rharriet62

Kareyquilts...you are SUCH an inspiration to me! I read your other thread about your upcoming plastic surgery! I am SO hoping that in 2009 I am where you are this year! I would love to hear about it and how you feel about it when it's done! I live in WY and I have heard there are some great plastic surgeons in Salt Lake. Sounds like you found one!!! Congrats!!!! Can you imagine what it will be like to be so smoking and so skinny???? YOU ROCK!!!

I have to agree with the last post! the day of my surgery, about 4 medical people asked me what exactly I had eaten...luckily, I had followed the diet to the letter...because the last lady who asked me said he absolutely would not operate on someone who had eaten in the last week or so because it shows you are NOT compliant with the program and are unwilling to follow the rules! Try the opti fast! You will lose so much weight and feel so proud of yourself! PLUS, you WILL get used to it in a few days. Get as much weight off now as you can so you have a great recovery and can begin the rest of your life in health!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!! I know I had fears like yours and I was just not hungry after my surgery during the liquid stage, mushies, etc. YOU CAN DO IT! YOU WILL BE SO HAPPY YOU DID!!! GO FOR IT!!!

Yep! Treadmill, bike, elliptical...do whatever just to get moving. I rotate often because if I run too much my right knee hurts a bit. Read info in magazines like Oxygen, Self, Shape, to get fitness ideas. They often have good plans for a 30 min workout when you get to that level and need to be pushed. Remember...sweat and sweat hard...breathe hard, too! You'll LOVE IT!!!!

What is your exercise level? You are close to your goal (RIGHT ON! & CONGRATS!). You may have to cut ... I found in the past that WW didn't have enough protein for me and too many carbs. Can you fiddle with it and see if it makes a difference? Just an idea! I'd up my exercise for sure or switch it up and do something different. Good luck!

name ...... starting# ....... current#.........goal#.......togo# Rainer...........264................264..............248.........16 wombat712....154.8.............154.8............140.........14.8 LessnLess......172................172..............164.........8 metawnny......252................252..............240.........12 Skinny_Jill......195.................195.............180..........15 Candle .........218.................218..............207.........11 KarenG..........207.................207.............199...........8 Hopping to it .350.................314.............294..........20 SWEETY........180.................180.............170..........10 juliegeraci.......220.................220.............210..........8 Trystelle.........219.................219.............205..........14 Susan4794......240.................240............225..........15 rharriet...........367.................256.............248..........8

I do not live near LA, but I got a trainer in my (very) small town in Wyoming. I also have a ski house in Bozeman, MT and went to a gym there and easily got a trainer who knew about the band. She is also awesome at helping me rehab my shoulder after surgery on it...so my point is...you should be able to find a trainer easily at your local Y or gym. Just ask around and find a trainer you like who can understand your band! I'm SO glad you are getting a trainer! You will LOVE it!

I just ordered my Body Bugg! After looking around on ebay and other places, I thought the deal at 24 hour fitness was pretty good. $348 for the kit that includes 3 mos. online subscription and 2 coaching sessions. Free shipping. I also ordered the wrist band because I can imagine me wanting it! I'm pumped! Can't wait to share my details!!!

In addition to regular crunches have you considered Pilates? You could take a class or DVD...that is killer for the abs. Also, any work on the exercise ball is great...you can get balls with DVDs (if you are an at-home worker-outer) at stores like Target and WalMart.

Gotta do both! Your cardio sound awesome! Have you thought of running 20, Bowflex 20, run again for 20? Sometimes I split my cardio like that just for something different to do. You have already made the exercise commitment, so I'll bet it will be easy for you to sneak in some weights a few times a week. You will be SO happy you are lifting!!! DO IT!!! DO IT!!!! DO IT!!!!

I just went through this during the last few weeks. No one will insure you after a band or a gastric bypass! The guy I talked to said his sisters had lapbands and he told them to NEVER drop their insurance because they would never get it again! SO, since mine expired due to a COBRA, I got major medical rather easily, but it will never cover anything to do with the band. They are also really stingy about ANY hospital stay in the future, only allowing up to $1000 a day. My other problem is that WYOMING does not have the number of companies serving our state that bigger states may have. SO, I pay $329 for basically crappy insurance now! Luckily, I am not on any meds or anything like that. This is a topic no one ever tells you (or at least no one ever told me) when I got my band.

I agree with what everyone said and will add this: making exercise a daily event in my life and not something that ends after 6-8 weeks or several months like it used to. I started that commitment about 6 months before my surgery and have been consistently exercising HARD for almost FOUR YEARS now!!! On days I still have to kick myself in the butt to go to the gym, but I go!

My doc told me to lose 23 lbs to shrink the liver. I ended up losing 34 by eating low carb and exercising a ton. I also wanted to exercise to be in the best shape I could be for the surgery. I was glad I did, too, because it was easy to recover.

I do not have cancer but I did have my rotator cuff repaired in April. I made sure they knew all about my band but it was never an issue. The only problem I had was that the pain meds gave me a really irritated stomach lining that lasted and got worse...to where now I am totally unfilled for 3-4 weeks while I heal up. It was an instant cure, tho, to get all the fluid out. I feel great now!

Does your doctor have any advice? I have this problem (not to your level of difficulty) and have been really trying to watch my sodium intake. I also cut out splenda and other artificial sweetners a week or so before, low sodium, lots of exercise, water, and green tea at least one time a day. I just sort of put together this plan and it has worked really well for me. I'm still tighter than usual, but not to where I can't eat.

How about a session or two with a personal trainer at the gym who will write up a plan for your next level of fitness, work out with you, or whatever you want. I love my trainer and it is a great incentive! Other ideas might be a date out with your significant other or a girlfriend (no men allowed night!), a personal day (or even half) off from work with NO kids (keep them at school or daycare and YOU go home and rest/hang out/go to lunch/shop...whatever!). New workout shoes or top, or jeans, cool t-shirt, or something you'd like. Changing up your hair with some highlights, new color, or cut. Go to a movie ALONE and enjoy the solitude! Take a skiing lesson, learn to knit, devote half a day to something YOU want to do...is it learning to or catching up on scrapbooks? Think about what you value and enjoy and then DO IT! Good luck and CELEBRATE YOU!!!

Is it nice to have the wrist band digital reader or is it just fine to not get that? I noticed that it adds about $90 to the price. I would be glad to buy it if it was really worth the extra money. I see on ebay, a new one in the box with the 3-mo subscription, wristband, bodybugg, etc. is $390, which is about $100 cheaper than other sites I've seen. What is your opinion about the wristband? Thanks!~

Hi, If you've only had one fill, YOU ARE NORMAL!!! You made an appt. for 1-15 and you will get more restriction then. DON'T SWEAT IT! You are losing great by the looks of your Ticker. Focus on the good rules...protein, veggies, water. Not to worry.

I am posting this in case other bandsters have symptoms that are "becoming normal" for them like they did me! I had rotator cuff surgery in April and took vicodin for the pain. It irritated my stomach so I started using Zantac to get thru the pain pill stage, which wasn't really very long. My stomach, tho, never really recovered. It became normal for me to feel super tight. Now, looking back, I see that I had basically stopped eating most foods and when I could eat, it was 1-2 bites and that was it. I was throwing up and sliming like crazy. It seems stupid now, but this was NORMAL for me as it happened over so many months. I've been banded for 3 years, so should know better. Anyway, like a junkie, one day I noticed that I was living on Zantac (stashed in my cars, purse, every bathroom, etc.), not taking vitamins, and ALL my friends and family asked me if it was a "good eating day" or a "bad eating day." Most times, it was a bad one and I just never ordered anything when we ate out. Of course, I wasn't losing any weight, either because I'm sure my body shut down. I was still working out like crazy, but had no weight loss, and felt like crap. When I went to the doc last week for a regular check up, I had had my epiphany and she totally unfilled me for 3 weeks, put me on Prevacid for a month, and plans to fill me to 1.8 when I go back in Jan. I feel FANTASTIC! Instant cure. Sadly, I am wide open over the holidays! But, I'm just increasing my cardio, adding more protein, and am on a "recovery" diet prescribed by my doc. SO, wish me luck on this venture! My point is that even after years of being banded...your awareness can slip!!! Merry Christmas! Rose

Hi, No, there is no damage of any kind. It was like an instant cure to get unfilled. Rose

I really like Coldwater Creek. They have lovely fabrics and often have great sales. They also have lost of sizes and so you won't feel like you can't go in there and try on something. I also like CJ Banks, and Fashion Bug. At Fashion Bug, the clothes are cheap (and rather cheaply made, for the most part) but since you're in transition, it's not that big of a deal! Do you have a Catherine's where you live? They are like 14-28 in sizes. Enjoy!!! Isn't that exciting to go into stores where the sizes are TOO BIG??? I'm an 18 now, but still walked into the Coldwater Creek last week and picked about 6 items in a 22!! Yeah, slow brain!! HAHAHA. IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!

Ug. This REALLY bugs me...although no one has told me, personally, that it was an easy way out. I live in a small town, so I think lots of people know how EASY it is...yeah...working out at least an hour every day (most of them don't do that!), eating small amounts, very rarely drinking alcohol, and (mostly) choosing healthy foods! When people say that, just tell them how hard your work out and choose to be healthy! All a band is...is a tool...like your GYM membership. If you don't use it, it won't work!

My doc's office recommended Solar Ray, which is a pill. If you can't take a pill, they suggested Glacial Milk. I live in a really small town and had to get it online. I don't use it any more, but tried it for a while. You take one shot a day. It tastes like concentrated orange juice. I didn't care for it, but some people mixed it with juice or water and others just chugged it. Just another idea! Rose

I don't think your situation sounds that unusual. I've been banded three years and there were times a .5 fill (early on) was just not enough. I would call and discuss it again with the doc to get a new fill going on. Rose

Hi, I think your surgery was too long ago for it to be gas, but I'm no expert on that since I didn't have that problem. I did, however, have a torn rotator cuff from lifting and so I would not rule that out, either. Front of shoulder, even into collar bone area...hurts when you lift your arms (like to shampoo hair) and hurt when doing most anything. Certainly worth a check up or a call to your doc if you are not sure and still in pain. Good luck!

I almost never feel a fill until 5-7 days after it happens. Sounds weird, but it takes mine a while to kick in! Sounds like you should go back to your reg doc. Why the long wait for a fill? That sounds really crazy! My doc always gets you in within the week you call! Anyone else around you who does fills?