greytz

It isn't easy and be prepared. You must lose before your surgery in order to shrink your liver. Good Luck!

Same for me. Some days I really have to watch because I can eat anything and other days, I can't get through my morning protein shake and don't usually eat the rest of the day. It is up and down and I have to just go by how I feel from day to day when deciding what to eat. I usually know that morning if I am not going to be able to eat that day.

Oh, and don't get me started on taxpayers. I have worked hard my entire life and served my country in the military for six of them. I pay my taxes faithfully. I would rather help someone like this than what my taxes actually go for most of the time.

I totally agree with Jaqui. Pure discrimination against someone who is trying to get healthy and lose weight. It is always great to be sitting in the conductor's chair telling someone else what they should or shouldn't be doing. Take a look in the mirror and be sure you aren't throwing stones. An unhealthy weight and lifestyle isn't just restricted to the very obese. It happens to people of all physical frames. It is just as annoying and just as depressing to someone who is low bmi but still considered obese as it is to someone who is high bmi. Take a look at the BMI chart. Lower weight is still in the obese and overweight category.

My Emmi is a series of videos that will be sent to your home email or whichever email you give them throughout the course of your Lapband journey. As far as I know this series is only for patients that chose Allergan Lapband. It is a very generic support video that walks you through the steps of your next progression level as you progress every couple of months. It does not show real live people and does not show anything gross. It is a very simple video to watch and understand. However, you should always watch it because a confirmation goes back to your surgeon that you have completed each one and it does help keep you focused and is part of your Lapband support.

There are loads of websites for marathons. BillOh can probably hook you up best otherwise you can type in causes like breast cancer, etc and there are tons of walks and marathons for them. They usually ask you to put in your zip and give you the ones in your area. Also, most of them have what they call diva walks where there is a group that completes only half and usually walks it. It is the best feeling ever. I completed my first walk for breast cancer in October and it felt awesome to walk for a cause and do something I had been wanting to do for a long time. I didn't just sit on the sidelines this time and I completed the whole thing not just half. It was amazing.

For me, the band is not a magic fix. I have thyroid disease and have to keep it monitored routinely. I can actually gain 2 pounds in one day or more depending on what I eat and how my food intake went that day. I have to be very, very careful and can't just eat whatever I want just less of it with the band. There are certain foods that trigger my metabolism in a negative way even with the band and cause me to gain weight. And in my opinion, the whole point for me was to get healthy and I can't get healthy if I am eating what I want because that would mean sweets, starches, fried foods and all things bad. Even if it is in smaller portions. To me, it is not healthy and I stay away with very rare exception. But I certainly don't eat it on a regular basis. No offense intended but I think it is irresponsible to tell people to just eat what they want and they will still lose weight. It isn't like that for everyone.

I don't weigh my food any longer as I did when I first began this journey. I find that I now know how much it will take to make me full and still lose weight. You definitely shouldn't feel any type of uneasiness or discomfort with your fill. The restriction as most people call it is that feeling of fullness without overeating. I however do feel somewhat of a stop warning when I am full as opposed to before I was banded when I felt nothing and ate and ate until I was miserable. But, I rarely get stuck or PB and it is always because I eat too fast or take too big of bites. I am finding as my fills increase, of course my ability to take bigger bites decreases and I have to slow down, chew better and take smaller bites. It makes a huge difference and I find I get full faster. I am one of those people who has lost interest in a lot of different foods but still have my favorites.

Have heart girls, it will get easier as long as you put a little effort into it. Don't totally throw away the scales, just don't get obsessed over them. Use them cautiously and only to keep yourself focused. The fills don't hurt, just a little pinch and then you feel nothing. The most important thing right now is restraint and will power until you can get to the point that your fills are kicking in. Good Luck!

I have been married for twenty years and weigh less now than I did on my wedding day. My husband loves that fact that I have lost weight and I am getting healthy. He has been so supportive and makes comments about how great I am looking. We have been through such tough times together and it seems that we just get stronger as time goes on. He has put up with all my dieting and yo-yo sh-t. He was concerned at first but really wanted me to do it for me. And yeah, one of the things we both hated most was losing the boob weight. But on the up side it has lifted them a little which has been nice. Mine were starting to sag bigtime and really weren't attractive in that way. I'm 51 so the girls were really starting to hang. I went from a 46D to a 38C which is a big difference. It has actually helped my shape. But on the subject, my husband loves me to be happy and loves me for whatever I am at the time better or worse. Just happens to be better right now.

The whole point is, only YOU can make the decision since it is your body. Listen to your instincts. I have heard so many people say that their surgeon and staff tried to push them in one direction or the other usually into gastric bypass. I too have known several people who have went with the gastric bypass and have had complications and not so good results. However, with that said I was wondering if you have talked to your PCP. My first talk was with my primary care physician and my caridovascluar surgeon (heart condition). Since they are most aware of my physical health and overall condition they were to me in a better position to help me decide which way to lean toward. Not saying that I totally chose what they said, but it really helped me make the final decision based on what they said. I went to many different seminars before I chose my surgeon also. It was such an obvious difference sometimes to hear the different ideas they have about WLS in general. Most of them I felt like were only about the money. Obviously, they have to make a living but I wanted someone who really put more into my care than that and I found someone who I truly have to say cares about her patients and is great with follow up. Good Luck on whatever you choose.

Good for you! Keep up the good work!

Yeah for you! Doesn't it feel so good to say you didn't partake? Congrats!

I totally disagree. My NUT is not against this and it is a requirement for me on my fill day for a 24 hour period. I have absolutely no desire to binge the next day and think it is ridiculous to think it would cause a binge. In my opinion, a 24 hour liquid day should not spark a binge the next day. For me, the whole point is to cleanse and start fresh the day after the liquids and then 24 hours on mushies once my fill has been completed. Then I begin my solids again. Obviously, everyone should do what there surgeon recommends and what works for them.

I still sometimes get too loose after a fill. That is why this last time, I got filled a little more than usual to try and keep that tighter feeling. It takes a few times and until you reach that spot, it is difficult to have restraint. I have found that as time goes on, my development of healthier eating has become a matter of routine and it has made it a lot easier to stick to my goals.

I personally choose just not to eat burgers and ground red meat of any kind particularly from a fast food place. Full of fat and calories and something I am trying to avoid for now. I do very occasionally have some really lean sirloin but I usually don't end up eating more than a few bites before I find the taste offensive. I totally don't eat fries and heavily fried foods at this point. I have eaten chicken with a very light breading and pan fried at home and it kind of settles my wanting something fried and doesn't wreck my goals. But always with steamed veggies.

Elfie, I do liquids once a month which is on my fill day and do that for 24 hours. It does seem to jump start me and is a necessity. I usually lose a few pounds after that because I am initially so tight and I don't really eat much for a week or so afterward.

I spoke to my new personal trainer today and he said the same thing. I will be doing my cardio and weights at the same time and the other portions of my workout. Also, since I do treadmill in the mornings, as he and I discussed, I will be doing that and then going straight to complete the rest of my workout with him. They also do bootcamp once a month and I am not ready for that yet but when I am, I will be attending it as well.

You are definitely doing the right thing in my opinion. It sounds like you have a good handle on it and know what to do. And you already know that continuing is defeating the purpose of your band. And I am sure the intent is not to be so tight you can't eat the proper solid foods. The last fill I had, I felt too restricted even as I was walking out of the office so I sat in the waiting room for a few minutes and realized I couldn't even swallow so I went back in and they did a small unfill. I noticed the difference immediately and had no problems afterward. I have my next fill today and I am planning on doing that again after my fill I will waiting in the waiting area before I leave to be sure I am not too tight. I live rather far away and don't want to have to suffer through coming back or waiting for another appointment if it is too much. Good Luck and keep us posted.

I agree it has to begin slowly and you have to work yourself up to it but it has been so beneficial to me in so many more ways than just the weight loss. It feels so good to sweat and get the toxins out of you and It gets my mind off of everything and I completely zone out when I am exercising. When I began, I could only walk the treadmill flat for about .25 miles. Now, I am on an incline and up to 3.5 miles a day and I am weight training right after. I am going to a fitness trainer today to help me get rid of the middle section which I can't seem to thin out. They say it is the last thing to go and mine is just sticking around literally. I hate it and want it gone. Anyway, I continue to increase my routine as my body allows and I am also suprised at how easy it becomes to add a little more. I try to add more weekly and intensify my routine. It makes a world of difference in how I feel, how full I stay and how I sleep. It has really helped my sleeping a great deal.

This is definitely a difficult time of the year to be pre-op or newly post-op. Can't imagine it. Find something good to do and get your mind off of it. Looking at all that beautiful food can be very trying. Just think of how great you will feel soon as you are shedding the pounds and keep that will power! LOL

I agree with you. I do believe that it is important to eat healthy foods. I just happen to love veggies and salads and I do eat them no matter what anyone says about them being sliders. So what if they are a slider food. I was just mentioning that I don't pile on the dressing as it adds the calories and makes it even more slider. My deal is and for my life only, I pretty much stick to the Protein and veggies until I reach my goal. Then, I will slowly add things back in until I figure out what works for me so that I can maintain my health weight. You look fabulous and you exercise more than most which gives you the ability to eat a little more and more variety. I am really getting into my exercise regimen and have come a long way with that and it does allow me to add a little more variety than when I started. You would be proud of me. I am going to a core fitness personal trainer today to start toning. I am exercising but can't get rid of the gut and want to tone up some more. Hoping the personal trainer can help me with that. But, I do think a person at the beginning of their journey should be a little more careful of their food choices. Just my opinion again for what it's worth. LOL

Jada, I actually have two heart conditions. I have nuerocardiogenic syncope which basically means I black out when I get too stressed or too heated and the other is diagnosed coronary artery spasms of which both can lead to death and there is no fix for either of them so I live with them. Had to retire but onto the question. I had to be cleared by my cardiologist and I had to stay overnight due to my conditions so I could be observed after my surgery and had to be on an IV drip for a few hours afterward but it went off just fine. I had to follow up with my cardiovascular surgeon right after my surgery also. Just precautionary measures to ensure nothing went wrong but everything went fine and I am almost at my goal without a hitch. But, just to give you a little idea of what happened recently with my heart condition, I had a bunch of family from out of town for Thanksgiving and it was a very stressful couple of weeks for me. Three days after everyone left, I blacked out and had to go to the emergency room. They treated me (IV's and pain meds) and kept me for a couple of days and I was fine. When I got home and got back into my routine everything went back to normal. There was no problem with the band and they didn't have to unfill me or anything and since I really didn't feel much like eating, I mostly stuck to the liquids while an inpatient. BUT, the important thing was, my bracelet told them I had the band and of course, it has my other conditions on it as well. My husband completely forgot to tell them. It was good for them to know though in case they had to do something specific for me. In your case like mine it may be a good idea to add it to your bracelet or necklace or whatever you wear for your medical conditions. At least, I figure you wear one like have to. So that might be something for you to consider. Sorry about the long post, just wanted you to know, you can be very successful with the band even with a heart condition.

I love milk and drink it a lot but when I don't want it with my protein, I just use water. I drink a lot of crystal light also with water of course. I haven't read or heard anything that says you must drink milk. I would talk to your doctor though and see if you need a calcium supplement of somekind or make sure you are getting your calcium in your foods.

I agree that the number should not define you however, for me it is a matter of being focused on what I am doing. That is what it has been all about for me. So, when someone asks me, I tell them. It allows me to remember again why I am doing this and makes me smile. I am proud of what I have accomplished. In the beginning, I told very few people but obviously now, everyone has noticed. Some are brave enough to ask and I do talk about it to them when they do. I really don't care what other people think and if they talk when I walk out of the room or store or whatever, then let them talk. So far, I have been happy with my decision to handle it that way and haven't had any real problems in that regard. Good Luck on whatever you decide to do.