TulipStar

I am proud to report that I have worked out for a total of 9 hours this week! I better get it in now bc we are traveling for Christmas and I wont' have the oppotunity to go to the gym.

I have a digital display it is great for when you can't sync with your computer to see how many calories you burned. I travel a lot for work, so it comes in very handy. The BB will store 14 days worth of data and when I am overseas traveling I keep checking my digital display to make sure I am getting my steps in and activity. I LOVE my bugg. I have lost 18 lbs since getting it!

It takes a while. I finally just now feel good restriction on my 3rd fill.

When I first start to lose weight its about 20lbs before I am down a size then as things start moving its about every 10lbs to go down as a size. I have lost 40lbs and am down about 3 sizes. I'm 5'5, average height.

I just waited it out and around day 4 or 5 I had some relief. My dr recommended that I take milk of magnesia for constipation. It doesn't cause cramping, but it definitely works!

Congrats on your band! Expect to feel sore and down the first week. I was so stir crazy after the 1st week! Just take it easy and enjoy your down time by watching movies, reading or doing whatever else sedetary that you like to do.

I thought giving up eating and drinking at the same time was hard, but it wasn't for me. Plus I am saving a ton of $ on soda!! You will see when you are banded and properly filled how much you have to chew. Honestly I don't have to chew that much, just chew enough to make sure the food the not huge pieces (maybe i have always been a good chewer). The key thing for me is making sure to eat SLOW and take time in between my bites. I just got a fill this week and 2 bites makes me full. If I eat those 2 bites too fast-- I am excrutiatingly full.

-Being able to cross my legs -Fitting comfortably in a regular sized roller coaster seat -Running a 5k -Not having to size up the booth at a restaurant wondering if I will fit (done!) -Being able to walk up the 6 flights of stairs at my work instead of taking the elevator -Not having to be embarassed about my weight if I want to do something active (like zip lining, scuba diving, bungee jumping, etc) -Have babies!!

Congratulations at being at goal!!!! IT is so hard for me not to shop for clothes! I am a clothes horse and I can't help it. Yesterday I had to return something to LB and I almost bought something bc they were have a sale..50% off everything in the store. At the last minute I put everything back on the rack. I am lucky that I have many large closets filled with different size clothes from my fluctuations over the years. But the smallest I have is size 14.

I LOVE spinning class. I have been doing it for about 3 months now 3 days a week in combo with other exercise. The soreness from the seat went away for me after about the 3rd time.

This is exactly what I was looking for. Does it really work! When you start, should you be running on flat surfaces or did you try a treadmill?

Exercising. I love to exercise. Also shopping, which is bad, but I only spend $cash so that I am not ringing up credit cards!

I think most do it before they were banded. I did before I was banded. I call it "last supper syndrome" and I ate a lot of last suppers (and breakfasts and lunches and snacks). The downside is that it's more weight for you to lose. I gained 20lbs in 3 months pre-op and I think that only now if I hadn't gained those lbs, I would be 20lbs lighter on the scale!!

Today I bought the most delicious chewale...gummy vites. They are gummy bears. They won some taste award. They are good, taste like candy, but have all the vits you need.

I know exactly how you feel. For me, I had 1 fill and then when I went in for my 2nd fill, my port flipped, so I had to wait and have revision surgery. So, 3 months later and I feel like I have barely lost any weight at all and for those who do know about my surgery...I feel like I have to make excuses. My Dad had gastric bypass 5 years ago, so his weight came off really fast. He asks me every time I talk to him...and it is only like a few lbs more than the last time. His only response is "that's not bad". way to encourage me dad! I also didn't tell a lot of people, so that is good. So people aren't really "expecting" me to look thinner. I think I am more hard on myself than anything. Plus I work with this guy who lost 133lbs in 6 months after getting the lap band. Yes, 133lbs. He keeps asking me and says that he lost an average of 30lbs a month the first 3 months and that's what I should be doing. I tell him that women are different. Plus he NEVER excercised and I workout 1-2 hours a day and my weight is barely coming off. The only encouragement that I have, is that it will get better with your fills. Hang in there!!

Sorry, I can't say that I do. I drank about 6 cans of Diet Sprite for 20 years, every single day. I haven't had one since surgery. However, my surgeon said that he doesn't mind if I have a soda every once in a while. As long as I have an empty stomach.

Wow, this is an interesting topic! My hubby has always been really thin (too thin in the beginning) and now he is just right. occasionally he will put on an extra 10-15 lbs and I am not attracted to him. I know it sounds awful, but I married him a certain way and I have always been fat when I have been with him. I often wonder if he will love me as I get thinner....

OMG! That is the BEST NSV. I can't even imagine fitting in a size 8. You go girl! Strut your stuff on the runway!!!

Congrats and welcome. You are going to love it!

Yes, I count calories. It keeps me in check. It is surprising how much calories are in things that we eat. I try to keep it at about 1200. I don't have much fill yet, so I can easily eat 2500 calories a day, so I have to log it all to make sure I stay within my limit. I use fitday.com.

I went to a seminar here in Dallas where there was a 14 year old girl with her Father. They were talking to the Dr. and he said he would do it. You have to see a Dr. and ask him/her.

That is a big milestone...YOu are on your way!! congrats! I also can't wait until I am out of the "morbid" category.

Hi all, I suffered from Anorexia in my teen years. I was still overweight then, but would not eat for 5-13 days at a time, starving myself, then I would binge. When I got into my 20's it was just too hard to do...I was too hungry to starve myself, plus I was living in the real world with a job and school, so I had to eat. Now that I have the band, I find it easier for these feelings of being able to deny myself food and not eat. It gives me the same feeling of "control" that I used to have when I was an anorexic. For example, I just had revision surgery 2 days ago and I haven't eaten anything yet. I am afraid to eat, because sometimes once you start eating, the hunger comes back. I am not on a post-op diet (not required by dr) but I am choosing to not eat mainly because I want to lose weight. These port problems have set me back on my progress and I am desperate to make this work! I did have a Protein shake yesterday though, bc I figure I need to protein to heal. Just wondering if anyone has struggled with these same feelings?

I had the same dr as losingjusme. He told me the same...try everything and see what you can or can't handle. so far, I can eat anything. He even said that its ok to drink carbonated beverages, as long as its on an empty stomach. I was so addicted to diet sprite...drank it as a child, so for 20 years I drank it every day. I haven't touched it since surgery and I must admit I feel better!

My recovery time before I went back to work was 6 days. I am not a "normal smoker" and I weighed 298 when I went in for surgery. The reason I say normal smoker is bc I don't smoke every day, but I did smoke occasionally like 1-2 times a month. I smoked a week before my surgery...about 4 cigarettes bc it was labor day weekend and I felt like it. I haven't smoked since and have quit for good. You know what I think helps recovery? being in shape...meaning that you work out somewhat and your heart is strong from exercise. I know it sounds stupid bc why would you be having this surgery if you were fit? I can say that I had a different surgery 4 years ago and I prepped by working out a lot, getting my heart rate up and my core strong to support post-surgery. The estimated recovery time for that surgery was 2 weeks. I was fine after 1 week. Then I had lapband surgery 3 months ago and I didn't prep by exercising-- recovery was harder for me. Now I had revision surgery for my lapband last week and I did prep. I worked out daily and did core exercises and recovery seemed much quicker for me. Just my opinion!