catfish87

This morning was one of "those days"....my mind wanted to ride, but my body didn't after a long 12 hour night shift.....and its plenty warm here! Not sure my HRM was reading accurate this morning...felt I was doing more than what it showed...just tired I suppose.

This mornings ride after work: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/331380080 Distance: 17.20 mi Time: 1:06:02 Avg Speed: 15.6 mph Elevation Gain: 27 ft Calories: 760 C

Friday check in June totals: 12 Rides 426.91 miles 27:54 elapsed time 4554 ft. Elevation gain 15.3 mph Average 137 bpm Avg HR 20,771 CALORIES BURNED

Well..for me, the band restricts the volume I eat. Provided i'm not drinking calories/thin Soups. That was my problem pre banding...i ate too much! Lots of times it was good/ok choices...just way, way too much! It also prevents me from being hungry for much longer periods. For me, the restriction part (amount of food) is a physical feeling. The lack of hunger for longer periods, I suppose thats a function of "restriction", although I don't physically feel my band shortly after eating....it just does it's thing.

Thanks everyone! Today at Busch Stadium in St. Louis......bikers may notice the wrist tan lines! [ATTACH]27266[/ATTACH]

December wouldn't work for me....as this years vacation is scheduled. Next year....anytime! Maybe I can get Fredbird to come?...... [ATTACH]27265[/ATTACH]

Todays ride to the river: http://connect.garmin.com/dashboard?cid=11621616# Distance: 45.23 mi Time: 2:54:48 Avg Speed: 15.5 mph Elevation Gain: 244 ft Calories: 2,348 C

Congrats! Awesome job!

Next week?!?!?

Glad you're feeling better!! Thanks for the good/encouraging/motivating post.

Long post….but hell, it’s taken me almost four years! ONEDERLAND, finally! Although it seems to have taken me forever, I’ve arrived. I was banded way back in Sept 09. I struggled to find that green zone, that spot where I wasn’t hungry all the time. I stayed on the diet, eating exactly what I was told to, per all the paperwork given to me by my surgical team. (They are awesome, by the way! ) Then after about a year, my determination dwindled, just as it always did in the past. (hey, I did DIET for a year…not bad for me) I wasn’t feeling any help from the band…..and I knew it, but couldn’t/didn’t do a good enough job of convincing my surgeon of this. We/he thought it was just “I was losing faster than they were adjusting”, “may take me more saline than normal”, etc, etc…all those reasons you hear so often on here. That was back when my fills were done blindly. Then along comes FLUOROSCOPY! First time using it, the problem was easily detected and the corrected asap. For me, and others I hear on here talk about this often… we get discouraged/lose that motivation when it’s not working as fast as we want. Thinking this wasn’t going to work me, I’m a failure, I can’t do this, etc, etc. That was so me! I thought never gonna get to goal…enjoy the 40-50% EWL and move on…I quit going to my doctor for about a year….embarrassed I had actually gained about 20#’s from my lowest. BECAUSE I was eating too much! Not in the green zone….just another diet. Then I had a friend persuade me to get my butt back to the doctor….she had the band too. And she had already been through where I was at, and had succeeded. So I did go back, doctor was VERY encouraging, he said we just need to adjust your band. Still skeptical, but I somehow got my mind back into the mode of maybe this thing really will work….maybe. A couple weeks after that fill….I knew exactly what the green zone was/is for me. And its been great ever since. With my band in a great spot now, I enjoy riding my bike, AKA Stephanie (Steph for short) as my form of “exercise”. She is always ready and willing. Never complains she doesn’t want to. I’ve ridden in the rain (soaking wet!), cold (even snowing), heat (sweating like crazy), etc. Because I enjoy it! She is always ready for MORE! Addictive I say. Once you find something you like….you’ll know what I’m referring to. So if you’re struggling, losing that motivation/determination…..I hope this encourages you to know that others have struggled too. But you can do it! Just never, ever give up! I wish you the best….now its off to ride. Life is good GREAT!

Working for me now... Thanks!

Thanks Alex!

I've tried at least two different computers today, so I'm sure its not that. I have gotten to the login screen where you enter your screen name, entered my information, and then it takes me to a blank page. Has anyone else experienced this today?

Todays ride: http://connect.garmin.com/dashboard?cid=11621616 26.29 miles 1:32 minutes 17.1 avg speed 1489 calories

WONDERFUL advice from your doctor! "....The band will take care of the rest." Until you get to correct adjustment/restriction, the "amount" you referred to is a recommendation I hear quite often.

Todays ride: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/329896525 Distance: 16.16 mi Time: 1:13:03 Avg Speed: 13.3 mph Elevation Gain: 189 ft Calories: 447 C

My suggestion would be yes...definately. Not sure demand is the word I'd use, but talk with your surgeon and find out why he/she hasn't suggested it yet? Possibly just a $$$ issue? Were your adjustments "included" in your surgery cost for say a year? While it can certainly help accessing the port more easily, there are WAY MORE IMPORTANT reasons for using it. http://www.hoab.org/fluoroscopy-machine-st-louis-missouri/

Lots of different OPINIONS about this..and its evolving, just like it should as more information is gathered/studied. As far as carbonation: I don't drink soda as I have no desire to, but I can drink beer now, NO PROBLEM...almost four years post banding. I didn't for the first year or so. I'll post links from doctors and let you decide if you trust them.... Diet soda = "As much as you want", per Dr. O'Brien's Golden Rules. He's considered a lapband "pioneer" surgeon... FROM Dr. SIMPSONS website....You see his name on here touted a LOT. http://drsimpson.net...olden-rules.htm From His website: "Any calorie containing liquids will tend to flow past the restriction of the band and not give you any feeling of satiety. You are then more likely to take too much. You are only allowed to drink: Water mineral water tea or coffee (with low fat milk if you wish but no sugar) low calorie soft drinks (but be careful with the gas) An exception to the “no liquid calorie” rule is a glass of wine with meals which we have shown is good for your health and good for your weight loss when taken in a modest amount." Of course, you should consult with your doctor to determine his/her recommendation.

Todays ride: http://connect.garmi...ivity/329348735 Distance: 30.03 mi Time: 1:50:12 Avg Speed: 16.3 mph Elevation Gain: 346 ft Calories: 1,672 C

Fills for me, are completely painless. There is at least a couple of different ways fills are given. Sometimes your doc will have you lay on a table, they will locate the port by looking/feeling for it, then insert a needle into the port. Some doc's will have you stand while inserting the needle and adjusting. Thats how they can "adjust" your band...by adding saline into the port, which provides that restriction level. Some doctors adjust blindly, meaning they add a certain amount of saline depending on their experience, your timeline post banding, and talking with you about how you are progressing/hunger, etc. It may work fine, but it may not provide the best adjustment. Then theres fills using Fluoroscopy...the gold standard in my opinion. Using the fluoro machine, your surgeon and you can SEE your restriction level as he/she adjusts your band. They can also see correct placement, "pouch" size, and other information. Some also find it easier to locate the port using this method. I'm a big fan and advocate for fills using Fluoro. Without it, I'd never have reached correct restriction. http://www.hoab.org/...louis-missouri/

Todays ride: http://connect.garmi...ivity/328247340 Distance: 14.38 mi Time: 1:04:18 Avg Speed: 13.4 mph Elevation Gain: 30 ft Calories: 485 C

Todays ride: http://connect.garmi...ivity/327695919 Distance: 54.11 mi Time: 3:44:03 Avg Speed: 14.5 mph Elevation Gain: 753 ft Calories: 1,957 C June Total: Count: 7 Activities Distance: 294.81 mi Time: 19:20:21 h:m:s Elevation Gain: 3,509 ft Avg Speed: 15.2 mph Avg HR: 137 bpm Avg Bike Cadence: 71 rpm Calories: 14,330 C

Thats a ridiculous amount for ONE visit! I just checked my EOB/insurance. My insurance gets charged $35 for each follow up NUT visit... UNLESS I get an adjustment, then its included....Your's must be something super special for that fee.

It sounds like you have a good idea why your loss has slowed. "Not exercising and eating the wrong type of foods". Everybody sooner or later will have a situation in this journey where we are challenged by issues, such as your no babysitter. You can find a way to make it work for you. Maybe right now, it could be just going for a walk? Taking him/her/them with you? Or even just moving around your home...lots of folks on here talk about DVD's, video games, etc to "workout" with. As far as choosing the right type of foods, that is still a struggle sometimes for me almost 4 years post op. Not sure we'll ever get completely over that hurdle. But we just do the best we can with that. Once you've had a chance to get your band properly adjusted, it will help with that hunger. But it takes time. You're probably in whats referred to as Bandster Hell on here. That period of time, where you don't have adequate adjustment/restriction in your band. During that time, its willpower and determination that can make you successful. You're only 4 months out...don't get that "why bother" in your head...it'll haunt you. Think about why you ARE going to succeed. And you will. Best of luck...and never, ever give up.