BigHarleyGuy

Hey folks sorry, I haven't been around for a while, but I'm still out here. I started working on an MBA, and have been really busy. I am 11 months out, and have lost 100 so far. I did go a couple of months too long without a fill, and a had a gain of about 15 pounds, but have been back on track for a couple of months and have made it past where I was before the gain. Glad to see so many of you all doing so well!

Steve are you taking a multi vitimin, with your diet. My Doc prescribed one for me when I began my pre-op diet. I didn't have any problems with cramping.

Looks like most of us August folks are doing pretty good. Keep up the good work everyone. Sorry I have not been able to post as I would like, but I have just started an MBA program, and it is killing me. Jim

I am hoping to lose 100 pounds by my one year mark. I have four pounds to go, so I am going to re-evaluate my goal, and maybe shoot for 150. I have hit a mini goal, my BMI is now under 50! Banded 8/7/07

Foot pain gone completely. Went to Disney world for Thanksgiving, and had no problem walking, and walking, and walking. You get the picture. I had done the Disney thing Christmas 2006, and had tons of trouble with feet - knees. Jim

I have not been shopping, but I should. Most of my clothes is getting dangerous to wear in public. I have shopped in my closet, and am wearing jeans that I have not worn in a couple of years.

Welcome Trish, and Good Luck with Dec. 29th, thats my birthday Jim

I have a total of 4cc's in an AP small, and it seems to be working for me. My doc did tell me that it seems easier to get a man dialed in, than a woman. He also said that once a man gets to his sweet spot, he seems to stay there longer than a woman. He didn't say he just said that has been his experience and he has done hundreds, and I don't even know how many the entire surgical group has done. Just thought I would add my $0.02. Jim Jim

Hey guys just wanted to drop a little note to say I hope you all have been getting some good riding in. I know the weather in S. Louisiana has been great. On the band side of things, I have been doing well. I think I have reached my sweet spot, and been losing pretty good. Check the ticker that is the total since starting the pre op diet. I have lost 40 or so since surgery on 8/7/07. Hope you all are doing well also. Jim

Hey guys just wanted to drop a little note to let you all know that banding really does work for us supersize folks. I have been on this journey for just about 6 months, and have reduced my BMI from 61 to 51. I know the ticker is a little different, but these are the numbers from my doc's scale. I have lost 76 pounds so far, and just over 40 since banding on 8/7/07. I hope you all are having the same success, and if you are just starting out good luck, and just know that this stuff really works. Jim

Hey guys I have had two fills, and think I am at my sweet spot, for now. I have lost 16 pounds since my last fill on Oct. 10. That brings the grand total since the beginning of this whole thing (May 10, 2007) to 76 pounds. I think that is about 40 or so pounds since banding on 8/7/07. Hope you all are having success also. Jim

I didn't really feel much after my first fill either. I have just had my second fill, and feel restriction now. After my first fill, my Doc said that I should wait about a week or so before I decided if the fill was doing doing anything or not, because it can take some time for the fill to take effect.

Welcome to the biker side of the forum lol. Glad you found it. Jim

Had my second fill today I 1.5cc today and 2.5cc on my first fill. I have been losing, but only because I have been using portion control and making smart food choices. I am hoping that tis fill will give me some restriction, i am getting a little tired of being hungry. I have not become discouraged. . . yet. I guess that's because I am losing weight pretty good. Hope you all have been doing well. Jim

Well I have been doing well, I have not had any trouble, unless I get carried away and eat too fast and don't chew well. Boy does that band remind me quickly. I am still not at a good level of restriction, I had my second fill today 1.5cc in an AP small. I have been losing weight just through portion control and smart choices. I have had some success in the past doing this, only in the past it would not last. I am hoping the band will make the difference in that regard. Hope you all are doing as well. Jim

I was banded in Aug '07, and I have been using fitday to keep a food journal. I do this because my nutritionist suggested it. I never was a counter before, but now that I use fitday, I hate to say it but it is almost fun. I get really mad if I skip a few days and then can't remember what I ate. I an a techno junkie, and love gadgets, so I guess counting with fitday appeals to that part of me. I do know people who have lost lots of weight with the band, and never counted a thing except the weight falling off. It's all about making smart food choices, portion control, and excerise. Just as with any other diet plan. The difference with the band, is if one uses it properly, the portion control comes without work. And for me the portion control was always my downfall. Thats JMO, Jim

Hello All, Beautiful riding here in Louisiana also. Just rode to the doc's office for a 1.5cc fill. Thats my second. I stayed as far away from the interstate as possible. I haven't been round the boards much lately hope everyone is doing great. The weather is supposed to be beautiful here all weekend, and my car is in the shop for A/C work. Going to have to stick to the bike, gotta hate that. . . NOT. Jim

I am a little over 4 weeks out, and have been in "bandster hell" for almost two weeks. I have felt that I could eat any thing I wanted to if I let myself. I have been being very careful, and very hungry. I went into my surgeon's office, to have one of my incisions checked, because it started draining. The doc said the incision was fine, just a bit of Fluid trapped under the insicion. She then asked how I was doing with eating, and told that I felt I could eat a horse if wanted. So she said well lets see if we cha get a fill in. I was suprised, bc I had an appointment for a fill on Sept. 18. So I had 2cc's added, but really can't feel a difference. She said to wait at least two weeks before deciding if I have increased restriction. So I am being careful to take small bites, and chew really well. Jim

Alright I was doing pretty good I had done 4 days of mindful exercise. I was doing 20 mins of walking 2 sometimes 3 times a day of I could fit in in. Now Monday I started with really bad pain in my left ankle. Went to the podiatrist ahd he confirmed my suspicion it was a flair up of gout. I have had this problem before, when doing high Protein diets. So I am going to have to start the walkng again in a few days. Jim 4/3 days

I am 4 weeks out, and had a concern over a discharge from my port incision. I made an appt. to have someone look at the incision. The doc checked the incision, and said it looked like I had an accumulation of Fluid under the incision, but didn't appear infected. She took a specimen for a culture to be on the safe side. The good news is that I lost 7 pounds in the last 2 weeks. That brings me up to 29 pounds since banding Aug. 7, and 54 pounds since starting the pre-op diet May 10th. She then asked how I was doing with my eating, and I said that I was in bandster hell. I said that I was working hard to control my protions, and hungry very soon after meals. She said well in that case she would hook me up with a quick first fill. I was scheduled for Sept. 18. So I am on liquids for a couple of days and hoping I will have some restriction. Well I hope I will continue to have success. Jim

Banded on Aug 7th living bandster hell right now. Everything goes down so easy, not much in the way of restriction now, can't wait until fill on Sept. 18. I am trying to stick to Proteins and away from carbs, but it is hard when it all goes down easy. I don't want to lose too much ground, before first fill. Jim

Oops sorry got cut off My Name Jim

1. Famous singer: Jagger 2. 4 letter word: Jerk 3. Street name: J Street (Washington DC) 4. Color: Jade 5. Gifts/presents: Jewlery 6. Vehicle: Javelin 7. Items on a menu: Jelly Roll 8. Girl Name: Julie 9. Boy Name: Jesus 10 Movie Title: Jumanji 11. Drink: Julep 12. Occupation: Judge Advocate General 13. Flower: Job’s Tears (species Coix lacryma-jobi) this was a tough one I aint gonna lie 14. Celebrity: James Garner 15. Magazine: Judo Magazine 16. US City: Jackson (Mississippi) 17. Pro Sports Teams: Jets (New York) 18. Reason for Being Late for Work: Jams (As in traffic) 19. Something U Throw Away: Junk 20. Things You Shout: JERK! 21. Cartoon Character: Jetsons

Hi Judy, I was banded on Aug. 7, 2007. Prior to my surgery people kept asking if I was getting nervous or anything, but I really can't say that ever did. My answer was "I guess as it gets closer maybe I will", but I never did. I guess I was just ready to get it over with. I started the process in March, and got banded in Aug. The surgery was really easy for me, I was taken into surgery at 7:30am and home for 3:00pm the same day. I never had the gas pains that you will read about on here. I guess I was dreading that a little, because I have read many posts, about how bad the gas pains can get. I was lucky I guess. I can just tell you follow your doc's post-op instructions closley, and sip lots of Water and Clear liquids in those first few days. Good luck on your banding, I you have more questions please feel free to pm me I'll answer any thing you need to know. Jim

Well I am getting in on this a bit late, but I will commit to 21 days of mindful exercise. Walking is best for me, cause I can do it at work as well as at home. Well wish me luck. Jim