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Disneyworld Review....One more day to Bandland Sugery

Well, I just can't believe anyone would really want to make Disneyworld a vacation. I went to all 4 in two days, and found it to be mostly boring.   Each park basically has two decent rides, the rest is just a tourist trap. I feel sorry for anyone who makes that place a vacation. I would rate it about a 1.4 out of 10.   A big word of warning also about the Century Pop Hotel. It is clean and nice, but it is also very very old. It has paper thin walls and you can literally hear people walking outside of your room. I had to go to Wally world and buy a fan just to drown out all of the noises. In the end, I wouldn't go back unless you paid me, and paid me well. But it would be fun for an 8-12 year old.   On a positive note, I did walk about 5 hours a day....good excercise!!!   I'm now on the clear liquid diet for my surgery tomorrow. It is noon and I'm not all that hungry yet, so I'm guessing in another 4 hours I will be starving.   I have to get up at 330 in the morning and drive 3.5 hours to kansas City for my surgery. Should be lovely this time of the year....8 degrees light snow and dark until the last thirty minutes.   I'll post again after surgery....well unless they kill me.
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
 

Explanation of my name and Introduction

Well I thought I would start my blog with an explanation of my log in name.   My wife and I are huge Stargate SG1 fans. When I was researching the lapband I started to refer to it as a symbiote. Like a Jaffa has, and it kind of became a running joke.   I have been reading on this site for about a month and have just scheduled my surgery date of Jan 14th at the WLS in Kansas City.   I am self-pay so it was important for me to get someone who had a price that included the first year fills and was convenient. They have a filling station for patients in Des Moines.   I have been buying some protein supplements and such to find out what I like and don't like. I will be on a presurgery diet starting the first of the year. But I have actually started watching what I'm eating now.   Here are the things I like so far. Low carb milk chocolate slim fast. Unjury strawberry and chicken soup. I bought some other stuff but can't remember the names yet. I will post later.
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
 

Exactly two months, having to figure out some things

Well, I got the bodybugg because I was a little frustrated with the lack of progress lately.:huh2:   So far I am eating half of the calories that I am burning each day, and that runs about 1000 calories of deficit a day. So I should be losing at least 1lb and more likely 2lbs each week. My average for the week is now running about 2400 calories burned and 1200 eaten.   Boy I hope this strategy works, I'm a little frustrated right now with the lack of movement on the scale.:mad2:   I did get stuck once yesterday, first time for that in a long time. I think it was a part of a pecan that didn't go down. Boy it really worried me at first. I didn't drink any water, because that just makes it worse, and after about 30 minutes it did pass.:ohmy:
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
 

Day after Surgery

I had my surgery yesterday. I stayed overnight since we live 3 hours away from the sugery center.   Now I'm on a liquid diet for 3 days, then thick liquids for two weeks, then two weeks of mushies.   My follow up visit is local and is next week. First fill I believe isn't until week 4.   I'm doing great....so far my pain is really just a little discomfort and soarness....about a 1 or 2 out of 10. I was worried it would be way worse then this, but it really isn't bad at all. It is a great relief. I'm taking pain medicine only at night to help with sleeping, but I'm just fine in the day.   I had chicken broth with unjury chicken soup added in for protein today. I'm not hungry at all....but I know I need to get liquid and protein in for healing.   I found out my original surgeon had cornea transplants.....good god, how bad were his eyes? The replacement surgeon was awesome, he had about 20 years of doing these types of surgeries.
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
 

A solid week of no weight loss

You would think I would be upset, but I'm really not. I had an ok week. Didn't get to exercise as much as the week before, but still got in 5 hours worth.   Using my calories in and calories burned record I should have lost 2-3lbs, but the scale shows nothing. I would be really frustrated, but since I know exactly where I'm at, I know it is just water weight changes making the scale not move.   I can tell, I'm now starting to need a little fill again. I'm doing good, but my daily calorie intake is up about 100-200. Next week will be one month since my last fill, so it will be time for a fill anyway.   I hope to get 10-15 hours of exercise in again next week, and see a nice loss for the week.
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
 

Restriction gone, but maintaining weight

Well the swelling in my stomach has gone down and I have virtually no restriction. Along with the fact that I am now on mushies, this makes things more difficult. I am now eating about 2 cups of food at a time, because it pretty much slides right through.   I know I am just healing and not trying to really lose weight, so it is all ok with me. I am happy that I'm not gaining, and doing well.   I have my first fill in the next 10 days sometime, so all is good.   My incisions are almost healed. They only have a tiny red line left to them and the swelling has almost completely dissappeared. The incisions will hardly show when they are completely healed.
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
 

Another BMR Revelation

Currently my BMR (Basal Metabolism Rate) is 1915 calories a day at 202lbs and 5'9" and an age of 42.   By the time I get to 160, I will be 43 and need to stay at 1400 calories, just to maintain my weight. Well assuming no physical activity.   This is just a complete revelation to me. My god, I could never get down to 160, and would have no chance of maintaining it without weight loss surgery.   I can't even think about people who lose their band, thinking they can go back to doing it on their own and stay in the normal BMI range. Man, if I ever lose my band, I'm going for a revision at the same time, same surgery.
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
 

Set a new record one day calorie defecit!!!

Yesterday, I was able to burn 3900 calories and only eat about 1300....a 2600 defecit!!!!   That is a new one day record for me.   Today, I am eating out twice, first the Long John Silvers grilled salmon and baked potato, and tonight I'm having Papa Murphy's Med. delite pizza.....so I can eat out, if I just make the right choices and the band helps me not eat too much!!!   I'm going to get another day of 3 hours of light walking and biking and then 45 minutes of moderate swimming, so it should be another big defecit day!!!!   I'm down to 213.....I would really like to make it to 205 at the end of this month....that will put me half way to goal in 4 months and keep me right on schedule.   Yesterday was the first time I had to drink a little hot water before I could eat my chicken for lunch, but that was pretty ideal really, it kept me full much longer, and made dinner so much easier to control myself.
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
 

The Mystery of where the band starts at for fill level?

Well had my first post op follow up visit today, and they told me that the AP lapband comes with some fluid in it. It is so inconsistant that they don't try to say how much it starts with.   Instead on Feb. 17, I will get my first fill and they will start by taking out whatever is in there to see what I have. The final goal will be to have 4cc total after my first fill and still have a good result on the flouroscope.   I think this explains the real reason so many people feel so different before the first fill. It is basically because on top of the differences in people, the band itself doesn't have the same exact start point?   I am now on mushies, but I still like my soups. I can eat about 6 cups of food a day now.   It has been one day short of a week and I'm feeling almost completely normal otherwise. I do get tired a little easier then normal, and my back has been a little achey, but I'm feelling great otherwise.   I really like my fill nurse. She is a great lady and everyone at the place where I go for follow up care is really nice.   They will also do fills and aftercare for people who did not get surgery from them. I think that is a sign of a great facility. I can't believe some of these places won't.
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
 

Oh yea!!! My first real plateau!!!

Well, a little more then a week and I'm at the same weight. It isn't as fun as when your losing 2lbs a week.   I know, why. I haven't been doing my regular workout routine because I have been working more, and it is that time of the year when I have to do extra work in the yard.   Yard work should in theory help, but it doesn't seem to do as much as they say it does????   Well, I have to go finish planting the day lillies in the front yard.
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
 

bodybugg food logging versus Dailyplate.com

Well, the bodybugg program made me realize the value of food logging, but the program itself and specifically the search feature was driving me a little crazy. That and it drove me a little crazy that it was fairly rigid on inputs and wouldn't let you go forward or backward to input food.   I decided to try the free version of dailyplate.com. Not only is it much better at both things I didn't like about the bodybugg food logger, but it is also much more user friendly. Man I am just flying through my logging now. I am defintely going to use it to log my food intake, and just use the bodybugg for calculating calorie burn.   I seem to still be bouncing on my weight loss, but I'm sensing that I have broken through the plateau and I'm going to start losing again.   On a side note, my band did start out with a certain amount of restriction right after the fill, got loser by day 3 and then on about day 10 it got a little tighter again. I have heard this is common, but really didn't believe it until I experience it.   My next fill should get me pretty close to the sweet spot. I can feel success coming right around the corner.   Also, the more I exercise the more water weight I tend to retain??? I always thought it was just the opposite? I have been doing my swimming on one day and walking the next and then back to swimming. Also, I started going to the dry sauna after swimming to get my body temperature back up before going home. I have no idea why, but it really helps with my restriction at night. It could be that it gets some of the water out of my system, or it could just be a temperature thing? I have been drinking 50 ounces of my water in the day and just 20 ounces at night. This again seems to help my restriction at night and means less waking up to go pee at night.
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
 

Uh oh, time to quit spagetti o's

Well I gained a pound....and I'm sure it is partially water retention, but also the fact that mushies mean starch to me.   I should have done a little more prep and research on mushies that weren't loaded with carbs, but I didn't, so in they went.   Two days to my first fill, and that should really help....that and I will be strictly low carb from that point on, until I get to goal weight.
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
 

Results after one month of tracking in and out

I have now tracked everything I have eaten for one month. I also, tracked, via the bodybugg everything I have burned.   I'm just a little bit disappointed. The calorie defecit should have resulted in a 12lb loss for the month. I officially only lost 8lbs during this period.   It could be that I gained 4lbs of muscle??? I did maintain and average of 2 hours a day of excercise, so maybe? But I think it is most probably a combination of the bodybugg over estimating my calorie burn by 2lbs and maybe 2lbs of muscle.   Overall I'm pleased, but I was really hoping to make it to halfway to my goal this week. but maybe next week??   I did get a fill today, and I was able to take another 1cc. The last fill lasted well, and I think this one will last even better.
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
 

My first fill is over!!!

Well, I found out today what a fill is like. Not bad at all.   I also found out that my 10cc band had 2.8cc in it from surgery day.   I really wanted another 1cc, even though the fill person, looking at my barium swallow, thought I should have more like .5cc.   After putting it in, I was too tight, so she took .5cc back out, and I'm pretty much perfect now.   I feel really sorry for those who don't have a fill to start from the surgeon. Heck, I think I'm already to my sweet spot for my current weight!!!   I was really worried about my weight loss, but the scale showed 10lbs since my visit 3 weeks ago, so I'm doing just right. I feel so sorry for those who struggle for months on end to get to this point. I have heard the realize band takes much longer to get to this spot....so I'm super glad I picked the APlapband.
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
 

Shrimp...the ulitmate diet food?

I just had 8 shrimp and one tablespoon of coctail sauce.   The total calories were about 300, and I got about 40grams of protein.   I hope I continue eating shrimp when I get more restriction....it seems like a great way to get my protein and have low fat and calories.   Heck, 42 grams of protein via New Whey bullet is 190 calories.   It's funny my new style of eating is more of a strategy of how much protein can I get with the lowest amount of calories and fat.   The rest just seems to take care of itself, if I'm trying to get my protein in and I'm watching the calories and fat.   I'm lucky....I haven't had a fill yet and 8 shrimp do fill me up.
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
 

Going to the movies....a challenge ahead.

I think I will take my Atkins peanut butter bar with me. Usually I eat resus peanut butter cups....but I know they are just mostly sugar.   At least this way I won't be tempted and I can get 20grams of protein at the same time.
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
 

My sweet spot has been reached.

Well, so far so good. I had my last fill 4 days ago and was back on regular foods for the last two days.   I think my band is perfect now. I tend to eat yogurt for breakfast and it goes down with just a little bit of slow down. Lunch is a tiny bit tight, and supper is perfect. I'm now down to about a cup of food at supper time....which is when I really need the help to stay on track.   It looks like I will be able to maintain 1000-1200 calories pretty easily now. I was averageing a couple of hundred more then that before the fill. It doesn't sound like much difference, but thats almost half a pound a week difference.   I have cut back to about 10 hours of excercise a week. I'm really busy at work right now, and the reduced calorie intake should make it all equal out.
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
 

Big news for my wife.

Well, I can't believe I forgot to blog this, but my wife is getting WLS.   She has done really good, just trying to copy what I eat, and how I eat, but she has come to realize, that as usual, it is getting too tough.   I LOVE HER, more then oxygen.   She is getting the Gastric Sleeve, by Dr, Aceves.
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
 

Should I be worried? Whats really going on?

I'm having my surgery at the WLSC in Kansas City on the 14th. They called me today to tell me that the original Dr. (Dr. Nigro) had a problem and wouldn't be able to do any surgery for about 4-6 weeks. So they wanted me to go with another Dr. I guess it doesn't bother me too much, but it does make me wonder, what is really going on? They said he had an accident??? I don't really want to start my preop diet again, and I don't really want to wait that long, so I'm planning on going ahead with the other surgeon. I wish I could remember the name of the surgeon.
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
 

BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) versus Bodybugg

This is just a repost of a thread I started. I found this to be great information for those who don't want a bodybugg to track caloric burn per day.   First let me say, I love my bodybugg.   But for those who don't want the hassle and or expense, I have found that this BMR calculator, is extremely close to what I burn according to my bodybugg.   BMR Calculator   If you use dailyplate.com and add in any physical activity for the day, you will be very very close. So close it is down right scary.   I in fact don't pay much attention to the scale for my feeling of accomplishment anymore. I just add up my calorie defecit and divide by 3500 calories. After a month, I have noted my weight loss to be exactly equal to what it should be for the amount of calories I have used over the amount I consumed.   It has really helped me get past the scale watching, which really isn't as accurate, since your water weight can change as much or more then the amount of fat you have lost.
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
 

Exercise paying off big time!!!

Well, I have been tracking my weight loss from the beginning, and it is amazing to see how much the exercise is paying off.   I can see where I was losing about 1.5lbs average per week, and then when I started the extra exercise I have consistently started losing more like 2.5 and even 3.0lbs per week. I am trying to do double of what they recommend.   I am also very please with my restriction. This last fill has stayed with me so much better then the previous ones. I think I will need less on the next fill, but if I keep losing at this rate, maybe I will still need 1.0cc??   This week, I have a huge victory goal that may be achieved. If I can lose 3.0lbs this week, I will be halfway to my goal. It really all depends on getting the excercise in. I am now running a really consistant 1200 calories a day, and about 2800 calories of burn. That equals 10,000 calories of defecit a week....or about 3lbs of fat.   So here is hoping for a great week at the gym. I'm planning to keep doing the 1 hour of biking, 1 hour of walking, and 1 hour of weights. Sometimes I just can't get it in with my work schedule. I'm limited by my need to get done by 7pm. If I don't, I can't get to sleep by 9pm. This is a must for me, as I get up at 4am a lot.
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
 

BodyBugg Day 2 and I'm already learning

I bought the bodybugg more as a learning tool and tracking tool, to help keep me motivated and not look at the scale so much.   Well, I have already learned a couple of things. First off, I'm only burning about 2200 calories a day so far after two days. I haven't excercise in those two days.   What I hadn't even planned on doing was using the daily food log. I have never done this and have always just added up the calories. Right off, I noticed that after logging everything I was actually consuming about 20% more calories then I really thought. My goal is 1200, and while I did that the first day, I really thought I did 1000, and on the second day, I thought I was around 1200 and I was really at 1450.   Wow, what an eye opener. I'm thinking this bodybugg is the best 200 dollars I have spent yet!!!   I'm actually going to use the food logger since I'm not nearly as good at keeping track of the calories as I thought I was???
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
 

I hate birthdays.

This weekend was another birthday party. While I am careful to never exceed what I burn for the day, it is difficult. I only burned about 400 calories more then I ate.   Not a good start to the week, but I'm still hoping for the 3lb loss that gets me to the halfway point!!!!   I'm going to really have to bust some ass this week, hopefully work doesn't get in my way.
Jaffa

Jaffa

1
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