Midnight Phil

After losing about 20 pounds, I started exercising daily. Right now I am doing 30 minutes everyday on a treadmill. After 37 days in a row, I was/am ready to start going to the gym. I spoke with a trainer, who I am going to start training with today, and she recommended that I get a Heart Rate Monitor to aid with exercise. I wanted to know if anyone had a heart rate monitor to recommend. Specifically, one that has a large chest strap to monitor heart rate. My chest is about 54 inches. Been doing some research on those, but almost no one give the chest strap size.

Hey everyone, I am 44 years old and just got banded a month and a half ago (May 31st). I started at 397 pounds 2 weeks before the surgery. As of two days ago, I have lost 45 pounds, so everything has been going great. I have a long way to go, but I am thrilled with the initial start. Before the surgery, standing or walking for more than 10 minutes caused a fair amount of pain. I was pretty much a lump and not doing much physical activity at all. I have type 2 diabetes and I was taking 100 units of lantus once a day and 30 units of humalog twice a day. I had severe swelling from the lower calves to my ankles. My diet was also pretty poor, but I had been working on that. After I lost about 20 pounds, I was able to start exercising. For the last 24 days in a row, I have worked out on the treadmill for a half an hour or more. I started at 2.6 miles and hour and now up to 2.8. For me, this is quite a workout. I am now only taking 60 units of lantus a day and no humalog, and my blood sugars have never been so good. My swelling is still pretty bad, but maybe a little better. My eating habits have changed dramatically and it has been a pretty easy transition so far. What are some of the things that helped me get off to a great start? For me, the biggest help has been God. A series of small miracles has changed my life dramatically since the beginning of the year. I became a follower of Christ and I ask for His help a bunch. I listen to some great worship music when I workout and it really helps keep me focused and energized. Maybe different kinds of music, audiobooks, or videos will help. Great supportive friends have also been a blessing. I think making the time to exercise every day has also helped me make it a habit. A friend told me it's easier to form a habit if you can do something 21 days in a row. I don't know if it's true, but it helped motivate me to try. This place is also great. I don't post a lot, but reading all your stories is very inspiring. And, knowing we are all going through the same trials helps me not feel alone. I have been heavy all my life, even when I was pretty active. I was wondering if any of you have been able to loose the amount of weight you wanted to, after being overweight since childhood. Also, anyone able to reverse bad leg swelling with exercise. Love you all.

Glad to hear you are giving things another try - Don't give up! We are all with you! I pray that God will grant you the strength and determination you need for the long run.

Welcome back and good luck =)

Hello everyone, I just had lap band surgery on 5/31/2011. 1 week before surgery I was 397 pounds. I was on 2 types of insulin and having a hard time managing my sugar levels. I was not able to stand or walk for more than 15 minutes without a great deal of hip/back pain. A little more than 2 weeks after surgery I lost 26 pounds. Down to one shot of Lantus a day and having to manage several low blood sugar readings - several in the 60's. And I have been able to manage much more walking/standing with MUCH less pain. In short, everything had been going great so far. I am looking forward to continued success and meeting you all.

I haven't had my first fill yet and I was wondering about how much food I will be able to eat, volume wise before feeling full. I have just been cleared to eat pretty much any healthy and safe choices I want. I have eaten a whole McDonalds premium salad with grilled chicken and low cal/fat dressing without actually feeling full or any discomfort. I am thinking this may be a bit too much though (volume wise). I am guessing that things will change after my first fill but want to get an idea on how much food is going to be appropriate to eat at one sitting. I want to get used to this before the first fill if possible. Am I doing anything wrong? Should I not be eating so much? Thanks

Thanks, I can't wait to think of much smaller portions of food as a good-sized meal. I am doing a much better job at home, but when I forget to take something with me to work, its been hard to find good quick food. I was normally just getting a fruit/yogurt parfait from them if I needed something, but was real hungry so I got the salad.

Hey Chelsea, I hope everything goes great for you. I just got my band less than 3 weeks ago and, for me; it has been a pretty easy transition so far (I was pretty anxious about the whole thing). I am still a newbie so I don't have much sage advice, but I wish you great success,