I read most of the posts here from all the different people, I like to hear different people's experiences, good and bad....

One thing that is always re occurring, is people saying how they "Fell off the wagon" and "Need to get back on track"

Now I know I'm going to get flamed for this by the "Know it all's" But personally, I do not understand how that can happen...(Short of a medical problem)....

Either your band is adjusted to where you are in the Green Zone, or it's not!! To me, that is the only thing that is important...

Two characteristics of the Green Zone is HUNGER CONTROL, and PORTION CONTROL.....yet I read posts about how people say they were doing fine, then started to eat anything and everything in sight...out of control...Does Not sound like being in the Green to me....

Speaking for myself, When I eat, I eat until I cannot eat anymore...I don't measure or pre determine portion sizes...the band will let me know when to stop eating...it's that simple.

The other day I brought home Chinese take-out...sat down and began to eat to where I knew I had to stop...threw the rest away!!!

It was physically impossible to eat anymore...even if I wanted to....

IF I were to measure what I ate, I know I would have found it to be VERY LITTLE....some would say way too little....

The 2nd issue is Hunger....I'm sitting here, it's 4 am, and I am having my coffee....thinking about it as I type this, I AM NOT HUNGRY, and I have no desire to eat anything....the last time I ate was around 6 pm yesterday, 16 hours ago?

I will take 15gm Protein along with my Vitamins and omega's, and head to the gym when they open at 6am.

After my workout I will have a high protein recovery shake......then that will be it until this afternoon....(plenty of Water though)

My point is, being in the Green, these things now come natural to me....circumstances such as parties, stress and emotional issues, etc, etc, cannot change what has been surgically done......

I travel all over the country on business, vacations, cruise at least once a year...have had deaths in the family,....my daughter had a big wedding.....everything everyone else experiences, but none of it can change the band....that would take an adjustment....

So when I read these stories about "Getting back On Track" or "Falling off the Wagon", I get a little confused...but out of personal respect I keep my mouth shut...it's not my place to tell anyone they are right or wrong....

But what I can do is type here MY experiences with the band and how it all works for me.....

I know I'm in the green....have been for about 20 months now...and from my view point the only thing that matters is whether you are in the green or not...and if not, Why?

Didn't mean to step on anyone's toes...just my opinion, now let the "Know it All Police come out of the woodwork"....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2012/08/06/cardio-or-weights-first-exercise-order_n_1739089.html

Basically it says weight training burns more get, but... if you're trying to manage diabetes or HTN focus on the cardio first then integrate some weight training.

" And if another health goal -- say Type 2 diabetes or hypertension prevention or treatment -- is the priority, Comana recommends cardio over resistance. "Some diseases are better managed with cardio first, then introducing resistance training later," he told Healthy Living."

Sorry for the spamming

Here's what I was looking for:

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/17/cardio-burns-more-fat-than-weight-lifting/

" “If a person is going to give me three hours of exercise a week,the most effective way to lose fat is to spend that time doing aerobic training,” says lead study author Leslie Willis, an exercise physiologist at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina."

I only share this because with my schedule in order to get any work out during the week I only have a tiny window of time. And I have to focus on calorie burning. But come this summer, when school's out, I'm hitting the weights! (Too)

Sorry for the spamming <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Here's what I was looking for:

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/17/cardio-burns-more-fat-than-weight-lifting/

" âIf a person is going to give me three hours of exercise a week' date='the most effective way to lose fat is to spend that time doing aerobic training,â says lead study author Leslie Willis, an exercise physiologist at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina."

I only share this because with my schedule in order to get any work out during the week I only have a tiny window of time. And I have to focus on calorie burning. But come this summer, when school's out, I'm hitting the weights! (Too)[/quote']

Well first thank you for putting out solid info and supporting doc - I think that's great - you aren't just saying I feel this or so and so said that. Second - I think the best book on the market that is filled w/studies and not written "trying to prove a point" is Which came first cardio or weights...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/006200753X

I highly recommend it and am in no way involved in its production etc...

Lastly - and this is just because of the path I have traveled so keep that in mind... This (WLS) for me was and is LIFE OR DEATH .. Not convenience or vanity... Literally I was a walking dead man at 454 lbs on oxygen with Diabetes etc... SOOOO I don't believe in no time and tiny windows - this is war - so whatever it takes it takes to get the right quantity quality and Time to exercise.

Lee

I think in the back of a my mind I wanted things to be the same with the added bonus of weight loss. i

Could have typed those words myself!

Great post.... no flaming here... I believe the biggest misconception is that people think the band will do 100% of the work... when in fact the band only does about 70%. We HAVE to so the rest.

Well, I fell off the wagon also. However, I haven't had the experience in 6 years to know what "the green zone" is. I probably never will. I have never been able to tolerate even the slightest fill! So while I lost over 100 pounds with no fill, which I give the band credit for the help! I will never experience this "great place" everyone talks about! I know my part in my recent weight gain, however, I also see advantages that others have that I don't. This is not an excuse, it's a reality. Would all of you be at goal or as successful if you were never given a fill? I don't think the band should do 100% for me, but for anyone to think that if I would just "follow the rules" it should be "impossible" to fall off the wagon is kind of hurtful. I accept my part, however, the band isn't as responsive and cooperative with everyone. After 6 years with the band the one thing I have learned is.... never say never!

Well' date=' I've lost almost 95 lbs, it's been over 2 years since surgery. I have about 45 lbs to go. Haven't really gained anything , but definitely stalled. Haven't been hunger free yet, but I do bust my ass with exercise , 5-6 days a week. Including running anywhere from 12- >20 miles a week, hiking up to 12 miles in the summer (with a pack, up a mountain), snowshoeing now in the winter, with a pack.

So while no Lapband sweet spot and with a stall in weight loss, I am anything but failing. But I do need to kick start. And really start using this band as a tool. But for me it's working,.simply because I haven't started gaining weight back. And I feel great.

And my lifestyle has completely changed and is healthier than ever.

I'm working on closer tracking of diet, too. But from what I've read, the lack of hunger for some banders is more about the perfect placement surgically of the band rather than the perfect fill. So the reality it is only as an effective tool as it's owner makes it.

B-52, you and I adopted an active , athletic lifestyle as soon as we physically could. That's probably been a huge factor in our successes and really helped us stay on track. And I think you serve as a great motivation for many here!

My personal belief is that the exercise and change in lifestyle is absolutely essential to success and far too many people rely simply on food restriction for weight loss. I know it works for some, but i can't envision myself living on only 1000 cal a day![/quote']

You are awesome! I've always wanted to get into hiking. I have bad knees and I walk slow. I know its a bad combination, but I would love to make it work. I can't seem to get my friends to get on the trails, and the one that I could walks too fast. I've always hated walking, but I known its one of the best for me. I feel serious results whenever I take the time to walk. I later joined a meet up group for hikers, but I felt like they would all leave me, or resent the fact that they had to walk so for me :-( couldn't win for loosing.

I do swim though. I love to get in the Water, but even with that I don't maintain my consistency. I swam yesterday and my body craved it. I feel great, and wonderful on my knees. I'm gonna get in there again Friday, because I know I need it. I have to find a way to put more swim days on my calender. My excuse is excuses. Its funny how I want the secret to loosing weight, but there never really is one. Its called being active and eating right. It is what it is.

You are awesome! I've always wanted to get into hiking. I have bad knees and I walk slow. I know its a bad combination' date=' but I would love to make it work. I can't seem to get my friends to get on the trails, and the one that I could walks too fast. I've always hated walking, but I known its one of the best for me. I feel serious results whenever I take the time to walk. I later joined a meet up group for hikers, but I felt like they would all leave me, or resent the fact that they had to walk so for me :-( couldn't win for loosing.

I do swim though. I love to get in the Water, but even with that I don't maintain my consistency. I swam yesterday and my body craved it. I feel great, and wonderful on my knees. I'm gonna get in there again Friday, because I know I need it. I have to find a way to put more swim days on my calender. My excuse is excuses. Its funny how I want the secret to loosing weight, but there never really is one. Its called being active and eating right. It is what it is.[/quote']

Keep up the good work! The main reason I love hiking as a fitness activity ( I mean it's awesome for many other reasons ) is that it's high intensity cardio, but much lower impact than other stuff, like running. So when I needed something that got my heart pumping better than plain walking or the elliptical , I started with incline treadmill and easy low elevation gain hikes.

My knees seem to do ok with it, Zumba is harder on my knees than anything else.

And I'm slow, too. But I have a great hubby who will wait if I have to crawl on my hands and knees . That helps . I still don't like hiking with anyone else because we can be slower. As long as my heart is pumping I know I'm good.

And a good 4 hour hike up a mountain... or hill... burns 1000s of cals . Even more with a pack.

I also found things like knees DO get better as pounds drop and muscles develop to support them!

And our pace has more than doubled after a year of regular hikes.

Hang in there! Keep up the good work! Swimming is awesome !

I used to be a know it all - I fell off the wagon and would think I was eating past the band and not losing. Reality was I had a slow leak and when I finally went to my doc she verbally smacked me around in a good way and said this is not magic. You're either able to eat or you're not. If you are eating bad band foods I haven't filled you right.

So I believe in the green zone. I can't wait to be rebanded and kick this faulty band - I've only had a working band 2 years out of the past 8. I'm do e screwing around - I will exercise and stick only to friendly foods (I lived on mashed potatoes and cookies). I was lying to myself even though I dropped 100 lbs. I couldn't lose more for those reasons. No exercise, wrong foods, and a legitimate failing band.

No way I'm doing that this time around. I'm lucky j haven't had erosion or a slip.

Keep up the good work! The main reason I love hiking as a fitness activity ( I mean it's awesome for many other reasons ) is that it's high intensity cardio' date=' but much lower impact than other stuff, like running. So when I needed something that got my heart pumping better than plain walking or the elliptical , I started with incline treadmill and easy low elevation gain hikes.

My knees seem to do ok with it, Zumba is harder on my knees than anything else.

And I'm slow, too. But I have a great hubby who will wait if I have to crawl on my hands and knees . That helps . I still don't like hiking with anyone else because we can be slower. As long as my heart is pumping I know I'm good.

And a good 4 hour hike up a mountain... or hill... burns 1000s of cals . Even more with a pack.

I also found things like knees DO get better as pounds drop and muscles develop to support them!

And our pace has more than doubled after a year of regular hikes.

Hang in there! Keep up the good work! Swimming is awesome ![/quote']

Thanks so much. I'm gonna get my soon to be on the trails with me. I just want to increase my work outs. I like to eat, and even though I'm mindful (most of the time) work out balance out and more so when your more than 4 days a week. I just want this weight off of me so bad. I just have to remember how bad I want it when I decide to eat something bad.

I used to be a know it all - I fell off the wagon and would think I was eating past the band and not losing. Reality was I had a slow leak and when I finally went to my doc she verbally smacked me around in a good way and said this is not magic. You're either able to eat or you're not. If you are eating bad band foods I haven't filled you right.

So I believe in the green zone. I can't wait to be rebanded and kick this faulty band - I've only had a working band 2 years out of the past 8. I'm do e screwing around - I will exercise and stick only to friendly foods (I lived on mashed potatoes and cookies). I was lying to myself even though I dropped 100 lbs. I couldn't lose more for those reasons. No exercise' date=' wrong foods, and a legitimate failing band.

No way I'm doing that this time around. I'm lucky j haven't had erosion or a slip.[/quote']

Even though that wasn't healthy eating you lost. I don't know why some can loose like that and I couldn't. Its frustrating. I don't ear bad all the time, but one bad day for me is almost like a week of bad eating. So discouraging. I'm glad that things are starting to look up for you though. I would love to loose 100 pounds. I got to 50 but gained 30 of it back. I'm on my way back down now though.

Thanks so much. I'm gonna get my soon to be on the trails with me. I just want to increase my work outs. I like to eat' date=' and even though I'm mindful (most of the time) work out balance out and more so when your more than 4 days a week. I just want this weight off of me so bad. I just have to remember how bad I want it when I decide to eat something bad.[/quote']

Totally. I work out so much because I love good food. I'll never be the person content to live on 1000 calories/day. For some it's fine and they don't have to exercise at all. Me, I'd like to hit my goal and be active enough to have a BMR that allows 2000 cal a day. And that's totally possible. Mist likely it's still smaller band portions that will make it hard to exceed that and gain back.

The only gains I've had are after a surgery where I couldn't exercise, and over this.last holiday where I was sick in bed, not active and eating a bit too much. And that was only about 6-8 lbs, came right off this.month back in the routine .

Totally. I work out so much because I love good food. I'll never be the person content to live on 1000 calories/day. For some it's fine and they don't have to exercise at all. Me' date=' I'd like to hit my goal and be active enough to have a BMR that allows 2000 cal a day. And that's totally possible. Mist likely it's still smaller band portions that will make it hard to exceed that and gain back.

The only gains I've had are after a surgery where I couldn't exercise, and over this.last holiday where I was sick in bed, not active and eating a bit too much. And that was only about 6-8 lbs, came right off this.month back in the routine .[/quote']

That's wonderful. My problem is I can keep up an active schedule with my work outs included. I fall off theb wagon when I'm stressed. I then don't want to be bothered with going to the gym. It becomes too much for me. Like last night. I ended up going home after a disappointing day. But the difference now is, since I inherited a bike I decided to use that regardless of how fast I move on it. So I did ride the bike last night for about 45mins. I'm trying to learn how to press through regardless of what I'm feeling. Its all so confusing. I'm am grateful for my work out yesterday. I even used this inner thigh gadget after. My muscles feel tight. So that's a plus. It was a win in spite of my feelings.

That's wonderful. My problem is I can keep up an active schedule with my work outs included. I fall off theb wagon when I'm stressed. I then don't want to be bothered with going to the gym. It becomes too much for me. Like last night. I ended up going home after a disappointing day. But the difference now is, since I inherited a bike I decided to use that regardless of how fast I move on it. So I did ride the bike last night for about 45mins. I'm trying to learn how to press through regardless of what I'm feeling. Its all so confusing. I'm am grateful for my work out yesterday. I even used this inner thigh gadget after. My muscles feel tight. So that's a plus. It was a win in spite of my feelings.

I totally understand, and pressing through is really really the answer. Just kind of shut your brain off, go on autopilot and find yourself doing it (the bike, whatever). just put the workout clothes on, and then you're there.

And as you do it more and more, it will pay off and all of a sudden a stressful day feels better after a workout!

I'm trying to get there. One day at a time right.