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I tell you what has helped me keep motivated with my walking and exercise. It is being able to see the calories I burn during every workout. I purchased a Polar Heart Rate Monitor (Model F55). It's was very easy to set up and it calculates everything for you automatically based on the information you enter and a self-test that is run on your resting heart rate. As an example of yesterdays workout. I did 30 minutes of weight training and 1 hour 10 minutes of cardio (tredmill & eliptical) at the fitness center. Total workout time, 1 hour 40 minutes, total calories burned 930, 50% fat. Max heart rate 138 and average heart rate for the workout was 122. It is amazing to see some of these weekly totals running between 5,000 and 6,000 calories. Sure keeps me motivated.

I agree with bigrick, walking is the best for those of us who are not young jocks. In fact walking is good for everyone at any age. OG you are doing great, off to a good start. Take it slow at first like you are doing now and don't push yourself too hard. Four miles a day is a great goal, but just take it easy at first, a little at a time. Once you get banded and the weight starts coming off, you will be surprised how far you will be able to walk.

OG, I had my surgery February 26th. I was on 6 Rx meds for diabetes, high blood pressure, high triglicerides, also used a CPAP for the past 6 years. Knees were killing me and I could hardly walk without a cane. I was 5'6, 265lbs. In 5 months I am down to 210 lbs, only on one medicaiton now for blood pressure (hope to be off of it by the end of the year), diabetes is under control (last A1LC was 5.2), and CPAP is stored away in the closet. I walk more than 20 miles every week and exercise with weights at the gym 3 days a week. I am down from a 46 waist size in my britches to a 40 and they are getting loose now. Only regret is I wish I would have done this LB sooner. I wish you all the best on your journey with the LB. Keep posting and let us know where you are in the process. This old goat here feels almost like a kid again. Jim

Facility Safety Monitor for Spaceflight Training and Facility Operations. NASA, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Tx.

Like a pinata - LOL. I too have a unusual relationship with food. I like to cook, take lots of cooking classes, collect cookbooks, and am always searching for unusual and unique dishes to make and try. Please take care of yourself and really consider the lap band now while you are still young. I had my lapband surgery on February 26th. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. I am now on the right track, lost 44 lbs, my BMI down from 43 to 34, and I am off all three diabetes medications. I still enjoy my food but in very limited amounts. Good luck and please consider the lap band.

I think you should be ok. I was banded on February 26, had my first fill on April 7th and left on a 7 day cruise April 20. With my Dr.'s ok too! I chose my food wisely, ate slowly, deliberately, and didn't have a problem. I exercised everyday too. I lost only .2lbs that week, but I thought I did very well compared to what I used to eat and drink on previous cruises. Check with your Dr. then go and have a great time.

I have heard good words about Dr. Spiegel, but agree with TXEG. Staff is very formal and your just a number to them. I used Dr. Duc Vuong in Texas City. He and his staff are just super. You become part of thier group with weekly meetings, diet help, and excellent care. Check them out at texascitysurgical.com

June 26th was my 4 month anniversary, down 42lbs, 2 fills (last one in May) 4.5cc in a 10cc band. I cannot say that I have hit that sweet spot. However, I am getting things stuck too often. I find it difficult to eat slowly and I apparently do now chew it long enough. I am still trying. So far, been lucky it only lasts for 3-5 minutes and then clears without a PB, but it sure does not feel very good.......................Jim

Congradulations Sluefoot. Wishing you all the best. If you have a good Dr. and you follow his instructions and diet plan, you will be fine. You should be excited, this is an exciting journey for all of us.

I was banded yesterday the 26th in Houston, by Dr Vuong at True Results. Those folks at True Results were very nice and were just super in making sure you were comfortable. The only real discomfort was the gas floating around on the inside of me after waking up. For that, I walked and walked and took gax-x. The cuts in my chest are very sensative, but nothing that is not tollerable. So far, everying has been good for me. I hope everyone else did ok yesterday?

Banded yesterday. No problems at all. I did have some gas rolling around in my chest, but I walked and walked and walked. Also took gasX so I don't know if it was the gasx or the walking. I was fee from that by late afternoon. Slept fine last night, did not hurt lying on either side. Like you all said, it feels like someone punched your stomach and it is tender, but very tolerable. I can feel my port right below the largest cut and it is bruised. I was on three weeks of pre-op diet, two of which were Optifast then I am using OPTIFAST for one more week. I lost 17lbs in those three weeks, but this morning, I was up 4lbs. That I don't understand because all I had was Water, juice, and tea. I start a mushy food selection next week. All in all, I was expecting it to be worse than this, but I am glad it is not. Jim

I got my call today from the pre-op nurse at True Results here in Houston giving me instructions for next Tuesday the 26th. I have to be there by 6:30am with the usual fasting, my CPAP and a pillow. I guess I will find out what the pillow is for when I get there. She said surgery will start at 8am and I should be heading home about five hours later. I did good today on OPTIFAST with little cravings and less thoughts about food in general. I have not deviated from this OPTIFAST at all and my wife cannot believe I have gone this many days without any real food and I am not climbing the walls. You all are doing very well too. I know this stuff is not that great, but someday we can look back and laugh about it. I hope. Everyone keep up the good work. Karina I don't see how you can prepare dinner and not just go crazy handing the food and not just taking a bite or two. That would drive me up the wall for sure. Since I have not been in the kitchen cooking, my wife has been eating those Healthy Choice frozen things which I don't like anyway so when she eats it does not bother me. Stay strong everyone........Jim

Enchanted Ruby how are you feeling? Did getting on the clear liquids help with the throwing up? This OPTIFAST is not something I would want to be on for longer that I have to be for pre-surgery. It's working, but I am thinking ahead to when I can again have at least clear liquids like broth and maybe some sugar free jello. I hope you are ok.

Wow Kylie that great, just two days to go. You made it. You must feel very proud of yourself. I wish you the best for your surgery. I will say a prayer for you. I still have a week to go, the 26th. I saw the doctor today and I am down 10.8 lbs. Also picked up another two weeks of Optifast. The doctor said to stay on the OPTIFAST for the first week following surgery then I can introduce other liquids. Jim

How did everyone do today? This is my first weekend on OPTIFAST. I was a little concerned on how I would do at keeping down the food cravings. At work, I can keep busy and don't have time to think about it. Well today went ok. In fact, I found it to be the easiest of all. I really think I will make it thru this now. I hope you all did ok today too?

I am on my 3rd day of OPTIFAST also. I'm ok, but the thought of food will not go away. Surgery is scheduled or 2/26/08 also. Long way to go, but the thoughts of not being fat anymore keep me motivated. This is not the most flavorfull stuff I ever had either. Hang in there everyone.

Congrats Quinn and Mike, you give me hope that this will all go well. I am scheduled for Feb 26. My age concerns me, but my heart Dr. and PCP both say go for it. I am a self pay (ugh), but I need this tool if I want to live some more years. I have only told immediate family and one good friend. Like my Dr's, they are with me on this too.

Hello to all. I live in League City, Texas, mid-way between Houston and Galveston. I am one week into a 1200 cal diet. If all goes well at Dr. office tomorrow (Texas City), I will start two weeks of Optifast. All in preparation for lap band surgery. Maybe looking at early March. I have done well on the low cal diet and did not cheat. I don't know if I can cope with this all liquid diet, but I am going to give it my best shot. Right now I am reading all that I can trying to find out all I can about the post op successes as well as the negatives others have experienced. There are some really interesting testimonials on LBT. James