cleetus77532

Congrats to you all! I was banded in August 2010 and feel like I've been on track since the surgery. I've pretty much stuck to the low carb/high protein/high fiber diet with tons & tons of cardio in the beginning. I added weight training/core training after the first 75lbs came off. Since then, I've been going to the gym twice a day during the work week. One hour cardio/core before work and 1hr strength training during my lunch. I looked at it as though it was a life or death situation for me. I chose life and will not let anything get in the way of my workouts or diet. Before the band, "I" was my biggest problem with all the excuses. Since I've lost over 100lbs, I reward myself now and then with whatever I want to eat or drink for a day, within moderation. My only words of wisdom are:
1. Don't look at it as thought it's the end of your "favorite foods" life. Set small attainable goals, then reward yourself. Me for instance, after every 25lbs, I've eaten whatever I want to for a day. Then I get back on track for the next reward.
2. The band doesn't make you lose weight; you make you lose weight; the band is just a tool to make your job of losing weight easier.
3. IMHO, you can't do it with the change in your diet alone. You have to tackle this like it is the fight of your life and make time for gym time. Whether it is at an actual gym, in your basement, garage or back yard, make time for cardio of some type. STICK TO YOUR FAT BURNING RANGE, NOT YOUR TARGET HEART RATE. Just because you're barely sweating and not out of breath doesn't mean you're not making progress.
4. Add strength training/weight lifting. The more lean muscle you add, the more fuel (calories) you burn.
5. Remember, you didn't get the way you are over night! It took time to put it all on, it'll take time to take it all off....
6. Above all else, If you fudge before your first attainable goal/reward, or at any time during your journey, don't look at it as a failure, you're going to make mistakes. When you make them, just learn from them and get back on track. And, whatever you do, don't fall back into your old excuses of, "Well, I ate a pint of ice cream yesterday, so my week is shot, I'll just eat this doughnut cause I already messed up. I'll get back on track when I go back to work."
When I decided to get the band, I also decided to stop making excuses and started taking my health seriously. Next to my wife and kids, it has been one of the best things I could have done for myself or for them!!!!

Congrats to you all! I was banded in August 2010 and feel like I've been on track since the surgery. I've pretty much stuck to the low carb/high protein/high fiber diet with tons & tons of cardio in the beginning. I added weight training/core training after the first 75lbs came off. Since then, I've been going to the gym twice a day during the work week. One hour cardio/core before work and 1hr strength training during my lunch. I looked at it as though it was a life or death situation for me. I chose life and will not let anything get in the way of my workouts or diet. Before the band, "I" was my biggest problem with all the excuses. Since I've lost over 100lbs, I reward myself now and then with whatever I want to eat or drink for a day, within moderation. My only words of wisdom are:
1. Don't look at it as thought it's the end of your "favorite foods" life. Set small attainable goals, then reward yourself. Me for instance, after every 25lbs, I've eaten whatever I want to for a day. Then I get back on track for the next reward.
2. The band doesn't make you lose weight; you make you lose weight; the band is just a tool to make your job of losing weight easier.
3. IMHO, you can't do it with the change in your diet alone. You have to tackle this like it is the fight of your life and make time for gym time. Whether it is at an actual gym, in your basement, garage or back yard, make time for cardio of some type. STICK TO YOUR FAT BURNING RANGE, NOT YOUR TARGET HEART RATE. Just because you're barely sweating and not out of breath doesn't mean you're not making progress.
4. Add strength training/weight lifting. The more lean muscle you add, the more fuel (calories) you burn.
5. Remember, you didn't get the way you are over night! It took time to put it all on, it'll take time to take it all off....
6. Above all else, If you fudge before your first attainable goal/reward, or at any time during your journey, don't look at it as a failure, you're going to make mistakes. When you make them, just learn from them and get back on track. And, whatever you do, don't fall back into your old excuses of, "Well, I ate a pint of ice cream yesterday, so my week is shot, I'll just eat this doughnut cause I already messed up. I'll get back on track when I go back to work."
When I decided to get the band, I also decided to stop making excuses and started taking my health seriously. Next to my wife and kids, it has been one of the best things I could have done for myself or for them!!!!