Great2BThin

Hoosierpoms, YES!! it feels awesome to do something you couldn't do before. When we first got up in the mountains my husband wanted to check out some fishing stream outside Estes Park, it was abotu a half mile hike in and I said right away, no way! I'll wait in the car. He promised it was flat and a path. Well the path was just beaten down weeds, but I did it and then just built my confidence the rest of the day. I can't believe the mileage you guys put in and am so impressed! Turler, I'm in the 'burbs of Denver, I grew up here, but moved away 25 yrs ago and just recently back. Today was my first time on Trail Ridge as an adult! I love to go up there in the fall too and watch the elk bugle and fight. It's better than the UFC on TV! Areellady, you love mountain passes? going down or up?

Sorry about the headaches. No I didn't get them. Question, have you given up sodas and/or caffeine since then? I gave up my diet Pepsi the week before and had awful headaches then.

Lunabeane, I forgot about the no peeing when I sneeze, I totally relate to that one and haven't done it either!! Oh and today my new smaller capris from 2 weeks ago, were loose!!

Just back from my day in the mountains. It was a gorgeous, perfect day. It was 101 down here and up at the top of the summit of Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mtn nat'l park it was 68....AHHHHH!! We stopped several times to walk, take pics of elk, picnic etc. and I was so excited. Last year when we went up there I was out of breath just crossing the street (remember this is at about 11,000 elevation) and this year, I hiked a total of about 2 miles in short spurts and did great! At the summit there is this staircase to the very top of the mtn. and about 12,000+ elevation. Next year, I will climb those stairs! There's been 2 pages of posts since I last checked yesterday so know I am forgetting some, but congrats on the surgeries, welcome to the newbies. Diane, thanks for the friends request! Enjoy Branson! Elayne, I had so many doubts 2 days preop I almost cancelled the surgery, now 6 weeks out I am so relieved I didn't. I am already off my b/p meds, I am down 44 lbs (10 was before) and I am riding a bike, hiking, and doing a little walking (bad knee). My energy level is amazing considering where it was! Janet, thanks for the concern on my knee, I am bone on bone in it. I have gotten some cartlidge type injections that have helped a lot and they say every pound is like 4 lbs on your knees so I have taken off 160 lbs of pressure! BUt I am very careful with it.

Well hubby got his bike and we rode 'his' way and I gotta admit it was better. I was able to ride much longer and enjoyed it so much more. The hill coming home was nothing! I am so excited with the changes I am seeing in my stamina already. Today we went for a ride (car) over Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mtn Nat'l park, saw lots of bikers in the mtns. thought maybe that will be me next year. But also we stopped at a lot of pullouts and did some small hiking to see elk and other wild life and I could do it!! Last summer we went up there and I was exhausted just crossing the road. Yea me!!

I'm at 44 lbs lost but 10 of that was during my research phase of surgeries, so 34 since my 1st appt with the surgeon. My exercise was non existent but recently has really been stepped up. I got a bike and ride that right now about 20 min a day but adding more time/distance all the time. I am also walking with a neighbor and today DH and I hiked in the mtns. I'm trying to move some how every day. And it's working!! Since my fill on Monday I am down 4 lbs! Still have great restriction.

The dr. chose my size as well during surgery. I don't think the 4cc is used much anymore but I am not sure, as it slipped more. My dr. referred to the 10cc as the small and 14cc as the large. During my surgery he started with a 10 but had a hard time with fit, but the 14 was too big, so he used the 14 and put in a prefill of 14cc. He did both types of bands as well (Lapband and Realize) and said he didn't have a preference either way so I went with the tried and true that he was most experienced in.

ELLEN!!!!!!!!!!!!! Remember me? Lori from Dr. Phil??? This has got to be the same Ellen I remember there are too many coincidences if not. I just got banded last month. I was so embarrassed I gained all my weight back from the Dr, Phil show that I sortta dropped off the face of the earth. I am no longer in DE and in CO and much happier and doing great! I can't believe it's you!! WELCOME!! Good luck Monday!! I got the 14cc band (10 wouldn't fasten right so doc puton 14 and filled it with 4 cc to make it a 10 anyway). Recovery isn't too bad but once you start getting fills, it's great! Oh and Janet is an awesome mentor!! She has made me her Jedi knight/warrior whatever it is!! LOL

Good evening! thought I'd check in tonight since I will be gone most of the day tomorrow. We are going for a leisurely drive in the mountains, having a picnic and just enjoy God's creation. Today was a first for me.....I worked out twice!! I can't believe it myself. My neighbor came to the door this morning and we walked 3 times around the block and I found out tonight on the odometer that is a mile. Keep in mind I've not walked in a long time due to my knee, so felt good with doing a mile in just under 20 min. Then tonight DH and I went bike riding. we went 'his' way and I have to admit it is easier and a more enjoyable ride as I can ride longer w/o that steep hill. With all my exercise, according to www.mydailyplate.com I took in only 150 more calories today than I burnt in exercise. a first for me. Tomorrow is a challenge, am trying to decide what food to have for my mini meals, etc. The other challenge will be how much gas will we burn? LOL But we rarely go out, so will consider this our entertainment.

Hi, I am new here and considering lapband surgery. I love having found this board it has been so informative. I have just begun to research my options. My question is how did you pick your dr? I have signed up for 3 info sessions with different offices here in Denver. I hadn't heard of Dr. Kirschenbaum until reading these boards and that is one I hadn't considered. However, he doesn't do info sessions I take it. Also, he doesn't have the Center of Excellence rating on his website. How important is this? If I have to self pay he seems the cheapest, but then again when it comes to surgery I don't necessarily only want to be ruled by price. I went to Dr. Johnell's info session on Tues. in Lafayette however the surgery would be in Greeley. I am going to Dr. Snyder's on Saturday at the Cherry Creek hotel, and to Dr. Brown's on Monday. Any info on any of these dr.'s? Thanks.

I had no trouble taking my pills either post op. However, now since my fill I have to cut my Calcium in half or it hurts going down. My Vitamin is chewable so no problem there. And I got off my b/p one YAHOO!!

You are so right Joann. I have always been too concerned what others think and have been getting better at that but as you can tell have a ways to go. These are only 2 women (though they talk a lot) and it shouldn't matter to me what they do say or think. As long as I live my life pleasing to my Lord first, my husband and family second, why should I care? Thanks for putting it into perspective.

Greetings all! I've been on this site for over a month now, had surgery on 6/5, and just now saw there was a area for christians. PTL! Nice to see some familiar faces I know from other areas on here as well. I have been pretty open now about having had surgery, but for some reason am having a hard time 'fessing up with my christian friends. DH & I lead a small group in our home and 2 of the women are fairly for lack of a better word, judgemental, and are very pro Weight WAtchers. I'm afraid of what they'll think or say. Is that silly? I mean I prayed about my weight, prayed about the surgery, really felt God's hand in this whole process. Why am I so afraid of 2 women? Frustrates me.

Well then do it!! I got a cheap one at Walmart, if I continue to like it I can always invest more money later. It's been kindda fun (as fun as exercise can be) but kindda makes one feel young again! And from some list I saw posted on here some place it is one of the top calorie burning exercises out there!

I sure think so. I will report in tomorrow and let you know how 'his way' went. Plus it is prettier that way as we can go on a trail around some little lakes in our subdivision.

Good morning Nifty Fifties! And I am feeling pretty nifty today, down another 2!! That is 4 since my fill on Monday!! WOOHOO!! gotta enjoy it while it lasts! My backdoor neighbor knocked on my door this morning and wanted to know if I wanted to go walking with her. She is recovering from surgery (not bariatric) and needed a walking partner, we were the perfect pair, my bum knee, her slow walk (she has an incision from the sternum to the pelvic area) but we walked longer than either of us intended just because we were gabbing too much! LOL DH got his bike last night and tonight we are going riding. So I've really notched up the exercise lately and I think between that and my fill it's going together perfectly! JB, I love it "Phillip". I just might have to name my band. Alice150, gosh could your new surgeon have given you a less agressive fill as sort of a compromise? Egneb, welcome. Not sure why you wouldn't be losing. Are you sure about your portion sizes when you are logging your foods? For me I could easily eat a bag of chips but then count it as a serving, they are my redlight food! My calories are much lower than that but know different docs recommend different things. Good luck on your testing and hope it gets going again.

Good morning, Junebugs!! All is well here in filled lapband land. I can't believe what a difference my fill has made. Though today I am feeling a little more hunger. Hope I don't lose restriction that fast, though I can still hardly eat much. I have lost 4 lbs since my fill on Monday!!!!!!!!!!! I've ramped up the exercise too so that is helping as well. I got my new bike last weekend and last night hubby got a new one as well so we are going to ride in the evenings. I may still ride in the mornings some days as well. Today I went walking. Folks are noticing I'm losing weight, however, still no one that doesn't know about my surgery has noticed or if they have haven't said a thing. Now I know commenting to someone on weight is a touch issue, but I can't wait for someone out of the blue to notice. I guess when I have so much to lose it takes a while to show. Tomorrow I am going for a ride in the mountains all day in the car and we will stop for lunch some place, but I should be able to find something to have just fine. If not, I can always rely on soup but I try not to. cathy, I hope your fill gave you the restriction you need today!

Good morning, my new biking friends! Last night hubby got a bike!! Now I have a biking companion when I want one (sometimes I won't LOL). We went last night for our first ride and he wanted me to show him the route I take. He was impressed as I start out with a big hill (some day that hill will seem much smaller I hope) and we went about a mile and a half. Seems so small compared to you folks, but I have to remember I gotta start some where. I like to start out on this hill and get it over with, but it does burn me out in about the first 5 min. Now hubby says I should go this other way and avoid that hill and ride longer on flatter so I don't burn out so quick. I avoid that way as there is a hill coming home and I am afraid of hills at the end of my journey. He says it's much smaller than the one I just climbed. What do you think? Is it better to build strength on the biggest hill and go shorter? Or would it be better to ride longer, flatter? Tonight we are going his way and he says if I can't do the hill coming home to stop and he'd go home and come back and get me. I didn't ride this morning as my neighbor suprised me at the door and asked me to walk with her. So walk in the morning and ride at night. Oh and I am down 2 more lbs today!! YAHOO!!

WooHOO!! So glad it went okay for you. Glad Dr. Garth came through for you. Was he able to remove any of the adhesions? can you have pudding or yogurt? I drank Isopures, of how about some Protein Shakes? Slow? And you are down 42 lbs??? That's pretty good!! I didn't bruise from my fill but she sure pushed hard finding it.

Good luck. Sometimes it's a little uncomfortable as they try and pull and squeeze as much of you as they can under the glass, but I figure I'd rather the few moments of discomfort and have them see as much as they can, so I grin and bear it. The gal today was great, she was very gentle.

Charlene was banded yesterday.

Thanks for the candid answers to my question about if you thought you would be where you are a year ago. I live in CO and maybe next summer I will be doing mountain passes. Right now I will practice on the 'huge' hill by my house (huge to me that is LOL). I didn't ride this morning since I had an early appt for a mammogram. My butt is appreciating the break (does that ever get used to the bike seat? I have a 'comfort seat' and put a gel thing over it even. Maybe I need to build up some butt calluses. With all the padding my butt has it should be fine. LOL

Wow this thread is hopping!! I could just now get to it at 2pm MDT and had 2 pages to read. First, Janet, am praying for you. The reason I am late on the 'puter today is I had my mammogram, and I always sweat it out til I get the results. I had a needle biopsy a few years ago as well. You'll be getting your boobie ultrasounded and I get my gall bladder ultrasounded. Sure it wont' be as fun as my pregnant ultrasound. CathyChatts, I feel like you, I love the June boards and can relate to where in the process the folks there are, but these folks here at the 50's I can relate to where they are lifewise. And I do believe we with more experience in life do have unique issues and a different mindset so this feels so at home. I wish you luck with your fill tomorrow and hope it gives you the needed restriction, but you still gotta quit your drinking! :Banane03: Charlene, you were banded yesterday, I pray all went well and we will see you on here before long. Phyl, there was something I wanted to respond to and now can't find it! Oh, yeah, CONGRATS ON THE 85 lbs LOST!!!!! Janet, happy BANDIVERSARY TO YOU AND CONGRATS!!! Wow to think of where I might be in one year is mind boggling!! I'm so excited. Heck just thinking of where I could be by Christmas. Maybe for the first time in years, I won't be so embarressed to go to hubby's work Christmas party (it's in Januaray this year so i have even an extra month). No bike ride for me today, I had an early mammogram appt and my knee was really bugging me (as well as my butt from the seat) so opted to take the day off. May walk later. Have a great rest of the day!!

I do! During surgery, I guess the surgeon was having trouble fastening the 10cc band, so switched to the 14cc but then it was too big. So he put 4cc prefill in it. When I got my fill on Monday they said they were treating me like I had the 10cc and giving a fill based on that. Not sure I understood it all, but anyway I got a 3cc fill so have a total of 7ccs in it. I never got anything stuck til my fill. I think I had such little restriction before that I got careless in my bite sizes. Now I have to be really sure to chew chew chew. I took my calcium pill this am and it got stuck for about 5 min. I've heard folks say they have to cut those in half and think I might have to. Since my fill I have lost 2 more pounds!! In a way I was glad at first for the stuck feeling, because then I felt like I really had the band and it was working, but I don't look forward to it happening again!

Wow, I have just been noticing all you experience riders weight loss tickers. There is some amazing results amongst this group. I'm so impressed. Gee, I wonder if it has to do with all the exercise/biking? There must be a connection!! Makes me glad I got my bike and wanna get more fit so I can do the distances some of you folks do. Congratulations! Question: when you were starting out, did you ever think you'd be where you are at today?