catfish87

Sometime back some of us on here were discussing company's that offer an "incentive $$$" to their employees for completing a well being assessment/biometric screening. I did boycott for a couple of years....but, then figured what the heck. So yesterday I go to this at work and they do their screenings....all the normal stuff, height/weight/bloodtest, etc. I completely forgot about the required 8 hours of fasting before the bloodtest....but, they said they'd do it anyways. Keep in mind about 2 hours before the test, I had two ribs, half an ear of corn, some broccoli salad, AND homemade fruit salad. When the machine spit out the results, the nice lady goes....."you said you just ate two hours ago?" YEP. She sent me over to this table of health coach professional's.... to explain my results to me. Coach me. After the expert looked over my numbers, she said my sugar/triglycerides/cholesterol ratio/glucose/BP all were "GREAT"! "but you could stand to lose a few pounds"............then I pulled out my phone, and showed her a pic of where I was when I started this journey. Her jaw about hit the floor.... LIFE IS GREAT!

I don't drink soda, but have no problems with a carbonated beer a couple of times a week. And no, my doctor doesn't agree with it. There are lots of surgeons...some of the most touted/referred to on here, say "as much as you want" regarding diet soda. I really would like to understand something though, maybe it would change my mind....and I'm being 100% honest and not sarcastic. Here's my question. If you are so tight that CO2 bubbles can't pass through your band.....are you really gonna be able to drink the liquid in the first place? Or EAT for goodness sakes? That doesn't make sense to me. Carbon dioxide gas can't pass through a band opening???

Since I was gonna be crunched for time today... I pushed for some quality time. Todays ride: http://connect.garmi...ivity/334075058 No dogging it today Avg HR: 159 bpm Distance: 15.01 mi Time: 49:27 Avg Speed: 18.2 mph Calories: 948 C

Too bad everyone who's feeling "discouraged" can't read this post..... think about what you wrote here. You went in feeling discouraged....afraid you weren't losing fast enough. Was this really going to work for you? Then....you had someone (in your case it was your doctor...the PROFESSIONAL) tell you that you were doing good. Had already surpassed THEIR goal....and "this made me EXTREMELY HAPPY and no longer discouraged" You're "excited and determined!" Sometimes thats all it really takes is that positive reinforcement/encouragement. ( notice I didn't say coddle....just encourage/help ) Thats one reason why I come on this site now....to hopefully encourage others....just as previous successful bandsters have encouraged me to NEVER, EVER give up! CONGRATS!

Certainly a call to your doctor is in order. BUT, maybe.. you irritated your band area over the weekend and just need another day or so of clear liquids to let some inflamation go down. If you can't get clear liquids down....you should do your best to be seen NOW....like tonight or tomorrow at the latest. dehydration is nothing you want to mess with....IMO.

From my experience, the most important thing would be to ask your surgeon if he/she does fills using fluoroscopy? Without it, they are guessing if everything is ok, restriction levels, etc. Hopefully, they will have the machine in the office.

I wouldn't worry too much about it...I'll bet once they can SEE it....they can hit it. Seeings as how they did manage to "find" it the first time...hopefully it hasn't flipped over. I never understood how that happens...( port flip ) although you do read about it on here at times. From past posters, it appears to be a simple fix though. Just one more reason I'm glad my surgeon has the fluoro machine in the OFFICE. Although mine is easy to find...now. Best of luck to you on your continued success.

I think it does really boil down to moderation... I eat fried foods ( fish ) at least once a week now. BUT, I don't have fried french fries, hushpuppies, and all the other fried things WITH it. And not 3 or 4 plates full, like in the past. If I had the mindset that I could NEVER have something, I'd probably want it even more. I've heard several people over the past few years on here talk about they "can NEVER have this or that"....and they keep repeating it.....makes me think if they just had a small amount (a normal/healty portion), they wouldn't crave it. It works that way for me. A couple of weeks ago, I went to a local carnival/fair and they had some of the best looking and smelling DEEP FRIED OREO's....I really wanted some. I know they are not healty....but I wanted some. So, I did get an order of them....and the following day I rode a hundred miles on my bike! And as Missy said...it's working that way for me too. Enjoy your life. If you're losing 35 lbs in a month, I wouldn't change a thing! Congrats!

Todays ride: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/333613483 Distance: 26.17 mi Time: 1:39:31 Avg Speed: 15.8 mph Elevation Gain: 223 ft Calories: 1,208 C

Great ride TP! Enjoy the vacation.

You're just starting Ryley....so please try and not to get discouraged. I know, easier said than done! This is a time for you to heal, follow your doctors instructions regarding what TYPES of "food" you are supposed to be "eating". Right now, its all on you....your job to follow the guidance given to you as best you can. Learning to take small bites, chew well, etc....all those things they hopefully discussed with you. Nobody's perfect...expect some challenging days/weeks ahead....but just do your best! When you've fully recovered from surgery, your doc will start adjusting your band. And it may take several fills/adjustmenst depending on your surgeons fill routine. Thats when the band starts doing it's job. Providing that level of restriction that will help with that hunger. Best wishes and NEVER, EVER give up!

Exactly as everyone above has said. Most, if not all, of us can diet.....for some period of time. I know I have failed at many diets....therefore the surgery, to control the hunger. If we could follow that magical balance between calories in vs calories burned FOR THE LONG TERM, we wouldn't be here. For me, the adjustments are what control that hunger...and they do a VERY good job of it, once you find the right level for you. Best wishes!

Hey T! Sounds like your doing good and HAPPY!....AWESOME. Its really ok in the long run to do just as you are describing.....You've got a life to live! If you enjoy your glass/bottle of wine OCCASIONALLY, good for you. I know I do! A bottle is somewhere around 650 calories...so if your counting cal's.....more workout will make them disappear easily. I'm working nights this thursday, so I won't make the support meeting, but just wanted to say I am happy to see you doing so well! You got this figured out already......CONGRATS!

Kudos to the parent for instilling in their child/children that there are better choices, and to the child for asking for them!

I use LoseIt! on my android. I like it a lot! I don't use it to limit calories, but it is interesting to track them for me. It keeps track of protein/carbs/fat as well. It also has most "workout exercises" in there. You just add the type of exercise, select the intensity level and time....and it gives you an pretty good estimate of what you burned. It won't/can't be exact without a heart rate monitor, but for free....it does a VERY good job in my opinion.

Much better today...no flats! http://connect.garmi...ivity/333167061 Distance: 26.25 mi Time: 1:35:57 Avg Speed: 16.4 mph Elevation Gain: 187 ft Calories: 1,651 C REO Speedwagon has some good lyrics in this song.....KEEP PUSHIN! I used to be lonely till I learned about livin alone I found other things to keep my mind on And I'm gettin to know myself a little bit better Whoa , I keep pushin on Keep pushin on, yeah Keep pushin, keep pushin, keep pushin, keep pushin on Keep pushin, keep pushin, you know you have got to be so strong Keep pushin, keep pushin, well even if you think your strength is gone Keep pushin on 2nd little ride today... http://connect.garmin.com/activity/333321438 Distance: 15.16 mi Time: 1:20:24 Avg Speed: 11.3 mph Elevation Gain: 33 ft Calories: 599 C

Never fear! It took me about 3 YEARS to get to correct adjustment..( I may be the record holder in that category??? ) You can/will get there, hopefully much sooner than that of course. Just do your best at the dieting UNTIL you do. You don't have to be perfect... If you/we were, we wouldn't have needed this surgery. From my experience, when I got "close", the next small ( .2cc's ) was like someone turned the magic switch. Not hungry for hours and.....sometimes, its all day! Yesterday was like that for me.... I realized I hadn't eaten in 16 hours....and still wasn't "hungry". It's not like that every day for me, but frequently it is now. Best wishes and hang in there. Never, ever give up!

For me, it meant NOT at correct restriction/adjustment. Also, as old habits die hard....it was drinking with meals to flush/push the food through my band to allow me to eat more. I'm not sure I could do that now, even if I tried....at correct adjustment, for me.

Congrats!

I eat fish probably 10 times a week. My favorite Protein by far. Swai, Halibut, Grouper, plain old COD, all are very mild fish IMO...Baked, blackened, even fried every once in a while. If you're out, and have a Long John Silvers in your area, they have a "Hold the Batter" plate with three small pieces of "steamed" cod. VERY mild, VERY good! You can get it with healthy sides...think green Beans, maybe a side salad/slaw, etc for a great choice of a "fast food" meal. I make the same thing at home often. EASY to do...take a couple of pieces of cod loin, cut into about 3" square pieces. Put it in a skillet that has a tight fitting lid. Add about a half of cup of Water, bring temp up untill it steams. 9 minutes later....AWESOME! Add seasoning to your liking. For a change, a GOOD cut of Tuna loin, grilled for a couple of minutes on each side (don't over cook it), can taste like beef. I've actually made it and had people swear they were eating beef

Somtimes the best intentions dont go your way....back to back flats! Guess I should have found and picked out the TINY little stone in my tire yesterday..... Today, forgot my phone, went back to get it, then my bluetooth headset wouldn't work (gotta have tunes!), a mile into the "ride", back tire flats again.....luckily I had stopped and picked up a couple more tubes yesterday after the flat. So, I changed it and came home and cut the grass in 95* temps...hoping this isn't a vision of whats to come with these gatorskins... I didn't have ANY flats with my last set of tires. Tomorrow is a new day! http://connect.garmin.com/activity/332790194 Distance: 1.90 mi Time: 8:11 Avg Speed: 14.0 mph Elevation Gain: 0 ft Calories: 113 C

Congrats! Well done

Welcome to the biking banders forum. I'm glad Terry started this...I enjoy looking at other folks routes/rides/info. Makes me want to visit those places...ummm, maybe not Austin the the heat of the summer! Congrats on your progression of distance/elapsed times over the last month! Thats dedication. 6 days straight this week. Way to go!

Todays brief ride....and MY FIRST FLAT IN OVER 2500 MILES. Not complaining http://connect.garmin.com/activity/332303689 Distance: 14.09 mi Time: 1:02:48 Avg Speed: 13.5 mph Elevation Gain: 218 ft Calories: 426 C

"Buyers Remorse"....it's very common to hear those same emotions/feelings on here shortly after surgery. I asked myself those same questions, almost 4 years and 125 pounds ago.... Kinda like after you make a large investment (maybe a car) in anything. You ask yourself, "did I make the right decision/purchase?" What if I can't afford (do) this? What if it's a lemon ( doesn't work for me )? Could I have just walked to my destination and not needed that new car (surgery)? Maybe its a stickshift and I'll have to learn how to drive it ( adjust to this new life )? Lots of emotions may cross your mind....as they did mine. But then after some period of time, you get used to driving that new car (banded life) and you enjoy it! And wonder why didn't I get me some new wheels ( do this ) sooner! It may not be easy to feel this right now....but you will, just NEVER, EVER GIVE UP on what those goals you have for yourself are. Best wishes.