Tabithan

This is GREAT!!!!!!!!!! Excercise is such an important part of our success. I started this week and I am feeling so proud. You should add an excercise ticker so we can see how you are progressing daily!!! So when will you do your first workout? What day?? As you can see, I am not letting it go......... LOOOOOOOOOOOOOL :wink:

Exactly Webkat - I have also heard of bands taking MORE than the CC they were designed to take, so all these things leave me a little hopeful that the band isn't blown!!! PEOPLE - I just ate my lunch - Frozen dinner, and I felt so hungry, I have to embarassingly admit, that I licked the plate clean - YES - LICKED IT - Is it time for a fill????? LOOOOOOOOOL If this isn't greed, then I dont know what is!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to the group, BAYOUGIRL!!! We are definitely glad to have you!!! I'm so sorry to hear about the slipped band. it is so important to all strugglers to hear your story to understand what could happen if we dont start using the band as a tool. I TRULY TRULY hope that the unfill will help the band reposition and you will not have to undergo further surgery. Please keep us in the loop and we will all keep our fingers crossed for you. You mentioned that you will start making small goals for yourself. This is GREAT!!! Would you mind sharing your specific goals? this way, we can all help keep you accountable.

OH NO, steph!!! I am SOOO SORRY TO HEAR THIS - But hopeful for the best - hopefully they will test the band and it is not blown - my hope is that it is something minor that can be easily corrected. Please keep us posted and in the meantime, try not to indulge in food out of frustration. We food addicts love to turn to food - I find myself wanting to eat when i am happy, sad, angry, excited - every emotion. I am keeping you in my thoughts and please update us. Did the dr's office advice you to do anything different "in the meantime?"

Hi AnnJones - Yes, PLEASE PLEASE, learn from our mistakes!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish I had someone else's mistakes to learn from when beginning my lapband journey. It's interesting but when I look at my VERY FIRST thread at LBT, it was during my month of surgery - march last year and it was titled "breaking the dr's orders." In that thread, I talked about the fact that I wasnt following the dr's orders about liquids and had moved on to solid foods. Someone cautioned me on the thread that if I didnt get back on track right away, I was setting myself up for failure. How PROPHETIC THEY WERE!!! Congratulations on your journey towards getting banded - my advice - please follow ALL the dr's orders however tough they seem, excercise, and find a way to transfer your addiction away from you. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Everyone, I have been there - where all of you have been - and recently got back on the bandwagon - working hard at it. If you would like a place to share failures, successes, get a kick in the pants, or just vent, please please, join us on the "I have failed my band support group. The link is below my weight tracker. Hope you are well, and hope to see you soon!!

love this thread

OMG Juli!!!!!1 Your transformation is TRULY outstanding - you look great and I am SOOOO IMPRESSED. You really need to share your tips for success, please!!! I can't get over it. You dont even look like the same person!!! Really nice work - CONGRATULATIONS - Keep it GOING All - I managed to go for spin class today. Whooo whooooooooop!!!!!!!!!!!1

Did 1 hour SPIN at the gym this AM - whoooo whoooooop!!!!!!!!!

Hi SKHOP, Welcome to our GROUP. I am so glad you joined us and I truly believe that if you committ to this, you can make it work. SKHOPP - I will give you some TOUGH LOVE, and I hope you are okay with it. I received some tough love as well, before I recommitted to the band, so I am passing on the favor!!! :eek: Your story reads EXACTLY like mine. I had surgery, and had one post op visit with my surgeon, then literally never saw him again. My fills were always done by the nurses. To be fair, I think they were very competent. I went in for numerous fills, and never had restriction. In fact, prior to my port readjustment a few weeks ago, I was filled at CAPACITY - 100% filled - yet, I could eat meals just as big as my friends - occassionally I felt the pressure, sometimes I didnt. Just like you, I went in for a barrium swallow and some xrays to ensure I didnt have a fill. Through this entire time, I thought my band had slipped or this damn band was not working. Or maybe, the pouch had expanded. REALITY TIME: a) You may have just confessed to us (unwittingly) that after you broke dr's orders. got your fill today, then ATE solid food, hence you knew you had no restrictions. It sounds like may not have followed the doctors orders - SAME THING I ALWAYS DID - since the docts recommend a liquid diet for a short period, maybe a day or two, after getting filled. :bored: It sounds like you may be eating around the band. Have you considered tracking your calories? It is amazing what you can find out with this - perhaps you are eating 3000 calories a day - very easily done, even with the band. Just takes poor food choices. c) Based on the quantities you can consume, is it possible that your pouch has stretched??? I think there may be a chance and you may want to explore this with your surgeon. If your pouch has stretched, or if you continue overeating and putting pressure on your band on a regular basis, your band could SLIP and you could lose your tool. This is a bitter pill I had to swallow. If your band is stretched, the solution MIGHT BE getting a complete unfil, going on liquids, then mushies, then solids in SMALL QUANTITIES to get your pouch to deflate. I think you may want to consider this and discuss with your surgeon. I have heard of quite a few people that have had to remove the fill from their band for a few weeks, then get a small fill, to get back on track. Prior to my band readjustment about 3 weeks ago, I had NO restriction, despite being filled. After my readjustment, the dr removed ALL the fill, and only put in .25cc. I also had to go on PURE LIQUIDS for 3 days, then MUSHIES before solids. By the time I got back on solids, I had the all ELUSIVE RESTRICTION. I am amazed that our story sounds SO SIMILAR. It doesnt sound as if you have a leak, because you did not mention that the quantity of saline decreased from fill to fill - so that is the good news. QUESTIONS FOR YOU: a) Are you really ready to recommitt to your band? to use it as a tool? :drool: If you are, what will you do differently? Are you willing to try drastic steps such as an unfil for a few weeks if your dr is okay with it? c) Are you willing to follow band rules which includes measuring ALL your foods (to control quantity) and eating for 20 minutes?? its interesting but the feeling of satiety for me does not come until about 20-30 minutes after a meal - that is when I feel either satisfied or OVER STUFFED - you may want to try this strategy. d) What are your goals, to help you accomplish this? These are just my NON-MEDICAL thoughts and speculations - in the end, I think the discussion with your doctor will help you get the RIGHT answers!!! :w00t: I feel your pain because just 3 or so weeks ago, I WAS IN YOUR EXACT SHOES - I didnt even have to chew food thoroughly and it would go down - Now, I have restriction, and I am losing weight - which tells me that YOU TOO, can do it. We support you SKHOPP - thanks for joining us and PLEASE, keep venting and more importantly, keep taking action steps to move you in the right direction, in bandland.

Hi Everyone!!! I worked out today as well - Went for spin class this AM - wooohooooooooo - I didnt work out as hard as I could, but at least I went. Now I want to go for Tae Kwondo tomorrow. I'm loving the variety. OKAY - I just OVERATE and FEEL LIKE I WANT TO BURST plus I feel so GUILTY!!!!!!!! My friend and I went for lunch at chilis and I ordered the salmon guiltless drillm - only 480 calories and quite tasty - I also had some Soup. I ate about a quarter of my meal at lunch then came home and ate the rest, a few minutes ago. I REALLY overdid it. What is worng with me sometimes?? where is the self control??? How was your day today, fellow strugglers? what are your WEEKEND GOALS? I have to go for a "birthday dinner" on Saturday. IN preparation for the calories, I will work out on Saturday AM and really try to eat limited calories throughout the day - veggies that take a LOT of SPACE but are low in calories, to leave me with AMPLE room. What is your strategy when you know you will have to eat POORLY on a certain day? I failed miserably at eating our last Thursday and Friday, and I really do not want to REPEAT!!!!!!!!!1

I'm so glad you are here - we can do it webkat!!! Your motivations seem to be in the right place!!!!!!!!!

WOW - i actually made it in for Tae Kwondo!!!!!!!!!!!! :tt1: Thought I would share. How is everyone doing on their goals???

Has a STRESSFUL day today - came home from work and just wanted to lay around and eat, then sleep. I ate dinner, and an hour later, I forced myself to go for Tae Kwondo class. I can tell you now I am SO glad I went!! Just my daily check in!! :tt1:

WIERD QUESTION - Has anyone else noticed how long their food is lasting???? I cooked 1 of rice (1 cup uncooked) and I only eat a quarter cup per meal - usually just at dinner, and the cooked quantity is NOT going down - I may have to toss it and learn to cook 1/2 a cup each time!!!!!!!!!!! Before the band - 1 cup uncooked rice would last me one or TWO meals - I am NOT exaggerating!!!!

Hi Fellow Strugglers, I'm bursting with PRIDE so I have to tell!! I actually worked out again today after work - I wasnt sure I could do it since I was SO TIRED and I just wanted to eat and sleep - but I ate, and an hour later, forced myself to go for Tae Kwondo - 1 hour. Now I am so glad I DID!!! Wuhuuuuuuuuu What are your successes so far, this week, fellow strugglers????

Hi Gwen, At least you WENT to the GYM - definitely something to be proud of. I have a Tae Kwondo class in 45 minutes and I am trying to convince myself to go, since I am so tired from work. Just got home from work - anyway, I will let y'all know if I make it!!!!!!!!!!!!

GISELE - I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO GLAD You found us. Misery loves company and I am confident that we can all turn from Misery to ULTIMATE SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WELCOME!!!!!!! I think you are on the right track with measuring everything and using your band as a tool. Out of curiosity, when were you banded and what has your progress looked like? Do you have restriction at all? I think that in addition to making the right decisions on the quality and quantity of the food, we need the band to HELP US, with that quantity restrictions.

Webkat - WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME - We can definitely do it!! I'm sorry to hear that you had an emergency unfill and I truly do hope you are OK now. How is your appetite? Are you getting any restriction from the band?? Those are great goals I particularly love the tracking of everything you eat. I am using www.fitday.com and I LOOOOVE it. The working out everyday - what does workout mean to you? does it mean going to the gym? If so - wow that is so lofty!! Or if it means do something active everyday like shovel snow from the driveway and vacuum in addition to some serious activity, I think this is an AWESOME GOAL. Posting everyday on this - I can tell you that this has helped me be accountable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I even had to confess to my activity last week Thursday and Friday - It was bad and I gained two lbs. But because I came back here, confessed and recommitted, it is now 4 days later and I lost the 2lbs I gained and then so far, I have lost an additional 1. So please, do spill your guts out here daily, regardless of the good or poor food decisions. I am excited for you WebKat and I am confident you will be successful. We will be successful!!!!!!!!!!!! now get working on those goals!!! :w00t: :thumbup:

Hi Mom22, You should eat ANYTHING your stomach & band can tolerate so long as it is not high in fat, calories, sugars, etc. The goal is to eat healthy in moderation on the band. :biggrin: Of course, "normal" means that you are eating SOLID foods, as the band guidelines dictate. Your stomach & band may not be able to tolerate some solid foods like breads or asparagus.....so with time, you will find what solid foods work with your band. :biggrin:

FELLOW STRUGGLERS - I met my FIRST excercise GOAL - I woke up this morning and went to the gym for a 1hour SPIN class - WOW - I can't believe it and I am shaking with excitement. 1 hour down, 14 to go!!!!!!!1 Where are all my fellow STRUGGLERS???? How are you doing??? What are your Goals for December???? :biggrin:

I cant believe it!!! I actually woke up on time and did 1 hour of SPIN class at the gyma t 5:15AM!! It was tough but I feel great. I sweat as if someone threw Water on me!!!!! 1 hour down, 14 to go...WOHOOO Tuesday - Goal is to do Tae kwondo for 1 hour. :biggrin:

Hi Fellow Strugglers, I have just joined the December Excercise Challenge. As part of our recommittment to our bands, I think it is essential that we work out!!! Here is my December Workout Goal: a) Do Tae Kwondo 3 times a week :sad_smile: Do spin class at gym, 2 times a week. My other Band Goals for December remain the same, as: a) Eat up to 1500 calories a day :tongue: Write down everything I eat on Fitday c) Measure out everything I eat (I need to buy a food scale) d) Drink at least 8 glasses of H20 daily

Hi Everyone!!! I have recently recommitted to my band and as part of this recommittment, I know I need to WORK OUT. I recently (1 week ago) signed up for Tae Kwondo. Workout Goal for DECEMBER: a) Do Tae Kwondo 3 times a week :tongue: Do spin class at gym, 2 times a week. Will check in daily!!!!!!!!! :sad_smile:

I put a less milk in my cereal than prior to surgery which means that with each bite of cereal, I have more solid than liquid. For soup, I do the same thing - focus more on the vegerables in the soup than the actual liquid. The reason you dont want to much liquid in your food is because it will reduce your long-term satiety after the meal - this is why I STAY AWAY from soups as much as possible.