ericsmom

I would do it again in a heartbeat - and I've even been advocating a few friends who have been discussing gastric bypass...telling them the benefits of getting the band instead. I can tell already that this will be life changing for me and I can't wait for it to REALLY get going!!

Baylor Mom, Glad to hear your band is okay, but sorry to hear there are still problems. Keep us posted...

I feel like I can eat pretty much anything right now - I go for my first fill on August 17th. I don't know how much they tend to start with at my clinic, but I'll find out.

I was banded July 5th and I'm down 33 lbs since I started my 2 weeks pre-op liquids on June 21st. I eat this typically: Breakfast - Slim Fast Shake blended with ice and added chocolate protein powder. Lunch - 1 cup cottage cheese and a snack container of peaches snack - SF Jell-O pudding or 2 pieces of string cheese Supper - 4 oz protein - (i.e., chicken, steak, roast, hamburger, cottage cheese) snack - SF Jell-O pudding or a SF shake I know I need to drink more water - I'm trying - and I've started riding my recumbant bike 4 times a week. I'm weighing every Wednesday for the gone for good club and my surgery was also on a Wednesday, so I weigh by the week after the surgery. This weekend I went out of town and we ate out three times - the first time the girls I was with picked Arbys, so I had a hot ham & cheese and didn't eat the bun. Then we ate at Olive Garden and I ordered the Parmesan Crusted Talapia fish and ate one piece of zucchini. Then the third time I ordered a mushroom and swiss burger without the bun. Otherwise I ate cottage cheese, and some rotisserie chicken I had brought along for protein. I use FitDay.com to record my intake and activity.

I wouldn't refer to what I am experiencing as "difficulties", but I have to ride a recumbant bike because I have arthritis in my knees so bad. Every time I pedal, my thighs push my stomach up, alternating from side to side. When the side with my port is pushed up, my port and it's lead to the band feel kind of weird...it's hard to describe. There is no pain, just kind of a vibrating, if that makes any sense. I just try to ignore it and do my 30 minutes at least 4 times a week.

Sometimes when I bend over I can feel my port, but I don't necessarily feel pain. I do, however feel it doing weird things when I ride my stationary recumbant bike because my stomach moves up and down with the motion of my thighs hitting it. It's very strange...

Just wanted to chime in and wish you good luck with your liquid phase. It's great that your "journaling" how you feel, too. Keep up the good work!

I just remembered I saw on someone's signature line that said something like "Losing 100 lbs is losing 10 lbs ten times." So even 10 lb increments is a great way to think about it.

Congratulations on the NSV!! You should be very happy and proud of yourself! Way to go!

I am a Secretary for a middle school principal...there are three assistant principals and one that oversees the entire building. I am secretary to one of the assistants. Last school year was my first year at the job. In 27 days I go back to work to begin my second year. I hope to retire from the school district someday. Before that I worked as the Clerical Coordinator at the main office of a non-profit organization that serves people with developmentally disabled people. My boss drove me to have to see a therapist, so my new job was a God-send. I volunteered in the school district for 14 years, so I knew it would be a good fit. Before that I owned my own home-based business typing for procrastinating college students (this was before everyone owned their own computer or lap top) and wrote resumes and cover letters and helped people with job search. This enabled me to stay at home with my son when he was younger.

I do feel those feelings of hunger - like clock work. When I wake up I have a protein shake...by 11 I'm having cottage cheese and peaches...at 3:30 I'm wanting a cup of pudding, at 7 or so we have dinner, and by 10:00, if I'm not sleeping yet, I need another pudding. I try very hard not to have anything until I feel the hunger. I'm hoping to move up my fill date because I feel like I can eat too much.

I've only had one time that I was adversely affected by smells since my July 5th surgery and it was when I was re-heating beef tips and gravy on top of mashed potatoes for my husband. That was about a week after my surgery. Otherwise, I've been okay - I've noticed things smell a lot stronger though.

My fill is scheduled for Aug. 17th, but I feel like I can eat too much. The doctor said to call if I thought that was the case as it wasn't written in stone that I had to wait the 6 weeks. I think I'm going to call tomorrow and make an appt. for early next week. I hope he'll let me do it.

H 337/ S 322.5/ C 304 (-33 lbs total, -4.2 this week (AGAIN!)) BMI at surgery 55.4 and currently 52.2! ~Gone for Good Club August Challenge Score Card~ Points earned for Rule 1 For each day that you drink a minimum of 64oz of Water, you earn 1 point. You may earn a bonus of 5 points for a perfect month. Week 1: 8-02__1__8-03_____8-04_____8-05_____8-06_____8-07_____8-08_____8-09_____Week's Total_____ Week 2: 8-10_____8-11_____8-12_____8-13_____8-14_____8-15_____8-16_____Week's Total_____ Week 3: 8-17_____8-18_____8-19_____8-20_____8-21_____8-22_____8-23_____Week's Total_____ Week 4: 8-24_____8-25_____8-26_____8-27_____8-28_____8-29_____8-30_____Week's Total____ Bonus earned_____Grand Total_______ Points earned for Rule 2 For each increment of 30 minutes that you exercise this week, you earn 1 point. Week 1: 8-02_1__8-03___8-04___8-05___8-06___8-07___8-08___8-09___ Week's Total___ Week 2: 8-10___8-11___8-12___8-13___8-14___8-15___8-16___ Week's Total:___ Week 3: 8-17___8-18___8-19___8-20___8-21___8-22___8-23___ Week's Total:___ Week 4: 8-24___8-25___8-26___8-27___8-28___8-29___8-30___ Week's Total:___ Grand Total:___ Points earned for decrease in BMI For each .1 increment your BMI decreases you earn 1 point Starting BMI 52.2(at the start of the challenge) BMI Week 1____ BMI Week 2____ BMI Week 3____ BMI Week 4____ Total decrease in BMI for August___ Points earned for Weight loss For each pound that you lose during the challenge, you earn 1 point Beginning weight 8-02: 304 Weigh-in weight 8-09: Weigh-in weight 8-16: Weigh-in weight 8-23: Weigh-in weight 8-30: Total lost during challenge: Total points earned for Rule 1: Total points earned for Rule 2: Total points earned for weight loss: Total Challenge points earned:_____

Wow! 30 days post-op of liquids!! I've never heard of that. More power to you, though! Regarding how much protein...my doc told me for my height of 5' 4" I should aim for At LEAST 60 grams per day, and more if I can. I can tell I need a fill as I could eat anything I want, but choose not to. I go August 17th. I wish it were tomorrow, but I'm still losing at a steady 4lbs per week, so I'll wait it out until the 17th.

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="98%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=55> From the Super Size me Web Site: </TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=5 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>These facts? Uh, Not So Fun.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt width="4%"></TD><TD class=bodytxt width="96%">Each day, 1 in 4 Americans visits a fast food restaurant</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>In 1972, we spent 3 billion a year on fast food - today we spend more than 110 billion</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>McDonald's feeds more than 46 million people a day - more than the entire population of Spain</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>French fries are the most eaten vegetable in America</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>You would have to walk for seven hours straight to burn off a Super Sized Coke, fry and Big Mac</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>In the U.S., we eat more than 1,000,000 animals an hour</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>60 % of all Americans are either overweight or obese</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>One in every three children born in the year 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>Left unabated, obesity will surpass smoking as the leading cause of preventable death in America</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>Obesity has been linked to: Hypertension, Coronary Heart Disease, Adult Onset Diabetes, Stroke, Gall Bladder Disease, Osteoarthritis, Sleep Apnea, Respiratory Problems, Endometrial, Breast, Prostate and Colon Cancers, Dyslipidemia, steatohepatitis, insulin resistance, breathlessness, Asthma, Hyperuricaemia, reproductive hormone abnormalities, polycystic ovarian syndrome, impaired fertility and lower back pain</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>The average child sees 10,000 TV advertisements per year</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>Only seven items on McDonald's entire menu contain no sugar</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>Willard Scott was the first Ronald McDonald - he was fired for being too fat</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>McDonald's distributes more toys per year than Toys-R-Us</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>Diabetes will cut 17-27 years off your life</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>McDonald's: "Any processing our foods undergo make them more dangerous than unprocessed foods"</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>The World Health Organization has declared obesity a global epidemic</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>Eating fast food may be dangerous to your health</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>McDonald's calls people who eat a lot of their food "Heavy Users"</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>McDonald's operates more than 30,000 restaurants in more then 100 countries on 6 continents</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>Before most children can speak they can recognize McDonald's</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>Surgeon General David Satcher: "Fast food is a major contributor to the obesity epidemic"</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>Most nutritionists recommend not eating fast food more than once a month</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>40% of American meals are eaten outside the home</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytxt></TD><TD class=bodytxt>McDonald's represents 43% of total U.S. fast food market</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Supersize Me is a documentary about a man who at nothing but McDonalds for 30 days - breakfast, lunch and dinner. If he was asked if he wanted to supersize his meal, he had to, but didn't if they didn't ask. He was monitored by a physician who checked his blood and cholesterol among other things. His liver started to show damage before the month was even up and he was strongly advised to stop the experiment on more than one occasion. http://www.supersizeme.com/home.aspx?page=aboutmovie Here is a link to their web site...it really changes your whole perspective on fast food after watching it.

My DS and DH won't eat at a fast food burger joint of any sort since watching Super Size Me! I saw it too, and haven't had a burger since. It took me a bit longer to give up the fries and Fillet of Fish, though. That movie was a real eye opener!

I'm another one here to say "go for it"! I'm 39 and my pre-surgery weight was 337 and my surgery weight was 322.5. I've lost 31.6 pounds since June 21st when I started my liquid and 17.1 since my July 5th surgery. I would do it again in a heart beat! Finding this message board has been a blessing as well. Anything you need to know, you'll find it here. Good luck to you!

You're so funny!! I am going to totally regret posting that my doctor and I agreed I must be the "poster child" for this procedure because I hadn't any problems. Now if I do, I'll be hesitant to share! I don't profess to be perfect...I was just so happy that I didn't have pain, gas pains, or any other issues... Thank you for your kind words

Thanks so much girls. Your words of encouragement mean a lot. You have a very good point...it didn't come on in a day and it's going to take a while to come off. I am so happy with how it's going so far. I'll definitely use it for one of my before pictures! I just love how you "get it" and understand exactly where I'm coming from. That's the beauty of this board

I think FitDay.com is a wonderful tool...I use it daily. Also, regarding your knees...I have bilateral degenerative osteoarthritis in both of my knees and I'm bone on bone in my right knee. I need a new one. The exercise I've found that I can do is riding a recumbant exercise bike. Yes, I'm uncomfortable for a while after I ride, but it gets me moving. I get cortisone shots in my knees, but it only lasts about a month and then I have to stick it out for another month and a half before I can get more shots and even that's too frequent. But we do what we have to so I can have some quality of life. I also take Naproxen, which is a stronger pain med for my arthritis. It's hard when you're in pain, but I have to think of the end result. You're beautiful! You can do this

I've been reading books by Geneen Roth - Overcoming Compulsive Eating, food is Love, Feeding the Hungry Heart, and a few others. It's amazing how the things she says are right on. Not only am I learning, it's giving me something else to do Good luck to you in your journey...

I had a shot of reality today - went on a road trip to meet up with some girls I've gotten to "know" on a scrapbooking web site. I'm down 31.6 lbs as of last Wednesday, but when I got stuck in the front for a group picture, and they posted it for everyone to see tonight, there I was smack in the front and looking so big! I felt so good, too! I notice in the mirror that my face is thining, and my clothes are feeling a bit different, but to see me sitting there was so depressing, like I'm not getting anywhere... That was pretty hard to see - they know I had the surgery and how I'm doing, but they've never seen me before in person. Their shock was that my hair was highlighted with blonde streaks and in my avatar (the same one I use here) I have my natural brown hair. In that avatar I am about 30 lbs less than I am now, so it's a mini goal to look like that again. Anyway, I'm going to keep on keepin' on and hope that someday I won't cringe when I see a picture of me!

I went to an outdoor concert at our local fair (The Little River Band!!!!!) and sitting for three hours with no back support I would slouch and sit up and then slouch and sit up...so when I was sleeping last night, boy was my port area sore. I can usually roll over onto my port side in the middle of the night, but that wasn't happening last night! I'm better today, but it caught me by surprise that it was irritated.