MissK

Hi Everyone, I've been absent and struggling for some time and need to get back on the wagon; I've just set up a 12 week weight loss challenge on FB for my friend circles, and invite you all to join as well. If you're keen, look me up by searching for email address kelsha@fuzzylogic.net.au and add me as a friend, let me know you want in on the challenge and I'll shoot you an invite. Note the challenge group is SECRET so it is by invitation only, and will not show up on your profiles, so complete privacy is guaranteed. Would be lovely to have some of you on board!

I've accepted all of the requests that came through today and sent invites for the group, let me know if it didn't work :cursing: Also,the dates for the weigh-ins are in Aussie format because... well, I'm an Aussie! Sorry about that, I hope it's not too confusing!

Hi Abby, I was going really well until Christmas and then the wheels just 'fell off'... I had lost about 45lbs, but since then I have regained about 9lbs. I am off to see my surgeon today for the first time since November, part of me feels like I've failed him and myself, part of me feels like he failed me because he let go of my hand WAY too soon (seriously, 4 months since he last saw me? too long!)... either way, I know today's appointment will end in tears because if I'm not the same weight I was when I saw him last, I'm slightly heavier. I too sunk back to the world of fast foods, sodas and lots of alcohol.. things I shouldn't be touching, and I'm really ashamed of myself. All I can say is, we've just got to keep on trying - our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

Curious as to whether anyone else saw the program "Sunday" on Channel 7 tonight, and the story they did which they titled "Fat Chance"? If you didn't, you can view it on their website: meats and the CRAP we shouldn't eat anyway like burgers and pizzas... I don't know about anyone else, but I haven't choked on a fruit or vegetable yet. I had my surgery less than 3 months ago, I started out sitting just under 110kg and I am now just a couple of kilo's off being in the 80's - I can't remember the last time my weight began with an 8 !!! If Channel 7 had of presented a story that showed BOTH the good and the bad, I'd give them some credit, but one-sided reporting is little more than reporting FAIL. Get it together, Channel 7!

Bandit.............wk1..wk2..wk3..wk4..wk5..wk6..wk7..wk8..wk9..wk10.. wk11..wk12..wk13..wk14..wk15..wk16 formerfatchick..262..260..252..244..242.5..240..236..233..233..230 abbypoo..........275..266..263..261.. jennyr1222.......265..263..260..255..249..245..243..240..235 missK...............241..231..228..223..219..217..217..216..215..213.. 212..210..208...206.5... morphiend.........238..229..222 Tripletmomma....327..323..319..312..310..305..307..308..304..297..294. .286..283 Threeboys3.......250...247...243.5..232... Ariscus99..........342...320...317...313 MaggieGT..........264..260..253..252..249..248..252..251..249..246..24 3 MrsPeterson07...219... shouldbeworking.219..209..206..205..205..206..206..206..208 bdbmamaw .......226..218..210..204..201 Cherishthepast...230..216..213..211..208..206..204..202..199..198

Guys, Have any of you found you are more susceptible to falling ill since you have been banded? I hardly ever got ill before the band, but I've been ill several times since - I've had a stomach bug twice, and I've just been sick for the past WEEK with a really bad bout of the flu which included fevers and loss of voice. I am also finding that my hair is really falling out - when I wash it, I need only run my fingers through my hair and a decent wad of hair comes out... it's starting to worry me. I have an appointment for my third fill on Wednesday so will discuss with my surgeon, just curious to see how you people are fairing?

Wow, I'm sorry to hear about your hunger, that must be so frustrating... I am having my third fill on Wednesday, I currently have 4.5ml and I'm hardly ever hungry. I can't imagine how annoying that would be, as hunger drives me mad :wink2:

Bandit...............wk1...wk2...wk3...wk4...wk5...wk6...wk7...wk8...w k9...wk10...wk11...wk12...wk13...wk14...wk15...wk16 formerfatchick....262...260...252...244...242.5...240...236...233...23 3...230 abbypoo............275...266...263...261... jennyr1222........265...263...260...255...249...245...243...240...235 missK................241...231...228...223...219...217...217...216...2 15...213...212...210....208 morphiend..........238...229...222... Tripletmomma.....327...323...319...312...310...305...307...308...304.. .297...294...286 Threeboys3........250...247...243.5..232... Ariscus99...........342...320...317...313 MaggieGT...........264...260...253...252...249...248...252...251...249 MrsPeterson07....219... shouldbeworking..219...209...206...205...205...206...206...206...208 bdbmamaw ........226...218...210...204...201 Cherishthepast....230...216...213...211...208...206...204...202...199

Bandit...............WK1.........wk2........wk3.......wk4.......wk5... ....wk6.......wk7.......wk8.......wk9.......wk10.......wk11.......wk12 formerfatchick....262..........260........252........244.......242.5.. ...240.....236.......233........233........230 abbypoo............275..........266........263........261....... jennyr1222.........265..........263........260........255......249.... .245.....243.....240.......235 missK................241..........231........228........223.......219. ......217..........217...........216.........215.......213.......212...210 morphiend..........238..........229........222........ Tripletmomma.....327..........323........319........312.......310..... ..305......307.........308..........304.......297.......294 Threeboys3........250..........247........243.5.....232....... Ariscus99...........342..........320........317.......313 MaggieGT...........264..........260........253.......252........249... ..254 MrsPeterson07....219.......... shouldbeworking 219...........209.........206........205........205........206.......2 06.......206........208 bdbmamaw 226...........218........210.......204.......201 Cherishthepast.....230........216.........213.......211......208...... 206......204.....202...199 Today marks week 12 for me, and I'm excited and proud to be down 31lbs!

Personal question, I know... but I'm having a serious WTF moment with mine! I'm someone who has ALWAYS had issues in this department, but those issues were that I only had a period about twice a year. Since I've had the operation, in the space of 7 weeks I have had my period FOUR times. Is anyone else experiencing this? I'm over it!

Thanks girls, yes it is great to have the body kicking into some kind of rhythm and I think I'll give it a few months to sort itself out before I rush off to see a gyn about it.... I guess I'm not so much "worried" about it as just wanting to know if anyone else was going through something similar :-)

I lost nothing this week, but I worked out so hard at gym... disappointing.

I've just stepped up the exercise routine and I'm loving it! With my busy life-style in mind, my trainer decided my 'mandatory' gym activities would happen every SECOND day. This means that in a two-week period I must go to the gym on Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun/Tue/Thu/Sat - this seems to be working REALLY well, because if I have something I need to do in the afternoons I *know* which days I can plan it for without feeling guilty. My gym routine consists of: - 5 minutes warm up on elliptical - 2 x 15 chest-presses (22lbs, then 33lbs) - 2 x 15 lat-pulldowns (22lbs, then 33lbs) - 2 x 15 seated rows (22lbs, then 33lbs) - 2 x 15 leg presses (88lbs, then 120lbs) - 2 x 15 swiss-ball crunches - 2 x 30sec hovers - 10 minutes on elliptical - 10 minutes on bike - 20 minutes on treadmill With the cardio, I am consistently keeing my heartrate between 110-130 for maximum fat burning. Sometimes I push myself and spend 30 minutes on the treadmill rather than 20. On the alternate days it really depends on my mood, but at least 4 times during that two week period I hit the pool with a friend for at least an hour - we swim laps, jog the length of the pool, etc. I don't do any classes at the moment, I've never been a fan of them and still aren't keen. My opinion might change when I'm fitter, but for now, I'm very content challenging myself and doing my own thing. I'm loving the endorphines, loving the energy, loving me!

Bandit...............WK1.........wk2........wk3.......wk4.......wk5... ....wk6.......wk7.......wk8.......wk9.......wk10.......wk11.......wk12 formerfatchick....262..........260........252........244.......242.5.. ...240.....236 abbypoo............275..........266........263........261....... jennyr1222.........265..........263........260........255......249.... .245.....243.....240.......235 missK................241..........231........228........223.......219. ......217..........217...........216.........215.......213.......212 morphiend..........238..........229........222........ Tripletmomma.....327..........323........319........312.......310..... ..305......307.........308..........304.......297 Threeboys3........250..........247........243.5.....232....... Ariscus99...........342..........320........317.......313 MaggieGT...........264..........260........253.......252........249... ..254 MrsPeterson07....219.......... shouldbeworking 219...........209........206.......205........205........206........20 6 bdbmamaw 226...........218........210.......204.......201 Cherishthepast.....230........216.........213.......211......208...... 206......204.....202

Bandit...............WK1.........wk2........wk3.......wk4.......wk5... ....wk6.......wk7.......wk8 formerfatchick....262..........260........252........244.......242.5.. ...240.....236 abbypoo............275..........266........263........261....... jennyr1222.........265..........263........260........255......249.... .245.....243.....240.......235 missK................241..........231........228........223.......219. ......217..........217...........216.........215.......213 morphiend..........238..........229........222........ Tripletmomma.....327..........323........319........312.......310..... ..305......307.........308..........304 Threeboys3........250..........247........243.5.....232....... Ariscus99...........342..........320........317.......313 MaggieGT...........264..........260........253.......252........249 MrsPeterson07....219.......... shouldbeworking 219...........209........206.......205........205 bdbmamaw 226...........218........210.......204.......201 Cherishthepast.....230........216.........213.......211......208...... 206......204

Bandit...............WK1.........wk2........wk3.......wk4.......wk5... ....wk6.......wk7.......wk8 formerfatchick....262..........260........252........244.......242.5 abbypoo............275..........266........263........261....... jennyr1222.........265..........263........260........255......249.... .245.....243.....240 missK................241..........231........228........223.......219. ......217..........217...........216.........215 morphiend..........238..........229........222........ Tripletmomma.....327..........323........319........312.......310..... ..305......307 Threeboys3........250..........247........243.5.....232....... Ariscus99...........342..........320........317.......313 MaggieGT...........264..........260........253.......252 MrsPeterson07....219.......... shouldbeworking 219...........209........206.......205

I feel someone comforted to know that I'm not the only person who is a little bit confused about what to eat, how many calories and the like - so I thought it might be a nice idea for us to share what we have been eating to compare and see what is/isn't working out. I am unsure of what calories/protein levels I should be reaching, but I have been tracking this through FitDay and aiming for <1000 calories per day and approx 60 grams of protein - does this sound correct? My surgeon also asked me to only eat three times per day, but I need to talk to him about that as I really feel like I need to eat four times. As I work on a mine site, my day starts at 5am, I have breakfast at 8am, lunch at 12 and I feel like I need something around 4.30pm to tide me over until 7.30pm when I get home from gym - seven and a half hours just seems like a LONG time to go between lunch and dinner. Anyway, below is what I've eaten over the past couple of days and I welcome you to critique it if there is something glaringly wrong: THURSDAY: Kickstart = Instant coffee with skim milk & one sugar / Breakfast = 1 cup of cantaloupe with 1/4 cup low fat greek yoghurt / Lunch = 1/2 cup of apricot chicken and rice / Snack = 2 x multigrain crisp breads with tuna / Dinner = 1 x soft taco with ground beef, lettuce, tomato and low-fat cheese ----- total calorie intake was 922 calories, 62 grams of protein FRIDAY: Kickstart = Instant coffee with skim milk & one sugar / Breakfast = 2 slices of multigrain toast with yeast extract (vegemite) / Lunch = 1/2 cup of taco mince with 1/2 cup of salad / Dinner = 2 small crumbed chicken strips with a small salad ----- total calorie intake was 925 calories, 50 grams of protein

Bandit...............WK1.........wk2........wk3.......wk4.......wk5... ....wk6.......wk7.......wk8 formerfatchick....262..........260........252........244.......242.5 abbypoo............275..........266........263........261....... jennyr1222.........265..........263........260........255......249.... .245.....243 missK................241..........231........228........223.......219. ......217..........217...........216 morphiend..........238..........229........222........ Tripletmomma.....327..........323........319........312.......310..... ..305......307 Threeboys3........250..........247........243.5.....232....... Ariscus99...........342..........320........317.......313 MaggieGT...........264..........260........253.......252 MrsPeterson07....219.......... I need to stay off the booze.

Hi Guys I didn't read the entire thread because I'm about to head off to gym BUT I do want to say that I do not feel like a cheat in any way, shape or form. I had someone suggest to me in an email that this was the easy way out, and my response is pasted below: "I don't think you intended to offend me but unfortunately I found your email offensive simply because you are suggesting that I have taken the 'easy way out' with lapband surgery. Let me assure you that the choice I have made is anything but easy. It took some incredibly strong willpower to remain on a liquid diet for 14 days before my surgery; being my first time EVER in hospital the surgery was in my mind an INCREDIBLY brave step for me; I suffered a lot of pain and discomfort post-operatively and again I was on nothing but liquids for 14 days... that's a whole month without eating a single piece of solid food, could you do it? Perhaps you could, but it wouldn't be easy for you just as it wasn't easy for me. The game isn't over yet, I have some strict eating guidelines to stick by and a LOT of hard work to put in at the gym - if you're thinking the weight will magically fall off, it won't. The band is just a tool to help me, I still have to do all the work... and the work has to be done under te scruitiny of many, as it feels like everyone who knows is now watching my every move. Despite the fact that I was offended by your comments, I am sure you didn't mean to offend me, however, let me say one last thing: I have spent 27 years of my life feeling like an embarassment and feeling like I need to apologise for the way I am; I will never apologise to anyone for making the decision I have made to save my life. I trust you'll understand."

Hi Guys I never drink at home, for me drinking is a social activity and I love it! I have told my surgeon this, and I have no intention of giving it up completely or saving myself until new years. I was banded 26 days ago and in the past week I have had four social functions and have consumed 2 to 3 glasses of wine at each. This is obviously the exception, not the rule, as I won't be drinking THAT MUCH on a weekly basis - but it certainly hasn't killed me. Despite what I drank, I still lost 0.6kg (1.3lbs) as I was always watching what I ate and still exercising. Lapband is a life style, not a life sentence - you have to find a balance and ensure you're still doing things you enjoy in moderation.

I find that when I need to kick-start an exercise routine, having someone to exercise with really helps and makes me feel guilty if I don't do it. Why don't you tell a trusted friend that you are struggling and ask if they will help you, even in the short term, to get started? As for me, I'm 26 days post-op and headed back to gym last week for some swimming; this week I am going to take it up a notch and will be gymming most days for either swimming, treadmill or bike.

Hi There I had a massage 10 days post-op, and again at 18 days post-op as I jacked-up my back pretty badly in hospital. I just made sure I told my massage therapist about the surgery and she ensured she didn't use too much pressure.

I was told that it was due to the water making the food slip through easier.

Hi MoRan I had a sensation a few days out from my banding where it felt like I had a 'lump' in my throat; it was extemely annoying and I couldn't stop fixating on it. It came to the point where I rang my surgeon in a hysterical state and insisted that I needed to see him. His advice was that it is a sensation that some (but not all) people get and that it will generally subside with time; the fact that I was getting liquids down indicated to him that he did not believe there was a physical obtruction and it was potentially caused by some swelling. He asked me if I could be brave and tough it out a little longer to see how it went, I did this and it eventually went away - took about a week. Hang in there, and if you're really worried, call your surgeon - that's why they're earning the big bucks!

Hi Carrie I experienced this several times and I know how you feel, it was just awful - the first time I had it, the onset happened in the middle of a board meeting and I literally had to hold onto the table to stop myself falling off my chair. I wanted to leave the room, so I tried to get up and I made it all of two steps before I collapsed on the floor. I work on a mine site, so this triggered an emergency with our on-site paramedics being called and I was taken to the on-site ER where I was monitored for a few hours before being transported to hospital. All I can say is that yes, it does get better - but it can come and go, so try to carry the medication you were given in your handbag at all times in case you need it.