TracyW2

Hello from another Illinois bandee!

I know someone doing it. I dont know much about it, but she said she was only eating 500 calories a day. That is in no way healthy!

Congrats! I got my band when I was 29 too. Actually 2 months shy of turning 30. And I have to say my thirties have been AWESOME!!

I have some before and after pics on my profile!

I had surgery on a Thursday and was back to work as a home daycare on Monday.

Thank you!

It is definitely a learning process! I'm 2 1/2 years out and still learning and adjusting to my new lifestyle.

I will have days where I am tight and can hardly get anything in. Then I will have days where I can eat anything I want. There doesnt seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. I have just learned to live with it

Carbs are good about a hour before working out. Gives you the energy you need to really put your all into it. But then again I have read doing cardio on and empty stomach is good that way you are going right into fat burning. If you are doing weights, its good to have carbs before.

I was told you really only need to get a bit unfilled if you are on the tight side.

My favortie has constantly changed as my body has changed. I use to love the elliptical, then it was the arc. Now I do very little cardio and focus on weight lifting. It is my new passion!

I'm having my surgery done here where I live. Looking back, I did lose it fast. Plus I got pregnant 4 months post op and had to take a year off from losing while I gained a baby. Good luck to you on Thursday!

My head still hasnt caught up. I know it frustrates the crap out of my friends when I talk about being fat. I just dont see what they see.

I save a lot as far as going out to eat. We would go out probably once a week and now it is once a month. As far as groceries, I dont think that has changed much. Healthy fresh stuff can be expensive. Plus Im still buying all the regular stuff for my family. Granted I am not buying as much of it now.

You are human and it happens. I had more than a few drinks a couple months out. Just remember it is empty calories and lots of sugar.

Thank you. I plan on picking up some vit e this week so i will have it ready. Karen thank you so much for posting your pics. Seeing them is making me even more excited for my surgery. I jump between 165 and 170 lost and my stomach looks a lot like yours. I have been maintaining for over 6 months. I have surgery on Friday the 10th and my husband will be with me until he goes back to work on Monday the 20th. How much help did you need at about 1 1/2 weeks out? I have 3 young kids and will have to get 2 of them off to school that Monday. Again my biggest concern is when i will finally be able to get back into the gym. Did I mention I was a gym rat yet? LOL Thank you both for your help. It is so nice to talk to others whom have had this done!

Karen, that is amazing. I am so happy to see your before and after pics esp with my surgery coming up shortly. THank you for posting!

For me, my band has been worth it. Worth every stuck episode and worth every type of food that I am no longer able to eat. I would do it all again! I believe I never would have been able to lose the weight with out this wonderful tool. I am so thankful for my husband supporting me through it and encouraging me!! Best of luck to you. And good for you for taking back your life. I wish I would have done it while I was a bit younger!

Thanks for the tip about the Vit E. Do you take extra in pill form or just the lotion? So even at over 6 weeks post op, you still arent quite feeling yourself? My biggest worry is when I will finally be able to get back in the gym. I have been warned about that first week and pain. How long did you take off from work? I am super pumped about my surgery, but then of course scared and nervous. I typically bounce back pretty quickly after surgery and have a feeling I am expecting to bounce back a lot sooner than what I'm going to.

Sorry to hijack...But I am having a TT on Friday. Do you have any advice to offer?

I am a memeber at out local Y. I started out by just using the elliptical, then added weight machines with it. Now I mainly lift weights with a little cardio thrown in at the end. I am now maintaining weight loss and toning.

Congrats! I got pregnant 4 months post op and everything was fine!

Happy Birthday and a huge congrats!! Just think of what you will look like for your bday next year!!

I have greek yogurt just about every day. And I have a protein shake every morning for breakfast and a Casein protein shake every night before bed. I dont do much soup.

Do not stop lifting!!! You are building lean muscle and that is going to burn more calories while you are resting. I have been heavy lifting since January and love it. Woman can not 'bulk up' unless you are taking steroids or testosterone. It physically can not be done. The muscle weighs more than fat is actually just a myth. A pound of fat is going to still weight the same as a pound of muscle. It is just that muscle is a lot more dense than fat. Fat is going to take up about 3 times the amount of space that the same pound of muscle does.