dolphintattoo

I know lots of folks do tummy tucks or boob jobs, but if there is one thing I want more than any other it's shapely legs. I have had cankles for as long as I can remember, my ankles are almost as thick as my knees. I am no where ready for it now, still have 60lbs to lose but I am really thinking about it. I feel like spanx or other compression garments can help with other trouble spots but I have never found a solution for my tree trunk legs. I also have some ropey veins and spider veins to add to the ugliness.

for anyone interested who thinks they may have lipodema, here are some links http://www.webmd.com/women/guide/lipedema-symptoms-treatment-causes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipedema http://www.lipedema-simplified.org/

I know it's been a while but I found out the cause, it's a condition called lipedema and no amount of exercise or diet will help There is a specific form of liposuction that fixes this, but currently only a handful of docs in the US perform it. In the meantime, I will keep working at the other body parts!

If you need to occasionally rely on frozen stuff (and the fact is some of us do) I really like the Good food Made Simple Breakfast bowls (I eat them for any meal). My nutritionist has blessed them for use when the other options are not as healthy. Other than slightly higher than desirable sodium, they are pretty good. http://www.goodfoodmadesimple.com/our-products/breakfast-bowls/southwestern-veggies/ 210 cal 9g fat 18g carb 14g Protein 320g of sodium

Lipedema is a fat disorder where a specific kind of fat cell that cannot be changed with diet or exercise accumulates mostly in the lower half of your body (some women also get it in their upper arms). Lymphedema is different in that it is an accumulation of Fluid in the legs. Lipedema can crush the lymphatic system (what moves the fluid) and once it's crushed the fluids can't move back up your legs so they stay and swell. Unfortunately liposuction is really the only cure for lipedema and in the US there are only a handful of surgeons who are skilled enough to perform it. There are a number of facebook groups for Lipedema sufferers and they are very helpful, there are no doctors in my area (Boston of all places) but I am certain I have it from the images of confirmed patients compared to my own as well as texture and other issues. My calves are almost as wide as my thighs and I have no swelling as you normally see with edema, it's hard fat.

I totally understand your point, and to say that a properly adjusted band is the solution alone isn't really true. Although your band may be full or near full, perhaps meeting with a nutritionist would help you create a meal plan that would work better with your restriction. I recently did this and am working towards getting my brain wrapped back around the signals from my stomach, the brain is pretty crafty at figuring out work arounds. Perhaps it's not just about the amount of Fluid but how everything else on this journey plays together.

After maintaining my 40lb loss since May, two weeks ago I really noticed I was up 5lbs and eating 1800-2000cals so I made an appt. I was really nervous to go in to see my surgeon (I usually see the NP) because I feel a bit like a lapband failure having only lost 40lbs since January. I have been eating all the time, a lot of crap, but even good stuff in large amounts and STILL wanting to eat off my own arm. He was sooo great! He congratulated me on seeing the signs and coming in for a fill. He ended up giving me a full ML after doing a half and the barium swallow not showing much restriction. I left feeling renewed like I can really do this again and won't be hungry all the time.

So here I am 2 weeks later and struggling, I find myself getting a little bit stuck (not as in throwing up but a painful feeling for a few minutes) with the first bite of most meals and being hungry 2-3 hours after lunch :/ I struggle too with the band being tight in the morning or with the first bite or two of a meal. Once I get past the 2nd bite I am ok, but have gotten that painful feeling a few times. Not sure if it's all me, not eating slowly enough or what.

Yes I do the arc trainer, elliptical and stair climber 4x a week. They are genetic for sure, my great grandmother used to say our short thick legs were ideal for working in the fields as were our short stumpy fingers! If only I was a farm hand!

the fat isn't really around the calf muscle, it;s below it, really at the ankle, so while my muscle is shapely, it sits above a sold block of fat on the lower part of the leg My trainer and I tried some exercises but since it;s mostly bone and tendons in that part of hte leg he can;t come up with any exercises to target that area.

Thanks, I did have an initial review with a vascular surgeon who didn't think at the time (about 6 months ago) my veins would be covered b/c they are a combination, only one ropey one would be considered for insurance. He did comment I didn't seem to have any swelling or edema, he was surprised, at first glance he thought I was swollen but after doing the thumb test and a few others he agreed it's fat not water!

go see your doc. I have over 10cc in my 14cc band and had the green zone at 6cc, but then lost it, You might just need more. Once you are there I do find it;s much easier to have your head in the game. I was way out of green the past few weeks and find it;s so much easier to feel like your just on another diet that will fail. Use your band, and use your medical professionals, this isn't a solo operation, you need to call on your team for support.

I like Luna, not as high in Protein as some others, but no grainy taste like the higher protein ones have. Lemon, peppermint and carrot cake are my favorites.

I still drink a diet coke a few times a week, my doc is fine with it if you can tolerate it.

A friend turned me onto this service, it's sort of like Netflix for clothing! You pay a monthly fee and get to "rent" clothes in size 10+. I was skeptical but since practically nothing fits 43lbs down, I figured it was cheaper than buying new only to find those too big. I have only had 2 shipments but so far so good, if you really like the piece you can keep it for a discounted price. Years ago there was a consignment shop in my area for people who had WLS but it has since closed and I don't seem to have good luck at consignment stores so I figured this was perfect, as I shrink I just change my profile and get smaller clothes. If anyone wants a link please PM me, I don't think we are supposed to post them here, but you do get referral credit if friends join. (That is not why I am posting, just wanted to share the concept).

I have received about 10 pieces, so far none of them smelled at all. I do wish they carried pants because that is where I struggle in terms of losing weight, a shirt can be a size or two too big, but pants fall right off. I am going to keep going, the dresses I have gotten have all been good for me, and a blazer I may keep.

I have a quick flight later this week (about an hour). I haven't flown in a few months and do have a call into the doc, but is it no food/drink for 30 minutes before and 15 minutes after?

Thanks, like everything else with the band each doc seems to have different guidelines. Mine is no food/drink during the flight, stop eating 1hr before, drinking 30 mins before and nothing "before you get to the baggage claim"!

I don't like to run (flat feet/big boobs) but owned a treadmill (and used it regularly) for many years. I love the incline ellipitcals and ascent trainers more though (and they are more $$$) at the gym. I burn far more calories on those machines vs. my treadmill b/c I am not a runner. I would not buy a piece of "home" equipment though, I would buy a piece of gym quality equipment if I was going to use it every day. For me, I love the gym but if I had the money and space I would get an ascent trainer and n Arc trainer for home.

Not according to my doc and his team, if you can tolerate diet soda or any other carbonated beverage it's fine. And if it keeps you from indulging in some calorie laden treat all the better.

I have 2 school age kids so usually once a year or so someone brings home a stomach bug. Some years I am lucky and don't get it, some years I do. But this year I have the band and my surgeon has put the fear of god in me that we must never throw up (for fear of slippage). Do docs rx you zofran or something to help stop vommitting if you do get a stomach bug? I am going in for a check in tomorrow and will ask but just curious what other docs do. *My doc is 10 minutes from my house so getting to him regularly is not an issue.

I drink a diet coke with a squirt of sugar free vanilla syrup almost every work day as my afternoon snack, it fills me up a little and kicks my sweet tooth. I do sort of dream about it on the weekends since I get it at the cafe at work!

I was talking about a stomach bug, norovirus or similar, I don't know of any benefit of the flu shot for a gastro bug.

Yep my first ever "oh...is that stuck?" moment was while on vacation and eating a pancake. Like donuts I can certainly live without them but darn I do miss them and come Christmas morning when the whole family is eating them I know I will miss them a little more. Oh well, I made a choice to be healthy and I guess pancakes can't come for the ride!

I have been working around this equation for a few months, I can't work out and burn 800-1000 cals a day and only eat 1200. Not only am I starving but I really don't have the energy I need. I have my calorie goal set to 1400 and usually with exercise come in with a total intake between 1400-1600 and a burn of 800-1000 so my "net" calories are 600-800. I consider that eating back my calories, but it's high protein good stuff not carby crap. I just can't function on 200-400 calories net a day, I have tried and I can't work out as hard as i want or beat the feeling of being hungry.