davsil

I'm sure this has come up before but I wanted to see what people find works best. When doing weight training is it better to use a lower weight and do more reps or better to use more weight and less reps?

I was banded 8/24/09. I had my first fill about 3 weeks ago and amazingly I was restricted. Really restricted. I couldn't eat much of anything for about 10 days. I was struggling getting used to it but really happy at the same time. But over the last 10 days or so I've lost almost all of the tightness that I had. And now I'm back to almost square one. I can eat as much as I want. I saw my Dr this morning and he gave me another 1.5 cc's but even with that I'm only a little restricted. Nothing like I was. My Dr says this is not unusual but it seems odd to me. And he didn't see any leaks. Has anyone else had this - where you feel restricted and lose it that quickly? I did lose about 10 lbs over that time but I don't think that should have been enough to make this much of a difference.

I had asked this question quite a while ago. I've been filled since and have had tremendous restriction. I can't eat a darn thing most of the time. But I'm also losing weight at a great pace so I'm really pleased. I still have a ways to go to reach my ultimate goal but I have real confidence that I'll get there. Thanks for the support. :scared2:)

I have a Wii Fit. And I find it a great suppliment in addition to going to the gym. But it has no weight training which is also an important part of getting in shape. And I get a better overall workout at the gym (The one I belong to has an olympic length pool and I swim a lot.) I try to get to the gym 3X a week although some weeks I can only get there twice. So the Wii Fit fills in the other days with a little bit of exercise. It sould be one element of an overall program.

I realize this is different for everyone. I was banded on 8/24/09 (4 months) and needed to lose about 200 lbs total. To date I have lost almost 80 lbs. (WooHoo for me!!) Realizing I still have a whole lot of extra weight on my body I have not noticed anything that could be called loose skin yet. (I'm not unhappy about this.) But I'm wondering at what point I can likely expect to see this becoming an issue? I'm doing a lot of exercise which I hope helps a little. And while I am 48 y.o. I actually think my skin is pretty good to begin with. But eventually I have to think I will see this becoming something I need to deal with. So I was hoping those with experience might have a feel for at what point I might expect to see this start to happen. Thanks

I don't know how many people use or want to use these. But they have some really good exercises you can do at home. The problem with the Wii Fit is that it will not work if you weigh over 330 pounds. The actual hardware can support over 600 pounds but the software puts a 330 lb. limit on it. So for me, at a starting weight of 408 lbs. I would not be able to take advantage of this tools. But there is a way around it. If you put the Wii Fit platform on a soft blanket that will allow people over the 330 lb limit to use the unit. I have a blanket and I need to fold it a couple of times. It confuses the scale so it lets you play the game. Your weight specs will not be accurate but that is far less important then unlocking all the games & exercises it lets you do

I'm sure this has been asked before but I didn't find the answer. When weighing food do you use the pre-cooked weight or the cooked weight? Most things lose weight during cooking. I've been using the pre-cooked weight but would like to know if there is a definitive answer on the right one to use.

You shouldn't be in negative territory between intake & exercise. Remember, just being alive burns calories. There are some great calculators on line that will tell you how many calories you should be eating based on your weight and overall lifestyle to lose a certain amount of weight each week. If you don't get enough food your body can go into starvation mode and stop losing weight because it's trying to preserve itself. On exercise I like the elliptical as well. In about 20 minutes I burn around 300 calories. But then I also follow that with about 20 minutes of weight machines (strength training is very important to prevent muscle loss) and then I swim laps for another 20 minutes or so. Swimming is great exercise if you have access to a pool. It's highly aerobic, low impact, works all parts of the body and is actually enjoyable compared to most exercises.

My Dr. said absolutely no to anything carbonated. Soda, beer (that one hurt), anything. And if that's part of the price I have to pay then that's the deal. I will not drink a carbonated beverage. My nutrishonist went as far as saying she doesn't want me to get any calories from beverages. They will pour right through the band and defeat the purpose of having it. So no fruit juice either. I will have an adult beverage in social situations but never one with carbonation.

Those first few weeks are tough. My Dr. wanted me on liquids for 3 full weeks. But there are liquids and there are liquids. I found the Isopure protien powders to actually taste good. The banana flavor with skim milk is really tasty. And if you blend it with 1/2 a real banana its almost a treat. If you Dr allows thicker liquids smooth Soups like tomato might be OK. And even something like Farina. But I'm not your doctor - do what he tells you. Its really important to let yourself heal properly or you're risking worse complications down the road. Its hard but everyone here has gone through the same thing. And we're alive to talk about it so you can do it as well. And once you start seeing some weight loss it will all have been worth it. <a href="Weight Loss - Diet Ticker"> <img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/wNehEyO/weight.png"></a>

I finally got restriction about a week and a half ago. And that is almost as bad as it was being hungry - so be prepared. I have always been a fast eater. No more. I'm learning the hard way. If I eat too much or especially too fast I pay for it. And after about 3 hours or so I get ravinously hungry because I ate very little at the last meal. So I prepare and have small things to snack available for whenever I need them. But here's the silver lining: in 7 weeks since I was banded I'm down just shy of 50 lbs. And I am getting used to the smaller portions and making better choices. I absolutely echo the people emphasizing Protein. It is essential and helps keep the hunger at bay. I also think I'm starting to get food aversions. There are things I just don't want to (or are scared to) eat anymore.

You're very early into this and haven't been filled yet. So it is normal to not have any restriction yet. Most people need several fills before they start to get real restriction. What I did for until I started to be restricted (for me it happened on the first fill but that seems to be unusual) was put myself on a strict diet. No fun and NOT the way I wanted or thought I was going to have to go. But it worked. I'm now 7 weeks out from banding (8/24/09) and I'm down about 48 lbs. ) Now that I'm restricted I can't eat more that I want. As a note: one tool I found absolutely invaluable was to keep a journal. In all the diets over the years (and there have been LOTS of them) they always tell you to do this and I never have. This time I got an iPhone app (I'm using Lose It!) to track my intake and I've kept it religeously. And its been an absolute life saver in keeping me on track. I can't begin to tell how much of a difference that one thing has been for me. Good luck.

When first banded you are not going to have any restriction. This is normal. Until you get filled (and that can take several tries before you really feel it engage) you need to put yourself on a regular, old DIET. (Nasty word - I know.) Until you have restriction you will be able to eat as much as you want. But none of went through this ordeal to continue eating the way we used to. So this calls for a period of hard work - not eating the old way and learning new habits. Once you get filled and get restriction you'll know it and it should become easier. And you have the people here to support you. :thumbup:)

I was banded August 24th & just had my first fill this past Friday. (October 2nd) And, having read so many other people's experiences, it does not seem reasonable that I'm feeling restricted after just my first fill. But I think I am. This is new so I'm not really sure what I'm feeling. The amount I can eat at one time has been reduced noticeably. Where prior to the fill I could eat a 4-5 ounce portion of chicken or fish and a small side dish with no problem now I can't get past 2 ounces. And Sunday evening I know I ate too much and too fast and it came back up on me. (Hopefully a lesson learned.) But that had never happened before. Has anyone else felt restricted after only one fill? The Dr. gave me 3cc's into a 12 cc band. But he also said there was a little Fluid in there from day one so I don't know what my exact total fill level is.

Hi all the August bandsters. I was banded Aug. 24th (6 weeks today) and had my first fill this past Friday. I have lost around 45 - 48 lbs. (my Dr's scale and my scale disagree a little) but I am enormously happy with my results so far. I have pulled in 3 notches on my belt and am starting to dig some smaller sized clothes out of the back of the closet. My Dr says I can eat about 1400-1500 calories a day and still be losing weight. But in the few days since the fill I haven't gone much past 800. I think I'm restricted but I'm not really sure. It's all pretty new so I'm learning as I'm going.

"But if I'm seriously serious about being serious (like that?) then why don't I just work on my portions? Why not restict myself?" I can only speak for myself...but I'm sure there are others who feel the same way... If I could restrict myself, for the duration of the rest of my life, I would. But I have been on so many programs and diets, and some have worked well for a year or two, but none have worked permanently. It would be great if shear force of will-power would get me to my goals. But it hasn't worked in 48 years why will it work this time? The band is not a guarantee of success nor is it "taking the easy way out" or "cheating". This is still hard work. What the band is, is a tool. No one has surgery lightly. At least I didn't. It took several years of consideration and struggle with myself before I decided to do this. But I decided I needed to. I have always been a healthy person except for being vastly overweight. But it was finally catching up with me and effecting my over-all health. I simply and purely could not live the way I was anymore. But everything else I had tried had failed in the long run. The band is my last great hope to finally lose the excess weight. But I understand it is just a tool. I still have to do the work. What I want the band to do it be a firewall. On those occasions I lose the focus, or the will-power, etc. and want to over-eat I'm hoping it will be there to stop me. Or let me know I made a poor choice and get me back on the stick again. Only you can decide if the band is right for you. You may not be ready yet. And maybe you will be able to get to your goal and stay there by just controlling your portions. But most of us have been there and have chosen this path because that did not work for us - at least permanently. Good luck to you however you decide to go.

I had my first fill yesterday. (WooHoo!!) Six weeks after surgery. My Dr gave me 3cc's into a 12 cc band. And today I'm a little uncomfortable after I eat almost anything. And I've been on liquids since the fill. It feels like I need to burp but can't. I'm not sure if this is what restriction feels like or not. It could just be my stomach adjusting to the change in the band. I guess I need to give it a couple of days to settle in before I know.

I guess I've been lucky in this regard. At first I was pretty reserved about who I told. But vitually everyone I told was very supportive. A few asked inappropriate questions but it was more out of curiosity then anything else. So I've become much more open about having my band put in. And if someone actually gives be a bad time or gets judgemental on me then f**k 'em. I may be fat but at least I'm a good person. And I can get thinner. They're stuck being a**holes. (Sorry for the language.) If anyone gives you anything but support it says more about them than you. Why would they not want to help you improve yourself and your life?? Good luck to you. Losing all your excess weight will be the best response to the nay-sayers.

I just got my 1st fill today!! My Dr gave me 3cc's into a 12cc band. So I honestly don't expect any restriction. I have an appointment in qabout 2 1/2 weeks for another check & fill. I can't wait for the band to engage & start giving me restriction. He also told me to do liquids for at least the rest of the day. And my nutishionist wants me to do 3 days of liquids after a fill. I figure a few days of liquids can only help my weight loss so I'm going to do the 3 days. My Dr. also gave me the OK to start doing some light weights. I've been doing only cardio stuff at teh gym so I'm glad I can start a little lifting. ONly light weights to being. But it's important to do.

Oh...I forgot one MAJOR side benefit of losing all this weight. (I'm only 4 1/2 weeks in from banding so I ahve a ways to go.) I can't wait until I can actually fit my ass into a seat on an airplane, in a theater or at a movie!!

Absolutely. Weight is the root cause of many other issues. Not counting the obvious things like diabetes, heart disease, etc., etc. By losing the weight you're taking pressure off every part of your body. Backs, knees, feet will all thank us for doing this. Snoring is very much associated with being overweight and sleep apnia is common in obese people. Then count in the psychological, emotional and social benefits of losing all this weight and it has tremendous secondary benefits. Increased energy levels, overall feeling of well-being and boosts to self-confidence are also resonable side-effects of weight loss. And without getting graphic - male performance is often restored or vastly improved. Lots of good reasons to do this and follow the program to get to our goals. :mad:)

Hi all. I'm a 48 y.o. man in Northern New Jersey. Very close to the city. I was just banded 4 weeks ago so I'm just starting - but doing well out of the box. :thumbdown:) Would be glad to meet single woman in the area.

I love swimming as well. I'm only 4 weeks out from surgery so I'm just getting started. But my Dr. OK'ed me to start exercising (no weights just yet) and swimming definately got his approval. The gym I belong to has an olympic length pool so I can swim real laps. I've been in twice now and started with doing about 15 minutes of swimming (plus some eliptical). I do not want to overdo it. Slow and steady and build up to more is my plan. I have an iPhone app that tracks calories, protien and exercise. According to that 30 minutes of swimming burns 524 calories. Pretty good for a low impact and enjoyable exercise.

I get my 1st fill next week - about 5 1/2 weeks post op. I can't wait. I'm doing a good job (I think) keeping my intake down but I could be eating as much as I want right now.

Good question! I'm also belching more than pre-banding. Even when jsut drinking Water as you describe. It would be nice to know if it's ever going to subside.