FeliciaLevy75

If you are eating regularly, eating balanced, and making sure your nutrition needs are met (not calories, but Vitamins, Proteins, a little fat, etc.) then you won't always be too low to lose. I asked my doc if I was too low, and the previous sentence was what I was told. I average 800 or so calories a day, I make sure it's balanced, and I make sure I get everything I need. The calories are average based on 4oz of food per meal, healthy, yada yada yada. I wasn't setting a low calorie goal, it's just the way it worked out for me. Even at only 800 a day, I am losing very fast (at the moment, I realize it won't be like this forever), and I am not even really trying too hard yet. I am still supposed to be healing.

CONGRATS!!! Awesome!

I tell them right away. Not "Hi, my name is Felicia and I have a lap band," but if I am going to be spending time with someone, I find a way to bring it up gently and topically. Whether romantic or not, they're going to find out eventually, right? The band, this new me, is the reason I have a lot of my new behaviors and I need to know that I am supported. If they can't handle it right away, they won't be able to handle it later. Two examples: I am traveling to Philly, NYC and DC in August with a "gentleman friend" (my mom's term) whom I haven't seen in about 2 years. We're on the phone all the time, he knows about it, he's always loved the person I am/was, and I know he'll like the new exterior and lifestyle just as much. He's one of my biggest supporters! I have another friend with whom I have been spending more time here in Vegas and he didn't know until after. He just kept saying how great I was looking... then commented at dinner with my friends and family that I wasn't eating much. I told him, right then and there, and he's been great! Be proud of who you are and the decisions you have made. You deserve to be supported and cared for now and always, not just later when it's comfortable for someone else. Just my $0.02. Good luck!

Welcome Dave!

Essentially, everyone has said what I would say so I thought of skipping this thread, but I also know that it helps to hear from others. In addition to "ditto" covering most of it, let me just say that PCOS (and with it, insulin resistance, fertility issues, etc.) and weight gain/obesity are conspiring bedfellows. PCOS issues will make you gain weight, weight gain will exacerbate PCOS issues. It's a vicious cycle - one I hope to break with my weight loss. My periods are so few and far between (my friend Charlie calls it "natural seasonale") that I sometimes forget women have to deal with that every month. The good news: Now that almost 40 lbs are gone in 5 weeks or so... I have a period! Also, my blood sugars are completely normal... without Actos, without anything but the band supporting my new eating habits and exercise routines. My A1C was 5.9 pre-band, borderline diabetic. I went through months of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia waves. 5 weeks, no more. The band is the best thing I did for my PCOS and related issues... even if the weight loss is first and foremost, the results and affects on other issues is reason enough.

Success is more than just the scale. For physical, measurable successes, start measuring inches when you weigh yourself, and keep a log. The more fat you burn and muscle you build, the inches will fall away along with the weight. You probably won't notice much day to day, but it will begin to add up! Celebrate the loss of both inches and weight! If your weight loss is slowing down that much... wouldn't your doctor give you a fill? I am confused (maybe it's too early to be reading the boards); you sound worried that he won't give you a fill but you say that the scale hasn't moved... isn't that one of the times to discuss a fill with your doc?

Woohoo!! Welcome Miss Mary!

Livermoron checking in.... I live in Vegas now, but I was born and raised in SF Bay Area. I visit often and would love to meet some Bandsters when I am "home."

Congratulations!

Good luck! You'll make it happen! You copied an old list, my weight went up with your new post! Here are the current numbers (no changes posted): Name.............Current......Goal.........To Go Bunkey1965......240..........219...........21 dreamsize8.......216..........190...........26 FeliciaLevy75....272.2..........256........16.2 laura bough......215..........190...........25 liz_hager..........169..........150...........19 NukeChik..........227..........197...........30 thininside28......271.5........245...........26.5

I do both. I am an all-club member of 24-hour Fitness (indoor pools and working out while traveling = happy me) and I have equipment at home. I have a Total Gym, an elliptical machine, a standing leg machine that I am test-driving, and a balance ball with DVDs. In Vegas, it's too damn hot to do stuff outside most days, and sometimes I just don't feel like going to the gym. My current schedule means I have to go at prime time, and fighting for a spot is just frustrating. So, I have it set up at home, where I allow no excuses. I don't watch a lot of TV, but I like movies; working out while catching up on new releases via Netflix keeps me moving at least an hour a day, if not more.

I love my bullet! Highly recommended. The eBay idea is fantastic!

When I do Protein shakes (now about every other day/every three days), mine usually consist of: 1 c Dannon Light & Fit Yogurt, Nonfat, vanilla (FYI, I noticed this brand tends to have a lot less carbs than a lot of others) .5 - 1c (depending on size of fruit) FROZEN fruit (peaches, mangos, strawberries, berry mix) 1 scoop GNC Soy 95 (or something along those lines) unflavored or Vanilla 2 T Benefiber powder Fiber supplement A sample one I did looks like this: food Name Serving Size Cals/Fat/Carb/Prot Dannon Light & Fit Yogurt, Vanilla, Nonfat 1.5 cups 100/0/18/9 Peach, raw 0.5 cups 37/0/9/1 GNC Pro Performance Soy Protein 95 1 scoop 130/2/3/25 267 cals 2 g fat 30 g carbs 35 g protein This keeps me full; I don't snack or have the urge to snack. The downside is that it can be carb-heavy if you are conscious of that. I prefer low carb because it works for me, so this is kind of high. BUT, it's also my most balanced meal all day with a little bit of everything first thing to get me moving. Keep in mind, too, that the carbs are from the dairy and the fruit: natural carbs. It's a small solace and I know some more militant folks will disagree with me that carbs are still carbs, but it works for me. I focus on eating lean protein and green vegetables the rest of the day. Go go protein, go away hunger.

Are you still on paid meds? Clear or full liquids? If you are on full liquids and have been taking pain meds, that could be the cause. You should still be moving some, even a little, as your body processes different things. Pain medication can cause constipation - even without realizing it. Try adding fiber to your liquids, too.

Hi James, The insurance companies have a fair justification for the diet: they need to see a patient commit - right now, regardless of history - to doing anything necessary to lose the weight Think of it this way: if losing the weight is so important you would undergo surgery, then the diet is just a small way to get ready for it. It's hard, James, dieting alone or dieting - changing your lifestyle - as a bandster. Either way it's going to take commitment and dedication like nothing before. That's all they are asking for. Does it always make sense? Not really. The money spent on WLS by the insurance company is a drop in the bucket compared to what is spent dealing with obesity and related issues. That said, it's a way for them to perform their due diligence; let's face it, they don't want to spend any money at all if they can help it. That said, there is both good news and bad news. The bad news is that you want the band now and 6 months seems a long time to wait; the good news is that 6 months is only 26 weeks.... if the doc's diet and exercise can help you lose even a pound a week, that's 26 off your 80 (looking at your ticker)! That's amazing! As much as I love what my band is helping me to do, you may find that in your zealous (in a good way) chase of the band by following the doctor's diet, you may not need it! Jump through the hoops enough and you may be able to tell the insurance company to take a hike. :grouphug: At the very least, you can prove to them you are ready for this and, with all the doc's documentation and recommendation, you can get that band!

I had to share a couple of NSVs: 1. Sitting in restaurant booths comfortably for the first time in a very long time. 2. Wearing jeans I bought too small 2 years ago and have never worn. 3. I wear a red plastic bracelet from the American Heart Association in memory of my father... it sat up around my wrist before surgery. Now it sits about 3" down my arm. 4. I am not constantly adjusting my shirts when I sit or stand to make sure they fall right over my body. 5. My choker necklaces no longer choke me. And that's after only 36 lbs!! =) I can't wait to see what happens next!

I just found this thread... amen! WTF are people thinking? How many threads are there on Soda, Beer, Ice Cream, eating solids before they are ready... Ugh! It's one part laziness (there is a seach feature), and one part search-for-justification (needing to hear that they are OK doing what they are doing instead of being told that they need to incorporate more changes to how they operate around food, instead of operating food to go around the band.

I, too, am making the switch. I am currently moving everything over so I can keep one journal. DailyPlate blew FitDay away.

Today I had a poached egg and 2 poached egg whites (no yolk in the second 2, just protein); both types were fine for me. I have also purchased some Egg Beaters to make a frittata tomorrow. Hopefully that goes as well.

Finding the culprit (aka it's not always the muscles' fault): Track your food every day. While gaining muscle will cause some weight gain, it's not the only reason. Track your food, down to the bite. Then go back and look at it. See if you can find a spike in calories (without realizing it), or fat or carbs or whatever affects you most. Sometimes it's hard to be honest, especially to yourself. I am not saying that the gym is bad or that gaining muscle is bad - it's fabulous! But try the diet watch; be militant for a few days and track it, compare it, pay attention to it. The band is a tool, and it only works when you wield that tool properly. Keep up the good work in the exercise department! Do that and the diet record. You'll figure it out and then you can adjust it as appropriate. Good luck.

We'll have to find something that works soon. Saturdays are usually good, just not the next two weekends.

CONGRATULATIONS!! I am way off, but I figure it will be nice to go in and re-do it when the picture matches the data. :rolleyes2:

hahaha, I was thinking this, too! My reponse would be, as she goes for every sip, "Don't drink that!! You know how you get [insert knowing nod here]; it's because I love you! HAHAHA"

Right on, this is exactly it!

Jodi - to you and MrsFlipFlops I apologize. It wasn't you guys to whom my reply was aimed at (I had hoped that was obvious, but maybe not). I just don't care for caustic let's-cause-a-fight-just-because type people/posts. It's one thing for people to disagree and debate a topic, but to just come out swinging to be a jerk, and claim you don't care... yeah, that bugged me. Sadly, you got caught in the crossfire. Sorry ladies.