Jachut

Moderate red wine consumption is healthy for your heart, in fact mum's cardiologist insisted she tell all 3 of her daughters to have a small glass of red most nights. Luckily I'd already started that habit years ago, lol. Red wine ISNT empty calories, its full of antioxidants and flavanoids that are beneficial to your health. Beer and spirits we can all live without, but it doenst hurt to indulge occasionally. Interestingly, I went to a lapband seminar a month or two back (with DH who is getting banded) and the surgeon speaking said that the patients they have that drink wine everynight have better results than the non drinkers. I've no idea why, she didnt elaborate.

Oprah! I never want to hear about another one of her stupid diets again. Everytime, THIS is the one that will work. She gives out so much advice about losing weight, yet she struggles with the same old pounds time and time again. When is she going to realise that she's fighting a losing battle? Its not that I dont sympathise with the battle, but I'm tired of hearing how she knows it all! I reckon Kirstey Alley needs one too, anyone with a serious weight problem really. I love Vince Vaughn. He's a big cuddly bear, my ideal man. I like men just every so slightly chubby, dont find buff blokes in the least bit attractive - and dont like men who are too into their own looks. He looks manly to me, not fat, although he probably is overweight.

Lol, we're all different. I've tried one of those Atkins shakes, I'd seriously rather drink vomit warmed nicely in the microwave! Ick, most disgusting thing I've ever had. Isnt it amazing how something someone finds delicious, someone else would puke over?

My BMI was 35 so I didnt have to do the liquid diet, but my husband's is to and he has to, policy has changed. But to deny you surgery on the basis that your BMI is too low becuase you've been stellar on the liquid pre op is farking ridiculous in my opinion! Surely that's not right. I'm just glad I live here, lol. Insurance issues must be so frustrating. This week I've had 3 doctors appointments and a CT scan of my lumbar spine, I went to the docs Monday morning, and was having the scan at the local hospital an hour later, not one cent has been paid out of my pocket, its all done, and I can go on to the physio now, completely covered by my private health insurance, no arguing. Oh, and next Monday see my lap band doc for a fill at no cost to me at all. And people COMPLAIN about our health care system here! I reckon its brilliant.

No, most people sound generically sort of American when they sing, apart from a few REALLY heavy british and European accents. Its weird isnt it, although I think its not "American" it just sounds that way. Its kind of an all purpose different pronunciation for singing that just happens to sound American.

Definitely, being fit always means you'll heal better. Not necessarily better than the next person, but better than you otherwise would have. I also felt quite strongly about the fact that the minute I made a decision to have the surgery, I was changing my life and leaving the old me behind. So for months I worked out regularly and ate well (not dieted, but ate well and avoided that last supper mentality). I found the surgery seriously the easiest surgery I've had, I didnt need pain meds other than the day of surgery and I was walking a few miles the next day. Then again, I'm seriously a bit weird, I dont think having a baby hurts all that much, lol.

I was last this weight about 12 years ago and I suspect that clothing sizes have changed a little, but I am actually 2 ENTIRE clothing sizes smaller, part of this I attribute to the fact that clothes are a tad bigger, but a lot of it I think is due to the fact that I have exercised the weight off this time, I am way tighter and smaller and more muscular than I was at 28.

OK, this is my experience. I'm 5ft 10, 155lb, size 12 Australian (8 to 10 US). Nice size for my height right? Well, I think I have a fat bum and fat thighs and I would like to lose another 10lb. 145lb is STILL a healthy weight for 5ft 10, despite many here being exceedingly rude about it. It IS a healthy weight. BUT - my upper body is getting bony, and it will be very thin if I get to 145lb. I will lose what's left of my boobs, definitely and I now have this thing where there's so little fat on my upper chest, that when I dont have a bra on, my rib cage actually almost bulges out past my boobs. I dont want to lose anymore weight there, that's for sure, I will start looking scrawny. Having your chest bigger than your boobs is maybe too thin? But its not like my ribs stick out a mile, or my hip bones are so sharp you could cut yourself on them. I have cellulite on my bum, and its wobbly. I really DO still need to lose weight on my lower body. I also think its a matter of where you settle with eating and exercise habits that are easy for you to maintain. If I settle at even 135 without extreme measures, then that's right for me I think. I've been surprised to see quite a fine boned frame emerge from underneath, I would always have called myself big boned and I am not at all. And its debatable to me whether having a BMI of say 27 is "curvy" or just plain still overweight, it depends on the person's build entirely. But if your periods stop, or to maintain your weight you have to continue to "diet" day in day out and exercise excessively then you're probably too thin. Maintaining should be easier than losing.

I think you need a fill. You dont get to goal and them maintain for ever after without keeping an eye on your band. I felt I perhaps needed a fill three or four months ago, but elected to wait and really commit to healthy behaviours again, lost a bit of weight, but have now noticed that my natural weight fluctuations are getting larger, even though I have not gained overall. I'm hungrier, can eat more. So I think a tiny 0.1 ml or so is what I need, going in next week. You do lose Fluid from evaporation so you do still have to top up occasionally.

They're not bad at all, my little scars are invisible and the port scar has lost all its colour now (2 and a half years on), its no longer red, just a raised line the same colour as the rest of my skin (lily white, lol). My stomach is quite bikini worthy. But I'd have to say everyone talks about low profile ports and my port shows now that I'm at a healthy weight, but I'd never want to go back in and open up my stomach again and have a fresh scar to heal, I'd rather a slight lump.

Announce goal weight and call it maintenance, lol. That's exactly what I did. But really I *do* want to lose more so deep down, I know I have not made my goal and am not working my band to full potential. The fact that I have a BMI of under 23 now is irrelevant if I want a BMI of 21. I'm going for another fill on Monday. That's all I need I think, I've wanted to be "sensible" and not too tight and I felt my doctor's attitude about not filling more or trying to lose more, but its my body and I want to run a half marathon and to do well at that and remain injury free, I could easily stand to be another 15lb lighter. That's still not an unhealthy weight for me, although its low in the range. So yes, another fill, a recommitment, and back to what I do best, lots of running and not trying to cross train so much which in reality has just resulted in back injury and less running overall.

I voted no, lol. I'm 40, the LAST thing I want to be is mutton dressed as lamb. I'm really not into that whole high heels, mini skirt full face of make up kinda look on anyone over about 25. Not my style at all. I'm quite happy to wear a just above the knee skirt though, in fact I just bought myself one and a nice pair of boots.

I'm training for a half marathon, I've run regularly since about 3 months after my surgery 2 and a bit years ago. I think I'd gotten down to about 97 kg at 5ft 10 when I started, and the 14 or so kilograms I'd lost made a BIG difference, my body was much lighter to carry around. I started at Curves about six weeks back due to getting a free membership but its TORTURE for my back, I absolutely cant do it and will not be continuing. I've just discovered I have a fairly bad lumbar disc bulge at L4/L5 and L5/S1 so no wonder my back gives me problems. I've been recommended to do pilates and its expensive, but I can get a rebate on it through my private health insurance so am going to ring up today and organise to start. I must say that yoga/pilates type of physique is more my goal than looking like Gillian off Biggest Loser, so I'm quite happy to fork out the money for it. I think with sciatic problems like I have, running is quite gentle, in that yes, there's pounding but its not twisting, sudden movements, and for me really, full vigorous gym work is not going to suit, the potential to flex your back when lifting a heavy weight is too great and that's when I set off the pain. I can handle squats and lower body stuff with a barbell, and I can do hand weights but all the bigger upper body machines have too much potential for injury for me. Its a shame, I love gym, but really pushups and tricep dips achieve the same goal.

I think when you can and will do it is the perfect time. For me personally, when I have busy times like full time teaching rounds, I get up early and do it, because it wont get done otherwise. But normally, I like early evening, about 5 or 6pm, I have LOADS of energy then, I really really enjoy it and then I can just veg out afterwards. If I do it in the morning, I am tired (as in having missed an hour and a half of sleep tired) all day and often find myself wanting to nap in the afternoon, lol.

I think you could probably afford to wait a week or so and see if you adjust. If you're able to drink and eat cautiously and are not PBing a lot, are not worried by how little you're eating, then its up to you, you can wait it out, even if it takes a few months till you've lost more to loosen off. But if you're having trouble getting things down, dont muck around. Its not worth being miserable over and when you're THAT tight, its so so easy to fall into the trap of eating rubbish like Cookies and chocolate becuase they go down where chicken and salad is much harder. Then you end up being miserable and not losing anyway.

It sounds good to me. How much exercise do you do? That makes a LOT of difference.

I agree, I can clearly remember the sex ed nights my primary school held, back in 1978 or so, and the average age then was said to be 11 to 13. I was worried by the time I hit 13 as I was late compared to lots of my friends. 1978 was a looooong time ago! Also, I 've noticed a lot of the kids' friends at school, the girls are wearing bras already (grade 5 and 6) but only the obese ones and did sort of think boy oh boy they're maturing early these days (I got my first bra at about 15), and if you really look, they dont have breasts, they have fat the same way men get man boobs. They havent hit puberty at all.

We've got a really modern style garden, all strappy leaved, native type plants, and we're in severe drought here. We dont have a lot of lawn, we've elected to go for huge garden areas that cover most of our front yard. But we're seriously considering fake grass for what we do have. There's some awefully good fake turf out there now, and it does look fake because in Melbourne at present, the ONLY way you'd have a green, weed free lawn is if its fake. So its a dead give away. But it still looks better than crispy brown dead grass and weeds. We're not allowed to Water lawns AT ALL. And I got rid of the plants out under the pergola years back because I didnt have the time or money to keep doing them seasonally, but I"m considering a few fakes too - agaves and similar which are very believable. I'd buy one or two, like maybe do a pot either side of your front door and just see how you live with it before investing a whole lot. It might really bug you, or you may think they look great. Lol, over the years I've become one of "those people" in so many ways. My toffee nosed private girls school education is losing its shine. I have some fake plants, I drive a family wagon, I shop at shhhhhh, Target and I even own some cubic zirconia jewellery! And I own NO original artwork at all. Its all prints.

If I PB'd daily, I would say I was either too tight or eating wrong - too fast, too big bites etc. There is no way that I could tolerate that. I PB very very occasionally, and its always user error - taking a gulp of coffee right after eating bread, eating too fast etc.

If I had numbness or pain in my leg ordinarily, I"d be thinking it was my darn back. But that soon after surgery, jeez, I'd be hightailing it to the doctor with panicky thoughts about a DVT. Please check it out!

Great post! I'm finding it a little hard to stay focussed at the moment, I'm happy with the new me, I reached my weight loss goals, I have a BMI of 22 but even THEN you have to remain committed to your new behaviours and keep at it for the weight to stay off. Its quite a task, and one we'll deal with all our lives.

This will happen all the way through most likely - for most people a Lap Band requires constant maintenance. I've been maintaining at my current fill for about 9 months now, but I'm going in next monday for a teeny tiny top up. I've realised that over the past probably four or five months, I've begun to eat more, make poor choices a tad more often and keep having to make a decision to get back on track, and my natural fluctuations which were only a kilogram or less are now 2 kilograms back and forth. I dont want to be tighter, I dont want to lose weight, but sooner or later, I'm going to swing a bit more and then 72kg will feel "allright" to me, and then 73, etc etc. Its completely normal, you lose Fluid from your band through minute amounts of evaporation and your stomach gets smaller too as you lose fat. Throw in the effect of healing and swelling going down at your stage and it would be unusual if you DIDNT feel the way you do.

Yeah, seriously. If you cant enjoy a Mars Bar after running 14km, when CAN you? Dont worry, I kept it all very sensible after that. Actually I nearly passed out at Flinders St Station when the sugar hit my bloodstream, lol. normally I dont run far/hard enough to be completely unable to eat, I just have to wait an hour or two before I do. I dont really get scientific about after workout fuel, I just wait till I want to eat again.

Best of luck Julie. Its the 21st here now, and I thought Ooh, must log on and see how she's going. Forgot that you're some hours behind us. Think I'll go and google breast lift with augmentation, sigh. Been trying on new bras, lol.

Hot chocolate and mars bars!