steph_co

LOL. Totally know what you're talking about. I think it's just whatever you swallowed making its way through the band. I've gotten many a strange look from people for that. Since I most certainly did NOT burp, I usually just give a shy smile and a shrug. It helps when the people I'm with know I have a band - easier to explain. But yeah - really sucks when your mouth happens to be open right at that particular moment.

LAP-BAND <----Forum abbreviations

Wow. I didn't have to do all of that. I paid somewhere in the neighborhood of just under $11,000 - but it covered everything, plus 1 year of fills. It's been 2-1/2 years, but I only remember meeting one-on-one with a nutritionist and a Nurse Practitioner. Between the two, they answered all my questions, and did like an interview-type thing to make sure I wasn't bulimic and had realistic goals. I don't remember a psychiatrist/psychologist. But as for all the other tests - the only one I had was a blood draw right before the surgery so they'd have all the info about my blood.

I'm really happy to see it feels like it's starting to click. :frown: I wish you the best on the remainder of your Lapband journey.

Planks are excellent cause they work the entire core - front, back, chest, and hips/legs. Any kind of core work is a fantastic idea. There are a ton of options. I also really like the mountain climber (if you do look it up - I do a slower, more controlled version, keeping my body in a straight line - don't lift the hips up and curve the back or you negate most core work). If you do decide to go with sit-ups, studies have shown that quicker reps work your abs harder than a slow, controlled movement. :frown: To add...about the underarms. Two very good workouts are either the close-grip bench press or push-ups with the hands closer together. Two options, there - so whether or not you have access to a weight room, you can go either direction.

Wow. I don't think it's selfish at all to want to be healthy and ALIVE for your family. :frown: I'm sorry that whomever it is in your life giving you grief is doling it out. Just realize that they'll never understand because they haven't been in your shoes. It's unfortunate, but it's their choice.

Welcome back to the board, ladybug! So what changes are you planning to make to reach your goal (I'm interested to hear what others are doing)? I hope you can get to the weight you are aiming for. Check in now and again - it's good to hear from some of the long-time banders!

I can still eat pizza at excellent restriction for 2 years, now. I can't recall ever having any type of issue with it or any kind of crust. Just like others have said - I can just now eat less of it and be satiated. I also agree with the person that said if you find something difficult to get down, you probably won't enjoy it anymore. So true - pancakes I used to love and I can't stand them anymore...PURELY because I can't get a single bite to go down without pain. So now I hate pancakes. I also used to not like popcorn all that much and I had a period where I couldn't get enough of it (last year). And there was a time when I was craving hot sauce pretty much constantly. I still crave things to be spicy pretty often...but when the hot sauce thing hit, I'm not kidding - I was swallowing spoonfuls of the stuff - the hotter, the better. It's interesting how your tastes can change when they put a Nike Air Stomach in you. :cursing:

There's no need to be rude. I'm not a mind reader. Hence the reason I asked TWICE what you were eating on an average day. I still find it interesting that you refuse to state, exactly, what it is that you eat. But go for broke, honey. Obviously I don't know what I'm doing AT ALL.

Me, too! That's why I recognized it. :thumbup: I totally agree with his principles. I wish it was just more widely understood info. Everybody wants to argue it. Um, okay. Whatever. This way is easier, IMO, than VLCD...but whatever floats people's boats.

Brad - OT question...but based on this statement and the line in your sig. I have a question. Tom Venuto? :thumbup:

Well, if you were trying to powerlift Olympic weights, I could understand the concern. But just start slow and build up the weights. As long as you're not trying to give yourself a hernia, I don't see the harm. Especially if your doctor cleared you.

Definitely don't cut the weight training. It's a good idea to build up your lean body tissue because that is what will keep you down in weight - by keeping your body furnace (metabolism) going hot. Fat just sits there along for the ride - but muscle burns calories just even when you're sitting around. If anything - I agree with previous posters that you should up the cardio. 1 mile walking is a good start, but it's not going to get you the results you want. If running is difficult right now, why not try biking? It's easier on the joints, but you can burn a lot of calories. You want to make sure it's an exercise that you will stick to because it doesn't hurt. You can also get your cardiac endurance built up so that if you decide to start running one day, you'll already have a bit of a leg up with your lungs and heart. As far as the strength training...you might actually consider talking to somebody that does weight training and have them work up a program for you. They might have some good ideas. I had a friend do that for me. When I got bored with his routine, I found a new one in a weight training book for women.

I had a miscarriage at 10 weeks, 2-1/2 years ago (it was actually one of the things that really pushed me to get the band). I can understand the heartbreak. I just wanted to offer you hugs and advise that you take really good care of yourself. This is a time for healing and making your body a peaceful place to carry the baby. Don't be in a rush - nature has a perfect balance to it. Take your time and be kind to yourself.

I weigh myself daily. I think as long as you don't freak about possible fluctuations (water weight, PMS, whatever), it's not a big deal. Plus, they have found that people who weigh daily are more likely to keep the weight OFF. But that may be more applicable to people that are already in maintenance. I like to weigh everyday so I know if there's anything I need to adjust - like less carbs, more water, different exercise - SOMETHING. This way I always know what my body is doing.

2-1/2 years out and YES, YES, YES. Absolutely, undeniably, unquestionably - YES.

It's really difficult to feel full for long on liquids. Hence the desire to graze even after downing a 250 cal protein shake. Right after the surgery is the hardest because of the liquids/mushy phase. The pouch empties out WAY too quickly. I think you're just going to have to hang in there. When you get to solids and can have more solid protein, fullness will last longer and it'll be easier. You really can't say for sure that you need a fill until you've been eating solid foods and THEY are emptying out of the pouch too quickly. Liquid should go through - that's normal or you'd get dehydrated.

The fullness is definitely different than before the band, but it still exists. Hard to explain. But I have a distinct feeling when I know I shouldn't eat anymore. You can experiment to see. I have never thrown up from eating too much. Yes - I have pushed it. (ONLY AFTER FULLY HEALING...I would not recommend "testing" it until you are COMPLETELY healed.) But yes - agree to what the previous poster said - your dr should have given you some kind of guideline so you have some idea when you should start feeling full.

DANG, Momto1...that's crazy! You've been through A LOT. I hope things have mellowed out for you and you can have a calm band. Wow. Congrats on school! That's awesome. I also start school Aug 23, but my rear will be in a seat rather than at the front of the room. :thumbup: I'm going back to school for nursing. Getting my BSN. Good luck with your new teaching duties! Shalee - Hi! Are you having problems with the band? Or is it the frustration I get every once in awhile: "This tastes SOOOO good - I want to eat MORE, dangit! Stupid band." LOL For the most part, I like my band. It keeps me in check. And now it's TOTALLY useful for limiting my calories so I can drop weight. And I'm eating normally - not even low carb, which is what I did before the band. And it's not VLCD (very low calorie diet), either...which is what I did right after I got the band.

I'm going to have to agree with btrieger. You can't just eat everything and expect to get healthy and lose weight. When you say "everything," seriously - could you expound on that? Cause I am at perfect restriction for me - really. I think I can eat about a cup or two of food and that's it. It depends on the time of day, tbh. BUT - it REALLY depends on WHAT I eat as to whether or not I lose weight. I can sit around eating candy bars, Cookies, and ice cream all day long and complain that I'm not losing weight. Or I can change my diet and eat healthy foods FIRST and leave only a very tiny allowance for junk...and here I am - losing. So give us a specific menu idea of what you eat in a given day. How many calories are you taking in?

Just wanted to wave hello to the fellow runners! I have run off and on over many years. Losing weight with Lapband made it easier to actually get into it hardcore. I think I went through the C25K program like 3 times. LOL Finally, in August of last year, something STUCK and I've been running ever since (did take a month off in Nov/Dec for a foot problem). Ran my very first road race on May 8th - a half-marathon. Now I'm building up my mileage even more to see if I could survive a full marathon in October. I'm super excited. If all goes well, I'm then considering another marathon in December in Las Vegas. I have heard that you are ready for your next marathon when you forget about the one you just did - but the moment I finished my half, I was asking myself when my next race was going to be! I love this stuff. The high that comes from running is incomparable to anything else I've ever experienced. Good to "meet" you, Bill! Look forward to hearing your experiences with running.

They state on which website? The surgeon's or Realize's? I'd take either one with a grain of salt. I hate to say it, but you never know when a doctor or surgeon gets kickbacks from drug or medical companies. It's good to see you doing some research on your own. As for me - I have the Lapband AP 10cc band. Um...I think I have 6.5cc in it so far (last fill was in 2008) and I have EXCELLENT restriction. I've had the band for 2 years, 6-1/2 months. No problems, whatsoever. Any time I had issues with what I thought could have been a slipped band or other issue, it was actually just something new I was eating or how I was eating. Upon readjusting, everything went back to normal. It's doing exactly what it should be doing - limiting my intake and makes me slow down to eat. So why am I not at goal? Slider foods. Beware the slider foods (foods that are easy to eat because they generally go right through...coincidentally, they are also usually the higher calorie foods).

Actually - thought of something else that I will NOT eat cause it hurts no matter how masticated the bites, or how tiny they are when they go down - gummies. Yes...like the candy. Judging based on others' answers - I'm going to say this is pretty individualized as to which foods will be definite no-no's to you.

Pancakes are the kiss of death for me. I really can't think of anything else that won't go down if I eat slow enough.

Could you post an average menu for a day for yourself?