2muchfun

Its been over a year for me and i am at my goal weight!!!!! i had my band placed in December 2011. The one thing i can say that I dont like is the amount of food I throw away!!!!! I try to put it in the fridge and save it, but I usually dont end up going back for it....and end up throwing it away...But it seems like the weight that i lost my husband found!
 
I love the fact that he starts to get a little jealous when i go to work, shopping, or anywhere because he can even see the difference now...I went to get more scrubs/uniforms for work because im in the medical field ...and Im in a medium and its LOOSE!
 
But i can honestly say for me anyway is that I set a goal weight got there and then say ok 5 more lbs ok now 8 more lbs...and keep wanting to go on and on....but my man loves curves ....cant lose too much!

It been almost a year since my band as of tomrow it will be 23 more days till my one year. Gosh my life has changed. I am now a size 4 /6 I am now 129.8 lbs> I am also now a full time Zumba / Group exercise instructor/ personal trainer. Yes life has change but it not about how I changed it about the lesson I learned alog the way. The Lesson I want to share with you today. The lesson I had to apply to life to my life to make me a success.
 
First lesson become uncountable.It the things we hate the most the things that are the hardest for us, that do us the most good. A great example is the frist time I tried Zumba I hated it I was so bad I had two left feet. My frist thought was I never going back I hate this but i went back now i am Zumba Educational Specialist I am dance ever day and I share my love with orthers all the time But this lesson needs to keep being taught. The other day my trainer asked me if i did my 20 mins on the stair climber I said i hate it I call it the Michen of evil and she said to me Laura Thas just why you must do it. t The things that you hate the most do you the most good. I knew she was right.
 
The Next lesson Is the frist person who needs to believe they can Has to be you. If you want to change you need to say Yes I can. The words no I can't has to be gone we spent years say NO I can't exercise eat right making all excesses . If you do not belive you can that you wont you stay just stuck were you are. Relive you can be the change.This take streath. More then physical streath this was one of the hardest thing i ever did To believe in me. I am worth being believed in. and because I belive in me others do too and I have created a network of people who believe in me because I do
 
The last lesson I will share is Be the butterfly. Butterfly change into something beutey but each on is unquine diffent. Each one has to learn to spered there wings fly. And be free. One you embracess change and become fee ro it you wiil become beatful something everyone will love

I have figured out what one of my triggers is that sets me off. Sadly it's my husband, when we have an argument it set me off. And I find the more weight I lose or the more I work out the more he wants to argue over dumb stuff. But I have also realized that I'm doing this for me. For once in my life I'm putting me first. And if he can't handle that then tough titty. Just thought I would vent a little cause I needed to get this off my chest. My morning started off bad. Hope everyone else have a better day.

the sweet spot that is known as the green zone. Some are lucky and never have to worry about it and some of us have to figure out if we are really in it or not or if it even exists. Since my last fill on Jan 29th I can certainly say it exists. I can easily go 5 hours with need to eat and I never have the cravings or desires to snack. Jan 29th I weighed 346 and this morning I was 313. Today I also had my one year follow up visit and the Center was happy with everything they seen and heard and they feel I am in a very good place right now. They decided that they only need to see me every 6 months but if I have any problems at all with anything or think I need adjustment then call sooner and get in.
 
I still have a long way to go in my journey but sometimes it is good to take a step back and look at the big picture. My Doc took all my measurements this morning and then gave me this print out for a little perspective.
 
 
 

 
I am 93lbs from my personal goal but I am more motivated then ever.
 
My advice to all the new folks considering this option. Patience...this trip requires a lot patience but if you're true to yourself and follow your Docs advice and guidelines you can be successful. With anything there are ups and downs but you have to grind through the low points. Lapband surgery one day and weight loss the next does not happen. It can take some time for the ball to really start rolling.

Today I did my week three weigh in and I'm down to 283.4! I was so excited to see those numbers! Its the end of the semester so I've been swamped with all my big school projects and haven't been able to squeeze in workout time, so I genuinely didn't think I'd come down more than a pound or two. This brings my total weight loss to 32 lbs! SO AWESOME! My first goal weight is 270- that's what I weighed two summers ago, and more or less is the last consistent weight I was before I started gaining rapidly.240 will be after that- that's what I weighed all through high school. I'm so exited because I just feel like for the first time that these are TOTALLY attainable goals.
 
This week I get my tax refund back and the first thing I'm doing is renewing my gym membership. I actually love working out, and once I'm in a groove, I'll do a couple hours in the gym no problem, but lord know that first three weeks blowwwwws. Its so weird to be able to remember being roughly this size last year and working out 7 days a week and it being easy breezy, but right now I don't think i could do more than an hour and be dying afterwards. Conditioning is a b***h.
 
I've been adding in more 'real food' and it seems to be going pretty well.. Just trouble with portioning still because of the weird link in my head between 'this is the amount you need to eat to feel full' and 'eat this cup and be done'. I'll get there haha.
 
Its only two weeks until my first fill!! I'm so, so ready to kick this thing into high gear! Any advice for the first one? Will I be able to go to work afterwards or should I plan on being sick to my stomach? I'm not really sure what to expect!

How many times have I heard this. Everyone with the band is not going to lose weight at a high rate of speed. To me a loss is a loss whether it be a pound or an ounce. Many factors play in to weight loss and they are consuming less calories then you burn, getting 8 or more hours of sleep, moving your bowels regularly, eating high protein meals with good carbs such as vegetables and fruit and moving.
 
Actually wheat products such as wheat breads and pastas have been proven to be no better then white bread and pastas and may even cause more weight gain. Yes, gluten is a real problem. But the problem is not just gluten. In fact, there are three major hidden reasons that wheat products, not just gluten (along with sugar in all its forms) is a major contributor to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, dementia, depression and so many other modern ills.
 
 
How Wheat -- and Gluten -- Trigger Weight Gain, Prediabetes, Diabetes and More
This new modern wheat may look like wheat, but it is different in three important ways that all drive obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, dementia and more.
It contains a Super Starch -- amylopectin A that is super fattening.
It contains a form of Super Gluten that is super-inflammatory.
It contains forms of a Super Drug that is super-addictive and makes you crave and eat more.

 
So if you have changed over to wheat products and are not losing this may be why. It really isn't wheat anymore but a bunch of fillers so that may impeade your weight loss.
 
There are many reasons why you may not be losing as much as others, but I say keep doing what you are doing and eventually you will get to goal. It can take two years to lose 100lbs that is not uncommon. Yes you want it off now because you had surgery but the slower the better and if you lose weight slowly you will be more apt to keep it off long term.

I had my first fill on monday. It went great. It was a really weird sensation, but didnt hurt at all like some people said it would, so thats good. From monday to this morning i have already lost 3.5!! i'm so ecstatic to not be hungry all the freaking time!! I did throw up the first time last night tho. That wasnt as bad as people said either. I think i just ate too fast and then drank water. I'm excited to learn about what having a band is like and what and how i can eat now. I feel like the journey has finally begun and i'm excited for the first time in a long time!

I love food, I mean really love food (which is why I hit 247). I have always been a foodie. While sweets were never a huge pull for me, I find myself wanting them more now, but I have managed to stay away from them except special occassions.
 
I am and always have been a protein / carb girl. I am mildly adventurous, willing to try new foods and such. Since being banded I have found I like: Greek Yogurt, couscous, beans. I eat a lot more fish (talapia, salmon, mackeral).
 
Being that I love to cook I am always researching new things and new ways of cooking.
 
I still, however, do enjoy going out to eat. What I like best is having someone else clean the kitchen!
 
Last night, Valentines, the hub wanted to go to the 1st resturant we ever went to. That resturant is On the Border, which serves southwest style food. I love southwest/mexi, but it is loaded with salt and calories. I downloaded the nutrition and was shocked the my southwest chicken taco's were 1200 calories- ouch. I found that the fajita mix was a better choice, I was able to order the chicken with grilled onion, pepper, zuchini, with no sides (beans, rice, tortillas). I ate just the meat and veggie and ask for sauce on the side (which I only used a bit of). Since I hadn't been there since surgery this really showed how my eating has changes.
 
Before surgery I would eat the meat, veggies, rice, beans, tortillas and a dessert. Last night I wasn't even able to get down all of the meat and veggies. Wow, what a change. My husband said he was so proud of me.
 
I went home feeling good and not over stuffed. Yes, this morning my weight was up by a pound, the salt really worked on me.
 
So today I am drinking my water like a made woman and cutting the salt back.
 
I guess this is what life should be like, not giving up the food we love, just cutting back on the amount and making adjustment for the bad stuff.
 
What in the heck did I learn this years ago??

Great News!!! Progression has taken place; not in the sense of the scale losing its mind and numbers reducing like haywire; no, not at all. But, progression in my sense of consciousness; I recognized how tired I was, and finally one day as I was going through my closet-- there it was, and then it reminded me of a deficiency that I had that needed treatment in order my body to get the rest it. If I used it then I would have the energy to put exercise efforts to practice. It was my C-Pap machine. Needless to say, for the past three nights the morning greets me in a different state of being. I am more rested, seems as though I can breathe better, and I started stretching my muscles. There was pain and pleasure at the same time. Felt as though I was escaping from prison, and I was. So this newness gave me the energy to be creative with what I have around the house to use to work my muscles. I filled up 3 to 4 gallon jugs of water, I used the broom handle as a level to balance the handles of the water jugs and I really enjoyed myself in increments of workout. I have a lot to look forward to. I will keep you posted.

I was banded on 1/7/13 and one of the things that my instructions talked about was that during the "Healing Phase" of my eating, many patients stop losing or actually gain weight. With this in mind I have been very careful to log all my food and count calories Even thought my NUT said that calorie counting wasn't necessary, she told me to shoot for between 1300 - 1500. So, this morning I was able to go back to one of my pre-band rituals of Saturday morning breakfast with a friend, but I was scared because I was flying solo, no scale, no measuring cups, just me and "Mistress Band".
 
So, the result? I ordered two eggs and hash browns, I pre-cut all my food to the proper size, and tried to focus on the conversation and my eating. Pretty soon I hit a soft stop (hiccup) and then each bite I started asking myself why I was taking that bite. When the answer because "Because it tastes so good" I put my fork down and moved the plate out of reach.
 
At that point, I was satisfied, not full, but satisfied and it looking at my plate, I realized that I had eaten about the same as I would have if I had pre-measured it. Maybe one day, I will be able to move rely totally on listening to my body and my band, but until then, I will log and count.

I think I have a clot in my nose... if I take a picture can you tell me what you think I should do?
 
Also, I ate chips and salsa in my post-op phase, do you think I hurt my band?
 
Can you tell me what to eat?
 
Why is my cat losing more weight than me... We eat the same diet?
 
OMG PEOPLE... GET SERIOUS. This is not a game. I get so depressed reading this crap! I think I will take a mini vacation. I need a tranquilizer to keep this crap from driving me insane.
 
Do these people think we are not working our butts off to do this? Who the F U C K told them it would be easy?
 
Rant off... sorry having a bad morning... hope yours is better!

I have not posted in a few weeks and have been reading many of the posts regarding the same questions and the tone of some of the answers.
I work in the medical field and researched the band for 2 years and went to all of my preop classes etc... I was fully aware before surgery that the band is only a tool. The best way of thinking about it for me is the band holds me accountable to myself and what I eat!!! It is a tool only ,I have done the work so far. My loss has been very slow but I feel 100% better. I feel the first mistake some make is thinking the band is a cure and an easy way out. I have been stuck for 3 weeks now but will not let that stop me. I was banded 11-8-12 have had 2 fills. At my last fill the NP told me "you get it, you really get it"!!! Its only a tool, they cure for obesity comes from within and the desire to for once in my life do something for me and to become more healthy and active. I don't need to lose as much as some but the battle is the same. For those of you that have met your goal, you are an inspiration to me and gives me hope that I can do this with the HELP of my band. I do no rely on the band but always know its there. I have lost 21 pounds with 30 to go and its any every day decision but the band always reminds me how much and what I can and cannot eat. Looking forward to the green zone and until then I just keep doing the best I can. Not sure why I felt the need to write this but hope this help someone the way others on this post has helped me the last few months. By the way I am a 51 yr old grandmother raising grandkids the works full time so believe me I know the stress of everyday life and how I turn to food for comfort. No more thanks to my lap band, accountablity tool

3 little letters...
 
F...A...T...
 
FAT...
 
Something I have carried with me my whole life, something I have been called my whole life, something I have felt my whole life...
 
Something I am ready to let go of.
 
 
I have always struggled with my weight. I was never the kid that felt confident at gatherings or at school. I was teased...badly. There have been so many times that I have cried because of my weight, whether it be due to someones cruel comments, or because it has inhibited my life. Even as an adult, I have been struggling.
 
It is time to let go and be the person I always wanted to be...
 
I can't wait to be the girl who stops to look in the mirror twice because I don't believe the reflection is me. To be just "one of the girls" in a photo, instead of the "fat friend". To deal with my "inner fat child" demons and live a healthy life.
 
I am going to start my pre-op diet on the 14th. Once that day comes, there is no turning back...
 
I pray this momentum and desire carries me through this journey...
 
Cheers to a new me!

Ok, perhaps I'm being just an itty, bitty over dramatic BUT I'm literally kocking on onederland's door!!!
I weighed in at 200.4 this morning. Oh my gosh, I can almost taste onederland's. It's been years since I've been here.
 
I'm so excited. If I stand on my tippy toes I can see 199!!!

Its been awhile since I added an entry to this blog but since mid-July I have...
 
1) Had my gallbladder removed on 8/3.
2) Scheduled my surgery for 9/4. (Woo Hoo!!)
3) Started my pre-op diet (it is currently Day 3!)
 
My pre-op diet consists of 4 Bariatric Advantage shakes a day and since Friday, I have lost 6 lbs! So that is motivating. My surgeon told me I have to lose at least 15 lbs by surgery, which I feel like will not be a problem if I have already lost 6?! I know its just water, but still. Pretty stoked.
 
I am using the Chocolate Bariatric Advantage powder for my shakes. Though I did try the Nectar "fuzzy navel" flavor today as I had a sample and it was VERY tasty! Tasted like juice. So I think I will be ordering some more of that from the Bariatric Advantage website.My mom got me a NINJA blender which I have been using for some of my shakes to make it more like a frapp. Doesn't really come close to Starbucks, but its tolerable!
 
In preparation for post op, I have purchased some Isopure unflavored powder (about $50 for a 3lb tub, on sale) and some pre-made Isopure drinks, fruit punch flavored. The pre-made drinks came in a pack of 12 bottles, for $64!!! However, they were on sale and then the cashier gave us an additional discount so it came out to about $25! What a steal This was all at GNC. The cashier seemed a little confused/curious as to what I could possibly be using all this protein for... finally I told her I was having Lap Band surgery and she nodded and said a lot of people come to GNC for bariatric supplies. Nosy!
 
So I basically have to get through 2 work weeks, 2 more weekends, and Labor Day on liquid diet before my surgery. Seems like a long time but I have a calendar that I am crossing off the days on. Hopefully with work and everything it should fly by?? Yeah, right. I just keep telling myself this is only temporary...

So i been watching that show extrema makeover weightloss addison and I have a few thoughts.
 
Dear weight loss Fairy.
 
I would like a trainer to follow me around at all times. I would like you to take my couch in retrun please leave me a treadmill, an arc trainer and a stair climber and a zumba floor so i can partice my dance moves.
I promice they will get great uses in my house and i will enjoy them more then my couch
 
I would like my exsess skin on my back lower stumic and under arms removed and i also like you to make the TATAs perky again as now they are saggy and lost there pep.
 
 
Thank you
 
please great my wishes
 
Laura

Just received my Band Wagon book today. It's pretty informative. I also filled out my history papers for Dr. Swain for my post op care/fills. Seems like the day will never get here! Buddy, my husband, is out west on the motorcycle, the kids are all staying here with me. Been trying to get some sun on my body, tried to go to lake the other day but it rained. So i guess I'll just stay pale. Just trying to pass the time. I'm on this site probably 75% of the day, just trying to find someone who's going to my surgeon on the same day. I even got on verticlesleevetalk.com to try to find someone. Thought I had found someone on there but then I lost her and couldn't find her again. I'm just ready to go and get the rest of my life started. We're going to add a porch/new roof/carport this fall to the house i'm ready to get on with that as soon as my husband and I both get back from our trips... We have alot going on. I start dayshift at my nursing job tomororrow morning. I've gained 30 lbs. since going on nights 8 mo. ago. though dayshift would aid in my wt. loss. It's hard to know when to eat working nights, and I haven't been sleeping enough. Also when all of this is over i'm going to finish nursing school. I have 5 classes to go (online) then clinicals to complete my BSN in nursing. I've been working on it for 10+ years and have to finish it this year. I HAVE to!!! Otherwise alot of money will go down the drain. Not just in wages, but the cost of college will be wasted.Well, I'm "just a waitin!). Gotta go ....

No not completely. I may not have the experience that some bandsters do, but I am quickly learning in my 13 short days. I am sooo very greatful I have found ways to enjoy my protien powder without getting bored. I am very happy I invested in a Magic Blender. It's been my lifesaver. I put all my Light Progresso soups in it with some chicken or beef broth...to make it soupier. I add vanilla and/or chocolate protien powder to a cup of ice and a cup of coffee in the morning to make an iced coffee. I bought Lipton diet tea with honey, individual packs, and add unflavored whey protien to it for my afternoon drink and I drink another one at night. So I am getting atleast 75g of protien per day. I am getting in the habit to brush my teeth after EVERY meal, that helps the hunger cravings. Then when my 30 minutes are up the toothpaste taste is gone and I can have my liquids. I am still having trouble getting all my liquids in, but I am trying since the hunger has increased over the past couple of days.
 
The worst time of day for me is suppertime. My family has always depended on me to cook a hot dinner. The first week and a half they did fend for themselves, but I had to help because alot of what they were cooking were my recipes. Now, my husband has stopped helping make dinner and my kids are tired of ramen noodles and frozen pizza's. Actually they are out of them and I refuse to buy those anymore. So, I am cooking chicken and rice for dinner tonight and I have the BBQ chicken in the oven for tomorrow night. The house smells soooo good, and so tempting. I miss eating with my family, but I know if a couple of weeks I will be eating with them and they will be eating healthier since I don't short oder cook.
 
Time to move on and take another walk on the treadmill.

I was driving home the other day from an event (I own a photobooth company) and was listening to my Grease Soundtrack and Olivia sang it out ........."Sandy, you must start a new, don't you know what you must do". "Hold your head high, take a deep breath insiiiiiiiide"....."Goodbye to Sandraaaaa Deeee". I thought how fitting and think that will be my new montage. Although I've lost 59lbs, I'm still not to ONEDERLAND, I'm still living in TWOterville (and my hubby can attest to that in more ways than one!)
 
When I got home and started uploading my pictures from the event, I flashed by this picture and realized it was me! I fully understand most people who see this picture would say I have a lot more to lose. Indeed I do, however sometimes I actually forget that I've lost almost SIXTY freakin pounds! That's a lot of double chins that are gone, let me tell ya. As with so many diets I've put myself through, I've always taken monthly pictures. I chose not to do that this time. My plastic surgeon yelled at me and said I should keep progress. Progress to me is looking six months from the time I had surgery and flashing by a picture and seeing, "wow, I'm really doing this!" I know I have a long road, but I can say with confidence, I look good!

Well I had my surgery in Jan 1999 and now it is June 2012. I lost 102 pounds at my max and I have had lots of issues I did regain as much as 30+ pounds so I have been working on losing that extra weight.

A lil reflection if I had it to do over again I would do a few things differently 1) I would not have waited until I was 299.5 pounds to do the surgery 2) I would have had the sleeve as my Doc suggested but I like a challenge lol
 
I am currently 234.4 pounds as of this mornings weigh in last summer I got down to 219. Life has just been busy and I have been eating. I had some fill issues so I am slowly building back up and my goal is to lose 40 pounds by the end of the year! I will check back!

I got my 2nd fill of 1cc this past Tuesday. I now have a total of 6cc in a 11cc band. I can definitely feel the difference now. Last night I only managed 4oz boneless pork chop and 1/2cup of of broccoli and 1/2 cup of stuffing. Well I managed to eat all of the meat and veggie but after one scoop of stuffing I was done. I had I eaten any more I would have had an episode......I think I am close maybe another small fill or two. Scale finally moved some as well.

Well it has been a busy 4 months. I just had a follow up visit and have lost a total of 65 pounds since surgery! I am currently at 237.5 lbs. This has been such an incredible journey and I have no regrets about having lap band surgery. Not only do I feel a 1000 times better but I am no longer on medication for high blood pressure and I am once again able to enjoy the activities that I once loved. I have a new found passion...bicycling. I joined a women's bicycling group and invested in a good road bike. My longest ride to date is 33 miles. My goal is to do a 50 mile ride by the end of the summer. I have attached a photo from a ride I did on Memorial Day to benefit cancer research. 27 miles in 88 degrees...it was a hot one but I did it!

Well I put it out there that I had lost 110 pounds, but have recently found over the last 5 months or so that I haven't had any restriction with my Realize Band and found myself up about 30 pounds. I've gone to my doc for fills (I'm up to a WHOPPING 11CCs in my band!) and attended support group meetings and both my doctor and I were stumped.
 
Then a member of this site sent me the suggestion to try the 5 Day Pouch Test. http://www.5daypouchtest.com
 
Originally created by a person who had the Gastric Bypass surgery, it's seems to "renew" the sense of restriction we all felt from the beginning of our journey with the lap band surgery. I spoke with my doctor and he had never heard of it, but it looked like a good idea to him. SO Dr. Fiallo has challenged me to try it and I'm already on Day Two!!!
 
Like the website says, many of us turn to "Slider Foods," the foods that slide right through our bands to maybe avoid that uncomfortable feeling.(You know, that RESTRICTION feeling we're SUPPOSED to feel...) BUT let's face it, what's better than eating the foods we all LOVED (but didn't love us back- because they made us fat in the first place!)
 
Things that go through our bands easily are crackers, chips, JUNK FOOD...(I know I'm certainly guilty of eating this garbage!) and what apparently happens is these junk foods slide right through the bands and don't fill us up...
 
The point is, it's not only a jump start for my band, but even if it isn't the "miracle cure" I've been searching for, it's certainly puts my recent food choices up for scrutiny...I WANT to be healthy again...AND I REALLY WANT TO GET BACK INTO MY SIZE 6 GAP JEANS THIS SUMMER!!! LOL
 
Days 1 and 2 are clear liquids. The site has told me that on Days 1 & 2 I need to stick to "Liquid Protein" Listed are: Low-carb protein shakes (hello my old friend Unjury...), broth, clear or Cream (I know, yay! CREAM!) Soups, Sugar-free Jello AND PUDDING...and of course PLENTY of water. I've even included black coffee (with a SMALL amount of sugar free creamer...I just couldn't stomach the black coffee alone...)
 
Well, today (Tuesday, May 15, 2012) many of my students (I teach high school, but have known may students from before my weight loss surgery, so they've celebrated my weight loss and know my agony of what I've put back on...) asked if I've lost weight!!! The mentioned my pants were looking too baggy...and you know kids, they are brutally honest!!! SO anyway, I'm super psyched and that has kept me going on this. I am actually down about 4 pounds since last Friday (5/11)(I should also mention that I've been counting calories like a crazy person and have limited myself to 1200 - 1500/day using the smart phone app "myfitnesspal.")
 
Anyhow, I hope some of you out there find this info helpful. I will update my progress daily, wish me luck!! (Also wishing you all the best of luck on this journey to being healthy!!!)
 
Tara xx