Vivinthewoods

Thanks for the info Liz. I don't want to take any chances, so would prefer to wait the 3 months and not have any problems. You must be very versatile to be be-bopping and walking on the treadmill at the same time, I would be laying flat on my face! I do try to pull my tummy muscles in as I walk and have the TM set at max incline - funny I am always going uphill and never down! I sometimes wonder if my band area will stay sticking out - with all the hardware in there!!!!:wink2: Thanks for sharing any info you get.

Does anyone do exercises that work your tummy/band area? I workout on the treadmill, but would also like to slim down my band area, which still seems to stick out more than it should. I'm a bit nervous about putting pressure on the muscles around the band/port, as I don't want to cause anything to slip or flip. Does anyone have a doctor approved exercise for this area? Thanks

I have to watch what I eat and count calories - it is the only way I know exactly what I am putting in my body. I think I would grossly misjudge the calorie/carb/protein count on any food if I did not count. Also, I found that keeping a record of my food intake makes me more aware of what is in that can of soup or candy bar, so I am reading labels more - always looking for foods with the least amount of cals & carbs and with high protein. I use 'www.MyFitnessPal.com' to log my meals and exercise and once you get into a habit of doing it it gets easier and just takes a few minutes. Do I miss logging some meals or the odd day - yes I do. But by logging I know I have 3 nutritional meals and 2 snacks a day for around 200 cals each. I know I would eat far more if I did not keep a record. Will I have to do this forever, I don't know.:wink:

Hi Band of Buddies, You are all doing marvelously with your weight loss, I am proud of you all. I am stuck with a little loss, even though I am working my big buns off on the treadmill! I have my second fill tomorrow, so hope for some restriction then. It has been a month since my first fill and my doc said to make an appointment if I needed a fill before the month was up - I should have taken him up on it. I have just found a new soup, which has only 80 cals per cup. It is 'Spicy Black Bean' made by Pacific and comes in a 1 qt carton. I found the soup at Kroger's and HEB. This is a smooth soup, so is good for those days after a fill. I add a little chopped tomato, onion, cilantro, jalapeno and a t.spoon of shredded cheese. For a more hearty soup I have also added 1/4 cup of chicken (60 cals) and/or 1/4 cup chili beans. (60 cals). The company also makes other flavored soups - tonight I am going to try their 'Creamy Butternut Squash' (90 cals), I'll add some smoked turkey for more protein. Just wanted to share this with y'all

I agree and endorse ElfiePoo's comments. Just play up the positive things in your life. You do this well in your post - you 'survived' your parents divorce. You have a stressful job, but you are 'grateful' for it. I had to write a statement about 'me', which I ended by letting the psychologist know, that I have handled trauma in my life and come out of that OK, that I have a good life, a supportive husband and family. That I am mentally strong and the WLS was something that I was going to do for me. He told me there and then that he thought I was a good candidate for WLS. I wish you good luck - you will been fine.

So glad the unfill worked successfully for you. Keep us posted on how you are doing. Good luck

My weight on the morning of my surgery was 201, today I am that 187, so have only lost 14 lbs. I did loose 36 lbs in the 6 months prior to surgery. 2nd fill next week - hoping for better results then.

Oops! I did not notice you were in Perth - I should have, as I have been to Perth many times. My sister lived in Lesmurdie for many years, but has now moved south to Bussleton - a place I love. When visiting my sister I would go for a walk along the beach each morning and my footprints were the only ones in the sand - such a tranquil spot. I have been shopping in Woolworth's, in Bunbury. I'll have to get some nut mix on my next visit. I have not heard of Goji berries but will check them out - thanks for the info.

Your nut mix sounds really good, do you buy it pre-mixed and ground? If so, may I ask who it is made by and do you get it at a health food store or supermarket? Or do you mix it yourself? If you do the mixing what ratio of nuts do you use? I try to eat as healthy as I can - I eat 1/2 a cup (cals 35) of blueberries each day with breakfast - they are packed with antioxidants. Thanks.

Sunflower seeds Cals. 799 - per cup The good: This food is very low in Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus, Copper, Manganese and Selenium, and a very good source of Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol). The bad: This food contains Trans Fat. Linseeds Linseed seeds contain many beneficial nutrients, such as Protein, fibre, various Vitamins and minerals and omega-3 fatty acids in the form of lignans. Lignans have been recently discovered to have anti-cancer properties, as well having antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral properties. Lignans are phytoestrogens, which have a positive hormone-like action in the body. Lignans have very strong antioxidant properties as well as strong anti-cancer properties. Various studies have shown that phytoestrogens can possibly prevent some types of cancer, including oestrogen-dependent breast cancer, as well as colon and prostate cancer. Almonds Cals. 842 - per cup The good: This food is very low in Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Magnesium and Manganese, and a very good source of Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol). The Bad - -o- Hope this helps. Sounds delicious and healthy to me!

I lost 36 lbs in the 6 months prior to surgery and 13 lbs post-op - slow but sure. Good luck to you - you will be fine. :rolleyes2:

Hi Tracy, I have always hated exercising - just could not stand all that bouncing around, huffing and puffing etc, but my doc really pushed me. Now, (after surgery) I find I'm liking it more and more and it feels sooo good when you stop! I mentioned this to DH last night (an avid jogger) and he said the brain release endorphins, which gives you that pleasure sensation after exercising - sort of like getting a high from it. I too find I can't miss a day.:cursing:

When mentioning pasta, rice and bread I was refering to brown, whole grain or soy - the only kind I eat. Sorry I omitted that info, but they are still complex carbs. The following information can be found at many nutritional website: - Natural complex carbohydrates food list Complex carbs (carbohydrate) foods are basically those in wholegrain form such as wholegrain breads, oats, muesli and brown rice. Complex carbs are broken down into glucose more slowly than simple carbohydrates and thus provide a gradual steady stream of energy throughout the day. Natural carbs are also a better choice when losing weight on the G.I diet plan. Here's a list of complex carbohydrates foods. Spinach Whole Barley Grapefruit Turnip Greens Buckwheat Apples Lettuce Buckwheat bread Prunes Water Cress Oat bran bread Dried apricots Zucchini Oatmeal Pears Asparagus Oat bran cereal Plums Artichokes Museli Strawberries Okra Wild rice Oranges Cabbage Brown rice Yams Celery Multi-grain bread Carrots Cucumbers Pinto beans Potatoes Dill Pickles Low fat yogurt Soybeans Radishes Skim milk Lentils Broccoli Navy beans Garbanzo beans Brussels Sprouts Cauliflower Kidney beans Eggplant Soy milk Lentils Onions Whole meal bread

I have just been banded 6 weeks and so far no regrets. I've lost some weight, my clothes are feeling baggy and the best thing - I am exercising more now than I ever have and it feels soooo good. I'm eat more healthy - it feels great and hopefully it will only get better as more weight comes off.

Oh, I should add that complex carbs will keep you satisfied, where simple carbs will only satisfy for a short time - hence the sugar rush/high.

Complex carbs come from foods like whole grain bread, pasta, rice, yams. Simple carbs are things like corn syrup, fruitose and glucose. These sugars are easily absorbed by the body and turn to fat quickly. Complex carbs, although they also have sugars take longer to digest and will fuel the body. I read that people on a w/l program need 100 grams of complex cabs a day.

My 1st & 2nd fills will be a month apart, but the doc did say if I needed a fill before that to just call the office and make an earlier appointment. MissMS - the hummus with chicken is a great idea - I love hummus. I find cutting chicken into small bites across the grain helps too, not as stringy. Melinco - super job on your loss - you go girl!

Great job! Nice to hear that the band is working and as you say doing its job. My scale is also stuck, but this morning I put a pair of pants on (not my regular old hang-around-the-house sweats) and they actually seemed baggy! I could pull them down over my hips with the button and zipper closed. I was so thrilled I did it several times (in the privacy of my bathroom)!!!!!! So, my body is changing too - I can't believe it.

I'm yelling - "DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP!" Tomorrow is a new day, so pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start afresh. You have had a couple of bad days and now you can work on the rest of the month. As you can't get to the gym how about a snow ball fight - even if it is just aiming at the neighbor's fence!

Yes, I too was banded in Dec and I have the same things - a sticky-out area from under my boobs to my waistline. If I bend over I don't stay down too long, feels as if there is something in the way. I also sometimes have a twitching and a pulling sensation. It is not painful just there.

Hi Lis, Dr. Felix Spiegel was my surgeon, he is very experienced (approx 8000 surgeries), he does a lot of revision surgeries too. He has 3 offices, one in the Galleria area, I see him at his Woodlands office. I also met with Dr. Collier and was very impressed with him again very experienced. He has an office in Conroe, but also works with 'Journey Lite' - I think they have an office in Houston. I have friends who were banded by Dr. Spivak and love him. You could Google these doctors for addresses etc. Hope everything goes well for you:smile2: