catfish87

There was no way I'd have went back to work 3 days post op. I didn't have any bad pain or anything, but I took my meds...ALL of them. I took two weeks off work...probably a few days more than really necessary. But each person is different. Best wishes on your upcoming surgery.

12.5km run outside this afternoon....and the last 20 minutes were in the rain. Better than a treadmill any day! http://connect.garmin.com/activity/438958522 And I signed up for my first Half Marathon this morning. March 22nd in Alton, IL

Just catching up on this thread -- so inspiring, the running, C25k, etc. But it's the biking that is settling into my consciousness. I am visualizing getting a new bike this spring -- one I can get up on to the top of the car on my own. And then to drive to the bike paths scattered throughout the area. I really want to do that. Bandista, As a suggestion There are carriers that will attach to the back of cars via a hitch method or "on the trunk" style. Maybe one of these would be easier than putting it on top...Happy riding!

Lap-band surgery plus Gastric Plication may be the perfect surgical combination for super morbidly obese patients. Because Gastric Plication causes a quicker more complete satiety, the patient can eat much less food. The lap-band further limits the amount of food that can be initially ingested. But its most important job is to heighten the sensitivity of the nerves at the top of the stomach. Those are the nerves that send the signal to the brain that you are full. So the combination of Gastric plication with Lap-band surgery results in fast satiety with much less food than the individual surgeries. iLap surgery is a double restrictive procedure that is adjustable to keep it working over the long run as is required by super morbidly obese patients. It can result in the same weight loss as the Lap-band over gastric bypass. But the small intestine is untouched and completely intact so it will deliver all the nutrition and energy in food consumed by the patient. The energy a super morbidly obese person desperately needs to get on their feet and move. Lap-band and Gastric Plication surgeries can be reversed because none of the stomach or intestines are surgically removed. Because both surgeries are less damaging than gastric bypass, recovery time can be much shorter. Physical therapy and exercise may be able to be done sooner after surgery and with more intensity, possibly improving the patient's prospect for living. http://drsimpson.net/Gastric-Plication-weight-loss-surgery/Dr-Terry-Simpson-explains-gastric-plication-V/Dr-Terry-Simpson-explains-gastric-plication.html

Hi and welcome Becky, Im not sure if they still do, but your surgeons practice recommended EAS shakes to others on here who they have seen. Probably just give them a call and see to make sure thats still their suggestion. Always nice to have another UK fan on here! At least I hope so...

26 miles on the bike today. nice and breezy.....

I keep these in the fridge all the time now. Even though I have one of those as seen on TV juicers sitting on the counter..... For the price, when you find them on sale, hard to make your own. I add a half of tube of liquid Protein to some as well. Anybody want a juicer? LOL

Hi Jackie, Yes...I have read some of what you put here, although not put together exactly like this. I'm not saying this is what's triggering my symptoms ( which had become extremely rare until this last episode ) but I'm gonna keep it in mind to discuss as a possibility with my PCP. I haven't had an adjustment to my band in several months, so it wasn't soon after a fill as I've read others describe over the years. It may have absolutly NOTHING to do with my band....just thought I'd re-post a topic about it to see if some of other folks have experienced or heard about it. Thanks

Thanks for the reply! Yes, my PCP is going to send me to a cardiologists if the results of the MRI don't show any concerns. "Just to be on the safe side." My BP is usually in the 110/70 - 120/80 range now. I have checked it AT HOME with one of those cheapo wrist things from walgreens at 80/50 a few times last year when this issue came up. My sister being an RN, suggested a tilt test....amongst every other test she could think of...gotta love your baby sister.

4.5 mile run outside this afternoon. 30 degrees and lovin it!

Thanks Lisa, Yes it is concerning to me for sure....although to be honest, my PCP didn't sound like its "that" unusual. I didn't even know what had happened.....I got told about it later.

Never really noticed that being a trigger. However, if I've been bent over tying shoes, gardening, etc, it is more often to happen. I've spoken with my pcp several times about this and he always said dehydration was the likely culprit. But I drink probably 2 GALLONS per day...at least. Prior to this last episode, I had been on sinus/cold med's ( ClaritinD and MucinexD ) for appx 2 weeks...and had stopped taking them about 24 hours prior. PS...no ear infection observed.

I NEEDED my band to provide the restriction to PREVENT me from eating so much....and it does, now. I see people saying their band does different things to help them, be it diminishing hunger, eliminating hunger, providing satiety, whatever you may call it. I ate too much... and exercised too little. For me....It is about restriction, proof being in my doctors notes from when my band had come unsnapped.... I could never do this long term without proper restriction. And for me, that means limiting how much I eat at a given time.

Donna, I'm sorry to hear of your continued struggles. i know from reading your posts and talking with you this past year, you have been through quite an ordeal, both with the band and other health/family issues. You are a strong person! I wish you the best with whatever you and your medical team determine is the best path forward. I will be thinking of you and praying for you my friend. Best wishes

We had a nice break in the weather today! And they had a yearly bike "swap meet" at the local convention center....yep, new ( used ) bike for me today. So was the perfect excuse to go for my first outside ride this year! Still had to dodge some ice covered portions of the trail system, but better than the trainer anyday. And Karen, I so agree with you. I'd much, much rather be outside....riding or running.

I started "running" in July of 2013, after cycling almost exclusively for my exercise. I read and read from folks on this site and others " go to a running store and get the proper shoes", have an expert evaluate your stride/heel strike, etc and "get the proper shoes" for you! So what did I do, just the opposite.....went to a big name shoe store, and listened to the first salesperson who came by that said "oh, these are really popular shoes, lots of folks buy these to run in". They looked ok, felt ok in the store, the name on the side was very popular, and the reviews were good..... For the first couple hundred miles, all was well. I then began to have knee pain that would NOT go away. It was on the outside of the knee, right knee to be specific. After some reading, I knew what I had was I.T. band pain. Found some stretching exercises that helped somewhat....AND finally went to a running store. Talked with a true expert in running. Multi-marathon runner OWNS the store. Told her my symptoms and she put me on the treadmill, evaluated my "stride", even video taped it. Then we talked and she suggested a different shoe. She warned me to break them ( or really my calf muscles ) slowly. This time I listened. I haven't had even the slightest bit of knee pain since. YMMV, but I think I've found the shoes for me. Newton Sir Isaac's http://www.zappos.com/newton-running-isaac-red-black?ef_id=UtbI6AAAAMkSao5Y:20140115174408:s

I LOVE my garmin! Its a 310xt. But I wear ( you NEED ) the HR strap...really, REALLY you won't even know you're wearing one after the first couple of times. It syncs to Garmin Connect when I get near my PC. And the garmin connect app on my android is great. (Galaxy4) It's the best fitness money I have EVER spent.... I use it for running/cycling/swimming/hiking, etc. As an example what it shows... Running : http://connect.garmi...ivity/430431934 Cycling : http://connect.garmi...ivity/343756781

I know you can get them at GNC, but think places like walmart have them as well...probably cheaper. http://www.gnc.com/IDS-Sports-New-Whey-42-Liquid-Protein-Fruit-Punch/product.jsp?productId=2830571

As a suggestion for a quick Protein boost, have you tried "New whey Liquid Protein" shots? They are only 3.8 oz, and pack 42 grams of protein, so you may only want half at a time. I use them for "breakfast" 2-4 times a week...There are a couple different flavors. Keep your coffee as a chaser...just a thought.

Congrats on your longterm success! Always nice to hear such positive stories.

I'll offer this, my opinion. I'm over 4 years post op with my band and still attend occasionally support group meetings when I can. And also some pre surgery seminars....as an "alumni". I've seen folks do very well with bands, sleeves, and RNY's...no question all can work. Here's what concerns me.... At these support group sessions I attend, there will be folks who are struggling, started to regain weight, etc. I asked at the last meeting two weeks ago of a couple sleevers who were struggling: "what does your doctor/surgeon/nut recommend to help you lose weight now?" Answer, "diet and exercise"........ NOTHING else. I've was told diet and exercise for over 20 years...and I tried. Thats why I like my ADJUSTABLE band....

CG that chart above is quite interesting to me. ( thanks for posting it ) Wonder what you're burning between the 15-30 minute timeframe? I believe that the fat burning picks up intensity after a certain time, also depending on what you've ate/drank before working out. This morning 5k run: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/433110082 Now off to the Dr. (PCP) for a checkup...physical, etc. Hoping to get in a ride this afternoon, depending on what I hear from him.......

Got in a 5k run after work again this evening... 50* degrees!! here near St. Louis this evening @ 6pm. Beautiful!! People were sitting out on their porches, patios, like it was spring. and the high for tuesday will be 17*......lol

one "like" wasn't enough... so....like, like, like, like, like!!!!

You say "your goal" is 198. You said, because you're so active you don't take in enough calories, and you think thats why your weight isn't moving......and you need to eat MORE. I'm gonna ask, why do you think you need to eat more? For me, I've never had a doctor, nutritionist, or anyone ( other than maybe listening to some talk on here ) tell me I need to eat more calories. Quite the opposite. For my weight loss, eating LESS calories always caused me to lose more fat.... And I get in a fair amount of exercise as well most of the time.