123crod

Please be careful it is not the DRs. to be scared of . . . but the Cartels down there. Just stay alert all the time and try to stay with other people if you can, No wandering around at night by yourself. Good Luck and be safe!! Cheri

I was banded in July 2009 was 251 lbs on the day of surgery. I am now at 167 lbs and would like to get at least 15 more pounds off. I am 5'4 and wearing a size 10 but still do not like my body's shape yet. It is like pulling teeth to get those pounds off. I have a total gym and work out every night at least an hour. I eat good 99% of the time, Water I am a hit and miss on some days I drink it all some days and some I can't make myself do it. Anyone have some tips for the last 15 lbs. By weight charts I should be even smaller than the 150 lbs I want to be but I do not see it ever happening. I get no help from my Dr as he says I far surpassed what the surgery promises Any tips?? Cheri

Great posts Spartan! Thanks for taking time to give me your advice. I do my work out on the total gym so it is not cardio. I do workout every night about 1 to 1½ hours but it is all on the total gym not cardio. I have some DVD's that I am going to get started on this week. They are all cardio, I think that will help me greatly. I do not drink milk my Surgeon recommended that I stayed away from it, no problem as I do not like it anyway. I do eat Carbwise yogurt though. My downfall is vegetables I can barely stand any of them except the ones that are not good for you.. I have thought about getting a juicer and eat my protien and drink my veggies and they would be fresh that way. Would that work? I am not worried about hunger as I lost my hunger months ago except head hunger at night. I know I do not need a fill as I had to have a small unfill several month ago after being too tight for about 6 month. It did not change much except all of my food stays down now. I am going to really try to add more veggies and do some cardio and I may have my answer. I do not drink any alcohol nor have I for about 25 years. I also try to stay away from cheese and nuts. I know everyone eats them but my surgeon told me not to as they will hinder weightloss in some people and I do not miss those 2 things. Thanks so much for you help. I will let you know when those pounds start dropping. I think the cardio is really going to work. Such a simple answer! Cheri

Congratulations to you!! You have done so great! I hope your really enjoy everyday of your life. I agree with you about the medications, some can cause weight gain or slower weight lose people should be aware of that. Great job!!! Cheri

I love to mess with the waiters when out to eat I never order Water and they spend the whole time trying to figure out why are you not drinking. I have had the manager at several places ask me why they did not get me something to drink. I know it is mean but also funny! Cheri

Well Sis I just looked at your profile we are not that far away. I am in Hitchcock, close to Galveston. If you would like to maybe we could meet for coffee sometime. I also attend a support group meeting in Alvin also on the 3rd Saturday of the month. Private message me if you want to meet up or want to know where the support group meets at. Cheri

K.Boone I do not think she was judging you she was going by your own words. Everyone knows we should exercise with the Band. The Band is to help us lose the weight not lose it for us. I know my surgeon made it clear to me what I was going to have to eat and I would have to exercise. I worked out before surgery but now with the band I know I have a little help to help me lose and keep it off so I am more motivated to do it. I watch my 2 grandbadies (4 year old and 19 month old) twice a week while I work at home (Graphis) and when they go I am pooped too but I still make myself work out I just rest for a while first. It is not easy but a must. Plus it will help you feel better and increase your weight loss. You have alot going on with different meds and that might make it harder to lose also. Plus having the kids is like a full time job. My age (50) and many different meds slow me down some too. Have you tried some in-person support groups. It always helps to be around people going throught the same things you are going through. It is the best it is not like talking on the boards, you need both. Staring over might help you gain control. It is sad that the Band really does not help some as easy as it does others. Sometimes I wish I had a bypass too I was just afraid my pouch would stretch in the coming years and I was self pay and it was about $5000 more. The band has worked for me. . . but I know several who have struggled with it. Don't get your feeling hurt . . .it is so easy to do on these boards and if people were listening instead of reading the same words would sound a little different. Hang in there things will get better. Good luck to you!! SiS - That is one of the good things about the band you can go get a fill and start over. Best of luck to you. Like i said before you must find a support group it makes a huge difference. I met some people on these boards and we started our own small support group, we all talk almost everyday. Just start a thread looking for people in your area and then you all plan when you want to meet and where. It is so easy. Cheri

Thanks everyone! I work out on the Total Gym probably should do some cardio and see if that helps. Also varying the calories is a good idea too. It is coming off one way or the other!!! Cheri

I can not sleep until about 3:00 am or 4:00 and my husband goes to sleep at 10:00 pm. I want to eat so bad but not because I am hungry just need something to do. It is a battle every night. I have prescription to sleep but that only helps around 3 or 4 am. I try to do my workout at night as it makes me tired but the head hunger kills me. I was eating sugar free popsicle but now it is too cold no matter if I sit by the heater. Just an everynight battle. It is a lot of time alone from 10:00 pm to 4:00 am. I also have clinical depression too and that does not help. I try to read, watch TV, get on computer and just take it hour by hour. Cheri

I went many months once with no weight loss. I finally decided to just go very very low carb and it jump started my weightloss again. Be sure you are being honest with yourself about everything you are eating. Every bite adds up. When I get lost and fall off track I return to liquids for two or 3 days to take my mind off of food. That always helps me. Just change something about what you are doing more Water, more Protein, more exercise. Please do not label yourself as a failure. I would go in for a fill if I was getting so hungry. You have a large band and it might need to be fuller. Talk to your Dr that is what you are paying him for and see if he can help point you in the right direction. Hang in there! Cheri

Total Gym is great! I had an older model and just gave it to another band buddy and invested in a new one! I work out and watch TV cool in the summer and warm in the winter. I bought a scatch and dent one on the website we have yet to find the dent or scratch. Half price for scratch and dent - scratch or dent will only be up to 1 inch long and will not be anything mechanical. Love it check out their website. I can work out way over an hour easy and still keep going if I want. Work out every night. I like to walk but it is not safe in our area to go by yourself and treadmill is boring to me. Love my Total gym! cheri

I drink them and love them. You can get less fat I think if you just get the High Protein SF but too many carbs for me, Cheri

I like Muscle Milk light too. I buy it at Sams so mugh cheaper than at Target or when you just buy a 4 pack. But my Krogers and Sam's here carries the low carb slimfast and I really like that. I thought I had drank enough slimfast during my fat days. But this is cheaper and tastes really good. They make a Low Carb one and a High Protein one also. I bought the high protein one first until I found the Low Carb it is low carb and full of protein. I always buy the ready mix so I can take them on the go!! Cheri

Hey Ross, Listen to them. Their menus sound good. I never have much hunger so I eat weird. I have 2 big cups of coffee for Breakfast. About 4:00 pm I will eat a Protein bar. About 7:00 pm I will have either tacos or taco salad for dinner. Sometimes part of all of low carb Protein shake before working out. When I was first starting out like you I ate eggs for breakfast and a measured out 3/4 cup amount of chicken salad with eggs, FF mayo and eat the same for dinner. The rest of time is drinking all that Water. I tend to pick something I like and stick with it. I did Chicken salad for 7 months straight. I bought big cans of white chicken meat at Sam's (Costco) and made enough for the whole week so I did not have to think about food just get my bowl out and fill it up and that was it. I have been considering getting a juicer because I hate vegetables except the bad ones. So I thought I could drink my veggies. I do best when I do very low carb NOT no carb but low carb. I also eat low carb yogurt love it! Cheri

1). In-person support 2). Water 3). Protein and Vitamins Cheri

I too have been sick more this last year than ever. Last year I got a flu shot if I can ever get well I will go get one get a flu shot. I think it as to do with not getting enough nutrition sometimes is hard to get all the Protein in Cheri

When I lost my 60% my Doctor said congratulations you are a sucess at this. But I was still consider overweight but he said the surgery did what was promised. Basically go home and enjoy life. But I have kept at it and lost another 25 lbs since them it is very slow and I have to workout every night. I have not had a fill in a year and could not handle one if I did. But I want to get last 15 lbs off and I will be happy. I have gone from 251 lbs to 167 lbs woulld like 15 more gone!!! Cheri Cheri

How about some meds for stress and anxiety. You can get something you take all the time or just as needed talk to your Dr. Cheri

I had all my fills under floro but only because my Doctor has one in his office. I think first fill skip the floro then . . . after a couple of fills go for the floro just to make sure everything is working good. If you have a small band they will probably go slow on your fills that is the best way. Just my opinion!! Cheri

Please listen to these people they are only trying to help you. Listen to your Dr first always if you are confused call them. Even on the weekends most Drs will return weekend calls. Mine does. If you are already breaking the rules after 4 days what lies ahead for you? Come on you went through all this just give it a month and it will get so much easier and be worth it! I for one am cheering you on, you can do this!! Start over now, the few days early you start another stage might cause you trouble. Go slow and follow the rules!! Whether the shrimp will go through does not matter you are not suppose to do it for a reason. Liquid is Liquid!! Shrimp is meat!! Cheri

I was self pay and did not have to do any pre-op tests. But I had up-to-date medical records. No diet as I had surgery 1½ days from time of appointment as I have really bad anxiety and did not want to go crazy worring about it. My Dr. is Dr Spivak in Houston and is very experienced. I say do the tests if you feel they are needed if not skip it. Just my opinion research it. Cheri

My Band does the samething after a nap. I just drink something warm to help loosen it. Hot tea, coffee, hot chocolate. It helps a lot. Cheri

My favorite is “Mary Did You Know”, makes me cry everytime. Also “Happy Birthday Jesus” sung by a child, so sweet. Cheri