TerriDoodle

I am really surprised by the sheer number of people over the age of 40....or even 50....on this board. I think it demonstrates that, by this age, we know what works and what doesn't. I've been limiting my calories to about 1500 since for the last couple of weeks and have lost a grand total of 1#! And I already know that by the time my surgery comes around that number won't change much. Been there, done that. Diets just don't work anymore. Period. I need HELP, serious HELP, in getting my calories any lower and am counting on the band. After 48 years (38 of those spent dieting) I know what I am capable of....if I don't have the "willpower" to do it in the customary way, so be it. I don't have any desire to spend the rest of my life HUNGRY in order to be at a healthy weight. No, thank you. It is unfortunate that the general public doesn't realize what it's like to be us....or understand that this is a deeply personal and well-researched decision on our parts. Do they (the 'unbelievers') really think we'd prefer to be restricted in this way if there wasn't a damn good reason for it? I personally don't have the energy or the will to explain this to every single person who wants justification for my decision and for this reason I just have to keep it as private a possible....strictly on a need-to-know basis. Anyway, it's a beautiful day here in Houston and I think I'll go out for a walk!! Hope ya'll have a nice Sunday!

Well the April bandwagon is getting full!! Welcome to all you newcomers!! I think that's a good idea to visit the April 2006 bandsters...that'll keep me motivated and excited!

I went thru this for about a week after I scheduled my surgery but quickly realized 3 things: 1) I'm not eating these things for the last time....I will be able to eat all my favorite foods again, it will just be a matter of time, and they'll be in smaller portions. 2) I am not serving ANY good purpose by eating this way. I'm only getting that much farther away from goal. 3) If I'm getting ready to voluntarily alter the way I eat forever, I had better at least be prepared to make a few changes before the surgery. I wanted to use this time to make sure I'm mentally prepared to make sacrifices...and if not, perhaps I should postpone it until I am. Having said all this, I do still have a bit of the 'last supper mentality'....like I had two slices of thin crust pizza last night...and justified it somehow. But I'm not eating everything in sight like I was for that first week. I think the thing to keep in mind is: Don't panic.

I am pretty confident that I'll be a good LB patient but I am a bit concerned about the unexpected things that may come up. I mean, for instance, I don't consider myself an emotional eater, a grazer, or anything like that....but what if I am and I just don't realize it? ...and then I figure out after I'm banded that I depended on food for lots of things!? Know what I mean? From time to time I'm reading about people who had a huge lunch or grazed all day on brownies and fried chicken....YIKES! How does that happen??? Surely not good for the band or pouch! For those of you that faced this, did you find help in any particular book? I'm not good at keeping therapy appts. so I could, at least, read a book or two on the issue. It may turn out after all that I need years and years of therapy!! :heh:

Well, I guess it's healthy to get a little nervous--prepares you for the realistic possibilities, right? It'll be ok. It'll be ok. It'll be ok. It'll be ok.

Well, I guess it's healthy to get a little nervous--prepares you for the realistic possibilities, right? It'll be ok. It'll be ok. It'll be ok. It'll be ok.

Hmmm...that's a new one! I haven't heard of that before?! What happens if you move or something? I do understand the logic, though....they want to make sure you follow-up thoroughly for 5 years. So that $6000 is on TOP of your surgery fees? Yikes! I'm glad my surgeon doesn't require that...it would make it impossible for me to do it. But, after all, you DO live in Palm Springs! :heh: Lucky dog!!

Uh, I thought that it was "against the rules" to drink anything during, 30 mins before or 30 mins after eating?! It was my understanding that this is one of the essential aspects of making the band a successful tool. Maybe I'm wrong. (I haven't been banded yet.) I have been practicing eating without drinking because I'm like you ....it is difficult for me to imagine it. When I practice I find it essential to take small bites, chew well, and wait between bites. It gives you time to salivate...eliminating the need for a drink. We've been drinking with our meals our whole lives. Yes, it will be a difficult habit to break...but one of the many bad ones we NEED to break.

:help: OK, who's getting nervous?? I'm getting nervous. :help: Maybe I've been reading too much bad stuff....and need to focus on those doing well.

Hi, Just reading your journal and hear a little frustration going on here! I just want to remind you that you've lost **27** pounds in 6 months and that is GOOD!! Going slow is GOOD!! You're not going to lose at the same rate as someone who is 375# and I know it's hard to keep that perspective. You're doing great!

That is an amazing victory!! Major congratulations to you! Keep running!!!

wt 212 Total calories: 1422 Fat:84 755 54% Sat:23 208 15% Poly:26 237 17% Mono:27 246 17% Carbs:78 265 19% Fiber:12 0 0% Protein:97 387 27%

wt 212 Total calories: 1422 Fat:84 755 54% Sat:23 208 15% Poly:26 237 17% Mono:27 246 17% Carbs:78 265 19% Fiber:12 0 0% Protein:97 387 27%

I live on the NW side and work in the energy corridor.... maybe we could start our own little support group!

My BMR @ 215 = 1675 cals/day x 1.2 = 2010/day Adjust as exercises increases Calories to lose weight are 1200-1500/day Free days on Friday (?) Minimum of 2000 cals Adjust down as weight lowers (approx 100 calories for every 25# lost) http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator

No, but I am familiar with his plan and it's always made sense to me. Tell your friend that I"m real proud of her too. She looks WAY amazing! $40K ain't too shabby either!

My BMR @ 215 = 1675 cals/day x 1.2 = 2010/day Adjust as exercises increases Calories to lose weight are 1200-1500/day Free days on Friday (?) Minimum of 2000 cals Adjust down as weight lowers (approx 100 calories for every 25# lost) http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator

I will post articles that I find useful from sources that I trust. ******************************************************** From Body For Life website: http://www.bodyforlife.com/nutrition/articles.asp?cmsId=291 Go easy on calorie restriction Q: I have really been restricting my calories, but I just don’t seem to be getting anywhere with my fat-loss program. What’s wrong? A: When anyone severely restricts their daily caloric intake, their body rapidly goes into a starvation mode—a reaction we have all inherited from our distant ancestors who were forced to survive through long periods of famine. There is absolutely nothing that you or any of us can do to prevent this from happening except to never allow our caloric intakes to drop below 1,200 calories for women or 1,800 calories for men. When calories are restricted below these levels our bodies go into action to keep us alive by protecting us from starvation. In other words, the body instinctively kicks in all of its survival mechanisms to prevent death. The first thing to happen when we enter the starvation mode is our basal metabolic rate begins to slow down. This occurs primarily by a reduction in the release of thyroid hormone from our thyroid gland. With severe caloric restriction our resting metabolic rate can drop by as much as 40 to 50 percent. Next, our bodies begin metabolizing our own muscle tissue, converting it into glucose for its primary energy source in order to preserve fat stores that are essential for survival. That’s right—all that hard-earned muscle starts disappearing. And as if all of this isn’t bad enough, the activity of our fat-storing enzymes increases and our fat-burning enzymes decrease so we become very efficient at storing fat. This is the exact opposite of what we are trying to achieve! The key to avoiding this all-too-common scenario is to stay out of the starvation mode by creating a small caloric deficit of only 500 to a maximum of 1,000 calories a day below your maintenance level—as long as you don’t go below the 1,200 or 1,800 I mentioned above. This will assure a 1- to 2-pound weight loss per week—the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommendation for a safe weight loss. Remember, this is just a guideline. If you have a low body weight or you don’t exercise much, a 1,000-calories-per-dy deficit may be too much. And finally, we must be sure to eat about every three hours. Our bodies will interpret any missed meal as starvation. The bottom line is, the more slowly we lose weight the easier it is to hold on to our lean muscle mass and take the fat off! Lose fat the fast way! Q: Which is the best way to lose fat—more exercise or fewer calories? A: Exercise is by far the best way to achieve a caloric deficit because it does not trigger the starvation response, it increases metabolic rate, it increases all of the fat-burning enzymes and hormones, it targets body fat rather than muscle tissue for energy sources and it increases the sensitivity of all cells to insulin so carbohydrates are burned for energy and stored as glycogen rather than being stored as body fat. Most people in America today try to lose weight by cutting their calories way back to starvation levels and exercising very little. It is the combination of muscle-building weight training and aerobic exercise that is clearly the best and only way to rid yourself of excess body fat and retain or even increase your muscle mass and, most important, improve your health.

This is the beginning of a major new journey for me. This operation will change my life, both good and "bad", and I feel that it's important to record my thoughts and feelings. I made my decision rather quickly after doing a couple weeks of research, lurking on LBT and then talking with Dr. Spivak. I actually think I knew I was ready to sign up before I even walked into his office for the seminar. I wake up every morning with a new enthusiasm about life and its possibilities. I am trying to keep a level head and know that this isn't going to be easy, but at the same time I absolutely know that this is the right thing to do for me. I know a lot about nutrition -- I am grateful for that. (I fear for those who really don't have a clue because they are out there.) My challenge will definitely be the exercise component -- I've never been able to make that happen with any consistency. Maybe when I get down 30# or so I'll sign up for Jazzercize. Well....I'm getting ahead of myself. I have had this monkey on my back since I was 10 years old. For 38 years I have been obsessing about my weight and how am I gonna get it off....and rarely did I succeed. The tape loop in my head is soooooo old and I am sooooo sick of it. I wonder how many times per day I thought about it? 20? 30? .....no, probably more like 50. I just caculated it...that's 693,500 negative head-banging thoughts. Surely it is time to move on. And I am "only" 60-70# overweight!! But I've carried 30-40 extra my whole entire life. I'm sick of it. Clearly as I'm getting older (48 now) I am moving in the wrong direction and headed for some major health problems. It's gotta change. It's gonna change. So is this the "easy way out"? It's about knowing yourself, your personality, your health issues, your body. For me, this surely is my only hope...."easy" or not. I really don't give a rat's a**.

This is the beginning of a major new journey for me. This operation will change my life, both good and "bad", and I feel that it's important to record my thoughts and feelings. I made my decision rather quickly after doing a couple weeks of research, lurking on LBT and then talking with Dr. Spivak. I actually think I knew I was ready to sign up before I even walked into his office for the seminar. I wake up every morning with a new enthusiasm about life and its possibilities. I am trying to keep a level head and know that this isn't going to be easy, but at the same time I absolutely know that this is the right thing to do for me. I know a lot about nutrition -- I am grateful for that. (I fear for those who really don't have a clue because they are out there.) My challenge will definitely be the exercise component -- I've never been able to make that happen with any consistency. Maybe when I get down 30# or so I'll sign up for Jazzercize. Well....I'm getting ahead of myself. I have had this monkey on my back since I was 10 years old. For 38 years I have been obsessing about my weight and how am I gonna get it off....and rarely did I succeed. The tape loop in my head is soooooo old and I am sooooo sick of it. I wonder how many times per day I thought about it? 20? 30? .....no, probably more like 50. I just caculated it...that's 693,500 negative head-banging thoughts. Surely it is time to move on. And I am "only" 60-70# overweight!! But I've carried 30-40 extra my whole entire life. I'm sick of it. Clearly as I'm getting older (48 now) I am moving in the wrong direction and headed for some major health problems. It's gotta change. It's gonna change. So is this the "easy way out"? It's about knowing yourself, your personality, your health issues, your body. For me, this surely is my only hope...."easy" or not. I really don't give a rat's a**.

I tend to do best when I "automate" my meals. What I mean by that is I find a combination of bkfst/lunch/dinner/snacks that I do well on to lose weight, are nutritious, and that fit in with my lifestyle (I hate to cook). As a result, I tend to eat those same foods over and over. For those already banded: What are your favorite meals that you tend to eat quite often? Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Snack: :hungry: Thanks!!

Dr. Spivak always sutures the band into place.

:focus: I don't have a Trader Joe's here.... any other automated meals ideas??

Welcome Darla!! :welcomeB: Looks like you're gonna be the first one of us to get banded!! I'll be right behind you!! You're so lucky to have your daughter to go through this with. Bandedme - The liquid diet is for those that are required to do so by their insurance companies to see if they can lose weight withOUT surgery and also to make the surgery safer. Also, some doctors require a few days of liquid diet to help them stick to a low-carb, low-fat diet prior to surgery so that the liver will be less "fatty". If your doctor doesn't require that (mine doesn't either) then just be grateful!! As for post-op, all the stories are different. I was shocked to find that my doc only requires a 'liquid' diet, not a 'clear liquid' diet....and I can even have cottage cheese, yogurt, and applesauce in the 1st 48 hours. After that I go straight to 'mushies'. When you start shopping again for your family, $20 says that you'll start buying much healthier food for everyone...and you'll be eating the same things, just less of them. Or they get pasta or rice as a side dish and you'll just skip those things. I know my husband is looking forward to the weight he'll be losing along with me after my procedure...when I eat healthier, so does everyone! And YES, running around after 3 kids DEFINITELY counts as exercise!!!!

I just wanted to wish all the March Bandsters the best of luck with their journeys this month! I'm in the April '07 club and come by to visit your thread every day to see how ya'll are doing! I can just FEEL the excitement over here and it's so cool!! I hope ya'll will think about us next month and help us along!! :hug: