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There are two words I always use to describe life with the Band: Commitment and Discipline. I honestly think that some people think this is another instant diet device--like someone who said recently that she didn't want to go "Hog Wild" until after she had a fill! "Hog Wild" is for NEVER AGAIN! I advise everyone to study the band and learn everything they can about the new lifestyle they will be living FOREVER. To rush into this is a major mistake, as you have found out. I don't think the surgeons are totally aware of the psychology of the obese--they know how to do their jobs very well, but are oblivious to what we really go through on a daily basis. I tried to talk to my surgeon about the stigma attached to the obese and he just said "I don't think there's a stigma with obesity". But he is an excellent surgeon... And atallen06, I think Jachut was referring to those foods that I consider totally safe! Ones that won't get stuck, ones that won't have big pieces that can slip down into the pouch unexpectedly before you have a chance to chew them up--nice "Slider" foods like yogurt and cheese and a whipped up tuna salad! :confused_smile:

This entire process does take total commitment and discipline--AND a LOT of time, between the workup process, the surgery, and then the doctor's visits afterwards. My first nine visits to the pulmunologist, the cardiologist, the psychiatrist, the upper GI, the stress test, all the labworks, etc. were scheduled by my Bariatric Center--and they simply called me and give me the dates and times--and I was expected to show up. (and some of the doctors were 50 miles away) I am very very fortunate that I have a workplace that is very understanding--and if you go through with this, I hope you do too...

It may take a few fills before you really get "restriction" (it took me four before I felt any difference). Now, my question to you is: is it really hunger you're feeling or is it just 'head hunger'? Are you getting in the amount of Water you need daily? (minimum of 64 ounces) Are you getting in a Protein shake a day to make sure you get enough protein? These are the things you need to do to satiate yourself in between meals. Believe me, good restriction WILL come--it just takes time. :thumbdown:

I'm with bozzj! I actually look forward to my mid-afternoon Protein shake--I only use low carb powder mixed in Water, gives me 26 grams of protein, 5 grams of carbs in belgian chocolate flavor--and it tastes absolutely terrific! You keep trying until you find the one that's right for you--we have to protect these bodies, y'know! The site I use is www.amazon.com they have like a gazillion flavors and sizes. Good luck! :thumbup:

The key word, m'dear, is "DISCIPLINE". People who don't study the whole banding process and follow the rules simply don't lose. This tool assists with portion control only: YOU are the one who has to make the decision as to what to put in your body (there ARE few foods that won't go, but chocolate, ice cream, and nuts are not them!) and whether to exercise. I've always found that exercise is a great reliever of stress, a great boost to the ego--so I absolutely LOVE exercise. And what aubrie said is totally true: I just had 18 days of no change whatsoever on the scales--not even 1/10 of a pound. Did I get discouraged and eat my way through a gallon of ice cream? No, you have to have the DISCIPLINE to be patient and then your weight will drop suddenly. Good luck in your decision...:frown:

I'm totally with Alex. Long after your outside stitches looked healed, you are still healing INSIDE. Are you really ready for this life-changing tool? "Testing" for what? How much you can eat? You don't "want to go HOG WILD until after you've had a fill????????" This tells me you weren't really ready...:cool2:

I honestly find the treadmill to be very B-O-R-I-N-G!!! I had to do it for a year when we first moved here and no gym was open, but thank goodness for the television my husband hooked up in front of it!! I had started at 15-20 minutes and just kept increasing until after the year I was doing 45-50 minutes. Now that I have Curves and the YMCA, it's just so interesting to vary the workouts--and I think that's the key: changing it up! If you have the opportunity, laniayala, visit a Curves near you--believe me, you won't regret it! :thumbup:

Well, you can still do all the upper body exercises you want! I will have to have a knee replacement (MRI last week) but am going to hold off as long as possible with cortisone shots every few months. And I LOVE to work out at the YMCA--so I've adjusted my routine around my knee. For your lower body: You may be able to do the leg extensions, allowing your other knee to take up the slack, but the leg curl and leg press will be out of the question for you. You should still be able to do the inner/outer thigh machine and the calf raises (on a seated machine) without too much difficulty--but no squats whatsoever! For aerobic exercise, you may be able to use the recumbent (seated) bike -- or a rowing machine, but I think the eliptical bike and the treadmill are probably out for you. Don't give up, though--exercise the very best thing for you, regardless of what it is you're able to do! It just makes you feel great! :thumbup: P.S. I will say, though, that I was not able to go back to Curves for five weeks post-op and the YMCA was seven weeks post op, with adjusting my weights downward for a few weeks after that. It's too soon for you to begin lifting anything heavy--so just be patient!

I will tell you that crackers CAN be in your future! I never have had any issues with crackers--but then I was on liquids and soft foods for six weeks post-op, so I wouldn't have even started on them till about two months post-op. Even now I have a few wheat-thins every day with my Protein for lunch--and yes, I haven't had bread (or a piece of chocolate cake ) since last September--and guess what? I don't miss it!! :thumbup:

Well, my BMI was 39/40 and I had to do seventeen days pre-op liquid/lo-carb diet. Only thing I can say is that every surgeon is different. As was said, I don't think it's a bad idea at all to start your new life early. I've read here where people GORGE themselves prior to surgery--that just tells me they are not ready for this life-altering change. :thumbs_down:

Yep, absolutely, I find LESS is more!! Every time I start getting REALLY excited about working out and think I'll add on more days, I remember that every time I do that, I burn myself out and start mentally making excuses not to go! When I started Curves five years ago, there were women who were going five and six days a week for the first few months--:glare: then suddenly we didn't see them at all anymore--they got burnt!! (I'm now two days at Curves and two days at the YMCA--and if I have to miss, I don't sweat it anymore!) Keep right where you are and you'll move ahead when you want to! :Dancing_biggrin:

Ditto--I specifically set my goal higher than I would have LOVED to, but I had to be realistic with myself. I'm still trying to figure out the "10 Paris Hiltons" (at 14# apiece??)

Wombat had a thread before that I found and here's an answer from that thread: What is reputation? Reputation is a way of rating users depending on the quality of their posts. If the administrators have enabled reputation, then the reputation icon will be visible in posts. Reputation may be positive , negative or neutral . Negative reputation may only be given if the administrator has enabled this. Neutral reputation is only given when the person giving reputation does not meet the criteria set by the administrator to affect someone else's reputation. How do I give reputation? To give reputation, click on the reputation icon in the relevant post. This will reveal a form to complete with the reputation type and the reason for giving the reputation. If negative reputation is disabled then it will not be displayed in this form. You may not give reputation for the same post twice. How do I know what reputation I have received? You can view the reputation that you have received in your User CP (User Control Panel) where it is displayed at the bottom of the User CP page. Here you will see the latest reputation that you have received and whether this is positive, negative or neutral. Your total reputation will be shown as series of reputation indicators in your posts and profile. The more positive your reputation, the more positive icons will be shown. The more negative your reputation the more negative icons will be shown. How much reputation is given? What is reputation power? If the administrator has enabled this, the amount of reputation that each user will give (or take away if negative) is shown in the user's posts as 'Reputation Power'. The value of the reputation power is determined by the administrator and may increase over time depending on the settings they have applied. What if I don't want anyone to see my reputation? You can disable the display of your reputation by going to your User CP and selecting Edit Options. On this page you will find a check box labelled 'Show Your Reputation Level'. Un-checking this box will remove the display of your reputation and replace it with the Reputation Disabled icon. You can still give and receive reputation while your reputation display is disabled. I noticed it too and had no clue why we suddenly each got Rep Power!

My surgeon didn't permit me to lift more than 10# for five weeks--which is when I went back to Curves. I couldn't go back to the YMCA for seven weeks and even then I was very careful for a month. I get what you're saying: you've lost the entire bag of bird seed and I know you're getting to feel terrific--but while your outside looks healed, there is a ton of healing going on INSIDE that you must take care of. Whether your surgeon told you or not, please be very careful. It's only for a short time but can save you a lot of trouble down the road. :thumbup:

I work with Bank software--and we actually use a lot of ticklers!!!!!!!:tt1:

He-l-l-l-o-o-o, I am with EVERYONE ELSE! IamwiththeBand does not have a clue! :tt1: This is the absolute best thing I ever did in my whole life for me--no doubt about it! There are threads here for banded persons of each age group--you should read some of those threads and see what people OUR age are saying. I have worked out for 25 years this September and could NOT lose a pound before my tool was installed. As for the pain of surgery? Please! We are tough old mamas--if you can go through childbirth, this is a snap! And some people actually have it done outpatient!! You go for it, girl!!! :tt2:

Sorry, guys, but many many of us have had to go through exactly the same process--the Insurance Company is spending the bucks so they get to call the shots.:confused: But please do what each of us had done to pass the time: read, read, read about this tool and what your new life style will be like and get prepared for it. I am telling you honestly that this is the best break you have ever gotten--those who jump right into it don't have a clue about the rules and the "good, the bad, and the ugly" of our Bands. My nutritionist just cut down the daily calories by 100 every month--and really, it isn't SIX months, it's six visits in five months. Does that help?!!

The first thing my surgeon asks is "Are you still getting hungry?" If the answer is yes, it's time for another fill. My fifth one is coming up a week from Friday and if yesterday is any indication of how the next week is going to go, my cat had just better watch out!!!!!!!! :confused: You and I are so ready for a fill!

Whahoo!!!!! You beat me, BIG TIME! We couldn't lose a pound to save our lives before and then this wonderful tool came along... Your surgery comes with a three-month gym membership? WOW--that is just a terrific marketing tool--other gyms should be offering the same as incentive! :confused:

Ditto with everyone else! You are still in the practice stages, m'dear, with no tool to assist you-- Once I got into the three-week-liquid diet pre op stage, I knew I had to change my life--but before then is a blur. I watched, but to no avail. Even banded, you will have those days :biggrin: I was just thinking what a wretched food day I put in today (looking forward to another fill in ten days!) and you know what? When I have a day like today, I just thank the Lord that tomorrow morning is a fresh new start.......!

I find that I avoid foods I don't trust myself with, i.e. any deli meats. I just feel that I'll get distracted and not chew it well enough or a piece will slip down before I can catch it So when I feel like something fast, I buy (of all things!) Spam Light or Turkey Spam. One small piece satiates me and I trust myself with it much more. Sometimes the "trial and error" method is so very exasperating!! :biggrin:

Great article on a subject near and dear to each of us. Realization truly IS the first step on the road to success. Best of luck to you as you join the banded!

May I suggest Curves?!! About five years ago, this circuit-weight training facility popped up literally everywhere!! And it's (1) only for women and (2) made pretty much for people our size!! It takes about 1/2 hour three times a week (or more if you want), and is 8 - 11 machines with the same number of "pads" inbetween, on which you can walk, dance, jog, swing your arms or whatever! 30 seconds on each machine and pad, two to three times around and you're done! I find it great for comraderie with other women! Been a member five years and although I also started at the YMCA last year weight training (needed a little more challenge) I still belong to Curves and go twice a week just for the aerobic activity! When I began, they offered a month-to-month payment plan ($10 more a month than signing up for a year though)--but I guarantee you won't regret it! :rolleyes2:

Looks like you've hooked up with the right doctors and you will be totally knowledgeable about your health situation prior to surgery. You know, through these threads we all become 'family', and so we feel as though we really "know" you. So with that being said, you know that we wish you the very best towards getting yourself healthy and banded...

A treadmill is great cardio activity to begin with--it's easy (he-l-l-l-o-o, we all can walk!) and can be fun if there's something to concentrate on while walking. (television?) It can even be challenging, i.e. adjusting the degree of slant on the tread. And you can just keep increasing your time to burn even more calories and develop your cardiovascular system more. Once you feel you need more of a challenge, you can progress to an aerobic class, kickboxing, etc with more movement. You may even decide you want to firm those muscles even more and then begin weight training (will aid even more with the hanging flesh while you lose weight). Good luck to you!