catfish87

First, thirty pounds in four months is nothing to be disappointed in. Average is 1-2 pounds a week, so you are right in there where you "should" be. Second, why do you think you're off track with your eating? Are you hungry often? Or just eating the wrong type foods?

I don't personally have plication, (wasn't offered when I had my band in 09 ) but have done a LOT of reading and talking with folks about it. There are some very successful folks on here who had both the band and plication done. It's not offered at many locations...YET. I believe it will be the standard sometime in the near future. Its still considered experimental, so difficult to get insurance to cover. Heres a link to one surgeons website explaining it and the benefits: http://drsimpson.net...ss-surgery.html "Gastric Plication PLUS Lap-band Surgery (iLap) - new surgical solution for the super obese 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."

I'm sorry to hear of your back surgeries. That must have sucked! Not sure of your current mobility/capabilities, but there should be some form of "exercise" you could do?? Have you spoken with your doctor/surgeon to see what they will allow/you can tolerate? Maybe its just upper body "exercises" that you can do, but anything can help. There are lots of folks who can't walk that still find some way to get their heart working/burning calories. For me, it was a hard time finding that green zone....took forever! But when we finally did get me there, it helped....EVEN with the head hunger! Best of luck finding what works for you. http://www.gazette.n...69.jpg&maxw=800

I'm thinking there is something to this...drinking gatorade/electrolytes, etc. I had a long exercise yesterday...about 6 hours of riding. Purposely, I drank a lot of G2, which I normally don't. Usually its just Water for me. I felt NO dizziness...none!

Todays ride: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/326558656 Distance: 14.01 mi Time: 1:06:30 Avg Speed: 12.6 mph Elevation Gain: 186 ft Calories: 655 C

I had mine for four years....i used it often! Mostly for smoothies/protein shakes. It did pretty good at crushing ice. I'd mix about one cup ice, one cup unsweetened almond milk, a serving or so of chocolate protien powder, and sometimes PB2. It finally quit friday.....i got a ninja one from kohls sunday. So far, so good. This ninja is very powerful! Makes snow out of ice! Sixty bucks at kohls.

Heres link to a post I made Sunday....It reviews that persons belief on this topic. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/171562-interesting-article-on-various-aerobic-exercises/

KCA1Fan...I like that you named your bike! I thought I was the only one that did that. My bike is named Stephanie....I call her Steph for short. Today she and I went a long ways! I never thought I'd ride her that far. It started out like almost any other day....But ONE mile leads to another. And another, and.... Todays ride: http://connect.garmi...ivity/326082430 My first Century ride! Distance: 100.03 mi Time: 6:11:46 Avg Speed: 16.1 mph Elevation Gain: 1,632 ft Calories: 4,956 C Almost got that 5000 calorie burn...Deep fried oreo's must have magic in them!

I'm at 42 miles.....time to turn around and head back. now at mile 64.....100 here I come! Must have been the fried oreo!

I worked ( I use that term loosely ) 72 hours last week, and got in 8:44 minutes of exercise, so you can do it. I work 12 hour rotating shifts...two weeks of days/ two weeks of nights. Have worked shiftwork for 20 years. I've worked straight seconds for a while......it sucks for family life! Why not go walking/gym/riding/running/ANYTHING right after you get up in the morning? You MUST find the time, if you really want to do it. Lots of time, I'll ride for 1-2 hours before a 12 hour night shift. You and your doctor will have to get your band adjustment level figured out. And it can take some time....do not be discouraged if you aren't at a magical green area you hear about. You do the best you can, follow up with your doc, and you'll get there. Just don't let a work schedule be an excuse for not exercising....I did that in the past, too. One reason we were 325 pounds.....

RBG, I'm not sure who this question was for? But I personally ride a Trek 1200. I'd suggest if your looking to ride as a form of exercise, you go to a local bike shop, talk with an experienced staff member. Plan to spend a little while looking at the various different types of bikes. There are mountain, hybrid/comfort, and road bikes....and MANY different models of each. You can spend from ABOUT $400 to well over $4000 for a quality bike, depending on what your budget/desires are. It's worth going to a bike shop, have them tell you what size they recommend, then see what they offer to get a feel what your're looking for. They'll probably let you take one on a test ride. After you know what size/style you're looking for, think about buying a used one. Lots of folks buy a bike, ride it a week or a month, then decide its not for them and put it in their garage to collect dust. They are like new....and maybe half the price. Craigslist in my area is FULL of used bikes....all the time. (FRIED OREO??......not sold at GNC )

There are SOME good/informative youtube videos....some made by surgeons....some by successful people....and then theres those who weren't successful with it....for WHATEVER reason. (It didn't work, they didn't work, etc, etc...) Theres ton's of information out there....good/bad and ugly. Since you have a surgery date established 10 days from now, you obviously have a team of PROFESSIONALS lined up. Congrats on your upcoming surgery. There is a wealth of information here too. Lots of good advice from folks who have probabaly been through what you are feeling/experiencing at each stage of your journey. Opinions/suggestions based on what has/has not worked for us. Its a learning process...each person has to figure out what works for them. And then just do it! No excuses. And when you can, get on a PC and input your profile information, Dr., surgery date, etc, etc. I only mention this because you'll hear it from others. It helps understand where you are in your process. Thanks!

Hi....I was banded in Sep 09. Nervous is pretty normal I think.. But, having been through this for a good little while now, I am VERY happy with my decision to have it done....VERY happy!

I'm in Collinsville

I'm thinking when we get to an AVG HR in the 140-150 range for 60-180 minutes, it should suffice as aerobic. I couldn't ride an elliptical machine...NO SADDLE!!

Here's a bit more quoted from this..... "Einstein didn't think he was intelligent, because as his intellect expanded so did his ability to comprehend how much there is to know. Exercise works the same way. As you become fit, you become more aware of higher standards of fitness. Identifying yourself in the scale of being fit can be the cause of depression that will cause you to quit. You must not think about a future state of fitness you want to obtain. You must only think of physical motion in the moment. You must develop sets of physical motion without setting a goal of obtainment. You just do it as a ritual. You don't think about the time involved. You don't become over exhilarated. You just do it."

You're doing Great! It talks about instructors adding steps to the aerobic "dance".

Towards the bottom part of the article....: "Aerobic Dance...or calisthenics done to your favorite music Some of the fittest people use aerobic dance because it's fun. Don't think it is easy though...."

Here's an interesting article that talks about various different types of aerobic exercise.....of course from the authors point of view. A good read. I believe the one you will continue to do is the best.....As always, YMMV. http://drsimpson.net..._comparison.htm

Brandon is a good player...VERY good.....no question. He's just not real popular here in the Lou as you are aware.

Congrats Creekwood! A great accomplishment...BE PROUD!! Also, a good looking and proud son! Can i send you a Cardinals shirt for him?? j/k...my son wears CUBS clothes!!

Congrats Frederic! Such a great accomplishment! My most recent: A couple of days ago, there was a 14 year old in my truck....she weighed 120 pounds (she's NORMAL).....I looked at my ticker when I got home.....

For me, it was liquids for about a day, then progress as tolerated.

About 620 calories for my fav...Cabernet Sauvignon UNLESS...you have two BOTTLES!