littlefroggy

I didn't feel it with my first fill. You just can't eat big quantities. Stick the the half cup or whatever your doctor suggested. You don't need more than that.

I'm still sort of trying to figure my body out here... I broke a plateau by adding calories, so now I'm up to between 11-1200, alternating with some lower days 800, and some higher days 1600. That worked for a month and I lost 15 lbs in ONE MONTH! But now for 3 weeks I have been the same. I added in some more exercise and when I looked at my calorie intake, I am only only getting about 700-800 after my exercise calories are deducted. Should up my calories even more? the problem is that I can't really eat that much food!!

Since I started, I have cut my time from 25 minutes to 16! it's time to add more distance! running feels SO good! I love it. And I'm not sore anymore.

I am so excited for myself. After a couple weeks of not swimming due to the terrible, cold weather and my own laziness, last night I was suddenly inspired to try running. I walked down to meet a friend at a coffee shop last night and was running late...I realized I only had a couple minutes to get there so I picked up my pace. I realized I could practically jog if I wanted to. So I woke up early and got on my gym clothes, put on my ipod and took off! It took about 25 minutes to go to the end of my long street (many blocks) and I was on a flat surface the whole time. I ran one or two blocks, then walked one or two blocks. It was great. I can't wait to get to the point where I run the whole time!! After I got back I actually thought to look at the couch to 5k site and was pleased that more or less I did the right thing. I need to stretch before and after though, which I didn't think to do today. I'm going to go every other day!! Yay!!:thumbup:

My doctor's office has a poster that shows if you are eating a lot of slider foods (chips, chocolate, ice cream, etc.) You're too tight. Get a slight unfill and see if that helps.

How careful are you with this? I have a lot of food that will expire this week (chicken salad, a prepared chicken dish from Trader Joe's) and a few other things. I don't want to get food poisoning and risk vomiting and doing something to the band... however, I also don't want to waste food. Any thoughts?

Well, I never paid much attention before this thread. I used to go daily (preband) but now go every few days. I know it's because I don't eat enough veggies and fruits- but I try so hard just to get in the rec. Protein. Anyway.... so this was weird. Half floated and half sunk.

So I am SORT OF following the couch to 5k idea. I'm starting by walking/running. I have run 5 times now, and run 1.2 miles, which is to the end of my street (before it turns into a hill) and back home again. I'm running very early in the morning while it's still dark. I see all the delivery trucks dropping things off for the restaurants so it's kind of fun. Anyway, what is a GOOD time for a mile? Yesterday my 1.2 miles took about 17 minutes. That only burns about 170 calories. I was hoping it would burn more, but I guess not. Eventually I want to be able to do the 5k, so I need to build up to that. I have until May. Anyway, is that a good time??? Training Calculator for Runners: Runner's World I found this, which calculated that I am running a 14 minute mile. Any tips or pointers on going faster? Or is this a decent pace?

Thanks Jaqui, That's all good advice. I think I want to get to a 15 minute mile, and then start increasing. At this point, I'm feeling like I'm doing a lot. Fortunately, the running is not my only exercise. I'm also still swimming and going to the gym. I need to map out the distance for the 5 k and figure out a route that works for me. Once I do that, I'll add the rest of the distance. The other thing I was thinking was that I could run for 15 minutes, turn around and go back... that way at least I'd be getting in a 1/2 hour. Then I could test the distance. I'm mostly interested in distance though... since I'm preparing for a 5k.

I posted face pictures a couple weeks ago, but since then finally someone has taken my pictures of my body. First picture was this summer, weighing about 270 (just started the pre-op diet). I think I am barely squeezing into the size 24 pants. The new picture was at 205 and in a pair of size 16 skinny jeans!!! (oh and excuse the red eye!)

I've noticed this too, and a lot of people say the same thing. I don't have any advice, just get in as much Protein as you can.

I seriously need to see if sex is better after the band... no luck so far though! Still single... but I am DATING... so you never know!

I just wanted to update people. I am DATING now. I went on 3 last week and have 3 planned for this week. Nothing that is creating sparks yet, but it will happen. YAY FOR THE BAND!

I can eat ALMOST anything, but my band has gotten finicky as it gets tighter. I am pb'ing more often. I have never tried rice, and only had bread a few times, and only nibbles, not whole bites. The one thing I know I can't eat is any sort of fried food, like nuggets or fried chicken. However on Saturday I helped some friends eat a plate of fries... I probably had about 6 fries. I find that I get stuck if I eat too fast or take bites that are too big. I also want to be able to eat anything in small amounts, but there are just some things that don't sit well with me. And sometimes I can eat something for dinner, but the next day I can't eat it as leftovers for lunch. Unfortunately, I don't think the bliss of being able to eat smaller amounts but eat anything lasted with me. But I would rather just have more restriction now, since I am losing a lot better and faster than I did when I had less restriction and could eat more foods.

This week I have been SO much tighter. I was filled awhile ago, and I think I'm scheduled for another fill next week. I don't need it. I get worried b/c I hear of people who have food stuck and rotting in their esophagus and things like that. Example: (Jan 1) New Years a.m we went to brunch. I had about 3 bites of egg and 3 bites of turkey sausage, and a little bite of a tortilla and avocado from someone else's huevos rancheros. I was sick at lunch and PB'd. Had a shake for dinner. (Jan 2) I ended up going to brunch AGAIN. I could only eat about 3 bites of my quiche and felt sick. Later in the day I had my leftover quiche but nothing else the rest of the day. (Jan 3) No Breakfast, didn't eat until 4 pm. I had about 4 bites of refried Beans mixed w/ ground beef. Made me feel queasy. Dinner at around 8 pm I had Soup and salad and it was fine. In the evening I had about 3 Cookies. (Jan 4) I couldn't eat breakfast at all and at lunch had about 4 bites of chicken. For dinner last night I had 1/2 cup of macaroni, which goes down easy for me. Again I had 3 cookies. It seems like it's getting harder and harder for me to eat. My calories are not exceeding 800-900 and that's lower than my usual 1100-1200 calories. Should I be worried?

I was filled like you... about 6 cc or maybe more on my first fill (during the surgery I was already filled a little bit.) My doctor said they found people can handle that for their first fill and will lose quicker than coming in and getting only 1 cc each time. It's good because in the 5 months since my surgery I've had 3 fills and am losing and restricted, so I'm glad they did that. As for the pouch test, that's a good idea. I think I'm doing better now. I am wondering if that was attributed to my flying (I went on vacation) or if it was my menstrual cycle. I'm back to "normal" now which means I am still tight in the morning but get looser in the evening.

I've now lost an Irish setter, OR the weight of an average human leg + the amount of cheese the average american eats in a year OR 3 car tires and 2 chihuahuas OR a small bale of hay and 5 racks of baby back ribs

I tried it earlier today and it worked. I needed it again but was in a pub, so I couldn't do it there- plus I wouldn't have wanted to put my hands on the floor. Thanks for the tip. I am stuck almost every day, sometimes more than once, so this is a great tip, providing I'm at home!

today: b- 5 slices of salame l- snap peas and chicken salad d- meatballs and bbq sauce s- vodka and cranberry juice

Just make sure you get in most of your calories in the morning and afternoon. Drink a lot of water in the evening. I'm the opposite and can hardly eat a thing until dinner time, then I can eat a lot more and get about 2/3 of my calories in after 6 pm.

I have not had a soda since being banded, but I did have a beer awhile ago, from a pitcher and I let the foam die down. It didn't bother me to my surprise. I felt obligated to drink it b/c someone bought it for me. It was fine. But I'm not a beer drinker and don't want to start being a soda drinker, so it will be a rare occurrence. We celebrated something at work with champagne yesterday and I had a sip but it was so fizzy I worried about what it might do.

I did ww for years so it is a bit ingrained in me. I don't do low-carb and I am losing really well. I definitely try to eat more Protein than carbs and avoid bread, rice and Pasta, but I get plenty of carbs in chocolate, which I won't give up. So I am more about SENSIBLE... I do have a secret longing to JOIN ww again just so I can get all those keychains and make lifetime since I was never able to do it before.... :tongue2:

I added myself to the other v-day challenge thread (the goals thread) the first day, but didn't realize there was another thread with running totals.... so can you add me to this one? I said I wanted to lose 16 lbs and already lost 6, so I'm well on my way. Thanks!! Start: 211 Now: 205 Goal: 195

People are starting to ask me. I mentioned all the exercise I'm doing. There were a number of people I told when I had the surgery, because I felt it would make sense for them to know, like my co-workers because we eat together for lunch meetings and my family and close friends. Other people, I'm not really telling UNLESS they are overweight and struggling, then I will share my story with them.

at the support group. My dietician seems to think I'm this super star. I don't know what I would say. I feel like I would be hypocritical because I am losing but my "program" is not the dr recommended. I am eating carbs and all kinds of things. What would you do?