nip50

My doctor said no snacks, but the workers at the obesity center where I get my fills say 2 snacks a day are fine. I find that I can't get enough calories without 2 healthy snacks a day. I do mine mid morning and late afternoon. I don't do snacks after dinner.

I have 3 teenage sons at home and homemade pizza is on the menu at least twice a month. In fact we had it Friday night. Up until my last fill 3 weeks ago, I was fine with one piece including most of the crust. Now, I just eat the toppings. It may be a little high in calories, but in moderation everything is fine once in awhile.

My fill 2 weeks ago has been a big help. Down 3. I've also lowered my goal weight and if I get close to it, I might lower it another 5 or 6, that would put me in the normal category. I always figured overweight would be fine, but lately I've been rethinking it. Leslie starting weight: 224 current weight: 223 challenge goal weight: 204 pounds to go: 19 Nip starting weight: 185 current weight: 182 challenge goal weight: 173 pounds to go: 9 Sheryl Starting weight: 225.5 Current weight: 225.5 Challenge goal weight: 205 pounds to go: 20.5 Jeannie Starting weight: 201 Current weight:201 Challenge goal weight:180 Pounds to go: 21 Pamela Starting weight: 247 Current weight: 246 Challenge goal weight: 235 Pounds to go: 11<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Cindi - I wish some of your exercise enthusiasm would rub off. I just hate it. I do enjoy walking and have started up with the bicycle. My goal is to walk at least 4x a week. Yesterday biked for only 1.5 miles (have to work up to this) and then walked for 2 miles later in the evening. Today was my birthday and ate a small piece of cake and then went for a 1.5 mile walk. I've even managed to get 2 of my teenagers involved with the walking and bike riding, we're turning it into quite the family affair. Also, we have a Wii on order and if I can find a Wii Fit I'm going to push the whole family into it.

georgia girl - Well, I was just wondering about you. Do you still have some restriction or was it a fluke? Hope you're having a good day.

Debbie - I'm 51 as of today, 5'6" tall and carry my excess weight around my mid section. I have medium brown short hair and brown eyes. I also like to think I don't look my age, in fact my teenagers tell me that even though I'm 10 years older than most of their friends' moms, I look younger. This way they don't have to tell their friends that their mom is over 50.

Thanks for posting. It's great to hear about others who have maintained their weightloss and are still happy with the band. Congratulations on your success and good luck getting those final pounds off.

Allie - Good luck tomorrow. Hope everything goes well. For me it wasn't too bad and I hope the same goes for you. Let us know how you're doing in a day or two.

Hi and welcome. I'm a couple of hours away in Douglas (coffee County). I've had my band since last October. Dr. Bagnato over in Albany put mine in. If you go to the USA local support groups and go under Georgia you'll find others with the band. I'm not sure if there's many from Savannah, but quite a few up around Atlanta. If you go to the special interest groups (I think) you'll find a link for Bagnato and you'll find lots of people there who would be glad to talk with you. I believe there's one in the group who might have had her band in Savannah and is now living in Tifton. Good luck on your band - I love mine. If you have any questions, fire away. Someone will answer them and I'll do my best too.

I agree that it's been really slow lately. Everyone must be out having fun. I sure hope you're right about your leak. Keep us posted.

Juli congratulations - I know just how you feel - isn't it wonderful!! Just this week I went tubing with my teenagers and it was great. I never thought I'd be in public in a bathing suit. Another one for me was last month when I took a trip and the seatbelt on the airplane fit with plenty of excess, no more extenders for me ever again. I'm now planning an amusement park/water park trip for the end of summer and can't wait. I told my teenagers that I've never been down a waterslide in my life so that's next on my list. I love my band!

2goodDog - Hope things went well and that you're relaxing comfortably at home. Let us know how you're doing.

You might want to discuss this with your pcp. My goal weight still has me in the overweight category, but he felt that was okay. It's only 10 pounds over the normal range. Before the band I never thought I would weigh anywhere close to where I'm at now. Now that I'm getting close (19 pounds) I may rethink it and go for the top of the normal range. I'll wait and see how I feel when I get there.

Welcome NuMe - Are you having your surgery in the Atlanta area? There's quite a few (including me) who had there's in Albany with Dr. Bagnato. Your pre-op diet will depend on your surgeon. Mine was quite easy. I only had to do sugar busters for 2 weeks. As far as protein drinks go you might want to research protein drinks under the nutrtion link. You might also want to check the Georgia link (local lapband groups) to talk with others from your area.

I did something today that I never would have a year ago or 20 years ago and its all due to the band. My band has been a blessing. This may seem ridiculous to some, but I went tubing with my family today. We went to Ichetucknee and went tubing for 2 hours down the river. If this would have been last year, I would have sent my teenagers and my husband down the stream and I would have waited for them at the car. At 300+ pounds there would have been no way for me to fit on a tube and float down that stream. I have always had to be the bystander while they had all the fun. Now I get to join in on the fun and without the band this would never have happened. Thanks for listening. Now for all of you who haven't been to Ichetucknee, you need to go. We had a great time.

Sheryl - Fabulous! - The only thing that is really important is that you're loosing. That is so great! Before you know it, you'll have met your next goal. Keep up the good work.

Country girl - One more thing. Since I see you're not from Albany, you will be traveling. Take a pillow along to hold agains your stomach. I live almost 2 hours from Albany and no one told me this. I was continually grabbing and holding my stomach as the car turned and stopped. A pillow would have helped greatly. As I think of more things, I'll pass it on. Good Luck.

I've been waiting for this day for a long time. I am no longer considered obese just OVER WEIGHT! Now, If this 50 year old can do it anyone can. It doesn't matter how long it takes only that we make it. Hope everyone has a wonderful day. It's a beautiful morning and I'm going for a bike ride.

I've been waiting for this day for a long time. I am no longer considered obese just OVER WEIGHT! Now, If I can do this all of you can and will too! Some will take longer (because you can't control band leaks, etc) but how long it takes isn't important. Only that we make it. Hope everyone has a wonderful day. It's a beautiful morning and I'm going for a bike ride.

Thanks everyone!

Sida - There are quite a few of us in South Georgia who use Dr. Bagnato in Albany. I was a self-pay and it was $17,400. This might be more than some, but as long as you're in the area you have free fills forever. He also has a different site for the port. He places it in the bra strap area in front.

Count me in! I might shoot for 1-2 pounds a week so lets say 12 pounds. Leslie starting weight: 224 current weight: 224 challenge goal weight: 204 pounds to go: 20 Nip starting weight: 185 current weight: 185 challenge goal weight: 173 pounds to go: 12

You haven't had any fills yet, so you are probably still eating too much. This healing time is a very rough time for most. Your stomach has almost healed and you have little or no restriction. Most doctors will tell you not to worry about small weight gains during this time, this is the time for healing only. Once you have your fills at the right level you will only eat 1-2 eggs for breakfast, and 2-3 ozs of chicken and 1/2 cup salad for lunch. You should get to where you can eat 3/4 to 1 cup of food total at each meal. At the moment you might be consuming too many calories with the protein shakes also. Try tracking your food intake and see how your protein levels and calories are. You may find that you don't need the protein shakes and this will drastically reduce your calorie intake. Once you get restriction you might be able to get by with 900-1200 calories a day. i try to keep mine around 800-1000 a day.

Fortunately with the band I can no longer be a glutton when it comes to meat. I agree with the reasonable amounts. I only eat 2-3 ounces of meat/cheese for lunch and dinner. The W of W to me means to make healthy choices and with the band I'm definitely doing that.

Okay - all of you should just be finishing up with your get together so let me, and the others who couldn't make it, know how it went. I'm sure you had a great time and who all made it?