deckedout

SUsan, I am exercising between 1 and 2 times each day. It is very important to me as not only do I want to lose weight, I want to be healthy. I do not jog or run. I have always loved to swim, so every morning I swim for about 45 minutes. this has always been my favorite because I LOVE the water. I have just started doing yoga on Mondays and Thursdays. This I am beginning to enjoy, it is very new for me, but I like it. I have a real problem with flexiblity so I thought it would be good. On Tuesdays and Wednesday I try to lift weights, as this is at th same club that I pay for the swimming, I feel a litte better about putting it off, and often do not do it. When I first started swimming, I spent a few weeks not losing weight, but I did lose inches, and better than anything else, I feel great. It is amazing to me that now I "feel" fatter than I did at 196, mainly because, I think, I pay more attention now. before I was in denial. I have said this before, and I'll say it again. I have recieved a lot of complements about my weight loss and my "stick to itness" I am not quite sure how to take and respond to these completments. Audree, I went and bought some south beach lunches and have been eating them the past couple days. My 15 yr old son has been begging us to go out to breakfast (he is the only one left at home, thank God) so we went to Home town buffet this AM, yuck, I haate PBing in the resturant restroom! Anyway, I ate too much this mornign. But tomorrow it is back to swimming, and this is long term for me. So, right now I am down 38 lbs. I still think I will be at 130 by my 1 year anniversary. Anything else is gravy. Right now I wear a very loose12, I could probably fit into a 10m but haven't tried yet, scared I guess. I haven't worn a 10 for at least 15 years. I love my band. I guess he needs a name. I think its a boy because he ony focuses on one thing at a time and can be a real pain in my you know what. Actually, my cousin is similar and his name is Brandon. SO, I guess that is what I call call him, Brandon.

Hi all! I haven't been on for a while as things have been kind of crazy weatherwise around here and my hubby bought me a computer game. I was home sick on Wednesday,Thursday we had a snow day (I'm a teacher), Friday I worked but my son was home sick. Monday was a holiday and today is another snowday! Nuts. And, it is supposed to freeze up again tonight and it will probably be another snowday tomorrow. The hardest part about being home is keeping myself from eating every few minutes. So, I've been playing the puzzle game my hubby got me to try and stay out of the kitchen. HAve to FIGHT that head hunger. Audree, sorry about your rough night last night. Just goes to show, even water and other liquids can be filling.

Miniperarl: DH and I went to Dr. Ortiz and it was 2 weeks for us, from the time we made the appointment unti surgery day. We wanted a Monday but that was full, so we went for Tuesday. It was great. Ive never had such a great experience with a doctor before.

I teach language arts/social studies to 6th graders. I love it. I can think of many things worse than being a fat teacher. Number 1 would be a bad teacher who doesn't care, like the one who fell asleep in class. I couldn't teach 3rd graders, but I am thinking of moving up to 9th grade. I think the transition years are so important. I love my 6th graders, they start out as such babies, but learn so much over the year.

:huggie: Happy 6 months! I posted this on the July bandster thread, but I wanted to share with more who are interested. I was going to post pictures today, but DH can't find them. Hopefully, they're in the camera bag at work. We did find a couple, and if I can't find the others I'll post these. In the last 6 months I have learned a few things about myself. 1. I don't actually have to think about food all the time. 2. I can watch TV and NOT eat! 3. I can swim a mile at 5:30 in the morning. 4. I can get up at 5 AM and function all day long. 5. I can work out 2 times a day and still have energy to cook dinner, clean house and make sure my son does his chores and homework. 6. I can eat small meals. 7. I can wait 15 minutes after my lunch break starts to eat without starving. 8. I can lose weight! 9. I am NOT good at taking a compliment. I'm never quite sure what to say when people say, "Wow, you look great." or "YOu have lost a lot of weight", and "You are the only one who lost weight over Christmas!" I am very happy with my decision to lose weight with the aid of the lap-band. Something that I had decided not to tell people about when I first had it done, I now freely tell people when they ask. If I had been a smoker and had needed a perscription in order to quit, would I be wrong? I don't think so. And, I always thought, at least a smoker CAN go "cold turkey" even though it might not be easy (and I'm sure it isn't) I could never go cold turkey with food, ya always got to eat right! Who cares what those "ladies" from the View think anyway. I thank God for finding the band for my husband and myself, and that we had the resources to afford to do this for ourselves. In the last 6 months I have lost 37 lbs and gone from boarderline high blood pressure to normal blood pressure. From a lazy, tired old lady, to someone who has energy and is looking for things to do. Hubby has lost 75 lbs. He has not taken his blood pressure medicine for 2 months and his bp has remained in the normal range. He works out every morning. Plays basketball with his friends from work and we have gone skiing 3 times so far this year. In the last 6 months, we have been given a new lease on life. We have reinvented ourselves. Last night, I was wearing a t-shirt that was a little tight and when I raised my arms my belly showed. My hubby asked if I was going to get a belly ring. I was joking around saying yes, when my 15 year old son said, "oh my god mom, your skinny!" Ha, but out of the mouths of babes. He has never seen my this small in his life! Hopefully soon he will see me smaller. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->__________________

I used to get a really strange feeling in my chest. Like my body was trying to adjust to the band being there. For a while, I really didn't think my body was going to "take" to it. But, eventually, the feeling went away. I was also kind of weak for a while, but not the grumpy kind of weak that I get on a diet. I was banded in the summer, so I didn't have to worry about working, I could sleep as late as I wanted. But, I did go on long walks by the river. I miss being able to do that. Reason 101 why I love summer. Today, we're on a snow day. Which is great for me, since I was home sick yesterday, I actually have an extra sick day without having to use a sick day!

Jack, You should write poetry. You are quite the wordsmith. I love reading your replies.

I joined after I was banded; however, I lurked around the site and read everything I could find before I was banded.

Yeah, I was pretty tight after surgery. Never even got hungry for at least the first week. But, that goes away pretty quickly, then you spend the time in "bandster hell" trying to get back to that feeling again. I think I am there now, although I think about food still, and right after surgery I really didn't think about it. I would smell something good and the smell would be enough. Now, I would want to taste it. Enjoy the feeling now. It well be gone. but, once you get good restriction, it will be great.

Kathy, Mornings are really tight for me, and from your post, it sounds like the same may be true for you. Don't push it. Here is what I eat in a day to keep things from backing up. I have had to do this since my last fill, before that, I thought I was tight enough because I would PB after lunch about 2 times a week. Morning: I start with bottle of water. Then I either drink a slimfast, eat a yougurt, or some oatmeal. Then, after an hour, more water. Lunch: Soup, then cottage cheese with fruit. If I have a lot of time to eat, I might do some chicken salad with crackers, but I have to be able to eat very slowly. More water. Afternoon: yogurt or more cottage cheese Dinner: basically, anything I want following bandster rules with the protien first. Last night I had Kalbasha and chili. All evening I drink water. I have replaced my diet pepsi successfully with bottled water. Because mornings are so tight for me I have to stick to the rules, otherwise, I'm miserable. But, I make sure all my choices have protien and because I'm tight, even the liquids fill me up. FOr the oatmeal, I have bought the kind with extra protien, I can't remember the name, or I add Flax seed to what I have which gives it extra protien. I am also thinking of ordering some stuff from bariaticeating.com in order to make sure I'm getting enough protien because I know some days I am not and since I exercise everyday, I really need the protein. Audree and Susan, a warning about watching TV during this time, it seems like EVERY other commerical is about food. That can really add to the head hunger, I know it did for me. YOu are both doing great. Keep it up! I'm home sick today with a terrible cold. First time all year I have really been sick. I am so greatful that the cold companies have come out with so many different cold medicines that aren't in pill form, as I would be worried that the pills might get stuck. So, I am drinking Theraflu for colds and taking little strips for my cough.

When my youngest was a couple of weeks old, my mother decided to come for a visit. My sister, who has always been slender and beautiful, and I went to the airport to pick her up. When she saw us (I was carrying my new son in his carseat) the first thing she said is "Julie, (My sister) you look beautiful. Jane, you look nice too, but wow, Julie, you sure look great." My sister still remembers this as well. She, too, thought it was totally inappropriate. However, in her defense, my mother is an idiot. When I was 10 she used to find the biggest people she could, point them out and tell me I was going to look EXACTLY like that when I got older if I didn't watch myself. BTW, both my sisters are really thin; but my weight was ALWAYS within the average range, just on the high end.

Susan, I am so glad to hear things went well. Make sure to walk a lot. that will help with the gas pains. I am sooo sorry you are hungry. I wasn't hungry for days, that helped a lot. But the head hunger was bad. I had to keep really busy to fight that off. don't forget to drink your water! I hope the rest of your flight goes well.

I, too, never really realized how many of my thoughts were centered around food. Now, I have tried to fill that void with other things. I spend way too much time here reading the board. (Hey guys, write more stuff!) I also read, take bath, do puzzles, clean house (yuck), anything to keep busy. Eventually, you will find your new love. And fill that void.

I can feel my port if I push directly on it. It doesn't hurt, more like pressure. Sometimes I can feel it when I exercise, like when I do a bunch of stomach exercises. It might pull a little, not really the port but where it is attached to the muscle. Nothing that is bothersome. I get much worse pain in my knee from skiing. In the grand skeem of things, it isn't even worth mentioning. The port is up above where my pants go, and below where my bra strap is. I have a low profile port since that is what Dr. Ortiz uses, but the incision and the port itself have NEVER affected my clothing, even immediately after banding. The port is about 2 finger widths below my rib cage, right at the corner.

Hi all, Hopefully we will hear from Susan and Audree soon. I know Audree wasn't sure if she would remember her password and I don't know if Susan has a computer where she is. How is everyone else? I managed to lose 4 lbs last week! That was because of going back to work, I'm sure. It was my first week back to work since my last fill, which seems to (cross my fingers) have gotten me to my "sweet spot". Last night was really rough though. I had tried to eat a hamburger patty earlier in the day, and that didn't work. So, smart me, later in the evening, even though I knew better, I tried some hot wings that my hubby had cooked. Unfortunately, I decide to be a pig, took to big of a bite and accidentally swallowed without chewing! Big mistake, I was stuck and PBing for hours! Tried drinking something hot, cold, alcohol, anything I could think of. It was a bad night. So, today and maybe tomorrow it is liquids and soft food ONLY! Luckily, yesterday I went to the store and stocked up on soup, slim fast and cottage cheese! I hope every one else is enjoying their weekend.

I have had some similar problems. Someone else posted what they do to keep this problem from happening in an earlier post. Here is what I do: Mornings: Water only and then a protien shake or soft oatmeal Lunch: soft food only, usally a cottage double and a soup at hand ( I only get half and hour for lunch and have to eat quickly) Afternoon snack: yogurt or another cottage double Dinner: Normal (small) dinner usually chicken thigh, chicken breast is too dry and gets stuck, noodles or mashed potatoes, and green beans or corn. If I keep all my foods before dinner soft, I am usually fine. Today I tried a hamburger without the bun for lunch and it was way too much. Hope this helps you.

I could not have done this without the band either. As soon as I hit that first plateu, I would have given up on any diet. And my last plateu lasted 8 weeks! Now I'm losing again, but NO WAY would I stick to a diet for 8 weeks without losing.

LaJuanna, Dr. Ortiz, who was my doctor and is Audree's does not require a six month diet, just a week before surgury. And a BMI of 35.5 is perfectly acceptable. Good luck.

Audree and Susan, I know you are both off tomorrow. I'll be thinking of you both for the next few days. Audree, use Dr. Ortiz's computers and let us know how you are doing. I think you'll both do great. Take care of yourselves and keep us informed. You are set for a wonderful change in your lives!

Audree, Don't beat yourself up, we all slip. I probably would have eaten 10 reeses. I love those. Randi is right about the dinners. I stopped eating them cause of the carbs. Now I buy south beach dinners cause they have a lot more protien and it seems like more food. I didn't think about that earlier, sorry. Dr C is right about planning on 2 years. I think in the first year I should be able to get to 130. But, it will probably take me the next year or 6 months to get to the 115 I would really like to be. That is okay. I haven't ever been able to maintain this type of weight loss, so it is fantastic and totally worth every penny. Don't forget to drink lots of water between meals. And if you haven't given up pop yet, do it now! Crystal light is also great to drink. I love the raspberry lemonade.

Actually, since you mention it. I am right where you are as far as TOM and I have been eating a lot! Not pre-band a lot, but the pass three weeks since my third fill a lot. I had oatmeal for breakfast with a teaspoon of flax seed for added protein a hamburger patty (about 4 oz) for lunch with cheese on top and some mushrooms ( I had been craving this for 2 days) then I've grabbed about 3 handfuls of chips that I bought for the kids. And it is only 4 o'clock. But, we are going bowling so that will get me away from the kitchen. I thought things would be really tight because I should be bloating right about now, but I'm still losing weight, although much slower, down from 162.5 to 162.2 in the last two days, so maybe I'm not retaining water this month? Anyway, I should never buy those chips for the kids. My doctor assured me the kids didn't need them any more than me, but I bought them anyway cause I'm dumb. If you can't get the elliptical out, put on some music and vacuum while listening to music, that always makes me dance. I'm glad its better. For me, day 3 was the worst. I chewed lots of gum and stayed REALLY busy, of course it was summer and easier to be busy, but maybe you can find something exciting to do. After that, I think my stomach got smaller and I didn't feel as hungry.

Hey Audree, How is your second day of pre-op going? Have you made it out of the house to move? Or used the elliptical trainer?

Audree, Yes, the metimucial is pills. they are kind of hard to get down, at least for me, but they did seem to help on the pre-op. try to keep your mind off of food, and if you drink hot tea or broth it has very little calories but will help to make you feel full. Also, keep your mind on the prize. I spent the entire two weeks worried that if I didn't make that 5% they would turn me down for surgery. I still don't know that they wouldn't cause I made the 10 lbs loss. Don't forget to move! good luck

Audree, Can you get out of the house? Go shopping at the mall, go for a long walk somewhere and drink a bottle of water while your out. Staying at home makes the kichen too close. Did you get some of the metamuci recommended by Dr. Ortiz's office. Take 2 and drink a bunch of water. The fiber helps to fill you up.

Our cell phones with Verizon did work in TJ, but we were charged for roaming and out of country calls, so beware, don't think the calls are free. Others have said that their phones were picked up by a cell tower in San Diego and they didn't have to pay extra, so it just depends on your company. We called ahead and verizon had us download a program to our phones so we could place international calls, probably what it did was updated our GPS so we couldn't get the calls for free. Make sure you join a gym and work out after 6 weeks, before that go for long walks, We tried for 3 miles each and every day. Both my hubby and I recovered quickly. Were teachers and were on summer break, so didn't have to go back to work, but I think I could have. I felt great. Matter of fact, we were bored in TJ (Not big shoppers) and had planned on staying 4 days (cause we both had surgery at the same time we got extra days) but after the second day we couldn't think of anything to keep busy with. I spent as much time catching rays at the pool as was physically possible. Anyway, we went to San Diego and got a hotel for 2 nights, til our flight left. We went to the zoo the first day, that had a lot of hills to climb and we were pretty tired by the end of the day. We rode the bus around to make sure we had seen everything before we left. The next day, we went to SeaWorld. We were there from 9-5 and saw EVERY show. We were not hungry at all, but the food smelled really good. We drank a lot of Water and ate slushies to keep hydrated as it was summer and very hot. I was not even hungry for at least a week after my surgery. About the time I got hungry, I was able to start on full liquid and then I did cheat a few times and eat before I was supposed to but only small amounts. Hubby tends to be more of a cheater than me. As far as doing Weigh Watchers, I suppose it wouldn't hurt, but remember, this is the ultimate change in lifestyle. You need to learn what works for you. And, no filling up on salad and veggies like most of these diets try to get you to do. Protien comes first. Many times, after I've eaten my Protein, I have no room for anything else. All this being said, if that is what you want to do, do for it. After surgery I quickly lost like 15 lbs. By the time I went to get my first fill, I had gained back 7 or so, but as soon as I got my fill, like within 3 days, that weight was gone again. Remember, you will be healing from major surgery, even though you may feel great, your body NEEDS calories to heal. Do NOT focus on weight loss the first 6 weeks, I know, I know you got the surgery to lose weight and you want it off right now. So do I. However, I am only 41. I have been overweight since I was 6 months old. I can wait another few months to lose weight and be healthy. So can you, right! Yeah, we want to look great, and that is a huge bonus. But, to be healthy is much better. I can't even tell you how great it feels to go skiing for 7 hours and still have energy when I'm done. To work all day and come home and think, okay, now what do I want to do? Another huge benefit, is when I sleep, I sleep. I don't wake up tired and go to bed tired and drag myself around all day. Okay, I'll stop preaching. This is a lot, l know. I just worry that you might think your a failure if you aren't at goal weight in 6 months. My hubby is going through a hard time right now cause he isn't losing weight, it is very frustrating for him and me.