Megg40

WOO HOO!!!!! YOU ROCK!!!

When I lost 50 I was extatic...so do something really good for your accomplishment it is a huge one....

I do have goals but not too small of ones....

I want to lose 38 more pounds by 10/28/10 because the 30th of October is my stepsons wedding. They have not seen me since before I got banded, If I lose the 38 pounds I will be down 100 pounds!! They told me that I would need a name tag cause no one will know who I am....lol. I know now that the weight loss is starting to slow down for me...I was stuck at 289 for two weeks, til today....I am following the rules, just need to change things up a bit. I go for my second fill on the 25th....

I hope you are feeling on top of the world...you deserve this awesome goal....

It's not easy but it sure does feel great!!!

Take Good Care and again CONGRATS!!!!!

Meg

Hey....

I'm here....and I agree!!

Meg

wow...this is so funny...not ha ha but I used to suffer from Migraines a lot and very often. usually 1-2 a month. I haven't had one in a year or so and I had one yesterday....I still have some of the residual pain today....I don't know what triggered it, probably hormones and/or stress....I am hoping this does not become more frequent again....

I have taken Imatrex in the past and it worked so if this becomes a problem, I will ask my medical doctor for a prescription for something....

Hope you are all well,

Meg

Hi....

I, too, have PMDD. I have found that my cycles get WORSE since losing some weight....I just finished my cycle 2 days ago and now I'm feeling a bit down today...I also am fighting the same 3 pounds for 1.5 weeks....It is so frustrating....

I take zoloft, and find it does help with the regular depression I have, but not the PMDD symptoms....

I am 40 years old, have no kids and will not have any....give me a hysterectomy now please...:waytogo:

Also, since being banded my periods are alot heavier...

Meg

WAY TO GO THOSE NOW IN TWODERVILLE!!!!

So proud of us all.....!!

Take Care ,

Meg

Thats a good amount of Fluid in your band....but I found out that the band can be fickle...One day it seems tighter, one day it seems more loose. as long as I can get anything down that I choose to eat then I know I'm not too tight....

As far as what I eat each day....in the mornings I'm usually pretty tight but as soon as I wake up, have weighed and gone to the bathroom, I drink a bottle of Water. I take my Vitamins and Calcium supplement at this time. After the Water I have a mocca latte..its really a Protein coffee drink that I purchase from bariatriceating.com....so thats between 7-9 am. By eleven I usually am ready to eat....I eat a greek yogurt or a scrambled egg with some cheese on it.....then about 2-3 I have a Protein shake with skim milk....and possibly a Protein Bar...I buy the Atkins low carb ones they are so good...

By the time dinner rolls around anytime between 5-7 I have tuna salad or chicken salad, and a serving of green Beans or asparagus....Also, some days maybe 3 times a week I have 8 ozs of low sodium V8 juice....I take a pwdered Fiber supplement and put it in my afternoon Protein Shake and mix it up in my magic bullet....I also drink 5-7 bottles of water a day. I stay away from crystal light and such...I try to drink mostly pure water...I also may have a glass of diet lipton green tea....

I would really like to add in a serving of fruit a day, but most of it is not low carb friendly....I'm thinking of adding some fresh blueberries to my Protein shakes as well....

If I REALLY want to induldge in something I will have a sugar free Jello pudding..I love the bannana fudge ones and I limit that to 2 times a week...

When I do my normal routine of swimming I burn anywhere from 500 -700 calories a day....I consume about 600-800...but I really WORK OUT at the pool. I have found that treading water burns MORE calories than laps or anything else you can do in the water....but I also do laps and I "water jog"....I try to get to my complexes pool early, so I can get my exercise in before the pool gets crowded.

I am now, just this week, starting to do stregnth training with a resistance band....

I am also considering meeting with a personal trainer to get a stregnth training workout and MAYBE join a fitness club...

I think I will want to drop 15 - 20 more pounds before I join anywhere....so far the swimming is working and if I vary my legenth of time and intensity in the pool maybe it will still work for a bit longer.....

As far as your Fluid in your band....only YOU will know if you have restriction or not....I eat slow and after every bite I pause and ask myself if I am satisfied....??? If I am I quit eating. I think before I had surgery and I would just stuff myself I had the mentality that I will not eat again....Now, when I am satisfied, I have to mentally tell myself that this is NOT my last meal....and that I will eat again, when I am hungry. My band has taught me how to eat slow because after my first and only fill, I wasn't eating slow enough and I would vomit. I did this like 3 times in a week and it finally hit me to slow it down....also my band will tell me when it doesnt like something....my partner made greasy french fries one night and I just desperately had to have a few but my band said no...and I vomited it all up....so I can not tolerate grease anymore which is a very good thing for me and my heart.....If you're wondering if you have restriction or not, I would just suggest eating according to your surgeons guidelines and pause after every bite and ask yourself if you are satisfied....if you're like me and feel that it is "your last meal"...remind yourself that you will eat again and soon....it helps me with my head issues....

This is all a learning process and it's not easy, but it is doable and very worth it....

Take Care,

Meg

Rose...

7 cc's is a lot....Do you have the 10 or 14 cc band??

I have a 10 cc band and go in on the 25th for another fill. I was thinking a week ago, that I probably would NOT need a t fill at that time, but now I am realizing I probably will need one. I lost 20 pounds after my first fill, within a month's time....I know that a lot of people would say that that amount is to much or that I'm starving myself or whatever....But my surgeon and I talked about it and she said she was fine with the rapid loss, and even though i had zero appetite, to make sure I get in all my Protein, stay hydrated and consume at minimum 600-800 calories a day...

It was actually funny her comment to me... ( my surgeon )

I said..." Am I losing too much weight too fast?"....she looked at me and in a humorous way said ..." Didn't you come to me to lose weight?"....

I was like ....a...DUH...lol But then we had that conversation.

I will also admit that I am taking the band seriously...I did not go through all the preperations, pre op diet, depression, etc to not change my whole life around...

I would say that 90% of the time I am a "hardcore" bandster...I follow the rules, I work my butt off, and I am learning to pay attention to all the things my body needs....

By no means am I perfect at this all the time....but I am so determined to stop being so freakin miserable....I've had enough of that. I have had enough of being fat, being morbidly obese and not having a life....

I am hoping to lose 40 more pounds by the end of October. That would put me at the 100 pounds lost mark and its my step son's wedding on the 30th of Oct.

Sometimes, like now... today, I fight with the same 2 -3 pounds. Im down 3 then up 2 then down 1 and on and on....

I know it's just Water fluctuation ....I do take my measurements 1-2 times a month.....

I think whatever you put into the band you will get that back...However hard you work at it, your level of commitment, you will see the results you want....

Losing 1-2 pounds a week is awesome...ANY LOSS is awesome...I know that I will probably slow down but I am not going to slack off. I am starting to kick my workouts up higher because my body may get used to the workouts I do regularly and then "expect" it.

More than anything it is the Non scale Victories I love....

Dropping sizes, having more energy, having a better outlook on life, becoming more outgoing in social situations, going places and walking without much pain...appreciating the fact that I woke up today....

This is a journey and I am loving the things I am getting back into my life....I'm actually loving life these days.....

I can't thank the spirits of the universe, and my surgeon enough.

I am so darn grateful....

Take Care,

Meg

Hi Rose...

I was banded on 03/24/10 and my start weight was 350... Less than 3 months later I have lost 61 pounds. I have followed my surgeons instructions, done a lot of swimming for exercise and am learning to eat ONLY when I am truly hungry....

6 weeks post op, on 05/04/10 I had my first fill of 4.4 cc's. I have had really great restriction and I had actually lost my appetite for about 2 weeks....( Imagine a food addict forgetting that she NEEDS to eat.... amazing!!) I would eat but I had to remind myself...anyway ...

I think that you CAN lose however much you want. The heavier you are the quicker it comes off in the beginning...

Remember that every one is different, and a lot of surgeons are different....this has just been my experience so far...

Good Luck....

Meg:thumbup:

Hi all...

I have a question...When you exercise on a regular basis like 5 times a week, do you find you lose your appetite over all??

Like sometimes when i come in from exercising, I am hungry and eat a little but since I've started exercising regularly my appetite is not as much of an issue anymore...In fact, it's pretty much gone. I have to remind myself to at least get in 600- 800 calories a day, ( per my surgeon ) but she also said, if you're not hungry, don't eat. Is this exercise related or because I have some restriction or both???

I hope this made sense....

Thanks,

Meg

I admit it...I am a scale whore.

I weigh 3 times a day....first in morning before anything goes in and after liquid has come out....

Second in the mid afternoon, usually after exercise

Third, before bed. If I know what my weight is at night, I can usually estimate what my weight will be the next day....

If in the morning it says 291, and at night it says 292....then I know I will be a t 290 the next morning...

Meg

That is so awesome!!! Congrats and way to go....

I entered TWOderville a week ago and thinking ONEderland is maybe a year away....I can't wait!!

HUGS and KEEP UP THE AWESOME WORK!!!!:thumbup:

Meg

SWIMMING!!!!!:Dancing_biggrin::thumbup:

Meg

AWESOME!!!!

CONGRATS.....The tool does work.....

Meg:thumbup::biggrin::thumbup::wink2:

CONGRATS!!!!

I, too, have less than 100 to go.....it feels so freakin awesome...

Meg:thumbup::cursing::w00t::cool::scared2::thumbup:

Hi all....I have heard that this sometimes happens but it's a first for me.

Gonna give some background info here. Banded 3/24/10 First fill 5/4/10 and got 4.4ccs in a 10 cc band.

Last 2 weeks have really had not much of an appetite and Surgeons office said that's ok, just keep hydrated and get Protein in which I have been doing faithfully.

Last night, I was REALLY hungry so me and my partner went out for dinner. I ate till I was a bit over full but did not vomit or PB or anything. It all went down fine....

This morning I have some serious restriction. The thought of one bite of food makes me feel awful....I have had Water and a Protein Drink coffee, which is my normal routine. I never am hungry til later in the morning...

I am also having a bit of pain....??? The pain is all around my upper rib cage in the front and the back. I would describe the pain as if I wore a bra and the band size was way too small...I know it's not my heart....maybe my lungs? or just the muscles all around my rib cage....???

I have read posts about people being tight in the morning and I usually am just a bit but this feels really tight....

Any thoughts or suggestions anyone???

Thanks,

Meg

I was ans still am a smoker. My surgeon was well aware that I smoked. All she asked was for me to be smoke free for 12 hours before surgery and I did it. Surgeon, and Primary Doc both agreed that If I quit while getting banded and making lifestyle changes I would not do as well. I am 2 months out from being banded and I have made my mind up to quit smoking when I am 6 months post op. I know I need to do it and I want to...I just needed some time between the two.

I do have to admit that my recovery from surgery was rough. The first 5 days after being banded I was miserable....I think my recovery took longer because I am a smoker. If you can quit, please do so....

Meg

Exercising is a big part of weight loss, even with the band. I have heard a few success stories of people who lost without exercise but I dont want that to be me....I got this band to be healthy, to have a normal life, one that I can 100% participate in and exercise makes me feel really good about myself and my progress. Before surgery, I was in lots of pain from Degenerative Joint Disease in my knees. To walk around my apartment caused pain and I vary rarely left the house. I wouldn't even go to wal mart because of the pain I was in everyday.

Since being banded, or actually before banding I made a commitment to myself to do whatever my surgeon told me.....I have been 90% compliant...I am not perfect. But exercise is very important to me. Because of my weight ( 350 ) at start of journey and my knees, I found that swimming was really good for my body. I have 2 pools in my apartment complex. I go minimum of 5 days a week and do exercises for 40-60 minutes broken into 20 minute segments. I found that in 60 minutes of treading Water, I burn about 600 calories. Not too bad:smile:...

What I specifically do in the water is i go to about the 4 foot deep section and I jog...I jog in place and move my arms back and forth while contracting my stomach muscles. Then I put may arms on the wall, out of the water and spread my legs in and out while contracting stomach muscles and squeezing my butt tight. Then I tread water and add in spurts of like I'm riding a gazelle. Like I'm doing scizzor cuts with my legs...I do this in deeper water so i don't touch. I do that in 4 spouts and count a total of 60 reps each time and tat gets my heart going good. Then is slow it down a bit and tread water,but kinda hard.

In my mind I tell myslef that I'm burning fat, becoming healthier, and that I love myself....these self talks really motivate me and make me work harder.....

I have lost 51 pounds and today is my 2 month band anniversary.....i am quite proud!!:tongue2:

I have decided that in 20 pounds, when I get to 280, I am going to join a gym. Possibly curves, or something else but I deserve a healthy body and heart.

I actually haven't swam in a few days as Friday I had oral surgery:thumbdown: and I've been in some pain....my weight has stalled but I haven't gained!!! I can't wait to get back in the pool.....

HUGS to all of you,

Meg

Thanks all for the kind words of encouragement and support...Someone asked how I did it....I follow my surgeons diet guidelines, High Protein, low carb and I swim at least 5 days a week for 40-60 minutes a day.... I break it down into 2 or 3 20 minute segments. I found out that by treading Water you burn more calories than doing laps and such....So I tread water and do water jogging.... If I do any walking, I usually go to Walmart or grocery....as its air conditioned and I am in Florida....

Take care all,

Meg

WAY TO GO!!!! I BET THAT FEELS WONDERFUL....

ENJOY YOUR MILESTONE...

MEG:thumbup::thumbup:

Thanks everyone for the wonderful comments...:thumbup: I think on this forum its just as important to post about or successes as well as our setbacks....I think it's very important for the "newbies" to see the positive and not so positive sides of this surgery and journey....I feel on top of the world even though I had oral surgery today...lol

Take good care all,

HUGS,

Meg

Well, in exactly 2 months and 11 days I have reached my first goal. I am out of the 300's and now in the 200's.....I am down a total of 51 pounds!!! I really can't believe it but I have worked hard for it!!! I am so excited and feeling very proud of myself...This band I have is a gift and its a tool. Just goes to show that if you use your tool, it will work for you....

Hope all of you are well....

HUGS,

Meg:thumbup::thumbup::cursing:

Today it happened!! I started pre op diet on 3/10/10 had surgery 3/24/10 and today 5/18/10 I HAVE LOST 50 POUNDS!!!!

I am so excited and feel very proud of myself....This has not been easy, and I am working for every pound I lose but I can't believe that in 2 months time I am 1/3 of the way to my goal weight!!!

50 pounds gone....that's 10, 5 pound bags of sugar....

That is a lot of weight to be off my body....I have 101 pounds to go and I am now 100% sure I will reach that goal....

My next major goal is to lose 50 pounds by the end of October as my step son is getting married....but I'm gonna aim for smaller goals like 10 pounds by July 4th....

I am gonna do some shopping tomorrow for a few NEEDED items....( clothing )

Hope all of you know that it can be done and boy I feel on top of the world....:thumbup:

I am so grateful to the people that helped me get this far...

My self, My surgeon and the love and support of family and friends....

Life is awesome today!!!

Meg

Thanks so much, Betsy.....

I have added in some almonds and keep eating and exercising...

I am noticing now that my restriction isn't lasting quite as long....I have a month before next fill. I am doing well and down 2 more pounds. I am 2 pounds away from first goal of being in twoderville!!!! I am 1 pound away from a loss of 50 pounds!!! I am hoping to reach my first goal, 299, this week.

I went to get a new pair of shorts and 2 new t shirts last night and I was frustrated that I couldn't find anything...I was at Wal Mart cause I just need a few things to get me by... I did get those things and tried them on....I am down 4 sizes and really could have gotten the shorts in 1 size smaller...The shirts fit. I am done buying clothes that are too big and hiding in them. I dont have a great figure yet but it is looking so much better so I will wear clothing that is true to size....My Mom saw me today in my new clothes and she was shocked. It feels so good when people can see a difference. I'm kinda seeing it too....

Take Care,

Meg:biggrin:

I was allowed to submerge at my 2 week post op visit.....bath swim whatever...I am in love with swimming now...

Meg

Thanks you guys for the responses and encouragement. I did end up losing one pound today and I was so happy for that one pound. I was also wondering how long your body holds onto Water after your cycle is over. Mine was over this past Monday so only 4 days ago...??? Betsy, you always bring such good information to these boards and I'm in the learning phase of all of this.

To answer your question about my meals....this is a usual day.

1 bottle of Water and a Protein drink coffee from Believe 7-9 am

11 am 1 package of low carb high Protein oatmeal from my Dr's office ( they have their own foods and Protein shake powders) made with water

3pm a high protein low carb shake made with water

7pm a package of starkist albacore tuna salad and 5-6 spears of asparagus.

Water 5-7 bottles a day and maybe 2 packages of crystal light.

If I'm really really hungry before bed, I may have an Atkins high protein, low carb Protein Bar like choc and Peanut Butter...

That is usually my meals....I know not the most creative things to eat but I do have really good restriction from first fill and hoping it lasts another 5 weeks til next appointment.

I take my Vitamins and Calcium supplement, a stool softener and benefiber in my shake.

I have thought about almonds....like some just during mid day or as a night time snack. I would like to have an egg for Breakfast and a turkey sausage patty, but I'm concerned about the fat and cholesterol as I take meds for cholesterol and triglycerides.

I really think keeping my carbs under 30 grams works for me so I want to stay low carb, low fat b ut increase my calories a bit but dont know what to eat except adding the almonds in....

Like I said I am still learning about the band and my body. For example, last nights dinner, the tuna and asparagus I ate WAY TOO FAST and it came back up....I wasn't paying attention to my eating and i just shoveled it all in my mouth in 3-4 minutes....band said NO!!! and I tossed it back up....so then i just had a shake for dinner....

I also know that with the band weight loss is between 1-2 pounds a week. I was kinda hoping to be an exception since I have lost so much already and pretty quickly. I can handle 1-2 pounds a week to lose....as long as I am losing. I have also thought about the muscle factor. I think swimming is both cardio and stregnth together so maybe I am adding in some muscle....I just want to lose the fat....but more than that I want a healthy, good functioning body!!

If anyone can give me any clues about what to add to my low carb, low fat, but more calorie diet i would appreciate it...

Thanks yall,

Meg