gldngrrl

Right back at ya!

I do my own version of his, basically drinking odwalla type drinks and Protein smoothies. Mostly to sort of reset the pouch, by bypassing it a few days with just liquid food that goes right through the stoma . It also get me used to not wanting to feel overfull . And finally it helps me kick start my resolve and ability to say.no to things I should avoid. My band isn't very full to begin with, so there isn't a ton of restriction for me, but after this I do notice my band is more effective. I just stay on smoothies etc for as long as I can, this time I'm on day 5, and I just transition to soft protein for a day or so. I don't restrict calories or anything, but always drop a few pounds of Water and other types of "waste". . Anyhow. i like hearing how this is working for orhers!

It was hard ... especially because we were totally knocked out by the flu that's running around. Mostly hit us with overwhelming fatigue, and we just did nothing for days.. drive me nuts, and every day I lay in bed i felt the fat cells growing ad growing . And I never lose my appetite with illness ohhh no! I eat everything ! And bourbon was a significantly delicious factor in my holiday season. But, I'm totally back in the game, with only a.minor gain that literally seemed to drop off after a couple good BMs. Back to working out regularly, avoiding the trigger foods, only one glass of wine a night during the week .... and finally feeling well enough to return to our hiking/snowshoeing and long weekend runs! But it does bring you down... and I had to cut myself some slack knowing it could be worse...and that I didn't use falling off the wagon as an excuse to just stop trying.. Yay to all of us who dusted themselves off, grabbed the reigns and climbed back on that wagon! Giddy-up!!! Whoop!

Exactly! In fact for us, we have to get started earlier on hike day which can be a little tough!

This is just the hardest month for me to get in any mileage!!! Last January I only managed a measly 12 miles! But I was recovering from a hysterectomy and my activity was pretty limited. It wasn't until march that numbers went up, and that was around 54 Miles. So if I can beat that I'll be stoked . I don't walk daily (walking isn't very effective for me unless it's up a mountain with a pack on my back ), but I need to muster the energy to maybe climb the treadmill a bit further .... And I do have a winter goal of doing a distance snowshoe....,maybe 10 Mike's, with a couple 1000 ft incline.... so we'll see ...

I understand for sure, my fills are totally out of pocket until my deductible is met . Also I have an unpleasant vagal response to fills... when the band is deflated, so I'm willing to work a little harder and be a.little hungrier until I absolutely stop making progress. For me, my band is less about restriction to lose weight, I've lost weight before... it's to keep me from giving up when I plateau and go back to over eating and oversized portions, which lead to gaining my weight back. That said,.I am totally dependant on physical activity to maintain also, and if something happened and I couldn't exercise regularly, I'd probably need a.snug little band

This is all true. And also for some, hitting that green zone is a challenge. I'm sure I'm nowhere near, but I've also managed to lose 90 lbs with lots of hard work. I don't want to be hungry either. And I suspect it's time for me to be more on the aggressive side about eating to hit goal . On the other hand I don't like the potential of having a too tight band and the issues that come with that. I think B-52, you posted somewhere that you sometimes can't swallow Water when.working out and have to spit it back in a towel? Not.something I really want to experience to simply feel hungry less. Also, not my own personal definition of green zone, either. In order for my band to work, I need to be willing to mentally accept that a 1/2 cup portion is enough food, and for my band to leave my tummy in agreement of that. I think, with my activity level, I'd feel hungry at 800 cal a day no matter how tight my band is, as I don't always feel it in my stomach, I get dizzy, lightheadedness, etc. I'd rather exercise more than have to eat only 800 cal a day. And to maintain my goal, when I meet it, I am supposed to be able to eat ~2000 cal a day, I'm looking forward to that!

This is nothing like a stitch, I've had those. It probably doesn't help that I am an experienced nurse, so I am aware of way too much and all the things that can go wrong with WLS patients (I've cared for many). So of course, when something hurts - significantly, I get a little concerned!

Hey there! So last summer I trained for and ran/ walked a 1/2 marathon... so for me "long distance " is more than 6 miles... I run intervals 3min run at a ~13 min / mile pace, walk 1 at a 15 min/ mile pace. But still working hard, heart rate up, sweating... the whole deal. I'm still in the 190 lb range, so a bit more to go before I'm trim enough to run faster and longer intervals. So with that in mind, here's my question... do any of you who run long distances (for.me it's after about 90 min of running) have any trouble with abdominal pain? Like major, severe cramping - it usually hits me at the end and continues the rest of the day. I'm fine by the next day. There's usually a couple trips to the potty too. Today I ran 13.8 miles, took over 3 hrs ( the last couple miles were in the dark,.trying to find the trail!). And I had the.worst pain I've ever had after running, even some awful dry heaving. I've talked to my surgeon about it, as the was an issue last summer, he didn't seem concerned, said it was probably some temporary bowel ischemia, and some inflammation from the reperfusion when I finish. I just wonder if having the Lapband in there is an additional factor... I've tried everything, too. Different pre rum food sources, and timing of meals before and after. I eat energy gummies during, drink Water, but not tons. Coconut water for the electrolytes after... etc. Anyone have this issue too and what has helped ?!

My doc told me he didn't like doing lapbands, mostly because the population of patients he had couldn't be successful with it, or at least as successful as they would be with other surgeries. And he openly admitted it has to do with motivation and the willingness to work hard and make major life changes. Most of the work is on you with the band, unlike bypass, for example- that magically drops weight (initially) just simply by altering the body's ability to absorb calories. In my case, I had already changed my diet and become very active with exercise before the surgery. After the first year post-op, I was hiking regularly and I had climbed a volcano, the second year I had started running and finished a 1/2 marathon. And I've lost about 90 lbs- with about 40-50 lbs to goal. So I am not dropping pounds lightening fast. And my band is about half way filled, but I hardly notice it. I am trying to do as much as I can before it has to be "tight". That's my last resort. At this point, what it does for me, is keep me from regaining when I hit a plateau- which had always been my problem in the past. You have to know yourself and especially know your relationship with food. When I was losing my pre op weight, I kept a food diary- but I also journaled a lot about why I was eating, how I felt about food and I explored my emotional relationship with food- and found that I didn't think I had much of an addiction to food emotionally. I didn't eat to deal with things, I just ate because food is yummy. So it's a little easier to control than if i was really turning to food for emotional support- and in that case, any WLS will be challenged to work. I did know I needed to be aware of when I did eat emotionally or binge in rare cases, because those where the things that would sabotage me. So basically, I think if people go into any WLS knowing why they were big in the first place- the WLS will give them the tools to take control of the issue, but it won't solve it. For me it was portion control, and luckily the band helped with that, but I also had to ramp up my physical activity and be more aware of foods that were just not worth eating.

http://www.5daypouchtest.com/ I recommend you take a look at this and give it a try. It's a good way to reset.eating habits and give your pouch a rest before getting back on track...

The fat burning zone is a bit of a myth. I'd say aim for a higher intensity workout , within what is safe and comfortable for you.

Great story !!! I am following a similar path, but still waiting to get closer to my goal so I can be a stronger runner. I transitioned from elliptical to incline treadmill and lots of hiking. That first summer I trained for and climbed Mt St Helens! And that was at about 220 lbs. I then picked up the C25k, skipped the bridge trained for and completing a 1/2 marathon this last summer. And that was at around 190! Still 40-50 lbs to goal. I'm not sure what I'll try next! Maybe start backpacking, and climbing Mtn Adams, which is an overnighterer! As a result, I am the biggest cheerleader for exercise of any and all kinds! It's vital to success and overall wellness!

Nice! I'm not a morning exerciser ... or much of a morning anything! My runs during the week, this time if year are in the evening, indoors on the treadmill. I look forward to summer, when I'm not teaching and I can get outside in the mild Seattle sunshine! My longer weekend run is outside, rain or shine!!! Keep up the great work !

Yay for us!!!!

Centrum now makes an adult chewable...it's cheaper than the speciality vitamins. As bandsters we don't have any mal- absorption , so a general multi usually is sufficient ...

(Sorry about the double post, dumb phone app!!)

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/06/24/exercise.myths.trainers/index.html See #6. Apparently the.fat burn workout is lower intensity, lower heart rate goal, etc. But you.burn calories with high intensity workouts too. I'd probably never lose weight if I had done the fat burn. N the other hand, your intensity needs to be enough to get a good workout, but not so much you cause injury. So instead of worrying about the type of workout, listen to your body.