Nikki Riviotta

Same for me. I was banded March of 2011. When I sit on my couch I tend to lean on my right side on the arm of the couch and after a while it gets really sore. It also gets really sore sometimes after a vigorous workout. I have read that when that happens its just because you have tweaked the muscle that the port is stitched to. It goes away, and I have gotten used to it coming and going. I know it is just a normal part of having the band as long as the pain doesn't ever become constant with no sign of letting up I just don't worry about it.

I am 15 months post surgery and I am down 75lbs, its coming off much slower now than in the beginning and I have to work really hard and really watch my calories in order to lose just 1lb a week.

I believe an intern mainly just observes and the doctor actually does the procedure. They may help somewhat because they have to learn. Definitely a good question for your doctor. Keep in mind that all doctors have to be interns before they are doctors, even your doctor was once an intern. But if you are uncomfortable with the intern participating in the surgery it is your right to refuse it. Good luck to you!

You must also take into account the amount of calories your body burns on its own. Which is what I have been trying to figure out for myself cause I would like to lose 2 lbs per week instead of 1 but I dont want to go back to feeling like I did when I wasnt eating enough

It should work. To lose one pound you must burn 3500 calories. This is why I cut so much off my 1700 calories. So I eat 1200-1400 and I exercise to make sure I burn at least 200 calories but not much more than 300 at the max. The reason being is for about 3 months I plataued. I have always had my Mon-Fri work out schedule and I would go in for 1 hour per day and burn right at about 700 calories. BUT when I would eat I was only eating 800-1000 calories a day. So not only did this effect my weightloss it also began to effect my health. I was dizzy and light headed everyday, very tired and fatigued and just generally did not feel well at all. Blood work with my primary doctor revealed nothing. Then at my appointment with my surgeon last month I got a fill, then went to talk to my dietician. When I threw the numbers at her, my calories taken in verses the calories I was burning at the gym she about fell out of her chair. I myself had already figured out the new calories I was gonna take in was 1200 exercising to burn 200 but because of how badly I had been feeling she wants me to take in the 1400. I really try to do that but sometimes its really hard. I am just not that hungry. But since upping my calories I feel 100% better no more dizzy spells or anything. I feel normal again. So I guess what I am trying to tell you with all of this is make sure that you eat enough calories and to lose one pound you must burn 3500 calories so if you are burning enough calories in your 40 min workouts twice a week and you are seeing the scale move then you are doing fine. I would also like to say remember to incorporate strength into your workout routine as well. You weightloss depends on the muscle you build. Hope this helps.

I found this earlier today when I was trying to find out how many calories my body burns daily by itself. It may help you. Use the formula below which only applies to adult females: 655 + (4.3 x weight in lbs) + (4.7 x height in inches) - (4.7 x age) = ____ calories Fill in your weight, height and age. This number will be your daily calorie intake (or how many calories your body needs) without any exercise. This calculation will tell you how many calories your body needs-or how much it 'burns.' Example: A woman who is 25 weighs 140lbs, and is 70 inches tall. 655 + (4.3 x 140lbs) + (4.7 x 70 inches) - (4.7 x 25) = 1469 calories This woman would only need 1469 calories a day for her body to function at rest. Be sure to type this calculation into your calculator all at once, or else you might be getting answers close 9000 which is incorrect. To make sure you calculate your BMR correctly, try typing in the example above and see if you get the right answer. I know for me to maintain my weight I would need consume at least 1700 calories a day. So I knocked myself down to 1200-1400 per day and I exercise for at least 20 min for cardio 3xs per week and 2xs a week strength training for at least 30-45 min. making sure that I at least burn 200 calories while working out. I have been doing this since my last appointment on April 10th and have lost 7 pounds after a very long plataue.

I feel ya there. The first time I did that video I had huge boobs. I had to have a breast reduction due to the complications from it. I always had to double up on sports bras before LOL. Glad you enjoyed your workout though. Jillian is my hero ;p

30 Day Shred...Jillian Michaels, sells for about $10 at walmart. has 3 different stages so you can move up as you progress and it says you can lose up to 20lbs and 30 days

I am from Columbia. Living in Montana now since my husband is Airforce we are currently stationed here but we visit home about 2 times per year. I was banded March 21,2011 down 70ish pounds so far! Good luck on your journey!

Love that positive attitude!

Hello Denise. Congrats on taking the steps on your journey. If this happens for you it is a journey you will not regret. It has completely changed my life for the better and I am forever grateful for it and for the people that helped me in this direction! Good Luck to you and I will keep you in my prayers!

I am 13 months out and still get stuck a few times after fills, Its always an adjustment no matter how far out you are. One thing I do if I feel my food get stuck is I get up and walk around. Whatever you do, do not try to fix it by taking a drink, that just makes it worse, at least for me. Walking around for some reason helps move it loose most of the time. Just please be careful and remember consentrate and chew chew chew

I feel ya honey. But truely it is for the best. I was having issues with my hypothyroidism before my surgery. My Endocrinologist told my Surgeon to postpone my surgery because with the levels I was at I had a high risk of going into cardiac arrest under anestisia (sp?). I was so mad. I had already paid $300 out for a plane ticket for my mom to come help me with my kids and I could not get a refund. SO I do feel ya, but in the end I had the surgery, just a month later than planned and now all of that is just a memory. Good luck to you. Next week will be here before you know it!

It has been a horrible weekend for me. Hard to resist anything. I have been so good with my journaling all week and sticking to it and then the weekend hits and WHAM....Kids school carnival, baby shower and birthday party. Bad foods....I did not eat alot of bad foods, but I did have enough to make me feels so guilty and angry at myself. Tomorrow is a new day so I will start fresh. But on the upside this mornings weigh in showed a 2 pound loss since Tuesday so I gotta get back on track to make that number stay down and maybe even get lower by next Saturday. Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

I did mostly liquids yesterday because I had a fill. Today I upped to my 1400 cals as directed, it was hard to get them in but I managed to space it out just perfect. Went to the gym for 20 min then hubby and I took the kids to the park and rode bikes this evening. Day one down and positive one at that! Great job ladies sounds like day one went well you too!

Went in to see my surgeon today. I was not happy to hear the news that I have only lost one pound since my last visit in Feb. Actually I was kind of crushed I work my butt off 5 days a week at the gym. For an hour per day. So I started to figure that when I was not seeing the scale move weekly that I must be doing something wrong. I generally do not keep a food log. I just watch what I eat and how big the portions are, stop when I am full and so on. So since I work really hard at this working out thing (lol) I decided to start to talley up how many calories I am taking in per day. Well to my surprise I am not taking in many at all! Usually less than 1000 per day. yet I am burning 500+ a day in the gym. This is very bad. I am burning what I am eating and then some so my body is in starvation mode Well upon talking to the dietician she now wants me to take in 1400 cal per day and burn off about 100-200 cal in in gym. My question now is I am sitting here actually logging my food, cals, carbs and protein....How in the heck am I suppose to get in 1400 cals. I can barely get in 1200 cause I am not that hungry , yet I do not want to stop exercising to burn cals. I really love to exercise. Does anyone have suggestions as to what I could eat to add cals yet stay in my set carb intakes of 130 per day and protein of 70 per day? Any help or advise will be greatly appreciated

I am losing inches. I lost about 2-3 inches since my last appointment. My size 13-14's are no longer in my closet because they were too big, I now have 11's and 12's but those are starting to get a little loose. So yes I am seeing a difference in inches. I also do lift weights, 2xs a week for about an hour. I am getting really close to goal. about 25 to 30 pounds, give or take so I suppose it gets really hard at this point, the weight doesnt just fall off at this point? Idk?

Thats my goal 20 pounds by June 7th when hubby and I leave on our vacation to go home and visit and then down to Miami for a cruise to Mexico