LeighaMason

I'm glad you posted this. I am a firm believer that each of us has our own journey and what is right for one may not be right for another. Plus what is right for you this year may not be what is right for you in years to come. Congratulations on finding something that works for you. And for those who are still searching...keep looking your answer is out there.

I finished week 6 today, I got lucky and the rain cleared up and was only about 85 degrees. I really struggled after 21:30 but I stuck it out and finished the whole 25 min. My BB said I used over 400 calories so that is really good news. I am looking forward to being able to run for 30- 40 min and burning 500-600!

Guess what? I managed to wrestle another pound away from my body! It took 2 weeks this time :frown:. I finished week 6 of C25K today, I ran for 25 min without stopping! I have started eating more carbs and calories the night before these runs and it seems to help. I am also getting up during the night and drinking water so I will be hydrated since I cant drink too much water at one time. I better get to work, have a great weekend everyone.

CRAP! I have been ignoring this thread because I thought it was going to be boring, now I have to go back and see what I missed. Cause this page is something else!

I felt the same way until I had enough fills and restriction. Now if I take even a small sip with food its PB time, Pain, Sliming, all the fun things. Keep trying, it will come to you. This was the most difficult thing I had to learn. But I did it, finally.

labandster-- Am I reading this right? You are down about 100 pounds and are embarrassed and feel like you failed? I got to say, I bet if you hadn't been banded not only would you be 100 pounds heavier but if you were like me, you would have gained another 10 to 20 pounds a year too! I am going to challenge you to look at the big picture. Your Dr works for you, you pay his salary. He is there to help you. He has your $19K and he owes you! Get your moneys worth! He has seen worse I promise! I am a firm believer that when you go through a life changing transformation sometimes you need to take a break and let your mind accept where you are now before you can continue your journey. Maybe now you are ready. If it were me I would start with 1 thing, and add 1 new thing a week until I had the process going. Its kind of like that running program couch to 5K. Instead of starting running a full race you start a little at a time and improve every week, that way you ease yourself into it and its not a big shock to your body and you quit. So my philosophy is like that. This week start journaling your food. Next week go and get a fill. The week after you will have 2 weeks worth of food journals and you can look for somewhere to cut. The next week start walking a few days a week. Then every week after that find 1 thing that you can improve. Everyone can fix one thing a week. In your mind say " OK Sunday night I am going to sit down and decide what the 1 thing is and then I am going to do that 1 thing for the next week." I hope this helps. Think positive thoughts and remember if you did it before you can do it again!

Keep reading and good luck with your decision. I do like to tell people who are considering the band to MAKE SURE you are willing to change, because change is required for the band to work.

"I imagine those with a sheep mentality are the most successful being banded"-- BAA BAA BAAAAAAA (sheep speak for I want to be thin! so I follow the rules.)

Don't forget the ever popular, " I am eating way less than before " and my favorite " but I got the band so I don't have to diet"

If I go too long without eating I get too hungry and I eat too fast. So I eat something every 3 hours or so 3 "meals" @ 250 cal each and 2 Snacks at @ 100-150 cal each. Also if I get caught without food and go too long without eating and I am STARVING, I have an EAS Protein Shake and wait 10 min before I eat. This tames my hunger and gives me the self control to eat slow, take small bites, stop before I am too full, chew properly, etc. It really helps with user error and at 110 calories it is not a deal breaker. ETA: I think you need a fill but user error will increase with each fill and of course the risk of slippage does too. I recommend 2 weeks of dedicated eating training to get the PBing under control and then fill.

It went good last Friday but now I am dreading tomorrow's 25 min run but with the storms we are having I may have to run on the treadmill. I have started icing my feet when I am through. I have very high arches and I have had heel spur surgery in the past and now I am starting to feel a little strain in the tendon so I am trying to prevent problems. There isn't a store in town that fits running shoes so I am going to try and get to Dallas in the next week or so. I'll let y'all know how I do tomorrow.

It sounds like food poisoning or a "bug". Send someone to get you some immodium liquid (sp?). That is the only thing that works for me. By the way, I don't think its band related.

Once again, your band is a very personalized thing and you should do what works for you personally. My Dr is fine with Meal Replacement shakes. I use EAS carb control, at 110 calories and 3 carbs for 17g protein. I am almost at goal and I use protein drinks, I have the whole time and regularly lost 2 pounds a week. I have found them to be especially effective when I have gone too long without eating and I know that I am so hungry that I will eat too fast. So I drink a shake, wait about 10 min. and then that gives me the self control to eat slowly and greatly reduces my chances of getting stuck.

Dottie--I think the pool will be perfect for you! Congratulations. Anne-- I hope the ins goes right through and keep us updated! I will mark my calender. ETA: You will be the first person I know with the sleeve, you will have to tell us all about it, and not leave us for that "other" forum!

OK, not sure if this counts as an NSV, but I went to run today about 8:30 its probably 90 degrees. So I mapped out a 5K and I do the C25K and walk the rest of the way. I had finished running and was walking past the bank when I noticed that there was a water spigot in the grass by the sidewalk with the cover off. So I stopped, got on my knees. and proceeded to wash my face and neck and have a drink. Then my neighbor from across the street pulls up next to the sidewalk, sees me and asks if I need a ride home! (Smartass!)

I worked up to exercising, I didn't do anything at first, then I started walking, then I started riding my bike, then running (OK, you cant really call it running yet, its kind of jogging/ walking, but you know). And your right, I have a major advantage because my son is 15 and needs much less of my time. But I did get a treadmill for my office from Craigslist and that helps me a lot when my schedule gets out of control.

Maybe you should try smaller fills, my last 2 have been .2 and .3. And try and sneak up on your sweet spot instead of getting .5 at a time.

Sorry but we're not. I'm not being Un-American here (everyones favorite new slander term) but its a reality. We are undereducated as a nation. The Global Information Technology Report 2009-2010 Rank Country 1 Sweden 2 Singapore 3 Denmark 4 Switzerland 5 USA 6 Finland 7 Canada 8 Hong Kong 9 Netherlands 10 Norway OR List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita RankCountryIntl. $ 1Qatar83,841 2Luxembourg78,395 3Norway52,561 4Singapore50,523 5Brunei49,110 6United States46,381 7Switzerland43,007 —Hong Kong42,748 8Netherlands39,938 9Ireland39,468 10Australia38,911 ETA: My step children were at the top of thier class also but these high school kids were more like college juniors or seniors. 2 of them spoke 5 languages and the other one "only" spoke 3.

Can you read or is it just the big words that confuse you? My post said the students "could not believe how easy our education system was, specifically homework." specifically--Concerned particularly with the subject specified.

I was self pay so I cant tell you about the insurance but I will tell you that if being hungry and eating too large of a portion is your problem than the band is probably right for you. I was always hungry and after I was on a diet for a certain amount of time I would just get to where I could not stand the hunger any longer and start eating again. After I was banded a small meal was all I needed until it was time to eat again. Good luck with your journey.

Maalox seems to be the only thing that helps me.

I have hosted 3 exchange students, one from Poland, one from Norway and one from Holland. They could not believe how easy our education system was, specifically homework. Of course you can look at the USA's standings the worldwide ranking of math and science knowledge and see what no homework gets you.

Patty, I'm wondering since your so against abortion, where are your In Vitro Fertilization rants?

Nothing for me this week, , but I am also 3 pounds from the lowest I have been in 16 years so I am not complaining.