HealthyNewMe

I like having my band adjusted to where I can eat almost anything (solids, liquids, mushies), but with the band controlling the ANOUNT I can eat. I may not be seeing the pounds fly off, but I'm still losing on average eight pounds a month. I want my band to help me eat like a NORMAL, AVERAGE, EVERYDAY person with no weight issues might eat..... LOL

Very, very normal. The band is not at its optimum until you reach the fill amount that works for you.

And I forgot to add..... Congrats on your upcoming wedding !!!!

I'm no expert, but when I read that you can only get just a few different types of food down, I read this as having a little too much restriction. You should still be able to eat most of your proteins, like eggs, chicken, beans, fish. Too few calories can cause people to plateau. I don't know, this was just a thought !

Jim..... I have a picture in my men's size XXXL Saints football shirt and God's honest truth.....that is my motivation too. I was floored when my daughter took the picture and mailed it to me. It's as if I had never SEEN MYSELF. I too was a prisoner inside my own skin. My days consisted of eating, sleeping, and watching TV. I was headed quickly to be featured on my 600 pound life. One day I will post my "WHAT IS THAT????" picture..... But I need help with that from my 14 year old... LOL

CONGRATULATIONS.... That's a nice chunk of change!

Parisshel..... I love how you realized the band allowed you to break free from DIETing. I remember B52 used to say the same thing, and as a newbie at the time.... I didn't get it! I do now as I continue on my journey. My 89 year old mother constantly asks me when we go out to lunch, "Can you eat this? Can you eat that?" YES, mother..... I CAN eat almost anything. The band does the work of allowing me to only eat a small portion of THIS or THAT. I, too, stay away from THE WHITE STUFF..... My choice because it is my nemesis. As with most things people have to deal with, WE CAN DO ANYTHING FOR A GIVEN AMOUNT OF TIME..... You got this..... This DIET will only last three months. Best Wishes!

Bandista, you have grown leaps and bounds through your journey. Whether you realize it or not, you have inspired me throughout my journey. I, myself, am a big coffee drinker (having my second morning cup right now), but thankfully I'm not affected by caffeine. The exercise is such a stress/anxiety reducer...... Good idea to turn to that more often.

65 mins on elliptical.

Julie, Glad to see that you are getting back on track..... SEVEN pounds....WHOO WHOO !!!! I'm also a Disney lover. Out family vacation this June will include four days at Disney. We are bringing our "kids" (ages 24, 22, 19, and 14..... Not really KIDS, but kids at heart, too). My husband, who has lost 55 pounds (NOT KILOS) this year and I who will be 120+ pounds lighter than we were last time we trudged through the parks, are so looking forward to the Disney experience once again! Keep up the good work and if you haven't hit that Green Zone yet, I'd suggest you schedule another fill appointment..... I mean, get that band working to its full potential. Hope you can stay in touch. Tammie

If it is important to you, you'll find a way. If not, you'll find an excuse !

I always throw the ball back in their court by saying, "YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT TO DO, RIGHT????? COUNT CALORIES, WATCH THE CARBS, AND JOIN A GYM." The only time I feel awkward is when I'm asked in front of my two girlfriends who know I had surgery, but they are the ones who told me to just say the above line!

PrettyThick...... I love your poem and your love for our great city..... So, yes, New Orleans is a must visit place for EVERYONE. However, do yourself a favor, and don't visit from June through September unless you can handle hot temps and high humidity!!!!!!

I'd pack a little ice chest and pack yogurt, tuna or chicken salad, cheese. I'd maybe throw a couple of protein bars in my purse too.

My husband and I are trying to get to all of the National Parks.

I guess that's one GOOD thing about that particular episode.... It shows that WLS is NOT the easy way out.... You still have to WORK to lose weight, and you must commit to a LIFESTYLE CHANGE!!!!!

I do all my cardio on the elliptical. I just upped my calorie burn by 110+ calories (on the same length of time) by increasing the elliptical's resistance from level 4 to Level 10. It's kicking my butt, but it's worth the huffin and puffin for the extra calorie burn!

I can't even imagine this accomplishment. This summer, I plan on completing an indoor, modified, Tammie version of a triathlon. Elliptical, instead of running, stationary bike, instead of on the road, and swimming laps in the pool! Not a real triathlon, but one nonetheless !!!! Congrats on YOUR achievement, and here's to many more!

The first few fills were done by my surgeon. He gave me 1, 2, and then 1 cc. I then started seeing the nurse practitioner. She did my last three fills, but doesn't really share how much she gives. She said that what she realizes is that people often compare info and what is good for the goose is not always good for the gander. It made sense to me, so I quit asking. I do know that she personally does not give full cc fills after a person has 5 cc's. she starts giving fractions of a fill, like .5 cc's or .3 cc's. so, I really don't know how much I have in my band! I do know that when I go back on April 8th, I will not be asking for any adjustment, because the SWEET SPOT is so, so SWEET!

I don't think I've watched one show at its regularly scheduled time (except for maybe Saints games or the Superbowl) in the last year or two. I love zipping through commercials!

Josie..... I'm sooooo happy to read about long term success with the band....7 yrs= WOW. I've read about so many people regaining, and MAINTENANCE was one of the main reasons I got banded. I've lost weight before (many times), but the minute I quit losing, I started gaining. Reading your post offers me lots of hope! Lent is a perfect time to offer a small sacrifice, that hopefully will become a habit in our lives. FORTY DAYS TO FORM A HABIT! That's what the nuns who taught us used to say!

Do any of y'all, who use MyFitnessPal, ever offer unsolicited advice on your friend's food diaries? I always try to stay positive in my comments, and I tend to not comment at all when I'm blown away with what crappy food choices two of my "friends" (they are really strangers) make on a regular basis. Then, it dawned on me that they might need some TOUGH LOVE, but I still don't like to give unsolicited advice..... What do y'all do?

Some people weigh daily, around the same time each day. Be prepared for ups and down, losses and temporary gains...... Fluctuations. I, however, weigh only once a month, at the doctor's office. I unfortunately, let the scale dictate my mood for the day, so now I don't have to deal with it. I am seven months post op. I have seen as little as a three pound loss for the month and as much as an eight pound loss for the month. I've not seen a gain or a stall by only weighing once a month. That's what works for ME. You have to figure out what works for YOU. Best wishes !

This is the healthiest I've been since being a teenager who played tennis and school sports. Even though I weighed about fifteen pounds less in my twenties, I was not as physically fit with an exercise routine. I do 65+ mins of cardio six days a week now. I am more flexible at 54 than I was throughout my thirties, forties, and the first three years of my fifties.

Congratulations on a successful journey to a HEALTHYNEWYOU!!!!!!