Kelly22

I lost a 104 pounds in a year. I've always been a big exerciser. I just couldn't do the eating. It took me a year to really recover from the surgery and bike like i used to bike. This way of life is severely lacking in carbs and biking without carbs is difficult. After a year, I kind of just stopped losing weight. I had to have an unfill once because I was too tight. I knew it was too tight because I couldn't even drink water. I called my doc immediately. I probably do need to get a fill again but after being too tight, I think I might wait a little longer. October rolled around and then the holidays and winter!!!! OMG I gained back 20 pounds. Frustrating! There was also coming off my diuretic BP meds. Now that it's warmer and nicer outside, I'm back to biking and working out again with a higher intensity. Turns out my calories are too low for my workouts. As soon as I raised my calorie intake to fit the exercise and starting logging in my calories, I started losing again. But Howdybooth may be right, it might be time to get a fill. I can eat certain types of bread, thin crust and crusty types. I bet being tighter I wouldn't be able to eat any those. I don't want to go through this every winter! It takes work! Maintenance for me will probably be a long time of still logging calories!

Yeah I am new to this as well!!! I did however find out what it was like to "slime" this week twice!!!! Two mistakes I made! I first ate a few bites of grilled chicken and then followed it with a liquidity soup!!! OH yeah the no drinking extends to not eating soupy Soup on top of real food too!!! It wasn't anything I wouldn't consider eating separately but together was bad!!! :) And then....after two days of all liquids, like we are supposed to do after getting stuck/sliming, I ate broccoli for the first time since surgery. OMG!!! That was painful and slimy! So again with the two more days of liquids for me!!!! HANG IN THERE BANDSTERS!!!!:thumbup: Live and learn! Oh yeah no more stringy veggies for me !!!

GoodWill!!!!!!!! I'm not buying "real" clothes until I'm close to goal!!! I buy my black work slacks at Good Will because I know I won't be wearing them long!!!!!!! Of course, I just bought some skinny jeans because the style of jeans at Good Will are stuck in the 60s I think lol....

I'm in Smyrna! I've had my band since May 24! I'm doing well. I'm actually going to my band support group tonight! I had mine done at Baptist in Nashville by Dr. Morton. They are a great group!!:mad: I had Cigna insurance through the state! I jumped all the hoops! I was denied in the beginning and then when they reapplied I was having surgery 12 days later!

I thought she was doing Weight Watchers bc of the commericals she's in!

I'm about seven pounds from being under 200!!!! I'm soooo excited it will be this month!!!!!!

I love the scale pic!!!!:thumbup:

Remember the first month is for healing!!!!!!

That's my surgery date too!!!!!!!!! I'm soooo pleasedddddd with my wgt loss! So far I've lost 41 pds for a total of 52.5, if you include the six-month presurgery diet. Of course, I lost a lot of wgt during that pre-op diet to the pt the shakes and my meds were making me sick! Thank goodness that is over! I have to keep journaling my food or I get off track and eat food too high in fat!!!!!!! It's always such a process! But this one is working! The nurse cautioned me that at some pt the wgt loss will slow down but not to get discouraged! I've been adding walking to my biking. I'm doing a 31 mile bike ride on Aug 21st! So far I'm only back to 16 miles. Just hope my bummmm can handle the seat for that long!:redface:

You Rock!!!! Half Marathons are fun! My next one I plan on doing thin! I've done them a lot heavier and still finished! I've been having the same problem but with my cycling! I'm out of energy before I get to the half-way point! Protein alone is not cutting it. My nutritionist suggested adding Beans and a fruit the night before an event/long run/long bike ride. She said to go conservative and stay under 50 carbs for the whole day. My doc has us at 25 carbs for the day. Beans have all three; carbs, Proteins and fiber! Then the morning of to have a fruit and protein and then a gu/gel during. Of course, for the marathon you will need more than one gu and probably a salt pack. If you're not sweating on a long run and see swelling in your hands, you need salt with your Water. I usually just bring salt packets that you get a a fast food place to put in my pouch while running. Good luck!!!!!!!!! Happy Training!

I agree with a previous post! Don't beat yourself up...just start over! Some suggest doing the Protein liquid diet for three days when starting over to get rid of the sugar/carb addiction. The Protein shakes have to have less sugar so they are like the EAS shakes and other protein like unjury that you add to Crystal light. My doc is adamant that we only have minimum of 25 carbs which come from Beans and veggies. Forget slider foods like Pasta and mash potatoes! With my band and its restriction, I don't have room for much of anything but protein. Yes, my menu gets boring but it does help as you say to be prepared. The other thing is you need to realize that life happens and there will be times you go out so you need to know what are alternatives too. Chili at Wendy's is an option for me. I eat boring stuff because I'm picky and everybody has their dislikes. However, what helps me most is writing everything down! Before I started writing stuff down, I really thought I was within the range my doc wanted. Yet after I started it, I knew I wasn't and realized what I was doing wrong. Writing down everything will show you if you are getting at least 60 grams of protein and keeping the calories low to what you doc says and the fat grams low. The other advice is go to a support group for the band. My doc office has two groups that meets once a month. I learn new stuff every time I go and it has helped me with my motivation! Wow, who knew I had so much to say! On the exercise, yeah do what you want to do so you do it! I decided to just start walking on the treadmill downstairs at work in this mock version of a gym at like 2.5 mph with a book and my music! I'm not dying, I don't have to change clothes, I'm not sweating and it's movement that I can just add to that doesn't bother me to do! Start with like 15 mins and then do 15 mins later! Keep your head up! Breakfast: Canadian Bacon low in fat and cal and about 10 grams of protein for three slices Turkey Ham (Higher in fat Proteins use sparingly but for variety when you are bored ...saugage and bacon) low sugar yogurt low carb fruits like some berries Lunch/dinner chicken, turkey, pork chops, fish, tuna, meatballs with sauce, meatloaf, pot roast, shrimp low carb veggies like broc, cali, green beans spinach, etc chili salad (watch the dressings for the sugar)

OMG! Mine was insane with having one right after the other! It wasn't painful. It was just like my birth control pills weren't being absorded or something. I had my period just before the surgery too. Then two days after the surgery I had another one. Then two weeks later again! I mean good grief!!!!!!! Now it seems to have to leveled out and back on track this month. We'll see!

Wow! And I thought shooting for a century ride was gonna be challenging! THAT'S IMPRESSIVE! I think my behind would rebel! LOL...I'm going biking this weekend but I'm only up for about 20 miles so far since being banded. My farthest ride previously was about 44 miles! So what kind of nutrition are you utilizing while biking? My doc has my carbs limited to about 25-35 a day, so while biking it's a bit difficult from what I'm used to using while training. I used to use GU and other power bar type things. I could tell a difference not using carbs for fuel last weekend but I didn't go far enough to need anything. Good luck!