catfish87

Todays ride: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/333613483 Distance: 26.17 mi Time: 1:39:31 Avg Speed: 15.8 mph Elevation Gain: 223 ft Calories: 1,208 C

Great ride TP! Enjoy the vacation.

You're just starting Ryley....so please try and not to get discouraged. I know, easier said than done! This is a time for you to heal, follow your doctors instructions regarding what TYPES of "food" you are supposed to be "eating". Right now, its all on you....your job to follow the guidance given to you as best you can. Learning to take small bites, chew well, etc....all those things they hopefully discussed with you. Nobody's perfect...expect some challenging days/weeks ahead....but just do your best! When you've fully recovered from surgery, your doc will start adjusting your band. And it may take several fills/adjustmenst depending on your surgeons fill routine. Thats when the band starts doing it's job. Providing that level of restriction that will help with that hunger. Best wishes and NEVER, EVER give up!

Exactly as everyone above has said. Most, if not all, of us can diet.....for some period of time. I know I have failed at many diets....therefore the surgery, to control the hunger. If we could follow that magical balance between calories in vs calories burned FOR THE LONG TERM, we wouldn't be here. For me, the adjustments are what control that hunger...and they do a VERY good job of it, once you find the right level for you. Best wishes!

Hey T! Sounds like your doing good and HAPPY!....AWESOME. Its really ok in the long run to do just as you are describing.....You've got a life to live! If you enjoy your glass/bottle of wine OCCASIONALLY, good for you. I know I do! A bottle is somewhere around 650 calories...so if your counting cal's.....more workout will make them disappear easily. I'm working nights this thursday, so I won't make the support meeting, but just wanted to say I am happy to see you doing so well! You got this figured out already......CONGRATS!

Kudos to the parent for instilling in their child/children that there are better choices, and to the child for asking for them!

I use LoseIt! on my android. I like it a lot! I don't use it to limit calories, but it is interesting to track them for me. It keeps track of protein/carbs/fat as well. It also has most "workout exercises" in there. You just add the type of exercise, select the intensity level and time....and it gives you an pretty good estimate of what you burned. It won't/can't be exact without a heart rate monitor, but for free....it does a VERY good job in my opinion.

Much better today...no flats! http://connect.garmi...ivity/333167061 Distance: 26.25 mi Time: 1:35:57 Avg Speed: 16.4 mph Elevation Gain: 187 ft Calories: 1,651 C REO Speedwagon has some good lyrics in this song.....KEEP PUSHIN! I used to be lonely till I learned about livin alone I found other things to keep my mind on And I'm gettin to know myself a little bit better Whoa , I keep pushin on Keep pushin on, yeah Keep pushin, keep pushin, keep pushin, keep pushin on Keep pushin, keep pushin, you know you have got to be so strong Keep pushin, keep pushin, well even if you think your strength is gone Keep pushin on 2nd little ride today... http://connect.garmin.com/activity/333321438 Distance: 15.16 mi Time: 1:20:24 Avg Speed: 11.3 mph Elevation Gain: 33 ft Calories: 599 C

Never fear! It took me about 3 YEARS to get to correct adjustment..( I may be the record holder in that category??? ) You can/will get there, hopefully much sooner than that of course. Just do your best at the dieting UNTIL you do. You don't have to be perfect... If you/we were, we wouldn't have needed this surgery. From my experience, when I got "close", the next small ( .2cc's ) was like someone turned the magic switch. Not hungry for hours and.....sometimes, its all day! Yesterday was like that for me.... I realized I hadn't eaten in 16 hours....and still wasn't "hungry". It's not like that every day for me, but frequently it is now. Best wishes and hang in there. Never, ever give up!

For me, it meant NOT at correct restriction/adjustment. Also, as old habits die hard....it was drinking with meals to flush/push the food through my band to allow me to eat more. I'm not sure I could do that now, even if I tried....at correct adjustment, for me.

Congrats!

I eat fish probably 10 times a week. My favorite Protein by far. Swai, Halibut, Grouper, plain old COD, all are very mild fish IMO...Baked, blackened, even fried every once in a while. If you're out, and have a Long John Silvers in your area, they have a "Hold the Batter" plate with three small pieces of "steamed" cod. VERY mild, VERY good! You can get it with healthy sides...think green Beans, maybe a side salad/slaw, etc for a great choice of a "fast food" meal. I make the same thing at home often. EASY to do...take a couple of pieces of cod loin, cut into about 3" square pieces. Put it in a skillet that has a tight fitting lid. Add about a half of cup of Water, bring temp up untill it steams. 9 minutes later....AWESOME! Add seasoning to your liking. For a change, a GOOD cut of Tuna loin, grilled for a couple of minutes on each side (don't over cook it), can taste like beef. I've actually made it and had people swear they were eating beef

Somtimes the best intentions dont go your way....back to back flats! Guess I should have found and picked out the TINY little stone in my tire yesterday..... Today, forgot my phone, went back to get it, then my bluetooth headset wouldn't work (gotta have tunes!), a mile into the "ride", back tire flats again.....luckily I had stopped and picked up a couple more tubes yesterday after the flat. So, I changed it and came home and cut the grass in 95* temps...hoping this isn't a vision of whats to come with these gatorskins... I didn't have ANY flats with my last set of tires. Tomorrow is a new day! http://connect.garmin.com/activity/332790194 Distance: 1.90 mi Time: 8:11 Avg Speed: 14.0 mph Elevation Gain: 0 ft Calories: 113 C

Congrats! Well done

Welcome to the biking banders forum. I'm glad Terry started this...I enjoy looking at other folks routes/rides/info. Makes me want to visit those places...ummm, maybe not Austin the the heat of the summer! Congrats on your progression of distance/elapsed times over the last month! Thats dedication. 6 days straight this week. Way to go!

Todays brief ride....and MY FIRST FLAT IN OVER 2500 MILES. Not complaining http://connect.garmin.com/activity/332303689 Distance: 14.09 mi Time: 1:02:48 Avg Speed: 13.5 mph Elevation Gain: 218 ft Calories: 426 C

"Buyers Remorse"....it's very common to hear those same emotions/feelings on here shortly after surgery. I asked myself those same questions, almost 4 years and 125 pounds ago.... Kinda like after you make a large investment (maybe a car) in anything. You ask yourself, "did I make the right decision/purchase?" What if I can't afford (do) this? What if it's a lemon ( doesn't work for me )? Could I have just walked to my destination and not needed that new car (surgery)? Maybe its a stickshift and I'll have to learn how to drive it ( adjust to this new life )? Lots of emotions may cross your mind....as they did mine. But then after some period of time, you get used to driving that new car (banded life) and you enjoy it! And wonder why didn't I get me some new wheels ( do this ) sooner! It may not be easy to feel this right now....but you will, just NEVER, EVER GIVE UP on what those goals you have for yourself are. Best wishes.

This morning was one of "those days"....my mind wanted to ride, but my body didn't after a long 12 hour night shift.....and its plenty warm here! Not sure my HRM was reading accurate this morning...felt I was doing more than what it showed...just tired I suppose.

This mornings ride after work: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/331380080 Distance: 17.20 mi Time: 1:06:02 Avg Speed: 15.6 mph Elevation Gain: 27 ft Calories: 760 C

Friday check in June totals: 12 Rides 426.91 miles 27:54 elapsed time 4554 ft. Elevation gain 15.3 mph Average 137 bpm Avg HR 20,771 CALORIES BURNED

Long post….but hell, it’s taken me almost four years! ONEDERLAND, finally! Although it seems to have taken me forever, I’ve arrived. I was banded way back in Sept 09. I struggled to find that green zone, that spot where I wasn’t hungry all the time. I stayed on the diet, eating exactly what I was told to, per all the paperwork given to me by my surgical team. (They are awesome, by the way! ) Then after about a year, my determination dwindled, just as it always did in the past. (hey, I did DIET for a year…not bad for me) I wasn’t feeling any help from the band…..and I knew it, but couldn’t/didn’t do a good enough job of convincing my surgeon of this. We/he thought it was just “I was losing faster than they were adjusting”, “may take me more saline than normal”, etc, etc…all those reasons you hear so often on here. That was back when my fills were done blindly. Then along comes FLUOROSCOPY! First time using it, the problem was easily detected and the corrected asap. For me, and others I hear on here talk about this often… we get discouraged/lose that motivation when it’s not working as fast as we want. Thinking this wasn’t going to work me, I’m a failure, I can’t do this, etc, etc. That was so me! I thought never gonna get to goal…enjoy the 40-50% EWL and move on…I quit going to my doctor for about a year….embarrassed I had actually gained about 20#’s from my lowest. BECAUSE I was eating too much! Not in the green zone….just another diet. Then I had a friend persuade me to get my butt back to the doctor….she had the band too. And she had already been through where I was at, and had succeeded. So I did go back, doctor was VERY encouraging, he said we just need to adjust your band. Still skeptical, but I somehow got my mind back into the mode of maybe this thing really will work….maybe. A couple weeks after that fill….I knew exactly what the green zone was/is for me. And its been great ever since. With my band in a great spot now, I enjoy riding my bike, AKA Stephanie (Steph for short) as my form of “exercise”. She is always ready and willing. Never complains she doesn’t want to. I’ve ridden in the rain (soaking wet!), cold (even snowing), heat (sweating like crazy), etc. Because I enjoy it! She is always ready for MORE! Addictive I say. Once you find something you like….you’ll know what I’m referring to. So if you’re struggling, losing that motivation/determination…..I hope this encourages you to know that others have struggled too. But you can do it! Just never, ever give up! I wish you the best….now its off to ride. Life is good GREAT!

Well..for me, the band restricts the volume I eat. Provided i'm not drinking calories/thin Soups. That was my problem pre banding...i ate too much! Lots of times it was good/ok choices...just way, way too much! It also prevents me from being hungry for much longer periods. For me, the restriction part (amount of food) is a physical feeling. The lack of hunger for longer periods, I suppose thats a function of "restriction", although I don't physically feel my band shortly after eating....it just does it's thing.

Thanks everyone! Today at Busch Stadium in St. Louis......bikers may notice the wrist tan lines! [ATTACH]27266[/ATTACH]