Betsyjane

I go to the gym. The treadmill there calculates my target heart rate and keeps me there, and calculates calories burned. I wear my iPod shuffle. nike has some iTunes music for specific workouts. i haven't downloaded it yet, but it looks interesting. I also have a few free weights at home and a wobble board and exercise ball. I have to be careful, though. If I don't watch it, I buy stuff rather than exercising! My Dr said I couldn't do stomach crunches for 3 months, and I was actually happy to start doing them. I like the wieghts....just hard to get myself on that treadmill, even with great tunes.

I'm trying to decide what to do next. The weight isn't falling off without effort, so I'm getting more serious about exercise and thinking about some diet revisions. I've caught myself grazing lately, and I think iot's because I'm not getting enough calories in at each meal. It's hard right now. i broke a tooth and it hurts to chew chew chew, so I'm on mushier food that doesn' lead me to feeling as full. I'm also looking for appropriate snacks. Any dieas?

Congrats on crossing your legs!

Hey LeeinDe: don't worry. it gets better. Have you discovered Better Than Boullion Soup base yet? For a clear liquid, it's really hearty. the ham flavor feels like comfort food. LizRBit: How ya doing down there is Galveston? Have you been to The Strand yet?

I had some heartburn and found that I was eating too close to bedtime.

Jennifer: At the proper fill amount, the band DOES significantly decrease my grazing and cravings. What was impossible work on my diet and health has become hard work and entirely possible with the band. The stats my Dr. gave me were that on average, a lap band patient loses half their unnecessary weight and keeps it off. the gastric bypass person on average loses 70% of their unnecessary weight and regains 20% of it. You beat the averages if you do what you said...exercise and work the program alot. My willpower has always been nonexistent. With the band, it is better. "Better" to me is a miracle.

Just curious. why would restricting the stomach cause pneumonia?

Hey Barbara-What's the Mexican restaurant you like in Atascocita?

Anybody want to meet for dinner this Monday night...just go play together? I haven't tried Mexican food since I've been banded!

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/ Do the BMR calculation and then the Harris-Benedict and you're there! Sorry about your knee! I just got back from 24 Hour Fitness. Hired a personal trainer for next week just to get me on track again. She actually seems like a real person and not just a cheerleader or Rocky Balboa. Let me know if you go back to Jazzercise and I'll go. I figure I have cruised as much as I can and now I need to count stuff and get more exercise......

I hate liquid vitamins but I LOVE GNC Solotron chewables! Lemon lime flavor and sweet!

Me neither. No willpower. It just helps if I don't have it in the house. Can't say I'm always a saint....

How are you feeling?

Woo Hoo! Did you know that you are my hero.....

I have a different take on this. My theory is that aritficial sweeteners don't work long term because you still are accustomed to things being overly sweet. And since artificial sweeteners raise your blood sugar exactly like sugar does, they will precipitate a binge just like sugar. The brain just can't tell the difference. The only advantage to aritificals is that they have less calories....a different topic than getting rid of a sweet tooth. I find if I don't eat sweets at all I want them less than if I eat artifical sweets. If I have to eat somethign sweet, like a protein shake when I'm too restricted, I'm watering it down alot. Otherwise, I'm trying to stay sweet-free/chemical free. What do you think?

Most of us have been there. On liquids or mushies and craving food....banded but not restricted. Here's an idea. Think of feeling guilty for binging as your old way of doing business, pre-band. Now that you're banded, think of it as part of the learning curve. You try things, you discard them and try other things. When you're on solids, you'll have to learn all about that. When you are getting fills, you'll learn about that. the first time you are restricted and try to eat without chewing enough, wow will you learn that lesson! It's a long journey, and a good one. I just read an article about a woman in her 80s who starts each day by looking in the mirror and saying "I forgive you for anything you did yesterday". Every day is a new day with lots to learn. And think of it this way....Before the band, would you have stopped at chili and 10 fries after the amount of calories you didn't have for the rest of the day? It's starting to work, that darned band. Celebrate progress.

Attadoc, Dr. C! And congrats Sherry for getting what you need!

Just thinking out loud. Here's my latest cypherin'. With my BMR, I need 954 calories a day to lose 2 pounds a week, or 1454 calories a day to lose 1 pound a week. Since "they" recommend not going under 1100 calories a day, that's my goal. Mostly from protein, fat from olive oil for cooking and any incidental fats I come across, and carbs mostly from veges. That's the plan. I guess I have to refigure the BMR as I lose weight, and if I increase exercise.....

I've been drinking protein shakes for breakfast (restricted), and meat and veges for lunch and dinner. Oddly, I miss regular old raw vegetable salads! My ideal diet for healthy would be mostly raw vegetables, garnished with meat, and raw fruits. Is anybody out there succeeding at a similar diet with the band?

My needs are simple. I want to walk with my arms hanging down comfortably at my sides instead of sticking out. I want to walk like a model, sort of...hips engaged without worrying that that just pushes my stomach out more. I want to own a swim suit. I want to not have to wish all my shoes were W width. I want to hold hands with my husband abd have his fingers go all the way to the end of my fingers. I want to own pants without elastic. I want to go through a summer without folds of skin causing chapping. I want to run without every inch of me bouncing. I want a waistline.

I'm a Spivak baby too. No regrets. I didn't hesitate to have it done...brave all the way....until I got to the day of surgery. then every doubt flooded in. One surprise was that Dr. Spivak had arranged for a person with Lupus who was banded to be there to stay with me and my husband. I have Lupus, and she knew some of what was going on in my head. It was a nice touch. I awoke from surgery groggily saying to myself that I needed to tell them to remove it while they were in ther, or something like that. that was my last hesitancy. I'm so glad I had it done. I was both a binger and a grazer. Now I'm on that neverending learning curve to my wieght goal, and alot of peace of mind. We'll look forward to meeting you, Kathy. If we see someone crawling in with a water bottle, we'll know it's you.

I have a 10cm/5cc band. This fill stuff will always be somewhat mysterious. I too showed huge restriction at the filling station :-) but had none when I got home. Then this last time it worked. I've heard of people getting unfilled and later partially filled and finally got restriction. I've heard of people more restrticted during periods, during air travel. Jeez. I got out of a plateau with my weight by sitting down to Godiva chocolate one day! All we can do is keep at it and try to stay patient and active! And keep asking questions.

I might name mine Trixie. Trixie was a guard dog we owned, may she rest in peace.

If anybody want s to go with me to the 24 Hour Fitness in Atascocita, I have guest passes. I don't know if they'll harrass you to join or leave us alone, but my guess is that they won't do a hard sell.

Muscle Milk has a ready to drink premixed too. Sooo smooth and rich! 25g protein.I like Muscle Milk lLight...or the regular one diluted 50/50 with water and ice. It's almost too rich!