Hi everyone! I'm having surgery on January 10th and created a group in the groups section "January 2012 bandsters". Would love to get some discussions, support going.

Hi gang! I've missed you! Something's up with my account settings and I'm not getting the email alerts anymore. Also when I try to use the App on my iPad or phone it says I'm not authorized for this forum. I hate I'm behind on lots of progress!

I missed my 5/25 goal of 50 pounds, but that's okay it was my stretch goal. My initial goal was to be at 50 pounds by 6/21 and I'm at 49 pounds now (202.5) YAY! I think I'll do a mini stretch goal and try to be in onederland by 6/21.

My 18 pants are getting loose, so I guess in another 5 pounds I'll need to go shopping again! I did have an AWESOME NSV yesterday. I went to the Starbucks near work (haven't been to that one in probably 9 months); the guy behind the counter said, "Did you used to come in here a lot?" "Wow! You've lost a lot of weight! You looked familiar but there was something different!"

I do have to confess I've been avoiding my exercise like the plague though. Shame on me!!!

Hi amica! Welcome back! What a great NSV!!

I must confess, Friends...I need some encouragement today. I'm stuck again. I hit the 60 pound mark and my body just won't move any further. I keep going back and forth with the same 2-5 pounds. I walk at least a mile every day. At least 3 days/wk, I'm working with the weight machines at the gym. I'm not going over 1000 calories. I get in all my protein. I don't eat bread. I get all my water in. I'm just...ugh. I'm going to call the dietician shortly and see if she can help get me motivated again. I think my band has relaxed some because I'm back to at least a cup of food again. I just had a fill 2 weeks ago! My restriction was good for about 10 days. I'm trying to eat the leanest cuts of protein like chicken, fish and turkey. I've cut way back on the red meat. I'm taking my multi-vitamin (though I was without it for a few days). Could stress be affecting me, even though I'm not stress eating?

Hi Chrissy- I have had success with upping my calories (to like 1300-1500) one or two days when I'm stuck- I don't do it consecutive days, and like one or two days every 2 weeks or so....but it has seemed to help. Also, maybe doing some intervals of wogging (walk/jog, LOL) while walking to up the intensity? I just recently upped the resistance on my elliptical for 30 minutes of the 40 minutes I work out.

Remember, this really is temporary! I have also noticed as I record my weight in a book each week that my body seems to like losing very little for a couple weeks then a bigger loss. You hang in there!!!! It will come off!! It will!! And maybe a small fill will help too.

You can do it!!

Had mt surgery Dec. 5 2011. I started out at 363lbs. but today I am 284lbs. Love my new energy. Gastric Band Institute in Chattanooga is great!!! I even have talked my mom and hopefully my wife into making this life changing decision!

Congratulations jteewilson! That's awesome!

Well...I spoke with the dietician. She looked over my food diary on lapband.com and said I'm doing fine with my food choices so...I guess its time to up the ante on the exercise. ugh.

where is everyone today? At the pool? without me?

True Confession Time – Honest Look at Myself

I was banded on January 31, 2012. I have only lost 14 lbs. in the last 14 weeks – 1 lb. a week. I also lost 14 lbs. during my 2 week <mainly liquid> pre-op diet. So, a total of 28 lbs. roughly, although we all know that varies by ~3 lbs. usually. Honestly, I don’t follow all of the lap band rules, sometimes I cheat, I don’t log my food intake and although I am always busy and constantly on the go, I am not “exercising”. I do eat healthy most of the time, only drink water and never eat fast food. I feel great but am overweight at 221 lbs. (5’5” tall), size 14 pants, 2x tops. However, I am funny, happy, successful, driven, focused, energetic, full of life and always get what I seek out to gain. In addition, I have always been the type of person to push the limits. Admitting this, I have pushed the limits on what my band can do. This is exactly what I didn’t want to do. I have 9cc in an 11cc band – I’m going in for another fill in 10 days, probably 1cc (will be 10cc in an 11cc band), which means almost full!!! I know myself and apparently I am going to have to be <almost> physically unable to eat in order to be successful at this. After my last fill (2cc’s three weeks ago), I felt restriction at first, got stuck a few times, felt water backing up in my throat, had a hard time swallowing pills – and I loved it. I finally felt something – felt like I possibly had restriction. I know the band loosens when we lose weight – but I’m not really losing weight, but have lost the little bit of restriction I did feel. With all of that being said, I know I need to go back to basics. I have read many times over, the need to exercise and log your food intake – neither of which I have done. My normal day consists of Breakfast – 160 calories (Protein Drink/1 pc. String Cheese), Lunch – Salad and Vinaigrette dressing at a local restaurant, Dinner – Meat, Veggies. Most days I do not snack, however about one day a week I do. That’s my normal weekday schedule. The weekend’s consist of eating out every night with my friends/family. So, I decided to track my intake – finally. Yesterday, like clockwork, I went to lunch at the same local place, ordering the exact same thing as I do everyday - house salad (iceberg lettuce, 2 grape tomatoes, pinch of cheese and bacon) and water. They bring the salad with two small cups of dressing – all of which I use (don’t judge – lol). I requested the nutritional value of their fabulous homemade Vinaigrette dressing that I have literally four days a week. I was absolutely floored to find out that the total caloric count for those two little cups of dressing was 900 calories!!! Yes, 900 calories of dressing on my 30 calories of lettuce. I thought I was doing so good, eating a little salad and water every day. I updated my new food tracker with the correct information, which automatically pushed me WAY over my daily calorie allowance obviously. My little house salad had more calories than a full satisfying meal of meat and veggies. Immediately the light bulb went off – 900 calories over budget almost every day plus no exercise is THE exact reason I am not losing more than 1 lb. per week. I’m sorry, but I had to vent – felt like screaming as I have been sabotaging my efforts and am so disappointed that I am so far behind in losing weight in comparison to everyone else banded in January. Normally I am successful at everything I do – except this. Pity party for one – your table is ready. L Starting today, no more salads with fattening dressing, going to log every BLT (bite, lick, taste), started taking OTC diet pills, going to actually get on my new treadmill instead of looking at it and I registered for my free month of membership from my surgeon’s office for the hospital’s medical fitness program. Is anyone else in the same boat? I am looking for more advice (other than “just do it” – lol) and tips from everybody out there. Some of you have already lost 50 lbs – twice as much as me in the same period, and I am so happy for you all. <3 I really love this group and the support we all have for each other. Thanks for reading and any tips you have to offer.

Savannah,

I'm not here to judge & I doubt the other's on here are either. The good thing is you finally found out why you're not losing weight. Wow, 900 calories for salad dressing? Yes, you are behind the rest of us as you say, but this is not a contestor competition, it's a journey and learning experience for us. How to bite, chew, swallow, enjoy without discomfort and enjoying what we do eat. It could always be worse as I always say.

Start over, not sure about the OTC diet pills but that's just me, track what you eat, start slow on the treadmill, and think positive. We're here to support you no matter what. Good luck.

Savannah26

I do not see any WATER intake on your list... I know for me I have to keep tabs on the fluid intake those calories add up real fast. I like my milk... I drink way over the required amount of water per day. If I feel the need to snack I have learned to have a glass of WARM water seems to kill the urge. I could only wish to be able to eat a salad... with or without dressing. Me and lettuce to do work well together. I can not handle hamburgers anymore either use to be my favorite meal. Now a bite and all the chewing in the world still clogs me and it has to come back up. My band is very snug in the morning about noon I can handle even water. I do not eat after 630 PM other then water and zero cal flavored water is used for my snacks. I knew when I PUT MYSELF into this that is was not a quick fix. I have had to change alot of old habits. I was told that pills can lay in the new pouch and cause isses so I crush my 1 med I take and advoid all others. You have a band not sure why you would take OTC DIET PILLS... Ask your surgeon to perscribe if that is a need be think.

Hi Savannah- ya know, 1 lb a week is nothing to sneeze at! So, you can be better and you're working towards that. SO- you know all about the salad dressing- and you're not eating that anymore.

DO- log all the BLT's and meals- I use myfitnesspal, it totally keeps me on track

DO- exercise. It's important. Do what you can do. Use that new treadmill to have to buy new clothes, not as a clothes hanger for your old clothes

DO-Keep logging in here- I know this group helps me!

DON'T- beat yourself up! You got this band for a reason, you can start utilizing it more right now, no problem! You can do it

CONSIDER- I'm kind of with Meredith on the OTC diet pills. But do what you think is the best thing.

YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Oh, and ita with Otaknam- water!! Important!

Meredith/Otaknam/JDI - J

Thanks Ladies – appreciate you taking the time to reply. I am going to try the warm water to curb the urge to snack. I just called my doctor’s office and talked to the PA – she is awesome, and gave me a few things to try. Definitely need to recognize my old bad habits, such as eating when I am not even hungry. Basically I use the diet pills (actually they are appetite suppressants) to hush the head hunger – it works for me for now. WATER – yes, forgot to mention that – I only drink water and lots of it, so no issues there. I actually have minimized my intake and not drinking while eating has been really a struggle for me. Thanks for the Do’s and Don’ts – sometimes we need to remember this is a journey. Some of the long term banded patients that I have seen lately actually average between 1-2 lbs. a week. My goal is to be on the high end of that going forward. J

Question – anyone from Georgia here? I would love to have a real life buddy that understands all of this. I haven’t told anyone except my daughter and cousin that I had surgery. Good since the weight loss is barely noticeable – Bad since I am not held accountable (by the masses) and can’t discuss this with anyone. Anyway, have a great weekend ladies!

LOL - just copied and pasted my above comment and realized that the smiley faces appear just as the letter "J" - but you know what I mean!!

Hi Savannah - I'm in the North Atlanta area.

seguing here, speaking of food re: Otaknam's post, are cucumbers on the "don't" list of veggies for lapbanders, if not, has anyone had any problems with them? I made a tomato/ cucumber salad with EVVO & vinegar last night and took a bit or two and ended up with the hiccups for a good hour or so as well as a few PB's. The cukes kept repeating on me and after that, I don't want to taste or even smell another one, and I always loved them.