Vivinthewoods

@ Missy, I think you are very wise to start planning now how to eat on your trip. Illuminationlady's suggestion of a cooler and protein shakes is a good one. You could also start making a list of healthy foods that you can eat from fast food restaurants, just in case you need to stop, you will be able to make a good choice. You can get nutrition info from most restaurant's websites. Have fun with your vacation planning.

Hi Missy, I think it was 'illuminationlady' who was on a road trip recently. The last time I was on one I was a big girl and packed every nook and cranny of our little car with hidden munchies - just in case I might starve to death on the road:scared2:! I also packed cans of protein drinks, one of which got caught as the automatic roof folded into the trunk and to this day my DH does not know it was my secret food stash that bent the metal on the trunk :thumbup:. We drove from TX to NM, CO, WY, MT, IO, OR and Washington State, and home again:tongue_smilie:. If you ever want a test for a good marriage this is it! We had driven over 6,000 miles in a two-seater car!!!! Luckily DH and I were still speaking to each other when we pulled back into our driveway:wub:

All good wishes to you Tracy You will be trading in your band (for a while) for a bundle of joy!

You have a great attitude about this and that will get you through and help you not to gain. I wish you all the best and hope the insurance comes thru quickly for you. Keep in touch with us and let us know how you are progressing - we care. Hugs.

61 and feeling 31!!!!! My blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure are now all in the normal range and I feel so well. I am walking 3 miles a day on the treadmill at the maximum incline. Although my weight loss seems to have stalled I still would not change a thing - I just wish I had been banded years ago.

Losing has been slow for me, but I decided to looked at my WL a different way. I have loss 21lbs since surgery, so that is an average of 6+ pounds a month, which is right in the middle of where my doc wants me to be, with a 1to 2lbs drop a week. But I do seem to play with that 1 pound all week - lose, gain, lose, gain. I have struggled since my 3rd fill and have taken 3 weeks to drop 2lbs, which I think I have gained back after attending 2 luncheons this week! You have a low BMI, maybe you don't have that much more to lose and what is left to lose is that hard core stuff - you have already lost the stuff that is easy to lose. Keep working at it, we'll get to the finish line soon:rolleyes2:

I was banded by Dr. Felix Spiegel, he is an excellent surgeon with loads of experience. His office staff may be a bit sloppy, but I went for a good doctor and not the staff. I have had no problems at all and just wish I had done this years ago. Dr. Spiegel's Houston Office is near the Galleria. If you need more info just let me know. I wish you all the best.

@ Ara - You are doing good, you have lost, on average, over 8 lbs. a month since your surgery. Also you don't have as much to loose as some, so don't beat yourself up. We have the same amount in our bands and my doc said it should take 2 more fills before I get to my sweet spot. Can you go in for another fill soon? I have not tried the 5 day pouch test, but every time I have a fill my doc puts me back on 3 days of liquids & 3 days of soft foods, so that is almost like the 5 day test. I do loose on it (if I am good and stick to it!). Hugs

I too weigh myself everyday. If I have gained a pound I know to really watch what I eat that day, If the scale is moving down I feel good and know I'm on the right track. I only record my weight once a week - just on Wednesdays, so I keep a weekly progress chart. @ Mrs. Beasley, Your stomach will shrink as you loose weight. You may be able to eat breakfast and lunch without any problems because those meals might be lighter or softer foods and they go down more easily than the meat at dinner time. Chicken and pork can be dry, especially when you have chewed on them for awhile. I find that cutting my meat into small pieces across the grain of the meat helps it to down and also having plenty of gravy or sauces helps too.

Hi Ginny, There is a group of just LapBanders out here in the Woodlands, we are just a group of ladies that get together once a month for coffee and camaraderie. The ladies are at different stages of weight loss, some are at maintenance and I am the newbe in the group. I don't know if that would be any closer for you. I too am a Spiegel patient and have the same problem with the distance to his down town office for support groups - it is just not feasible for me to get there. Where do you have your fills? I go the his Woodlands office.

PJ bottoms - essential for walking after surgery Lip balm - you will be dehydrated after surgery and your lips will be dry. Warm drinks - I found these to be very smoothing after surgery. Tea, S/F hot apple cider, stock cubes in hot water, etc. - just a few of my favorite things! Good luck for the 12th

The Woodlands here. Banded by Dr. Felix Speigel 12/28/09. I have only loss 21lbs since my surgery, but loss 36lbs in the 6 months prior to surgery. I'm originally from England, but became a U.S. citizen last year. Wish y'al the best in your weight loss, y'hear!

Amen to Missy's post. How did you all do over Easter? Did the Easter Bunny sabotage you, hold you down and make you eat chocolates eggs? He did that to me, but some how I managed not to gain anything - curiouser and curiouser! I did not loose either. Karyn - did you get a fill? - just wondering how you did at Easter. Now the Bunny is back in his hole, it is back to sensible eating for me (I hop, I mean hope!) Do you think I have had too much 'Alice in Wonderland'??? Hugs to you all.

I was 60 when I was banded. Neither my insurance or the surgeon required a stress test. I only had to be on a liquid diet for one day before surgery, so it was no big deal. Even at my age my PCP and surgeon thought I was a perfect candidate for WLS and gave me plenty of support. No one mentioned anything about being a higher risk for surgery. My only regret - I wish I had done this years ago! I wish you good luck with your weight loss.

I was weighed this morning at the surgeon's office; I am usually 2 pounds heavier there than at home, which is understandable as at home I weigh myself butt naked, first thing in the morning and at the docs I'm dressed and have had breakfast. This morning I weighed the same on both scales - surprise! I thought I had only lost 4 lbs since my last fill, a month ago, but the doc said it was 6lbs - I'll take his numbers. I had a 1cc fill, giving me a total of 6cc's now. Doc said it should take one or two small fills to get to the sweet spot. I'll see him in another month. After my fill I went shopping, I wanted a new pair of jeans - what did I buy? a pair of Caprie pants. I got another surprise - I had gone down another size,(2 sizes since op) they are a 14!!!!! I have not been in a 14 for years. I guess although I don't think I am loosing that much my body must be changing. BTW - I asked the doc about doing something to work my ab area, he said to take it very easy if I did. If I felt any pulling to stop, as I would be stretching the tubing. He added that, the tummy area will go down eventually and to only do light ab work if I felt a need to.

I too am a slow loser - 18 lbs since being banded and like you I play with that same pound all week. Don't loose hope, it will happen for us, it may just take a few months longer. I have decided to accept a-pound-a-week lost as being OK and try not to get frustrated over it (hard to do I know). I go for my third fill this morning, so just hope to move closer to that elusive sweet spot. Hang in there - your not alone:rolleyes2::thumbup::rolleyes2::rolleyes2:

@ Joy - Good to see you back! Congratulations on your anniversary and your new bike, with spring almost here in TX I want to get my bike out and dust off the cobwebs. Your self-challenge made me get back to logging my food, I had been slipping the last few days. Thanks for getting me on track. I too wait to eat in the mornings - tea, coffee, read newspaper, shower, dress, walk the pooches and then breakfast at 10:00. Sorry to hear about your friend - I wonder why she could not be banded. Hugs

I have tried several food/exercise tracking sites and now use myfitnesspal.com for same reasons mentioned in previous post.

@ chickadee81 - Sorry I have not tried the 'couch to 5K' program. I walk a treadmill every day (well most days). When I started I could only walk for 20 mins, I would be puffed out after that, but I would add 5 mins every few days - it was not long until I was doing an hour and walking 3.5 miles. So, do start easy and work your way up. Good luck with your exercise. @ Tracy - WOW! 70lbs, that is marvelous!!! And you are looking good girl.

ididit35 - 49lbs in 3 months!!! Wonderful, great job.