sixtythreenova

Same Here, had bacon wrapped scallops on the 4th... no problems, cut then into quarters. ooohhhh... enjoy!!!

I'm so very happy you responded! Thank you!!! I'm just really relieved to hear that others have successfully gone on to competitive athletics with the band and are able to not have problems. When i do century rides i have always used gels and shot blocks but don't typically use additives to my Water bottles. Perhaps I'll begin experimenting with those and have good results. I don't keep the pace that you do, I'm more of a 16 to 17 mph average speed, but as i continue to drop weight, that may change as well. Again, thanks for taking the time to respond... it just brings me some relief since i have found none on this site who enjoy extreme athletics and long hours of preparation and have the band! Peace

I have read so many things about small bites and pencil eraser sized bites but is that really what everyone does..? I really, really try to make small bites and when i'm cutting say meat, i really try to be reasonable but sometimes get larger and chew, chew chew.... how important is it? With veggies, i don't monitor the size so much. Is this a mistake? I also had a hard boiled egg this morning and it was TERRIBLE... i won't ever eat them again. It was just the white and i wanted to throw up sooo badly, it hurt. But it was just a bite... any tips.? Thanks!

Hi There!!! I'm Diane and I'm from Fillmore, CA (Ventura County)! I was banded 6/4 and love this forum. It's nice to see others from CA. I was banded by Dr. Quillici through Cedars Sinai in Burbank.

Big08 I am so glad to see your post! I've never been able to find anyone who is a cyclist and rides extensive mileage. While i am overweight, banded a month ago and have currently lost 30 pounds, I am still a cyclist. I ride several organized centuries a year and train accordingly. I will regularly ride 25 miles a day and 50-75 on weekends. I have calmed down my mileage post surgery just to allow time for healing. I wish i had something great to post in reply to your questions, but rather i have a question for you... Do you have trouble with hydration on long rides or extensive workouts with a small stomach and reduced space for fluids and replenishment? I have found that I now seem to drink more on the bike than i did before, but that's possilby because i drink more often. I'm just extremely concerned about the 7 hour bike event and being able to hydrate and get nutrients without eating higher calorie denser foods while on the bike. Any suggestions?

Don't give up.... you can't quit now... the game has just began! First, if you give in and give up and just go back to your old ways, its dangerous. Your band is intended for a less quantity of food so if you start over eating you're putting too much stress on your little stomach it's soo not good for you. Second, you got into this with the intention of losing the weight permanently and you will!! You can do this, don't let yourself down. I know it seems hopeless and lousy and you feel overwhelmed and deprived but you'll really feel bad if you just let it all go now... right? I think everyone struggles. I'm a month out and just bumping along. Feeling some days like "what did i do to myself," but just remember your end goal... you just gotta keep walking one foot in front of another, one step at a time. Don't look at tomorrow, just look at today and you'll make it! Keep your head up ... Hugs

hmmmm.... well.. I was due the day before surgery and it never came. It came about 2 weeks after surgery and now has been coming every 3 or 4 days for about a half hour.... My body is VERY confused... I'll watch and see what others say too, because this has become quite inconvenient! Good luck

Okay this is REALLY WEIRD.... I was banded 3 weeks ago today and my incisions are just about healed up. I noticed today while in the restroom that coming out of two of my incisions is what looks like fishing line??? One is longer than the other, but something kept pricking me and i thought it was just a scab... not so!! Anyone have this happen to them??? Any suggestions??

Oh wow... Thanks! I was sort of freaking a little since i was glued and not stitched, at least that's what they told me!!! I go see the doctor next week and wanted to make sure i didn't need to go any sooner! Thanks nurse sandy!

UUUGGGHH... you guys i want to get to this point that you've reached with restriction and losing weight...!!! I'm almost 4 weeks out and going for my first fill on tuesday... But while i eat nothing i'm not losing weight... I just want to get to the point where i see loss and keep up the enthusiasm for losing. It's so upseting and perplexing to me that i'll lose weight with eating once filled and not eating now and not losing.... Okay, enough griping. Jacqui... If you're back reading this... From what i've read you began running long distances? I am a cyclist and although "fat" ride 100 mile centurys several times a year and train for those by riding anywhere from 25 to 70 miles a day.... my question is how did/do you find you get enough hydration with the band at optimal restriction... Has it been a problem for you?

comments like that Spartan really make me think twice before posting questions here... kind of sad.

So i was banded on June 4. Everything is progressing great! No pain, gas seems to be mostly gone, drinking fine, can eat, not losing much weight, but okay that'll come.... BUT... I have this stabbing pain which sometimes comes from my lower stomach (almost ovary area) and worse yet from under the right side of my ribs and into the center section where my ribs meet. It happens alot when i'm lying down in bed and the pain is so bad i double over and want to cry.. It's like being stabbed with a hot knife. When i stretch out my torso and lean back a little it's very evident. Does anyone know what this is or are you experiencing the same thing? Possibly gas??? I don't know... :smile2:

Lisagus... i posted just above yours about pain under my right ribs... i've gotten no responses yet, but i'll watch yours too to see if anyone has ideas. I have no fills yet, not until next week.

This is a super cool app!!!! Thanks for sharing!! I installed it and used it tonight on my walk and it's really cool and easy tracking, you can save it too.... ONE thing... haha... Don't hold your phone in your hand while walking if you swing your arms.. It seems to use motion as determining your speed, so i think mine may have been overestimated a little!! Otherwise, tHaNkS for SHARING !!!!:thumbup:

Okay here's another crazy question.... Although my highest weight just 2 months ago was 237 pounds, I am crazy about long distance cycling. Like tour de France stuff. I regularly ride my bike anywhere from 25 miles on weekdays to 75 miles on a weekend morning and several times a year ride organized Century rides. I can complete 100 miles on a bike in 7 hours. Does anyone know if getting the LapBand will make too much restiction on my hydration and nutrient requirements for this type of long distance cycling? I don't really require nutrients in mileage under 50 miles, but with the already reduced caloric intake sugars/carbs may become an issue on the road... I'm panicking about not being able to ride in the manner i'm accustomed to and wonder if anyone else enjoys this sport like me and how have they done post surgery? My doctor just said, i'd do fine and i'd just do it better post lapBand, but i'd love to hear any real proven statistics. I know that it's counter intuitive for someone this heavy to be riding the distances on a bike that i do... but for whatever reason i never lost significant weight when riding but rather i just seemed to gain bulk.

Thank you everyone for your answers! Hummingbird, that is an amazing post thanks for sharing. Like i said, i'm all new to this and just figuring out the learning curve and information is KING in my world... Thanks everyone for taking the time to share. :thumbup:

I've read everything on LapBand and read all the stuff here, attended every meeting possible, discussed with nutritionists and surgeons and feel i am an intelligent and informed LapBand recipient.... My question... and it's kind of mind boggling for me .... How does the band work better and help you to loose weight once you have fills and are eating solid food versus now on liquids and mushies.. It seems almost counter intuitive. I know it just does because everyone says so and the system is designed to work in this manner, but does anyone have the actual explanation? It really seems like you'd lose more the less you eat (such as now) and yet, once you've received fills and are eating regular food is when the weight loss happens most rather than just post surgery when you're on liquids and real slider stuff. Does anyone have a great explanation? I hope not to get any angry responses like i didn't do my homework beforehand or anything, but i'm just asking for anyones take on a good explanation...:scared2: I am still happy with my choice and all the resarch i have done has not provided me with a solid explanation to this actual topic. There is so much wisdom here on this site i was hoping for a veteran answer... thanks :thumbup:

Okay, i understand.. But for example i'm only eating 600 to 800 calories a day right now and once i go to regular food, i'll most likely be consuming more calories, albeit different than sliders, so if weight loss is as easy as calorie consumption in and calories exerted ... how does weight loss at all it work with more calories in later on? Maybe it's as simple as starvation caloric intake now and my body will switch once regular food is re-introduced... Maybe i'm overthinking the whole situation :thumbup:

hmm... i think i agree with you. I'm just starting mushy stage and will begin eggs tomorrow!! YAY!! But i've taken bites of things and they feel like they are flipping over in my stomach, or being squeezed through a hole... very strange sensation and for me painful because i still take too big a bite... especially when i'm truly hungry. This is a whole new world... kinda scary at times!

You have what it takes.... You just don't know it yet. My problem is looking for the goal and not the act of getting there... Life is a Journey, not a destination!! iT doesn't just happen it takes time, hour by hour, day by day.... I too have to keep reminding myself of this. I have very little patience for things when they aren't working, but this will be different, I has to be. I unfortunately didn't get the band model with the trap door for easy removal! We can do this, we have to, we have no choice and it will work ... We just have to figure it out! Hang in there, you aren't alone!:devil_smile:

I too and 2 weeks out from surgery and have lost a mere 5 pounds since surgery. From what i've read it's really common to not lose weight right now. I think that it isn't until you get fills and begin eating again that your body wakes up and starts dropping weight. I think my problem right now is that since i'm on full liquids (with a few cheats of mushy here and there) my body thinks i'm dying so it's holding on to everything! I feel the same fear as you that i won't lose and how embarassing and what a waste to go through this experience and not come out successful. Keep going though, what choice do we have... we'll be successful

I too cannot burp.... almost 2 weeks post surgery and still not a single burp...