Hey all.

So there's a bunch of us in this group, all split up into our different banding days. I was thinking that it might be a good idea to have one master thread as we move through the month, in which all of us could post as we go, from the pioneers going on March 1st to the finalists on March 31st.

I'd love to talk about our anticipation and any worries as we approach our banding date, for people to talk about exactly what happened from the moment they walked into the hospital door until the second they walked out, about how recovery is going, about weight loss and plateaus, about non-scale victories and challenges.

I was thinking that if we all contribute to one thread, it'll form a more substantial channel for information and support. At the moment, I was thinking that we might be too spread out into individual date, and that a central thread would be a really good backbone for the group, in addition to the date-specific threads.

What do you think?

Fenton

Tess - I was able to run today!!! My leg is not as sore as Monday and Tuesday. I did not really follow the c25k because of those darn support hose from the EVLT. My usual walk is out our little country road 1 1/2 mile round trip. So I walked a mile and ran the 1/2 then did a cool down walk. The hose were bunched up at my knee, so I do not think I can do the intervals until after I have the other leg done (next Monday) I have to wear the support stockings for 7 days after the surgery. YUCK. But, I am running!!!!!

Fantastic SugarBean! I did the workout at the gym last night on the treadmill and sweated like crazy!!!! I am going to go tonight too. I really want to move this ticker!!!

Good luck everybody!!

Teri thanks for the help.

Hey Shamrocks!

Yep, I'm back. Yep, I got a fill. I now have 7cc in my 9cc band. (by the way Lynn, I saw Dr. Wynn, she sure is nice!) I'm happy and hoping this is my sweet spot. Back to liquids for a few days.

I actually have some clothes that are riduculously too big. I was beginning to wonder if that was going to happen. I have several pair of jeans that fall down and would fall off. Yippee!!!

Well, I'm off to edit my signature. Wish me luck!

Tess- I sweat like a pig when I run. But, I love the feeling I get when I finish my intervals. BTW, you should only be doing the program everyother day. "Whosyadaddy" would scold you. He says to let your legs take a rest so you don't injure yourself (especially your knees).

Sugar- do you think it would matter since I'm only using it to power walk and spice up my walking routine? I don't plan on actually trying to run until I get a little further along. I get such a workout just speeding up the treadmill pace for the 60 sec intervals. I know just from doing 2 of the work outs this week, I get winded and don't think I could actually jog it yet... but I love walking and its a good felling to put a different spin on it!!!!

Well I had a checkup today with my primary care doc who was very anti weight loss surgery specifically on RNY and when I went and said after a very concerted effort with WW and exercise and I still wasn't losing, I had chosen to pursue lapband surgery she was very neutral - not supportive but not anti-lapband either because she just never has had a patient have the surgery so I'm her learning tool! Anyway, when I went to the doctors' office I took a picture of what an AP band and port look like, a chart showing how I've tracked my weight as its gone down since my pre-op high, surgery day, fill #1,#2, and #3 and she was very pleased and excited for me. I even showed her my fluroscopy pictures of my insides that showed my band, the tubing and the port and she was really fascinated about it. She finally asks me if I'm having diarrhea, how my energy level is, any problems (like RNY patients do) and I kept saying "No, doing great. Glad I did this." So as she is leaving the room and said well it looks like you're doing great. I'll see you in 4 months for your annual physical and we'll do a full workup on bloodwork, etc. and confirm things at that point but by my records you've lost 50 lbs and Keep doing what you are doing, its working. Amen!!!

I'm hoping I'm helping make it easier for her next morbidly obese or severely obese patient to approach her or for her to even disclose to them that lapband is a weight loss option (she never told me about it).

I need one last favor, keep thinking good thoughts for me as I'm on the edge of Twoterville (at 301 today) and am dying to see the first number on my weight change to a 2. However, I went to Don Pablos at lunch today and didn't think I did too bad but when I entered it into my food diary, it was way more calories than I ever dreamed...step away from the basket of tortilla chips and skip the refried Beans (even though I ate about 12 chips and about .25 cup of beans, that was about 284 calories for the chips and 76 calories for the beans. It wasn't worth it. On the positive side, the beef enchilada I had was about 270 calories and 16 grams of Protein -- so that was worth it!

Tess - I must have missed that you were planning on powerwalking. That should be okay to do several times a week. The program (either running or speedwalking) will really boost your energy and probably your weight loss. Although, I think I may be gaining some leg muscles right now.

SpecialK - My PCP is very much pro lapband. His partner has had gastric bypass. Too many complications. I happen to be his first lapband patient, so I am treated like a prize patient. He asks questions upon questions and is excited for me. It is really fun to watch his reactions, you can tell he is trying to learn everything he can from me (the patient side of things) He had an intern there last time I was there and he asked almost as many questions. I guess I gave them a little education.

Special K Its a learning curve. You're doing better every day.

Waiting for that third digit to change is so hard. Just promise that when it does you will step off the scale before you start your happy dance. We can't have you smacking your head on the wall when you loose your balance. Don't ask me how I know this. I think I still have a dent.

Scrappy- we should be celebrating your 100 soon. ??

Tess - check-out the Reebok Interval walking program. It looks like you can walk 6 days a week. There is a training schedule at the bottom.

Reebok Interval Walking PFV

Thanks SugarBean. I printed off the reebok schedule and I am going to study it. I went tonight on the treadmill wow... lots of sweat!!!! It felt good!

Tess - you may want to Google other Walking Intervals. You may find one that you like better or you may just want to stick with c25k. One day I think you will want to run. Walking intervals will just get you prepared for it.

special K good luck on losing them last 2 lousy pounds when I go down and finally reach a goal I have to get on and off the scale a few times cuz I have a hard time beliving I really did it. I got under the 300 pound weight before surgery that was a good feeling since I was over 300 pounds for 8 years.

My weight has been up and down for the past 2 months. In the past 2 months I was as high as 230 and as low as 218 right now im at 220 so have 6 more to go till I reach the 100 pound loss. I was taking a Water pill with my high blood pressure pill and when the dr took me off that I gained 6 pounds in a week.

Do you all feel different since you have lost? I am off all my meds , and I can now walk 2 miles and not feel like im gonna die, and I can do a few things easier such as scrub my bathroom floor easier but I basically feel the same. And I still feel huge. Some days I really don't feel like I have acomplished much at all in my weight loss.

I think that for me the biggest thing is getting up out of a chair without thinking about it. It's something I hadn't realized I was doing, until I did it without effort again. How absurd to let oneself get so heavy!

Although, no matter how much weight I lose, scrubbing my bathroom floor will NEVER be easy!

I bumped into my PCP this morning as I was working to work - he was very pleased with my progress, particularly when I showed him my belt and how far I've come down around the waist (about 9"). He was easy, though - the lap band was HIS idea!

I can do a few things easier such as scrub my bathroom floor easier but I basically feel the same. And I still feel huge. Some days I really don't feel like I have acomplished much at all in my weight loss.

Scrappy - you are doing great!!! You have accomplished a great deal. Keep that chin up. :thumbdown: You have alot of support here.

Howdy everyone:)

Just stopping in to say hello..I am off to the doctors this morning for a fill. I think it may be my last?? My last experience with a fill was pretty bad, so I'm dragging my Dad along with me lol. I hope this is it, and that it goes a lot more smoothly..

Just had to share, my nerves are getting the best of me this morning. Have a great day all!

~Kerri