BaytownBert

03-16-2011 I have reached a place I can live and I weigh 220 lbs and holding!

2-12-07 Set-up appointment for weight loss seminar at UniversityGeneralHospital 2-17-07 at 11am. Barbara Deanda is my main support person. 2-16-07 Sandra and I went into Houston to the University General Hospital for the initial appointment. BMI 43 and weighed a massive 307 with clothes on. I was one of the smaller people, but may have been the biggest guy. I think everything will go through like it's on a greased (bacon) skid. Afterward, we went Papasitas. First diet class Monday. 2-19-07 0800-1000 Went to the initial class for dietary/psych eval uation and passed with flying colors. I set up my first of three nutrition classes for this Tursday and I'm having to take vacation to get it in this month. 2-22-07 1300

You can always sprinkle it on stuff that is compatible, like a chicken salad, or a soup. i would experiment a bit before I tossed it out. :hungry:

Yes, indeed, McGreen, something I failed to mention that I have gained weight over my whole body and I have a history of heavy exercise, even when I weighed 270, I could still do a lot of heavy exercise. It was when my son was wounded in Iraq that I comforted myself with food and beer and got out of control, pushing 310. My son recovered just fine, but I was stuck at a point of seemingly no return. That's when I decided to go with the lapband. If a person does not have a history of heavy exercise, or they have joint and health related problems, then by all means go with low-impact mechanisms, or gently swimming and cycling until you can move onto something more rigorous. I sometimes forget that a lot of us heavy eaters have led a life of indulgence with little to no exercise, but I am learning. Y'all work with me. :faint:

I'm suspecting the chicken flavored Protein can go in soups, etc.. Why not just drink a chocolate Protein shake (or two) with a banana during the day instead? It's an easy way to get protein and if you sip the Water fairly heavily during the day, the meal will seem adequate? Canned fish products like oysters, sardines, tuna, salmon, and herring offer about 20 grams of protein also. You can buy powdered milk and add it to stuff to boost its protein numbers also.

Can I give an opinion on this? Please? There is no substitute for 5 cardio methods/exercises. I'm not knocking using a particular machine either. Here are the five: 1. Climbing real stairs 2. Swimming 3. Walking 4. Running/Jogging 5. Cycling Of these five, the two that will literally knock your socks off is running/jogging and real stair climbing. Nothing else will strain your body like these two will, for easy to do exercises. Throw in a weight lifting program - either free weights or machines (plus diet) and you have what it will takes to be strong and healthy. I have years of heavy athletic training in my background and as the years have went by, I finally let myself go. I plan to get back to something resembling what I looked like in 1975 and this is actually me at 23.

I thought I would post this for all those who are just starting their journey. You can buy whey powder at Wal-Mart very cheaply. You must keep your Protein intake at the top of the food list to be successful in weight loss. Who is whey protein for? Whey protein is ideal for: Growing children and teenagers. ADD and ADHD are common childhood "diseases", which many consider to be diseases of sugar addiction. Whey protein helps stabilize children's blood sugar, increases production of feel-good brain chemicals which helps increase mental clarity and focus, and helps prevent and reduce the symptoms of ADD and ADHD. Pregnant or lactating women. Protein is essential for the proper fetal and infant development, particularly brain development, and helps prevent gestational diabetes. Adults. As we get older, our bodies are less efficient at absorbing protein. Whey protein is the most easily absorbed protein available. It will reverse the aging process and rebuild your immune system. You will rarely if ever be sick and you will begin to look and feel years younger. Busy people. The busier you are, the more energy you need. Whey protein helps increase mental and physical energy instantly. Athletes and body builders. It is the most easily and quickly absorbed protein available, for maximum muscle synthesis.

Post-OP Day 13: Rode my bike one hour in the morning. Walked one hour in the evening. Weight loss so far 25 pounds and this includes the 2 week Pre_OP diet. 14 days pre-diet + 13 days post-Op = 27 days and 25 pounds. I am drinking 3 Protein shakes per day (plus) and eating mainly, boiled eggs, canned herring, sardines or yellow tuna (all in soybean oil) and yogurt. I am also sipping up to 1 gallon of Water each day. sometimes I put a banana in the Protein Shakes. Protein shakes are mostly prepackaged EAS AdvantEdge 17gram Protein drinks (Choc-Van-Strawberry), but also am using EAS 100% whey Protein powder (23 grams) and Body Fortress 100% Whey Protein (46grams) all from Wal-mart shelves. I mix the powders with 1% regular milk or Soy milk and chipped ice in the blender and it usually makes 2 large glasses per serving. I take 2 centrums, 4 250mcg B12, and extra Calcium (liquid or capsules) I am never really hungry and I have no loss of energy.

Aussie_Jodie: That was a very good post! Thank you!

I'm on Day 11 and rode my bike twice today for a total of 8 miles. I've balanced out my protein/carb intake so I'm not so tired and it's working for me pretty good.

Interesting discussion! I haven't had my first fill and I'm on Day 11, so it's good to know what lies ahead. :whoo:

Dang! I'm slow on the uptake! Band date was September 24th - Texas time. :whoo:

What various daily regimen do you take to insure you are getting everything you need in vitamins, minerals, etc.?

Calcium is a very important mineral because it... * Combines with phosphorus to form bones and teeth, making them hard and resistant to breaks and decay. Children need to get enough calcium for their bones and teeth to develop normally. Getting enough calcium early in life helps bones remain strong later in life. * Helps muscles to contract normally. A deficiency can cause muscle spasms and cramps. * Helps blood to clot normally, when you get a cut or wound. * Is essential for nerve messages to be passed along the nervous system from the brain to other parts of the body and vice versa. * Helps regulate blood pressure. Low calcium intake has been associated with high blood pressure. People with high blood pressure should make sure they consume the recommended amount of calcium (1000 to 1500 mg per day). African-Americans have a higher rate of high blood pressure than other groups and tend to have low calcium intakes. * Calcium may help prevent colon cancer, one of the most common forms of cancer. Calcium may reduce cancer risk in two ways: (a) by binding fat and bile acids in the large intestine, keeping them from causing harm and (:rose: by preventing the excessive growth of cells in the intestines, which could otherwise lead to cancer.

kmmhmomof4: Yuppers, it's very normal. It will pass over the next few days, just hang in there. You can try a heating pad to relieve the pain, but sip the water and wait....then sip again. The first 3 days are like an out of body experience, but since I am a child of the 70's... :heh:

You know, I might be talking through my hat here since my band is so new, but going back a couple of year to when I did the Atkins real seriously, I did not experience hunger, as long as I stayed with the plan. it was only when I deviated that things began to unravel. A nurse told me that many times folks with the Band experience unnecessary trouble, because they try to cheat around the Band. I do not plan to do that. I'm 55 and headed towards diabetes and my blood pressure alone is going to kill me if I had kept eating the way I had for years. I look at it this way, sooner or later my diet was going to kill me, or restrict me to some terrible diet, so if I got the Band, i could restore my health, lose weight, curb my cravings, lower my blood pressure, and knock out the possible diabetes. Cheat the band? I don't think so. :heh:

I'm on day 5 and I haven't really experienced that yet. maybe I have a mental block set up, but I have been sipping that Water till the cows come home. About one gallon a day and I keep that water bottle with me all the time, so that might be why I haven't been hungry. Get some chicken and beef bullion cubes and a sippy cup. heat two cups of water, drop the cubes in it and stir until they are dissolved, then pour it in your sippy cup ( an insulted cup with a partially open lid). After its gone, move back to your water. If the urge hits you, grab a sugar free Popsicle.

sirusman: That would be like me driving up to Dallas from Houston, I guess, or maybe San Antonio. Good deal. Glad to hear you are back in the UK where civilized folks live. :heh:

lauraj23: Well, you know that taste is relative, right(?), but I find them an easy replacement for a milk shake type drink. Now, I've had the vanilla in the "Lite" version and it was tolerable. The chocolate fudge flavor is an easy drink to swallow for this type of concoction.

sirusman: Dang, you are one serious lap-band traveler! I had to drive 4 miles, surgery at 4pm and home at 9pm. We have a pretty good medical network here in Baytown and we are 30 miles from Houston, Texas. Sip - sip - sip! :whoo:

Day 2 post Op - I had already lost 15 pounds during the pre-diet and surgery.

Folks, I think I can tell you that if you are constipated, you may not be drinking enough Water. You MUST do that 64+ ounces per day and the more the merrier. Constipation is caused by dehydration inside the bowel. Did anyone take the magnesium citrate the day before your surgery? If you did, what that stuff does is suck moisture from everywhere into your bowels...and man O man, the results are rapid evacuation of the bowels and that in liquid form. Sip sip sip. :whoo:

I started considering Lap-Band back in January 07 and wondered how I would deal with the ordeal of folks asking me about it. I do not like to fail at anything I do and even though I have a public persona (write for the local newspaper and civil crime activist in my town), I am actually rather private. I decided very early on to just let the cat out of the bag and get folks used to it. It was a careful decision and initially there were a lot of questions and comments, but like everything else, the months have slipped by as I went through all the hoops I needed to qualify for insurance coverage - and folks basically lost interest. I'll be off from the Chemical Plant that is my mainstay for about a month and when I return, I'll be about 25-30 pounds lighter, so there will be another round of comments, but I felt it was the best route to take.

janer55: I'm doing that very thing with sugar-free Popsicles. I went to Wally Mart and bought a different name brand tonight, just so I could have a possible variety. In these beginning days (day 5 post-OP), I am making the transition from eating in a 50+ year abandoned fashion to being a lap-bander, by hitting the liquids with abandon. Bullion cubes are salty and high sodium and quite tasty. Mixed with about a gallon of sipped Water chasers, I ain't going to sweat the sodium. I have been putting the bullion in an insulated cup and sipping it. I've been keeping a 22oz water bottle with a screw on restricting device cap with me all y waking hours and this causes me to sip it constantly. I have noticed something peculiar and I'm not sure if it is being caused by the lack of carbs, or what. it is a lackluster attitude towards my normal activities, which include many hours on my PC, watching TV, etc. Even the music I normally listen too, seems too busy. The absolute best times for me each day are simply sitting on my back porch, watching the birds and listening to the neighborhood sounds.