bosteph

I also recommend FitDay. After I signed up for the free online version, I upgraded and downloaded the software version for around $10. It was so worth it. The software version is ten times better than the online version Good luck.

You may need to eat more - 900 calories is not very much. I see a nutrionist/trainer twice per week and he recommends that everyone needs at least 1200 calories per day. It is possible that you are in "starvation" mode. Boosting your calories will probably help. Your hunger might be mental. "Head" hunger has been very difficult for me. Honestly though, at some point, you will have to resort to the dreaded exercise.:faint:

Do I still enjoy food? Yes, I think more now than pre-band. I eat slowly and actually taste my food. I'm not sure that I did previously. What does it feel like to be lighter? I am almost 50lbs lighter. It is amazing to be riding in the car and look down to see my lap. I can tie my shoes without holding my breath. I can run without passing out. I have gone through every size in my closet and have had to replace 3/4's of my wardrobe. I love to put my hands on my waist and actually feel a waist. I can travel by plane without "oozing" into the other seats. I have tons more energy. My skin looks better. My sex life has improved. I get compliments from family and co-workers - even my 16 yr old son is proud of my weight loss. What I have gotten from this band is so much more than just weight loss. It is hard to put into words. I am sure that it is different for everyone. Good luck.

I was on Clear liquids with only 2 Protein shakes per day for 7 days pre-op. The good news is that I lost 17 pounds during that one week. The bad news is that I was very difficult to live with and I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown by surgery day. I started the infamous "Is Sucking on a chicken Nugget Cheating?" thread. Boy, did that stir things up on the boards... I had a fill on Wednesday and the doctor said, "Protein Shakes for a week, can you do it?" I will do it but I won't like it one bit. I have suffered to protect this band - like many people on these boards but the rewards have been great. I've gone from a size 22 to a 14. I feel good about me and people are giving me compliments. You can do it. You are not weak for thinking about (or even actually) cheating. You are human. We are works in progress - BE KIND TO YOURSELF!!! Good luck on your journey. :biggrin1:

My height is 5'8" and I now weigh 210 pounds (gotta update my signature). I have really taken Dr. Z's advice to heart. He has really opened my eyes to the fact that you can be a "skinny" person and still have a very high percentage of body fat. When your body is starved it will burn what it needs to function - the most common sacrifice is muscle mass. Consuming too few calories will result in weight loss but not the kind that is sustainable. I now embrace the plateaus. This means that I am nourishing my body, building muscle mass and burning fat at the right levels. As my muscle mass increases the metabolic benefits will burn the excess, unneeded fat. Good luck to everyone. Breakfast 1/2 Asiago cheese bagel 1 egg 1 slice of lean bacon 1 slice of cheese 1 cup of skim chocolate milk (separate from my meal) lunch 2 slices of turkey breast 1 slice of Gouda 2 slices of Sara Lee Delightful Multi-Grain bread (only 90 calories) 15 white cheddar soy crisps 1 100-calorie pack of Lorna Doone Cookies dinner 1 Taco Bell Taco salad (shell not eaten) 1 fat free Tapioca pudding Snack 6 oz. of Grapes Total calories - 1468 Total Protein - 78

I see a nutrionist/trainer twice per week (a work benefit). This guy is amazing - he's 68 and has never missed a day of working out in his life. He has a PhD in biology. He considers himself to be a scientist first and a fitness expert second. We call him Dr. Z. I have been working out with him since I got released by my doctor in January. The workouts are geared around cardio and weight lifting. Dr. Z understands the science of how to make your body work efficiently. His belief is that natural foods (this would include whole eggs, real butter and real sugar) are not bad for you. His plan is everything in moderation and don't eliminate anything. We had a great debate about carbs. He explained to us that chemically speaking the body must have carbohydrates to burn fat. Without carbs, excess fat cannot be disposed of by the body. I was only averaging 1200 calories per day in February. I lost inches but no pounds. I talked this over with Dr. Z in mid March and he told me that I should never consume less than 1500 calories in a day (balanced diet w/ Protein emphasis) and that I should be closer to 1700. I immediately pumped up my consumption and I have lost 8 pounds. In addition, I increased my carb intake. I always eat within one hour of a workout to replace the energy that I used in the workout. This means that my body will not resort to "conservation" mode. These things have worked for me so I just wanted to share...

Breakfast - Slimfast & coffee lunch - 3 eggs and a low-fat sausage link 1.5 hour workout 1 cup of grape juice dinner - 3 oz. Baked cod and 1 corn cobbette Dessert - 1 mini Blue Bell ice cream cone (90 calories - yum!) Calories = 1355 Protein = 74

I doubt that the "skinny" people looked graceful the first time that they used the Bean. It takes time to get the hang of it. Those folks are professionals. If you look at the before and after pictures I bet those people were also floppin' all over the place on their first try. As a future former big girl, I know that I look "un-athletic" doing any type of exercise - for now. I keep plugging away though and it is getting better. Give it some more time before you beat yourself up because you don't look like the people in the video. Good luck. :biggrin1:

I hate to be the lone ranger but it depends... Sometimes diabetes can cause permanent damage in the vascular system of the penis. It is important that you see a urologist to get an official diagnosis of the problem. Good luck and I wish you the best. Even if there is damage there are treatments that most insurances will cover.

I was banded on 12/20 and had my first fill on 1/31 - 3ccs in a small band.:omg: Here's the worst part - I lost 3 lbs in February. Only 3 freakin' pounds!! I have lost no pounds in March. I have had some NSV's like I have lost over 30 inches off of my body (7 inches on thighs alone). I started as a size 20 and now I am wearing 14's. I am working out 6 days per week - a mixture of cardio, strength and weight training. I am getting 60-80 grams of Protein per day. I am not drinking while eating. I am getting at least 48 oz of Water in daily - usually more. I am taking my Vitamins. My daily caloric intake is averaging around 1300. I keep a daily food journal and have faithfully documented everything that I have eaten since 12/13 (pre-op diet). What else should I do? Is it possible that I need another fill? I don't feel hungry between meals and I know that my meals are much smaller than pre-band but I am frustrated with the scales. Has anyone else experienced a 4-week plateau? What broke it?

You didn't say anything about your Protein intake... While on liquids it is really important to get your protein up to at least 50g per day. That will also help you to feel fuller. My saving grace was skim milk. That always helped me feel fuller. Good luck and congratulations on your band!

This is 9 weeks post-op. Scars - 2 mo. post op.bmp

Today I bought pajama pants at Aeropostale (which doesn't have a "womens" size section) and I could get a regular belt around me. :cheer2:

The hardest thing for me so far has been the "head" hunger. My body is satisfied but my head just wants something - anything - it's not picky. I have realized that I obsess. Before the band, the obession was food. Now my obsession is logging everything that I eat. I downloaded FitDay and carry my laptop everywhere. I am giving myself permission to obsess but I am not allowing myself to obsess about food. While obsession itself may not be the healthiest behavior, I have decided to focus my obsessive behaviors in ways that will ultimately benefit me. I have recognized that I am 100% onboard or 0% onboard - there is no in between. If you can change behavior for two weeks, chances are you can make a new habit. That new habit could be exercise, food journaling, collecting stamps - whatever. Anything that gets your mind off of eating food is a good thing. Tonight I went to Chipotle (1st time since being banded) and got a carnitas burrito with sour cream and cheese. I brought it back to my hotel (out of town on business) and looked up the nutrion info. That stupid burrito is 1157 calories!!! I ate the pork, Beans and the cheese. The rest of the burrito had to go in the trash. I couldn't believe it was so bad for me. I am still learning and will probably continue to order things that I have to throw out. The point is that I didn't eat it. Good luck, get back on the horse and start living the life that you deserve. Happiness is within your grasp. Dig deep and be honest with yourself.

Another popsicle here!!! :becky: Fortunately, DH had lapband last month so we are freezing together. Most nights we go to bed early and snuggle under the electric blanket. It's so weird because before this I sweated profusely. Walking to the kitchen could have me looking like I'd just gone 3 rounds in a prize fight. Gross!

Posting these pics is like therapy. Letting go of my "old" body is going to be harder than I thought. It's hard to believe that I am so much smaller...

You'll get there!!! Keep at it and any goal that you set for yourself is attainable.

I have lost 29.5 inches from my body!!! :biggrin1: I have gone from a tight size 20W to a loose 16 regular. My goals: Tie my shoes without holding my breath - check :clap2: Buy boots that zip up the side - check :clap2: Cross my legs comfortably - check :clap2: Unfortunately, I am at my first plateau. I will get past it. I need to move a little more.

I have lost 29.5 inches from my body!!! :biggrin1: I have gone from a tight size 20W to a loose 16 regular. My goals: Tie my shoes without holding my breath - check :clap2: Buy boots that zip up the side - check :clap2: Cross my legs comfortably - check :clap2: Unfortunately, I am at my first plateau. I will get past it. I need to move a little more.

I am sure that you'll be in one-derland very soon. I will be so jealous because my passport is on hold for at least 4 more weeks.

Avocado w/ just salt, pepper & lime juice. The small ChefBoyArdee single serving bowls Cottage Cheese w/ mandarin oranges Steamed Cauliflower mashed like potatoes with some parmesan cheese Chicken (tuna or ham) salad that has been pulsed in the food processor Yogurt Fat-free pudding Refried beans Creamed spinach

The liquid diet was very emotional for me. Pre-op was a stressful time and I had to endure without my old friend - food. Some nights I just had to go to bed by 7 p.m. to stop the emotional pain. The hunger pain wasn't so bad as long as I got in my Protein requirements. My tips: Skim milk is your friend. That made me feel the fullest. I am not a milk drinker but the full feeling was so good that I adapted. Popsicles are the bomb. Chewing gum made me less crazy. Journal, journal, journal If you are comfortable with telling others do so. Having others "know" kept me on the straight and narrow. Get your protein - at least 60 grams per day. It will help you feel full and keep your energy level up. This is preparation for a life changing surgery - not a diet. You will not have to do this forever. It helped to keep reminding myself that this surgery is a gift. You can do it. You won't back out this time. The scars... The various incisions are necessary for the camera, for the gas that keeps your stomach inflated and for the surgical instruments to insert and place the band. In addition to 4 or 5 small incisions you will have one larger (approx. 2 inches) for your port. This is the one that hurts some.

Congratulations!!!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: Like you, I thought that fear of surgery was my main concern. What I have determined since the surgery is that was not my biggest fear at all. My biggest fear through all of this is failure. I have been a complete failure at keeping lost weight off for most of my adult life. Every time that I try and don't succeed just adds another shovel-full on my mountain of failure. Pretty soon that baby is so big that you'd have to be a good mountain climber to even take a chance on trying. Thus begins the cycle of "I just have to accept myself as I am" until I can't stand it anymore. I go on a diet then brace myself for the inevitable failure. I just didn't want to go through a surgery, get my hopes up, have everyone know about it and then be humilated when the inevitable failure arrived. What I know now is this... I can do this. I am doing it. I will do this. I can feel that this is different than anything that I could have expected. I am active. I am positive. It's only been 6 weeks but on a diet I would have already derailed. You can do it too. I just know it. Follow the guidelines that your doctor gives you and you will do great. Good luck and a speedy recovery. P.S. - my husband will be banded next Thursday :biggrin1:

My gurgling was VERY loud the week after surgery. It got a lot quieter after I started the mushies. I got a fill on Wednesday and the gurgling is back. It's kind of like an old friend now. I'm glad to hear it again because that was when I lost more than the normal 1-2 pounds per week. I choose to believe that gurgling is the sound that fat makes as it leaves the body. :biggrin1: BRING ON THE GURGLES - I HOPE EVERYBODY HEARS IT!!!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

:sick :sick :sick Why do we need sinuses? I am sure that there is a good reason but right now I can't see one. I am home sick (yesterday too). I hate to miss work unplanned. DH is having lapband next Thursday. I am so excited for him. He has already lost 16 pounds on the liquid diet. 2007 is our year. Our son is worried that we will stop buying food for our house or that I will make him eat the same "weird" stuff that I eat. BFF ChaCha is doing great. Her butt is shrinking. Is it weird for me to talk about my friend's butt in my journal? :eek: I don't care - I am so happy for her. Liquids after a fill aren't as hard as they were before the band. The only problem that I am having is finding sinus medicine that is small enough and still works. We are all going on a cruise on May 6th. I know that we will be smaller, sexier and more energetic. We are on our way to the lives that we deserve. I am counting my blessings today for they are many.