JosieK

2 weeks post op my doctor cleared me to do abs. i was surprised....he told me to hold off weight training a little longer. i was cleared to spin and do classes at the 2 week mark as well. exercise has been key to speed weight loss for me....great that you are getting off to a good start good luck

hi here's this week's update: Name............Current............Goal..............Lost........Still to Loose... Jennifer..........188................183................7............. .0............ KarenG............174...............169.................0............. .5............. Tracy..............271...............265.................0............ ..6.......... Suzie.............221................210.................0............ ...6............ Shampoo .......162................155.................0...............7....... ...... Mary..............177...............172.................0............. ..5............. JoAnne............162...............155.................2............. ..7............. Syndy.............240................230................0............. ...10...........

hey tex i'm heading to LA for the rest of the week. i wanted to wish you good luck on the MS150. i met quite a few people on my ride last week training and going up to dallas for it. cant wait to hear how it is may the wind be at your back....

thanks jennifer for starting this. i seem to do well when i join these challenges. Name............Current............Goal..............Lost........Still to Loose... Jennifer..........188................183................4............. .1............ KarenG............174...............169.................0............. .5............. Tracy..............271...............265.................0............ ..6.......... Suzie.............221................215.................0............ ...6............ Shampoo .......162................155.................0...............7....... ...... Mary..............177...............172.................0............. ..5............. JoAnne............164...............155.................0...............9.............

hi i agree with jachut...if we were able to do these "diets" before banding....why would we need the band. i was lucky to have a doctor that didn't require it. i probably would still be almost 100 lbs overweight if he did. in the scheme of things......i hope you enjoyed the movie and the treats. after banding you will have plenty of time to fine tune your eating plan good luck

hi cajun i have had spurts when i would eat junk because it was easier and my weight loss stalled. i sat down and asked myself questions similar to the ones you asked yourself in your email. i was also pissed at myself. i said "i cant believe i had this surgery and i'm eating junk" 2 things that helped me 1. journalling my food on sparkpeople.com 2. exercise. i made myself go to a week long bootcamp to ramp up my endurance. and then i just stuck with a 5-6 day a week routine. when the weight started coming off...it was easier to maintain this and it helped me to stay away from junk i still struggle with ice cream...but i keep trying. good luck.

my initial response was "yes people are definitely treating me differently " but after reading reading ranier's response and getting a different perspective...i think maybe it might be also due to me having more confidence, different attitude, etc. i might be inviting better responses from people. all i know is...this is the best thing i ever did for myself. thanks

hey angie good for you! i just completed my first MS150 here in texas. i know what you mean. when i bought my bike i was wondering if i would do it. but every state has organized rides. also i joined a cycle team. and there are every level of cyclists on them. not just lance armstrong types. these things helped me to feel more committed to it and i am having a blast good luck with your bike

hi i just signed up to do the MS150 from houston to austin in April. i'm pretty psyched. i'm a little behind in training but i've been going to the gym 4-5 days a week since being banded so i have some conditioning. i just bought a new road bike and it is like riding on air. if i complete this one...i am doing the MS bike ride in NY. if anyone has done these or similar races...would appreciate tips or "tricks of the trade" on training, nutrition, etc. thanks

Hi, i just completed my first MS150 here from Houston to Austin. it was 150 mile 2 day cycle ride (i did the shorter route). at the finish line i burst into tears....i was thinking about 1 year ago. i was newly banded feeling like a failure because of my weight and the fact i couldn't "conquer" it myself. fast forward 1 year later....my whole life has changed.....mostly mentally but definitely physically. i am writing this for any newcomers starting out. the past year i worked by butt off to get the weight off (journalling food, exercising, etc) it wasn't easy but definitely worth it. i started training for this race just 5 weeks ago. on the first day of the race....i was at mile 80 and cried the whole way to mile 90. i wasn't sure i could do the second day.....but i decided to try it and figured i could get SAG'd in if i needed to....but i finished it. cycling may not be your thing....but whatever dreams you have are reachable.

great job....you look wonderful

hi rachel, the choices in texas are daunting....we are lucky aren't we? i used dr spivak and couldn't be happier with him or his staff. they are available all the time and very very helpful. for me the surgery and the after care are equally important. dr spivak was one of the few Drs in the FDA trials when they were testing lapbands. he taught many of the drs here in texas. i had some issues after banding. (i caused the issue....not the band) his staff was great in helping me to deal with this. i ate too quickly and pieces of food too big and ended up with aspiration pneumonia. also he is very willing to do the fills himself...all you have to do is ask. i was self pay. i paid 12,900. if i had the choice of 2 plans i would choose the one with fills included because you just dont know how many fills you will need. i went to his office about 10 times because of my issue. anyway...you may want to go to the seminar of each doctor you find interesting and make your choice that way. that's how i did it. thanks

hi wendy hopefully a cure is near. my best friend has MS so i know what you are dealing with. more and more i am hearing about this disease affecting people. the MS150 is really a BIG deal down here in texas which is nice. the people here in texas are so caring ( i recently moved here so i'm not complimenting myself ha!) hi texasfire, i love your my space signature. i may have to plaguerize it :scared2: have a good afternoon everyone

hi foofy, i am currently training for the MS150 which is a 2 day bike ride between houston and austin. so i'm focused right now on that and doing 2-3 spin classes a week. when i am not training i normally do 2 spin, 2 kickboxing classes and 1 total conditioning which is basically weight training. last may....i was banded about the same time as you when a light bulb went off in my head. my weight loss had come to a halt and i realized i was working out maybe once a week and i was starting to eat junk. so i went to a place in Mexico called "bikini bootcamp" which really helped me to increase my endurance quickly. i also started to journal my food in Free Diet Plans at SparkPeople. it made the world of difference for me and the weight started to come off. plus it really is tightening my skin. i want to try to avoid plastic surgery so that is also giving me the motivation to exercise. i feel great now i am coming up on my anniversary. and this time last year i was MISERABLE. i felt like i was going into an abyss. what a difference a year makes. good luck with your program...it's great that you are proactive in your approach.

hi kserafin, i was banded at the surgi-center...they were GREAT....as was my doctor and staff. how about you? who was your doctor?

hi finding me i started spinning when i was 250 lbs.....i actually dont think weight is an issue. i started slow (kept the resistance low and only stood when i could) and built myself up gradually. i also invested in a heart monitor to watch my heart rate. i do this for all my classes. it also gives me calories burned which i love. i was in 22 also at the time. i went and bought mens XL. i bought them at paragon in NYC but any bike shop has them good luck

thanks michee for the info

hi kserafin, what is the name of the product you use? i have been using one by clinique which is ok. sounds like yours is great. yes one of the downsides of losing weight (altho' i wouldnt trade it for the world) is a little sagging. but it isnt as bad as i thought it would be. my mother used to crack me up when she did these facial exercises to firm her ace and neck...and now i find myself doing them. they say the older you get the smarter your parents get ha!

hi everyone, sorry i havent replied. i was getting ready for my st patty's day party last night all week....now i'm left with the cleanup ha! suzzie...i bought a trek 6.9 madone pro. it is so light and easy to ride. the clips are an issue but i am bringing it in tomorrow to see if it is "them" or "me" that's the problem texasfire: thanks for the info. that's really helpful...so you are doing the dallas MS ride? i'm doing the houston ride. i also signed up to do the NY ride in october. i happen to be up there that time of year....so i figured why not? i used to hate when these rides shut down the city (traffic nightmare ha!) i'm jumping into this blindly but sometimes i think this is the best way. i've been doing weekend rides with Bike Barn and riding during the week with someone that is also in the challenge. i am also doing the "katy ram challenge" next weekend and the "april spring ride" april 2nd. i will look of the germanfest... thanks mum...good luck on your walk

hi lowellk, get the padded bike shorts or a gel seat. when i first did spinning i didnt have these and my butt hurt for weeks. re: building up....i started right away. i sat in back and you can control the tension. so you can build up that way. this way you get a feel for the type of class you like (rhythm based, technicall, etc) good luck

hi dia, weight watchers does have a great balanced way of eating. i have not found i needed something like this after being banded. if i did need it...i would certainly have done it. i have a friend who is a WW meeting leader. she told me the WW organization is not opposed to lapband. they really focus on people learning how to eat in a healthy way. i was surprised because i thought they may have been against it. i will tell you i still belong to the WW online boards. i actually find the members more supportive there altho' they dont really understand LB. so i go there when i struggle with night eating, etc. one thing for me that was critical since i was banded was to get into a great exercise program. i feel this has kept me on track or better yet...got me on track when i "fell off the wagon" good luck with your surgery...i'm sure you will be happy.

hi, funny that you ask about knees. i actually have arthritis in one knee. my doctor said bicycling/spinning is the one exercise i currently do that he says is ok. i also do kickboxing and he hates this. i had my spin instructor check my form and she made a few adjustments and my knee doesnt hurt at all. i also use brace (like an ace bandagae kind) just to keep my knee stable. i hope this helps

best to be honest.....you will sleep better

hi yes i use it in every class and even when i walk the dogs. it helps me to monitor my heart of course..... but it also challenges me to get to the next level. i love it

hi LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Spinning.. i credit spinning for helping me with much of my weight loss. that and 2 other great classes: total conditioning and kickboxing key for me are a great pair of cycle bike shorts with the cushioned booty. the first time i did spin without padding.....YOUSER! i also need the spin shoes because they keep my foot in the correct position. i had a hard time finding the correct shoes for spin when i lived in NYC (of all places). here is texas all of the bike shops have lots of options. target/academy/modell's all have the cushioned seats in the bicycle area. if you are just starting....just sit in the back and go at your own pace. the thing i love about this is any level can participate. just go to a few different instructors to find what you like. i love rhythm based classes. a friend of mine loves technical. just dont give up after 1-2 classes. i hated it at first and now i'm obsessed with it after going for about 5 years. i am now doing the MS150 here in texas....all a result of conditioning in spin