jayeedee

I'm not counting calories. I refuse. I just eat when I am hungry. I am also not doing a set cardio program yet. I find that when I start a heavy cardio program, I get hungrier than I need to be, so I've been doing lots of resistance, walking more and taking the stairs more in my every day life, and doing very short spurts of HIIT (tabatas) here and there when I feel up to it. My weight loss was stalled for a bit, but once I started adjusting my carbohydrates (adding more) my body was happy. I lost weight better if I am taking in simple carbs. I knew this from pre-surgery, but everyone is so low-carb gung ho that I thought I'd see how it went... the answer is not good White rice works for me. You've lost a lot for how long it's been since the surgery Slow and steady is better for your body/mind anyway, so keep at it. We're getting there.

Congratulations all around!

Don't look at the needle, and hopefully you won't feel a thing! and since this is late, I hope it went well.

I wanted something reversable. I also like me. I know that losing weight is a process, and I couldn't imagine how I would deal with suddenly dropping a ton of weight, so I wanted something that I would have to work with, so that in the even there are problems, I learn the skills to lose and maintain the weight on my own (albeit, not as easily). I also have dumping if I eat too much sugar as it is, and I see so many GB people who "cheat" on a regular basis because they can... and then they dump... and that does not sound like fun.. plus it doesn't alter behavior enough further down the line when the body adapts. Everyone I know personally who has had GB surgery gained most of the weight back because those first few years they lost regardless of what they were doing and never learned how to be a healthier version of themselves. The last thing for me was, the primary reason I was heavy and keeping on weight is because of my appetite/portion sizes. I am generally a healthy eater because my body would gets mad at me when I'm not and I have a few food allergies to common food fillers (meaning I eat whole foods for the most part instead of processed). I just wanted something that would help with my appetite and portion size. So far so good with the lapband. Plus, no risk of more dumping. If I want a cookie, my doctor says to have the cookie (I don't really like Cookies though, so it would proabably be cake). The thing is though, with my appetite how it is, I really don't want calorie dense things. I am not as tight as some people around here, and I think I will stay this way because I lose better when I eat simple and complex carbs. I was at a plateau until I added white rice to my diet every other day. But I don't have to be scared to add these things because I won't overeat them, and since the band is adjustable, I can keep it at a level where I can. If I need to change though, I can always get it tighter... I like that about it too. There is also more aftercare. Since i check in with my doctor's office every month, I know that for the first year, I have a whole team helping me stay on track. I think GB patients only need to go 2x-3x post surgery for the first year. Oye... sorry for the long response... but these are the reasons I went with LB over GB. Oh, and quick recovery. I was back to work in less than a week with only a little bit of pain.

I wish there was some universal lapband maintenance etc thing!! We are all over the place. I had a fill during surgery on the 13th of January, and my first fill under floro on the 14th of February. I am not tight, but I think I might stick here until I really plateau. I feel like my appetite is manageable. I can eat anything I want without getting stuck (I don't want bad things though... if I did I'd probably want another fill). And my appetite is not so bad. I rarely clean a plate, and I go about 3.5-5 hours without real hunger. My doc said I can eat up to 6 meals a day and I'm still at 3 with the occasional snack. How is everyone else who had their first fill doing? For those who are still waiting, HANG IN THERE!!!!!!

Mine is working out 3x/week with resistance 2x/week and getting at least some cardio. So I guess resistance 2x a week with tabata on those days plus 1 day?

I can't find it!!!! I am so sad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am thinking of singing up for a 5k on my 30th Birthday, March 24th. I am debating if I have enough time to prepare. I can walk it right now... I'd like to be able to do more than walk though. Any suggestions for training outside of c25k? As soon as I get the okay from my doc I'll start resistance training again, and my stationary bike... and then some jogging/power walking would be good too. I think I can be in okay enough shape by my birthday to do it. Anyone else doing fitness/exercise planning? If so, what do you have planned?

I won't be able to do the 5k by my birthday. I still have port pain if I exercise for an extended period of time. Top that off with a twisted ankle and an injured wrist, plus two trips, one this coming week and one the first week of March, and it looks like an impossibility. On the plus side, I have been doing exercise spurts, walking around as much as possible (though today my ankle is yelling at me), and resitance training. I was so happy to get the approval from my doc on the resistance training. I enjoy it so much more than cardio I should be using my recumbant bike more than I am. I am nervous about how my ankle will react though. I hope everyone else is doing well!

Most doctor's restrict your lifting to no more than 10lbs for about a month, because you risk dislodging your port. Also, some people take more than a week to be all there. I was on pain meds every other day for two weeks after my surgery. But some people don't even need it.

after spending some time in contemplation, I've determined that I am not capable of buying medicine on ebay. Too scared lol.

THANK YOU SO VERY VERY VERY MUCH!!!!

I've looked at walgreens, CVS, walmart, and target. I'm asking for acetomeniphine, and its a no go, even for the store brands. I'm only a little more than a month out, and just had a fill so I'm not quite ready to attempt an actual gel tab yet. I am also usually an ibuprofen taker, but the doc said not to. I wish I had something yesterday though. Boo! Thanks for the input everyone! and, OMG!!! I just looked on amazon!!!! a bottle of liquid tylenol for adults is $32!? Is this how much it costs everywhere? Holy moly! I am seeing amazon sells it for $7 but it is out of stock and everyone else is charging $32. http://www.amazon.com/Tylenol-Acetaminophen-Stength-Liquid-Cherry/dp/B000GGJC20/

I do not do well with food journaling where I have to count calories, but I still wanted to keep myself accountable, so I downloaded a photo food journal for my iphone. I take pictures of the food, and assign a smiley to it based on how healthy the meal was

I had my first fill on valentine's day, so it was all liquid for me. I did take a trip to the grocery store to look for a soup though. I'm so happy to read how everyone is progressing!!!

What's the recipe for the juice?

I am filled!! I didn't get any numbing agent, but it didn't really hurt. I was able to see my band and watch how it was working with the fluroscope/barium swallow. The new fill amount seemed to make a big difference with how the liquid went down, so I am curious to see how this all goes when I am back on soft food in two days. Good luck to everyone who is still waiting!

Congratulations!! I cannot wait to step on the scale and be happy with how things are going.

Congratulations!! What great progress. Keep it up!

I agree with Elcee. My doc also abandoned the Realize band because it needs more fills/maintenance etc. If your lifestyle is to be active, I would think getting the band that requires fewer doctors appointments and works within the fill range it is supposed to work would seem like the better option. Low pressure has nothing to do with what it does to your stomach to make it work. You won't feel the difference other than needing more fills to get the right pressure to make you feel not hungry.

Checking in to see how everything went. Hope your recovery is going well!

I get my fill this Tuesday, 4 weeks post op. I guess technically it's my second fill. My doc put in 2.5ccs during the operation. I am curious to see how it goes with a bigger fill. I am not in the green zone right now (I can eat too much), but I also don't have a big appetite.

I chose my target weight with this in mind. My doctor is latino, so he was cool with where my ultimate goal is. We are going for a BMI of 29

I am almost 1 month post op, single incision surgery through the belly button. I'm very happy with how it turned out, even if my belly button isn't as perfectly round as it used to be.