bambam31

Beth... Not certain if this is the one you're looking for or not, but I found it in the mens room. No not that mens room - the mens room forum. :biggrin: "Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band. By Dr. Sewell. " Brad

Congrats to everyone on their losses! I started at 224. My goal was 214. And I made it down to 202. November and December were big loss months for me! I know that's going to slow down but as long as it keeps going south I'll remain happy. Happy New Year everyone! Brad

After being banded in August this year my weight loss was cranking right along. I lost the first 35 pounds with ease after which I started cheating more and more. :sorry: Why the hell would I cheat when things were going so good? Beats me. :biggrin: It just goes to show you - the band is truly a tool that is almost worthless without an equal amount of will power. By the end of October, the weight loss had come to a grinding halt. I thought I was exercising ok but the scale wouldn't budge. :confused: I saw an internet blurb from Bob Harper (you know, one of the trainers from the TV Show "The Biggest Loser") Well 'ol Bob was talking about "Spin" classes and how the show's contestants all burned massive amounts of calories on the Spin bikes. So I checked out the Spin website (www.spinning.com) and was intrigued. Low and behold our local gym (www.greatlakeshealthfitness.com) offered these classes. So my wife and I checked out the gym and their pricing and walked out the door certain to never re-enter. Way too much $$$... But they gave us a couple of free day passes to give the place a test drive. Upon returning to the car, we both snickered that "these passes will never get used." Well then on our Wedding Anniversary (13th) on Nov. 11, she decided we were going to use the passes and try a Spin class. After about 3 minutes on a Spin bike I thought I was gonna die. WTH I thought... I'd been exercising at home - how could I be this out of shape... Well that's all it took - I was hooked - and so was she. I found a way that night to work a couple of memberships into the budget. And as Christmas 2008 approached, I found that I had missed only a few days at the gym. According to my Polar F6 heartrate monitor - I was burning 4000-7000 calories a week - mainly from Spin classes. I knew Christmas week was going to be tough. The tempting foods would be everywhere. Family/Friend get togethers 5 days that week. Gym time would be cut short. All of this a bad combination. Up to this point I'd gone from 266 pre-surgery down to 207 on Dec. 21st - but what effect would Christmas week have? I said I'd stay away from the really bad stuff - yah right... I fell flat on my face. Ate the cake, cookies, fudge, ice cream, carmel corn, chocolate, and many other sweet treats. I was quite disgusted with myself and couldn't wait to get back to the gym, which is where I found myself on Saturday morning. I was well rested (having three consecutive days without working out) and gave it my all. Did the same Sunday. Now it was time for the dreaded moment. How much had I slid back from my awful week? Time to face the scale. So how many pounds did I gain? I LOST 5 pounds... :iagree: Huh? LOST? Yep... Down to 202... Incredible. The time in the gym and focusing on keeping my metabolism on fire was able to offset and absorb that tough week. I'm still amazed. Relieved - but amazed. So now with 'onederland in sight I'm as motivated as ever. :grouphug:

After being banded in August this year my weight loss was cranking right along. I lost the first 35 pounds with ease after which I started cheating more and more. :idea: Why the hell would I cheat when things were going so good? Beats me. It just goes to show you - the band is truly a tool that is almost worthless without an equal amount of will power. By the end of October, the weight loss had come to a grinding halt. I thought I was exercising ok but the scale wouldn't budge. :embaressed_smile: I saw an internet blurb from Bob Harper (you know, one of the trainers from the TV Show "The Biggest Loser") Well 'ol Bob was talking about "Spin" classes and how the show's contestants all burned massive amounts of calories on the Spin bikes. So I checked out the Spin website (www.spinning.com) and was intrigued. Low and behold our local gym (www.greatlakeshealthfitness.com) offered these classes. So my wife and I checked out the gym and their pricing and walked out the door certain to never re-enter. Way too much $$$... But they gave us a couple of free day passes to give the place a test drive. Upon returning to the car, we both snickered that "these passes will never get used." Well then on our Wedding Anniversary (13th) on Nov. 11, she decided we were going to use the passes and try a Spin class. After about 3 minutes on a Spin bike I thought I was gonna die. WTH I thought... I'd been exercising at home - how could I be this out of shape... Well that's all it took - I was hooked - and so was she. I found a way that night to work a couple of memberships into the budget. And as Christmas 2008 approached, I found that I had missed only a few days at the gym. According to my Polar F6 heartrate monitor - I was burning 4000-7000 calories a week - mainly from Spin classes. I knew Christmas week was going to be tough. The tempting foods would be everywhere. Family/Friend get togethers 5 days that week. Gym time would be cut short. All of this a bad combination. Up to this point I'd gone from 266 pre-surgery down to 207 on Dec. 21st - but what effect would Christmas week have? I said I'd stay away from the really bad stuff - yah right... I fell flat on my face. Ate the cake, cookies, fudge, ice cream, carmel corn, chocolate, and many other sweet treats. I was quite disgusted with myself and couldn't wait to get back to the gym, which is where I found myself on Saturday morning. I was well rested (having three consecutive days without working out) and gave it my all. Did the same Sunday. Now it was time for the dreaded moment. How much had I slid back from my awful week? Time to face the scale. So how many pounds did I gain? I LOST 5 pounds... Huh? LOST? Yep... Down to 202... Incredible. The time in the gym and focusing on keeping my metabolism on fire was able to offset and absorb that tough week. I'm still amazed. Relieved - but amazed. So now with 'onederland in sight I'm as motivated as ever. :cursing:

Congrats on your progress! Brad

That is really strange... Are the curds really large and thereby clumping up? Other than that - beats me. I don't have any issues with temperature variances with foods - all the way from very hot to frozen. Strange indeed. Brad

I was in your position once too. The thought of going to the gym and have all those fit people staring at my flabby body just was not going to happen. Well let me tell you... I was not any different than most everyone else there. There will be people there much smaller than you - and others much larger. I have been pleasantly surprised of the mood at my gym. It's an atmosphere of motivation and determination - not judgement. Take the plunge - along with the band it's the best thing I've ever done for my health. Brad

Beth, you've got to stop this! I can't take it....

Well there's some humorous exchanges occurring here because this question re-appears about three times a week. :frown: Look... here's the bottom line. Most all bands are put in place with no Fluid in them. So nearly all of the restriction you initially feel is swelling from the surgical procedure - not the band. Once that swelling subsides - the restriction, in most people (there are a few exceptions - don't expect to be one of them) goes right with it. Your hunger comes screaming back with a vengeance and all you think about is food and wanting to eat. You have to fight this almost solely with will power. This period is referred to as "bandster hell." Almost everybody goes through it. BUT... just because you CAN eat about whatever you want doesn't mean it's OK to eat whatever you want. The restricted diet imposed by your surgeon/nutritionist, is designed to allow your pouch to heal. When you cheat - you're causing your pouch to be overworked during the digestive process. This "bandster hell" period IS NOT FOR WEIGHT LOSS - it's for HEALING. By cheating, you are subverting that process, which may cause problems down the road. Now, most of us have bent the food rules here and there - but to coddle you and tell you it's OK, just because we did it IS WRONG! It's not OK! It wasn't OK when we did it - and it's still not OK for you. Brad

My ticker has my highest pre-band weight, which was about a month before surgery. I don't measure food so to speak, but I do give it a good eyeball. Hair loss is a strange topic for me. I can tell it's a bit thinner on top - but what is there is growing faster than it did before... Brad

It would be a good idea to ask your doc/nutritionist what they expect for calorie intake at the stage you're at. I think you're pretty much on track though. Brad

Nevermind... I should have actually read the post before replying.... I'm a dumba$$.... Brad

Beth...I must be a sloooowwww learner because I need some clarification on this - your post is just way too vague... So when I go to Taco Bell, and order a "nail and spike burrito" I'm supposed to ask them to hold the glass shards???? Brad

friend... How many calories are you getting in a day and are you doing any form of exercise? Brad

Amen to that! After having Christmas get-togethers all week I am glad it's done! The temptations will be kept to a minimum now. So in the morning it's back to the gym and full speed ahead. Brad

Congrats Lellow! Enjoy your trip! Brad

I love RockBand! I don't play it too often though because it's addicting and I'd sit there all day. I'm getting better at the drums and guitar. It drives my wife nuts because I can sing at the expert level and have almost all of my life left at the songs' end - she tries expert and it kicks her off the stage. I catch her practicing all the time - she vows to overcome my scores... :thumbup: It's true that in the cold (especially cold water) all men ARE created equal... :smile: Those are mesmerizing blue eyes! Congrats!

A good Dutch Oven "brew" would consist of 1 part hard boiled egg ; 2 parts chili ; 4 parts beer..... :thumbup: Brad

After riding the yo yo up and down all of my adult life, I decided this problem was bigger than me and I needed help. I was tired of being fat - and everything that goes with it. Brad

I'm with Aubrie on this one. My calorie intake is highly variable on many factors. I may eat 1000 one day and 1800 the next. So I would say 1400 on average. Brad

SNT... Good for you! Those are appointments we're always early for! Why.... yes.... yes it is.... :thumbup: Brad

Hi Kitty, My Hillsdale experience was very good. My sister-in-law lives in Jackson but she went to Hillsdale too. Happy Holiday! Brad

Hi Shelby - small world eh? I was going to say that I hope you're someplace warmer now... then I looked as saw you're still in MI so you're suffering with the rest of us... Gentle? Not a chance..... :wink: Brad

Fortunately I spent extra time in the gym today... The rest of this week will go better. :smile: Brad

Ugh.... Today can be summed up as cookies, fudge and demons oh my.... I hate holiday get togethers... 1 down - 4 to go.... Brad