farmgirl04

Not quite there yet, I'm 56, and was banded 6 months ago. No time like the present to get started

You are not going to like what I have to say, but here it goes..... Are you out of your mind!!!!! The band is a TOOL! Forgetting all the post op restrictions, that are there to allow your stomach to heal), you still have to eat healthy food! Chicken fingers?! French fries?! Cheesballs?! Seriously, if you aren't going to change your eating habits then I don't know what to say. Didn't they teach you all this prior to your surgery? If not, then your doctor was very remiss. I'm sorry if all this sounds harsh but you have to figure this out if you want this to work.

Sorry- posted in the wrong section. Thought people might get a laugh out of a funny episode! I was banded last August. I've only had 2 semi stuck episodes since then (both on apples, when I kind of forgot I was banded). Anyhow, tonight we rented two movies. One was The Possession. I was out late and missed dinner. I came home, we put on the movie, I ate some salad - too fast- and got stuck, PBing all over the place, hurling up the salad. It was the first time hubbie ever saw it. It was not pleasant. I was basically hawking up everything I ate, telling him to leave me alone, really not pretty. Anyway, I got unstuck. We went back to watching the horror movie, and next thing I know the possessed girl in the movie is trying to hurl up a:) demon! I turned to my hubbie and basically informed my hubbie that that was what had been happening earlier. It made for some funny times! Anyway, he says he is done EVER watching a horror movie with me again. I never thought being stuck could turn out funny, I was wrong!

I drink wine. I count it in my tracker, and I don't indulge in any other type of 'sweets', ie no 'cheating'. I think the biggest issue is that it might allow you to make poor choices in what and how much you eat. Given all the ground rules, I think everyone has to adjust to allow a lifetime of good behaviors. I think by September you'll have an excellent handle on what works for you.

I just posted a funny story (at least I think so) about just that thing. I posted it in success stories by accident. You might get a laugh out of it. I'm only 6 months out. The only time I've had trouble is when I forget!

Sorry, meant to post in post surgery!

I was shocked at work today. I was transferred to a new school this year. I had my surgery shortly before school started so all they know is that I have been working hard to lose weight, and have been successful. I turn down all the almost daily treats and snacks. Anyway, I had the opportunity to return to my old position so today was my last day at the new school (hope this makes sense). For my going away presents they gave me unbelievably rich chocolates, boxes of candy, and ice cream cake! What the hell! I know they have pushed me, hard, to eat their garbage all year but that was really uncalled for. Especially having my special needs students serve me the cake. I mean, really folks! I'm giving the chocolates and boxed candy to my family, and had a tiny piece of ice cream cake. I was really concerned that it would make me violently ill since it was so rich, but I survived. I really just wanted to vent. Thanks for listening

Congrats! Isn't it wonderful having those moments! We are at about the same point right now, I get surprised that I feel my tailbones when I sit on something hard

What are your questions?

I know it sound silly, but there are times that my belly really fills up when I chug down my water. Do we ever need to be concerned about overfilling on water?

Surgery five months today. 60 pounds gone, 40 still to go. At the gym 5 days a week. Training for a 5K. Looking forward to my summer adventures- zip lining, soaring, and tandam parachuting. Amazing to think where I was a year ago! Just plain happy today!

For starters, I'm 56 and my father, bless him, is 96 so his opinions shaped me-literally- a long time ago. I've always known he wanted everyone around him to be slender but I had no idea till tonight how strongly he felt. We were discussing NJ's Governor Christie and my father commented that while he liked Christie he would never vote for him. I thought it was because Christie is republican. Nope, my father said how could anyone respect someone who was so fat, and if he (Christie) couldn't control what he put in his mouth how could he control anything. I was rather speechless, I'm not going to try to educate, or change, someone at 96 years of age, but it really makes me realize that weight really is his issue imposed on me. It validates how awful my visits were for me when I was really fat, and that while he loves me his attitude sure hasn't helped me. It also dawned on me that when I was 'fat' as a teenager and young adult I really wasn't!! I just calculated my bmi from then and it was 22.3! And I would have told you I was fat back then, and meant it. Just goes to show how we can alway learn from our past. I love him with all my heart but man, did he do number on me!

Rojasanoll, My doc is the same way as yours. My weight loss has been fine, but it has been done the old fashion way- straight personal willpower. Not sure how else to say it. I have only even been aware of my band twice, both times when I was in a rush and took a big bite of an apple and didn't chew it well. I have never felt full from a small amount since the very first weeks when everything was swollen. It is getting old. I have had 2 fills (2 ccs each)with the pa (last one in early October), I saw the doc for the first time since surgery just last month and he said 'no fill, you're doing great'. I want some restriction! I am seeing the pa in 2 weeks, I hope she will give me one. On a side note, everyone who knows I had lap band comments on how well the band is working, I want to scream (and sometimes I do a little) "It isn't the band, it's me, working hard!" I wrenched my back shoveling snow the other day, and went for some drugs. When I got home and looked at the size of the pills I couldn't believe it, they were as large as any pill I've seen. I started to call to see if I could cut or grind them, then said 'what the heck' and swallowed it! It went straight down, no issue. If I'm hungry a big salad helps, I love asparagas, green beans, all kinds of food I thought would not work. I don't eat any bread or drink any carbonation- I'm happy without since I was banded, but I don't think, restriction wise, it would be an issue. What worries me is that I have taken the weight off before, and kept it off for years only to gain it all back plus some. I know I can take it off, I just want to make sure the band will be able to help me keep it off. I feel I need some restriction now so I have the peace of mind knowing it will be there when I need it later.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I am thinking I need to go back to square one again and look at my protein. Unless I drink protein shakes I can't get enough in without eating too many calories. A New Dawn--No, I am not snacking at all between meals, my dr wants me to avoid that. I think that is why I can get so hungry at times. I've often eaten dinner at 4 p.m. just because I couldn't wait any longer, then go to the gym or bed early so I'm not too tempted in the evening. I'm not starving in the a.m. so maybe it is just 'head hunger' but it sure feels real! Thanks again for getting me to re-examine!

As I lose I get much more critical of my body. It happens to me every time. I think I go into a severe case of denial when gaining so it is always a shock to me when I start looking again. One thing that I try to do with my weight loss is put it in terms I understand- a stick of butter, a bag of flour, and your loss- my friend -is almost an entire bag of sheep grain! That's a lot! Think about carrying that around all day! You may not be allowing yourself to see it, but are you feeling it yet? Great work, keep up the wonderful job!

How do you handle the hunger? I've been eating big green salads before dinner, with no dressing or added calories. Lots of green beans and other fillers after my protein (usually fish). I thought, probably incorrectly, that we would lose the weight with restriction not straight willpower. I will admit this would be nicer if it was because I felt full, not because I storm around hungry a lot of the time. I guess it is nice to know it will be there in the future if I need it, but I also worry that he will say 'you did it before, just do it again', like my family doc says to me. I put on 5 pounds in the 5 days surrounding Christmas; I didn't eat that much- less than everyone around me, a fraction of what I would have eaten a year ago. It was scary, and surprising, how fast it went on. I am back to where I was through calorie restriction and a lot of gym work, but WOW! I’m concerned about how little I’ll be able to eat and still maintain when I get to goal.

I would be looking at summer 2014, anticipating a 1 year wait. I would love to be able to help someone who needs it. Hopefully it will work out! What a win/win no matter what. It would be better than just tossing it out in the garbage so to speak.

Get to goal (should be by June), run in my first 5K in 15 years (April 27), parachute, yogu (so I am more limber), continue to enjoy life!

Gosh, after reading everyone's positive comments I hesitate to add anything but here it goes. My husband is overweight, very. On one hand he is very supportive, on the other hand he can also work hard to undermine me, although he would deny that 100%. He had every reason under the sun for not going with me to any pre-op appointments or support groups. He will not read up on any information. He says he is being supportive, but he also comes home with all kinds of food I can't eat. Just this morning we got in an argument because he tried to insist I could eat hashbrowns with him. I know he is scared, but I was the thin when we got married 30 years ago. I lived his style and gained 100 pounds. I'm down 60 pounds, with 40 to go, just started running again, and have signed up for a 5K this spring. He is against it completely. He is really freaking because I'm going to parachute this summer also I just have to recognize that all that is his problem, not mine, and power on myself.

Just signed up for a Color 5K in April! I figure there will be so much going on it will help keep my mind occupied and away for the crazy, why am I doing this, thoughts

This week I am struggling to get to the gym. After work today I had to go grocery shopping, then cook dinner, and then bake cookies for work. There are still 25 minutes till that last of the cookies come out. Do I go to the gym at 9 pm, or just say it's too late?! I've missed a lot of gym time in the last week but am still losing, but the gym makes it so much easier. Anyone else finding it hard to fit it in with the holiday obligations? Ann

I'm with Kime-lou! I have to bake tons of cookies. It is a very slippery slope if I start testing and trying this early in the holiday game. I'll have my share of indulgences, but it will because I want whatever it is, not because I happen to be making it. I also know that sugar is my 'drug of choice' and right now I'm going to just say no, although it is killing me!

First let me tell you I am not the most techie person in the world. I have a small, shuffle type player, I can't imagine taking my phone on a run with me. I need a tech trainer first, then a running coach!

Me too! I can't stand synthisized music! I was just about to start this same line of questions. Also, treadmill or outside (in the cold)?

I agree with you about running, and can't wait to start again. I have a couch25k question though. Did you just say, well, I guess that's 60 seconds, or that must be 90 seconds? The training program that I listened to had synthasised (SP) music and I couldn't stand it. Did you start outdoors or on a tread mill. I'm ready to start, able to do 40 minutes on the eliptical or training bike, but I'm not sure how I want to start. Any suggestions?