ljv52

Morning everyone. I don't get notifications either so didn't get that rant -- I don't care about which thread we use -- either is fine with me. As long as I can find it, I'm happy. Just got Bryan's b-day cake in oven - having family here for his 22nd b-day celebration (his is March 8 too). Making chicken piccata, rice, broccoli and the cake. He wanted a rich chocolate cake with choc. chips in it so found a recipe -- I won't be sampling it - has 5 eggs and a cup of melted butter in it - -a bundt cake -- he can take all the leftovers over to his friend's house where he hangs out. But even if it's here it won't bother me -- stuff like that just doesn't interest me that much -- I'd rather gorge ont he chicken piccata and rice. LOL. Little Katelyn is so gorgous -- sounds like it wasn't too difficult of a delivery - so happy for you Lori and the family -- now you can get down to spoiling that sweet grandbaby. You're going to love it! Laura, sounds like your parents are coping pretty well -- happy they spent the week with you -- good for them too -- you didn't mention your sister -- did she stay back home this time? I hope so -- they probably needed a good break away from each other too. Some old person must have fallen for your DH to have to do an emergency hip. Hope your DH is home by now. I know my surgery was rather quick - I think it only took about an hour. Apples, hope DS's party went well - give us the details -- glad you made it home in time. It's a nice day here -- sunny so far and 28 degrees - yesterday was windy and cold with little bit of snow flurries - nothing stuck but just chilly. I'm more than ready for spring. Gotta get going -- need to hit the gym and then Aylah is coming over early to help decorate the bday cake. LOL Janet on giving up shopping - good luck. Linda

Went to Sam's today and just finished cleaning and packaging up all the chicken breast -- now need to eat -- will cbl -- glad you started a new thread Janet. I'm lost without it. Linda

I have been cold ever since surgery -- I was never cold before even though I've had hypothyrodism for over 10 years -- so I do believe it's due to the surgery and losing the weight. I also read somewhere that it is common for all weight loss surgery patients to be cold afterwards -- not sure why but it seems to be common. I've also been at this weight for over a year and still am cold -- even though I've stabilized this long. But, I'll trade being cold and healthy for being obese and unhealthy - feeling cold is NOT going to kill us -- plus I bought long sleeved tee shirts on clearance for $3 each a few weeks ago at a huge sale at JC Penneys -- they were on sale cause they are "winter" clothes - lol -so I even save money for my summer wardrobe -- I'll wear long sleeves all winter to be comfy at work. There are so many benefits!! Linda

Hugs Kalia, sorry you are struggling. First and foremost you need to stay on your meds for your bipolar -- you need to accept that this is something you will need to do for the rest of your life in order to have a happy life. Once you feel you have that part of your life under control, then you can start to deal with your weight loss issues again. First of all, do not beat yourself up or feel guilty about gaining this weight. Obesity is every bit as much of a disease as being bipolar or having cancer -- it's not who you are, it's what you have.Then you need to get your fill and start working your program again - follow the rules -- Protein first, drink your Water, no snacking and exercise. I think will help with both your bipolar and the weight issues. It's a struggle, but try to find something you like to do. You didn't say if you have a hubby or kids, but even if you do (and I know how busy that is) try to take one hour for you every day to exercise - take a walk, ride a bike, dance, go to aerobics classes -whatever you find that is fun. Start out slow and increase over time. I have found that going back to the beginning with the 5 Day pouch Test was a good way for me to reconnect again when I strayed and gained some weight back. It really helped me to get back on track. It's at www.5daypouchtest.com Good luck and know that we are all here for you. Linda.

Paul, as long as you understand going in that the band is only a tool, not a magic cure-all of obesity you will do just fine. The band helps us by limiting the amount of food we can eat - but it does not help us choose what foods we put in our mouth. You must make the right choices and you will still have cravings which you will have to overcome. The rules of the band are: eating Protein first, exercising regularly, no snacking and drinking at least 64 oz. of Water every day. You cannot drink with meals and most surgeons instruct you not to drink at least 1/2 to 1 hour before and after meals. This is because drinking will wash the food through the smaller pouch and into the stomach and will keep you from feeling full. We also eat very few carbs -- only healthy carbs (fruit and veggies) during the weight loss phase (no bread, potatoes, rice, etc.) Some can gradually add them in during maintenance. I've been on maintenance about a year and I have learned I must stay away from them. Keep reading and researching before you make a decision. I hope whatever decision you make will be the right one for you and you will be able to get your weight under control and enjoy life more fully. Good Luck and hope to hear from you again. Linda

Hi how is everyone doing? Hope you've had some better success this year KBGO.

Hi anyone out there? Would love to hear how everyone is doing -- a friend of mine is attending her 3 year anniversary party this weekend so it made me think of our little group. They were banded July 07 and they are still posting and keeping in touch -- makes me sad we don't. If any of you are still out there would love to hear from you. Linda

I have been at my sweet spot since my last fill in January. I'm at 6.5 cc's in my 10 cc band. My fills were done slowly -- after an initial 2.0 cc's my surgeon only gave me about .250 at each fill - I usually needed fills about every 12 to 15 lbs. lost, or about every 6 to 7 weeks. I have great restriction, I've only pb'd twice in the year and a half since surgery.

Not only is your DH a lovely man, but a smart one too who made a good point -- 19 pounds gone forever!! Sounds like you have it all together - keep up the good work and congrats on those 19 pounds!

Hi, I agree with Laptastic too. I've been at a plateau since first of December -- I got to 100 lbs. lost and couldn't get any more off although I was exercising like crazy - 120 mins. a day 7 days a week and eating exactly the same as I did previously when I consistently lost 2 lbs. per week average. One week ago I started taking liquid protein before my workouts and I am doing actual weight machines -- I was doing exercise (lots of cardio) and some light free weights, but started weight machines a week ago. Got up and weighed in this morning and lost 2 lbs. which is the first time in months I've lost more than a couple of ounces for a week. Someone told me that if you ingest 18 grams of protein before you work out your metabolism increases -- not sure if it's true, but it did work for me. Good luck and I hope this might help you so you don't stall for months as I did. By the way, I tried a lot of other things during this plateau (like eating more calories, exercising a little less each week) and nothing happened -- in fact a couple of times I'd gain a pound from doing that.

Happy, you're doing fine. It is normal after the surgery to NOT lose weight -- your body is in the process of healing -- within the next few weeks you will start to lose. You should call your surgeon's office and ask them if your calories are what they recommend or if you need to change them. I followed my doctor's advice to the tee and I've lost over 100 lbs. in 14 months. I recommend you only weigh yourself once a week as your body fluctuates too much to be weighing every day. I found I consistently lost 2 lbs. per week until December when I had another major surgery (not related to the band). Just keep doing what you're doing and you'll be fine. Best of luck to you.

I agree with everything that has been said -- but wanted to add that right now your body is busy healing -- and most surgeons warn their lap band patients that you might not lose weight until after the first 6 weeks because of that healing process. Stay off the scale, follow your doctor's instructions and try not to worry about it right now - concentrate on healing. Until your first fill you will be hungry, it's a hard time to get through, but after your fill you will feel much differently. Remember, the band is not a "magic cure" -- you still have to work hard by eating the right foods and exercising. I am thankful every day for the band -- there have been many instances during the past year where I would have said "the heck with it" and eaten a huge, calorie laden, high fat meal - but with my band I wasn't able to do that -- and I was grateful. I've lost thousands of pounds during my life and never kept it off more than a year - with the band, I know I have the tool to help me maintain my weight loss for life. But it's hard work, I exercise 90 to 120 mins. every day. Right now I'm experiencing a huge 2 month plateau, but I'm still working the program and working towards goal. The band gives me the inspiration to keep on going. Remember, they didn't band our brains, they banded our stomachs. We are all food addicts and we need to address the addiction as well. Good luck to you and to all the others who have commented here.

I too have been struggling with a long plateau. I've only lost 1 lbs. since Dec. 22 and I've been working very hard -- increased my cardio, am doing more strength work -- up to 5 times per week -- and exercising at least 100 mins. per day, 7 days a week. I have not changed any of my eating at all -- I tend to pretty much eat the same foods and I very seldom eat anything I'm not supposed to -- like candy, Cookies, etc. I made a commitment at the beginning of this journey that I would eat healthy (not diet) 98% of the time. I eat fish at least 4 times per week. Some people are trying to tell me I should increase my calories, but truly, I'm afraid to do that. I have noticed the past week or so that my clothes are getting big - really big and I need to get some smaller sizes again. So, although I'm not losing pounds, I have lost lots and lots of inches so I still appear to be losing fat - I am apple shaped -- had lots of belly fat. I'm very short -- only 5'1". Since my surgery I have been so cold and I was starting to think that maybe my body was trying to hold on to the fat too keep me warm because it's winter? I notice a lot of us posting here are from colder climates. Good luck to you all, keep on working the program -- maybe Spring will bring us sunshine AND get our scales moving again. Take care, Linda

Well, you just gotta get back to the original program and work it. Take time for YOU -- that's part of the problem -- you must make YOURSELF the important person - it's not being selfish -- it's being realistic. Try to remember how you felt before you were banded -- the reasons why you decided to get the lap band -- remember how you felt -- that might help you get back on track. Instead of thinking about what might have been, think about what WILL BE. I know you can do it -- I keep plugging away at it every day -and every day it's still a struggle - I have to exercise twice as long now to lose any weight -- otherwise I stay at a standstill - the more you lose the more you have to do to keep losing -- I firmly believe in keeping track of calories in and calories burned -- I use dailyplate.com -- but there is also sparkpeople and many other great websites out there to help you. How long has it been since you had a fill? I had one in Sept. and just got another one a week ago - I'm at 6.25 ccs in a 10 cc band - as I mentioned above, I was at my sweet spot from Sept. until Jan. -- then I needed another fill after I lost about 8 to 10 pounds -- as we lose the fat around the belly, we need fills. How about going to a support group meeting? Maybe you would benefit from going to that. We must remember, the band is just a tool, and we need to work the tool in order to get the weight off and keep it off. Please check back and let us know how you are doing. Anyone else out there struggling? I feel so much better and have so much more energy than I did a year ago. Keep in touch, we can help each other - we understand each other better than we know. Linda

Hi everyone, thought I'd check in here as we approach our 1 year bandversary. I've worked hard and I have had great results. I'll posst pics here. Hope you're all doing fine. If some of you are struggling and I can help, please let me know. I belong to a mentor thread (Indio Girl) that has really helped me to stay on track and I highly recommend accountability of both coming to Lap Band Talk and keeping a food/exercise diary to help us. Just had a fill -- my sixth - I'm now at 6.25 ccs in 10cc band. My last fill before this one was first part of Sept. so I was at my sweet spot for quite some time -- it's all good. I had my left hip replaced on 12-8 -- so I was unable to exercise for a few weeks, but back at it -- my surgery went very well -- much easier since I lost weight and was in good shape. I exercise every day -- at least 30 mins. each day - usually more. My weight loss has really slowed down. My goal is 132 -- that will put me at "normal" BMI but since Sept. I've only lost 10 lbs. and I had to really work hard for those 10! If I can be of help to anyone out there, please please let me know. Pen, how are you doing? Ms. Kelly hope all is well with you too. Hope to hear from some of you. First couple of pics is me in hawaii in January, 09. We returned on 1-11-09 just 2 days before I started pre-surgical liquid diet. Pic of me in Vegas was in August and last pic was in Dec. here at home about 10 days after hip surgery. Hope you all have a successful and happy 2010!! Love, Linda