willowcat
-
Content Count
896 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Everything posted by willowcat
-
Jenai, I have the 10 cc Lapband. I currently have 5 cc in my band--just two fills. The second one made a big difference for me too. I have three meals a day with a snack at 10:00 am and again at 9:00 pm. I usually have 8 oz of milk, a LF cheese stick, or a SF pudding for my snacks. Sometimes I have plain almonds. I try to keep the two snacks under 100 calories, low in fat, and sugar free. Keep up the good work Jenai! Glad you're on board here! How tall are you? I'm 5'2". Willow
-
Yeah! Another early exerciser! Deb and Smile, it really helps my get-up-and-go so early in the morning to know that there are two other people getting up so early to exercise! I know I'm not alone--and there's no reason for a pity party!
-
Very interesting. Thanks for posting the link. The author's main point is that people generally overestimate the amount of calories that exercise burns off, and they drastically underestimate the number of calories in the food that they eat. People who reward themselves with food for their hard work-out usually cancel out any caloric deficite they had earned from the exercise. So the article's title is misleading (of course that's to get you to read it!). Excercise is good for you, but it alone won't make you lose weight. Personally, though, I don't think diet alone will make you lose weight. It's diet and exercise. Here's the author's last paragraph: "In short, it's what you eat, not how hard you try to work it off, that matters more in losing weight. You should exercise to improve your health, but be warned: fiery spurts of vigorous exercise could lead to weight gain."
-
Question about Zoloft and weight loss?
willowcat replied to juliansmom2003's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Yes, it could be depression. See your doctor (general practioner) about it. There are many different anti-depressants out there now. Doctors know to try different ones if one of them doesn't work. Also, the dose you're on needs to be high enough for you (everybody's body is different). Zoloft doesn't reach full effectiveness until 4-6 weeks so you have to stay in touch with your doctor. For me, zoloft works extremely well (for me it truly is like a "miracle pill"). I will never stop taking zoloft--without it I probably wouldn't even be alive today. See your doctor. Untreated depression makes life unbearable and there's no reason to live like that now that there are effective treatments. You may also want to look into therapy. Depression is most successfully treated with a combination of medication and therapy--you want recovery not just relief. Good luck. -
I totally get not telling people. Only 3 people know I've had surgery. It really isn't anybody's business anyway. I love this site because I've learned SO MUCH about the band and the process. I can't imagine having had this surgery without the support from this site! It really is a godsend!
-
When I was little and we would eat at a smorgasboard (yesteryear's "all-you-can-eat"), my mother would always tell me to be careful that my eyes didn't get bigger than my stomach--meaning don't take more food than you can eat. My eyes are bigger than my stomach now! I'm a great cook and I love the food I make (even the lean, low-fat, "healthy" food). I have decent restriction with my second fill so far--yeah for that! BUT I always want to eat more than my new stomach can hold--it tastes so good! I'm not "head hungry" when I eat; I eat when I'm physically hungry. Funny thing is though, that I probably end up eating less than I could if I slowed down and took smaller bites--because I get "too-full-not-another-bite" really fast! How long before your mind catches up with your new stomach? Does it ever? Or are you always left wanting just a little bit more?
-
Question about Zoloft and weight loss?
willowcat replied to juliansmom2003's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I currently take 200 mg (yes, 200, not 20) of zoloft--and have for about 10 years. I'd probably be even fatter if I didn't take zoloft-- because I overate to calm myself and to lift my spirits. I've never had any health-care professional say anything about my weight-loss efforts being harder because of the zoloft. Zoloft removes my depression so that I can find the energy to carry on with the business of living. Good luck. -
Teachers go back a week from tomorrow; students start on the Monday after (August 17). I'm very bad during the summer and stay up to the wee hours of the night--followed by getting up very late and even napping in the middle of the day! So right now I'm trying to set my body clock back to "REALITY." I've been getting up at 5:00 am since Sunday--I'm very tired. It's good to see you so active with the June Journeys group!
-
Hi! My second fill brought me much-needed restriction! All's going well. I saw my general practioner a few weeks ago and he said that I can quit taking the Metformin and the Actos that I was taking! Yeah! I like your new profile picture/avatar--you're very pretty. Hope all is well with you!
-
Originally Posted by 2911plans Did any of you tell your co workers about your WLS? I told only 3 people at work. I do not want everyone always asking how much weight have I lost or commenting about my weight in general. What are your thoughts on this subject? I've told only one co-worker, my husband, and my mother (and I almost didn't even tell her!). Everyone else doesn't need to know--they just want to satisfy their curiousity anyway. I consider my weight to be a private matter. Just because you can see my problem doesn't make it your business. I would possibly tell someone if they were really looking for answers for their own life-long struggle with obesity and dieting, but even then it would have to be someone that I trust not to gossip. I've had as many bad experiences with people looking over my shoulder as I've had diets--I am so done with that!
-
I SO want to eat MORE!
willowcat replied to willowcat's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Thanks for your replies. It's good to know that the desire to eat more fades with time. Restless, I ended up cutting my food into little bites before I even sat down to eat--I felt downright dainty, too! That way I couldn't take big bites and try to convince myself that I was chewing enough when I really wasn't. Greytz, I used a small salad plate (learned that in WW a long time ago--but one tends to forget) and it made my meal look like plenty. I slowed way down--taking those dainty little bites--and I reached a point of satiety before the "I can't be full! I want to eat more food!" thoughts even had a chance to kick in. Babekopp, don't worry that you can eat more than you thought you would after surgery--it happens to everyone until they get their fills. The best advice I read on here said that the first 6 weeks after surgery are for healing--not losing. Stay off the scale but be vigilant about the food choices you do make. Everyone says this is a marathon and not a sprint. Thanks again, everyone, for your input--much appreciated! -
Way to go with the inches 2911! Wonderful!!!
-
Rewards: Things You've Gotten Yourself and/or Are Working Toward
willowcat replied to doodleallday's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Well, since I'm not in my 20s either, I'm saving my money just in case I need plastic surgery on my arms, stomach, or elsewhere! 46 year-old skin may not snap back the way I'd like it to--if it does, then who knows what I'll do with all that saved money?! Guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Fun thread! -
I'm pear-shaped and even at my highest I never had much fat at all on my upper stomach. I'm almost 2 months post-op and I can easily feel my port--but then again so can my doctor. Fills have been nothing but a breeze. I fully expect that after I lose 150 lbs. (please, please, please!) that my port will be visible. But I don't care. It will be a small price to pay for a healthy-sized body. Besides no one will see it except my husband anyway--and he's seen me at my highest weight so there are few surprises left.
-
Does everyone get numbed for a fill?
willowcat replied to pickles123's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I get numbed first. -
2911, Since August started on a Saturday, are we checking in on Fridays or Saturdays to declare our miles? Declaring my miles keeps me accountable--even if no one else knows how many miles I "should" have done for the week (I know--and putting it in print makes it offcial to me).
-
Debbie, Welcome! I'm a teacher too. I love my job, but my little guys also take all of my energy. I'm wiped out when I get home. So just like you, I've decided that I have to "pay myself first" and exercise first thing in the morning--otherwise it just won't happen. But I am so much NOT a morning person that this is going to be a major life change for me. I figure that in order to get to school by 8:00 am, if I'm going to get 30 minutes of exercise in and also a shower, then I have to get up at 5:00 am. I'm trying to get my body back on school time. Did you know that it's still dark at 5:00 am--even in the summer?! That tells you how often I'm up at 5:00 am! LOL! I'm sure hoping that carrying around less weight at work helps with my energy level. And I'm also hoping that the daily work-outs will help with my overall stress levels. So, I'll be thinking about you, Debbie, when I'm up and riding my exercise bike--it'll be good to know that I've got company! :thumbdown: Glad you're joining us. Willowcat
-
Janai, You're a "numbers" person! :thumbdown: Looks good! Thanks for doing that! While I'm not a "numbers" person, I appreciate a good chart or graph because I'm so visual. Plus, this makes it feel "official" that I really did work hard to meet my goal, and I did it! Thanks again! PS. I logged my miles on an exercise bike.
-
2911, Let;s just start a new thread for August. Also, I think I'll feel more goal-oriented if it's only for August rather than August--December. When August is over, we can just start a new thread for September and so on. This is going to be a challenging month for me as I work to mesh the summer me with the back-to-school me. But we can do it!
-
Finished! Hello August!
-
I finally caught up from my missed day last week! I've got just 6 more miles to go (tomorrow's regular miles), and then I'll have achieved my goal!! Yeah! I'm ready for August--no more missing days though!
-
Barbara, I still really like Dr. Fisher. He's very easy-going but professional. I've had nothing but a positive experience. My insurer is Kaiser. They only pay 50%. Dr. Fisher's fee was a flat fee (sorry but I don't remember how much) and all fills and unfills are "free" for the first year. The bariatric team he is with is a "Center of Excellence." Kaiser would not pay anything for anyone except a member of the team. Good luck! Do you live in Colorado Springs? It's very convenient to have the surgery and your after-care in the same town in which you live. Stay in touch.
-
2911, I saw from your profile that you were banded on May 28, 2009--just 7 days before I was banded (June 4, 2009). I love your positive attitude toward going back to work--I love my job and am always excited to be back teaching. I don't have problems with the amount of food I eat when I'm teaching; I have problems with being exhausted and eating "easy" food when I come home; I also have problems with exercising--never do it because I'm too tired after work. I routinely work 10 hour days. My goal is to wake up, get on my exercise bike, ride my 6 miles, eat Breakfast, shower and get ready for work--I'm going to "pay myself first." Any exercise I do after work is "bonus" exercise then. That's the plan. Teachers go back August 12th and students August 17th. Thanks for the Gerber plate idea--I'm on my second fill and have had a few PBs because I've eaten too fast and my eyes are always bigger than my stomach!
-
2911, I've never been anyone's "hero" before--wow! I'm honored! Actually, Janai talked about looking at August's calendar and figuring out how many miles she would have to do each day based on the number of days she'll be able to work out--and she's not going to change her August challenge miles either! I'm pretty sure I got the idea to make up missed days from her--thanks, Janai! :thumbup: You must be a teacher 2911--me too! I teach 2nd grade. I got my band in early June and started exercising daily as soon as I could. Honestly, I'm terrified of going back to work, because I'm a workaholic and I lead a very unbalanced life during the school year. I'm terrified that I'll slip back into my old habits--food and exercise-wise! I'm getting my inspiration from you, 2911, to keep the bar just as high for myself next month as it has been this month! I really want a new life--even when I'm working. Thanks for the celebration ideas--all non-food! :biggrin: I'm thinking I might indulge in a new pedicure to celebrate 180 miles biked in July! AND CONGRATULATIONS ON SURPASSING YOUR GOAL--and the month isn't even over yet!!! WAY TO GO!!! :thumbup: