LapNYC

I never complain in the winter and am always so miserable and hot all summer long. When you lose dramatic amounts of weight, does this change? I hate to be the sweaty fat chick! Is it as simple as having more or less padding/insulation or is there more at play?

I lift weights and take spinning classes. I'd add some walking too, but I hate when it's hot. This definitely isn't my season!

What a great feeling. Congratulations!

I've also been pretty quiet about the band and feel a little bad about it too. On the other hand, I don't feel like talking about it (or my weight in general) all day and it's none of anyone's business. The downside is that everyone is asking if I'm ok. I don't think I'd be dropping off at nursery school in my gym clothes every day if I were on my way to chemo, but this is the explanation some people have come up with. It's funny, I have a friend who lost a ton of weight after having her daughter and it suddenly occurred to me that she might have a band, given a couple things I've noticed over time. This revelation, true or not, didn't make me upset with her, even though her "willpower" did make me feel like a big loser at the time. I can understand not wanting to tell me, so I'm guessing that your friends would understand too. We did IVF to have our kids and I was totally hush hush about it for several years. Now I'm the IVF poster child. Something about being after the fact made me totally relax and open up about it. So I'm thinking the band might work the same way. Once this phase is long in the past maybe you will feel like talking about it. Or maybe not! The good thing is, it's totally up to you.

For me it's red wine in the winter and margaritas in the summer. Cheers!

Smoking is obviously not good (I quit about 5 years ago and still miss it) but if you're otherwise in good health I'm guessing they'll go ahead with the surgery. I have an Argentinian friend who was banded here and she (and several of her banded friends) smoke like maniacs. That said, of course you should try everything to quit. Exercise is a key component of band success and obviously that's harder for smokers. Don't beat yourself up, but don't give up either. I forget who said it. James Taylor? Something about quitting smoking being harder than quitting heroine. I believe it. It's rough! But some day it will be a distant memory, along with the fat. In the interim, smoke one for me!

I'm not really eating any carbs at all. I just know that I can (kind of) if I chew properly. Interesting about the Protein though. It is possible that I'm not getting enough. Would that slow weight loss? On most days I'll have one greek yogurt, fish for dinner and one Protein Shake. Is that enough? I'm so hesitant to journal. I know I'm eating well and am just so happy to get away from thinking about food all the time. I do have a ton of questions about journaling though. I'll post elsewhere. Also, with the BodyBug, do you wear a heart rate monitor? A pedometer? How does it work?! Thanks for all of your advice.

I can eat anything (bread included--although I don't) if I chew well enough. I'm rarely that hungry and have been careful to eat the right things. Sounds good, right? Except that I'm not losing weight anymore. I'm tempted to get a tiny fill just to force me to do a couple days of liquids. I really like being able to eat in public (I've never PB'd or thrown up) and drink water without having to take baby sips. For some reason this doesn't feel like a regular old plateau. It feels like my body is used to this and is happy to sit at 230 pounds. But I'm not! Any suggestions? I already lift weights and take about three spinning classes a week. I guess I could walk to pick up my kids from school...

I lift weights and take spinning classes...with my fat ass in the back row. I'm glad you're happy with your home solution. For whatever reason, I need to be out in the big, bad world to feel motivated. GL!

I figure that while I'm going down this self improvement path, I might as well address these pesky veins as well. They're not the worst I've seen, and I don't plan on showing a lotta leg ever (because my legs will NEVER be great), but if I could de-vein myself without a lot of trouble I'd definitely do it. How long is recovery? Is it something to avoid doing during the summer? Do they look bad for a while? Does insurance cover this? Thx!

I always find cookout-esque foods to be the most difficult. I'm fine at almost any kind of restaurant, but have found myself at a friend's barbecue with only hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken and corn to work with. Hopefully at yours there will be some soft stuff but if not, there's always the "just got over the stomach flu" thing I've had to go with a couple times in the early going. Best of luck!

I tried Atkins a million times without the band with only limited success. The band makes it easy to avoid the "bad" cards because those are the foods that tend to get stuck anyway. Bandster hell is frustrating but we've all been though it. Do the best you can, exercise, and wait for the fills to make this way easier on you.

I lift weights and take spinning classes (indoor cycling) three times per week. I haven't been wearing a heartrate monitor but when I used to spin years ago, I remember burning around 3 or 400 calories (or more) per hour. I think spinning has the most bang for your buck. Up there with running. I haven't been to the gym since Tuesday and my weight loss has totally stalled. On my scale, going to the gym = weight loss and not going to the gym = big, fat plateaus. Do what you can obviously, but the more the better!

I'm 5'7" and my goal is 159, the tippy top of the "normal" BMI range. I have a lot of muscle hiding under my fat, work out a lot and have looked decent in the past at 170 even. If I hit a number and my face looks wrinkley and horrible and my body looks passable I'll stop in my tracks!

I'm just impressed that you lost weight pregnant and nursing. Those things were my downfall! Looking at your story, the one thing that jumps off the page for me is that the exercise doesn't sound vigorous enough. I'd step that up and see what happens. Good luck!

That must feel great. Congratulations!

That's funny...and all too true!

BetsyB - what would your doctor recommend for inflammation? I've been spinning my ass off (literally) and my left knee is killing me. I've also had several sports (and fatness) related orthopedic injuries over the years for which Advil has been the temporary magic bullet. I'll ask my doctor at my next appointment but you seem to be well educated on all things band. Any thoughts? Thanks!

In my ticker (and in my mind) I have 159 as my goal weight because that would put my BMI in the "normal" range. But I just started thinking about that number. I've been a very unsustainable 140 a couple times (I'm 5'7"), looked pretty decent in high school at 170 (I used to be a big athlete), could take a spinning class without feeling like a horrendously fat chick at 200 (a very in shape 200 though). So I'm not sure what I want. With the band could I conceivable get to 150 and stay there without suffering? Would that be a bad thing for 43 year old skin that's also dealt with having twins? Do I even care about being an actual fully thin person? That's so not ME. Obviously I can assess how I feel at every step along the way, so I'm really just ruminating a bit. But I'm curious... How did others come to this decision?

I too loved my Diet Coke. I felt that it was the ONLY thing that satiated me when I was thirsty. It's been hard, but I haven't taken a sip. No real advice other than that life is hard and you can't always have what you want! It's is indeed a bummer though. I feel your pain!

Rock on! That's great!

Big congratulations to you!

I'm in for 15...which would put me at 215...which is within striking distance of you-know-what!

For me it was a combination of things. I always had that 15 pounds to lose, but was also an athlete which kept things in check. I always (and forever!) loved to eat so there's that. We did IVF to have our kids and that was really the beginning of the end. Then a pregnancy followed by a twin pregnancy and voila! 286 pounds. What's your story??

I was banded on February 1st and definitely know what you're talking about. I could eat a lot if I wanted to and only have that occasional burning sensation to remind me that the band is in place. I'm not hungry between meals so it is working, but if I had time enough to chew a lot I could eat some pretty impressive portions. I've never PB'd or gotten stuck. I have been exercising a good deal but my weight loss has also stalled. I'm just trying to maintain until my next fill. I wish I had some answers for you! I'd just say that you're not fully restricted yet and that some exercise couldn't hurt if you're not already doing some. Best of luck!