HealthyNewMe

I can only share my experience..... I, too, can only schedule appointments 4 weeks apart. I didn't feel too much restriction with the first three fills. Thought I was in the GREEN with the fourth fill. That lasted for only about a week, so I will probably get another small fill next visit (Feb 10). I am five months post-op now. From everything I've read and from everything my doctor has told me, it often takes four or five fills to get to the GREEN. You sort of need to watch calories and exercise to help the tool help you. You probably will continue to lose (maybe at a slower pace) until you get good restriction. I'm really learning to just enjoy the ride (and the weight loss) along the journey...... Even if the journey is at a slower pace than I imagined!

I wish I could help you. I work out on an empty stomach too. Two cups of coffee, and then I work out at around 10 or 11. I eat after I come home. Sorry I was of no help!

I can't get over how much we are alike. I could have written your post ..... Maybe not as eloquently, but definitely with the same new philosophy and outlook !!!

Can you drink coffee? That seams to "fill" me, even if just temporarily.... Good luck with your surgery.

Wow

YEP

I'm a hiccup-er!

I eat Beanitos (chips made of crushed Black Beans or Crushed Pinto Beans). I eat them with homemade guacamole. I eat this as a meal every once in a while..... Not as a snack!

Hey, I'm no expert, but I'm just asking...... Have you tried to change things in your exercise routine..... For example, if you walk or run or ride a bike or do the elliptical..... Maybe you could do some days of HIIT's (High Intensity Interval Training). Or maybe you could do inclines or higher resistance some days. Just shake things up a little!

I personally don't weigh every single day ( I'm not suggesting this for everyone..... Just sharing my personal experience). I got rid of my scale because I didn't like (and couldn't handle) those daily fluctuations. Now I weigh only at doctor's visits--- about every four to five weeks. Then I usually see a several pound weight loss. If you are the type of person who understands daily fluctuations and who doesn't let it affect your outlook, then weigh on a regular basis. If you are the type of person like me, who lets the number on the scale affect your days outlook, then put away the scale. But, back to your original post, I'm pretty sure that certain medicines have lots of different effects on our bodies, and temporary water weight could definitely be one of them. Hang tight... You are doing great!

I do find some adjustments have an easy fix.... For example, when I cook a meal that I serve over rice, I cook white rice and brown rice. Same as with pasta, I cook regular pasta and whole wheat pasta. When I bake potatoes, I bake a few sweet potatoes for me and my husband, and baking potatoes for everyone else. As far as "junk" food, I never bought a lot of it before, so I still don't buy it on a regular basis now. For occasions where I serve chips and dip or guacamole, I now serve Beanitos (ground bean chips) and whole wheat crackers along with the regular chips for my guest. If the kids ever want ice cream, we take them out to get a scoup... That way we don't have a half gallon container in the freezer. We gave up carbonated drinks a year ago. The kids now drink tea or lemonade. While on the road and in need of fast food, we only stop at Wendy's, where I can get a great salad or a cup of chili. The kids can get their burger/French fry fix there at the same time. I thank God I don't have a sabottaging spouse or demanding type kids. My husband joined the gym eight months ago with me, eats whatever I prepare for myself, and benefitted from the changes because he took off 40 pounds this year as a bonus !!!!!

WooHoo

I can't speak specifically about your surgery bc I have the Lapband, but I'll tell you that I eat those foods. I basically look at my eating and food choices this way...... I cut out all REFINED carbohydrates. I eat advocado and guacamole. I found a chip (Beanitos) made of crushed black beans and pinto beans. When I eat the chips and guacamole, I eat it as a meal and not a snack. I eat baked sweet potatoes. I add a bit of butter, cinnamon and stevia. I use those oils and almost all of the spices you mentioned. The thing about WLS is that it helps you eat food in moderation. I make good choices about the low carb, but I personally don't fret over the fat content. It must be working..... I'm steadily losing and just recently hit the 100 lb mark.

I just sent you a request

For what it's worth, this is how I see it.... Every time I'm weighed at my doctor's office, I get a Body Compisition Analyzer readout, it states a BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) with the number of kcal's. For example, mine said 1714. From what I've read, that's the number of calories I need to eat per day to MAINTAIN my current weight. Since I want to LOSE, I need to consume less than that number. If I want to lose a pound a week, I need to cut 3500 calories out of my maintenance allotment each week. 3500/7=500 calories a day to cut. 1714-500=1214 a day. If I want to loose two pound a week, I need to cut 1000 calories out of my daily maintenance allotment. 1714-1000=714 a day. Of course, I exercise daily and burn about 650 calories a day doing an hour on the elliptical. I eat those calories..... So, I can eat 714+ 650 (exercising) and be near the amount of calories needed to lose a pound a week. THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE I AM COMPLETY WRONG ABOUT ALL OF THIS. But, that's how my mind grasps it. Of course, every body is different and everybody has a different metabolism, expends different amouns of calories each day, etc.

I was also banded on August 22, 2013. Just checking in on a fellow band-birthday.... How are you doing?

Congrats. I had to actually convert kilos to pounds! Great progress. I was banded on August 22, 2013.

A year of transformation......Congrats on the: weight loss, the lack of complications, the hard work, and the new job !

My band taught me that even with WLS, I still have to WORK...... That it's a TOOL, and I have to USE that tool. Yes, I admit that for years I thought WLS was "the easy way to weight loss." Man, did my band teach me differently. Every day at the gym doing an hour of cardio, every decision I make about fueling my body instead of gorging, reading and learning and understanding my body and my needs have all come from what this band has taught me. I told my dearest friend today how much I have been taught by my band!

One year ..... Yeah Minus 40 pounds...... Yeah Keep up the great work!

I don't know how to do that either. Ate you on MyFitnessPal?

I am happy to share. As you can see, I like basic foods. I just dropped most refined carbohydrates and substituted in whole wheat, brown rice, etc. I am much better w/out the WHITE SUGAR, FLOUR, RICE, and POTATOES!!!! The one thing I did not give up is FRIED. I eat fried chicken at least once a month and I don't care that it has a white flour coat. I've adopted my healthy daughter's motto of eating...... 90 % of the time, I make good, healthy food choices. 10% of the time, I eat my old favorite! The band keeps me from "overeating" my old favorites!!!!!

I think MyFitnessPal OVER-ESTIMATES calories burned. For example.... 60 mins on elliptical.... MFP'S estimate.... 925 calories Monitor on elliptical w/ my current weight.....630 calories

From what I've read and experienced...... High Intensity Interval Training burns more calories and aids in weight loss. I've also read that morning workouts on an empty stomach burns stored fat( don't know if its true, just read it) and I do also work out mid-morning on an empty stomach.... I have never been a breakfast eater. I come home and drink a protein smoothie. I drink 32 oz of water as I do one hour of cardio and I immediately drink another 32 oz on my drive home. I get to the gym 6 days a week. Can't remember your other questions!! Good luck and keep up with that exercising...... Whenever it is and whatever it is !!!!!

Something to be both proud of and happy about...... You are at a HEALTHY WEIGHT!!!!!