catfish87

Happy, healthy, energetic, .....Enjoying life!
6 years post op = not one band caused problem.

I bike a lot my favorite form of exercise. I have a more expensive bike but started with a comfort bike. My goal this year is to bike 2015 outside mikes plus I have an indoor bike. I bike indoors as much as outside. I just checked my oxygen level (grandbaby was in hospital) nurse was showing me how the heart rate and oxygen level monitor worked. She asked "do you exercise a lot" my hear rate was 57 and oxygen level was 100%. She was very impressed. Love biking and owe it all to lap band weight loss. Getting older but better is great.

@@Indieflickers
Yea, I'd skip the yogurt and see if that helps....dairy and exercise does not go together for me. I'd say since you're gonna be on asphalt and concrete, go to the bike shop, get fitted for a hybrid or a road bike. I live in a pretty big metropolitan area and there are TONS of used bikes available. My first road bike came from a bike shop....it was an aluminum frame Trek road bike. I put several thousand miles on it and then upgraded to a carbon Fiber bike last year. You should be able to find a good, VERY good slightly used bike for around $300-600 range depending on what you want. Maybe cheaper. Bike shops take trade-ins and should be able to steer you towards a good one. After you know the style and size you need, craigslist is a resource you may desire to look at as well. So many people buy one and don't ride it.
And then theres always new....I see good Hybrids from $450 up. Road bikes will be more and carbon Fiber = Much more.
And really consider that heart rate monitor... I personally use a Garmin 310xt that works well for biking/running/etc. I would highly recommend it as a somewhat entry level multi-sport device that has a lot of info available. You'll be able to know for sure, just how hard you're working/distance/calories/etc.
And edited to add: Make sure you get some good padded riding shorts/pants/bibs. After a long ride, you'll be glad you did.

@@Indieflickers
What kind of surface do you ride on? Flat asphalt, dirt trails, crushed stone?
As far as exercising while riding a cruiser = MY OPINION, get a heart rate monitor.
Then you'll know if you're in the "fat burning/cardio zone". I think my HRM is probably one of the best investments I've ever made.
Depending on the surface you ride on, there may be some good choices in the "comfort/hybrid" styles of bikes. Giant/Trek/Cannondale/etc all make quality bikes. Make sure to go to a real bike store and let them determine what size you need. One that is correctly sized to your height/riding style will be way more comfortable.
As far as getting nauseous during the end of your ride: Do you eat anything before or during your ride? Any Protein type stuff? Protein drinks cause me the same as you're desribing. I do not use anything except water/coffee before rides of an hour or so. If I'm going longer than that, I'll have something such as a Clif bar and maybe some electrolytes about 45 minutes into the ride. Drink, Drink, Drink....dehydration and the end results are no fun.
Happy riding!

@@catfish87 I ride on asphalt and concrete. I don't foresee doing anything other than urban environments for awhile. I try to have a bit of yogurt about an hour before I exercise but I save the Protein Shakes for after. I went to the bike shop and got some electrolyte tablets to put in my Water. So we'll see if that helps!

@@hokiemama
All the behavior modification in the world wouldn't have helped me. Years and years of bad habits and overeating weren't going to be changed by listening to some nutritionist.
I have had my band for 6 years now. At first it was amazing. A couple of bites and I was done...finished eating! Lost 90 pounds in the first few months.
Then after several months, I noticed I had no restriction.....I could eat anyting I wanted. And I did one day. Stopped in a fast food resturant and had the largest burger they had on the menu.....and ate the WHOLE thing in minutes. I knew something wasn't right. Why wasn't my band stopping me from this? I continued to go to my surgeon and get some small "blind" adjustments....back before he used FLUOROSCOPY. I was so mad and frustrated I was eating everything in sight and gaining weight like no tomorrow. I got so discouraged that I didn't even go back to my surgeon for over a year (BIG MISTAKE on my part!)
When I finally had gained back over half what I had lost, I went back to my surgeon. He had started using FLUOROSCOPY for all band adjustments. My band had come undone....unbuckled! I was the first one (out of over 1000 patients at the time) that had occured to. Lucky me huh?
My surgeon corrected it asap and my band has worked as designed ever since.
Sorry for such a long post, but I agree with the others who've responded. Something is not up to snuff with your band or the adjustment level. And no amount of behavior modification will correct that. I'd be very blunt in finding and getting in to see a surgeon who will look at everything. "Look" being the key word.
Best wishes!

I am some one who needed several fills to achieve the green zone. Twice I've had small unfills and the pattern was very similar. I'd had a fill, lived with it for a bit and realized I needed an adjustment in reverse. The surgeon did not remove the whole amount of the recent fill but just a bit and that worked well for a time. But then weeks later I began to notice an increase in the amount I was eating as well as feeling hungry again too soon, so I went back to have another small fill. I think I will always need to make small adjustments here and there but maybe not. I do have an inflammatory profile -- arthritis, etc., and I think hormones play a role as well. And the weather. I dont' think I keep a super-tight band -- I'm able to glug my Water most of the time (not always). I still have to be very mindful eating. The other day I gobbled fresh mozzerella and almost got stuck. Almost two years out but fifty previous years of speed-eating. I am quite sure I would not have my band emptied under any circumstances. So long as I can drink Water I don't mind if I have to have a day or two off from eating during a period of travel. That would actually be really good for me.

I was obese because I could not control my eating....I ate like a machine, as though I was trying to win a contest.
Lap band surgery, a few adjustments (fills) to find that sweet spot (green Zone)
I now eat like a normal person, I do not follow any particular diets, do not count calories or carbs although some foods are obviously crazy high stupid and should be avoided by all people, WLS or not...and in doing so my weight came off, surpassed any goals I set for myself, and settled out at a place that is a direct correlation to my new lifestyle, which is eating normal again and being active for health reasons.
This is permanent, I do not want anything to change, will not get Fluid taken out for that would put me back into that abnormal lifestyle.
I don't believe in maintenance...been there with crash diets where after loosing weight you slowly re-enter a normal lifestyle.
I enjoy eating the things I like, drink the things I want, go to parties, family get together s,nice resturants .....live day by day as any other routine day......have absolutely no side effects......occasionally I will take too large a swallow or something that is too harsh for the band, and I will be reminded right away I am stepping out of bounds...the band is always there, like a watchdog.
The majority of the time I don't even think about having WLS...
For me, it is similar as someone who has had total knee or total hip surgery...you have a problem, and have surgery to correct it....followed by a year of rehab and learning how to get on with your life, and eventually start running 5K's again.
Why would I want anything to change? Why would I want to undo what was accomplished??
Would I want my dentist to remove my caps in a few years? Ophthalmologist tell me I can stop wearing contacts because it's been years now?
Maybe my cardiologist can undo the surgery he did on my heart a few years ago because I am doing so well and healthy right now....
I had a problem, had surgery to correct it, and now will live the rest of my life having that problem fixed.
Everybody has a different belief and approach to WLS, and I respect that....I don't expect people to do things simply because I do......It's all about loosing weight and getting your life back.....and THAT is the point to it all.
And of course, my Dr. will someday suggest something I am not considering....but until that day, if it ever comes......

I'm still getting fills. I can't imagine unfilling at goal.

I have been working rotating shifts for over 20 years now, so "night" time is always changing for me. I usually just have a Protein shake/smoothie about an hour or so after waking up (whenever that is), then will have a light meal about 6 hours after waking up, then a more substantial "dinner" about 4-6 hours before bedtime. I don't really think it makes much difference what time the clock says. For me.....snacking before bedtime is more of a concern.

It sound like your getting back on track. Besides, I wouldn't obsess on 1 or 2 pounds. I weigh a pound or two more at night than I do in the morning.

Post-WLS problems.
Lifestyle -- it's a concept, ain't it?
Some related concepts -- alignment, accommodation, assimilation, accomplishment.
One other thought -- there's vacation and then there's regular life. They're not the same, and probably for some good reasons. (I'm preaching to myself here.)
Best to you!

Keep telling it B52, you are the poster boy for Lapband Surgery. At age 68 I am so excited about life now that I can enjoy doing things. We are leaving tomorrow for our Alaskan Cruise, I am going to ride horses I Skagway while my husband takes a train ride (he loves trains). 3 years ago I wouldn't have even considered doing the cruise .
as a side note, I had to unload horse feed the other day, husband has been under the weather. I picked up a 50# bag and it was pretty heavy but I thought to myself wow I used to carry that much and more on my body every day. Thank God for lapband and my surgeon I no longer carry that burden. Glad to see these positive stories.

@@B-52
And so it goes....just another great story! I'll never get tired of reading how much our surgeries have changed lives. Congrats on leading the pack during your mountain climbing!!! I haven't tried that....yet.

@@B-52
And so it goes....just another great story! I'll never get tired of reading how much our surgeries have changed lives. Congrats on leading the pack during your mountain climbing!!! I haven't tried that....yet.

Just returned from our vacation, 10 days including 7 days on a cruise....
Best news is, I let my band be the boss just as any other day...limited my food intake and controlled my hunger.
I did not deny all the pleasures available to me, just did not make a pig of myself.
I went on a Volcano climb, 3,800 feet straight up rocks and mud through a rain forrest...there was a couple there that were 42 years old, then everyone else was in their 30's and 20's....I'm 63 !!!! Our guide said not only was that a first, but also the fact I was one of 4-5 leaders way out in front setting the pace where everyone had to keep up with.
On another stop, I jumped off a 45+ foot cliff into the Caribbean ocean....there is a bar at the top of the cliff where people sit and watch the cliff jumpers...NO ONE jumped that day but me !!!!
Back on the ship I ran into a family from Holland that were sitting at that bar...they wouldn't stop complimenting me. And when I told them my age, that really put them over the top.
Bottom line....I lost 3 lbs !!! And to think it was just a few years ago I could not carry groceries into the house without having to sit down to catch my breath....not to mention my cardiac issues, diabetes, etc, etc......
Am I bragging?? YOU BET!!! It just doesn't get any better than this...and I have to give all the credit to my Lap Band Surgery....without it, I'd probably be dead....no exaggeration.
Only thing is, with all the booze I consumed over the last 10 days, I need to go on a "Cleanse" including extra time in the sauna to sweat it out of my system.

Happy, healthy, energetic, .....Enjoying life!
6 years post op = not one band caused problem.

Happy, healthy, energetic, .....Enjoying life!
6 years post op = not one band caused problem.

hikergirl14,
If you feel good about your diet and you feel like you’re comfortable with and able to take in some extra carbs the day before your hike, you could try it and see how you feel. There are three other things that come to mind, too. One is hydration – are you drinking about 8 oz. per 20-40 minutes during the hike? Another is fueling during the hike – after about an hour, are you taking in some carbs every so often?
And the third thing is that you might just get tired at 8-9 miles because that’s about what you’re currently trained for. If you do 2 miles regularly, a 13-miler is HUGE. I don’t know how long you’ve been doing that for, but you might not be at the point where you’re yet able to finish strong. Maybe in a few weeks, those last few miles will get easier.
Good for you for your awesome accomplishmnents!

I'm not sure carb loading the day before would help. I run half marathons and now a marathon and the most recent studies show carb loading is not the most efficient way to fuel. 100 calories of carbs every 30-45 minutes after the first half hour is a much better way to fuel.

Happy, healthy, energetic, .....Enjoying life!
6 years post op = not one band caused problem.

Happy, healthy, energetic, .....Enjoying life!
6 years post op = not one band caused problem.

Happy, healthy, energetic, .....Enjoying life!
6 years post op = not one band caused problem.

@@catfish87 this is absolutely amazing and incredibly inspiring! Congrats to you!

Happy, healthy, energetic, .....Enjoying life!
6 years post op = not one band caused problem.