JulieNYC

I didn't exercise yesterday and I didn't get my Water in. Guess that was my day off. I'm already down 4 cups this morning and planning my walk/run for later this evening. Betty, I'm so glad to hear your son may be coming home from the hospital and that as tough as the surgery was, it is behind you all. That is just wonderful. I'm so thankful and relieved. Boo, I'll give the multiple bra approach a try this evening! I'm at 250 lbs today. Given that when I started, my closest century marker was 400, I'm feeling good that in one lb I'll be closer to 199 than to 300. Onederland -- REALLY? So weird. I feel like I might wake up sometime soon and this band might have just been a dream.

Wheetsin, Many women who are "pears" and not "apples" can't comfortably cross their legs at the knee (with toes pointing down as Missy describes) when they're heavier. I mean I can DO it, but they don't stay crossed without a lot of muscles working because there's too much fat on my thighs. I've lost a lot of weight one other time in my life and it was such a joy to cross my legs comfortably again. It's like being able to reach your toes to polish your toenails -- quintessentially feminine.

Kat, you're doing great already this month! Way to go. Walking to the park is wonderful. A lot of walkers/runners in my area do a run in Central Park around a little lake called The Reservoir. I think you've inspired me to do that this weekend. Susan, my trainer fears for my "black eyes" as well. I got new bras last week and they're so much better but she says they're still not good enough -- I just don't know what else to try. I'm having the girls lifted in April, so I guess I'll deal until then.... The NYC marathon is this weekend. It passes by 1 block from my house. I'm going to have to go check it out. I've been a couple of times before, but never with the thought that I might make it a goal for myself one day. We'll see. I need to be able to run a mile first, haha.

Hi Ladies, I started out a size 26 and am cruising down into a 20. For those of you ahead of me in the journey, approximately what clothing size did you wear when you noticed you were crossing your legs comfortably? My legs cross in comfortable chairs, but not in "waiting room" or "office" chairs just yet. How long do I have to wait? To me, that's going to be one of the greatest NSV's.... Thanks!

Amourette, There's no "sign up" per se -- you just come here and report in on what you've done/what challenges you're having, and (in the end) when you complete the challenge. Most of us complete it, so there's no one winner either. It's about checking in with each other and incorporating some exercise into our lives most days. Though we're only at 17 sessions of 35 minutes now, our long term goal is 20 sessions 45 minutes. We're working up to it. I'm so sorry your back is out! That's the pits. Baby yourself this weekend then you'll be back into the challenge in no time. I bet your garden looks great though! Heather, That's great that you're getting a port revision. You're going to have great restriction in no time and you'll be taking the band out for a long spin of weight loss. Let us know how you're doing and I'm impressed that you're staying with the November challenge even with the port revision scheduled. Way to go!

Oh Roberta, I'm so sorry you're sick! Take care and feel better soon. I think we've decided that if you work out in the morning and again in the evening, you get major admiration and maybe even dancing bananas if you're vocal about it, but you should only count one of the sessions toward your goal of 17. The reason is, our goal is to incorporate exercise into our regular, daily lives. Of course, if your goals are different and you want to count it, that's truly fine too. I did 35 min on the elliptical tonight. Then I ate a couple of brussel sprouts and they're hurting me as if I wolfed down a loaf of french bread or something! Such a bummer because they were delicious.

I worked out with a trainer 2-3 times a week for about 18 months before getting banded. I didn't lose a pound, but I did gain a lot in general conditioning. My trainer wasn't used to dealing with super-sized clients, but she quickly learned to adapt exercises that I couldn't do (laying flat on my back, for example). If your finances allow for a trainer, I'd definitely go for it. I really credit that as being a companion tool for my band in terms of my loss to date. I remember the day, just barely 6 months ago, when I couldn't walk more than a few minutes at 2 miles per hour. Yesterday, in the middle of my 30 min walk, I ran for 10 minutes with no break at 5.5 miles per hour! Progress comes very quickly, even for the supersized, so hang in there. In my early workouts, I did a lot of treadmill and a lot of strength training. Aqua aerobics is great too and is so easy on the body, yet is beneficial. In my "mid" stage, I did a lot on the elliptical machine. Boy that was hard at first. The first time, I could only do 2 minutes on level 1! Endurance builds quickly though, so hang in there and keep trying new machines and activities.

Christmas Goals A1ikou...............240...............XX Aza....................299...............XX BPM..................230...............37 candy444...........299.................23 Elisabeth.............275.................16 Ericsmom...........250................XX Indianlight...........280.................14 Josette................340.................25 JulieNYC............235...................16 Koala.................275..................24 Ladydi................270 .................33 LapBandit...........250..................13 Libra...................270.................14 Mariguita.............290.................XX NatesMommy.....275.................XX Waterlily1072.....275..................23 **As an aside, I can almost TASTE "Midtown" and it's killing me to get under it! Come on, Midtown! I hope the Isopure Margaritas are as good at Midtown as they were at the border of Twoterville!

4-3: JenRN - 263/257/238/150 - 25 total 4-3: jenn28 - 282/265/229/165 - 53 total 4-3: Picardy3 - 298/300/257.5/150 - 42.5 total 4-3: tipper - 300/290/259/165 - 41 total 4-4: Sugar1 - 311/289/231/150 - 80 total 4-4: Dak – 255/251/205/150 – 50 total 4-4: Angels - 264/255/235/? - 29 total 4-4: Harpseal Al - 327/295/220 - 34 total 4-5: Boo - 208/203/173/132 - 35 total 4-5: siestaqh - 180+/177/128/110 - 52 total 4-6: Disneynut - 290/287/260/125 - 27 total 4-7: Guysis - 234/185/134 - 49 total 4-10: JulieNYC - 358/252/180 - 106 total 4-11: Vickie1177 - 320/297/267/137 - 53 total 4-11: tellymelly - 240/235/184/135 - 55 total 4-11: Fel0816 - 307/284/265/to get under 200 - 42 total 4-11: dsrjrr - 231/230/210/130 - 21 total 4:11: truckinmama - 262/234/160 - 28 total 4-13: Nursekathy2u - 358/356/335/175 - 23 total 4-13: NJgirl - 248/230/206/140 - 42 total 4-13: Miper70 - 217.5/196/145 - 21.5 total 4-17: Amourette - 22.5 total 4-17: Jeepergurrl - 242/207/140 - 35 total 4-17: MelAnne - 245/207/150 - 38 total 4-18: KAYBEE-284/209/180 -75 total 4-18: Danaclark2 - 270/260.5/245/150 - 25 total 4-18: LapBandit - 392/369/347/336/324/308/298/278 - 114 total 4-20: Omamoon - 220/211.5/188/130 - 32 total 4-20: KimInMD - 288/288/236/156 - 52 total 4-21: Yoda - 273/257/218/150 - 55 total 4-21: kristielynn - 310/302/237/150 - 73total 4-22: alisonb - 286/270/176 - 16 total 4-24: Eficka - 125/117/104/69 - 21 kgs/46.2 lbs. total 4-24: Ceparano - 255/270.5/220/170 - 50.5 total 4-24: Kat - 289/281/219/165 - 70 total 4-24: hlj25950 - 262/257/225/160 - 37 total 4-25: momof2boys - 270/266/237/145 - 33 total 4-26: Bostongurl - 264/244/197/145 - 67 total 4-27: tinaj - 226/221/210/150 - 15 total 4-27: lookingout - 185/178/165/101 - 20 total 4-27: flowergoddesstn - 214/204/190/130 - 24 total 4-27: Dimples0323 - 284/284/241/145 - 43 total 4-28: Susan4794 - 283/267/243.5/140 - 39.5 total 4-28: bluehill - 333/253/145 - 80 total 4-28: Irish Girl - 225/214/170/135 - 55 total 4-28: MomofSixKids - 240/238/205/150 - 35 total

OK, so I'm reporting in on session #1 of at least 17 for the November exercise challenge. Last night I met with my trainer, Tamisha. She really likes me to work on weights with her rather than cardio because she knows I get at least some cardio on my own, but that I don't usually train on my own. I always fight that a little because I know cardio gives me the weight loss I like, but I know she's right that muscle tone will pay off with weight loss over the long haul, so I usually acquiesce. Anyway, (drum roll, please)….I ran TEN FULL MINUTES at a 12 minute mile pace with no breaks!!! I was rockin' the Kasbah. WOOHOO! I'd never made it past 7 minutes before without at least a break (ok, I just started running at the beginning of last week, but still). What I didn't realize is that when you hit that wall of "I can't run anymore," if you push through it, sometimes you can run more. I have that at like 3 minutes, and 6 minutes, but once I made it to 7.5 minutes, I really felt fine. Now I have to work on my form. I said when I got to 10 minutes, I'd work on my comfort/form before moving too much further (because I don't want to run too much until I lose about 50 more lbs, so that I don't risk injury). Anyway, then we did our regular 60 minutes of strength training, so that's my session #1. I packed gym clothes with me today, but I'm not sure I'm really going. I know I'll go Fri, Sat, Sun, so I may take today off. Then again, since I'm going to France later this month, I need to get in as many of the 17 as possible early in the month. Report in on you when you have a chance!

Welcome to November, April Bandits! It's nearly the holidays and we're all going to meet our weight loss goals with the help of our November Challenge. Speaking of, the terms are as follows: (1) Complete 17 or more exercise sessions (counting only one session per day, if you're the type to do more!); (2) To count, each session must be at least 35 minutes in duration; and (3) Consume at least 64 oz of Water (or whatever your personal goal for water intake is) at least 6 days a week. We can do it! Let's check in with each other often this month, as the holidays make it so easy to check out on diet/exercise until the New Year. Here we go....

Ok, our November Challenge thread got deleted with the server crash, so I'm off to create a new one. Look forward to seeing you all there!

I get really tight for about 5 days when I ovulate, then it slowly loosens up from there. Actual TOM isn't a problem at all -- restriction is about at normal. Strangely, I carry water weight (I'm one of those who weighs every day) during ovulation but not so much during TOM, so they must be related....

I call mine Hep. The first time I had dinner with a close friend after getting good restriction he said to me "geeze, if you always eat like that (I'd had one scallop and about 4 bites of salad), you're going to look like Audrey Hepburn." I'll take it.

I met the challenge this weekend. I spent the weekend with friends in the country (it's soooo nice to get out of the city from time to time) and was able to work out three days straight to meet the challenge. On Friday, I ran for 7 minutes (then walked for 30). The longest I'd run before was 3 minutes. My immediate goal is to get to 10 minute intervals because I'm having a hard time getting my heart rate into my target zone on my beloved elliptical machine these days. Running takes me immediately there, but it's not good for me to run for long periods because I'm still so heavy. I figure if I can just run for 10 minutes of my workout, every other day, that'll give me the cardio boost I need without killing my knees -- at least until I get to Onederland (when I'm going to run like a gazelle!). Saturday, I went for a long walk around the neighbor's horse farm and Sunday I did some modified weight training (wall pushups against the barn, step aerobics onto and off of the porch, lunges off the well -- it was a country weekend). I'm hitting the real gym to try for 7 minutes of running again today. We'll see if I can make it. About November, I hear you about 36 minutes being a little clinical, Bluehill. I hadn't thought of it that way, but I definitely see your point. My impression is that this group isn't ready for a 40 minute commitment for November. Please speak up, all, if you don't agree! Unless we decide otherwise, I'm thinking 17 sessions, 35 minutes, and the new thing will be the water goal. My personal goal will be to do 250 crunches every night as well. I was talking to my Dad (the plastic surgeon) who said if my stomach muscles were in great shape, I would need less muscle repair if I have a tummy tuck in a few months and that makes the recovery a ton easier. So, I'm going to work on those muscles as much as I can!

I think I'd get a fill if I were in your shoes. It doesn't have to be forever if it winds up cutting out foods that you want to have in your diet longterm, but it will make you focus on food andd weight loss again. Take advantage of the adjustibility of your band, particularly since your head hunger seems to have come back. Good luck.

Joe, Is it possible for you to sign up with a trainer at your gym for around 6 pm one day a week? That way, you have to go because someone is meeting you there and you're paying (dearly -- it 'aint cheap!) for their time. I do that once a week, then work out hard Fri, Sat, Sun and that gets me in a guaranteed 4 times a week. I'd like to do more in the week, but that's my compromise with myself for now... Good luck!

My guess is that the pill has moved on but you irritated your throat where it sat for a while. I totally know (and hate!) that feeling. If it were me, I'd give it another day before I worried.

Susan, you can make it! You've already done 12 of the 17 and you have 9 days left! Come on, girlfriend, you can do it! It doesn't have to be the world's best workout every time - just go for a 35 minute walk around the block after dinner 3 times this week. Then you'll be so close to finishing that you'll get in two good workouts either over the weekend or by next Tuesday and you'll meet the challenge. The dancing bananas are playing the guitar, just to cheer you on! :) :) :bananapartyhat: :bananapartyhat: :bananapartyhat: :bananapartyhat: :Banane08:

Blended families are really difficult. I'm sorry your stepchildren don't treat you with the love and respect you deserve. Great NSVs though! I can't wait until my size 22 jeans fit. They go on (and even zip) now, but they're too obscenely tight to wear in public. Maybe in about 10 more lbs.... Your zoo day sounds GREAT.

It is unethical for a surgeon to "push" an elective procedure on anyone. However, the surgeons who believe in the band, believe it helps to save lives and improve the quality of each life of a person getting banded. And you know what? They're right! Betsyjane, my surgeon is banded. Get banded. It'll change your life. I flew to Miami from NYC this weekend for a Bar Mitzvah. I wouldn't have gone if it were 6 months ago because I would have been self conscious and worried about the plane travel and to go so far for a weekend would have been too tiring. This weekend wasn't tiring at all. It was fun! And, I had a few hours between services so I went to the beach. It wasn't planned, but I was able to walk in a regular store and buy a beach towel and a size 14 bathing suit. It was a little small, but it was FINE and I felt so normal to be able to just walk in any old store and buy a bathing suit. Get banded.

I went to Miami for a Bar Mitzvah this weekend. I've only been to one or two in my life and that was 20 years ago -- WOW -- the whole weekend-long event was ALL about FOOD. More food than I've ever seen. Crazy. It was great to get south though and to be in the sun and the ocean. I wasn't cold for the first time in months (I don't know why I can't warm up. I'm sure it's related to the weight loss, but it seems that no matter how much I wear, I'm still cold). So, to counteract the weekend's food, I did locate the hotel's gym. I can't say I got the BEST workouts of my life, but I did do the "minimum" and get on the treadmill for 35 minutes every day I was gone. That's something, right? And, I got up this morning and went to the gym before work (which, for a Monday, is quite a feat, plus I didn't get home until 11 last night). So, all that's to say that I'm to 13 of my 17 workouts. I'm meeting with my trainer tomorrow night and I'm in the country this weekend, which lends itself to plenty of walking time, so I think I'll meet this month's challenge. I don't know about you guys, but I need this challenge. I really wouldn't do but about 1/2 of my exercise without it. That said, I don't think we should increase the number of sessions again next month. I don't know why, but 17 felt hard this month! I think our ultimate goal should be 20 times a month for 40 minutes, but I propose the following for next month: (1) 17 workout sessions. (2) 36 minutes each (it's just an extra minute so we can't really complain about that, yet it adds 17 minutes to our month). (3) 8-10 glasses of water (or whatever your personal goal is -- I try to drink 12, but that includes what I drink at the gym, which some don't include) at least 6 days a week. What do you think?

You ROCK!! Dancing bananas wearing party hats in celebration! :) :) :bananapartyhat: :bananapartyhat: :bananapartyhat: :bananapartyhat:

Ok, Veggie, you asked for it! These were some of the questions I asked. I'm sure there are many others that are good too, but this is what I wanted to know at the time (though, of course, now I'm far more informed). Medical Device Questions<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> 1. I know there are three sizes of bands (9.75, 10, VG), but there is conflicting information on how much saline each size holds. I assume this is because though Inamed lists a max fill for each size, some docs technically overfill if necessary. Can you clarify? I want to know exactly what is in my body, post-surgery.<o:p></o:p> 2. There is a lot of speculation on the internet that the VG band is safer in the long run in avoiding slippage because its pillow design puts less pressure on the organ. Do you lean toward the VG if appropriate, or is your choice completely based on the size of the organ? 3. I read that Inamed is coming out with two new bands, the biggest difference being that they are unlockable. What benefit is that? I see no reason to wait on them, do you agree? <o:p></o:p> 4. I read a statistic from early trials that 2% of bodies reject the band as a foreign objection. What, if any, rejection rate have you seen clinically?<o:p></o:p> 5. When at a more reasonable weight, I am quite petite. Can you install a low profile port from the outset? If not, what is involved, surgically, in changing the port once I’m at a lower weight? General anesthesia?<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Fill Questions<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> 1. You have a reputation as a patient-driven, aggressive fill doctor, which is one of the reasons I chose you. How long after surgery to my first fill? How long to the second fill if the first fill doesn’t give enough restriction, as I understand is very often the case? Would you ever not tell a patient how much fill they have, if they wanted to know? <o:p></o:p> 2. Often I hear that to find the “sweet spot” can be an adjustment of only .1 or .2 cc’s of saline, particularly if you’re over-filled. Is it tiring for you or your staff if someone asks for such a small adjustment, or do you consider than part of the banding process?<o:p></o:p> 3. In your opinion, do frequent fills lead to esophageal spasms? <o:p></o:p> 4. For someone like me who needs to lose quite a bit of weight, is the goal to get right to the “sweet spot” or do you try to save room in the band to be able to safely tighten it when you hit a major plateau?<o:p></o:p> 5. Under what circumstances do you use flouro instead of doing a blind fill?<o:p></o:p> 6. I know you do some fill appointments yourself, but if for scheduling purposes I wind up seeing your nurse practitioners more often than you, if everything is going ok would you still want to see me yourself from time to time? If so, how often?<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Aftercare Questions<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> 1. I understand that some doctors don’t recommend taking naproxen sodium or Advil ever, post-band. I use these, particularly during my cycle. If they don’t irritate my stomach, can I still take them? If not, what do you recommend as an anti-inflammatory and fever reducer? Also, are antibiotics necessary for more than routine dental work?<o:p></o:p> 2. Here’s something that came up on a message board that didn’t make sense to me. Some people were talking about wearing a medic alert bracelet to let rescue workers know that they had a band in the event they are rescued and unconscious. Their logic was that intubation of a banded person isn’t the same. Is that really a concern? It doesn’t seem to be physiologically correct to me (airway and stomach being separate).<o:p></o:p> 3. I’m concerned generally about this surgery and the long-term health of my esophagus and gallbladder. Do you recommend medicine to reduce gallstones during the early weight loss phase, particularly if it is more rapid that a lower BMI patient would experience?<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Surgery Questions<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> 1. I know slippage was a bigger concern with earlier surgical technique. What surgical techniques do you use to prevent slippage? Pars Flaccida? Stitch in the diaphragm? What slip rate have you seen clinically from your patients?<o:p></o:p> 2. Where will the port be placed? Can you avoid the left side, so that I can play violin as soon as possible? Also, I sleep on my left side. Also, I will almost certainly have a tummy tuck, given that my Dad’s a plastic surgeon. I’ve read at least one example of a port getting dislodged in reconstructive surgery if it’s placed low. Is that a fluke, or not a concern with an excellent plastic surgeon?<o:p></o:p> 3. Many people have told me that the worst part of surgery is the left shoulder pain from the CO2. Is there anything you or I can do to reduce that? Do you prescribe Levsin?<o:p></o:p> 4. I will follow a pre-surgery diet with rigidity for as long as you recommend. With that as a given, but also understanding that I am a higher BMI patient, what do you think is the percentage chance that you would have to convert my surgery to an open procedure?<o:p></o:p> 5. What kind of closure do you do on the incisions? Stitches? Glue? What do you do to make them pretty?<o:p></o:p> 6. ** I very much want to go home that day, assuming no complications, the day of surgery. I understand that’s more likely if I have the first surgery of the day. Will you take that into consideration when scheduling me, with the understanding that it may push my surgery date out a little?<o:p></o:p> 7. ****I chose you as a surgeon for many reasons, but the driving factor was that you’ve done four thousand procedures and if someone is going to be poking around with sharp metal instruments near my liver and spleen, I only wish to trust someone who has done four thousand procedures. I understand NYU is a teaching hospital and that your practice is training a surgical fellow. Is there any chance anyone but you will be handling any portion of the actual surgery?<o:p></o:p> 8. Are there any particular concerns you have specific to me, as opposed to other patients? Is there anything I can do to make the surgery itself easier for us both? Is there anything I can do to be a superstar success story that you think I might not already know from my research?<o:p></o:p>

Boo, you ROCK! Way to go for running 4.5 miles! No, I don't think there's any danger to your band in running. I can't wait to join you! Roberta, I'm thinking good thoughts for your dad's recovery. You still have plenty of time to meet the challenge since you've already done 8 sessions. Hang in there. Kat, I love your new exercise! I'm so cold these days and I have a fireplace. Come chop some wood for me??? Betty, 68 is YOUNG. You can have a TT if you want it. Of course, at a starting weight of 234 and as rockin' as you are with the exercise challenge, I bet you won't even need it. Bluehill, thanks for your sweet post about my -100 on the other board. You're a doll and believe me, you inspire me a ton too. I met with my trainer tonight for my 10th of the 17 challenges. I'm beat. Catch yall tomorrow,