mypov

My starting BMI was 55 or thereabouts. Its currently 39ish. My blood pressure was usually 145/100 and latest was 108/78. I'm still on my meds for insulin resistance but that's becaus I have PCOS as well. I don't know if I'll ever be rid of that.

I took phentermine in the past, and had a very little success despite the fact that I felt a major reduction in cravings. Since being banding, I have been on a medication that is prescribed for a different reason but one SIDE effect of this med is reduction in appetite. Never felt that side effect until AFTER banding. So, yes, I believe that some meds can help take the edge off those cravings and could help in conjunction with diet and exercise. Then there is those that unpleasantly expel excess fats from your system...but I just didn't have enough money in the world to try and find one that would work- because my hunger and other issues would counteract the effects of these meds anyway.....hmm, rambling. Good luck!

I feel her pain. I WAS that overweight teenager. I hated about every minute of it. I think if I'd even been aware of weight loss surgeries, especially the lapband, I would have driven my parents crazy begging for it. And yet- I DON'T think it's a good idea. First things first, find a counselor for her to address her self-worth issues. Second, get her into some activities where weight isn't a big deal. Third, go with her to some nutritionists and start a fun exercise regime with her. One of the most helpful things my parents did with me is dieted and exercised with me. They made the whole family do it. My mom and I took Water aerobics together and weight lifting classes. The nutritionist helped me learn what healthy foods and nutrition means. You can't always expect a teen to just KNOW that. I didn't before that. I lost and gained several times over the course of my teen years, but the information I learned has been invaluable to me in the past few months. I attribute my success to being finally able to once and for all put into action all the knowledge I gained over the years. If I were in your predicament, I would tell my daughter to start saving her money as we started these family lifestyle changes. I would tell her when she is older (18, 21 whatever) she can help you pay for the surgery, and if she doesn't need it by then, maybe she could buy herself a car or something. Let her know you are open to the idea but she has a lot she could do for herself in the mean time. PS- Most doc's probably wouldn't feel she was emotionally or physically mature enough for such a procedure. I'm almost 26 and its still emotionally difficult. PPS-Through the changes my parents made with me while I was a teen, my mother lost 40 lbs and has kept it off, and my Dad lost 150 with no medical intervention and has kept it ALL off!

The show was just alright for me. Honestly, I thought they should have showed more details. It looked like you get the surgery, lose weight, live happily ever after. For people (like me) with food addictions there are so many more ups and downs than that. I also wish they would have mentioned things like costs, and how people are paying for it all etc...overall, yah, just more details would have been nice.

I have it set to Tivo. I am hoping it will be inspiring and not just focusing on all the complications possible. I also hope to see some lapbanded patients, not just gastric bypass. I have also watched the show about Brookhaven obesity hospital but that often depresses me :rolleyes So, I will be watching!

You are doing so great! I agree, the band is only a tool. There are plenty of ways to work around it and you really do have to be dedicated to changing your lifestyle. I've become so much more physically active as well- but not to the point of being able to run 2 miles...yet. Way to go!

Oh great, like it's not hard enough to live in this day and age as a fat person. I saw on the local news a new study saying that some scientists have find (at least in animals) a virus that can lead to obesity. I'll explain the best I can in the way I understood it. The study suggested that there might be a virus that you can catch that while initially causing cold and flu like symptoms, might actually be a virus that lays dormant in your cells and causes those cells to convert foods you eat to fat faster than before. They are starting initial human studies now. On the one hand, if they found a way to identify people that had the virus that was causing their obesity they could hopefully find a cure. On the other hand, isn't that just what we need, another reason for people to discriminate against obese people????

For me it is the lack of fat that is making my arms look horrible. Its the hanging sacks of skin where the fat USED to be. I've been lifting a lot of weights and the tops of my arms are starting to be much more toned but underneath you would never know because it just hangs like bat wings. I'm only 25 but I was/am quite overweight. What's really strange is that one arm is more uniformily hanging and the other is firmer part way up and then as you get closer to my armpit there is that saggy skin all of a sudden. I won't be getting surgery on my arms and I'd rather have saggy skin then die from complications with obesity- and hey, maybe it will tighten up some, eventually.

My husband works evenings/nights and pre-surgery I would sit on the couch all night and "referee" my kids from there. After I started losing weight and began to exercise, I started taking my kids on long walks with me every evening. I take the stroller and they take turns walking or being pushed. My kids love getting out of the house and the walking wears them out so that bedtime is much easier on us all. I always felt bad that I wasn't the kind of mom that was active and taught her kids to be active as well- I AM that kind of mom now!

Anyone know why I am sweating so much? I'm able to move a lot easier than before surgery so why am I sweating MORE whenever I move, even doing little things? Anyone else experienced this? What's the deal?

Thanks Afrykanvyolet! That's especially nice to hear when I'm on a bit of a plateau. I see you were banded in March and have lost 38 lbs already, so looks like you are doing great too! Congrats!

I'm not sure if you're describing something similar to what has happened to me from time to time. Sometimes I get this sensation of trapped air in my pouch, like I need to burp but can't. It causes the slightest bit of pressure in my chest. I Have had no luck in figuring out what the cause is but believe it may be related to gulping Water too fast or chewing gum and just getting air stuck in there. It's always resolved itself in a day or two. Is that similar to what you are talking about?

I have only liked chocolate and vanilla unjury so far. Especially the chocolate. I mix it with skim milk in my bullet blender and it comes out very smooth and yummy. Sometimes I add fruit or a touch of cinnamon, or even fiber powder. I the strawberry unjury didn't taste "natural' enough for me though. I have pretty much gagged on any other protein powder shakes I've tasted. The only thing is the fact that you have to order it off the internet and it seems to take a couple of weeks for it to arrive which is annoying when I forget to re-order in time to have my morning shake.

I knew I was a food addict before I was banded. The week after banding was like detox for me and it was HELL. I ranted and raved, I cried over Nothing, I cried for food and one morning I couldn't find my Protein shakes and I think my husband was about ready to have me committed to a mental institution. I am 4 months out and the more restriction I have, the more I am aware of just how powerful an addiction this is for me. Some days I do great and appreciate every time I have a bit of healthy food and feel satisfied, other times (usually when I'm bored, stress out, overwhelmed or depressed) part of me wishes I could just have a couple of big juicy burgers or half a cheesy pepporoni pizza like the "old days". yet- the other half is glad my band makes it NEARLY impossible to mess up that bad. Even though I'm doing well in my weight loss, it is not without difficulty emotionally. I've been in counseling to get to the root of what has led me to become addicted to food- and i'm trying to avoid simply swapping it out for any new addictions. I know that no matter if I get to my goal weight, my original goal of being "done" with my food issues will never really be realized. I will always be an addict to some degree, even if in recovery, and I will always have to fight the battle of temptation. Still, it's is worth the fight. I

I went to a local dietician yesterday that is not affiliated with the place I had my lapband. She said she has other patients with lapband and that we often eat too few calories. But honestly, I don't lose any weight if I eat more than 1200 calories a day now. She wanted me to have that amount at the very minimum. She even wanted me to up my carb intake! I don't lose weight without pretty much pairing my carb/protein intake so I end up with about 80-100 of each, each day. She asked me if I just wanted to lose weight or do I want to be healthy. I told her BOTH. I want to healthily lose weight but I haven't been able to lose weight by following what she suggests. So, how can I take in more calories and still get my dang body to burn 'em? I think my metabolism is horrendously slow Thoughts? Suggestions??

AFter my last fill I had great restriction for about 3 weeks. I lost about 10 lbs in that time. Then last week within a few days it felt like it was pretty much gone. Is it normal to just disappear over a few days time? I still have some restriction but its less and less everyday. I can eat more than a cup of food at one sitting (though I've tried hard not too) and feel very hungry after my meals even though I'm still not drinnking for 2 hours after. My weight has been at a standstill for a week even though I've been fighting off my hunger and sticking to the same amount of calories as before. I almost feel like my body won't lose any more even with a fill since my caloric intake has remained pretty much the same. Anyone else freaked out when you lost restriction because you felt like you were going to go back to your old ways??? Thanks for letting me vent and please answer if you can. Thanks!!!

I agree with everyone's posts. I have become more aware than ever how powerful an addiction food is for me. It's like people who say they can quit drugs IF they wanted to- but if they really tried to go without , then that is when they discover the true power of their addiction. My addiction just happens to be food and it has never been so clear as when I have a good fill level and don't feel hungry but I realize I miss it desperately and it still has control over me. At the heart of every addiction are underlying thoughts and feelings that are leading to the behavior. I realize this and am seeking counseling as well. Having an addiction to ANYthing is just a method of coping or escaping from what the true issue is. The overeating is not the problem, the over drinking, using drugs, being addicted to sex, shopping, stealing, lying, smoking, WHATEVER it is, is NOT the problem. The problem is the thoughts and feelings you are trying to mask with those behaviors that are causing the addiction. They are the distractions that keep you from having to deal with it. This is so clear to me now and I hope through counseling and self-relection I will be able to discover those real issues that cause me to feed the food addiction, and not simply trade it for another in another in an attempt to not have to deal with whatever that is. What a waste of a life if I spend it trying to avoid the issues through my addictive behavior, rather than tackling it and hopefully someday being able to say I've truly made peace within myself. If I can do that, I believe my weaknesses WILL become my strengths.

Thanks so much for the reply!! I have really been wanting a bodybugg. I think seeing those numbers will be a huge motivator for me too. My Dad is a bike-a-holic and I know he'd love some company in his passion but yeah, I tried a bike a few weeks ago and it was just too hard at my current weight. I have been going to the gym though and doing cardio/weights. I just want to find something else that I really LOVE. Thanks again for the advice and tips!!!

Puddin, I have been following your progress and am impressed with your accomplishments especially in your dedication to fitness. I am AMAZED at your current training and goals WTG!!! Have you always been pretty athletic? I am having a hard time getting STARTED on a fitness program and would love to have even some of your dedication. How did you get there???? I am still having difficulty exercising because of pains in my knees and hips and even though I want to take up biking my stomach is proving to be a HUGE obstacle- pun intended there. Any advice? Can you share your story of how you got from where you were to the point of training for a triathalon????? THANKS!!!

I'm sorry you're not having an easy time! From what I've heard from others, you can be overfilled even by .1cc or so! you never know what a big difference a tiny amount of saline can do. Anyway, if you are throwing up all the time, something needs to change. If yogurt is a problem, you could definitely be overfilled. chicken is a problem for lots of people and sometimes adding something like gravy to it helps. Anyway, of course you need to eat slow and really chew, but since it sounds like you are already doing that, I would look into getting an adjustment. PS- I prefer to call it an adjustment rather than a fill or unfill because sometimes people think of an "unfill" is like taking a step backwards-but there is NO benefit to being having an incorrect "adjustment level". Good luck!!

Restriction doesn't "feel" like anything, like, I can not feel the band or anything when I'm restricted. I believe I am at a perfect level of fill for myself as of right now. At the beginning, I was getting to know the band and I never felt "full" just suddenly uncomfortable feeling in my chest (never stomach itself). Sometimes I would still eat and then I'd have that painful "flaming golf ball" Jack describes. I have now learned pretty much how to eat the right way and I chew just enough and have the right swallows so that now I feel comfortably full. I really was starting to feel like I'd never have that satisfaction feeling again, but it has come back as I've learned to listen to my body and the band. I think what you are describing is just eating the wrong way for your current level of fill. Usually meaning you are eating too quickly (even if your eating slower than prebanding it could still be too quickly for the band) It just takes time to get to know your new way of eating. I was the same in the beginning. Oh, and after each fill you sort of have to re-learn how to eat and find that satisfied feeling opposed to the pain or uncomfortable feeling. So restriction is being able to eat a little bit of food (half a sandwich, couple ounces of meat or cheese, etc) and feel comfortable but not stuffed, or in pain. I get b/w 800-1200 calories daily and I can gulp Water with out trouble. So slow down, and REALLY feel and taste each bite. You will soon find out how it all works. Good Luck!!

Kat- This 800 number thingy, was it a free service? How do you sign up for it? Thanks!

I feel your pain. (Pun intended). I too have a low pain tolerance. Surgery wasn't really that bad as long as I kept up some walking every hour (to ease gas pains, took my Loritab and then after 3 days took liquid tylenol, and slept in a recliner with my feet up and a hot pad on me. The pain moderate pain was well worth it. I am 60 lbs down as of today and I don't know HOW I carried all that weight around with me all the time. THAT is painful. Just follow your docs advice and don't be a hero. If it hurts, take your meds. And remember to walk to ease the gas pains.

I'm so sorry this happened! So glad she will be okay! She probably won't remember this eventually but hopefully you will be able to move on as well. I will keep you in prayers!

With protein also comes fat. It might be the type of protein you are getting as well. The amount of carbs you are taking in is DEFINITLY less than you should be having. Are you on a really low carb diet? You really shouldn't get less than 60 grams a day of healthy carbs. Otherwise, your body can be thrown into ketosis. Ketosis can wreak havoc on you. Look it up on the internet but make sure you get info from a reliable source. Diets such as Atkins praise ketosis- but it can lead to a lot of problems.