WyominGirl

Thanks- I sent out a text to all my friends asking them to eat something wonderfuly bad in my honor last night... gradification without the calories! How are you doing post-op?

I have a 10cc VG band, and have approx 8cc... I have a small leak but I currently have perfect (maybe too agressive for some) restriction.

Just a lurker but wanted to tell Scrappy that I am glad everything went as planned! You have made such amazing progress you can finally enjoy the payoff 100%!

GNC Pro Performance Tastes like hot chocolate! Yum! It boasts 60g/serving but I never make it with all 3 scoops. It's expensive but does go on sale BOGO 1/2 off quite often, and i stretch it by not using 3 scoops at a time. Doesn't need to be put it in a blender (not gritty). I too have an entire cabinet of supplements, and this is by far the best I have tried.

I know how you feel! I am supposed to be MOH for my little sister in September...we are ordering from David's Bridal and I am ready to hand off the job to someone else b/c I am so stressed about the dress and covering my arms. I am down close to 85# and it looks like 50 of that came from my "wings". The color she chose really limits me (wraps that are (or aren't) available). Ugh.

I have had success doing a week of low sodium to break through but it is REALLY hard to stick with! A friend (not banded) is working with a trainer who has her do this before a weigh in (we are having a local BL competition). Two meals of greens only. One meal of a FRESHWATER fish. I added a lower sodium Protein drink to reach my protein goals each day...it's not for the faint of heart...just a warning! :tongue_smilie:)

I measure everything before putting on my plate - leftovers go into 1 cup ziploc bowls immediately...that way food is put away and no going back for seconds. HTH!

You can also do this in the crock pot with Diet Coke...even my kids ask for it! It's yummy! Here is the info for 6 servings (1 breast each) using Diet Coke: Calories 279.6 Fat 3 Cholesterol 137mg Sodium 382mg Carbs 5.2 Protien 54.8 Hope that helps!

What would you like to know? I can tell you the Dr. Lewis and his staff are top notch. The aftercare is a HUGE piece of being banded and I am so thankful to have them on my side. We have other bariatric patients in our support group and their after care is laughable in comparision. I don't check LPT oftern so feel free to email me: my2buckaroos@yahoo

Not sure if this helps but I asked the BB "trainer" a similar question. Mine was unusually high while driving to and from work. She seemed to think it was the biometrics measuring my body's responses to stress, being more alert etc. I live in the middle of WY (we don't have enough people for traffic, etc) I think it was the vibrations ;o)

Thanks for asking- my labs all came back normal with the exception of my thyroid which has climbed back up to the 8-9 range. The joint pain is slowly improving, no anwsers really but I'm back to walking so hopefully that will spur the weight loss a little bit.

Thank you SO much for the responses. I did a bunch of labs today at work so hopefully something will come of it. The body compensation makes alot of sense. Tylenol does work but I don't have any desire to drink it with every meal. Sounds like a great excuse for a massage! I love that we have a spa in the facility I may just have to make an appointment.

Yes pain is in shoulder and hip joints, the worst is my hips. I don't know if you have kids but it's very similar to what I felt at about 32 weeks or so when the hip ligaments start to loosen. Someone told me that we have fat in between our joints so when you lose you can lose it there too....she's not especially reliable though. Employee health is doing annual labs next week so I'll see if anything comes back abnormal before I freak out. Thanks for the reply- I posted the same question to Dr. Curry over on OH so I'll see if he has any ideas.

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one with this battle. Ugh!

Okay guys - Help! I am having a really hard time sticking to an exercise routine. Here are the "tools" I have at home until it warms up (it was a balmy 4 this morning when I went out to feed): treadmill NT Recumbant Bike Wii Fit (w/ board) Rock n Roll Stepper JMS Yoga DVD I can't figure out if I'm bored, or if I'm exercising at the wrong time of day, or if I'm lazy and hate it all?! Do you guys work out before or after work? I've been waiting till after work b/c I hate the idea of showering, blow drying and straightening all before 6:30am. Feedback please? My bandiversary is the 25th and I don't want to start the next year in a complacent mood. It's one thing at a time right? In the past year I have gained control over most of my food issues but this exercise thing just seems out of my reach. I'm proud of what I've learned and the progress I've made but I can't help but wonder how much further I could be if I could get a hold on this piece too.

Thanks Amanda- I was much better about it when I had my BodyBugg. Its such a struggle to work on the emotional part (not letting food control my life) only to log everything I'm eating... one seems to complicate the other.

At this point are you all still counting everything (carbs, protein, etc) or just letting the band do the work? I know I lose more consistently when I count everything but once or twice a month I just say screw it and stop for 4 or 5 days at a time. Ugh.

I'm coming out of hiding to ask for advice - I read this thread but never post. I am debating on another adjustment. It's been 2 months since my last one. We thought I was at 9cc in a 10cc band, so we were really reluctant to do another adjustment. I pleaded for a "tweak" and when she withdrew the saline there was only 6cc. About 6 months or so my doc had trouble with a fill (took about 45 min) and that was a 3cc fill... we are wondering if he just hit the side of the port b/c it's 3cc that went "missing". Anyway we did .5cc to be safe, so we think I have 6.5cc. I feel like my restriction is okay now but wonder if it couldn't be just a little better... I know that everyone's magic number is different but could you share with me the signs of perfect restriction? Anyone been too tight? What were those signs? I don't want to push things but I do want to get the most out of my band especially as my bandiversary goals are creeping up on me. Thanks for letting me post, I know you guys are a close group but I really want feedback from those right where I am in the same journey.

Will you be working on your RHIT? What part of MT? I'm a hop skip and a jump from Billings - can't wait to hear back from KU the waiting is KILLING me!

Ditto everyone elses response: ask your doc. However I've seen a lack of aftercare in some programs so here is a quick run down of my doc: Week 1: Clear Liquids Week 2: Full Liquids (cream soups, liquids you can't see through) Week 3: Mushies (mashed potatoes, baby food, things run through a Magic Bullet) Week 4: Add soft Proteins (cottage cheese) start follwing bandster rules Week 5 & 6: add tuna & dark meat chx Week 7 & 8: Ground beef only after followup visit! Hope that helps ya some. All weeks were with Protein drinks to keep the protein intake up at the 60-70g.

I do Health Information Management (HIM= half clinical half IT) for a small rural hospital. Beyond that I am a mom to 2 kids and a barn full of critters. I have just applied to the HIM program at KU Medical Center since I have nothing else to do. :thumbup:)

Just proof some move past the emotional crap to accept resposibility and hold ourselves accountable while others.... well the others continue the blame game.

My doc says no to all caffeine. I read an article about the way caffeine can dialate blood vessels and risk stretching your pouch in the first 3 months or so.

How soon before you lay down are you eating/drinking? I know this happens to me when I lay down too quickly after drinking. Before my last adjustment I could sip on my water right until I went to sleep... not anymore! :smile:)

I know we have to have someone in our LBT world that could make me a blinkie/siggy.... Pleasssssssse?