Desdemona

For those of us who choose to follow Jesus -- how about if we follow HIS advise and let HIM decide who is and who is not miserable and how well any of US (including Oprah) are doing. "Judge not --lest ye be judged."

SugarBean---Congratulations!!! That is amazing! and Scrappy ---all I can say is HOLY MOLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now that's what I call P-R-O-G-R-E-S-S!!!! We are really cooking with gas here! Only 9 months ago we were on here dreaming of these kinds of results. Many of us may be losing more slowly now than we were before but just look how far we have come! Amazing! I put on a suit today that my mother bought for me 27 years ago for Christmas. It still has the maker's tags on it!! It's so old it was made in the USA!!!! I liked it but it was too small so I just tucked it away hoping I'd lose a few lbs---then I proceeded to gain a lot more weight!!! Now it's about 1 size too small. Fortunately it's back in style!!

Uh----excuse me. Oprah is Oprah because billions of people love her. She has views. She's a human being. She does some things wrong---and she does a ton of things right. I haven't sat down and watched her show in many years and I don't read her magazine but I like and respect her. Even if she has gotten a little full of herself I'll take 1 incredibily decent but flawed women over most of what I see out there in the public eye. Let's just take what we can and leave the rest ---or---eat our carrot sticks and give the woman a break. Desdemona

I'm glad we're all reporting in after T'DAY!! I only had a peice of cheese up til dinner time around 5. Ate a small version of everything traditional -- including those starches of mashed pots., dressing, candied yams, cranberry, pie but it was still way more than my usual small meals. That came after the day before which was my B'Day where there was 2 servings cake/ice cream!! For some really odd reason --- I actually got up weighing LESS this AM!!!!!!!!! I'm thinking that's because I walked and shopped my butt off in NYC for 3 days before that. Now I'm afraid 2 days of pigging out is gonna show up in a day or 2. I guess it's time to get the lead out and start exercising. I'm really very afraid I won't do it. I just have to figure this out and do it or I won't get to goal.

SugarBean!!! That is WONDERFUL!!!! You must be walking on a cloud. That is the kind of magic number we have all come here for and it's wonderful to see it happening. Lynn--you are doing so well and you are my inspiration. We have the same banding date and about the same goal. I'm in NYC right now for some work and then an opera tonight and home (MA) tomorrow. I'm also feeling MUCH lighter because I just got a huge proposal out at work that has been bone crushingly stressful for such a long time. BOTH tenure and promotion depended on it as well---- so this not only is more money---more than that it actually means that I will not be laid off from work!! So I'm starting to feel like a human being again. I also love walking in the city (and don't like it in the country which is where I live). Now that I have a good head start back on exercise and a bit more time to do it --I'm going to start Pilates when I get home.

Hi Fenton!! You may want to check out a very recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine. The reference is Shai,I. et. al.(2008). Weight loss with a low-carbohydrate, mediterranean, or low-fat diet. New England Journal of Medicine, 359(3), 249-241. This study is from a very prestigeous reserach group out of Harvard School of Public Health. It's a particularly well done study and is making major waves in the nutrition/health care research world. Make sure you check out the implications for heart health! And it's just not about the positive effects on the major heart health indicators--it's also arteries, insulin levels, liver functions etc. (There is even new research out implicating a relationship w/increased risks of cancers via hormone increases with higher carb intake). I'm sure you have access to online Medline journals but if you need me to email you a copy of the article --let me know. There is just no question anymore about what makes us fat and what we should be eating to lose weight and get our hormones working properly. Stick with this (even a moderate form of it) and the weight will come pouring off. You'll also feel great. It's REALLY good to have you back Fenton!

I’m finding, as others have before me, that the right amount of restriction is key to sticking to my diet. Although my band is fickle, so far, it isn’t really bad---tighter in the AM---looser in the eve---and tighter during times of stress. My usual diet is: Breakfast – coffee with either an Atkins dark chocolate Protein drink or an Atkins morning Protein Bar or a small omelet. Sometimes an AM snack of nuts or cheese or Atkins drink lunch – Atkins drink if I didn’t have one before or about a 1/4 cup of meat or fish or egg salad with pickles or olives Frequently a snack of nuts or cheese or sausage or deviled egg dinner – Meat or fish with nice sauce and low carb veggie w/butter or sauce (usually about 1/2 – 2/3 of a cup total. Evening snack -- If I’m being good - a few sugar-free freezer pops or Atkins chocolate caramel crisp bar or guacamole and pork rinds. If I’m being naughty – 100 calorie bag of kettle popcorn. If I’m being bad to the bone – a hot fudge sundae with coffee ice-cream! I keep a mental list of restaurants that have nice selections of basically protein appetizers and small salads so that if someone ask me to go out to dinner – I know several places where I can go and still have fun. Often I’m very happy with half a plate of appetizer but I can always add a little Caesar salad to it and take the rest home. My band has allowed me to do what was always impossible before. I find that good restriction really helps me stick to my low carb diet. When I occasionally stray – I don’t stray much or for long before I’m back on the wagon. If I exercised I know I would have lost more lbs and probably not had the stalls I've had. I keep telling myself that as soon as I finish PT I will get the lead out and lose faster. But for someone who is under 5 ft tall – I think I have been well served with the combo of the band and low carb. I have gone from a size 20 jean to a 10.

Hi All-- I'm just dropping in for a fast hello. I'm in a very busy place with work and and a bit annoyed because I'm not getting time to be online or exercise. I just got back from D.C. and now I have to leave for Philly. I hope to be back on track by mid-Nov. Janet---I'm so happy to see you back online. We continue to think of you and hold you in our hearts.

Hi All-- I'm just dropping in for a fast hello. I'm in a very busy place with work and and a bit annoyed because I'm not getting time to be online or exercise. I just got back from D.C. and now I have to leave for Philly. I hope to be back on track by mid-Nov. Janet---I'm so happy to see you back online. We continue to think of you and hold you in our hearts.

Christine-- When you have had gastritis in the past -- did your primary prescribe medication like Protonix or something else? I had gastritis prior to banding and still have my pills (which I have not been taking). I spoke to a nurse you had banding and she told me that if we were taking pill for gastritis before -- we should continue taking them for 1 year after banding because it helps food go down and digest better. I agree with Harley and Tess----call your surgeon.

Hi Everyone— I’ve been off line for several days because of job-related travel and intensive training. I’m home only for a few days and then off to Philly. I haven’t been able to weigh myself but the restriction has been great. Like Lynn---I’m can only get about a quarter to half cup in. I STILL am NOT getting very much exercise! I’m very frustrated but I just can’t get away from work!! I go until either it’s time to go to bed or until I’m too tired to move! I’m hoping things will get better by mid Nov. Tess—yes it DOES sound you are getting fills with a fluoroscope?? I say that because you said that he watches the Fluid go down. If so –that’s why your MD can be more aggressive with your fills. If they aren’t using x-ray they have to go slower with more frequent fills. I don’t know what the yearly limit is on that method but I know Dr. Ortiz has a book and he discusses the guidelines for fluoroscope assisted fills in it. JulieC---that’s great! Come talk to us more!!!! Hi Fenton. Hang in there! Many of us are reaching a sweet spot and it does make a huge difference in desire for food. If you get those fills – last suppers just won’t call.

Janet -- You will see this when you come back. I'm so sorry to hear about this terrible shock and loss. It's just almost too much to comprehend when we lose someone that we love. One minute they are there and the next they are gone and it's just so hard --and so painful to take in. I'm thinking of you and my heart goes out to you. I know a bunch of words can't make you feel better --but If it helps at all to know that other people really care about you--then look at this board and know that we care and are thinking of you.

It looks like several of us are hitting the sweet spot. I has 1cc added last week for a total of 6cc. At first -- I was shocked with how little I could eat and considered having some taken out but then I decided to wait a couple of more days and -----WHAMO!!!-----I found that I could get about 3-4 spoons of chili in the AM (for breakfast!!) after a cup of hot coffee to open the band a little. Lunch is usually a protein bar and dinner tonight was 2 chicken wings. I've started losing again----so I'm hoping this is going to last a while.

I don't know if I lose more slowly than I did when I was younger because I never weighed as much in the past as I did when I got the band. I started with a bit higher of a BMI than you are and I'm older. I lost about 20lbs pre-op and 25lb pretty quickly after the surg. Then I hit a very long stall---followed by some pretty slow weight loss---however--there were also problems with fills and I couldn't do a lot of exercise because of health issues. Now--my fills are finally kicking in and I'm in a better place to exercise. I'm starting to lose fairly well right now. But--even when you consider all of that -- I"m VERY pleased. I have never had this level of success in weight loss and I'm pretty confident that I will reach my goal around mid-2009. Not bad!

Hmm. This is interesting. I've never heard of it but I would't be surprized. Well---does this mean you will lose faster?

I haven't posted for quite a while either but I never stopped low-carb. I have followed it since Dec 29 which is when I began my pre-op diet. I would be lost without low-carb. I used to have a hard time sticking to it but I have had a much easier time in 2008. The band makes a huge difference in helping me stick to it. I was stalling out for quite a while and I added L-Carnitine, C0-Q 10, and magnesium. I did start losing again. I don't know if it's the supplements or just coincidence. I also got a fill last Thur so I'm hoping that will give me a boast. I've been under tremendous stress at work which I don't think helps. I went quite a while there where I quite literally did not have a moment to walk. Now, I'm at least starting to get back out there for 30-40 mins. I have to take a few trips in the last few weeks of Oct but I'm hoping to get to a gym starting in early Nov.

Congrats!!!! Welcome to the fold!!!! You'll be melting away in no time.

Janet--- I'm just now catching up with fills after several problems all summer long (he couldn't find port -- then he put in 3cc all at once and overfilled and had to take it all out so my stomach could rest etc). I went in last Thurs and he put 1cc in to make a total of 6cc in a 10cc band. Now I'm wondering if it's just right or too much. I had liquids and protein drinks the first 50 hr. Then I started with a bit of egg salad. I only ate about 3-4 tablespoons and it felt like it was a bit stuck. I have been eating mostly egg salad. Yesterday I had a pickle. I didn't PB but slimmed something fierce for about 2 hrs. It just felt like it SAT there. I got up this AM and tried one of those Jimmy Dean cheese omelets. As soon as I took the first small bite (which I chewed, chewed, chewed) I could tell it wasn't going to go down if I ate more so I stopped and drank 2 hot cups of coffee. After doing that -- I was able to eat more of the omelet but it was somewhat uncomfortable for a few hours (no PBing or slimming). Later in the AM I had a protein drink. It went down but I had to REALLY take it SLOW and it did seem to cause "mini-slimming." This afternoon -- I had 2 of those small Cracker Barrel cheese snacks. They went down but I had to take it slow. I still haven't dared to try any solid protein. I've got chili on for dinner. I really am getting very little food. I don't think I've had more than 30g of protein a day since last Thurs. What do you think? I know you always say it good to be tight -- but is this too tight or is it normal for new fill? Is this just an adjustment process for a new fill that will loosen in a couple more days? I called to schedule the MD to take out .5 on Weds but now I'm wondering if this is just normal. Thanks!

Hi Yourmajesty! Welcome. It's a lot to think about. Make sure you check out the "age" groups. You will find a very active one for those of us in our "50s". People are friendly and will answer all your questions.

Christine-- Huh? I THINK I know what you mean but I hope you can say more. I just got a 1cc fill today--and they said I have a total of 6cc now. I'm on liquids for a couple of days now. I do so hope that this is finally a sweet spot.

NAME.........................surgery date.....todays date....Lbs lost 1. SpecialK .................3/17/08........9/7/08............53.9 lbs 2. scrappy_friend .........3/17/08........9/4/08............54.0 lbs 3. aJoneen.................. 3/04/08........9/4/08............31.0 lbs 4. WestCoastMom....... 3/27/08........9/4/08............60.0 lbs 5. julietj1970................ 3/03/08........9/4/08............40 lbs 6. SugarBean.............. 3/24/08........9/4/08............88 lbs (30 before surgery) 7. Tess415...................3/10/08........9/4/08............60 lbs (23 before surgery) 8. jegtlf.........................3/24/08........9/5/08............56lbs 9. emmersglue .............3/18/08........9/5/08............48lbs 10. lglenn3000.................3/17/08........9/5/08............28 lbs 11. Busy.........................3/17/08........9/6/08............41 lbs. 12. tp78..........................3/13/08........9/8/08............36 lbs. update 9/25/08....-44lbs 13.potatie........................3/27/08........9/11/08...........56lbs 14. TKT2FLY.....................3/17/08........9/14/08...........63lbs 15. MSBoss08....................3/06/08........9/17/08..........64lbs 16. Hazel-Eyes...................3/14/08........9/17/08...........31 lbs 17. hungry4help..............3/3/08...........9/18/08........65lbs (10 before surgery) 18. sisterc.....................3/17/08..........9/18/08........28 lbs 19. Anniedub..................3/6/08............9/26/08........55 lbs 20. wishin4.....................3/26/08..........9/26/08........48 lbs 21. AuntLucy...................3/10/08.........9/26/08........64 lbs 22. nycm00.....................3/24/08.........9/25/08........60lbs. 23. Desdemona................3/19/08........10/03/08........58lbs.

I have learned that what you are going through is COMPLETELY Normal for many people. I slept in a sitting position on my couch with my feet on a foot stool for 3 WEEKS! I had a light desk job that I returned to in 3 WEEKS but I was STILL sore then. I could not have done harder work even then. I was worried for a while because I just was taking so much longer than so many other people on the board----and I'm no baby----I was just plain weak and very sore. I was SURE something was wrong. Nothing was wrong! I just needed more time. If you are worried about something talk to your MD's nurse. Part of all that money you're paying them is for good post-op care. Don't feel bad about making them earn that huge surg and post-op fee. They have seen it all and they can reassure you---or if something doesn't sound right --they'll have you go in. Don't worry.

Yayforme-- I was 222 at intake and down to 201 at banding on 3/19. I lost 11lbs in 2 weeks after banding and I was put on a VERY strict diet of broth, skim milk and sugar free frozen pops for the first MONTH!! Even though I was EXCELLENT w/my diet (no sugar, starch, fruit--about 1100 calories a day) I stalled like crazy over the summer. I'm now 164. Yes---I have been disappointed. I thought I'd be close to goal weight by now. BUT--there is another way I am looking at this. I have lost nearly 60lbs this year. I feel SO MUCH better! I sleep better! I look better! I'm off all my medications! I can go to the beach and walk! I had to give away all my clothes and buy new ones! People can't get over the difference in me. And that's just the beginning. I could go on and on. The bottom line is --- I know I would be more than 222 right now if I had NOT done this. I remember (well) when I was your age that I was sure all I had to do was go on a diet for a few weeks or so and I'd be down to goal weight in no time. That isn't what happened. I've been yo-yo dieting ever since I was 22. By the time I was 56 -- all I had to show for it was 222lbs---a bunch of prescription pills--and several weight related medical problems. I understand your frustration -- and I wish it would come off faster too ---- BUT---if you just hang in there with us --- you are going to see your own weight loss patterns and then you'll understand how your body works this process. You may not care for the speed of it -- but you WILL lose the weight and you will be very happy. Stick to it -- and you won't have to go through the next 34 years battling weight and health problems. Oh yes---1 more thing that is really good (!!!)---since I have been losing more slowly (and because I apparently have good genes) my skin is tightening! It appears that even at my age --I'm not going to have any or much loose skin. So that's a nice consolation prize. You can do this! Best wishes.

I had to have all of those tests done before banding except Doppler of legs and carotid arteries. I was told I didn't have to do that because I didn't have a history of blood clots and I wasn't over 50BMI but they do it if either of those 2 conditions are present. I had my band done at a teaching hospital and they may have required a few more than my ins co. Actually, I look at it this way --- how often do we get the opportunity to have that thorough of a medical check-up? I have had so much testing in the last few years (either because of medical problems from being overweight or in order to get the band) that I feel confident that I'm in good health. At my age -- it's a good feeling (peace of mind) to know that I seem to be in good health. For the first time in my life - I'm going to PT. I just can't believe how much it helps! I really think I'm going to be able to start strengths training in about 3 to 4 weeks. I'm excited about that because I think it will help a lot with losing more quickly. I complain a lot about losing so slowly but I must say that this band is making my dreams come true. My life is just so much better already and I'm so grateful to have another chance at life.

Hi Shamrock --- I'm glad to see a bunch of us are hanging in there. Kathy and Christine -- I have a check up with my surgeon on Oct 9. He put in 4cc at once early this summer. He had to take take out 3cc a few days later and I had to wait a month to get 1cc more--so I know how terrible that overfill is (and it can cause slippage of the band). Now I need to figure out if I should ask him for another .5cc. I'm incline to go for it but don't want anymore stomach problems. Can I ask you both how many ccs you have in your band? I know everyone is different. What level of fill are most people comfortable at? I'm continue with physical therapy and I have to say that it's doing a world of good. My shoulder and neck problems are almost resolved. After that -- they will do my lower body. I'm actually beginning to imagine that I'll be pain free in a few months.