Dadkins8

I would be confused too if my doctor told me not to exercise. I mean...I watch the "Biggest Loser" (LOL) and they encourage all age groups (ours included) to exercise. I know that I was losing weight faster when I had time to get more exercise in my schedule. I am working very hard to make it a priority. If this is your weight loss doctor ...I might get a second opinion with my family physician about the exercise. Also, I am hopeful that you can find a job that you want soon! Good luck...and keep enjoying those grandchildren...make those memories!!!

Thanks! I did start to up my exercise program today. It makes a person feel better to know that others have experienced the same thing and they are on the other side of it now. I am hopeful to be moving with this weight loss again soon!

Oh...trust me it does get better and you are almost there. I remember on my liguid diet I watched food network to just to be "close" to real food. Strange..huh? I am such an emotional eater. Now...I have turned it into finding great recipes that work for me and my lapband. My first mushy food was mash potatoes. I know it was not full of potein...but I just needed it for my first small soft meal. I knew at that point that eventually I could have "real" food again. I also had chilcken/turkey salad made with the food processor. It grounded it so smooth and fine that a baby could have eaten it. I absolutely enjoyed it and it helped me to get my protein. I know everyone is different and some people may not have been able to do those at the mushy stage. Good luck!

Good luck as you begin this journey. You are off to a good start by having a plan in place. I find that I do so much better when I have my meals planned out.

I am 8 months out. I remember thinking those first few day..."what the *&%# did I do? If I can do this stupid liguid diet, I should have been able to do it on my own!!" However, I realized that the hardest part was not the physical aspect of the diet, but the mental. I had to redefine my relationship with food. I was use to drinking 3 or 4 diet soda's a day. I did not think I could go without it. However, I do not miss it at all. I feel great and have loss 63 lbs. Although, the scale has not move more than a lb this past month. I am going to persevere and keep moving forward. I knew I would eventually hit a plateau. Previously, I would have given up. Not this time....I have been reevaluating what I have been doing and my stress level. I am contributing most of it to stress. I have had to travel 3 out 4 weeks this month. I have done a good job eating when traveling. However, I still retain a lot of fluid. I was also like you. There was NO way I could have gone back to work right away. It took me a week to just feel like I was on my way to recovering. I truly was not ready to go back to work until I was able to eat mushy food. The liquid diet made me feel like crap. As far as pain, I can honestly say that it was very minor for me. I did have annoying gas pains for a few days. LIke everyone else...I walked (small and short ones) to help get rids of those. Would I do it again? Absolutely!!! Just know that it is normal to questions things as you go through this process! Good luck on your weight loss journey!

Wow...at the end of this month it will be 8 months. I continue to learn about my relationship with food. I am such an emotional eater. I have alwayed look to food for comfort when stress, a reward when looking to celebrate, and a reason to socialize. Needless to say, it has taken a lot of time to reteach this old dog new tricks. However, I can say that I am truly learning.

I think most of us are afraid of surgery. However, I can say that it was the best thing that I have ever done. I am now 7 months out and down 60 lbs. I knew this surgery would take longer than gastric. However, it was the right surgery. I have found that I enjoy the time to learn as I go along. It has been a journey for me relearning my relationship with food. However. one that has been well worth it! You are almost there....ready to begin work on the "new" you.

Good luck! It is hard to sometimes face life right in the face. I know I just began my "All About ME" time. I have told my entire family that my exercise will come first before anything else. Before...I would have felt very selfish. However, I know that I must do this to be healthier. Please keep us posted. You can do it!

Wow, you sound so much like me. I just pasted my 7 month mark on Feb. 27th. As I stated in another post...I celebrated by buying a bike. It is so much fun...although I still need to relearn how to turn on the bike. Hehehe...It is great that you are still trekking along on your journey. I know it has been slow at times. However, I am okay with that as long as I keep losing. Good luck and keep up the great job! Keep in touch..it is nice to see someone who was banded around the same time.

I agree! I love to go out to eat and bring home leftovers for another meal or two. It doesn't make eating out feel so expensive when you can get that many meals out of one dish!

Sorry, I had the Unjury shakes and I didn't like them. I actually do the protein shots from Sam's club or Walmart. They have between 32 to 35 g of protein and around 140 calories. I like the orange flavor the best. I had a real hard time with any of the protein shakes or powders. If I had one protein shot a day, I am able to get in the required amount. I noticed that I was having a lot of hair come out everyday. I had to find something to make sure that I had the right amount of protein and this has really worked for me. Good luck on finding what works for you!

I am so excited. I have spent the last few month (like since October) running my four children to all of their winter sports. I am officially done! Don't get me wrong, I love my children dearly. I just was finding it hard to fit in my exercise. So what did I do...I went out and bought myself a bike. I didn't know if I could still even ride a bike. I mean I have not been on a bike since I was about 11 years old. That is the age of my youngest children (twins). I bought a really decent priced steel frame one from Walmart. I wanted it to hold me, and I didn't want to spend a lot of money just in case I couldn't ride it. It is an old retro looking bike that you push back on the pedals to brake. I didn't want the brakes on the handle bars for fear of flying over them. LOL It was so hilarious and so much fun. My children all came out to watch their mom ride up and down the road. They have never seen me on a bike before. They clapped and cheered. Wow....what a sight to be seen. haha They thought it was especially funny to see me stop the bike to turn around. Let just say...I need a little more getting getting use to it and leave it at that. Today we start going to the YMCA. I am going to swim and attend a zumba class. I will ride my bike again tomorrow. I need a variety to keep it interesting and fun for me. You know what they say.. variety is the spice of life. So...it is all about me and my exercise to help keep this weight loss moving forward. To think that a year ago, I could even walk a half a mile without being totally and utterly exhausted for the day.

I go through a lot of different recipes and found recipes to try. I focus on getting my protein first. I usually eat turkey and chicken. I use ground turkey when I make tacos. My kids even like it. I just do not eat the tortilla, I put my lettuce, tomatoes, or salsa on top of the ground turkey for flavor. I also spice up my eggs. I will add different vegetables to add flavor and nutrients. You need to find those things that you enjoy and play around with it. I have totally change the way I eat and the way I cook for my family. I agree with AmyH33 play around with spices and other things to add flavor to your food. When I got my 3rd fill. I threw up a lot at first. However, when I looked at what I was doing...I knew I had to change my habits. I had to truly eat like I had my lapband. I had to take smaller bites, and eat "super" slow. I warn people now that if they are going to eat out with me that I eat slow. As far as eating out, you can still do it. I alway check out the menu before I go. I have a plan in place and also know the nutritional content. That way I make the best choices. IF I am running errands and it is time to eat, I go to Wendy's to get a small chili. It is high in protein and the Calories are right under 200. It is one of the better choices that I can make when I am in a bind. Red Lobster has the bay scallops (not fried). They have a light menu. I am not big on fish so I go for the scallops and grilled shrimp with vegetables. Good luck with your journey! Just know that you are worth it!

I have found the gummy vitamens. I take gummy D, B12, and the One a Day Vitamen. It makes taking my vitamins a much more pleasant experience. I was not getting enough protein. I don't like any of the powders...even those that other stated had no taste. I did find these protein shots at Sam's Club. They have no fat or sugar. They only have 130 calories and 32 grams of protein. I have started to drink them once a day. They only had the fruit punch flavor. I hold my nose while I drink it. Although, my husband tried it and liked the flavor. I found a similar protein shot at Target. They had an orange flavor. I really enjoy that flavor a lot more than the fruit punch. It has really helped me with not losing anymore hair and getting my required protein. Although, they are a little pricey. About 2.00 for one. However, the way I figure it...I use to buy a Large diet soda everyday on my way to work and it would cost about that much so really it should be no big deal. And...I am worth it. LOL Please know that it is normal to struggle before getting your first fill. You will be hungry and may eat things that you shouldn't. I suggest keep coming back on this site for support and it also helps you to stay focused. Set your goals and take time to focus on them daily. Good luck!

I am six months out...and I can remember those first few days when I thought....if I can do this darn liquid diet for 2 weeks, I surely could have loss this weight on my own. What have I done? However, once I got to the mushy food stage, I felt so much better. I am now down 60 lbs. I absolutely love my band. It has been a wonderful tool to help me with my weight loss. Good luck as you continue to lose!

Shonnette, It is time to put yourself first. You are worth it! I have had to tell myself that after running my 4 children to all of their winter sports. I informed them that we are going to forgo the spring sports and go as a family to the Y instead so I can take care of me. They have been very supportive. I think we give so much to everyone else that it is hard to relearn that behavior to take care of ourselves and allow us to endulged in putting ourselves first. The way I figure it...the healthier I am the better it will be for my entire family. I do agree that there is a lot of redefining relationships in the process. We redefine our relationship with food and with others. I think we could all learn a little bit from men....it is true that most do not have a problem putting themselves first. Good luck and much success!

I feel blessed that I have not had that experience yet. My doctor does not use the barium. He just feels for my port and shoots it in with a big needle. It has never hurt. I was surprise as I thought based on what I read from other people before my first fill that I would need to drink stuff and do other things. . So far....so good! Good luck!!!

I felt frustrated at first. I am now about 7 months out and down 60 pounds. I know that you know all of the...eat protein, exercise, portion control...etc. I would request the doctor to be a little aggressive with this fill. I did not get the right amount until my 3rd fill. Let me tell you...big difference. I could eat bread before...not now. I could eat larger bites...not now. I had to truly learn to eat like I had my lapband after that 3rd fill. You have just not reach the point where your band is tight enough. Trust me when I say you will know. At first I thought mine was too tight. However, when I really assessed what I was doing and changed a few habits (smaller bites, eating slower, and smaller amounts), it worked. Just remember that this is a process to get you to the right point. I had to work really hard before I found the "sweet spot" to lose weight because I would truly be hungry. I do think it is normal for some to gain weight until they get to the right restriction. I also suggest keeping a journal. It will really keep you honest with yourself. I am amazed at some of the days in my journal. It helps me to see where I may still need more work (like more exercise). Also, I have days where the scale will go up a pound or 2 only be down 3 in another couple of days. It is usually my lovely hormones at work. Just take it in stride and keep moving ahead. You can do it !

Wow...I can't wait until the day I see 180 lbs. Keep up the great job! Remember...you are worth it! Take time for yourself and know that you have worked too hard to get to where you are to let you weight go back up. I say endulged by making sure you have the right foods around you and the right people who will support you. Also...keep coming to this site for support! You can do it!

It sound like you have the right frame of mind. You do have to work with the band. You have already started to get your mind set in the right dirtection! I am six months out. I have loss close to 60 lbs. I love it! As you go down this road, keep up with your positive way of thinking.

I would make sure that she has some "Mommy" time. Then, I would explain that you also need "me" time to exercise. Does the gym have a child care room where you can pay for her to attend? Or...Is there anyone who you can swap child care with for a few hours a week? I know I am just about to embark on my own fitness journey. I have been busy all winter running kids to their winter sports. We are not doing any in the spring. I will be taking my kids to the Y to swim with me. Just like you do as a teacher...set up your expectations before you go to the gym. Let them know what you expect from them and what will not be tolerated. It is important for all of us to get to the point where we can really incorporate exercise into our daily lives. I did great until the weather was too cold and too dangerous (snow and ice) to walk outside. I think the Y will be a nice change in pace. I think it is great that you made the effort to join the gym. I am hopeful you will be able to find a solution that works for you and your situation! Good luck!

I always think this first part of your lapband experience is so hard. I know that you have to change your relationship with food. That was so hard for me. I had a few moments of ..."What did I do." However, now that i am out six months and down 55 lbs. I am so in love with my decision. It does get better...come spring we will all be ready to get out of our winter blues and take off!

I know when I eat pizza. Only 2 time....I retained a lot of water. So...I took it off my list of foods to eat. I may try it when I am a little lighter. However, I don't like what it does to the scale, and since my second fill, it doesn't "sit" very well with me. It may just be water retention. As for the craving soda....???? I think I would make sure I had other options available. Good luck with your journey!

Good luck with your weight loss. It is great to have a plan. I know it helps me. I have found this past month difficult to exercise. I know setting goals has really helped with that! I know you will do great. Keep coming back for support and let us know how you are doing!