Gregnlr

Here is what I eat form The Daily Plate. http://www.livestrong.com/thedailyplate/users/myplate/

On Thursday, since I took off Early on Wednesday for my Birthday. The people at work had me a nice German chocolate cake with candles and I had a piece. Well maybe not a piece. I had approx one table spoon, not rounded either. I think they were testing me, in a nice way. They wanted to do something for me and did not know what to do, I skipped lunch since I had that tablespoon and was not hungry anyway.

On Thursday, since I took off Early on Wednesday for my Birthday. The people at work had me a nice German chocolate cake with candles and I had a piece. Well maybe not a piece. I had approx one table spoon, not rounded either. I think they were testing me, in a nice way. They wanted to do something for me and did not know what to do, I skipped lunch since I had that tablespoon and was not hungry anyway.

I have noted before that I am walking 2.5 miles each day a t lunch, or at least the days I am not stuck on calls. Well, this morning I got up and was at the river at 6:30, I walked my route then thought this is not big deal let me double it by going across the Big Dam Bridge, not kidding that is the official name of the walkway that goes across the Arkansas River at Murrey Lock and Dam, so it did it. I walked approx 5 miles it took me 1.5 hours but considering that before I had my LB I was winded just getting to my office, and that was only a little over two months ago. The LB has dramatically changed my life. I also continue to loss weight and will have a official update on Friday of next week following group. Let me also say the reason I had time to walk is now it takes me next to nothing t get things done. I mean I use to spend the weekend on projects that now I can complete on Friday night after I get home from work. No more naps, no more focusing on food. In fact tonight I am going to a party, something I would have avoided before because of my weight.

I have noted before that I am walking 2.5 miles each day a t lunch, or at least the days I am not stuck on calls. Well, this morning I got up and was at the river at 6:30, I walked my route then thought this is not big deal let me double it by going across the Big Dam Bridge, not kidding that is the official name of the walkway that goes across the Arkansas River at Murrey Lock and Dam, so it did it. I walked approx 5 miles it took me 1.5 hours but considering that before I had my LB I was winded just getting to my office, and that was only a little over two months ago. The LB has dramatically changed my life. I also continue to loss weight and will have a official update on Friday of next week following group. Let me also say the reason I had time to walk is now it takes me next to nothing t get things done. I mean I use to spend the weekend on projects that now I can complete on Friday night after I get home from work. No more naps, no more focusing on food. In fact tonight I am going to a party, something I would have avoided before because of my weight.

So I take a half day off work today, but when my Boss arrives, or at lease when she logs into the system in Atlanta, I am in Little Rock. The first thing she does is tell me to wrap it up and go home. She is such a great boss, and no she does not read this or even know I had a LB. So I go to walk the Big Dam Bridge, it is a 2.5 mile walk above the water crossing the Arkansas River, it is awesome. Then I go to the store and buy two filet minon steaks for dinner. Thinking it will be great to have beef, I have only had one other small sample of beef since the LB. I cook them in the oven and start to eat. TWO BITES, YES I SAID TWO BITES and I was full and had to take a papaya emizine just to get it to go down. My friend was all apologetic, but I thought it was great. I thought all day I was going to over eat, I was going to cheat, at least cheat with more protein than I should have had, not a chance the LB worked perfect. So next week when I get my official weight I should be down 60 pounds or at least that is my goal. Happy Birthday

So I take a half day off work today, but when my Boss arrives, or at lease when she logs into the system in Atlanta, I am in Little Rock. The first thing she does is tell me to wrap it up and go home. She is such a great boss, and no she does not read this or even know I had a LB. So I go to walk the Big Dam Bridge, it is a 2.5 mile walk above the water crossing the Arkansas River, it is awesome. Then I go to the store and buy two filet minon steaks for dinner. Thinking it will be great to have beef, I have only had one other small sample of beef since the LB. I cook them in the oven and start to eat. TWO BITES, YES I SAID TWO BITES and I was full and had to take a papaya emizine just to get it to go down. My friend was all apologetic, but I thought it was great. I thought all day I was going to over eat, I was going to cheat, at least cheat with more protein than I should have had, not a chance the LB worked perfect. So next week when I get my official weight I should be down 60 pounds or at least that is my goal. Happy Birthday

Coach that is just awesome, keep leading the charge since you inspire me. I am glad you are adjusting to the band so well. Thanks for your update, Greg

After some previous posting on this thread, I went with Doctor Luttrell. I was banded in Hope on March 16th. He is a wonderful doctor, good at making sure you are set, not he is set. Both him and Erin are very understanding and easy to talk to and I am so glad I went with him. I am down 50 plus pounds, have moved from a 46 to 42 inch waist and feel great. So if you are thinking about who to use, you might want to consider Dr. Luttrell. He has group the last Thursday of the month and I have been to two of them and both time he was there to make sure all questions are answered. Great Doctor and Great Support.

Friday I came home from work and my yard was not done, see I am the last yard of the week. So I am thinking after years of having my yard done, because I was too FAT to do it myself. I figured if I can walk 2.5 miles, I can mow my own yard. So I fired the yard crew and got the mower out and mowed. This may seem like a simple task to many but since I was so FAT I could not do it without it taking me hours since I would have to mow a little and rest a lot, mow a little and rest a lot. When I mowed I edged, fertilized, and killed the bugs while I was out there. I did everything in 2.5 hours on a Friday night after working all day and walking 2.5 miles at lunch. Boy I love the LB. More money saved since I was spending $200 a month for yard care, add this to the $400 I am saving in food and I will take a nice vacation this year.

I had my LB on March 16th so it seems fitting on May 15 to let everyone know, I have gone from a tight 46inch to a comfortable 42inch. I have added my 46's to the garage sale pile along with the belts I can no longer wear. Life is good going down. I am so much more active, I have not had a migraine since LB, I have not even taken any headache medicine, pepcid, rolaids, etc. Maybe the LBer's are contributing to the global recession. less food, less clothes, less everything. Life is good going down.

I was LB'ed two months ago. I have dropped from a tight 46 to a comfortable 42. I have added my old jeans and belts to the garage sale pile. My weight comes off more slowly, but at least it's coming off. I will update my ticker when I get my next official weight. I had my first fill this week, it is no big deal. Keep the faith and keep dropping weight. Thanks to everyone who post, the support is great.

I had my LB on March 16th so it seems fitting on May 15 to let everyone know, I have gone from a tight 46inch to a comfortable 42inch. I have added my 46's to the garage sale pile along with the belts I can no longer wear. Life is good going down. I am so much more active, I have not had a migraine since LB, I have not even taken any headache medicine, pepcid, rolaids, etc. Maybe the LBer's are contributing to the global recession. less food, less clothes, less everything. Life is good going down.

Thanks Tracye, Life is Good going down.

I had my first fill today 8 weeks post-op. 3.4cc in a 10cc band. It was a piece of cake other than laying on the table with the pillow ( I would call it a pain pad) under the small of my back. I did the fill on my lunch hour and most of that was drive time. I pulled up my shirt, Dr. Luttrell, told me he would be pressing, never really had much pressure, maybe since it is easy to feel my port. He wiped something on my port area told me I would feel a pick then some burning that was the deadener for the fill. He got the port on the first try, took out everything if there was anything then had me set up so the Fluoroscope could be used, had to drink some strawberry barium just a sip, he could see as well as I could see it went right through, then he added saline, drank some more which showed it was slowed down he made another adjustment then had me drink water to flush it through. I was good to go. But now I am back on fluids for a week then mushes for a week. The issue with that is I will be on mushes for my birthday.

I had my first fill today 3.4cc in a 10cc band. Back to broth for a week and mushes for a week. Hope everything is going well guys, this has become sorta a norm now. I sure like the weigh coming off...

Cali, you have a valid point, cake might be good in a blender thinned with some ice cream, but I will have to pass this year. The diet after a fill depends and varies by doctor. Some have none, before or after; mine is very cautious so it was broth for dinner tonight, as long as I am not hungry it really does not matter. Hope this helps; and by the way I will look fabulous for my Birthday 50 pounds thinner.

I had my first fill today 8 weeks post-op. 3.4cc in a 10cc band. It was a piece of cake other than laying on the table with the pillow ( I would call it a pain pad) under the small of my back. I did the fill on my lunch hour and most of that was drive time. I pulled up my shirt, Dr. Luttrell, told me he would be pressing, never really had much pressure, maybe since it is easy to feel my port. He wiped something on my port area told me I would feel a pick then some burning that was the deadener for the fill. He got the port on the first try, took out everything if there was anything then had me set up so the Fluoroscope could be used, had to drink some strawberry barium just a sip, he could see as well as I could see it went right through, then he added saline, drank some more which showed it was slowed down he made another adjustment then had me drink water to flush it through. I was good to go. But now I am back on fluids for a week then mushes for a week. The issue with that is I will be on mushes for my birthday.

Thanks Band_Groupie, you are the best support. Greg

Just more of my rants, I turn 52 later this month and by the way I don't look a day over 42 (you will just have to trust me, no pictures). Anyway the other half and I always go to dinner (usually Doe's Eat Place) and a movie for my birthday and I buy myself something nice. The dilemma is if I go to Doe's it won't be the same since I can't order a 5lb Porterhouse and the movie, I have already done that no coke and popcorn just a nice bottle of water. So how do I celebrate my new life, which trust me is better than the old one and I might actually live to the next birthday. My favorite thing to do now is work in the yard and walk... I am open to suggestions.

For those who have read my blog, I have been very proud that I did not have to go through Bandster Hell and have not had a fill and this is post-op+ 8 weeks. Well a couple of nights ago I got very hungry and had to have another protein shake and each day since it has been an issue. I went from eating 700 calories a day to forcing 1000 to keep from getting weak. Now I am around 1500 a day. The only thing that changed is my increased exercise. That might be driving my hunger. But I did not wait, the next morning I picked up the phone and called the Doctor's office and I will get my first fill next Tuesday at 11:15am. That is how it is going to roll, I paid good money or at least the part the insurance did not cover for this band and I plan to use it to it's fullest. If I need a fill, I will get one. Trust me the money I save on food each month will more than pay for my fill. And for those who take satisfaction that I need a fill, I also slimed and PB'ed today because when I am hungry I eat too fast. I may be doing more of that once I get a fill.

For those who have read my blog, I have been very proud that I did not have to go through Bandster Hell and have not had a fill and this is post-op+ 8 weeks. Well a couple of nights ago I got very hungry and had to have another protein shake and each day since it has been an issue. I went from eating 700 calories a day to forcing 1000 to keep from getting weak. Now I am around 1500 a day. The only thing that changed is my increased exercise. That might be driving my hunger. But I did not wait, the next morning I picked up the phone and called the Doctor's office and I will get my first fill next Tuesday at 11:15am. That is how it is going to roll, I paid good money or at least the part the insurance did not cover for this band and I plan to use it to it's fullest. If I need a fill, I will get one. Trust me the money I save on food each month will more than pay for my fill. And for those who take satisfaction that I need a fill, I also slimed and PB'ed today because when I am hungry I eat too fast. I may be doing more of that once I get a fill.

I read a few entries today and want to make sure you have a very clear understanding. LB is not a miracle, you can't continue your bad habits of before and expect to lose weight. If you are getting the LB and think you can set on the couch and eat bonbons all day and then whine bitch and moan because your not losing weight DON"T GET A LAPBAND. You can't drink that beer as one guy complained, or I am still drinking cola as another complained and don't understand why after a year she had lost only 20 pounds. The LB is a lifestyle change not a cosmetic. If you are unwilling to follow your doctors orders for eating and exercise save your money, go on a cruise and stuff yourself at the buffet. The LB for me is a great tool, it gives me more control than I had before, I can eat, sleep, and exercise to become a better and healthier person. Eating, follow your doctors directions, follow the good advise on here ask your nutritionist when you have questions, find what works for you and do it. Exercise, you have to do it, get off your butt, walk, mow the yard, do your honey do list, whatever it takes to stay busy. The more you do the more you feel like doing. It gets better everyday, not easy but better. Sleep: this lets your body recharge, if you are not getting sleep you are not losing weight. Make a plan and stick to it. Last of my rant is don't compare yourself to anyone else on here, what you lose is what you lose based on what you ate, slept and exercised. Sorry I just had to get this off my chest after reading a few post from those who whine bitch and moan and won't get off their butts. Exercise is the hardest thing I do, but I do it. Pushing myself away from the table is hard, but I do it. Making myself go to bed at 8:30 at night so I can get 8 hours sleep is hard but I do it. The reward for this is that I feel better, I look better, I have more energy, I am alive again and I might just live a few more years.

Band_Groupie is correct, no offense to anyone. My blog is my blog, I am more writing to myself than anyone else. And I understand the frustrations that go with this as well s anyone. I went from 12 diet cokes a day, so I really don't have a lot of feelings for the collective who bitch about soda's. I read again today about a person who got a fill and had a coke now has issues and does not understand. I understand the guy who does not feel like a man anymore because he can't have a beer, and feels threatened because he has to have wine or spirits (no really I don't understand him). And thanks Band_Groupie for understanding. And for the person who did not like my Blog, I did not mean to offend you. I am just talking to myself. I guess I need to Twitter these thoughts...