Kristin1031

I was afraid to post to this thread....LOL I have no fill and do not feel I need one as of yet.......I have no hunger still since surgery. I am losing just fine, though I did have a 14 day period where I had not lost any weight but have since lost 7 pounds. I am able to eat my 3 ounce meals just as I have all along and I feel full and no need to eat more. I am not snakcing on anything in between meals. I am exercising 5-6 times a week and am intensifying these workouts. I only drink Water and Milk and V-8 juice. I am always careful to eat my Protein first and chew and chew and chew, the food is not an issue at this time. I do not see my Dr until Feb 7th I am anxious for him to see me. I want to be down 40 pounds when I see him, I think I am going to make that goal.....YIPPEE!!

I am 46 years old and I work for a very large Medical Group, 7 hospitals and 80 offices with 200 physicians in two states; and I bill insurance all day long, I talk to patients about their bills and work with insurance companies. I love my job. I have been overweight my entire adult life since becoming pregnant with my first child. I was about 40 pounds over weight when I lost my son in 1988 to cancer he was 4 1/2. Since then I put on 100 pounds and my highest known weight was 287 my pre surgery weight. I am married to my best friend for the last 28years, we will Celebrate our 28th anniversary on March 15th. He is fulltime in the Air National Guard and he will be deployed in May for his second tour in the Middle East. I have a daughter who is married and has two sons my grandsons Adam and Cole. Adam is named after my son Adam. We had his 4th birthday party today and he was so cute. He loves dinosaurs, in fact he is obsessed with them. That is all he talks about or wants....LOL I live in the Central Midwest and it is DAMN cold here today......feels like the artic outside. I have two dogs Kodi (gordon setter) Bear (Yorkie) and I lost my Amber(gordon setter) on September 8th 2007. She was my sweetheart. I miss her every day she is chasing rainbows in heaven with my son. I can not express enough how much I love my new life and my new way of eating and being healthy. I love how I feel. I love that I have energy and am not always exhausted. I love that I look forward to doing things now, because I am not always hurting or aching somewhere. I know the next 6 months are going to be tough ones and I know that as I get closer to goal I will have to work that much harder, but I am up for this challenge. I would advise anyone considering having this surgery to do it. I would never say NOT to. It has saved my life.

1. Momto1plus1.......241...............238..............229...........9 2. TxArcher...........360........Last week, 357......???...........12 3. Hungryforchange...227.5..........225...............215.5.......10 4 shortgal ............. 198............195................192...........3 5. Hollyberries.........298............293................285........... 8 6. Tyman311..........167...........168................150............17 7. Trixie.................264...............255..............244......... .11 8. plump_princess.....237.............233..............227........... 6 9. Foofy ................249............244...............237............7 10. wnt2lose..........236............233.8...........225.............8.8 11. BarbBee...........284.............278.............272..............6 12. Longhorn..........211.............209.............199.............10 13. Steph...............203.5..........197..............188.5.........8.5 14.kristin1031..........256............ 249..............240...........9 Wow I did 5 miles this morning on the bike at the club and it was my first attempt at the bike!! I was very pumped !! And I lost 2 more pounds, so it is working all the exercise is paying off. Congratulations to all of us!! We are doing awesome!!

I am here and doing GREAT!!! 1. Momto1plus1.......241...............238..............229...........9 2. TxArcher...........360........Last week, 357......???...........12 3. Hungryforchange...227.5..........225...............215.5.......10 4 shortgal ............. 198............195................192...........3 5. Hollyberries.........298............293................285........... 8 6. Tyman311..........167...........168................150............17 7. Trixie.................264...............255..............244......... .11 8. plump_princess.....237.............233..............227........... 6 9. Foofy ................249............244...............237............7 10. wnt2lose..........236............233.8...........225.............8.8 11. BarbBee...........284.............278.............272..............6 12. Longhorn..........211.............209.............199.............10 13. Steph...............203.5..........197..............188.5.........8.5 14. Kristin1031........256.............249..............240............9 I am so proud of myself I did 5 miles this morning on the bike at the club! Was the first time I attempted the bike and I did it in 30 minutes....I was so proud of myself. The last 10 minutes was excrutiating but I made it.....and hoped on the scale this am and was down another 2 pounds......it is coming off and I am thrilled........10 more pounds and I will be under 100 pounds to lose.....YIPPEE!!!! Congratulations everyone on our wonderful success! We are all awesome....

Hi Patty: COngratulations to you!! On your huge success!! I watched the clip it is an amazing testimonial to what this surgery can bring back to us who have fought with obesity demon. I am sorry for the loss of your friend. I too lost a friend the week of my surgery who had the GB from C-Diff. I am so glad I chose the band it has changed my life already and I still have 114 pounds to go to reach my Goal! But I know I can do this, I know that the energy that I have today I did not have 9 weeks ago and that will only continue to improve. You look amazing and you sound like you look!! It is not an easy way out in no way! I was a part of a post here last week where someone was angry that I had posted that I only eat 3 ounce meals and no snacking and that I log everything I eat and even my exercise. She made the comment she did not get the band to have to watch everything she ate like being on a diet. I am glad you brought out in your segment that this is still a process that requires you to monitor your food intake as well as what kinds of things you are placing into your pouch!! WOO HOO to the BANDERS who have met their GOAL!! And to those on the WAY!!

Krista that was so well put by you. You will be a huge success in your weightloss goal!! I have been feeling the weightloss emotionalness that I was warned about preop. Yesterday I was very emotional and I really could not put my finger on the why. I can tell you that I have been eating the good things, and that I question before I eat something if it is MEALTIME 1st. I do not snack in between meals. This is a huge change for me. I used to snack all day long because I was a grazer, and I would eat something all the time at work during the day. We have comfort food at work, people are always bringing in goodies, and not the healthy kind either. I was so nervous about this enviornment being around me each and every day before my surgery. But I have found the temptation is not even a little. I know these Krispy Kreme donuts are not even something I want anymore. I am on my way and I don't want anything to disrupt that. I believe I am fastly becoming that exercise addict that the previous post was describing. I look forward to my workouts, and if I am feeling the stress of daily life then I want to go work out to relieve it. My test will be forth coming this summer when my DH get deployed again to the middle east, two years ago that brought such emotional dispair that I litterally ate and gained 60 pounds. I am more prepared this time around, and I will find physical things to do to relieve the anger and stress that I feel. With the support of my loving family and friends and all the newfound friends through LapBand! I will succeed and reach my GOAL!! I am so determined.

Just updating here WOO HOO!! Hollyberries...........298.............298..............285........... 13 Momto1(Wendy).....241.............241..............229...........12 Hungryforchange....227.............227..............215...........12 Cagstorm (Craig)....360.............357..............345...........12 Teresajo...............212..............212..............205.......... ..7 Skinny_Jill............195..............195..............180.......... .15 Foofy ..................249..............248..............237...........11 want2lose.............236.8...........236.8............225...........1 1.8 sades...................199.7..........199.7............189........... .10.7 chiqui...................231.............231...............220........ .. 11 MarieGabrielle.......268.............268...............256...........1 2 Trixie...................264.............257.5............244......... ..13.5 Firebolt.................224.............224...............212........ ...12 Kristin1031............256.............251...............240.......... .11 Longhorn...............211.............211...............199.......... .12 BarbBee................284.............284...............272.......... .12 Jen......................264..............264...............249....... ....15 Steph...................203.5...........203.5............188.5........ .15 Goldie1109............228.............228................213.......... .15 Shalee04/Kelly.......218.............218................206...........12 Pattypoo1.............202..............202...............192.......... ..10 Shortgal ..............198..............198...............192.............6 Cindyg.................218..............218...............208......... ...10 Suedoenimm.........204.............204...............192.............1 2 plump_princess.....237..............237...............227............1 0

Cindy I hope your son is doing better!! I had Quaker Oatmeal Weight Control Maple Brown Sugar 1/2 cup made with skim milk. 2 strawberries, 4 blue berries Protein shake mid morning - unjury chocolate Tuna-3 ounces mixed with tsp of fat free miricle whip,2 baby sweet pickles, 1 slice of onion, 1/2 egg dinner - chicken tenders 3 ounces and 1tbsp of corn Protein Shake mid afternoon And 9 glasses of Water

I will definately watch !!

Hollyberries...........298.............298..............285........... 13 Momto1(Wendy).....241.............241..............229...........12 Hungryforchange....227.............227..............215...........12 Cagstorm (Craig)....360.............357..............345...........12 Teresajo...............212..............210..............205.......... ..5 Skinny_Jill............195..............195..............180.......... .15 Foofy ..................249..............248..............237...........11 want2lose.............236.8...........236.8............225...........1 1.8 sades...................199.7..........199.7............189........... .10.7 chiqui...................231.............231...............220........ .. 11 MarieGabrielle.......268..............262...............256........... ...6 Trixie...................264.............257.5............244......... ..13.5 Firebolt.................224.............224...............212........ ...12 Kristin1031............256.............252...............240.......... .12 Longhorn...............211.............211...............199.......... .12 BarbBee................284.............284...............272.......... .12 Jen......................264..............264...............249....... ....15 Steph...................203.5...........203.5............188.5........ .15 Goldie1109............228.............226................213.......... .15 Shalee04/Kelly.......218.............218................206...........12 Pattypoo1.............202............199.4...............192.......... ..10 Shortgal ..............198..............197.4..............192.............5.4 Cindyg.................218..............218...............208......... ...10 Suedoenimm.........204.............204...............192.............1 2 plump_princess.....237..............237...............227............1 0 ellebrookes......191............191..................175.............. .

Thanks to everyone who helped me these past two weeks deal with the scale not moving, thanks to those who suggested to change up my workouts and to increse my calories. I did just that and I lost 4 pounds in three days.....LOL I was so surprised when I got on the scale this morning at the club, I was like oh wow, I am happy to say that it has increased my motivation to keep going with the program. It is hard to not get discouraged I admit, but I have learned that patience is the key to the success of the band. You have to give it time to work. You have to give your body time to adjust to the metabolic changes that are taking place. I am thrilled and that much closer to my goal!! Yippeee!!:smile: Thank you so much for all of the support and advice that you all gave me to get me through.

Longhorn: I believe that you are correct that people who lower BMI's will not see the dramatic weight loss the those of us who were way over 40BMI's are. I think that when you have less to lose it will come of slower, just because you are more healthy to begin with. I believe metabolism is a funny thing, there are many things that cause it to burn fast or trickle to a stand still. I also believe that the older we are the harder it is to keep that burn up.......we have to work that much harder. Over 40 is even worse.....:smile: I see the younger women here where it seems like it just rolls off of them. Still I think that I was told it may be 12 months to 18 months before I would reach my goal, by my surgeon. I know you also have the same attitude that I do in this, PATIENCE is what will get us there. Don't be so hard on yourself about giving in......we all are human and have weakness......I am glad you gave into weighing and not eating half a chocolate cake.....LOL!! Hugz dear!

Woo HOO I have to do another update.....because I went to the club this morning for my work out and Yippee I lost three more pounds......I am so excited and thrilled!! Hollyberries...........298.............295..............285.........10 2. TxArcher..............360.............357..............345.........12 3. Longhorn..............211.............209..............199.........10 4. Momto1(Wendy)....241.............242...............229........13 5. Steph..................203.5..........199...............188.5......10. 5 6. Hungryforchange...227.5..........225...............215.5.......10 7. shortgal Goal for challenge lose 6 ........ 5.5 to go. 8. Trixie..................264.............257.5............244.........1 3.5 9.plump_princess.......237...........236...............227.........9 10. Foofy.................248...........245.5............236..........9.5 11. Tyman ..............167..........167.................150.........17 12. Cindyg...............218...........218................208..........10 13. want2lose.........236...........233................225..........8 14. kristin1031........256...........252................240..........12

Longhorn I too said no weighing except at the Dr's office and I began weighing at the club as soon as I started to go back and BOOM Dec 27th no weight loss until yesterday 1 more pound gone. It really had me depressed, now I feel better that it is starting again, but I feel I should stop weighing too, and everyone tells me I should. It is hard, we see the scale as our ultimate validation that what we are doing is working. I know it is working I feel it in my clothes, and my ablitiy to move, I can actually do 60 minutes of Water aerobics and NOT feel like I am dying....LOL I can climb two flights of stairs and still have the energy to walk on the treadmill 3 miles!! These are things we should be monitoring, not the scale!! So hard to do though I know!! Hang in there Lady we will overcome it!!!

Nina yes I am staisfied, I have had no hunger since surgery and I have no FILL!!!! Yes I eat meat that was cooked in gravy but still that has not hurt me. I do practice all the chewing and chewing instructions as well, and I try to finish eating within 30 minutes. There are people who have the band placed and that is enough restriction. My surgeon told me that he has had patients who never needed a fill the first year, and they reached their goal weight. I have one PB since being banded and it was awful I tried a piece of broccoli because I love it and it was awful pain. I know that the 3 ounces sounds outrageous I thought the same thing. BUt it has not been hard to do and I do not feel starved in the least or hungry. So I do believe what they say. And if you go to the LapBand website that Allergen has it will also talk about very vey small meals. I did not just have one seminar, I had many many classes and also nutrition classes. This was over a 6 month period. Our Bariatric Program here at OSF in Peoria is one of the Centers for Excellence in Bariatric Surgery in the US and I reasearched that as well before I decided on the operation. I know that my eating habits before surgery were horrible at best. I ate whatever I wanted to in large quantities and it ballooned me up to 287 pounds and I was headed to heart diesease and other co morbidites that luckily I did not have pre surgery. I belive that my mindset has helped me begin a very rapid weight loss for this surgery, My surgeon warned me up front that lapband was much slower than gastric bypass and that I needed to understand that going in. He also told me that it would be successful if I learned to eat with my band. That is not to say it is not rough in the beginning, the liquid and mushies phase were not fun, but I got through it. I was told my Band is a tool to lose weight, but if you still continue to eat the quantity of food at one sitting that you did prior to surgery the BAND will not assist you in weightloss. I don't have hunger so it is hard for me to eat til hunger passes or I feel full, it easy to eat only 3 ounces because that is what I was told to do. I was told that will gradullay increase over time, after I reach my goal weight and want to maintain I can increase to no more than 4-5 ounces ever. Everyone I know who has the band who has reached and maintained their goal weight long term, over 5 years still watches their portion sizes and they still make HEALTHY food choices, limiting bad carbs and sugar. I decided on banding because if I want to eat a bite or two of cake or pie or a spoonful of hot fudge sunde I know that I will be able too. But honestly when I think about those things, I really don't want them because I know what my body needs to keep me feeling full is lots of Protein and vegtables. I do not feel deprived at all, like I used to when I was thinking I was dieting, and still eating food choices that were not the right ones. I am only explaining what is working for me here! And how I believe what I was taught before my surgery. I still go to support groups here locally through my center twice a month. I still see my surgeon regularlly they follow you the rest of your life in their bariatric clinic. There is no miricle WLS out there. If there are people who believe they had one, I believe that they will be sadly mistaken, when what they lose comes back over time, if they do not change their eating habits and mindset. FOOD does not control my life anymore at all, I know what I will eat and how much everymeal, there is truly no more concentrating all day thinking oh my god I am starved I can't wait til lunch or dinner or wake up in the morning starving mad after a huge carb laden dinner the night before. I have learned that even though food does cause happy hormones to be released(which has been proven) that food is utlimately NOT what brings me happiness. That eating is for living, not the other way around LIVING TO EAT!! This has worked for me, I believe that journaling and logging also helps early in the journey because it helps to creates habits. Habits that will last a lifetime. You would be surprised how many calories you eat a day. Even when I log I am still surprised how many I get because I do not feel I eat that much food a day. But it get close or over slight 1000. I was also told if you eat too few calories your body will go into a plateau mode like starvation, it is crucial to keep your calories and exercise spiced up in variety, so your metabolism stays kicked in. I know I am 32 pounds lighter and I feel wonderful for it!! Good luck in your journey.

I was told no more than 3 ounces at any meal.....and NO snacking in between meals......I have lived by this since surgey. I eat Protein first and then veggies, I have had no room for fruit really. As for pot roasts I have been living on them.....I just eat the meat first and then the veggies, but I only have 3 ounces of them. I measure everything that goes into my mouth and I eat with baby spoons that were given to me at the hospital. I take one with me everywhere I go. I also take my special little container that I know is three ounces of food. If I am not home for a meal it gets measured as if I was. I log all the food I eat daily, no matter what, and I track the Water and veg servings I am getting as well. I also track all of my exercise. I do this at Sparkspeople.com but there are many sites out there that are free where you can do this. I believe it is 50% band and 50% us that make this work......I believe it is ATTITUDE over all that will be the success of my band. If I don't want to change my eating habits and be satisfied on 3 ounces of food, then I certainly will not be. I wrapped my arms around this philosophy before I ever had my surgery. There has been no surprises here, I was told everything that would happen, so far it has been true all of it!! I know that my mind set will make or break this surgery. I work with two women who had Gastric Bypass over 4 years ago and one has gained all her weight back and then some, the other is on her way to gaining it all back. They did not want to follow the program, they wanted to eat huge portions again, and so.....they find themselves nearly back where they started. No WLS is a cure all for overeating and our addicitons we have to food, and why we overeat. This all has to be addressed by YOU and no one else can fix it for you, you have to come to terms with it yourself. The BAND is not a miricle cure.......it is a tool to help you achieve a goal! I hope this helps you some!!

I was the same way, but please do not do it before you see your surgeon. It is so very important that you concentrate on healing, just because you think you feel good enough, you are NOT healed inside. It took along time for my insides to heal, and I am still experiencing tenderness at my port site after extreme workouts. Be careful you need to take care of your new found friend!!! People who do not listen I believe will have more port issues than those who follow Dr's orders. I was 4 weeks post off before he would allow me back in the Water to do my aerobics classes.

I was warned of this too, and I began taking Biotin supplement for hair and skin and nails immediately after my surgery. It is at Walmart in the Vitamin section and it is very inexpensive. My nails are longer and stronger than they have ever been in my life. I used to wear artifical nails and I took them off one month before surgery. I wanted my nails to tell me how healthy I am, because they will. Your nails also have direct corelation with how much Protein you are getting. I am careful to always get my minimum protein and try to get even more. I am thrilled that my nails are longer than they were with my artifical nails and they are healthy, do not split, chip or break......Yippee!! As for hairloss, I have the usual amount that I have always lost. I have very long hair and it is very very thick. My hairdresser said so far no worries on too much hair loss.:wink:

Longhorn you never fail to bring me back to reality...EVERYTHING that you said is the truth.....I know it and I know that my 31 pounds is an amazing amount of weight in a very short time, it is just that it teases you, this band, it helps you practically drop this is no time and now it is just hanging around......frustrating is all!! I know that the habits and food choices and ATTITUDE is ultimately the most important aspect of all of this!! Thanks for giving me that push that I needed to hear....I will stop worrying about my 14 days without the scale moving....LOL Hugz,

I feel the same way that you do, I too have not seen my scale move in two weeks and I am doing all the right things. I log everything that goes into my mouth, I work out 5 days a week for an hour and I have been keeping my calories between 800 and 1100 as told by the nutritionist. I do not drink with meals nor after in fact 30 minutes before or 30 minutes after. It is so frustrating, I lost 31 pounds since surgery and two weeks ago it has all halted. I am hoping that the inches are coming off, as I did not measure myself, but I am going to this weekend. Everyone here is awesome and all of their advice is wonderful, they know what they are talking about because they have already walked this road we are on. Hang in there, I am trying too!!

I know this problem too, I am guilty and I am really trying hard to focus on it, I have no fill and I am 8 weeks out and I have lost 31 pounds with no weight loss for the past two weeks......I am getting in my protein and then some every day.....and I am doing exactlly what they told me as for portions. I am eating between 800 and 1000 calories a day. I eat so fast sometimes I am done in 15 minutes.....I have to remember to slow slow down, it is so hard when you are weak, I get weak I do not get hunger pains. I know everything you say is true and I do need to start timing this, I think I will go back to the beginning and use my timer again. It is so easy to fall back into the old habits. I am not suppose to eat quicker than 30 to 45 minutes. any longer than that though and you pouch can empty causing you to eat even more.

I am so frustrated right now. I have not lost a single pound in 10 days. I have not changed anything....I am still eating my 3 ouonce meals and drinking my Protein shakes as instructed my average calories are 983 per day. I am excersising 5 times a week for 60 minutes a day. What could I be doing differently to help jump start this weight loss again. I am not hungry in between meals. I have no fill either. I am not scheduled to see my surgeon til February 7th. I am getting so down about this, and I know I shouldn't be.

LOL Pammycakes, well I do not have the oven anymore so I do not have that excuse anymore....LOL I wanted to know those of you who up your calories how do you do it, what do you eat? I find that it is so hard with the small pouch to eat more, so what do you eat to get the calories so high? Any suggestions will be welcomed!!

You guys are all so awesome, I am going to take your advice and up my calories I have been sticking to around 900 and I think I may need the fluctation, I have also been eating alot of the same foods day in and day out and I think that is not a good thing either....even though they are healthy foods. Variety is the spice of life so they say!! Thanks again everyone I feel so much better.!!