caricap

Confession is good for the soul.. so here goes. I was banded in July of 2009. For the first year I was vigilant. I walked. I ate protein. I drank my water. I hit the gym. My hubby was banded in December 2008, and he has never really worked the band. Yet, during the summer he even started working out and was beginning to move the scale. Then August came and we both went back to grad school. The gym time got less. The time to walk was less. Healthy eating was replaced by drive-thrus. Needless to say, by Thanksgiving I was completely off focus. As my hubby spiraled easily back into out of control eating, I tagged along. So here I am... My sister today had her pre-op visit for the bypass. I made a commitment mentally in the office to get back on the wagon. I even went so far as to try and log on while there (System acting goofy and couldn't). So now back at home and here. This thread is exactly the one I needed to find. Please list me in your prayers friends as I try to get back to the basics as one of you mentioned and indeed finish this!!!

Hi folks! I hope some of you guys are still here... I have definitely hit a plateau time. I am exercising four days hard at the gym and hiking on one other day. Yet, the scale has become still... and yes, I think I've been a bit depressed for the last few weeks and snacking on junk has came back screaming its ugly head off! So I to need to start journaling. Keep in touch all. Best of luck and lots of prayers from KY

Cardio/ strength circuit and zumba last nite.. 2 hours and I was dead!!!! Tonite.. toning session for 45 minute. Zumba 2morrow

Thank You!!! Tonite.. back to the gym... 45 minutes of toning... it's called fitness fun... WHAT A JOKE!! We did abs!!! Let me say that I am the biggest girl in class. Next largest is like 215. Lord, I need to lay down somewhere after that!.. But tomorrow is back to power surge (cardio/strength circuit) then ZUMBA! I LOVE ZUMBA!

Didn't get to class last night.. central air went out. so instead I opted for sauna.... in my living room!! Fixed finally. KY humidity is too much at this time of year. Cleaned house today like a maniac. Pores have to have benifitted from the home-made sauna experience. Sweatin' is sweatin' I suppose. As far as chair ideas.. on the edge and leaning back, you can do leg lifts, leg lifts and then out and back in, bicycles.

Hi folks... hope you guys don't mind me posting... I really need to have some support in my exercise are. Last night, I did a 45 minute session of toning with a trainer at the gym. We focued on using a chair and did abs and arms. WHo knew you could do abs in a chair? Tonight, it's an hour of power surge (i 1/2 minutes cardio followed by 1 1/2 minutes strength for the hour). Then we go straight into an hour of zumba.. pray for me :wub::cursing:

It has been a while since I posted a question or response. I've just been reading all the wonderful and not- so- wonderful happenings of everyone else. But I have come to the point that I need the enlightenment of experienced bandsters. I am nearing my one year mark (July 28th), and I am down 77-80 pounds (depending on which way the wind blows :thumbup:). I did want to have my first 100 pounds gone, but I don't think that is realistic at this point. So here is my question... I am faithfully walking 2 miles everyday. I have added in another 1 on the bike at the gym and at least 45 minutes or so on the weights machines. But I just can't get the scale to budge. At my last appointment (in April) I was 304 and with 9.5ccs in 14cc band. I have good restriction. Do I need more exercises? More Protein? More Water? More prayer? (never mind I know the answer to that one :thumbup:).

Thinking that the carbs could be the issue.. I work at Headstart and we are consistently fed carb rich diets that we are required to eat with the kids. I prolly need to start shuffling the food around and passing on the carbs. My doc has never pushed no carbs/ no fat or any other restriction. he said be sure to eat Protein first then veggies then carbs. i may have gotten lax in that area. I also decided to up my exercise... I enjoy it very much but I also like to enjoy some indulgences (birthday cake). Keep feeding the good advice!

I will be a year out in July... and for me, salads can still be a bit of a chore. I have very good restriction, and the bulkiness can cause me to fill up very fast or not chew enough. I think that if you can get them down and are getting enough protein in other ways ENJOY! Also be careful with boiled eggs.. for me they seem to be so rubbery that they get hung. Best wishes.

me 2.. more reading less writing these days. My surgery was July 28th 2009. So far I am down 62-66 lbs.. depending on how much the scale likes me for the day. 8 more pounds will put me at the big 300. That sounds huge to some, but I haven't seen 300 since 2000. If I can get to that goal, then the next 150 will seem hopeful. Best wishes to all my friends here.

Before Dr. Oz had a hit TV show he was co- author of a book called "You on a Diet". In the book he gave me the best encouragement for those days when I have ate a cupcake a co- worker brought to me or when the idea of a Blizzard overtakes me. He said consider GPS. When you are traveling down a road listening to the GPS and you miss your turn.. you are not bombarded with "You big Dummy! What are you doing! You know that's not right!!" Instead in a very emotionless voice without condemnation or disappointment a monotone voice says" at the next available intersection, make a U turn." When the Blizzard whammies have attacked me or the cupcake goonies are on my back, I calmly say "at the next available intersection, I am making a u- turn." With the lap- band journey from time to time I think we all have missed " our turn" and need to make a You- turn. This is not a Christian link, but it is almost the same kind of mercy and grace that God gives us in life. I have just learned to apply it to the lap- band as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrEZjowZWGo You have got to try this one. It is so silly that you can't help but have fun and do it! Lord knows I am! Apparently, this tune is from the 60's and was part of a nationwide notion to get school kids exercising. Well, this lady has modified it for chair bound folks and th elederly. I also think it works great for me as I have a large BMI and serious knee arthritis. :mad:

Hope you folks don't mind me wanting to join up. I have not got quiet as much zeal as some of you :smile2:, but I do want to get moving and be accountable and encouraged. Best wishes to all.

Hay all I'm complicated like that too!! I had my first fill actually on the 28th exactly one month post- surgery. I had three ccs put in the 14cc band. I too was done under fluoro ... I think cause I got a bit of extra padding :blushing:. Also I was not numbed that I know of.. h may have used a topical wipe but that was all. Going to call to go back next week because I can still eat a small child :ohmy:. Lord help my children not to appear as cornish hens. Best wishes all!

Just some "food" for thought :blushing:... I've read on hear in a few places that when you PB (especially several times ) that your stomach swells much like it does after surgery. Think back to when we first came home and did not want food for a week or two. Well... the statement on here was that after that kind of episode we need to go back on liquids for (get this not til the next bite ) but for a couple of days. I have not yet PBed but my hubbie who is further out has several times as a result of eating like it might be the last food on the planet! Anywho.. thought this might help and also for me after fills my doc says back on soft for two days to let my stomach again calm down. Best wishes friends!

:blushing: Erin... this may be the strangest response you have ever received but here goes.... RELAX and know that the doctor is soon gonna have you all fixed up and then that gorgeous smiling girl in the picture will be enjoying her senior year as a foxy little lady!:biggrin: In the meantime, you will be in my prayers. I will be praying for you to have comfort and peace until you see that doc and that when you do he will know exactly what the prob lem is and fix it quickly!

I was banded on July 28th too. I have not ever added my name and date so there is that done! LOL. I had my 2 week post op last week. All was fine. Got the go ahead to eat regularly. He said theat I should stear away from all carbs (bread especially) and steak. He even said that those were 2 things he told patients to avoid if possible forever. I have absolutely no probs with a slice of wheat bread with my tuna salad though. Hope it will not cause any probs?! Anyway get my first fill on 8/26 and I am a bit nervous (just the idea of the needle and all). My weight loss had stopped and even increased til yesterday when from wed til fri. I dropped 7 pounds. I thought woohoo. Then I started hee hee it was water weight. C'est la vie.

Then in my personal opinion go with Louisville Surgical Assoc. This includes Dr. Schuster, Dr. Lusco, and Dr. Olsafka (sp?). They go thru St. Mary and Elizaeth's hospital. This is a part of the Jewish hospital and therefore, they also do ofice visits at the Shepherdsville office. Check out their website LAP-BAND Good luck and keep us posted on your progres. :drool:

well the perves...hee hee . seeing my boobs was not enough LOL:lol:

Not sure what you mean as far as working with you on it. My hubbie and I have Humana. He had his surgery with Dr. Weiss at Bluegrass Bariatrics. I had mine with Dr. Schuster at St. Mary's and Elizabeth. B/c the insurance required the 6 month we both had to do it even though we had different surgeons. As far as when, where , and outcomes. Just had my 2 week post- op.. all is well and having a fill in 2 weeks. Dr. Schuster is very mild mannered but I think he is great. No matter what he is saying even if it is "I recommend staying away from breads unless toasted" he is smiling and making me feel reassured. My hubbie has had a bit of a rougher time. He has not seen the surgeon since his surgery. Dr. Weiss has nurses that do the fills. His surgery was 2 years ago and he has regained all of his weight. The last time he went for a fill (2 yrs. ago) the nurse told him (he had 5 ccs. in 14cc. band) that if didn't lose some weight on his own they would not fill him anymore. Well w/o restriction for most of us that is impossible and he fell headfirst off the band wagon. Since I had my surgery he has gotten back in touch with Bluegrass BAriatrics and went last week for a fill in there E- town office. The nurse practitioner was very kind filling him to 7 cc in 14cc and requesting him to come back if it is not enough. He (Stephen?) was very understanding. Hopefully now we will become healthy together.:drool: Good luck to all. We are in south central KY (near Glasgow ) if anyone around here wants to talk.

I'm with ya Carrie. They couldva made it an extreme make over! A little off here a little off there! I would have loved coming to with my boobs standing up like they used to instead of laying over like 2 old hound dogs! LOL LOL. OOO an a wax and some lipo too. They would have had to tell me who I was. :drool: As far as the original post. I was naked.. and I asked my nurse to make sure that I was good and asleep before they displayed all my glory.

:drool: Congratulations to you!! I am pretty new on my journey but already am able to be more mobile than ever. I feel the some stares when my hubbie (who is also a big guy) and i walk. You can feel the "what are those fat people doing here?" I keep going back with the same confidence you are talking about! Again congratulations. Hope your new job is blessed!

My mushies also listed mashed potatoes.. which are high in carbs but we are not supposed to be losing but healing right now. Also I can have eggs and refried Beans... so I went and ordered huevos rancheros at our local mexican joint. You get like two eggs fried yet the yolk is runny in delightful rancherero sauce which is like thin spicy salsa and a side of refried beans with extra cheese. I was in heaven. I could only eat about half and the leftovers were great the nest day. Best of luck also with soups. As far as going on I think the problem is that the stomach inside still needs to be calm and less stressed by harder to digest food as we are healing. I am in the same boat as you still next Tuesday. Hang in there we will get through it.:ohmy:

Copied from internet... thought it might shed some light on this topic for you folks.Best of luck to you. Definition of Hematoma Hematoma is a localized collection of blood, usually clotted, in a tissue or organ. Description of Hematoma Hematomas can occur almost anywhere on the body. In minor injuries, the blood is absorbed unless infection develops. Contusions (bruises) and black eyes are familiar forms of hematoma. Less serious types include subungual hematoma (under a fingernail or toenail); hematoma auris (in the tissues of the outer ear, better known as cauliflower ear); and perianal hematoma (under the skin around the anus). Hematomas are almost always present with a fracture. They are especially serious when they occur inside the skull, where they may place local pressure on the brain, notably epidural and subdural hematomas. For contusions (bruises), treatment consists of initially applying ice or cold packs a few times a day, to produce vasoconstriction (a reduction in arterial blood flow) which helps to decrease hemorrhage (bleeding) and edema (swelling). In general, the quicker you apply ice after the injury, the less bleeding will result. If possible, elevate the bruised limb. Blood will leave the area of the wound and there may be less swelling. Resting the limb will also help to prevent further injury. If the area is still painful after about 48 hours, apply gentle heat with warm towels, a hot Water bottle, or a heating pad. The heat is applied for 20 minutes at a time to promote absorption and repair. Since heat causes swelling and increases tissue Fluid, which may impair function, hot compresses may be followed by cold applications to minimize the secondary effects of heat. Pressure in the form of an elastic adhesive bandage may be helpful to reduce hemorrhage and swelling. If infection should develop in the wound, the signs and symptoms might be increasingly severe pain, a fever of 101 degrees or more, swelling with surrounding redness, and pus. If any of these signs appear, your physician should be notified to make sure there are no additional problems.

Just offering advise my surgeon gave me... in no way do I recommend doing anything without your surgeon's okay. I was told to use gas-x strips.They dissolve on your tongue like listerine strips. I used cinnamon and they were not bad. I am a week out and most of the gas is gone. Occassionally I still think "man I need to toot!" All else is goning well. I am on mushies and they will so much make you think you are eating that you will be in heaven. Take care. Hope this helps.