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I have a treadmill, but I really prefer to be outside. I found a website for local nature trails. I'm so excited. I'm going to take my kids with me this Saturday to go check out one that is about 5 miles from my house. It leads to a small waterfall. The website said it was 3 miles to the waterfall for a roundtrip total of 6 miles. Hmmmm...it might take a couple of trips to build up to a 6 mile walk. But, I just might surprise myself. We all love to explore. So it is easy to forget about the distance and time when you are chasing butterflies, playing in a waterfall and admiring all of the spring flowers. I just have to figure out something for the summer when it is 100+ degrees. Maybe morning walks?

I am about 20 months out.... I wouldn't trade ONE day, not ONE..... I am down almost 200 pounds, I am having a tummy tuck, boob lift, arm lift on June 17th. I had ONE problem since getting the surgery, and that was getting a fill, and then two weeks later, it got tighter yet (which does happen, sometimes an overfill isn't realized for a few weeks) and I have .5cc taken out, and it's been smooth sailing since. PB = Productive Burp Stuck = Happens before Productive burp Stuck is essentially when you haven't chewed your food well enough, or the texture is wrong (read: dry meats, doughy bread, etc) and instead of sitting in your pouch, it gets stuck where your band is around your stomach. The first time it happened to me, I told my mom it felt like I had swallowed a shoe. Generally, there is some pain, and your esophagus/top of stomach will contract to try to make that food move. Your saliva in the back of your mouth will change in consistency to normal "spit" to a thick slimy substance, to try to help lubricate what's stuck in your band. After some time, people will either PB (productive burp) and call it PB/Slime....... meaning a bucketload of slime came up with it, or it will go down. I had a secondary procedure done with the Lap--Band®, called fundoplication, and some people who have fundoplication cannot vomit or PB. I am one of those. I cannot vomit at all. I've had stomach flu twice since getting the band (I have kids...... it happens) and I can hear my stomach contents trying to come up...... it doesn't happen. Generally, it takes the express route the other way. In addition to PB...... I actually get what I call "warnings" where I will get some slime in the back of my throat, and a tight feeling by my band. I know right then if I STOP and WAIT, that in a few minutes, I can start eating again, without incident. I've learned to listen to my body very closely! Mostly..... for me..... the band helps keep me eating CONSCIOUSLY. I pay attention to every bite, I make sure I chew, chew, chew and chew some more! No more mindless eating for me!

he was really hot and smart and funny and we had a really good time! ultimately though i don't think he's right for me (he's a little too out there and unconventional for me). but damn, it was sure good practice and made me feel better about myself.

I was banded 4-4-11 in Houston, TX!

Hi Spot! Glad you are feeling better..... I am not banded just yet but I plan to walk (both outside and on treadmill) and also use my yoga ball for stability and strength training. I can't use the ball the way you normally do yet (bad / weak back) but I can use it to increase my balance and posture (sitting on it at work) and also using my tension band to do some great excercises that I found on the lap-band website. Once I get that down I plan to add some free weights to tone my arms (I have awful spaghetti arms)! Someone had to bring up this topic at some point Faith

For sure ! you just don't feel it until you eat. Get a tall glass of warm water or tea, and drink slowly. It will either go threw or come up, but you have to keep drinking to make sure you are clear. You'll know when your open all the way.

Yes thank you, I know that

It's been worth it for me and I can't really say I've had a bad day with the band. Yes I've gotten stuck and PB'd but it's all part of the learning curve. I never imagined losing so quickly, let alone 115lbs in less than a year. There are complications and risks with all types of surgeries and it's luck of the draw really. Not everyone experiences the bad side of surgery. The risks with WLS are always there but are decreased greatly if you follow the rules and have a good bariatric surgeon to work with. In terms of the band, to me, this means not having a tight band, going in for routine visits, and getting unfills when you are too tight. Some people neglect these rules and often end up with slippage and/or erosion.

Try boosting your calories a bit, say up to 1500 a day. Try eating more Protein daily, and try reducing your carbs (or eat lower glycemic carbs.) Start your day with a Protein shake first thing, to give your metabolism a burst of protein to work on, so your blood sugars stay balanced. Eat your protein throughout the day, say a few ounces every three hours, rather than in just a few meals. Exercise more, or change up the exercise you're doing now. Get more sleep. Drink more Water. Vary your daily routine and turn things around some. Your body falls into ruts of its own, and once your metabloism is used to what you're giving it, the only way around it is to shake up what you're doing. Hope this gives you some ideas. Good luck! Dave

I would ask your doctor to give you specifics or point you in the direction where you can find specifics. If he won't do that, then I'd be tempted to disregard his 'opinion' and tell him you want the referral anyway (assuming you need him to refer). Our doctors are only human with all the same emotions we have and it be just that he and this guy had a bad falling out somewhere. If his is the only dissenting opinion and you're getting glowing reports from others who've actually used the band surgeon, I'd go with that. .