Oberhasli

I'm hoping that I don't need unfilled. I only have 2.5 cc in a 4 cc band so shouldn't be overfilled. It's been pretty good as long as I behave and eat slowly and the right kinds of food but this past week has been tough. The nauseau is more irriatating than the restriction. I had dry heaves yesterday and I NEVER get those. (I've always had the ability to vomit on command.) I'm just taking it easy and eating as much of soft foods as I can stand and hope my energy comes back. I'll have to call the doctor if I'm not feeling better soon. Tom

My arthritis flared up last Wednesday with the weather change and continues to be acting up. I wouldn't think the band would be at all tied to the RA but I've had trouble eating since then. If it's not food getting stuck, it's being nauseated. Yesterday I took two small bites of grilled chicken and a small bite of cottage cheese and barely made it to the restroom in time. I'm on liquids/squishies now just trying to get something in and down me as I feel weak from not eating. I'm sure I'm losing weight but not a great way to do it. I got a protein shake down yesterday. This morning had some low-fat, NSA ice cream with a bit of peanut butter. I managed to get about a cup of shredded chicken in gravy over mashed potatoes down for lunch. I had another protein shake mid-afternoon. Just feel very weak. I haven't had a fill for several weeks so it shouldn't be that. I took my vitamin and calcium pill and can feel it just sitting in the pouch. Even just water kind of gurgles through slowly. Tom

Glad I could help, Karen. I do prefer to eat foods grown "naturally" but I always get a kick out of packaging claiming "all natural". That, in and of itself, means nothing to me. I hope to have a small garden this year as I LOVE veggies fresh from the garden grown in "natural" goat poop, but we'll see. I'm afraid I'd fill up on veggies and miss the protein. Of course, I'll probably have a pig or calf eating the goat milk and then eating it so I'll have some "natural" meat! Tom

I would wear capris but then I have to shave my legs. :omg:

Just remember "natural" isn't always good or good for you. Fecal matter is all natural but that doesn't mean I want to eat it! :heh:

I live in north central Ohio. Today was absolutely GORGEOUS. And I had to work. :faint: Congrats on getting under 200!!! :clap2: Tom

Vikki, I use to show/breed dogs but haven't had a litter in close to 10 years. After I bought my place in October, decided I wanted a puppy. The "old" dog (he's 5) is a Miniature Australian Shepherd. Right after the surgery, I got a Pembroke Corgi (she's the one in heat now). While she's cute as hell and sweet, she's not an Aussie. My future ex-wife got a Mini Aussie puppy (female) which just made me want one all the more so I broke down and got a female Mini Aussie too. I have the three dogs, all of which are house dogs. It will be well over a year before I have any puppies. And no, I won't make lots of money. Breeding animals is TONS of work with VERY little return. You have to do it for the love of the animals, not the money you make. With the goats, I do expect them to pay for themselves and through the sale of breeding stock, prize money from shows, income from judging shows, etc., they do bring in more than I spend BUT on an hourly basis, I'd make MUCH more flipping burgers at McDonalds. Again, it has to be something you enjoy as you don't get rich doing it! Men probably lose weight more rapidly as our horniness increases our metabolism. It takes lots of energy to worry about where your next sexual conquest might be. :nervous I should be losing LOTS of weight today. My RA does NOT like it when the weather changes. We have a cold front with LOTS of rain and the body is NOT cooperating. For some reason, when the RA is flairing up, the band seems to get tighter. I'm having trouble keeping ice cream (no fat/no sugar added) down today. (To up the protein, I do put a teaspoon of peanut butter on 1/4 cup of ice cream. It's a "cheat" that isn't too high in calorie and has some nutritional benefit. It was all I could do this morning to get out to the barn and take care of the goats. My poor dog is torn between courting the in-heat puppy or taking care of dad. Tom

Fortunately, I have NOT experienced hair loss since banding. Of course, the fact that it was rather thin on top to begin with, maybe the fact that I had little to lose helped. The dietician said that it is typcially caused by not enough protein. Make sure you're getting 70+ grams a day. Tom

I'm here. Things have been crazy around here. One of my goats that I wasn't even sure was pregnant had babies this week so I know have her to milk and the babies to feed. One of my puppies came into heat this week so my male is going bonkers. (He doesn't eat and continually paces. Seems like a much easier way to lose weight. Just worry about the sex you're not going to get. Wait, though. I tried that and I was still fat! :heh: ) I met with the surgeon on Monday and he was very pleased with my progress. I also met with the dietician and she was happy with my food choices. I am suppose to start calcium supplements as they want me to have at least 1500 mg per day. (She said use caclium citrate.) I bought a bottle but waiting until next week as I have a bone scan scheduled since I have rheumatoid arthritis and occassionally take steroids so they want to make sure I haven't had bone loss since my last scan 5 years ago. Under the circumstances, the calcium is probably a good idea anyway. A friend came out to spend a couple of days on the farm and ended up in the ER. He was playing with the dogs and all of sudden got very light headed, started vomitting and had pain in his left arm. His father died of a heart attack and a former roommate had similar symptoms, said he was going to lay down for awhile and the next morning he found him dead so he was a more than bit scared. Never did find out what caused it but there went half the night. Had an RA flair up the next day so I was mostly out of commission. I did workout tonight and weigh in and I'm down 3 more pounds! YEAH! :clap2: The doctor did give me a suggestion of 210 as my goal so now 27 pounds to go to get there. I did buy a pair of jeans on sale and they were a 36 waist. This time last year, I was in a 46! I'm 79 pounds lighter than I was on 3/31/06 so I'm happy. Sorry, not much humor tonight. Just feel like I'm running in 12 different directions and the fun has yet to begin. Beginning the first week of April, I've got 10 more goats to have babies and then another puppy to come into heat to drive the male a bit more bonkers. (Which means I don't sleep!) Tom

BestyJane, I think if you ask enough people, doctors included, you'll find any answer you want to find. There are so many different "diets" out there because there are so many different people. More and more, the movement seems to be small, frequent meals even for those that don't have the band. I know with the diabetes education I went through, they suggested more frequent intake of food to help balance the highs and lows of blood sugar. To me, it makes perfect sense to have a small consistent supply of energy (food) over "tanking up" and having peaks and valleys in energy. There is a definite balance in getting enough nutrition without overeating and I can see where, for some, eating several times a day could lead to overconsumption. When you look at the calorie content of different foods, it could be very easy to eat 300+ calories at each sitting and if you're eating 5-6 times a day, that could be too much, depending on your caloric needs. Even though we all have the common bond of the band, the bottom line is that we're all very much individuals. Each of us will have to tailor our diets to our specific needs and what works for us. I do eat 5+ times a day. I rarely consume liquid calories other than a yogurt smoothie each day as it's more convenient to sip than spoon while working. I'm very conscious of what I eat and work very hard not to consume more than 1200 or so calories a day and try to keep it under 1000 on most days. (I did have a chocolate martini last night and I'm sure I totally blew my calories for the week!) I'm VERY happy with my weight loss progress and my shrinking clothing size. I'm sure as I continue on this quest, I'll have to adapt to my changing body its changing needs. If nothing else, the band has put me much more in tune with my body and what it needs to function. Bottom line is if your progressing at a level you're happy with, continue what you're doing. If you're not, look at making some HEALTHY changes to get you moving more in the direction you want to be. Just be VERY careful not to expect too much or set goals too high. Remember, and I know it has been said time and time again, 1 pound per week average, is good. More is not always a good thing. (The week I went without eating because of a too tight band and lost 10 pounds is when I suddenly noticed everything starting to sag!) Tom

My first fill was 1.5 cc and it seem to work for maybe 10 days. After that, I thought I could eat anything. After 3 weeks (my doctor will only fill as frequently as once every three weeks), I got another 1/2 cc. Again, about 10 days I did great and then back to hungry. He adjusted again and miscalculated and put in a bit over 3 cc and I spent 4 days in misery. It would take 45+ minutes to sip 4 ounces of a protein shake. Even water was a challenge to get through. He took out 1/2 cc, which is where I'm at now, and for me, seems to be the right place. I have to be VERY careful or I get food stuck and have to "reposition" (throw up) the food. If I'm good and eat the right kinds of food, and eat them slowly and chew, chew, chew, I'm fine. I debated getting just a touch out but think I'll try to stay as is for awhile. I definitely will not be adding to it Monday when I go back to the doctor. The doctor uses my weight from our first appointment in August as my pre-banding weight. While they weighed me at the hospital, I don't think their scale was anywhere near right as it was 10 pounds less than 5 days before and I lived it up the last few days. I weighed myself 5 days before surgery (on my birthday) and was 2 pounds heavier than I was for my August appointment so I need to lose 2 more pounds by Monday so I'll be down 50 pounds per his numbers. Tom

I ABSOLUTELY eat more than 3 meals a day. Even for "normal" people, many suggests 4-5 small meals a day and especially with the band, you need to eat small, frequent "meals". (A friend calls them "feedings" because it isn't a meal.) Eating more frequently does two things. First of all, it doesn't increase the size of your pouch so smaller amounts will make you feel full. Our stomachs pre-banding held what they did because we ate so much we stretched them out. You can do the same to your new pouch so watch the amount of food at any one time. Secondly, you'll have more energy and a higher metabolism if you feed your body more frequently throughout the day. I typically have a cup of V8 around 7:00, a pouched egg and 1/2 banana or similar amount of other fruit with 1/4 cup of cottage cheese and 1/2 of a whole wheat English Muffin around 8:00. At 11:00, I'll have a couple ounces of lean meat and 1/2 cup of a vegetable. Around 2:00 I'll have a protein bar. Around 4:00 I'll have a yogurt smoothie. I'll eat dinner around 8:00 which is similar to by 11:00 feeding. Depending on how late I'm up, I may also have a small "snack" around 11:00. I don't usually go much more than 3 hours between feedings and drink water in between. Tom

Thanks, Connie. I'm at 2.5 cc in a 4 cc band. I had 3 cc (by mistake) and that was NOT good. I'd take a drink of water and people across the room could hear it gurgling through. The last few days, I've seem very, very tight. Tonight, dinner was just not going to go through. I'd take a couple of bites and have to "reposition" my food. I managed to get down some fruit and cottage cheese for breakfast, lunch was a no go. I did get a yogurt smoothie and protein bar down during the day, but the protein bar was a struggle. The no-fat, no sugar added ice cream with some peanut butter seemed to be OK this evening but even that, I only could eat about 1/2 cup. I've had this fill for 6 or 7 weeks and just now seem to be having problems with it. I go Monday for a follow-up and he was talking about adding 1/4 cc to the band but I think I'll pass. I'm losing well and still struggling with food. Much of it is my own fault as I just don't eat slowly. I keep telling myself to do so. I've tried sitting at the table and doing nothing else but find I eat even faster then. If I take a bite and reply to an e-mail, I do tend to go slower. Tom

By son is often embarassed by me. It is my goal to humiliate whenever possible. It builds character. :heh: I had a BRIGHT pink polo shirt that he called my "gay dad" shirt. I wore it to EVERY school function just because I could. It was getting old and ragged so it was retired after his high school graduation. He should graduate with his associates this spring so I've gotten a new pink shirt just for him! Tom

I understand the restricted issue. Today, I could hardly get V8 juice down. After 20 minutes, I did get 1/4 cup of no-fat cottage cheese down. I'm never able to eat anything I want and I sure pay the price if I don't eat slow and chew. I have to "reposition" my food all too often and 9 times out of 10, it's because I didn't behave. I guess they don't count as calories if it doesn't stay down. (Of course, chocolate and ice cream are always OK!) Tom

Thanks Angela. Men lose weight more quickly as, at least in our own minds, we have more sex. :heh: (Hmm. I wonder if wearing wrist weights while "self loving" would increase the calories burned and help tone the arms????) Since I hadn't been on a supervised weight loss program in YEARS, before I could qualify for the program, I had to go through one. As mentioned, I used the LEARN program and it did work well for me. I actually got down a few pounds less (when I met with the surgeon in August, I was 288 - 290 on 11/2 with surgery on 11/7) but cheated some once off the actual program. The surgeon, before he looked at my weight, couldn't figure out why I was there. With the pre-op weight loss, I was very close to the BMI cut-off. Tom

Thanks, Misty. I didn't have an actual goal, per se, but the doctor and I said we'd shoot for 225 and go from there. I have a feeling that 210 is going to be more appropriate. My 18 year old son who is basically my height (6'3") is 210 and I think I'd be more comfortable at a comparable size. Tom

Marni, life is not fair! You lose your breasts and didn't want to. And I still have my "man breasts" albeit a bit more saggy. :angry

Vikki, I just added a signature to my profile but don't know how to add the ticker.

Lovely topic! :heh: I noticed before I started at the gym, the arms and thighs were getting flabby. I've been going to the gym twice a week for almost 2 months and they are far less noticeable now and the upper arms actually have definition. I don't I'll ever be a muscle-god, but maybe not a flabby mess. My ex-wife says I have "noassatall" disease. Seems the first place I lose it is there and I didn't have that large of one to begin with. (Probably from everyone chewing on it over the years!) Some time ago, the doctor on Oprah mentioned that when a man loses 35 pounds, it's like gaining an inch "where it counts". Since 3/31 last year, I'm down 74 pounds, so I should be up 2". :clap2: At least another 35 pounds to go, so yet another inch. (I wonder if those exercises will help? :help: ) My boss at work (a woman) says her goal is to find a skinny guy that use to be fat. :omg: Tom

I consider it a lifestyle change. A "diet" indicates that I'll be able to eventually go back to the way I use to eat and that won't be the case. (The LEARN program is adamant that it isn't a diet but a weight management program.) I have to make a permanent change in what I eat, how much of it I eat, when I eat and why I eat. It could be your body needs to adjust to the "new you" and once it catches up with itself, is ready to shed more. Every one is different but the important thing is that your weight is less! Tom

Congrats on the weight loss! 2 pounds a week is a GREAT average even if it hasn't been 2 pounds every week. As to cheese, there are lower fat options. Mozzarella is usually made from part-skim milk. And there is 2% cheeses out there. Fat, in moderation, is not a bad thing. You're body needs fats as well. Not as much fat as most Americans eat but you don't want to be entirely fat free. Tom

I go out to dinner with a friend of mine now and then and he reminds me to slow down and cautions food choices. Of course, he doesn't like to be around me when I have stuck food and I turn 12 shades of red, followed by 12 shades of green and then excuse myself to the restroom to "relocate" whatever is stuck. At work, if I don't bring the gym bag, they ask. For the most part, they've all been very supportive. Several people I use to work with that I don't see that often now have made comments. One asked if I was feeling OK as I'd lost "so much weight." She said I looked OK but obviously much skinnier. She didn't know about the band. It's nice to see others notice. Now, off to work and then the gym. I really hope that at some point, the gym feels less like torture. I'm not into S&M. (Hmmm. Wonder how many calories that would burn. A workout and sex combined. Now that's a concept!! :clap2: ) Tom

I have 2 Miniature Australian Shepherds and a Corgi. The Corgi and one of the Aussies are still puppies with LOTS of energy. The low-carb Bacardi's still have about 100 calories. Not horrible, but just keep it in mind in the overall daily consumption. Red wines are usually higher in calories than white. I remember in my youth doing many things after a drink or two (or more <G>) but I can't remember it being overeating! YEAH! One of the things he said is that you're suppose to call someone after you do the 30 minutes of walking to tell them you did. If you call them everyday to let them know you did the walking, it's harder to not do it as the person will be expecting the call. I guess in some ways, a similar concept could be used for letting people know you have the band. You may be more careful on your food choices if those around you know you have it. I get a small piece of chocolate most days at work. One of the others asked if I was allowed to have it. It keeps me from going back and eating the whole basket as I know others are watching. BTW, the You Diet does suggest having a glass of wine a day. Tom

Straight forward always works for me. He didn't sugar coat it or try to sell some hype-up get skinny quick scheme. Eat appropriate amounts of healthy foods and get more exercise and you lose weight. Sounds reasonable to me! As to the vaccuuming, with 3 house dogs that like to bring the great outdoors in, I doubt I'll ever run out but if I do, I'll keep you in mind. :heh: Tom