Jade

Jasgot and Tandern, I like edieparks have had incredible success and had the same fears as yourself before I was banded. Asking the questions you are asking is the first step you should make. The answer about caloric intake is to measure yourself on the scale and count your calories. The surgery really helps you with portion control. Eat fresh foods and never step foot into a fastfood place again. I haven't because after eating healthy- the food is absolutely disgusting. If you let yourself- you can walk down any chips/baked goods/ cracker aisle at the supermarket without stopping and feel so proud for it. In addition, you have to look at the surgery as a JOURNEY!! You will try a variety of foods and some will work while others will not. It's different for everyone. I personally try to stay away from Soups and soft foods simply because they don't fill me as if I was eating a small piece of fish, chicken or steak. I never eat sandwiches because bread is something I cannot eat anymore. I have for lunch about a few ounces of shaved turkey (shaved really helps get it down), a slice of diet cheese or salad or cooked veges (whatever I have room for ). My Breakfast consists of a Light n' fit yogurt and a Protein bar. My dinner is usually meat of some sort ( a few ounces) and salad or veges. I drink Soy milk in my coffee and sometimes I will drink Isopure if I feel I am too little on my protein. I mix it up and I excercise because I LOVE to try out things I could never do before. It blows my mind to think I will do an hour of Step aerobics after an hour of Pilates.....Anyway, this like life itself is a journey full of twists and turns. However, never give up, be honest and ENJOY THE RIDE!!! Understand that food is really not that exciting of a thing when you can express yourself and MOVE like you have never done so before. There are so many opportunities before you. Don't waste one more moment of your life obsessing over food. Be "Bigger" than that- Good Luck!

You've got to weigh yourself everyday and choose an excercise program you can commit to so that you are able to measure the needs of your daily caloric intake. It varies so much from person to person. For the first six months, I excercised 3-4 times a week with only hour cardio and taking in 800 calories (no sugars- no carbs!). I lost weight at a rate of 10-12 lbs a month. I am up to 1000 now and have plateued. I excercise 3-4 times a week with an hour cardio (first hour) and then an hour of strength (pilates or lifting barbells). I think it might be from building muscle mass. I can't complain because my hard work as really paid off where I am keeping up with the bypassers. Most importantly, my labs are great and I am in great shape. I was one of the luckier ones where I was constricted right after surgery. My band is on the smaller side and I haven't had to do much adjustment. So whenever I start fizzling- I get a consultation for a fill and my calories will drop back to 800 calories a day. You will have to play around but the scale will be your objective standard. Good Luck!

Hi Boston Newbie, I am from Massachusetts as well and got banded 7/18/2006 at Emerson Hospital. I am 9 months out now and can tell you that you are about to embark on an amazing ride if you follow the rules, but the effort in and enjoy self-discovery. I luckily had supportive people who encouraged the surgery in my life ( as I should being 30 yrs. old, 5'3'' and weighing 274 lbs.) It took a younger PCP to encourage me to do it and boy, am I glad that I did. I have now lost over 100 lbs- a size 12 at 172. My best advice to you is totally sumerse yourself in a healthy lifestyle. If you didn't workout or try to be active and enjoy healthy eating before- do it now. Your friends and family will see that you are changing and changing for the better. And if they don't...... I can guarentee that you will be so happy that you couldn't care less The surgery in my opinion lasts forever because to get down to my type of weightloss and keep it off- you have to work hard, make it a priority, embrace it and fill your life with people who encourage a healthy lifestyle. Roll over those who can't keep up becuase it is Showtime! Keep posting here and good luck to you!