legnarevocrednu

I am soooo happy to say that I weighed in at 194 today!! Although I'm still 1 pound away from what I set my goal weight, I could not be happier! I've lost 5 pounds in the last week...amazing!!

I was banded a little over a month before you. Although I have not noticed my port moving or any soreness, I've heard that it can shift as you lose weight. I suggest talking to your doc about the soreness. I think the shifting is normal.

I was only allowed to drink protein drinks...and specific ones at that! I couldn't stand the one I was allowed to have, I was starting to feel sick. I replaced it with SF Carnation Instant Breakfast. The doc said if I started to feel so hungry I couldn't focus or do daily activities, that I was allowed to have a cup of non starchy vegetables. Which I took advantage of once because my pre op diet was 10 days long. I went against my doctors advice with the SF Carnation Instant Breakfast, but I definitely suggest for you to follow yours. Your doctor will tell you what to do. I lost 14 pounds in those 10 days. The first 3 days will be the hardest, but push through it and it will get easier. Good luck!

I can usually get in AT LEAST 50 grams of protein (on really good days, I can get in at least 70). I don't drink shakes. I just eat protein rich foods. Mostly from greek yogurt, chicken, and eggs.

Absolutely amazing! That is such an encouraging post! I hope to be where you are in 7 more months! I have 51 more pounds to lose so I'm hoping and really trying hard! Thank you for sharing! Just wondering, where did you start out at weight wise? Thanks!

All the time! My blood pressure is fine too. My doc said it was my body adjusting to the amount I've weight I've lost. It really upsets me sometimes. I have to stop what I'm doing and wait for it to pass.

I know on MFP, this is a popular topic and usually up for some debate. However, as people who have had WLS, I'm wondering if the philosophy is different. I find that most times, I am short AT LEAST 500 calories (after exercise). As my weight loss has began to slow down, it has me wondering if maybe I'm not eating enough. I find it difficult to get close to 1200. Here is my meal plan for today today: Breakfast-Greek Yogurt 140 calories Snack-Colby Jack Cheese Stick 80 calories Lunch-Lean Cuisin 250 calories Snack-Sliced Apples 50 calories Snack-Pure Protein Bar 280 calories (this is something I don't usually have...having it today to bring my calories up) Dinner- 1/2 Applebees Grilled Dijon Chicken 235 calories Total calories=1035 calories...this does NOT count the calories I will work off today. That will be approximately 150. Leaving me with Net calories totaling 885 calories. This is the closest I have ever come to 1200. My question is: Is the way I'm eating today okay? Yesterday is more of the norm for me. I ate approx 915 calories, exercised off 282, leaving me with a net of 633. The day before was worse than that. I had a net of 388! I'm just wondering, as bandsters, if trying to get to 1200 calories should be a concern of ours. Obviously, we are supposed to be restricted on the amount of food we eat. Is it logical to attempt to get to 1200? If so, I will try to incorporate maybe a bananna with my yogurt in the morning and more protein bars. Thanks for your input in advance!

I am a customer service representative at a bank. I see the same people quite frequently. I have to say, that I am getting sick and tired of all the comments/questions/and attention coming my way because of the weight loss! I don't mind responding to these types of things when it's coming from friends, but from people I barely know?? I can't stand it! I have people grilling me on how I lost the weight, asking me what size I'm wearing, how much weight I've lost etc etc. I know this may seem odd to some of you, but I just don't like it. Why can't people just say I'm looking good and leave it at that? But noooo....An elderly woman commented on my weight loss today. I don't even know who she is! And she was like "How did you do it?" Not "how are you doing it?" like she suspected I had surgery or something. I don't tell strangers about the surgery, so I just responded that I was counting calories...which isn't a lie because I am! She then proceeds to give me a look like she didn't believe me and then was like "It makes you look pretty." Ummm excuse me? I know, I know, some of you might be thinking that this is a compliment. I believe that I was pretty before my weight loss. Now I'm just healthier AND pretty! It upset me and pretty much put a downer on the rest of my day. All of this from someone I don't even know! She wasn't even a regular customer! I've also had people tell me I need to buy new clothes...well DUH!! Sorry guys, I just need to vent this out. Does anyone else feel the same way? Some women may be soaking up the extra attention, but not me. It just makes me uncomfortable. Like I said, I don't mind a simple compliment, but I've discovered that people can rarely leave it at that. I'm just frustrated. I feel like a day can't go by where I don't get into a conversation about how I've lost the weight. Okay...I'm done now. Excuse this rant! Haha.

Pictures of my Easter dress (the blue one) and a dress I bought for a wedding next month (the multi colored one). I'm so excited! I fit into an XL from Forever 21!

I would like to know this too! I had surgery 4 months ago and can still see my scars as plain as day!

I would finish out the day on just liquids. Slowly introduce solids and see how it goes. But I wouldn't push it today just to be on the safe side!

I have to say, I am simply amazed by this journey thus far! I wanted to post my story (in a condensed version) for those of you who are thinking about getting this procedure or have just begun your journey. I have been overweight for as long as I can remember. I just ate what I wanted, and enjoyed it very much. I had little to no concern about my health. I remember in middle school, I would sit in my bedroom closet just eating a can of icing. How disturbing is that?! I finally started thinking about WLS about a year ago. My highest weight was 259 LBS. Although I didn't have any health issues, I had began to miss my monthly visitor (sorry for the TMI). This really concerned me because I desperately want children in my future and I knew that the direction I was going in would make that difficult. I went to meet with a surgeon, and got the ball rolling! My insurance required that I meet with a nutrionist for 6 months before surgery. Those 6 months just FLEW by! However, I had not originally planned on getting the Lapband. My heart was set on getting the Vertical Sleeve. A week before surgery, my Insurance Cordinator gave me a call saying that my insurance will not cover that surgery as I needed to have a BMI of 50. I was really far off. However, I COULD get the Lapband. So after crying my eyes out all day, I decided that this is how it was supposed to be and I agreed to get the Lapband. It was the best decision of my life! I stayed one night in the hospital. It was my first surgery ever, and was relatively easy. The only difficult part was that I felt more comfortable resting in a chair than I did in the bed. I did not sleep much that night. Also, the first time they got me up to walk, I thought I was going to throw up and/or pass out. It got better. Today, it is exactly 4 months since my surgery, which I got on November 21st 2011. Today, I am exactly 60 pounds lighter. Today, I am FINALLY in Onderland (199 pounds)!! It has been simply amazing! I have had 2 fills. My doctor decided to hold off on another one due to the amount of weight I have lost. My weight loss has slowed down a bit, but I am still losing about 2 pounds a week. I will probably ask for another fill when I see him next month. I know everyone says this, but the band really is a tool that YOU have to use. I believe you have to want to put some effort into this before even getting the surgery or it won't work for you. Your mind has to be in the right spot. You have to WANT to change. You have to be willing to give up some of the foods you love or at least only have them on a very rare occasion. You have to be willing to work out. I guess its possible to lose weight without working out, but you will lose more slowly and you may end up looking disproportionate. Thanks to the band, better choices, and the gym, I have lost 60 pounds. I never thought I would be here. I still have 54 more pounds to lose, but I am soooo happy. I love to work out as it makes me feel so much better and I have so much more energy. I also do the Couch to 5K Program. I strongly suggest this program to anyone and everyone! Although I am only in the 4th week (9 weeks total) I am seeing an improvement. My thighs are smaller, I have lost inches, and I am more fit! Since my surgery, I have also lost 2 inches on my neck, 7 inches on my waist, and 6 inches on my hips. Oh, I also use myfitnesspal like a fantatic! Feel free to add me on there. My username is legnarevocrednu. Also, feel free to message me on here if you have any questions. Good luck to all of you on your journey! I still have about 54 pounds to lose, but I'm glad that I could finally post my story as a success!!

Checking in at 199!! Woohoo! I believe that's down 3 pounds from last week.

If it makes you feel better, I have never had longterm success either! I don't think I've ever stuck to a "diet" for more than a couple of weeks. I've been looking at this as a lifestyle change this time around, and have been successful. I don't feel miserable and my choices make me happy. I'm pretty confident, given your mind frame, that you will be successful as well! Best of luck!

I would say the amount of calories is probably the problem. As the above poster stated, I would aim for 900 calories (gives you some breathing room). Maybe up the amount of cardio you are doing? What kinds of foods are you snacking on? Be firm with yourself. Only keep healthy foods in the house, and only eat something every 2 hours. Drink water in between if you are starting to feel hungry. It's what I do, and it works. I keep my snacks under 100 calories, and my meals 300 or less. Schedule your eating and snacking ahead of time. Just some ideas!

There is this machine that's called "The Butt Blaster" haha. You could try something like that! I'm sure your gym will have something similar!

Checking in at 202. Down 1 pound.

I had to take 6 months of nutrition classes before the surgery. My doc goes by my highest weight during that time period. Coincidentally, it also happens to be my highest weight ever (259).

Thank you for the encouragement! Very much needed!

Do you count your calories? Stay under 1200? I eat almost every 2 hours. My meals are 300 calories or less and my snacks are 100 or less. Also, are you working out? Both of these things are important to lose weight.

If you can get liquids down, I say wait about 2 weeks. That's what I usually do. Good luck!