silvers320

After a lifetime of being a slug - I highly recommend the couch to 5k! I was too big- too much moved in the wrong ways- I winded too quickly. None of that matters with the couch to 5k.

Congrats on feeling great. I will say that I always worry when people say they PB every day - that should not be an acceptable norm. Look at why its happening - are you eating too fast? The wrong food? Long term PBing is not good. I think 1500 calories a day with 500 calories of burn off doesnt seem like enough for me - but what do I know. I will say I had to do the 3 meals -3 snacks thing or else I would eat so fast I would be PB for an hour. I also notice there are some night where I wonder if I left my band at the office because I feel like I could eat all night long. Thankfully those are rare. I eat some - I drink water. A lot of water on those nights.

Welcome. There is no way this is the easy way out - no more so then a person you uses meds to control their health issues is "taking the easy way out". You will still need to make the decision as to what food you eat/ when and how you work out etc. I hear you on many of your issues: I was a lover of food - and have MANY social activities based around food. The funny thing is 2 years out - I still do. I just eat differently- no more 3 dinner rolls before the meal, more seafood etc. If fact, no that I eat slower- I think I enjoy food more then ever. I had been a fast eat since grade school - half the second time you get sick- you learn to slow down. Its a habit and like all habits they can be changed. I am 5'10 and while my pre-surgery weight was 296 - I am sure I had hit the 300+ mark at some points thru the years. For me, the band allowed me to "reset the clock and start over". Looked at food differently -- its very hard to explain. After a life time of gaining and losing more weight then I could count. I know understand people who put a "holiday 5" and need to lose it. Good Luck

Well.. you have to do what you think is best for you... but lets ask a couple of questions: Anesthesia - sure there are rare cases where things go wrong and no amount of prep could change that.. so I understand your concerns about that one. Incision pain/ gas pain - they are short terms pains whose long term benefits more then about way a few days (maybe a week at best) of pain. So at the end it seems like a decision - do nothing and wait for the effects of being Overweight to take over - heart attack, HPB, and other health issues. OR take the risk with anesthesia. The fact is for those of us that were/are fat - every day has its risks given our weight. Good luck with what ever you choose.

Well... everyone is different, and while it works for MOST people .. it doesn't work for everyone. While it works for most people without problem, there are those (myself included) that have had some problems. Just out the complications board on here. Having said that - I would still do it again in a minute. 2 years ago, I had a BMI of 43 and the getting off the couch was my idea of a workout, with a 44 waist. But, I also made changes in how I looked at food, what I ate (to a lesser degree) and worked out. For me the band leveled the playing field. I no longer am on the diet I had been on for 20 years. I did 2- 5ks last year and signed up for a tri this summer! The bottom line is, for it too work you have to be willing to make changes and this WILL include making "ME" time. Good Luck

Well, I can't speak for all liberals but this liberal doesn't hate Sarah Palin. This liberal thinks one of the great things about this country is that Sarah is free to think and believe in what God she see fit. And scream it from the rooftops if she sees fit. However, this liberal doesn't think she has the educational requirements/knowledge base to run the country.

I love a good joke. But today I was listening to a podcast from NPR and it had no less than 5 mins of fat jokes about Chris Christy ( the NJ governor elect, who is a big guy). And the crowd was laughing. And I thought to myself. WTF? I actually started to feel a little sorry for Chris Christy. If these jokes were about a Jewish Governor? Or a Black Governor? or A Gay Governor? Or a Spanish Drawf ? People would be matching on the radio's headquarters. Demanding an apology. But its fat jokes so that's ok?? In a world that is so polictically correct - how is it ok to pick on the fat? I could see it 25 years ago when fat folks were in the minority but today more than 50% of the US population is at least overweight.

I had mine in America - and hadnt considered Mexico beforehand - mostly because I didnt know it was an issue. But a little more then a year out, and having had some problems - I am thankful my DR was only an hour a way. $7,000 is a lot of money to consider. But let me ask you this - would you buy a car where the only the service dealership is 2,000 miles away to save $7,000? I don' t think I would. The thing about the band is that after care is really important - and stuff can happen - infections, slips, etc. So take that into account when you are doctor shopping. Good Luck

Funny... I assume this is a response to my post - which means I have started a turf war. But I actually wasnt referring to you - if fact, I didnt even realize you werent a guy.

I have never been to a support group, mostly because I figure it will be like every WW meeting I attended (all 3 of them) where I was the one and only guy. Let's face it - we have been trained that asking for help is a sign of weakness and men arent suppose to be weak. I dont ask for directions - I am not asking someone how to lose 20lbs. But... with age and the internet comes this board so we learn, grow (yeah ok). I dont want to start a "turf" war but one of the things that bothers me is when about 2 or 3 posts into a thread on in the Men's room - a woman will post. I understand when a woman wants to start a thread to get a mans point - I have no issue with that. BUT ladies - nothing is going to shut down a thread on here faster then a woman chiming in on male body image or whatever the topic is. Or maybe its just me ... could be I guess.

That butternut squash looks great and I love anything I can top with blue cheese!

Having both your keys and your wallet in your short pockets causes you to moon an entire parking lot..... go ahead look .... you know you what too

I am currently on my 3rd port infection in a little over a year. The first port was replaced - easy additional surgery. I had to wait a month to get a replacement which started to "look" infected so we treated it with IV antibios. I was fine for months and a recent flu has infected the port yet again. I am on IV drugs again and well know next week where we go from here. If you can get it replaced great - its an easy fix

My guess is that this is pretty common. I know it happened to me .. I kept finding myself saying thinks like "When I get to 200lbs, I will be done and then....". Coupled with the fact that I refused to buy myself anything new until I was smaller - so everything was huge and I looked like a clown. Then one day I woke up and said is my life really going to be all that different if I am 200 instead of 210 - no not really. What's the difference between a BMI of 24.5 or 25.5 - again not much considering I had been 42.5. I started to focus less on "getting there" and more on living life. I realized this was my new life and not a vacation with an end - the end is death and there is no reason to rush that. And the really funny part is I blew past what I thought was my goal once I stopped being so crazed

Totally relate to the question, because I asked myself the same thing - before and during. Not sure I have a real answer but here are my thoughts: 1. The liquid diet which I stuck too for 3 weeks was really helpful in breaking my love of white carbs. Why did I stick to this when I had fallen off the diet truck more times then I can count? Well.. I fought with my insurance company to get the band, opened my body up, and had the chance at real change - I wasnt going to risk that for a sandwich. Unlike diet where is is always "Monday". 2. The liquid phase led to real food but I took the time to re- learn what a portion is. Something I am not sure I had ever done on a diet. Not really as a result of the band per se but maybe a side benefit. 3. 1 &2 led to some wieght loss that I could actually see (which was never the case with a diet for me). This encouraged the eating habits and lead to trips to the gym. My biggest battle had always been portions and the band really helped with that. Mentality I gave up the concept of a diet - if I really want a cookie - I have one, but I dont need 40. I try and make the right food choice 95% of the time and thats all we can ask.

I avoided bread early on since Wonder White bread was my crack, but these days I can and do eat bread. Just not in the huge volumes I did pre band.

Once again Juchut is right - cardio, cardio, cardio. The only thing I will add is that cardio on its own didnt kill my "second" belly. For me interval cardio was the key to losing (or at least making it smaller)

Thanks Kartman- yeah this is my 3rd port infection (second with this port) so I know the options which is good that there options. We are fighting the infection. Right now the hardest part honestly is that I haven't been able to work out for 6 days and won't be able to for another 7. And its killing me - which is very funny in some ways (proof that the new me has taken root). I would consider the other surgeries if needed -- not sure they would be the right choice since portion more then anything seems to have been my issue. Going to take it one day at a time, see how well I have re-trained myself and make the needed choice if need be. FAT IS NOT A OPTION.

Check your local travel agent for the pay before you option. But a couple of ideas on things to do: 1. The Nick Hotel was relatively inexpensive (they do offer a family suite which was nice) but the kids get to slimed at the pool and they have crazy contests at the pool. There is an art class where the kids can make stuff which you go out to dinner. Kids had a blast here. We checked in for two days which was the perfect amount of time i think. 2. Depending the age of the kids you should try and do a character Breakfast. This way you make sure they get to see the characters which can be tough in the park - espcially during peak season. 3. Disney has this thing call the Hoop De Doo Revue, which is like a western muscial with a bbq dinner. Again, the kids loved being encouraged to bang the metal plates and stomp thier feet at dinner. Don't shy away from a Disney hotel because of the name. With this economy they are offering some great deals - take advantange if you can.

You have to understand that this isnt a one shot surgery and I am "fixed" kind of thing. There are revisions, complications, appointments to adjust restriction.... point being its a lot of time, money and effort. A doctor is going to tell you that should plan on 50% of your excess weight loss with the band - so for you what is that like 35lbs? I am not sure its worth it for you. That said, and end to the yo-yo dieting might be. You also have to ask why your fat... Do you have portion control issues (I did) or do you eat all day long (I didn't). From what I have seen on here the band seems to work better for folks with portion issues. Also what do you eat? The band isn't going to help you make the right food choice - you will still have to do that on your own. I had never been the thin guy - but I am now thanks in part to my band. 296 with a bmi of 42 to 165 in a little over a year, but not without two additional surgeries. But still the best decision I ever made. Good luck

I love that- it reminds me of those old medic-alert ads with the old lady on the floor. In out case its a guy with chocolate cake on his face BUT on a treadmill. I fallen and I did get up - I love it.

I couldn't agree more but I have to tell you I am now in a state of panic. Like you I was always overweight so its only in the last year that I have found out what normal is. It's strange when people tell me I need a sandwich. I went from 296 to 170 at 5'10. I think I did every right - portion control, balanced meals and work out. BUT here is the problem- a recent bout with the flu has led to me a 3rd port infection and possible band infection (we wont know until next week, but I am having some issue eating I never had). Its only been 15 months, are the lifestyle changes "rooted" enough for me to be band free? I don't want to be fat again. I don't care what it takes at the gym but point is I can completely agree with you.

Everything I know about PS, I learned from watching Nip/Tuck. Which I am sure is not a good thing. I have my first PS consult next week, and I am wondering what questions should I ask of my plastic surgeron and what question should I be prepared to answer?

I think there are a number of folks on this board that would say, yes you would have a hard time. I would make sure if you go this route you have a state side doctor lined up before you go. I had a port infection 3 months after surgery, that required 2 additional surgeries. I dont know what I would have done if I had been 1,000 of miles from my doctor or without a doctor. That said - I would do it again in a minute. Good luck

See.. for me pre band it was a 2am bacon/egg/& cheese on a bagel with a side of cheese fries.... is it any wonder I was 300 pounds!! Pre-band, I could out drink just about anyone. Pre-band it was the one sport I was good at - wait its not a sport???? Anyway, these days much more of a lightweight - which is a good thing.