ukcatsfan

I have lost 1/4 of the weight I need to lose. 50 pounds gone.....Hit the scale yesterday and at 356.9. I put on a shirt to wear to work today and my tie is like long again. Pre banding my ties were much shorter at least where they hit because of my big belly. But wow, I didn't realize until this morning how much of my belly fat is gone. I still struggle with some of the effects of getting banded but I'm in the groove. Here's a new challenge once you folks hit your new year's day goal. How much weight would you push yourself to lose my one of my favorite holidays Valentine Day? That would be 45 days from 1/1/09. For me my goal is 340 by 2/25/09. And I haven't seen that in years and this one is hoping I can get below 300 by the first part of summer. That's a number that I literally haven't been under for at least 10 years plus. And that's the number the I must eclipse in my head to know that it was worth all of the sacrifices and ill effects of the band. Plus that would put my less than 100 to my end goal. I can't even believe that I can think of getting down to a weight of something even in the 200's. Wow reality in the face! You in for sweet heart day?:thumbup:

keep at it. Your so close to getting to your goals by year's end and there's plenty of time to do it. I'm starting to love my band how about you folks?:biggrin:

Heather, I'm so happy for you. For me at least not a fan of exercising pre band, but now post band it's okay. Those OMG moments when you realize how many inches you are losing makes the exercising seem not so bad. Even though the exercising is crucial to our weight loss smaller clothes give me at least the jolt to walk, walk, walk.

I made it. I'm at 358 now and goal was 360 by 1/1/09. How is everyone else doing?:tongue_smilie:

i get my first fill on 1/24/09. I'm down to 358 and the jeans that I held onto for years hoping to get into, well their loose. Yes loose and it's time to think about another smaller pair. Boy does that feel great to think that I have lost enough in just a month to go down 3 pant sizes. This hasn't been easy but I feel so much better and the energy is finally coming back. How about you guys how many sizes are you down too?:tongue_smilie:

I took Milk of Magnesia and it got me going, but the stools were so hard it still hurt coming out. I called my doctor and he told me to use benefiber first and then if that doesn't work go to miralax. I've drank apple juice almost every day and that didn't help either. I guess it sounds like this is something else I have to work through and find the right combination for my body. Thanks for all the suggestions. I really appreciate the help.

I'm exactly 1 month from being banded and since I started mushies I only poop once a week and the last 2 days before it's time to go, I feel like my colon is about to burst. The constipation is awful. What can I do to regulate myself since they say I should be going more often? Need help......:huh2:

good luck:thumbup:

I know what you mean. I have noticed that I'm really hungry about meal time and I eat more than what is 2 - 3 oz. But once I'm done eating it's great the hunger goes away. I can't wait till I can do some strength exercising. I agree the treadmill is boring to me. I got on a nu step yesterday which is basically an elyptic trainer but you sit down and it was a bit more interesting, but I miss using my bowflex. Yep 1 month from today, and I think it's amazing that I got used to this new way of life. Only thing I having is major constipation. Are you people experiencing the same thing and what are you doing to regulate your bms?:huh2:

Unfortunately exercising does more than just burn fat. It helps keep your metabolism up and your lower gastric intestinal from clogging up. I know my doctor told me I would hit plateaus along the way where my weight would flat line and that exercise was one of the best ways to get it jumpstarted down again. And that it was my body adjusting to the new weight but that I should start losing again. Just don't lose focus, what weight you have lost is gone forever. You might check your intake and see if you're eating high calorie stuff for that can sabotage your weight loss. This ain't easy but it's not a sprint but a marathon.:confused_smile:

She's exactly right. Did you doctor give you any rubber resistance bands to use? If you attach the knot to the top of the door and then pull down with you hands together like your closing your house window, that will help the top side on your forearm and also those bat wings as you call it.

Over 3 weeks since the procedure and those nasty first 2 weeks are behind me. Hang in there folks, week 3 has been the best yet. I finally have some energy and no pain. That has been huge. Starting to get a little more hungry during what should be eating times, but this thing is really doing the trick of keeping me full. I too was a self pay and this was a huge investment for me, but I'm starting to lean toward "the I'm glad I had this done side of things" My Chin's up and how cool it is to get rid of clothes that no longer fit instead and going to the store to buy bigger clothes that you're not happy about getting in the first place. I can't wait till the warmer season here in Indiana and being able to maybe go outside with shorts on and not be worrying about how huge my legs are. Sorry going on about me and how I feel. Are you guys doing better? What revelations have you had that you are happy about having been banded?

I think it's about the doctor's preference and your weight and age before surgery to how long and how much and when you get to start lifting. My exercise regiment is focused on cardio for the first 6 months. I can lift anything less than 25 pounds and that's over head. But with as little as I'm eating the 30 minutes of cardio is burning the fat. I find it difficult to set loss goals because I'm losing more weight faster than I ever did on anything I tried pre surgery. I do want to be realistic but so far I'm losing an average of 5 pounds a week. This still am easy but at least I don't dread those weigh in's at my doctor and run away from the camera at family get togethers.

krtork, wow 5k in 9 weeks. That's awesome. I can't see myself getting to run or walk that much in just 9 weeks but your right about setting goals. I'd say your ready to talk about a mini marathon in the spring or heck a full marathon.

I think we all discover the chewing or not chewing by the pain we experience by not doing so. I was eating something early this week at work, I think it was also string cheese and I went back to my old way of eating very fast and popped in a piece, chewed it maybe 5 times and swallowed and I knew at that point that I didn't chew enough and was like oh no. Too late, let's see what that feels like. Chewing is so important to get to the mushy liquid stage before swallowing. Heck we live and learn. :sad_smile:

I think I should clarify my last post. I didn't eat 2 oz. of pizza but my 2 oz. of ham and soft carrots. I did have a little cheese the other day from my wife's pizza and it gave me serious gas. It had to be whole fat cheese, because I've handled the low fat chedder with no problem. But it was a good reminder that I'm not ready for that stuff yet. Good for you. 40 minutes on the treadmill is awesome. I've only gotten up to 20 minutes or so but It's coming. I really prefer the stationary bike but it's hard on the bottom. Those seats are not made for my huge rear.

Unfortunately until someone experiences having this done, they won't know exactly what this feels like or how difficult it really is to lose the amount of weight we have to lose. I promise you that over the next 7 days you will start to feel better. Moving around does help a lot. Our bodies heal at different paces but you should be doing better soon. I still can't say that I would do it over again, but every day I am better with the changes, the more I am get closer to that day when I will say, absolutely...would do it over again. My problem is that I have lost over 75 pounds the conventional way at least 15 times but then gained it back when I started eating again. So until I get to 100 pounds down, I really can't say it's worth it. But it will and I will and then we can celebrate our healthiness.

Hang in there guys, I'm much better than I was in the first week. I too miss food especially pizza. Went to a party today and everyone pigged out on my favorite Pepperoni Pizza with Extra cheese. Yummy! I was proud of myself. I ate my 2 oz and was fine. It smelled wonderful, but I reminded myself that I have to sacrifice for a while, get the majority of this weight off and then maybe in 6 months I could too have one piece of pizza. The band is working for me by helping me stay full and not eat. My goal for the end of 2008 is to be at 355. It was 360 but I'm at 365 now so I think I can make 355. I'm focused and doing well..:thumbup:

you guys were so right. Once the port incision quit hurting I started to feel much better. Now onto the second step in my food progression, puree/soft foods are great. I survived the 2 week fluid part. What was I thinking, I was thinking I have to get this weight off. YIPPEE, it's coming off and that feels great!!

i just calculated the weeks and divided into the amount you said you have lost. My math may be off, but you're still losing and that's what is important. Those are pounds that you won't have to worry about ever again. And that's why I got banded knowing once I lost each pound, that was one less pound on me. This isn't a sprint, or a lap or a mile run. It's a lifelong journey to health and freedom from our weight.

how are you doing? This is our 1 week check point and I'm feeling much better today than in the past several days. I'm still sore at the port incision point and eating/drinking is slow but every day the process gets a little easier. Have you hit the scale yet to see how much you may have lost in just 7 days? I'm at 3 pounds down, 31 since the liquid pre op regiment and seeing a glimpse of the light at the end of this very, very long and narrow tunnel of weight loss. No more hill and valley losses and gains, just a consistent and straight path to a healthy and energetic life. Soon to be no more worrying about armless chairs, tight booths, seatbelt extenders on airplanes, heavy breathing after walking up a flight of stairs...... Life is good, and it's good to be breathing and have the opportunites to live again. I feel good, how about you? What you you looking forward to not worry about in your life?

The guy from indiana is in. I will set my first goal at 11 pounds by new years. This is my official 1 week mark and I weighed today since my surgery date. I have lost 3 pounds. Now that doesn't seem like a lot in a week considering I am still on full liquids, but that's still 3 pounds that I don't have to lose in the future. I want to start the new year off weighing less than 360. So let's be accountable and good luck to everyone!!

Today is day 7 and what a difference a day makes. I'm still sore at the port incision, but for the first time in a week, I was able to drink one Protein drink completely and I didn't get nausea.:thumbup: I appreciate all the kind words and uplifting thoughts. Yesterday was a down day for me and I'm sure I'll have many more. I see my surgeon on Dec. 3rd for the follow up to surgery, but fortunately for me, my office is right next door to our bariatric clinic so tomorrow when I return to work, 1 I can weigh in and see what the result of 7 days on liquids has done and two talk with the bariatric coordinator for some tips on the post op diet. Thanks everyone!

5 days from surgery and I am thinking to myself. What is the world was I thinking? I expected this to be a difficult process, but I had no idea that it was going to be this difficult. I can barely drink anything that isn't water. I'm can feel the liquids pass through my band and the incisions in front are killing me. I have come to the conclusion that this is going to be the most difficult challenge I am going to have to face in my life. How hard should this be? Drink a little, take your vitamans, and exercise. Heck the 2 weeks of full liquids pre op were so easy compared to what I'm dealing with post op. I ask you, in your present place in the process, do you feel you would do this over again? I can't say at this point I would....... Yes I wanted an extreme approach to weight loss, to get healthy for myself and my family but this is really really tough!:laugh:

That's sounds about right for them. I had mine done at Ball Memorial Hospital and having it there averages around $21K