TamifromAL

Hi ya'll! I just got back from 5 days in Vegas. I wish I could say that I managed to maintain, but, alas, 'tis not true. I'm up 2 lbs. this week. I *hope* some of that is water weight from travelling, but I can't say I'm really surprised to see a gain. I only worked out once in the hotel gym, and didn't exactly follow my new band eating habits! But, I'm back on track, went to spinning class this am, had my Kashi cereal for breakfast, and have water bottle in hand! Tami

My son is 20, and a large size. I think he wears a size 44-46 pants, and XXXL shirts. I still do a lot of his shopping, because otherwise he'd just wear his old cargos until they're literally rags. But, I struggle to find clothes for him. I can occasionally find something at Old Navy in his size, and have found some cargoes at Academy Sporting Goods. But, the Big and Tall Men stores all seem to be geared to older men. Where do larger young guys shop? Any recommendations? Thanks! Tami

lifelongband, I'm so sorry about what you're going through. I know this type of change is difficult, but I hope better things are around the corner for you. BJean, that Tanita scale sounds really cool. I wonder how accurate it is. Is it expensive? I'm down two pounds this week. I'm going to Vegas this weekend, and I hope I don't go off the deep end! No $1.99 buffets for Tami. I'll have fun fantasizing about the plastic surgery I could get if I hit it big. Wish me luck! Ya'll have a good week! Tami

Hi Diann! Congrats on your surgery. If you have any questions, ask away! Also, I spoke to Veronica, the Bariatric Coordinator at Medical Center East, and they are switching the time and location for the lap band support group meetings. There was a meeting today, so there won't be another one for a month, but I thought I'd let ya'll know, so you can mark your calendars. The monthly lap band support group meeting is held every 3rd Saturday, at 10:30am, on the Second floor, Main Bldg, Seminar Rooms 1-4, at Medical Center East. This is where the meetings used to be held. They tried a smaller room to make it more cozy, but the group just kept getting bigger! Although most of the participants are patients of Drs. Miles & Schmitt, others are welcome, too. So, the next meeting is May 19. Hope to see some of ya'll there! Tami

Congrats, Crabcake! That's right around the corner! Tami

I had a bodyfat analysis done at my gym (a BodyPod), and it showed my lean body mass to be 150 lbs. I based my goal of 165 (at 5'7") on that, which puts me at a BMI of 25.8, just over the "normal" range for my height. But, once I get there, I'm going to have another bodyfat analysis done, and take a good look at myself in the mirror and decide whether or not I'm comfortable with that weight. Tami

Denise, have you ever tried SparkPeople.com? It's an awesome site. You log in what you eat, and it tells you exactly how many calories you ate, plus grams of fat, carbs, and Protein. There's also a fitness tracker and lots of other tools, but to be honest, I haven't explored them all! Tami

Denise, there are so many things that can influence weight loss, and hormones can certainly play a part. But, my weight loss has been unusually fast because of a high basal metabolic rate. Plus, for the past 4 months I've been working out pretty intensely. Do you exercise? There's nothing to compare to exercise for improving your metabolism as well as burning calories. Tami

"i always have heard chili was really bad for you" No, chili's actually very healthy, as long as you make it as low-fat as possible. That's why I drain the beef, and then lay it out on paper towels after it's cooked so I can pat off as much of the fat as possible. Even better to use half turkey/half beef. Chili has plenty of Protein, Fiber, and anti-oxidants (lycopene in the cooked tomatoes). Chili from Wendy's is one of my few fast-food choices that I don't feel guilty about! (But homemade is even better!) By the way, you are doing great. I love your attitude! Tami

The most important thing you can do is to make a decision. You know you haven't been doing what you need to do to lose the weight. But, have you made a decision to change? There's another girl who has a similar story to yours who has been posting her story. You might want to read her thread. I think it's very inspiring. She's taking the steps to change. I really wish both of you the best of luck! Here's the thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=33351 Tami

Krystal, Do you like chili? That's one of my favorite meals. It does take a little more effort and time, but it makes enough to freeze away some to pull out for quickie meals later. Here's my recipe: 3 lb. lean ground beef, well-browned and drained (or you can use half ground beef and half ground turkey) 3 onions, chopped (You can buy frozen chopped onions & peppers if you want to make it a little easier!) 3 bell peppers, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 cans Rotel 4 cans diced tomatoes<O:p</O:p 1 T salt<O:p</O:p 5 T. chili powder<O:p</O:p 3 cans kidney Beans, drained <O:p</O:p <O:p</O:p Brown beef well and drain. Remove to paper toweling to drain further. In same pan, sauté onions, peppers, and garlic. Put beef and sautéed vegetables in stock pot with Rotel, canned tomatoes, salt, chili powder, and sugar. Simmer 1-2 hrs., remove lid, add drained beans and simmer 5”.<O:p</O:p

I have a feeling that the percentage of complications may actually go up as the surgery becomes more common. I've noticed more and more people on this board and other wls boards who are getting banded without thoroughly researching it first. It scares me when I read about people who go in to this hoping to be so tight that they can't eat food at all, or who PB freqently because they take in fewer calories that way. But, you can put your mind at ease, if you are willing to educate yourself about how to live a safe and healthy bandster life, and then do it. If you use the band as it was meant, don't keep a too-tight fill, get proper after-care, and don't PB frequently, chances are you won't have any severe complications. For me, the slight risks were well worth it. Since September, I'm down 96 lbs., down from a size 26 to a 12/14, off of 3 prescription meds, am able to enjoy exercising, and no longer suffer from plantar fasciitis. If I lost my band tomorrow, I'd still be glad that I got it. Tami

That's a worry of mine, as well, since I'm also self-pay. I read one bandster's slip story, and she said that the doc and hospital let her set up a payment program for her slip surgery. So, that's a big difference from the original surgery, where you have to pay the full amount up front. Tami

Let me tell you what the difference is with the band. Before, when you dieted, you deprived yourself of foods you loved, and you felt hungry, right? It was a struggle, but you knew it was temporary, because as soon as you lost a certain amount of weight, you'd be able to eat again. With the band, it's a lifetime change. You have it there to help you all the time, not just for a few months to get off the weight. So, for me, the band gave me hope. Hope that this time would be the last time. And, it made it do-able. It makes it easier to eat the right foods in the right quantities to lose weight and keep it off forever. Isn't that what you want? If you decide on the band, give it a shot to work the way it was designed, and give yourself some credit that you are capable of making some changes. Tami

I was overfilled briefly in November. In the morning I couldn't eat any solids at all, and even had to sip liquids, which I could feel gurgle through the stoma. Later in the day, I could eat, but struggled with every other bite of solids, getting a lump in my throat. I felt deprived and yes, hungry! So, I ended up eating a lot of soft foods that would go down without any problem. The problem is that those kinds of foods are often high in calories and don't provide long-lasting satiety like solid foods do. So, an hour or two later I was hungry again and grabbing another milkshake or smoothie, or whatever. I ended up going back a week later to get a slight unfill, and then I was "just right". For me, "just right" means I can eat Breakfast, I can eat solid meats/poultry and veggies, and I don't get hungry for 3-4 hours after I eat. But I still can eat. It's up to me, not the band, to choose the right foods, and not to snack throughout the day. If you want the band so tight that you are forced not eat, you're setting yourself up for possible complications such as a dilated pouch, or slippage. It's just not meant to be used like that. The band is only part of the equation. It will do it's part, if you are willing to do your part. Tami

I use the blogging feature at ObesityHelp.com. If you want a place to keep up with your food and exercise, though, I recommend SparkPeople.com. It has a nutrition tracker where you log in all your food you eat, and it tells you how many calories, and grams of fat, carbs, and Protein you ate. There's also an exercise tracker and lots of other features that I haven't explored yet! Tami

So sorry! I just went and read your story. Dang, girl, that truly sucks. I hope the spasms pass with the meds, and you can get down some food! Tami

I decided to use my surgery as a catalyst for change. Fast food was one of the reasons I needed the surgery in the first place, so I figured that returning to my old haunts would just sabotage my efforts! I'm not saying that I *never* have fast food anymore, but I try to choose better foods and to have them less often than I used to. If I'm out and have to grab lunch, I usually get a Taco Bell taco salad without the sour cream, and skip the crust, or Wendy's chili. Tami

Dang, how many calories are in that? Are you avoiding the crust because of getting stuck, or are you doing the low-carb thing? Tami

What really amazes me while reading this thread is how differently many of us approach "band life". For me, I couldn't live with: WASaBubbleButt's diet of "tuna and protein shakes" Dislexi's meal portions of "1/4 c. per meal" Or Chickie's "5 splurges in two years" FOR ME, those are ALL extreme choices. But, those are your choices, and although they wouldn't work for me, it's not up to me to judge you. Tami

In my opinion, you need a combination of cardio and strength training for weight loss/maintenance. The strength training builds muscle and improves your metabolism, but the cardio fires up those muscles to burn fat. (But, I gotta be honest, I didn't start exercising immediately after surgery. It was just too uncomfortable for me for a couple of reasons. I started when I was about 4 months out and 50-60 lbs. down.) Tami

One thing that made a big difference for me was music. I got an iPod, and loaded it with all my favorite music. I scan through to find a song with the right cadence (beat) for my pace, and off I go! Tami

Sandra, did your doc recommend going to liquids for a bit after your fill? You could have a little bit of swelling from the fill which might make it difficult to eat meat. You might also try drinking something warm/hot before eating. I've heard that can help. But, I don't think that "getting stuck" is the goal. If food is well chewed, and you are not overly tight, food should pass slowly through the stoma. I get a little "stuckish" sometimes, too, and like you, I just have to wait a minute or two for it to go down. It's usually because I either didn't chew well enough, or because of the texture of the food. Dense, sticky foods sometimes give me a bit of a problem. By the way, I rarely feel "full" anymore. If I eat enough to feel it, it's not a comfortable or satisfying feeling, so I avoid it! I just stick with portions of 1 to 1-1/2 c. at a meal, unless it's something like soup that passes through the stoma quicker. I'm down 3 lbs. this week. Don't shoot me! I have a horrible cold, though, and won't be working out for a few days. I hope that doesn't throw me off track. I might at least do some time on the treadmill to keep my mind in the right place! Hope ya'll have a great week! Tami

I eat out fairly often, at least 2-3 times per week, and have absolutely no problem. I've never had a PB, so I don't worry about that. I make sure I get some Water first, and try to drink at least one glass before the food arrives. Of course, once the food arrives, I push it just out of my reach, so that I don't absent-mindedly grab it! I usually order off of the appetizer menu, share a meal with my hubby, or take home half of my meal. I'm a proud lap bander, so everyone knows that I've had the surgery. And if the waiter comments on how little I've eaten I tell him, too! The only downside to eating out, as far as I'm concerned, is the lack of control about what's in your food. I try to order healthy, lower-fat, foods, but it can be tricky sometimes, especially with sauces. I love sauces because they can make the difference in getting meats/fish down, but they can harbor some wicked fat, too! I try to get sauces on the side, and just dip the tip of the bite of food into it. Tami

Yes, I believe that exercise has made a difference in my weight loss. I didn't start exercising right after surgery because I had plantar fasciitis, and exercise just made it worse. Plus, I was losing fine just with the dietary changes. But, at about 4 months out/60 lbs. down, I knew it was time to get started. Plus, my surgeon flat out said that if I want to get all the way down to goal, that exercise is not an option...it is crucial. So, I joined a gym, and started going regularly at the first of January. At first I did 20" on the elliptical 3 times a week, plus a couple of sessions of strength training per week. I didn't have huge changes on the scale, but it was steady. Then, by the end of February, I felt confident about my fitness level to take it up a notch, and started taking a spinning class. All of a sudden, I started dropping like 3 lbs. a week, which to me is even more impressive since I'm under 20 lbs. to goal. I love the spinning so much that I now take a class every day except Sunday (because they don't offer one on Sunday!) It's fun, envigorating, and man, does it shred the pounds! I read something in a fitness magazine that I think is very true. It said that sometimes people get discouraged early in their fitness program because they don't see big changes on the scale. Here's the thing, your body starts hanging on to Water after you start exercising, because it needs water to process the glycogen stores in your cells. Plus, after several weeks, you also add some muscle weight. So, don't sweat it if you don't see appropriate feedback from the scales right away. Keep it up, because it is well worth it in the long run. Keep in mind, that you need to start at a level that is appropriate for you own level of fitness, and then progress so that you improve your fitness without getting burnt out or injured. The best way to measure your fitness level for cardio is a heart rate monitor. One other thing...most people don't enjoy fitness activities until they have some level of physical fitness, but, of course you have to exercise to get physically fit. So, either find an activity that you genuinely love to do, or accept that you just have to force yourself to do it until you get to the point where you want to! Tami