catfish87

30 minutes at the gym, then a 5k run this morning after work. Happy Friday all!

Good Post Mikee57 ! And TMF....WOW! This pretty much sums it ALL up. "Success with the band is an integration of just the right restriction for each of us, knowledge of what constitutes healthy foods that stimulate satiety, Great aftercare, satiety signal awareness, eating and chewing etiquette, nutrition knowledge(carbs, calories, slider foods, liquids), and as someone said yesterday, the willingness to be a different person(foodwise) than before surgery."

Congrats on your success! You've certainly earned all the compliments. You look great!

Congrats and much continued success! Nice story, too.

Effects of smoking to me = causes my clothes/hair/truck, basically everything to STINK. Eyes to burn. I don't smoke...YUCK, but when I am at places they do, those are some of the ways it affects me. Similar to pre banding. Alcohol, I haven't noticed any difference pre or post banding.

Congrats!!! Happy days ahead

It'd be irresponsible of me to suggest how many calories/protein/carbs/fats/etc YOU need....as I'm not qualified to do such. I keep re-reading your previous posts.....from many years. Such as this http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/81709-please-help-what-am-i-supposed-to-eat/ That was from 5 years ago. Have you not had any follow up with a WLS surgeon or clinic in 6 years? I suggest this hoping it comes across as the way its intended ( helpful ) , but if you've been doing the same things for the last 5+ years and not losing weight, maybe you should have something (adjustment) changed with the band.

@@ljones4521 After looking over your previous posts from prior years, I see you were banded in Mexico. Have you had any recent followups with a surgeon/fill center in your area? You've mentioned several previous times about needing to get back on track and one thing that may really help, is to know how your band is adjusted.?? For me, it's the most important part of this whole process. Otherwise, I'd just find myself trying to diet......and that doesn't work for me.

Congrats and continued success!

Congrats on 5+ years of banded life! I'm closing in on my 5 year bandiversary myself.

I don't know why it would be unsafe, but my surgeon's office requests "no eating" for about 3-4 hours prior to getting an adjustment. They use Fluoroscopy for all adjustments and want to SEE what everything looks like prior to an adjustment.....on an empty stomach. You might could call them and ask what their requirement/suggestion is. Best wishes!

One thing I hear and see often....EVEN on this site, is "weigh and measure" your portions. And "only eat 1/2 to 1 cup of food". Even directed to people who are longer term WLS patients. I hear it at "support" group meetings all the time...to people who have started regaining, fallen off the wagon, etc. While I do think it's valuable to know and be mindful of what a normal sized portion is, IF I could have done this longterm....I wouldn't have needed surgery to prevent me from over eating. For me, I had/have no willpower to stop....thus the surgery to accomplish exactly that. Thank you adjustable lapband!

@Mikee57 as others have said....IT WILL pay off. Don't "look" for it. I have logged bike rides for a couple of years now and runs since July 2013. To go back and compare previous months/years, it really shows. One way you may notice is heart rate and calories burned. If you have some sort of tracking device with a heart rate monitor, you'll notice after some period of time, that doing the same routine/distance will burn less and less calories....and you may notice your HR is declining at the same effort level. These are all indications of your increased physical conditioning. All an added benefit on top of any weight lost. I haven't really lost any scale weight in SEVERAL months now, but my clothes sizes continue to decline (although slowly now). My resting HR is now around 55-60....my HDL (good) cholesterol number, Triglycerdies, TC/HDL ratio, BP, Glucose....all "fantastic". And those are highly influenced by cardio training. So don't JUST look to the scale for motivation.....there are many benefits you're getting from exercising. Rode the bike in to work this evening and will ride home in the morning after working 12 hours tonight. 21 miles each way. Now that it's almost daylight at 5am here in the midwest, I'll ride in often when I'm on nights.

My next organized event is going to be "Cheering up a Sweat 10K", June 28th in Maryville, IL

This was too good! My son tours the nation for the past three years during the summer with the Denver Blue Knights Drum and Bugle corps. He's a real band geek and music education major in college..( proud dad moment here ) He is somwhat fit usually, but this touring gig REALLY trims him down every year..... after 3 months of it. As I got in my truck this afternoon after finishing up biking, I get a text.... " Today I did a 5K in 37 minutes! " from him. Now I got a quick Happy Fathers day text yesterday morning at 5am....but I think todays was even better! Midnights this week at work, so this "morning ( 1pm ) I got in a nice 26 miles on the bike. Garmin says it feels like 97*F....I believe it!!! Happy Monday all.

5k run yesterday and today. Happy Sunday all!

Hi @@RSwann One thing I am passionate about is using Fluoroscopy to "SEE" everything is well with the band. I speak from experience when I say it can really make a difference. My surgeons office uses it for all adjustments now...and for that I am glad! It is similar to a live Xray if you will. When I get an adjustment, or even just want it, they'll have me stand on a tilt table, they turn the machine on and have me drink a contrast Fluid (barium solution). It shows how fast or slow the fluid passes through the stoma area and can also show many other things...correct placement, etc. I'd suggest discussing with your surgeon's office about possibly having it done. http://www.hoab.org/fluoroscopy-st-louis-missouri/ This thread actually has a video of what mine looked like about a year ago. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/168149-heres-what-my-restriction-level-looks-like/

My doctor required clear liquids for a week pre and post op. But I had plenty of "reserves".... My suggestion would be just as you say your surgical team described....ONLY eat when you're hungry and allow your body to heal completely. There'll be plenty of time for eating later. Best wishes for a speedy and successful recovery. EDITED to add..... Not all surgeons....OR surgeries are going to have the same post op instructions....so it'd really be best to place a call to Your surgeons office.

@@Fiddleman Here was what mine showed today. I specifically wanted to run a progressive (HR) 10k focusing on % of max today. 75-85%, which is 140-160 for me. It was hot/humid and I'm slow: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/518110812

10Km run for me this afternoon....targeting HR progression throughout. It felt like I was running in a wet sauna. Nothing fast about todays run! Happy Tuesday all! http://connect.garmin.com/activity/518110812

Congrats on Onderland Bandista! You've earned it and are doing great...much continued success.

Jim, Congratulations on such a remarkable accomplishment, and thanks so much for remaining a positive voice on here. i hope your post could get viewed by everyone on this site!!! All those negative nellies saying Lapband won't work, you can't lose 100 pounds with lapband, blah! You sure showed what true success looks like my friend...and I know you've certainly put forth the effort. Best.....post....EVER!

Happy Monday all, I got a nice ride in on the bike this morning. It is really nice here in the St. Louis area this morning. 35.5 miles @ 18.0 mph = a nice way to burn 1100 calories. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/517268436

@@als41 I'd say you've progressed quite nicely in the last few months....CONGRATS! Way to stick with it!

@naenaern777 Congrats congrats congrats!!! Way to go! Thats a great time, especially considering what sounds like a packed course, not to mention the breathing issue. You only run your 1st 5k once, and it sounds like you really kicked butt! So happy for you. @ What a great race report! Those obstacle runs are intimidating to me...haven't done one yet myself. I don't think I could do the wall either. Kuddos to you for helping your teammates get through it! That sounds like one tough event. Congrats on the accomplishment!! You'll never forget that first one. I have been battling a head cold since Wednesday morning that has really kicked my behind. Was gonna do a 5k race yesterday but just didn't feel like I could give even 50%, so I just skipped it and did a 5k run this morning on my own after reading your all insipiring reports. So proud of my fellow WLS runners!!! You all are winners in my book! Hope everyone is recovering nicely and enjoying their weekend.