rharriet62

Hey, I think it's great that you are considering the band and are thinking through all the possible changes you will go through. If you quit drinking and that was a problem, you can do this, too! It is a change, but you adjust to it over time. Yes, you poop...your body adjusts to everything! Have you considered seeing a counselor to talk about these issues...or a support group for lapbanders...even just on this site to talk about your concerns and work it out for yourself? That might be a good idea! I look at it like this: we are all food addicts or wouldn't be here in Band Land! You learn to find new ways to comfort yourself and you DO participate in family events...it's just different. Keep reading lots of different threads on this site and lots of your questions will be answered! Good luck!

Hi, Do you think you could have the flu or flu-like symptoms unrelated to the band? I would probably wait a day and see what you feel like tomorrow afternoon. Keep in touch with your doc's office. It seems like a long time to just have the fill kick in to be too full (to me, anyway). Rose

Hi, Was this a psychologist recommended by your surgeon or did you find him on your own? It sounds like he is not very knowledgeable about weight loss surgery if he said that having the band is "one foot in the door"! I'm a therapist as well and find that interesting that he said that. So, my question about where you found him. Also, how many meetings do you have to attend? My eval was one session with a bunch of tests and an hour-long interview. Sorry about the stress this causing! Good luck with the no smoking! Good for you! My husband found (when he quit his 20+ yr, 2+ packs a day) that he focused on his goal (skiing AND breathing at the same time) and used the gum in double doses...and said the first 3 days were the hardest. He's been smoke free for over 3 years...but he had also quit several times before that and this time it stuck. GOOD LUCK!

I set very small goals, compared to most people, because I lose weight SO slowly. I work out all the time, so I alternate between exercise goals and scale goals. I have really moved past the idea that a scale is going to be my measure of everything...I spent a lifetime doing that already! SO, while I LOVE to see the numbers move down, I set a goal like...If I weigh 248, I want to hit 245. No time limit, no date...just hitting that goal. I've been into exercise goals, too. I had a rotator cuff repaired and couldn't run for several months, so my goal was to get back to where I could run 2 miles w/o walking. I HIT THAT GOAL TODAY and it was WAY easier than when I did it the first time! HAHA. SO, branch out your goals for a change and to get your head off the scale!!! Good luck! R

Kickboxing is awesome! I think the best part of it is being in the class with others and feeling all that energy. That being said, I used to do Tae Bo, which is a good workout. There are SO many videos out there...here is an idea. If you have Netflix or a decent video shop by you, try several out w/o having to buy one you don't like. Netflix is always listing their new ones they offer along with yoga, pilates, etc. Worth a try! Rose

Hi, This will seem bizarre, but it's something I am working on, too. On days nothing goes down, anything with sugar in it goes down well. I started looking at my connection to sweets, especially things like M&Ms. My whole life, esp as a child, being fat, I was always told /ridiculed/threatened about eating candy because I was already fat. Guess what? Craved it more. Crave it when I'm stressed/happy busy/whatever. Plain crave it. I tried detoxes, low crab, cold turkey, etc. You name it. I always went back to sugar. Based on some of the books by Geneen Roth, I decided to face this demon and burn it out. I decided that even if it stalled my weight loss, I had to overcome the lure/desire/POWER that candy like M&Ms have over me psychologically. I followed the ideas in Roth's books and I ate ALL the M&Ms I wanted. Now, this lasted MONTHS...about 5-6 months! I ate them instead of real food, with real food, whatever. I ALWAYS had them in the house by the BIG bagfuls. I always knew they were in the pantry. I could eat them anytime I wanted AND I DID! Guess what? Six months later, I have a full bag in my pantry and see them everyday. They just don't sound that great. I can actually say, "Nah. Don't FEEL like it." I still lost weight during that time, kept working out, etc. But I have to say that I can see candy in the store and not have to FORCE myself to not buy it. I am now doing this technique with ice cream. This is so crazy but I have to say I honestly believe that if I don't get over this power of sugar thing now psychologically, I will struggle with it forever. You might want to read Geneen Roth's books. She suggests you do this with any food that calls to you constantly. About 10 years ago, before my band, a therapist suggested this technique to me, and I rejected it immediately because I knew I would never stop and would gain hundreds of pounds. I'm in a much better place now and gave it a try. Just a thought! Good luck! Rose

Hi, I remember that happened to me for about six months after I started exercising after surgery, and I started as soon as I got the clearance. Ab work would often make my port area ache and feel sore. It eventually went away, but it flared up over that six months. Keep exercising and work around it on really sore days...it's great you are exercising!!! Way to go!!! Rose

I have worked out for over three years consistently now, and my trainer always says it's ALL OVER FAT LOSS that causes you to lose fat. SO, cardio and weights will burn fat and tone your body in all areas and you will see a reduction in the "back boobs." Make sure you are doing lat pulldowns, bent over rows, or take a kick boxing class to really move that upper body and tone the muscles. But, cardio is the key to all over fat loss. I'm still on that road and have seen huge differences!

Remember that your band is your TOOL! It will help you not eat too much. Load up on turkey and veggies and add a few special treats...it's a holiday! Go for your walk or whatever exercise you do! If you keep your focus, it will not be as hard as you are fearing. I do all the cooking, and I have not found it very hard. I've been banded three years! Good luck and have fun!!!

There are SOME days when I'm NOT the fattest person at the gym any more...and if I see someone my size working out, I ALWAYS think...YOU ROCK! I have to say that most people at the gym are so into their own thing that if YOU focus on YOUR OWN THING...it will get easier. PLUS, the more you go, the more comfortable you will feel! Start small...set a goal to go 3x this week. Do it and reward yourself with a new shirt or shorts that FIT you. Do the same next week...and I'll bet in two weeks you will feel comfortable going to the gym!!! IT DOES GET EASIER!!!

So true about the fickle band. It kills me when people say, Can you eat this? Hell, how do I know on that day, at that time, in that situation??? It amazes me how there is no rhyme or reason to what I can eat on any given day. I just keep trying! LOL!

Hey, I'm the QUEEN of slow losers. It has been the hardest thing for me to accept!! However, when I get discouraged, I think about how much I would weigh if I hadn't had the surgery. The fact that I'm a size 18 now and not a 34 (like I was) makes me VERY happy and I quit beating myself up. It's tough to accept, but I know I would be super fat now if it were not for my band!!! Hang in there!

Hi, I have big upper arms too...to the point where I often have to buy a size larger shirt just to fit my arm in it. BUMMER. I DO plan on having surgery when I get more weight off. BUT...to answer your question... I often wear a big t-shirt OVER my swim suit in water aerobics. That way, you can exercise and feel better about yourself! Whatever you do, don't skip the exercise! Also, lift weights!

Yeah...that totally BITES! I've been there several times!!! My solution is that I usually change my food, my workout, or do something different for a few weeks. Something will happen, even if it's slow. And, if you change up some stuff, you won't be bored and frustrated! I am a very slow loser, and I've had to also just TRY to accept that. It's TOUGH because I workout hard, too!

Here's an idea that I used...I took a spinning class and a kickboxing class. There was a gal in there (very fit and super nice) and we chatted daily. Soon, we were working out together and now she is one of my best friends in and out of the gym. SO, instead of looking for a workout buddy on the OUTSIDE of the gym, find one INSIDE the gym...she's already working out and has the commitment that you can lean on when a tough day comes up!!!

When I first started working out about 4 mos before my surgery, I could only do the elliptical a minute or so. I would stop, catch my breath, and go again...did this over and over until I reached 10 mins, 20 mins, etc., total workout time. You will QUICKLY see that soon, you are going 5 mins before having to catch your breath. Then, it will be 45 mins straight thru and you never stopped at all!!! Keep going! You will kick its ass in time!!!

Hi, I started running last year just for a different exercise so I would not get burned out on the same things I was doing. Start slowly! Walk and then run...if you are on a treadmill, walk .25 and then run .1 and rotate that...or pick your own distances. From my experience...it took me a while to get up to being able to run 2 miles w/o stopping and then it seemed like nothing to increase that to 3-4 miles. That first 2 miles was the toughest for me. However, it's AWESOME! You will feel SO good! Have fun!!!

I love spinning. I have been doing it for a few years now! Super workout! You'll love it once you get your rear used to the seat! Enjoy!!!

Hi, You could call the office and ask a nurse if it would make you feel better. My port is below my right breast sewn to the ab wall. I waited the 30 days to exercise and began doing crunches. That was 2.5 years ago. When I worked out hard (abs) during the first year or so, there were times when my port area was sore, but nothing happened. I use an exercise ball and do any exercise I want...lifting, running, kickboxing, balls, bands, you name it and have never had any problems. Take it easy for the first week until you build up some confidence in yourself that you're not hurting your port...and then go for it! I'm sure you will be fine.

Hi, I have workout clothes in sizes 22/24, and 2x or 3x tops. There are about 3-4 tops, 1 pair of long pants, 2 capris, and 4 shorts. They are from Junonia, Danskin, or Pro Spirit. Two of the shorts are new and the shirts are in very good condition. While they have been worn and worked out in (!) they are in good enough condition to use while you sail thru those sizes. If you want them, just email me with a PM and I will send them to you. I'd rather have someone on this site use them than just donate them to the Salvation Army. They are probably missing the gym!!! HAHA. Thanks, Rose

I started ab work 30 days after surgery...doc's OK...and at times if I did a lot of crunches, my port would feel a bit sore, but nothing bad. It all cleared up. Start slowly to build your confidence. Start with 10-20 and go from there. It sounds like it is more of a mental block than a physical one if you are this far out from surgery. Good luck!!!

The clothes are gone now to a willing participant! Thanks for all who took a look! Rose

I also do high intensity intervals with my trainer. She has me run at my comfortable pace on the treadmill and then I have to raise the speed and/or the incline and run as fast as I can until she tells me to stop. I think it's usually 30-60 seconds per interval. Then, my "rest" period is back at my comfortable pace. We repeat that a lot in the workout. We've been adding that in about once a week. I think it's interesting and makes the time go fast. Also, it makes my comfortable pace seem sort of slow, so I think it will also help me build up my speed. Enjoy! Rose

Hi, I used to have such scale anxiety that I faced the demon! I weigh myself every day. I see the ups and downs. Gain 4 for a few days and then lose...up and down with fluid, etc. What it forced to me to see is that FOR ME, that up and down is NORMAL. I don't get all flipped out like I used to. It has been a therapeutic exercise for me to get over the number drama!!! I think you have to do what works for you! If you NEVER want to weigh, that's OK, too! It's all about what you need to do to feel good about you and your weight! Good luck!!!

Pilates is awesome and it won't be long before you WILL roll up from your back to your butt! It won't even be an issue!!! Keep it up! It's a great workout!! Good for you!!!