SVM10

Well, This is very interesting. I use LIVESTRONG.COM - Health, Fitness, Lifestyle | LIVESTRONG.COM daily and I get pretty accurate results from my input from the machines and my calories I eat. I always put my weight and age in the machines and remember to input the displayed calories burned into livestrong.com when I get home. I clearly see when I burn more calories than I ate and those are the days I lose and when its pretty even I maintain and when I eat more calories than I burn I gain. It must be different for different people. My input from the gym machines and my weight lifting is rarely off.

Momto3redheads, thanks for the words of encouragement. I get my next fill, next Thursday, I hope it will be the sweet spot. I needed to hear that. Thanks again.

I always put my weight and age in the elliptical and treadmill to get a more accurate reading on the calories burned.

I was doing the treadmill at home about 5-6 days a week. I liked that okay but needed more. I joined a gym about 2 months ago and now do elliptical, treadmill, and lift weights 5-6 days a week. That 1 or 2 days I don't go to the gym, I usually at least do the treadmill at home for an hour. My body is transforming, but I'm afraid the gym may not do all I need (I'm going to do my best), but I don't have money for plastic surgery.

I chose 8 because I was in a lot of pain when I woke up from surgery. The first 3 days were quite painful for me. The gas pain was horrible. After the 3rd day it got better and better with each passing day. I used 3/4 of my bottle of liquid Lortab. I would definitely do it again, in a heartbeat.

Thanks, I can't wait to try it.:thumbup:

Can you give me the Wendy's chili recipe or give me the link to find it? That would be really awesome.

I'm in for 20 lbs. by Christmas!

Sheer, I hope things get better for you. I also have 4 fills and very little restriction. My restriction was better at 3 fills than now at 4 fills so, I go 2 weeks from today for my 5th fill and I requested to have it checked for leaks because it doesn't seem right that I had more restriction at the 3rd fill and hardly any after the 4th fill. I feel your pain.

No, the Wendy's chili recipe, but thanks.

Yes, I wish I could have done it sooner, much sooner. Better late than ever, though. My state (state employee) just decided to try insuring WLS. So glad they did, I could not have paid for all of it on my own, the co-pay was stiff enough.

I also use www.livestrong.com's my plate every day. I track my food and calories burned via exercise. It is great and keeps me accountable.

Oldoneyoungagain and Cynpatt, both of you are doing really well. I envy both of you in having reached restriction. I thought my last fill would be it, but it was just the opposite. I feel hungrier since the fill than before. That has never happened to me before. Congrats to you both.:wub:

Please share the chili recipe or give me the link to find it. However, that may make it way too convenient, but I will have to exercise more self-control. Put my skills to good use.

Okay, this is weird, I love Wendy's chili (small) now. I rarely ate it before being banded, but I could eat it everyday now. It is 190 calories and like 14g of protein. I also eat a lot more skinless chicken breasts.

It has been a few weeks since anyone has checked in. How are things going for everybody? My weight loss is slow and my restriction is not as good as it was last month before my last fill. I hope my fellow March Bandsters are doing well. I look forward to hearing from you all.

I'm going to try for 5.5 lbs.

Right there with you, I am so ready. I hope the 5th fill on 9/30 will be it for me, too. 4th fill had no effect at all. Good luck!!!

I didn't make my goal again. A couple pounds shy of goal two times straight. The third time has to be the charm. Bring on the next challenge.

I have definitely read them and am thankful for all the input. I really wanted to know if that was common and how I should handle it. To me, it should be my right to know what's in my band. I am not at restriction and have a little way to go to get there. However, I do want to know where I stand. As time goes on, it may not be important to me, but it is right now. Thanks to all of you that responded.

I got banded 3/15/10 at age 39 (turned 40 this summer) because I have struggled with my weight since the 3rd grade. My metabolism was tanking and my weight increasing. I went to a WL seminar about 10 years ago and a couple others during those 10 years. Finally, my insurance company BCBS of MS decided to do a pilot starting this year and for the next 2 years. They are choosing 100 state employees' applications over the 3 year period for WLS. Thank God, I was in the first 100. So, they will track our progress and if we do well, they will open it up to everyone that qualifies for it (after the 3 yr. pilot). So, I am doing it for myself and hoping that we do well so others in our state get to do it as well:biggrin:.

I'm in for 20 lbs. by Christmas!

You look great. I was like you and initially did not want to take pictures. I have taken a few along the way and am keeping them for myself right now to remind myself that I have made progress. I am also halfway to my goal. 44.5 down and 36.5 to go. Let's keep each other motivated.

I have been getting fills every 6 weeks. However, on my last visit on 8/30/10, I was told that my insurance company is allowing every 4 weeks now. This is really good because my deductible starts over Jan. 1, 2011, and I will have to pay full price ($150) for them until I meet my deductible again. I would rather pay 20% for a couple more fills than full price. I am hoping I will get to restriction by the end of the year. I really think I will be there within a couple more fills.

I have the same problem at my doctor's office. I also live an hour and a half away from my doctor's office. I actually vented about it on the Labor Day Challenge board (didn't know this was here). I really don't know what's in my band. They seem to be guesstimating. I got the first 3 fills free with the surgery, but the rest are $150 each, of which insurance pays 80% and I pay 20%. My insurance also paid 80% for my surgery and I paid 20%. Why is it such a big deal about telling us what's in our bands? We deserve to know.