Sula

I had lasix in 2000 and have loved it. I don't have perfect vision in one eye, but the other is good. They couldn't tweek it any as I have thin corneas,..,but it is great to not have to put cold contacts in your eyes in the morning...to be able to see the moment you open your eyes. I just had a couple of bite of salad and got partially stuck...just cleared actually...whew...I'm sure TOM is coming any moment now. I did make myself weigh in and am up 5...I figure 3 from TOM and a couple from eating crap. I'm not upset and have gotten myself on track today. I scheduled a fill for the 8ths of January. Only one guy here does it, which is good, as it would be a haul to anywhere else, but he is busy. Charges 200 per.....and 100 for an unfill. So, I'm putting things into place for January and my getting more focused on eating healthy, exercising, etc. I'm going to check out those bands. I've been doing a big of strength stuff since Sunday, squats, etc. Every bit helps.

I have horses and dogs. I haul feed bags that weigh 40-50 pounds...blocks of salt that weigh 80 pounds. Just pick up a big bag of dog food...walk a bit...take some stairs...you will see what you should not be missing. I feel so much more agile. I'm stronger...I can kneel down and get up without having to hoist myself on something.

I'm not doing resolutions....I think they are a trap for me and I want to just make a commitment to more exercise. To make it more consistent in my life. I'm also considering doing the coolrunnings training for a 5 k race..not that I'm thinking about running a race..I actually hate to run...but in my history, the only time I've been "thin" was when I've run. I was in a police acadamy in 1989 and ran three miles a day every morning....I weighed 169 (not exactly thin, but I wore a size 12 and thought I looked pretty good) and I was in shape. We also did a bunch of strength training as well. Ahhh, those were the days and I loved it. But I'm more thinking of as a personal challenge. I did get, a few years ago...Bob Greene's book on working out...the Oprah Boot Camp Challenge...sort of the same idea...just an intense workout regime. I am going to quit drinking alcohol for a good while. I'm an occasional drinker now but I can do without. I'm going to really cut out the sugars such as cookies, sweets, etc. And really watch the carbs. I want to sort of clean out my system.

Perhaps she was thinking she'd offend you more by getting you a gift card to someplace where you couldn't find any clothes that fit...I think that is so embarassing when someone buys you something and you're too big to fit into them. Then you get...go try them on and let me see how you look, bit.

When I am weak...I avoid the temptations...stay home. When I am strong, it isn't a problem. Sometimes I am messing up...but I try to get back on line as soon as I can. I think we all know some tricks to avoid the over-eating....eating before you go, drink Water to fill up on. Wear tight clothes!! (at one time all my clothes were tight!!)

I understand that it would be nice if your boyfriend were fully supportive and I agree that giving him more information will most likely help. I also take another stance. You can take care of yourself, for the most part, post-surgery. I did it...for the most part. I've done all of it. I do have a very supportive husband. But if I didn't, I still could have done this on my own. I went to Mexico on my own, did my thing down there, and came all the way home...12 hours each way. I had my car at the airport to go home. I was home the next day on my own. I drove to North Dakota the next day (four days post surgery) 7+ hours and back on day five, post surgery...and back to work full time one on day six, post surgery. I think your committment to your program will make him a believer as well... I also think telling him or other nay-sayers...I have tried every other way I can and I couldn't do it on my own. I need help. I have three friends that have lost varied amounts of weight since I've had my surgery...from 25 pounds (two of them) to about 80 pounds for the third. IThey tell me...you were my motivation...you got me going. I tell them I admire that they can do it their way...I couldn't. And there is no judgment.

I couldn't face the scale today. I'm bloated and crampy and know it is going to be up due to TOM getting ready to visit. I also was up early and ate breakfast early, so I could get things ready to ship out to family today. So, tomorrow, I will give it a whirl. I will look into the dumbells. I do use things like lunges, situps squats, etc. I think I will haul the stairstepper from the barn into the basement over christmas break. I'm taking that week off from work so I can finish up some unfinished projects post 25th. I was also wondering about getting some bands? Anyone use them?

Okay, for some reason, I only got the last page when I clicked on this site, so my comments were a bit behind. Anyway... Tonya, my thoughts are with you and others without power. I hear about that in other locals (last year in the northwest was pretty bad) and just wonder how we would deal with that ourselves. So, take care of yourself. I hear you guys totally on the obessessing bit. But I think that sometimes I just get tired of it and throw my hands up and eat. I need to be aware of the food I eat and not be consumed by it. I don't know what a 2 oz portion is...(I do, but don't take the time to check it out with what I'm eating). Most of the time I'm pretty good about eating, but when I'm stalled out on the weightloss, I need to get more strict. I also hear the things about people eating only a few bites and get sort of overwhelmed...how can that be,...I must really need more restriction..blah blah. When my head is working correction, I know, calories and exercise will work. I just need to stay focused on that. Remember the time I posted about the lady that said she worked out like a fiend and ate only 600 calories a day.....well, I'm jealous. I'm jealous of her determination and self-will...I want to be like her...I want it now, fast and forever. But...I'm not her. Drats!! Do you guys think we are all just nutz? Our food obsession bleeds over into other weird thinking!! Did you guys know I'm a therapist? Yup...I'm my own worst enemy with self-analysis. Do as I say, not as I do...sheesh...I have great empathy for peoples struggles. I do understand. WE all have our burdens.

Juno--Just hang in there...slow down in eating....you'll be okay. Rememer to stay on liquids for a bit after a PB....(things I usually forget and that always cause me problems) I'm doing a lot of self-talk about what I'm going to do in January to jump-start back into weightloss. I've also been looking at different exercise programs and ideas. I'm not looking at a quick fix, but something that will fit in with my cardio...when I do it (which I'm going to be doing a lot of after the first of the year). I don't feel that I would go to a gym on a consistent enough basis to pay the membership fee...I have a crazy schedule (altho predictable) but the hours make it hard to get a consistent workout time, EXCEPT for first thing in the morning. I live 30 miles out of town and have dogs/horses/cats to tend in the morning and at night, especially when DH is on the road (like all week this week) but that is usually only one night per week. When I did live in closer to town, I did work out at a gym but dropped out after moving out here. So, what type of strength training would you suggest at home? I have an elipitcal, ball, but no weights in particular. Yoga? T-Tapp looks interesting? Just thinking about some ideas.

Audree...sounds like you're not getting enough calories.. Do you know what your consumption is? I need to start counting calories. I have binged on chocolate (not usual for me) over the weekend. My theory now...if I eat them all, then they will be gone and I'll get back on track. Crazy, huh? I'm working on mentally preping myself for January and a big push on working out and eating properly. I'm going to do a fill and then get er done!! My plan is to work to at the very least, maintain over the holiday and get the junk food (chocolate) out of my house!! Hey, has anyone heard of T-tapp workouts? What do you think? Shawn

Regarding exercise...whether you have the band or bypass, exercise should be incorporated into your lifestyle. You can do other things besides walk...swim, bike (recumbant) yoga, etc. Personally, I thought the slower weightloss was better for me. I'm almost a year into this and down 53 pounds. It came off fast at first and then slowed. I need another fill but am waiting until after the holidays just so I won't have problems like getting stuck, etc. My weightloss has slowed mostly due to lack of exercise and not always eating properly. Good luck with whichever you decide.

Question for you guys about fills and restriction. I'm pretty sure after the first of the year I will get another fill. I know I eat more than I should at times and the weightloss is very slow. But, I periodically PB where I am at now. And I'm afraid to get to the point that Sunshine did with PB's and getting so swollen you have to take it all out. BUT (you see my seesaw mind going here) is there a normal amount of PB's that you should expect with the proper restriction (perhaps the proper restriction phrase is the key here)? I read one time that a lady would PB once a day. If that is the case, then I thought you had to go to liquids or soft foods for about 24 hours? So then you're just on a liquid diet. I'm driving myself nutz here. So, help me think this out and find a path...

I usually have a protein drink, oatmeal or scrambled eggs for breakfast. Oatmeal with protein powder and skim milk goes down easily. I have to be careful with eggs most of the time. Lunch, I can really put away a large salad. I had about 6-8 shrimp with a spinach salad yesterday. Last night was a taco salad...about the size of a salad plate. Restriction fluctuates..some days I just have a bowl of soup for lunch.

Someone said on here that there is also some amount that is in the port tube which makes sense to me. So, how much does that hold and what does that amount do to the grand scheme of things. I have the big honker..10cc's with 7 in it. I'm thinking about a fill after the new year.

Hi all, Seems everyone is getting after it. I'm being lazy, but I did hope on the stair stepper for about 20 seconds! HA. It is out in the barn with a serious layer of dust on it. I had to fill a water tank for the horses, so I thought I'd jump on it. Maybe I will get the DH to help haul it into the house. I'm doing good on my eating this week...no overeating or eating the wrong things so far. Just not craving anything in particular. My energy level is back up so I know the colds I've gone through have mostly left my system. I haven't ordered my new bottle of pills but will get after it on the 15th. I have a few left but haven't been very good about taking them. I'd like to go full force over the holidays which in my mind hasn't really started. I do need to bake some christmas cookies to send to my nephews (one is in the army) and my older brother...old tradition. But for the last few years, I've been able to do a day of baking and not eat at them. I can remember in my earlier days, when I could not keep things in the house like peanut butter or crackers, choco chips,etc. At some point in time, I was able to get control of my gorging on those sort of things. Any of you have old issues like that that you overcame before the band?

Okay, I'm kicking myself. My deal is that I have to prep myself in my head before I am ready to tackle something. I should have been working on an exercise challenge for December....I'm not motivated. But I need to get with it. So, I'm going to start the self-talk and try to shoot for a monday rendevous with the elipital. WAY too cold to go outside. -6 below when I got home tonight. It is run, run run to feed the six horses and bring the dogs inside. Hey, you guys remember the kitty I found...now known as Callie...well, life is rougher at my house than being dumped in the country. The other dumped cat bit her on the leg and then one of the bird dogs nailed her. I took her to the vet the Friday after T-day and she had $200 worth of fixin up. She is fine now...fitting in nice when you rotate the dogs in the house with the cat in the house. I'm not sure about a cat in the house, but she was partially shaved and had a drain in her side, way too cold to be in the garage. Poor thing. But she is doing quite well, except for having to stay in a dog crate when the dogs are inside. She gets free range when they are out. My busy life. I say to myself...at least I don't have to send a kid to college, when I write another check to the vet :confused:

Good morning all, I've been craving food bad!! I just roamed the house looking for munchies last night... I finally made some popcorn. Fortunately I don't have much to eat in the house, but wonder what is going on here!! I gotta get a grip..or not go grocery shopping till this passes! I'm also very tired. The dogs kept barking at something, so at 4:30 last night I got dressed to go investigate. I think an owl had gotten a goose or something. I couldn't find anything but walked around and think I scared the owl off. At least the dogs quieted down but it took me a while to get back to sleep. Yawn! That is too bad and very sad for the lady and family in Houston. That is just one of the risks of any type of surgery. I will send them some good thoughts for peace in their hearts. What a loss.

This isn't easy...we have to learn how to eat a new way. We have to learn our lessons!! Or pay for them with pain...yikes! My DH keeps telling me to eat with my left hand..that will slow you down. I find that if I'm really "present" when eating, then I do much better..than if I'm just shoveling in food in a mindless fashion.

I'm shooting for a size 12. When I think about sizes, and how I'm still in a size 18 after losing 53 pounds...I wonder how tight those 20's were. My 18's are loose now, thank god..but not feeling quite like a size 16. I was watching Marie Osmond on some show and she has lost over 30 pounds on the DWTS's show. I thought she was a little pudgy at first, but not really bad...she has had 8 kids and I think there is a mature weight that grown ups get versus teen weights. Anyway...she was a size 10 when she started the show...now a size 4. It really gave me some perspective on my vision. I think she is adorable...so personable and funny.

Hi BTK, I agree with Sherilynn....YOu can have low calorie, low fat foods that go down easily if you want. I have a hard time with Breakfast more mornings that not...so I do a Protein drink. I think it is around 100-150 calories (depends on if I put some fruit in it) and it has 23 grams of protein. Protein reduces hunger...focus on protein. Vomiting..PB-ing...isn't good for you but it is sort of a part of the band...but you should eat carefully to avoid it. And you should check your restriction level, which it sounds like you've done. I haven't had a fill since august and had a lot of problems about a month later, then I've been fine, except I'm back to some restriction so I really have to watch it. I do think that it is necessary to go to soft or liquids after a PB episode. I've tried to push it once and really got in hot Water...was miserable for 24 hours. My general rule after a stuck episode is 24 hours of soft food. It takes a while to get this...duh!

There are lots of ways to have sex without a functioning penis!! There are other issues, me thinks!

Sherilynn I was just looking at your fill history...your first fill was 7cc? Wow...that seems amazing. I'm at 7 now..after four fills. I started off with 2. You must really feel restriction with that much total fill.

Tonya, Wow, that seems pretty far out for a fill....is that because you need healing time or is it the time they have available?

sherrilynn---read "i need a kick in the arse" under our January 2007 group. Just some folks, which we would all qualify, who sometimes need some support!! AND we are so good a group to do that!

Hi Jen, I have to be 1000 calories or below to lose weight consistently...and if I really want to get after it..exercise is the rule. Then you can have a few more calories. It all depends on the individual. I think for me, my metabolism is at a snail's pace, from years and years of yo-yo dieting...so I have to watch what I eat and exercise. I'm not real consistent with the exercise tho...my burden to bear!!