jfc193

We live in a quick fix society. Take for example ways to cook oat meal Steel-cut oats can take up to 25 minutes Rolled outs 5 to 15 minutes Quick cocking rolled oats a little over one minute Instant oats already cooked and rolled all we do is add boiling Water to rehydrate them. What does the above have to do with the band? If the band does not "Make us lose weight instantly" then some how it is the bands fault. If we chose to ignore the Dr's instruction then somehow it is the Dr's and the bands fault. for me when I do not lose it is my fault. By the way I like the steel-cut Oats

Terrific news. So happy for you and best of luck as you continue your journey

There is a reason why they call it a journey. My wife and I were banded on 9/12/07. At first I lost much quicker than she did she had frequent times when she would lose and gain the same 3 pounds. I lost most of my weight the first 8 months then I slowed way down. Six years later she weighs about 25 pounds less then I do. I have lost over 100 pounds and so has she I am still losing slowly she is staying about the same weight. I focus a lot on NSV and the fact that I do not take any medication for diabetes. Just stay the course and do not compare yourself to others.

"For Me" I could not see removing the band when and if I ever reach my goal. I tend to need the band to help me stay on task. Portion control has always been my weakness and that what the band is very helpful to me in this regard. My biggest concern is staying away from the so call comfort foods that will slide right down the band such as candy bars, shakes and ice cream, mash potatoes and such. So with the smaller portions it is of vital importance for me to stay satiated as long as possible. With the band it allows me to mostly but not always stay away from my comfort foods. Having spent 2009 through 2012 with weight going up and down to the point of going from 190 to 250at Christmas even with the band. On the bright side more than likely without the band I would of gained back all of the weight that I had lost and have no doubt that I would be back at 330 plus. I recommitted myself on January 1 to continue my band journey and hopefully by next March be back under 190. Having the band removed is not an option "For me."

Terrific loss, The advantage of Youth, Take care and stay on task.

Thanks for the information. I normally try to go to bed around 9:00 pm due to the fact that I tend to raid the kitchen between 10 & 12. So going to bed early helps. As a result I am ready to get up between 4 and 5 and then go for a walk on an empty stomach and then about 20 minutes after I get back I have a Protein shake and I am good to go for the day.

Terrific news, I was on a wooden roller coaster and I got in with my son and the bar did not come done properly so I had to leave the ride except that they could not release the bar. The young man had to put his foot on the bar and force it down so it would release. My son went ahead and rode the coaster by him self. Not one of my finest moments, I did lose some weight but could not keep it off as a matter of fact I went on to gain another 70 lbs. Now I can get on any coaster and not be concerned.

I have been off Metformin for 5 1/2 years. Do not miss taking medication and I have my A1C tested every year and so far all is good.

I get the flu shot every year. I travel a lot in and out of Airports.

I normally do not eat to much bread. Usually like to get the Protein style cheeseburger at IN N out. If I do eat a hamburger at a restaurant most of the time I do not order a bun. If I eat fajitas in a restaurant I will order corn tortillas but usually only eat one tortilla Meal times are much to precious to spend time eating bread, bring on the meat.

There might be a problem if you poop and lift weights at the same time :wub: Just Kidding. Interesting question not one that I would really think about. Best of luck with your journey.

Love coffee in the morning. Rarely drink after 2:00 pm because it will keep me up. Never ever had an issue with coffee

Wow 5 day cruise and only one pounds that is certainly terrific My wife and I love to go on cruises glad I am banded because before band I would gain 5 to 10 pounds. With the band 1 to 2 pounds.

No need to worry I can keep a secret and if you need to, Cousin Guido might be available for some side work. I was meaning to talk to you but maybe I will wait for a little while. Take care

I for one know that I would gain all the weight back if my band were to be removed. Back in 2009 when I first got to 190 I thought I could handle this journey by myself. After all my wife and I were banded together. The last 20 pounds that I lost to get to 190 were really do to having my band to tight and having to deal with the reflux and coughing at night and sleeping almost upright in my bed so I had my first complete unfill and quickly gained 30 pounds over the next six months due to lots of snacking between meals. It was "see food eat food", then I started getting fills again but did not change my eating habits. I had my band to tight again and had to have another complete unfill and found out that my esophagus had dilated and took two months to heal. Of course I stop exercising and kept up my snacking but know also started eating late at night. Had a few small fills because I was scared of getting to tight. Needless to say by January 1, 2013 I had made my way back to 250 pounds and that is when I recommitted my self. I lost 10 pounds in January but for most of February I was stuck at 240 and did not matter what I would do I would not gain or lose. In March I had acute pancreatitis and had to have my gallbladder removed (family tradition). So for 4 days I was in the hospital and I could not eat and the doctors put a tube in me help drain the gallbladder so it could be removed. Not a great way to do the "the 5 day pouch test" but it had a sobering effect on me. So I have now gone back to exercising mostly band resistance training and walking. Get up early in the morning between 4 and 5 to I get to bed around 9 so I am not tempted to raid the refrigerator, No eating after 7 in the evening. taking small bites and putting the fork down between bites. And I do try to get on this board at least once a day. What has been really helpful has been the following from Mis73 profile "The band isn't supposed to limit your portions, make you feel stuffed full, or physically stop you from eating anything. It's supposed to help you to feel satiated on less food for longer periods of time. To better understand it, read here: The Lap-Band is NOT About Restriction" So hopefully when I get back down to 190 and lower I will not get cocky and remember to stay focus and keep going on the journey. Good luck on what you decide to do.

Google, I found one other site from Australia, been so long this board just seems like home.

Congratulations on your band journey. Nice to be able to keep up with your children. Mt baby is 35 but I enjoy keeping up with the grandchildren. Just today I was chasing one around and the 8 year old got winded and I noticed that I was no where near being winded myself.

When my stomach start makeing growling nices the grandchildren all laugh and say Grampa Alien is acting up again. My wife who is also banded rarely has her stomach growl

I can totally relate to what you are saying I was banded in September 2007 did really well and then got cocky thinking I did not not any support. It seems when I stay away from this board that I gain weight and find my way back My lowest weight since banded was around December 2009 around 190. Afterwards stop exercising and even though I still ate properly during my meals I went back to heavy duty snacking and the weight started to creep back on. In June 2011had a complete unfill due to esophagus dilation and during the next three months gained 25 lbs. Finally on January 1 2013 after reaching 250 I recommitted myself and am losing weight again

It seems when I stay away from this board that I gain weight and find my way back My lowest weight since banded was around December 2009 around 190. Afterwards stop exercising and even though I still ate properly during my meals I went back to heavy duty snacking and the weight started to creep back on. In June 2011had a complete unfill due to esophagus dilation and during the next three months gained 25 lbs On January 1 2013 after reaching 250 I recommitted myself and am losing weight again

Congrats on your success. My current NSV's favorites include "ONE SIZE FITS MOST INCLUDES ME" Going up and down stairs without worrying if I forgot something downstairs. Picking things off the floor without getting on my knees.

My wife and I had ours lap bands put in on the same day on 9/7/07. We both stayed overnight and in the same room. The nurses did a double take when they saw a man and women in the same room. They also thought it was cute that we would both have it done on the same time. Makes it easier when both are doing the same lifestyle change. The only difference is that I have a 4cc band and she has a 10cc band. At first I was not pleased that she was getting the band but after doing my own research ended up deciding to have it done as well. The journey has not been ease but is own of the best decisions we have made in our life time.

I fly a lot so not having to ask for a seat extender is huge and it brings a huge smile to my face. I even have a bigger smile when I get to take the shorten the belt from where the previous flier had it set.

Thanks so much for bring this post back. I hope you get to feeling better in mind and spirit. It is so encouraging to read something that will make a difference in the long run. The journey or life style is just that there will be good days and bad days, good choices and bad choices. When we allow those bad choices to overtake the good choices then we tend to run and hide and stay away from this board or whatever accountability that we have set up for ourselves. Where success really comes from in that we should make more good choices then bad choices so that when we do have those days that we are not feeling all that good about our selves we can remind ourselves from where we have come from.