vlp1968

My advice is to focus on what your eating- the portion control will come with restriction. I reccomend a lowcarb/lowfat/high protien diet. Also, once your cleared, excersise would be great. Hope this helps and hang in there!

It's not silly at all- that's a great NSV- your shrinking! I haven't had an nsv for a while- went on vacation for 2 weeks and am having trouble getting back on track, both with eating right and excersise. Today, so far so good, so hopefully this is the start. I will hit the gym in the morning.

You are dong great! Just think, the idea is to get smaller, not neccessarily lighter. Noone sees that number on the scale but you. Your shrinking, that's awsome.

I do pretty much what the above post says. I counted calories and protien, and kept the diet very low in fat but didn't count. the only significant fat was in a 1/4 c nuts I'd have for a snack. Also, excersise is so important, always want to put in a plug for that.

I ate alot of cottage cheese and apple sauce. Mashed potatoes would be fine too, although to many carbs for once your all healed and on solid food. Yougurt would be good. Refried beans are another idea. Hope this helps.

I have a personal trainer and love it. She's great! Really keeps me motivated and accountable. I haven't learned to love the workouts but I love the results. I do weights with her 4 days a week for 1/2 hr and cardio on my own about 5 days. It is well worth the investment!

You sound ready to get healthy, following your nutritionist guidelines. Have you thought about therapy to work on your eating disorder? I think that would be a key component on your journey toward a healthy life and a healthy relationship with food. Good luck.

Lots of great advice! I would add to start out slow and gradually build up your duration/intensity. I started out with a slow walk for 20 minutes on the treadmill. Now I jog for 30 or walk briskly on an incline for 45. I haven't learned to love it, but it's become part of my routine. I agree with the poster who said get a trainer if you can, I have one and love it. She really keeps me motivated. We do weights 4 days a week. You can do it! You might not love doing it, but you'll love the results!

You've gotten some good adive so far. I like the idea of beef jerky, lots of chewing and it's full of protien. Dr. Phil reccomends brushing and flossing your teeth. It may be a signal to stop eating. I know I don't like the feeling of eating right after I brush my teeth. Might be worth a try. Good luck!

I go to a support group at the hospital I had my surgery. The psychologist I worked with runs it. She's great. I haven't been able to go for the past few months and miss it. Will go next month for sure.

Not a small NSV at all. Kinda reminds me of when I realized I didn't need the extra large blood pressure cup. Congrats!

I did weight watchers off and on for a while, didn't work for me. I just wasn't ready. I do believe it is a very healthy program and the meetings are almost a form of therapy. I suggest you try it, while tweeking the diet to be band friendly. Keep us posted on how it goes. Oh, one more thing. You may not want to metion you are banded, I have heard WW is pretty against it.

I don't think 300-400 calories over your goal is anything to worry about. You still only ate about 1200 cals, that's within a range that should result in weight loss. I am sure you didn't do any damage to your band, so no worries.

Getting proffessional help is a huge step! Congratulations on that! Don't beat yourself up about a past you can't change, just look at what you can do in the future. Every day- every meal actually- is a chance to make healthy choices.

You have a great goal! Fitting into smaller clothes is just the best feeling- I think it's as good as, if not better than, seeing the scale move. I can't wait to see that pic. of you in the dress. You can do it!

I have always snacked. They are planned healthy snacks. Usually 1/4c nuts and 2 cheese sticks. Nuts are pretty dense in calories and fat so I always measure then out. I think everyone needs to find what works for them. Good luck!

I agree with the above posts about getting a fill. I also want to put a plug in for excerise. If your not, start. If you are, up what your doing. Working out has so many benefits, just one being weight loss. Start out slow and gradually increase your duration/intensity. I started out walking slowly for 20 minutes on the treadmill. I now jog for 30 or walk briskly on an incline for 45. I lost 107 pounds in about 10 months. You can do it!

Chicken may give you trouble, especially if it's dry. I was told to start with fish. If you eat it, I would go for that first. A lot of times people don't even feel a first fill. Although, I think you might, you got a large fill. Keep us posted. Oh- and I stay away from the frozen meals, too much sodium and carbs. I also just don't like them.

I like the treadmill at the gym. I walk on an incline briskly for 45 min. or jog for 30. I started out real slow and have greadually increased my duration/intensity. When I jog I go fast for 4 then slow down for 1 minute, then fast again... It's suppossed to burn more fat that way. I second the Jane Fonda videos. I used to use them. There is a step routine that is awsome. You can get it on Ebay, it's from the 80's. Whaterever you do will be beneficial- the main thing is to get moving.

i am a diehard stomach sleeper. I slept on my stomach right away- didn't hurt but I have a pretty high pain tolerance. If your comfortable on your side, I would do it. I don't think it will hurt anything. Congrats on your surgery.

I am so sorry you lost your job. Excerise really will help with the stress- and your weight. There is something about working out that helps with food choices. The silver lining of not working is that you will have time to workout- although I know you'll be spending time looking for a new job. Use this time to get into a routine. Hope things get better!

Hot tea is a great idea. I've been told hot liquids loosen up the band, don't know if it's true for postop swelling but it can't hurt. Make it decaff and it will count towards your fluids. Just keep doing your best, as your doing. You will feel much better in a few days. Congrats on your surgery!

You are doing just fine. It is time for healing. It is known as bandster hell, the time inbetween surgery and when the fills finally give you restriction. It took me 3 fills to feel any restriciton. That seems to be a pretty common number on this board. Hang in there and know restriction will come.

My Doc. uses a local before he accesses the port. I don't feel the long needle going into the port at all. The local barely stings. I don't know what it would be like to do it without the local, never wanted to try it out.

3 pounds a week- that's a great pace. It's so fun when it comes off fast in the beggining. Keep up the good work!