stepoffaith

I can't believe its almost been a year. But I am with you all on the exercise. I was loving it and didn't miss a day, now I am struggling. The motivation must return. Next week is my bandiversary. Time for a new goal.

My goal for Valentines day was 20 lb and I finally got a fill on February 5th which helped be get to 8 lbs lost. Its not much but since the scale wasn't going anywhere its something. Now I'll shoot for St. Paddy's day cuz my one year is on the 18th of March!

I eat salad all the time and love it. With tuna or shrimp or salmon has to be my favorites. I chop raw cauliflower in itty bitty bites for extra crunch, cucumbers without skin aren't a problem if they are itty bitty. I find anything itty bitty are easy to chew! I use creamy salad dressings still just low fat/fat free. Everything in moderation.

I managed to hang in there with one pound that keeps going up and down. I will exercise that one back off this week and start working on the rest. I needed a good challenge to get me going. I want to do well the remaining 3 months before my one year.

20 lbs for me. I need a push myself. That will put me at 155 lbs. I need to make goal by March, 2009 so the mini goal in February is just what I need. Thanks.

I, too, had sleep apnea for several years as has my husband. We were both on cpaps. I went no where without mine. Packed it with me camping, traveling, anywhere. I quit breathing several times a nite, my AHI was 35. My index is now 1.5, anything less than 5 is normal. I have lost 91 lbs., thats the difference. I went to a new sleep study 2 weeks ago and thats how it was determined and thats when I got to say goodbye to my cpap. I have been through numerous masks over the years, and I suggest you go to a DME company and try some on to find one you might like. Cpaps don't help if you throw off the mask during the nite so try to find one you like and that is comfortable. Ask a respiratory therapist to help fit it and explain it. A doctor should help explain your sleep study to you. If not get on the internet but really they aren't hard to interpret if you are face to face and looking at the study. Good Luck with your cpap and your weight loss.

Well, like many others, I love my herb mint tea too. But there are also the latte and vienna cafe mixes that are sugar free, some are caffeine free too, but I still need one caffeine drink occasionally. They are good and not to high in calorie and carbs if you aren't scarfing them all day long. Tasty, the vienna has a nice cinnamon coffee flavoring. Found next to the teas and coffees, mix with water.

I am in. I needed an extra motivator. I'm in for 15 lbs by New Year's Day.

I had to see my ps regarding some other issues ( I have had several skin cancers removed in the past) and he said he would be happy to do my ps but always waits a year after the patient reaches goal. Seems to be the standard.

I was banded on 3/18/08. My dr. is very conservative. He will only put 1 cc in on the first fill (none at surgery), then 1/2 cc at each fill thereafter. I have a 10cc band and I have 2 1/2 cc total fill now. (4 fills total). My restriction is usually good but I do need more about every 8 weeks however this last date for fill I cancelled as I am still losing and really concentrating on toning and exercising. My weight loss is a little slower but I am still able to keep my food intake down and healthy and exercise is increasing. So I will wait til after the holidays to see if I need a fill then. As you said, everyone is different.

I love fish myself. It goes down easy. Shrimp or crab especially. But so does tilapia, or mahi mahi. Just takes a bit and I precook it so it only takes a bit to warm some up on my lunch hour or make a quick "salad", like tuna salad for lunch. I don't do bread but find if I just add a little shredded lettuce to my tuna salad I think I am having a gourmet meal. LOL.

Silly doctor. Guess he doesn't understand the determination of us March bandsters. You keep going girl! We aren't stopping now.

I, too, still do protein shakes. I use Carnation Instant Breakfast and use Beneprotein which is flavorless, smell free and tasteless. It can be purchased online at Walgreens.com.

There are healthier choices most places you go, just eat small portions. Take protein supplements with you in your purse, especially if you are going to do alot of walking and lots of water. Stay hydrated and protein fed. I don't eat many meals a day normally but when I am out travelling I find I eat more frequently making sure I get my protein in and in small quantities which keeps my energy up. Ask your nutritionist for suggestions and write ahead to Disney World - they have reps that help with people with special needs who can offer suggestions.

Ditto. Every dr is different. My dr had me on Protein immediately. I was on Protein shakes before I left the hospital. No worries. Cindy

Farmington, NM. In the Northwest corner. About 45 miles from Durango. I was in Denver last week. I get there every few months as my boss lives there. I work from home. Cindy

where are you in Colorado?? I am your neighbor from NM Cindy

Here's the good news. We all will encounter a negative person in our journey. You started out right at the beginning. You will learn to overcome the negative comments right from the start. You are doing this for yourself, you know its not a quick fix, therefore you are well on your way. You will do fine even though you may have ups and downs during this process your step mother does not need to be one of them. When my mother begins to say something I do not care to hear the door bell rings or call waiting beeps.

Never had a problem taking my cpap on the plane or through security. I don't like checking it in case it doesn't make it so I use it as one of my carry ons. No problem. I have had one person ask me to open the bag and I unzipped it, said yeah its my cpap, gotta have it to breathe at nite, the security guard laughed and said, sounds good and zipped it through. You can always get your physician to write a note though, I work at a drs office and type them frequently. Cindy

Pam, You are doing great. You will feel much better after you get a fill. I am going for another fill on Wednesday. I travel to El Paso - about 9 hrs away from home - for my fills. It is well worth it. I am more than ready and hope this one will do me more good than the last one. But don't get discouraged because as you get the fills (and some people don't need but a couple of them, I just haven't been that lucky) you are learning and adjusting to this new lifestyle. So even when I don't feel the restriction I want, and I am not dropping the weight as fast as I want, I know I am learning. I am not gaining and I am still losing - slowly - but losing. So stay positive. Your exercise is going to pay off. Keep it up. Cindy

Nice to see that alot of people are sharing the same experiences as I go through them. Its reassuring. Nice to see where everyone is as we approach and reach our 6 month marks!

Fascinating job description. I am envious. Are you in the military or civilian? You two are great band buddies in the respect that you are in good contact. Those of us who are already banded sometimes don't check back quite as frequent. I check my e-mail more frequently and still pop in to the chat room although not as frequent as I did before surgery and right after. I had surgery on 3/18 and am just 5 months out but am doing well. I lost about 20 lbs before surgery and have lost 54 lbs since surgery. Need to update my ticker. Still have a long way to go but feel good and am feeling good about my progress most of the time. Would be glad to chat with you as you make your way along this journey. PM me for my email if you want a private chat. I will check back in from time to time. Cindy

Like crystal says, need more info. We'd be happy to give "advice", please take with a grain of salt, LOL, as all experiences and people are different. But we might be able to help if you can fill us in on details.

I have a very conservative physician. I have a 10cc band, no prefill at time at surgery. At 6 weeks you get 1st fill of 1cc, then 4 weeks later you get 1/2 cc. From then on you can have fills every 6 weeks of 1/2 cc as needed.