LifeStartsNow

I read the article today in the magazine and I liked it. I think it makes a lot of sense and reinforces the point that we have to watch our intake. I KNOW I definitely 'reward' myself when working out sometimes b/c I feel like I worked so hard or that it will be ok b/c I burned it off. I also like the point he makes - that when you sit all day (like I do in my office job) and then go work out - I'm not burning any more calories than someone who is active all day and doesn't work out. I've also noticed how TIRED I am after working out - b/c I work out hard to get those calories burned - and then I end up being lazy afterwards b/c I guess I think its ok b/c I worked so hard. The article points out - as previously mentioned in the above posts - is that we need to be active all day and not 'reward' ourselves or make consuming 'OK' just because we worked out. I've seen that in myself and now realize it after reading this article. Now I need to figure out how to be more active in my desk job and stop killing myself on the treadmill and hating every minute of it. I need to work out hard, but not as hard as I have b/c then I hate it/dread it (so long as I'm being more active throughout the day). It makes me stop and realize that I need to re-think things in my own life. :thumbup:

Bernadette? How are you doing? I'm hoping you're doing better. Update us please! :smile:

I do have a tougher time in the a.m. But I also find that if I happen to go a long time without eating (like you do overnight) it almost always gets stuck no matter what it is. Like tonight, I ate one bite of a soft cinnamon roll and it got stuck. I came home starving and just grabbed one bite and chewed well. But - it was too late. I can't wait to hear how you are after your third fill - I'm just like you - I'm able to eat way more than I should but I still have issues with things getting stuck even though I'm careful - but if I eat a little bit - slowly - I end up able to eat way too much...... Please keep me posted!

Congrats to you!!! That's SO MUCH hard work paying off! I am inspired by your exercise routine - I know that's what makes the difference and seeing yours motivates me to make myself do more! I am really impressed with your weight loss! Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Conetha - that's exactly how I feel when I try to eat a lean Protein meal at lunch. What is up with that foamy saliva? :grouphug:. Anyway - I'm so sorry to hear you didn't get a fill - but I'm worried if you get another fill - the gag reflex you're experiencing only will get worse. Are you consuming enough calories? When I have those stuck episodes, I end up drinking Protein shakes and soft foods, and actually eating too many calories, which I know will stall my weight loss. Its amazing how many more calories I consume 'drinking' them or eating mushy foods! SillyGoose - how are you doing? How are you holding up avoiding night eating? Also my biggest problem. I need to eat a bigger Breakfast since that should curb my night eating. Outside of that, going to bed early and hungry or distracting myself with an activity outside the house is the only thing that is working for me at night. A thinner me! 30lbs!!??!!!! That's AMAZING!!!! I cannot wait to be able to say that! That's really some hard work paying off. That's inspiring. How many clothes sizes are you down as a result of that fantastic weight loss?

Hey Fab - Its terrible to hear that your sister will have to sell her house. And you're right, 54 is simply too young to lose someone. My father died from skin cancer at 55, also too young, and for me one of the hardest things was when my mom sold the house we grew up in and moved. I felt like I would lose memories never seeing that home again. But I didn't. Money issues on top of losing someone is just a lot to bear. I will say a little prayer for your sister - my heart goes out to her. As for things getting stuck. I get things stuck - no matter what it is but it doesn't always last long! Lean proteins - chicken, tuna, the things we're supposed to be eating are the worst. Soft stuff - the things we're NOT supposed to be eating - of course - no problem! I'm chewing thoroughly - and all of that - but it still gets stuck. Then after about anywhere from 15-35 mins, it goes away (clearly it goes down and I'm INSTANTLY better - and hungry!). So just eating what I'm supposed to is painful and yucky. Then later that evening - at home - NO PROBLEMS. I'm able to eat almost anything I want. So I have restriction at bfast, lunch, but none at dinner. Then I tend to overeat at dinner b/c I've barely eaten all day. I realize also, its not just hunger. I miss eating the healthy things I love - so I over eat.

Big mama is shrinking - I have to agree with the person who said how positive you are and your post to trekker is what we all need from time to time. Sometimes people don't take the time to do that. YOU are great! Trekker - I lost 8 lbs - in the liquid diet before surgery - and I've only lost 8 lbs since. So my total is 16 lbs also. I waited 8 weeks to get my fill - didn't gain anything until the last 2 weeks of that time with no restriction. I gained 4lbs. Now I've lost 7lbs since my first fill 2 weeks ago. I'm making a commitment to exercise daily b/c I absolutely know that is what is slowing my progress. Good luck to you and you are NOT alone!

So true!! Just today - I was trying to eat tunafish mixed with light olive oil mayo. The tiniest bite and I felt horrible when it got stuck. Yesterday, one tiny bite of a tortilla chip - I pulverized it and ate with a sip of water. That was horrible too! Then later that day - I can eat and nothing gets stuck. I'm surprised - just as you both said - at how tempermental it all is. It almost makes me a little desperate for food when I know I'm able to eat. I find myself wanting to eat more than I need b/c I worry the very next time it will get stuck. I'm also finding - the very first meal of the day - no matter what time of day it is - and no matter what it is - tends to get stuck. Or if I happen to go a long time without eating - the first bite of anything seems to get stuck.

Try New york and Co., Ann Taylor Loft, and Steinmart. They are some of my favorites and carry XL sizes and up to size 18. Enjoy the shopping! I can't wait to feel that excitement! I'm a size 18 now and it really is amazing how a mere 10lb weight loss really makes a difference in your clothes. I think once I lose 10-15lbs, to get around 200 or 205 - I'll make it into a size 16. To be a 14 or a 12 is simply a dream right now! I'd have to be in the 180's to make a size 14 and 170s or 160s to make a size 12 But a dream I need to work toward!!

I was banded 3/9/09 and something that has surprised me is how different some things are than what I expected. I researched a lot, I read this board for months and months, and I feel that I know my body pretty well. It surprises me now how everything everyone on the boards are saying - make so much more sense. For example, I know everyone says this is a tool - but I thought I understood what that meant! But some thing still are surprising or different than what I expected. What about you? What have you learned that surprised you? 1. I'm surprised still at how much control I have over what I eat but at the same time how much control this band has over me. I thought the weight loss would be easier - but I still have to choose NOT to eat. Choose and plan healthy choices, Choose to get up off my butt and EXERCISE! I'm also still surprised at how the band chooses to be tight at times when I really don't want it to be! I'm realizing now that it is at PRECISELY those moments - that I need to be eating less - and it was in those moments in the past that I overate - and is what made me fat! 2. I'm surprised at how it feels when I have trouble eating or getting something stuck. I never could really undersand that. Its like a lump in your throat and its a real hard and sharp pain in your throat that involves your neck not just your stomach. I never really realized that in all the posts I read about what that felt like. I'm really interested in hearing what you all have to say!:tt2:

I had my first fill one week ago. I've lost 3lbs. which I'm happy with. I'm impressed with everyone's success so far - really amazing job everyone! I've not been that successful yet, but I've not been exercising like I should be. I'm ready to do that now so hope it picks up for me. I definitely have restriction - I worried maybe too much - b/c I really struggle with things getting stuck regularly - but its teaching me what I'm supposed to do! I'm learning!

Good for you Jennibells! I find myself still doing the very same thing. I have no restriction anymore and I need a fill I think. I had some restriction and had a very hard time eating chicken and eggs but this week I've had no problems at all. I'm going to call tomorrow and see if I can get a fill scheduled before I go out of town next week. I kind of wanted to hold off if I could but I'm realizing that I'm slipping back into old bad habits, feel hunger, and can eat anything. I liked the feeling where I didn't think about food at all and I want that back!

RockinMom - impressive that you can exercise such great self control. I was banded on the 9th and I'm not doing as well as you in portion control. I almost felt panicked - like I would never get to eat certain things again and I'm still doing the emotional eating thing. Mostly when I'm stressed. I do great at work, its when I get home that its the problem. I've had too much easter chocolate. I need to get back on the wagon. Good luck going back to work - you'll do great there b/c you're doing so well at home!

Thanks Silly Goose. I was starting to think people would think I'm totally nuts and blabbing on too much. They still might - I seriously didn't mean for it to be such a long post! Thanks again for making me feel a little better lol!....

You're doing crunches??!! WOW. there is no way I could do crunches right now. I have pain at the port site (not the incision site) and have to be very careful when I get into a squatting position. It burns and hurts very much - doctor stated he thought it may be scar tissue causing the problem. I have a very high tolerance for pain - and this is definitely painful.:cool2: The pain I feel in my side it just below my last rib on the left side. I'm deciding its my 'signal' that I'm full. I've read where many people get a single hiccup, or some other odd effect. I think this jab in the side might be mine since I notice the more I eat, the worse it hurts.

Its GREAT to hear from everyone. It makes me feel a little more 'normal' hearing everyone update where they are and how they feel. I too am having trouble eating too fast or large of mouthfulls. I realize I need to pre-plan my meals better and really focus on what I'm doing. I'm frustrated by my lack of pounds lost. So many of you are really doing awesome in that department! Congrats to you all! I'll be there soon with you! I did some searching online and enjoyed some 'refresher' info from Dr. Connie Stapleton of MindBody.com. on youtube. I'm also going to purchase a book from Judith Beck "THE COMPLETE BECK DIET FOR LIFE : The Lifetime Solution for Permanent Weight Loss" which I think will help me personally with training myself to eat/think like a thin person. I've observed the differences between my 'normal sized' sister and I. I realize that I need to think and act more like her which involves more planning of my meals so that my hunger is no longer the 'emergency' that I normally feel that it is. Beck refers to planning as being important for many things but one that struck a chord with me was that planning helps b/c you can withstand hunger b/c you know exactly when you will eat next and what you will eat. So mentally it becomes more bearable and less of an 'emergency' to eat now! I also am going to try a tip given by Dr. Stapleton which is to create a tip jar. You cut up 50 (or 100 or as many as you want) of small slips of paper. On each you write down things you can do INSTEAD of eating. When you feel the urge to eat outside of your plan, you go get a slip of paper from the tip jar and do whatever it is that you pulled. It can be as simple as 'go pull 5 weeds from the flower bed' - the idea is that it should be a distraction to go do something else. By the time you're done with the distraction - you may be past your moment of weakness and you're re-training yourself to deal with the urge to eat vs. feeding yourself and your emotion/issue/craving with food. The other major difference between my fit sister and I is that she exercises daily. I swear I have it in my mind that beautiful men and women who look fit - just are - without working out everyday. I'm learning that just isn't the case. So if I want to act like a thin/fit person - I have to exercise daily. At the Harvard conference on Obesity, according to Dr. Stapleton, exercising 60 min per day: prevents weight gain. What do you know, that's what she does - about 5x per week. I mean, we all know this right? Its not earth shattering - I've just got to get wtih it!! I'm also going to post this top 9 list for myself fr Dr. Stapleton. I'm sorry for the long post but wanted to share in case it helps any of you: 1. Make consistently healthy food choices. With the band, we're eating less - 60g Protein per day is important to us. So making the consistent choice to eat the right food source to provide 60g of protien is something I'm going to have to do. Protein, then Vitamin rich & antioxidant rich vegetables and fruit! That means - don't eat food from white flour/white sugar. Don't knock myself down if I screw up and eat some chocolate - in fact plan into my eating to enjoy some of those 'forbidden things' just eat really well 90% of the time! 2. Maintain portion control: for me, no more than 1 cup of food, 3x per day. 3. Have to exercise on a daily basis - I'm a busy working mom - so I really don't have the time. That means I'm going to have to steal 60 mins from somewhere else - some other thing I'm doing - I'm going to have to give it up. Maybe that's watching tv, sleeping in, or some other activity that's going to just have to give way to get replaced by exercise b/c I really DON'T have the time to exercise. I just have to figure out what 60 mins I'm going to have to replace with exercise. 4. Drink Water all day long. I won't drink 30min before or 30 min after. And this is the only way I'm going to stay hydrated. 5. Plan your meals. On Sun, I'm going to cook some ckn breats in a crock pot and portion it out for the upcoming week. I'm going to have cottage cheese, Soup, tuna, etc. on hand and planned for the week. -No grazing. (I do this and I know its where extra calories are coming in) -No sliding (I do this too b/c its comforting. I'm leaning toward mashed potatos, refried Beans, all the easy stuff) 6. Keep a food diary. I'm using calorie-count.com, but there is the daily plate, and so many others. I even read about an iphone app someone is using. Writing it down keeps me accountable but more importantly - when my weight is stalling, I have a clear picture of what may be contributing to it- and I'll also have a history to track what breaks my plateaus so I can use the same strategy later when I need it. 7. Keep an Exercise Log. This is going to allow me to give myself rewards for accomplishing what I dislike the most. I may also purchase a pedometer -studies have some shown people who wear pedometers tend to meet their planned steps per day and end up exercising more b/c they have that 'accountability' and tracker right there on their waist. 8. Get adequate sleep. Its good for my brain, my skin, and for my metabolism. 9. Utilize a healthy support system. That's what this forum and you Lucky Losers are to me! What an amazing group of people you all are - and we need to continue to fully support each other when we're down and when we're up! Sorry again for the long post! Keep up the great work everyone!

I'm not sure if this is the same thing, but I feel a sharp pain in my left side also after I eat for about 30 mins. The best way I can describe it is it feels like a runner's cramp - or a "stitch" in your side (not a surgical stitch) - from when you're exercising and not taking in enough oxygen. It started for me after I got off liquids - I think its from getting full and it must be presssing on a nerve or something that is radiating pain to that spot. Does yours hurt more when you take a deep breath? I wonder what it is?:cool2:

WOW - I see a HUGE difference! Your forehead after pics are amazing!! Hope you're enjoying! I'm seriously considering now.....

I want to know how everyone is doing! :sad: I've seen us all on a couple of threads and I thought I'd just start a new one to hear about everyone's updates, how you're feeling, and generally how this whole process is going for you! I'm only down 15lbs since surgery, I can eat pretty normally now and am having trouble reducing my food intake as a result. I'm 4 weeks out, my scars are barely noticable (I generally heal well) and I'm going to be scheduling a fill within the next 2 weeks. I'm not exercising yet as I've been having a problem with what I think is scar tissue pain where my port is. I have a hard time eating dry chicken and scrambled eggs - but everything else I don't have a problem eating.

Glad to know I'm not the only one! I was banded 3/9/09, lost 12lbs, then 3 more and nothing in the last 3 weeks. I've been dilligent (although not exercising yet as I should) with eating properly, etc. I called the dr today, and they said its completely normal to not lose anything. They said, with nothing in the band, its important not to gain until the 1st fill. Just like all the wonderfully experienced ladies have said here! So I'm going with just not gaining until my first fill. It made me feel a lot less depressed about it! I see so many other people with such great success in the first few weeks - dr acknowledged - totally normal. But you will lose weight - we just have to wait unti our first fill!

Nessa, I don't think its bad. Just don't over do it. If you're hungry - try the protien shakes. I'm just concerned you're not getting enough protien in.

Hey Ben! It will get better. You know its amazing how different the recommendations are. I was on clear liq one week, full liquids for 2 weeks, then solids in week 4 (which is this week for me). I tried scrambled eggs twice, can't eat 'em. They get stuck in my throat. ugh. Same with a bananna muffin I tried. I find I tend to eat like I used to - not much chewing - and I get the lump in my throat and stop right then. Its like I have to burp but can't. Its terrible. And trying to drink to wash it down makes it worse. I know I've read that so many times on this board - now I understand. When was your surgery date Ben? Best of luck to you!

You are NOT alone. I've not posted much lately b/c I think I'm the only one not losing....ugh. :nopity:I've barely lost 4lbs in the last 3 weeks. I'm dilligently tracking my calories - never more than 1200 per day. I'm not working out - b/c I'm tired I think from the lack of calories. I didn't try solids until after 3 weeks. Even WITH solids, I can't eat eggs - that was one of my first things I tried - it just stuck in my throat and made me salivate like crazy. I dilligently got protien requirements - but slacked in the past week b/c I wanted to change things up to see if I could jump start the weight loss. I'm not eating around the band - I swear my body just doesn't want to let go of this weight. My plan this week is to eat 1200-1300 calories one day, then cut down to 900 the next day in attempt to jump start my body. I even increased my water intake. I'm taking a liquid vitamin everyday. And need to start walking on the treadmill. I noticed when I increased my calories to 1200-1300, I'm a LOT more hungry during the day. If I just don't eat, I'm not as hungry. That's something new. I'm really happy for everyone who is losing so much. I just wish I was with you all! *sigh!*

You're not alone! I was banded only 2 days before you on 3/9/09. I've only lost 4lbs since surgery. I'm putting my faith in what the others posting here are saying - and as you can see from their signatures - they were successful. I really appreciate thier input and I'm glad you're posting as well so I know that I'm not alone. As someone else has said, i do notice some change in inches lost. Let's hang in there!

Not me but my friend that I work out with said that happens to her. The first time she told me she asked if it happened to me too and I looked at her and and said..uh...no.... Anyway now, anytime she goes near that machine I can't watch and I end up cracking up laughing on the floor. So, you're not alone, lucky, but not alone....LOL