Froggie D

WOW! That is fabulous! :cool:

Good luck and soon you will be on the bandster side! Post your experience when you feel like it! I am so excited for you!:sad:

Worked with my trainer for the third real session tonight. It was accu]tually an easier session (or maybe I am getting a bit stronger) and we focused a lot on balance. It was actually pretty fun. Seems like this is helping everyone to check in here. I know it really is helping me. Everyone seems to be doing so great. Keep up the good work, everyone!

Woohoo! It is paying off - I lost 1.8 pounds today! I love my band!:grouphug:

Glad to hear that felt good for you. When I ran in the past, I started that way. After a while, could not get myself to stop jogging and go back down to the walk because it just did not feel as good. Take it slow and it creeps up before you know it. Congrats to you!!!!!!!! :grouphug:

I had a very similar situation with an office manager who was rude and told me to stop calling and bugging her. She lied and said the paperwork had been filed when it had not been. I waited 10 weeks for her to get me approved and nothing. I changed to a different doctor and got banded within 2 months. I am so happy I made the switch. I realize now I never would have been successful with the first surgeon's office. It takes a lot of support and knowledge to be successful and you deserve only the best. Go with a certified doc - don't let this woman be an obstacle in your path!

Well I did 45 minutes of cardio last night and 30 minutes tonight. I cannot even imagine doing and hour of non-stop on the elliptical machine. I hope someday to get there. I go see my trainer again tomorrow night. I am finally past being sore from working with him on Saturday! I wonder if I will be sore after round three with him? :grouphug:

I think the best way to start jogging/running is to walk for a while, then jog for 1 minute; walk some more and jog for another minute. Do this 2 or three times when you walk and then increase the jog time to two minutes, etc. For me, I like the jogging better tahn the walking so building up was easy. It felt better. Unfortunately, my knees are just not able to let me jog right now. I hope to get back to that point ni the future. Good luck.

I was told walking is fine from day one. I walked a quarter mile the day I had my surgery and built up from there. Treadmill is walking so it should be fine. Anything else, I was told 6 weekes out. You need to make sure you don't pull on your stitches before they are healed inside (outside stitches heal in about 2-3 weeks but inside stitches take 4-6 weeks to be fully healed). Just work up slowly and don't overdo too early.

Weight loss depends on many things. Age, diet, how long you have been overweight, exercise, restriction from swelling after surgery, amount of fill, amount of liquids you take in, sodium intake, general health, menstrual cycle, and, I think sometimes, just the direction the wind blows that day LOL. I started at 225 pounds on surgery day. I did a 4 week preop and lost 23 pounds before surgery. I am almost 14 weeks out and have now lost 31.2 pounds since surgery which is 2.3 pounds per week. The average is 1-2 pounds per week. I was lucky that I had restriction after surgery from swelling and still have restriction with only 3.0cc of fill in my band. Everyone is different. The important thing is to focus on what you have control over - what you eat, when you eat, whether you eat your Protein first and eat all the protein your surgeon wants you to get in, whether you get all your Water in, if you excercise, etc. Set your goals in those areas, not in how much you lose, as you really do not have direct control over that. For example, set goals like eating 60 grams of protein, getting 64 ounces of water, eating on schedule, not snacking, walking 30 minutes and the weight will come off. I have only vomited twice since getting my band. Both times, I was off schedule and ate too fast. It was one or two heaves and relief - not like having the flu and continuing to heave. I learned I have to chew more and go slower. The band has made an incredible difference for me in how hungry I am, so sticking to my goals for intake, water and protein have been easier than regular dieting (not easy, though). Exercise has been tougher for me but as I am losing, it is getting better. I really think it helped to do the preop diet (although my surgeon did not require anything except two days of liquids). I had gotten my appetite under control, was used to smaller portions and I was psychologically ready for the band when I had my surgery. My surgery was very easy since my liver was smaller and I recovered easier. Please keep in mind that the first 4-6 weeks you are in healing mode - not weight loss mode. If you happen to lose weight it is a bonus. Until you have some restiction, often 3-5 fills, you will be dieting like with out the band. That is "Bandster Hell". It is worse for some than others. You have to use a lot of will power during that time. I love the metaphor another bandster used. She said, it is like buying an expensive sports car. You just can't wait until you can get in it and drive really fast and see how it performs. But if it does not have any gas in it, it will not work. You have to put gas in it and it will work like it is supposed to. With the band, that gas is fills. Each person is different. I have some restiction at 3.0cc. Some people don't feel restiction until 7cc or 8cc or even more. You just will not see full performance until you get restriction, so be patient. Being unsure is totally normal. I was convinced I would be the one that the band would not work for. What I found out is that the band does not work, I have to work the band. When I do my part, it is a wonderful help to me, but it does not work alone. Keep reading, asking questions, and exressing your fears, concerns and doubts. It is normal. Good luck to you! I love my band!

I am sooooooo happy for your! What an accomplishment. Those milestones mean so much! My goal is 125 and it is a long way off yet. I can't even imagine how I am going to feel at that weight. I am 5'2" so not much taller than you. Keep up the great work!!!! You will get there! :confused:

Don't beat yourself up - just do what you can. Remember we are in this for the loong haul so there will be times we do less and times we do more. It is ok. I would bet you are still doing more than you were before you started losing weight. Before banding I was doing NOTHING but sit on the couch and sit at my desk. So everything I do is more than I was. When I think about that it takes the pressure off and I enjoy what I am doing more. I made it to the gym today with the intent of 30 minutes of cardio and ended up doing 10 on the elliptcal, 10 on the arm bike, 10 on the recumbent bike and 10on the cross trainer plus walked another 5. It actually felt pretty good today. Hang in there!

Along with many other things, my insurance required 8 weeks of behavior management classes on the phone. They were boring and not helpful and I really did not learn much. And I had to do another 8 weeks of them after surgery! I looked at it like taking general studies classes my freshman year in college. Boring, not what I wanted to be doing, but every class was a step toward my goal of getting a degree. In this case it was toward getting banded. It took me 18 months as I changed surgeons twice - once because the surgeon stopped practicing at the right hospital for my insurance and once becase the program was not inviting, helpful and educational. I found a great progam and I know I made the right choice. I finally got banded April 7 and I am doing great. I could not be happier. I hope you will be posting a response about your surgery experience and your wonderful progress within a few months too! Good luck!

It can be a long process from the first interest in the band to the surgery. It took me 18 months to get everything in place. Use this time to try the traditonal methods one last time. Watch what you eat, walk, go to the gym, start drinking 64 ounces of Water and reduce the refined carbs (sugar, white flour, white rice, white pasta), etc. While you are working on that, keep working on getting the band surgery set up. After you have jumped through all the hoops that are reqired by your primary doc, your surgeon and your insurance, and are ready for surgery, see how you have done and see if going ahead feels right. If it does, go for it; if not don't do it. Just use this time to practice and learn about yourself, your eating habits, your emotional needs related to eating, and about the band. This does not have to be an either/or right now. You can make your decision right up to the day you are scheduled for surgery. There are many issues involved in making the decision to have the band. You need to be prepared for comittment and dedication to making the changes it requires and following the plan your surgeon and you set out. It is not "the easy way out", like people will tell you, but it can be the extra edge that gets and keeps the weight off. Good luck in your decision making.

Good luck with getting through the process. It can be frustrating and overwhelming at times. It took me 18 months to jump through all the hoops and finally get approval and I was so frustrated. But it finally happened. Now I am 3 months post surgery, 54 pounds down, down from a 2x to a 16, off diabetes meds, blood pressure meds reduced and have joined the gym. Pre surgery is the time to read and learn and start identifying habits you need to change and get prepared mentally. It is a wild journey and takes a lot of commitment. From the day you make your decision to go forward and the day it happens seems like an eternity, but frrom the day you are banded it speeds up and flys by. Good luck to you!

You are just going to do great! :cursing: Take it a step at a time. First, surgery - it is not horrible, but not comfortable either. Get up and walking as soon as you can, and drink, drink, drink. You do not want to get dehydrated and end up on IVs - not a planned part of the process. Second, heal. Do not focus on weight loss. Tell yourself you are following all the steps your doctor lays out to help you heal - then if you lose weight, it is a bonus! Third, create habits. Practice eating on schedule, eating the things you are told you can eat in smaller portions than before surgery, and eat slowly. Water is a huge part of this habit step. Fourth, fills. Go in for fills. I was terrified, but it is nothing. A tiny stick and you are done. You may have some restiction from surgery swelling, but it goes away after a while. You will not have real restriction until your fills start. Again, do not expect miracles. Just keep working on step three. Fifth, get moving. As you recover from surgery and feel better, start walking. As you start losing weight bump it up and do more. Sixth, enjoy! Keep track of your weight loss, keep track of your inches and watch the change! Think frequently about what feels different - breathing better; clothes looser; blood pressure, blood sugar, and pain decreasing; buying new clothes, hearing compliments. These things are even better than the pounds and inches. Remember, it s a journey, not a miracle that happens overnight. However, in a few months you will feel like it has happened so fast. Lastly, always read, andf feel free to post and ask questions. There are no dumb questions. Feel free to vent and express and talk about your emotions - and you will have many! It helps to share and there are many of us who will support you along the way. Good luck and let us know how your surgery goes!!!!!!!

I thought I was the one the band would not work for. I was just sure ai would be a big failure at this with my history of yo-yo dieting. Well, what I have found out is that the band has given me an edge to accomplish my dreams of being thin and fit. But the band does not "work for me" in a passive sense, but I have to "work the band" and use it to best advantage in an active way. I am in charge and when I chose to do the right things (eat lots of Protein, eat protein first, avoid sweets and slider foods, drink my Water, etc.) my band picks up from there, keeps me from being so hungry and craving, and the weight is coming off. It is not magic, but it is just the extra I have always needed. It can do that for you too, if you work with it. It will not do the work for you. Good luck to all of you who are getting banded this week. Follow what your doctor tells you, give yourself time to heal and keep your expectations realistic. IT WILL HAPPEN!:welldoneclap:

Second day with my trainer. He is really working me. Did a lot of new things today. I will see him twice a week for an hour and go to do elliptical and recumbent bike four days. I am really sore. He said I will hurt for the first two weeks. Yuck! But at least I know I am doing something. I am starting to lose weight again and my measurements are smaller today, so I am going the right direction now! So glad everyone is doing well and keeping moving!

Worked out with my trainer for the first time for real last night. He kicked my butt.

My diet is pretty much veggies and lean Protein. If eat my protein and then low carb veggies, small amounts of healthy oils and occasional fruits, I am full and stay satisfied. That all boils down to a low carb high protein diet. On high protein and low carb, I am less hungry and con't crave sweets and carbs nearly as much. Only way to go, I think!

I have eaten scallops - more tender and melt in my mounth better than shrimp and I eat it too. They are low fat and high protein so enjoy!

All of those fantasies can become reality - that is the beauty of the band!!!!! Weight loss, smaller clothing, reducing or even going off meds, improvement in medical issues, being able to walk and breathe, fitting in an airplane seat, not craving and binging constantly, having more energy - it is all waiting for you! Just don't expect them to happen overnight. It takes time and you have to be dedicated and work the band. It is a wonderful tool that you learn to use over time. So go ahead and have those fantasies. And good luck to you! :thumbup:

I find I can eat a bit faster after the first bite goes down and is settled. It is the first bite or two for me that make the difference. Once I get get that pain, though, it continues to be tender and I have to eat really slowly the whole meal.

Met with my trainer last night and signed up for 12 sessions. That will get me to my vacation in August - going to Glacier National Park and our timeshare condo week at a Fairmont Hot Springs. I would love to be down at least 15 more pounds by then. Hopefully the exercise will help that along. I had my third fill today and hope that will help my weight loss too. I am taking off the day from the gym since I got my fill. I lost 10 pounds the first month, 9 pounds the second month and 6 pounds the third month following surgery. I would like to get that back to 2 pounds a week. Great work, everyone. Keep it up!:thumbup:

Just remember this is a journey. It takes time to go through all the steps - surgery, healing, fills, restriction, good weight loss, learning new eating habits, ect. I started my journey April 7 and was sure after my surgery I would be the one the band does not work for. What I discovered, however, is that the band was just waiting for me to make the best use of it. I have lost 30 pounds since surgery day, off my diabetes meds, blood pressure meds cut back, off pain killers for aching joints, and down from size 22 to 16. I just had fill #3 and am getting more restriction each time. I LOVE MY BAND and you will too - it just takes time. Best of luck to new bandsters!