning. If I feel like I might be getting a pang, I drink water. (No one at docs has said anything against it as long as I am not hungry.) Yes, there are carbs, but they are naturally found in the yogurt and fruit - no sugar or sugar-based additives. Natural sugars take longer to process and don't have the same negative impact that refined sugars do. 3. Be careful with pastas and breads, even some potatoes depending on preparation - ever seen what they do in water? Imagine that in your stomach! It may seem filling at first, but then they break down quickly into sugars... hello to hungry again! 4. Fake cheeses (i.e. cheese flavored, powdered, etc.) may taste good, but they have no (or negative, and not in a good way) nutritional value. Have to have cheese? Find a low-fat string mozzarella or 0.5-1.0 oz of another favorite. Just don't do this too often... yes, we all need a little fat to process vitamins and minerals, but cheese is mostly saturated fat. 5. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Drink your water and when you've finished, drink some more. 6. If you are still getting hunger pangs... try distraction. If you get a pang, get up and go do something in another room for a few minutes. Leave the area you are in: change of scenery, change of focus, change of needs. Go play with the pets, kids, or SO. Walk down and check the mail. Get in the car and go to the hardware store, buy a lightbulb. Especially in the early stages, according to my doc, hunger can be head hunger, not true "hey, I'm starving here" hunger. Get out of the habit of feeding yourself everytime you are hungry; train yourself to focus on mealtimes, not the in-between.

Who is this Sam person? I'll be there with bells on! NOTE: WEBSITE IS: http://www.cafebabareeba.com/

I went to REI Sports in the District (Henderson (Las Vegas), NV) today and test-drove a few models. I am looking for a hybrid - one I can use to ride to work and back but also take on the occasional trail. I rode for about 20 minutes on various bikes and fell in love with a hybrid that has great shocks, great geometry (posturing) and handlebars that let me switch it up a bit. One of my best friends is a triathlete and he made some suggestions and gave advice that I took to heart, thought not on a $2k road bike like he has. I am looking at spending about $600 or so and this one not only looked and felt great, it was within my price range! Considering the gas I will save (16 miles a day = $5 or so in gas), the savings will wash in just a few months! I am so excited, I am planning trails and checking maps to see how far I can really go in this town. My goal is to go from home (North Las Vegas) to my Mom's (southern Las Vegas, Henderson border). No timeline for that yet, but I'll work one out.

Update - 10 days later and 10 lbs gone! WOOHOO!!

I tell anyone and everyone. Out in the open = nothing to hide. If people can't handle it, it's not you with whom they have issues, it is their own battles they don't want to face. Do it for you and only you.

Maybe next weekend we can meet up with you two? Tomorrow afternoon is bad for me (cable guy coming) or I would say I could do both.

We'll miss ya, Grace. Maybe we can meet at Cannery or somewhere near there someday. I live behind Shadow Creek golf course; my roommate is Army and he wanted a house close to base.

Count me in!

I'd love to! I posted to VegasGrace on the other thread about this weekend and said I was game. When and where? I am up very early, so nothing is out of the question. I'll be there with bells on! Anyone who wants to join, let's do it!:frown:

Sounds good to me! Grace?

I'll be in San Francisco on the 28th. Anyway to do this the first weekend in July? I am still up for seeing who I can get this weekend, too!