chatty826

Hey keep asking questions I know I had a lot when I started out. What do you mean by "sweet spot" and good "restrictions" with our fill? Sweet spot is where you get full easily it varies for most people it means I eat a small amount and get and stay full (my doc said 1/2c) and dont need any more fills. Restriction is what you feel when eating its the since that your full. It changes depending on the time of day or what your eating. You may be at your sweet spot and your restriction will vary. Does a persons stomach shrink after not eating so much or will it always be the same size? My doctor tends to think with the weight loss the stomach does change size a bit but unsure if this means shrinking. After losing alot of weight has your skin gone back to normal or is its aggy? I have lost 83lbs and was always very solid, sadly I am not any more. I have heard from many once at their goal weight that they dont have severe skin issues. For me I think it's just the fat is breaking down so its not one big mass anymore. I drink lots of Water, eat lots of Protein and lift weights. All those things plus age and genetics help with skin. have you been over filled with your band and before goin to get a fill do you eat differently or drink more fluids? I have had 4 fills and before I dont do anything different. In fact I have eaten up to an hour before my fill but after I go back on liquids for 48hrs per my doctor. I havent had any complications getting a fill they find my port easily everytime.

Hey a friend of mine is thinking of starting one. We have open flexibility on nights let me know if your interested. justcallmepatty@gmail.com she is in puyallup i am in lakewood we were thinking in lakewood since its in the middle.

Hey Congrats!! Not sure if you were asking me but I thought Id tell you. How did you find it on the liquid diet? I did mine for two weeks and it was hard but I made it through. I did cheat once but it so wasn't worth it I was worried theyd cancel my surgery. How much weight did you lose during that time? I lost 18lbs How much weight have you lost to date and do you feel full with the band? Have you had a fill? Where are you from and where did you get your surgery done? I had surgery Oct 09 and lost 83 lbs. I feel full much quicker than I used to and am almost at my sweet spot. I had surgery here in Wa where I live. I have had four fills and will have one more probably as I am getting good restriction right now.

I vary it up as well. I use the gym and do the machines as well as weight train. Lifting weights is essential when your loosing a lot of weight. Even if your doing it at hope you can find a lot of good info online (i use sparkpeople its free) on how to lift at home with free weights. For my cardio I do elliptical, zumba, and Ive recently started the couch to 5k running program. I like you get nervous about being in front of others but anytime I see a fellow big girl/guy busting their rump working out I am inspired. So what is to say it doesn't inspire the skinny ones just as much?

I am welcome to help you. I am an Oct 09 bandster and have lost around 83 lbs. You can find me on facebook under my email justcallmepatty@gmail.com

So this is coming on my second week of being a member of Full Circle Farm (which started as a local community supported agriculture). I am loving it. Everything I got last week was organic and if its not its all locally grown. I got the individual (you can do family) bundle and it was so much produce! I got a bunch of spinach, a salad mix, fingerling potatoes, a bunch of carrots, a zucchini, a cucumber, 2 green peppers, 2 tomatoes, 4 oranges, 4 white peaches, a pint of strawberries and a mango. I also ordered their organic orange juice and some meat. My order was 35 bucks (produce only) and I picked it up on the drop off day at the community pick up spot near me. I am loving this since when I go to the store I rarely get lots of veggies. I want to but picking out the best stuff is hard in the store. I was able to remove things from my list I didn't like before (like radishes) and I have made some very yummy and healthy things. If you would like to check out a CSA in your area I have posted the link below to the usda site that lists links there. If your in the PacNW try Full Circle Farm they are amazing!! http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/csa/c sa.shtml

Thanks everyone. For those of you wanting to be fitter for your families and for those who have lost others due to battles with obesity. We all have our own journeys but the same goal!!!

Hi everyone, I was seeing trainer but havent in a bit so I been doing the gym and running. I was wondering if anyone has good at home abdominal exercises they can share. I do plank on the ball and ball situps now. Thanks for the help.

Sooz I am soo very very proud of you. It takes a lot of guts to do something for yourself when you have so many people relying on you. Please fill me in on your journey. I am sure your daughters are so happy I am and I just met you. To everyone else posting. Thank you so much. Today I went jogging and when Id get tired or want to call it quits too soon I though of my mom and what a hard worker she was. I miss her lots but I know shes without pain now. Again thanks!!

Thanks everyone for all the support. I am trying to not do the whole depressed eat everything route that was the pre band me. I went yesterday and bought running shoes to jog. I workout a lot but never run and I thought why not. Sil my mother too died the week of Mothers Day. It was so hard as I had already bought her present. Your so right though that she is smiling down on me. I feel it when I least expect it. Newgirl- that would be awesome. In fact I am always telling people but if you need a workout partner now feel free to contact me. The more support we have the easier it is to get off our bootays and get the work done. My email addy is justcallmepatty@gmail.com I am on facebook too. I have a couple friends from this site I have met locally and its sooo encouraging.

It took me a few weeks to decide to write this blog. I still am having a hard time dealing. May 4th 2010 I lost my mother at the age of 48 unexpectedly. She was my only parent since she raised us alone. She was an amazing woman and taught me so much. I am sure many of you might understand where I am coming from when I write this. My mother was great but she was a mother who feed us. food meant love. I come from a family of big people and its always just been normal to be large. This past year I decided to make a change in my life. A change that I hoped would inspire others to do the same. The number one goal was to help my mother see that if I could do it she could too. Although the reason she died suddenly did not revolve entirely around her weight I know that it had it's part. The doctor at the hospital told me people rarely live past 50 at her size. It is a horrible feeling to know it could have been prevented. To know that she will never meet my children or be able to give me one of those never ending hugs she was so good at. Even in the few months I have been working to loose weight my mother was so happy for me. She visited me this fall and was shocked at how much time I was spending at the gym. I only wish she could she when I reach my goal. I have toyed with the idea of becoming a personal trainer recently but I really feel I must now. I am giving myself six months to continue with my hard work and start the classes to become certified. My mother always taught me that anything was possible for me. I never thought that meant being slim and fit but now I know anything is anything I set my mind to. I want to make her proud. I want to live to a ripe old age and die happy expecting the sun to set on my life. I want to live the life my mom should have had. She did so much for me I owe it to her. If you or someone you know is dealing with obesity please do something about it. For me I have learned baby steps are best and to use whatever tools are available. Whatever it takes for you. If you do nothing you to could die and that is a pain your love ones have to endure for the rest of their lives. p.s. I have attached a picture of my beautiful mother. She had the most amazing smile which luckily I inherited. I love you mom!

Hi Great post I always love hearing what people do because it inspires me and I learn knew things about what I can do myself. How do you get your exercise? It varies I normally do cardio 5-6x a week for 30 to an hour. I lift weights 2-3 times a week. Cardio varies normally elliptical, bike and now yoga, kickboxing, zumba at gym. I love love love zumba. And hour of intense cardio and it flies by! When and how did you start? (how soon after banding) I started before my band after my surgery seminar. I joined a womens gym that had an indoor pool and pretty much swam and did Water aerobics. I was afraid to even touch the machines besides a lil time on treadmill. I soon got over than though and hired a trainer to teach me to lift. Trainers are amazing worth every penny she taught me to build muscles that make my cardio so worth it. I will continue to check in on this thread cause I really love the idea behind it. Everyone keep it up!

I was banded on 10/29 and have lost 82 lbs!! I have 5 cc in a 10cc band and I still struggle with restriction. I have hit a plateau recently but just read a thread and remembered I havent been doing well on my protein lately. I work out at least 5x a week with two-three of those days being weights. Working out helps lots. And if you lift weights you burn so much more fat throughout the day. I have found finding stuff that I like helps....check out the YMCA its great I do zumba which is an hour and awesome. Before surgery I would have never thought I could do an hour long aerobics class. Congrats everyone!!!

Congrats!! I am almost at six months and am curious about what my bloodwork will say I have been so bad on my vitamins and protein supplements. I just hit a major plateau maybe gaining (scared to weigh) but I know I can get back on track quickly.

I dreamt of all you can eat pancakes one night and I was good. Havent tried at all. I been getting stuck so much since my last fill but I can do toasted bread thank goodness.

Hey I was banded Oct 29th and am down 80 pounds so far! I am thrilled. I have had four fills getting fifth tomorrow. i have about 5cc in my 11cc band. Restriction isn't the greatest but way better than pre band. I need to get on track with my protein and vitamins though. I fell way off the wagon. Congrats on your success.

I am about to start the program. For anyone with iphones or ipod touches i found the program on a app that will play with your music and prompt you for each interval. I will write back and let you know how its going.

Hi All, Disappointed? Not really. I mean up and downs and struggles but that is to be expected. I am on very slow weight loss now and had no restriction. Had a fill monday so we will see my doc is happy with progess Ive lost 60 lbs since pre op but I also workout a lot and see a trainer. Want to try running and hoping it gets warmer soon!! I have 4.7 ccs in my 11 cc band. I am just happy when I look at myself I dont see a huge double chin anymore. I looked at one picture of myself about a year ago when I was at my heaviest and I swear I looked like Jabba the Hut lol!! I am really trying to get to 250 and its going slow but I know Ill get there. Keep up the good work everyone we will all make it through!

I was banded on 10/29 and the same thing is going on with me. I am trying to limit my calorie intake and keep protein up. I get my first fill 11/30 so I am excited for that. Bandster Hell sucks!

I want to make a note when you compare your weight loss to someone elses be sure to note the amount of weight that needs to be loss. We are all diff and shouldnt compare but I know we do. That said things have been going pretty steady for me but I also weighed 295 at my banding a lot more than many people I have seen. Congrats to everyone because any weight loss is great and we are all so lucky to have been able to get this tool. There are so many peopke out there who dont.

Thanks. I am aware of their calorie content and am not expecting to eat them everyday. Also I bought the new whole grain ones so they arent as bad.

I have heard of people posting about them on their mushy cassaroles and eating them with tuna. Have you had them on your mushy stage? I know they normally them to melt in mouth if chewed correctly.

Hi there. Your doc works out of St. Francis as does mine (Oh) and they have very strict guidelines. I had surgery on Oct 29th and have lost 16 lbs. I was wondering if your walking much cause thats helped me a lot. I am dying though on the liquids and at times have wanted to advance myself (i did cheat and have a spoonful of mashed pot). I am trying to stick in there though. I know its hard Many of my friends on here who were banded are on mushies or skilled foods. I cant stand my Protein shakes now so Id love to have some refried Beans. Since your local if you want to talk we can chat and compare notes or meet up and have a lol Water or crystal light! I really feel your pain I am just hoping its worth it. I would def talk to a nutritionist if your able to.

EA sports has EA Acitve which I have found way better than the wii fit the only downside is it has a leg strap that is a bit too tight for me at first. Plus to this is that it does cardio and strength training!!