sheryl

I just went in to see Dr Gail Altschuler in Novato for an unfill. Nice doctor. I am back on program now that my band is not overtight. I had my band done in Mexico in 2003 and I really think I need this more local support (just an hour drive instead of a day-long trip to TJ for a fill). I really liked her. She did a great job getting some of the saline out of this old band...

I have been MIA for a couple of weeks. I have been sick, sick, sick... And you know what I did??? I fed my cold!!!! So, I am up 5.5 pounds... I have not exercised in over 2 weeks. I have broncitis and I still have no energy. I have been grazing all day, for a couple of weeks. I am trying to get back on program... I am doing okay today. Hopefully, I will get the strength back so I can get back on my bike. Perhaps tomorrow or Wednesday... So I lost a total of 32 pounds. I am darn proud of that. I just need to continue!!!! UGH! What I really need is a fill. In the past couple of weeks, I feel like I can eat way more than I could just a month ago. Well, with weight loss comes a looser band, so I need to plan a trip to Tijuana! And soon!!

15.7 miles (60 minutes) on my recumbent exercise bike. Also did 3 reps of 8 for 3 different exercises for my arms with my 3lb weights.

I bought a recumbent exercise bike and I get up an hour early and ride with a fan on me, while I read or watch TV... I have young children, so I have to do it before they get up. I also try to take a walk by mid-morning, before it gets way too hot...

Just a couple of things to say. First, you dismiss the first 19 pounds... Many bandsters do not lose a pound during the first month or so... They are not failures. You are well ahead with this loss. I think the others are onto something with the carbs. Personally, I need to really see what I am doing with the carbs as well. For me, I need to weigh myself daily. It is kind of my way of keeping out of denial. I am steadily losing, but that was not always the case. I would go a month or so without a loss, then bam, down 8-10 pounds in a couple of days. That is just how it works for some people. It doesn't mean that they are doing anything wrong. It is just what it is. If you dwell on it, or internalize it too much, it will only harm your success. For you (and for others), you may not do well with weighing every day. Put the scale away and bring it out twice a month. Better yet, try using other tools to track your progress. Measure yourself! As you exercise, you are toning and building muscles that weigh more than fat, but are smaller. So the scale won't track that success, but the tape measure will. Are your clothes getting looser? Are you feeling like you have more energy? Get rid of the scale for a bit!! And take what your doctor and nutritionist says, weigh out the advice, and use what you want. If they are saying different things, then try them both and see what works for you. YOU have to find this out, no one will give you the perfect answer for YOU. Please know that the band is just a tool to use for you LONG journey to becoming healthier. It would be nice if we could all consistantly lose 1-4 pounds a week, but in reality, that doesn't happen. So when people are trying to tell you to get a grip, then are just saying that some of your expectations may be unrealistic, especially is such a short period of time. At this stage of the game for you, 9 weeks is a long time. In reality, it is just a small piece if you look at the entire picture. Everyone always says, "It didn't take you overnight to gain the weight, and it won't take you overnight to lose the weight." It probably took you a lot longer than 9 weeks to gain those 28 pounds. Give yourself time to lose the weight. Also, you HAVE to count the 19 pounds. Like me, you probably starved to get that off, but like any kind of fasting, you usually would gain the weight right back once you start eating again. And that didn't happen. You still are down those 19 pounds. It is all about perspective.

This is a very difficult journey, loaded with huge potholes that we will evenually learn to go around instead of falling right in on occasion. Just get out of the hole, brush yourself off, and move forward... Try to see what made you buy the ice cream. Could you have done something different, like buy some fudgicles instead? The biggest thing that you need to realize is that you are NOT in denial! You posted this for all to see. That is HUGE! Give yourself a pat on the back, a huge hug, and know that today is a new day. This is a journey. We will not learn all the lessons at once... And know that you are not alone!!!

My toes do the same on the recumbant bike after 30-40 minutes.. I just have to remember to wiggle my toes every now and then, or reposition my feet...

Totally normal, though it can take 1-2 weeks for the fill to hit... Especially around AF time...

Excellent! I remember when I hit that milestone!!! Felt GREAT!!! Way to go!

Down 2.5 ... And man, that was a struggle! Total of 37.5 since the beginning of Bootcamp!! Rock on!!!

Hi Sue. I don't know if you remember me. We met at Hotel Lucerna the day before I was going to be banded by Dr O.. I think you were there for a fill... I didn't know that you had the DS... That would be my choice if the band didn't work (though I am only half way to were I want to go...) You are absolutely correct. Each surgery has it's own pros and cons and I think that it all depends on the person getting the WLS... I would hope that each and every person having surgery research each surgery thoroughly and make the best decision for them. I think you can't go wrong if you know exactly what to expect and know all of your options...

There has been great improvement to the band since starting out. The statics reflect problems with the older versions... So 6-10 years will probably change over time. Personally, I would still get the band over the bypass. The bypass is permanent, but it doesn't guarantee that you will be successful unless you do the job. Many people get the bypass, lose lots of weight, then regain. Some are opting to get the lapband on top of the bypass to have another tool to work towards being successful. And you never know. In 5-10 years, they may have to perfect thing to lose weight, and all we have to do is get the band off and we are pretty much back to the way we were prior to any surgery. Not so with the bypassers. Personally, I kind of think of these WLS as being progressive. The lapband is the least evasive and it can be removed. If this doesn't work for you, then you can opt for the bypass surgeries. For me, I wanted to go this route and not leap to the bypass if this less-evasive procedure works. And there is a huge advantage of having the band over the bypass. It is adjustable.

Wow, everything sounds so good. Honestly for me, I just love salads. I eat them every night, just about. I always have cottage cheese with a bit of blue cheese dressing, an egg, some fish or meat (usually salmon, shrimp, crab, tofu, or chicken), sometimes some bacon bits, and a bit of croutons and soy nuts. YUM!!!

Seconds to minutes. PB has never been a hard thing for me. I did have a bad one once with chicken that I didn't chew enough, but for the most part, it is just a tiny thing and it goes away fast...

My twins are 4 and by the time I am at goal, they will be more active in sports and school. I also want to get them more involved with my sports, mainly riding bikes. As they get older, I want to go on longer rides with them... I think the answer for me is to remain active and to keep being a healthy role model for my children. I don't think I will lose my focus, even if I am not as consumed with this like I am now. Makes sense?? I guess my goal is really not just to lose this weight, but to be able to be a healthy person who will stay active and enjoy the life that I have...

I had one of those (digital that I had to weigh 3-4 times to get an average) and I finally got another one that isn't digital and it has LARGE numbers so I can see without bending. I love it and it is always accurate. I say, take it back. You are not silly. If you use the scale to see your progress, you want it to be accurate. Also, there are some people that don't use scales. And it works for them. And there are others that use it to mark progress. I am one of those people that need to weigh everyday to keep me on track, otherwise I am in denial about any gains. Kind of my accountability to myself. I do know that I can gain a pound or so even when I am doing great on my diet, but I also know that it will come off soon enough if I just stick to my plan. It works for me.

I don't really understand the concept of doing this because they are nowhere near inside your intestinal tract. But I know that some American doctors do this. I would just follow your doctor's advice.

I can't eat most solids in the morning. I used to eat thinned-out oatmeal, but I had a tendency of adding too much sugar and it wasn't keeping me full for very long. I now have my chocolate Protein shake, blended with ice which makes like a malt shake. YUM!! And it goes down beautifully and keeps me full for a long time AND is packed full of protein... But I usually have coffee first thing, then my shake about 2 hours later.

My twins were 18 months old and I just told them that I had an owie on my tummy. I was able to do just about everything with them, except lift them for a few weeks. I just placed a pillow on my tummy and they were able to climb into my lap.

5'9" - My goal is 200 (or 199 to only say that I am in the hundreds!), which should put me at a size 12 or so. But I really want the body lift or tummy tuck AND a breast reduction, which would lower my overall weight.

Totally there with you! And it is so bad during AF time. What works for me is to stay away from actual chocolate candy because I just can't stop. BUT, I do have a chocolate Protein shake every morning, which helps with my chocolate problem (and lets me get Protein in the morning, I am pretty restricted and can't get solids down early). And in the evenings if I need a fix, I will have 3-4 lowfat chocolate animal crackers that I get from Trader Joe's. It helps curve the craving. The fat-free fudgecicles helps if it is really bad. I do have chocolate candy on major holidays, like Mother's Day, Easter, etc... But I only have a small amount of really good candy (love See's) and it is only for that day alone...

Just do the best that you can do and don't worry about trying to be the poster child for the band. If it was easy to diet, we wouldn't have this band around our stomachs! And trying to tackle multiple bad habits at once in a short time is just asking for trouble. You call it failure. I think trying to do it all at one is gearing yourself up for a letdown. Rice and bread and Pasta. Once you get the band and are restricted, you will not eat very much of them again. Have you checked out any vegetarian websites for people that have WLS? You may want to check them out, to see how they are doing with eating Proteins, etc.. Here is one link, but I am sure that there are others: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/vegetarianbandster/ I do have to say, that the sooner you get off of the carbs, the easier you will have it after surgery. When you first stop eating the carbs, you kind of go through a withdrawl. It is MUCH better to go through that before surgery when you can eat other things, than after the surgery when you are on liquids. But do the best you can and really, go easy with yourself. Do what you can and the rest will follow... Hugs!

For me, I average about 3-4 pounds a week. BUT, I have a lot to lose. As I get closer to my goal, I will be really happy with 1-2 per week. Also, I feel that exercise helps a lot...

Tons of prayers coming her way... My dh had a minor stroke a couple of years ago. Scary, but he is fine. He has a few problems with some minor things, but overall he is okay... Hugs to you, Sarge!!

You have a BMI less than 30??? H-E-L-L-O !!! I can only dream about being in your shoes!!! Failure??? Hardly!!! You are an inspiration. Just because you aren't a size __ (fill in the blank), doesn't mean you are a failure. You aren't even obese!!