Lochnagar

Folks, anyone else experienced this before I call Dr. Spivak? I have been slming at a very high rate for the last week or so. No discomfort, as such, but just bringing up an incredible quantity of saliva. The biggest (and scariest) probelm is that this will happen when I am sleeping, and I wake up choking on my saliva. No fills for about 5-6 months and I am getting close to my target weight. I did increase my food intake over Thanksgiving, but not by a huge amount. I've been on a self-imposed liquid diet for the last 3 days, but it doesn't seem to be helping. Thanks

I am wondering the same question. I used to play rugby, and now that I am getting close to my goal weight I am interested in playing on a "masters" team (boy do I feel old). I am concerned about hits to the port area though

Chris, At my heaviest I was 315lbs. I played rugby at a fairly high level when I was younger (up to my early 20s), but I never was a long distance runner. I tried to follow the "couch potato to 5k" program, but found my progress to fast for the plan. I started this around 255lbs. No problems with knees, joints, etc - just bruising and losing my toenails. I was running a 5k race every other weekend, but I am now scouring the area for 10k+ races. Good luck with the banding - let us know how it goes.

JP, It took me at least 4 fills to get it right and several months - it was very frustrating. However, once you hit the sweet spot, you will know it. I am now down 96lbs and within 24lbs of my goal. I've found that I have to combine heavy exercising with my lower caloric intake to acheive the continued weight loss

Well, I am now within 4lbs of a 100lb loss! I can't seem to be able to update my ticker, so ignore that. I reached 219lbs this weekend. On Saturday, I got up at 2am, drove up to Dallas (I live in a northern suburb of Houston) and ran in the "Tour Des Fleurs" 20k race. My time was slow - 2hrs, 50 mins, but I did not stop or walk once - I ran/jogged the whole way (about 12.8 mile). I then jumped back in the truck and made it back home for my son's football game at 2:30. I took Sunday off, but ran about 8 miles this morning. I have a 10k this weekend and then the Huntsville 1/2 marathon October 13th. I was planning on running the San Antonio marathon November 11th, but my son has a Cub Scout camping trip that day, which I cannot miss. Cheers!

Don't know about Speigel, but you will not go wrong with Spivak

Ditto to what everyone else has said here. If I don't get my run in I get grumpy now - it is my new "addiction" I am ramping up to a marathon in November. I did my longest training run yet this weekend of 15 miles. My toes are a bit sore and my legs a little stiff, but boy did I enjoy it. And all this from a (male) former couch potato who weighed 315 and is now at 225, and can comfortably wear 36" pants (from 56"+)!

Well this former couch potato is going to attempt the San Antonio marathon on November 11th - I just registered this morning! I have been running for the past 10 weeks or so, and am gradually increasing my distance. When I started I couldn't run for more than a minute without stopping - I ran 10 miles this morning with no stops! I run in a 5k race every 2 weeks, and I have registered for a couple of 10ks, a half-marathon, and a 25k between now and race day. I am far from fast, but boy, am I enjoying it! With this exercise, I am losing about 3/4 pounds per day and my intake is about 800 calories - mostly Protein. If I can do it - anyone can do it!

Mrs. CB, I have been banded about a year now and it was the best decision I have yet made. I am a 41 year old male, and though I didn't have the full-blown co-morbidities associated with obesity, I was getting pre-diabetic, my bp was on the rise, and I had sleep apnea. Now, after a loss over over 80lbs,, I have none of these conditions. I was never a long distance runner before I gained the weight (I was a rugby player), but now I have fallen in love with running. I race in 5ks every other weekend, and will run my first marathon (hopefully) Nov.11. My Bp is now around 115/65 and my resting pulse is in the 50s. Do it - you won't regret it - I don't!

Before & after (well as of today). Need to update my ticker - down to 233.

Before and after (well during) pics:

I'm 5"11, so I'd like to be around 195 - so I've still got just less than 40lbs to go. I started using the "couch potato to 20 min runner in 10 weeks" and it was a good program, but I needed to accelerate the results as I wasn't being challenged. I think I was running 20 mins within 3 weeks.

Well, after about a year banded I am down 81 lbs from 315 to 234 (I haven't updated my ticker). I am running 5k races every 2 weeks, will be running a 25k in November and a marathon in January. My "long" training runs are 9 miles and my short ones are 3 miles - I am running about 25 - 30 miles a week. Waist size has gone from 56 to 36, and shirt size from a tight XXXL to Large. This feels good!

Name........................Starting….......Curren t …...Goal….....To Go losingjusme...................293..............280 ...........266...........14 juliegeraci....................226..............22 6...........206...........20 areellady.....................251.5...........237. 5 .........230..............7.5 punkeyb88...................306.............238.. ..........225..........13 Chris_NJ......................326.............295. ...........290..........5 PaulaD........................222..............222 ............200..........22 MM............................248...............24 8............230.........18 sdakotaRN..................255...............255.. ..........230..........22.2 Babygrl1234...............224................213.. .........199..........14 faithmd.....................312...............308. ..........285...........23 Jan421......................267...............262. ...........247..........15 Metalband.................203...............193... ..........183...........10 tann........................223................208 ............198...........10 Banannie..................182..............175.2.. .........162...........13.2 Josette....................322...............314.. ..........299...........15 chickatee.................217...............212... ..........199...........13 beachgirl..................270................220. ...............155.........65 Marlluvia...................220...............220. ..............200...........20 Jennifur....................222…............219... .........200..........19 KariK.......................179..............179.. ..........155..........24 MarCar.....................296............ 284.............276...........8 Punkeyb88................238............238....... ..... 220......... 18 Jadrad7....................243............230..... .......220..........23 Denise......................265...........259... .........240..........25 Wen.........................303...........295.. ...........285.........10 SWEETY...................217...........205........ ......199.........6 Lochnagar................249...........235.... ........221..........14 glinadb....................285…........278.6...... .....260..........18.6 Denise....................330............265...... .......240..........25 mel........................254.4........237.6..... .....230..........7.6 Amelia40..................285...........288....... .....255...........33 Crabby54.................257...........245........ ....232.........25 Sunny 112...............219...........173.............16 5........8

Not as close as most here - but at 235 it is well within sight! I started at 315.

I might sign up - but I'll be running (thanks to Dr. Spivak!) I'll need to see if I can juggle the schedule

I'm from The Woodlands, a northern suburb of Houston. I was banded by Dr. Spivak last year and am down 85lbs. I am now running in 5ks and 10ks and am registered for my first marathon in January. If I have a choice, I would not move away from The Woodlands. The schools are great and the quality of living is second to none.

Getting there . . Name........................Starting….......Curren t …...Goal….....To Go losingjusme...................293..............283 ...........266...........17 juliegeraci....................226..............22 6...........206...........20 areellady.....................251.5...........237. 5 .........230..............7.5 punkeyb88...................306.............238.. ..........225..........13 Chris_NJ......................326.............300. ...........290..........10 PaulaD........................222..............222 ............200..........22 MM............................248...............24 8............230.........18 sdakotaRN..................255...............255.. ..........230..........22.2 Babygrl1234...............224................215.. .........199..........16 faithmd.....................312...............308. ..........285...........23 Jan421......................267...............262. ...........247..........15 Metalband.................203...............196... ..........183...........13 tann........................223................208 ............198...........10 Banannie..................182..............175.2.. .........162...........13.2 Josette....................322...............314.. ..........299...........15 chickatee.................217...............213... ..........199...........16 beachgirl..................270................220. ...............155.........65 Marlluvia...................220...............220. ..............200...........20 Jennifur....................222…............219... .........200..........19 KariK.......................179..............179.. ..........155..........24 MarCar.....................296............ 284.............276...........8 Punkeyb88................238............238....... ..... 220......... 18 Jadrad7....................243............230..... .......220..........23 Denise......................265...........259... .........240..........25 Wen.........................303...........299.. ...........285.........14 SWEETY...................217...........207........ ......199.........8 Lochnagar................249...........239.... ........221..........18 glinadb....................285…........278.6...... .....260..........18.6 Denise....................330............265...... .......240..........25 mel........................254.4........237.6..... .....230..........7.6 Amelia40..................285...........288....... .....255...........33 Crabby54.................257...........245........ ....232.........25 Sunny 112...............219...........181.............16 5........16

I'd like to do a triathalon next year. I just registered for the Houston marathon in January - that is my main goal. I have now competed in three 5ks - I felt very self conscious the first one - now I don't care! I run a 5k race every 2nd week now. In the run up to the marathon I will run a 10k race in September and a 25k race in October. I download exercise podcasts and usually run at 145 beats per minute - it takes away the boredom. I will do a fast 5k training run one day and then a slower 10k the next run.

Welcome. I was banded last year by Dr. Spivak. It took a while to get the right fill volume, but now that we have found it, the weight is coming right off. I have nothing but good things to say about Dr. Spivak and his team! Best of luck!!

Running 4-8 miles3-4 times a week, 2k fast the other 3 days a week - 1 day off from all running. Heavy upper body weights on low mileage/off days

Anyone else running 5ks? I did my first one on the 16th June and ran/shuffled a 42min 45sec time. My second one was on the 23rd June and I ran a 39min 30 sec. I just did my third this morning - knocking the time down to 38mins and 3 secs - that's a pace of 12:15per mile! 6 months ago I was 315lbs and would be able to walk a few miles, but that would be it. Now I am training most days and down at 248. The "high" I am getting from the running is just incredible - and combined with the lapband, the weight is just falling off. I live in The Woodlands, TX, and there is a 5k race - "Run The Woodlands" on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month - I intend to run as many as I can. They are very non-judgemental and you get a big round of applause when you cross the finish line. My goal is to finish the Houston marathon in January, with a short term goal of the Rocky Raccoon 25k on Nov. 3rd. Anyone else running 5ks? How did you get there with your training? How are your times coming along (only if you want to share)?

J.S. - that is awesome - keep it up. I did the couch-potato to 5k thing too. It gets easier and easier. The sense of accomplisment when you can run 20 minute without stopping is amazing and the endorphin rush you get is out of this world. I went for another run this morning - just a slow jog after yesterday's race. I was able to keep going past my 5k marker and run another 1k or so - I could have gone further but didn't want to push myself so soon after a race. My resting pulse has gone from mid-80s to mid 50s with a very fast recovery time!!! My BP has dropped to below 120/70. I've noticed a big difference in pant size too - I was a 54-56 in waist before the surgery (I'm a guy). I can now comfortably wear 40 in pants and can squeeze into some 38s. Shirt size has gone from 3XL to L. I am not going back!!

Looks like there are 2 different lists going now with some peole mising (me ;( )

Thanks though!