maryrose

I have a good one for you guys. My mother-in-law, who never ever resisted the opportunity through the years to comment in front of the whole family about my being overweight, hoping my christmas clothing gift was BIG ENOUGH, etc. has not said 1 flippin thing about my weight lossa. NADDA. Just keeps me more focused to succeed. Bring it on woman..lol. Go figure. :thumbup: As for the others, I think like the others have said, they just don't want to say..JEE...you lost a lot of weight, meaning we had a lot of weight to lose previously. I think that is mostly what it is.

Mornin banders! :tt1: Just wondering how others are feeling a few years out and whether they feel they are still progressing. It will be 2 years from Surgery in April. I have met "their" goal by losing 60% of my total excess weight. However, I am only down 70+ lbs., which I am happy with. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled, but I still need to lose more. Being plateaued for a very long time I have come to these conclusions: 1. I have to kick myself in the A... and get out there and start moving more. 2. I need to starting keeping better track of my eating, like I did at the beginning. I feel myself feeling less motivied and I don't know how to get that back. 3. I think I need the discipline of getting weighed in more often. At my clinic they only require 6 month check-ups at this point. I don't feel that is enough. I will go over that with the doc next month. As far as they are concerned, I met my goal and the band is doing its job. Am I being unrealistic to want more? :thumbup:

You are very welcome. I am sure someone will come along and add or possibly tweak it, but I think those are pretty good basic rules to follow. I find it helpful. :crying:

Maybe a trip to the nutritionist? Mine scares me..lol. :crying:

I have a list on my desk top I actually found a few months ago on the net, which is pretty darn good. I'll try to cut and paste it. I try to look at it at least once a week to keep me focused. Rule 1: Eat only when you are hungry, and no more than three small meals a day. Your new small stomach pouch can hold only about one-fourth of a cup of food. If you try to eat more than this at one time, you may become nauseated or vomit. If you routinely eat too much, the small stomach pouch may stretch. Frequent vomiting will cancel the effect of the operation and can also cause certain complications, such as stomach slippage. To avoid this, you need to learn to listen to your body and stick to your plan. Rule 2: Eat slowly and chew thoroughly. Food can pass through your new stomach only if it's been chewed into very small pieces. Always remember to take more time for your meals and chew your food very well. Rule 3: Stop eating as soon as you feel full. Once your stomach is full, your body receives a signal that you have eaten enough. It takes time, though, for you to become aware of this signal. If you rush through your meal, you may eat more than you need. This can lead to nausea and vomiting. Take time to enjoy every bite of your meal. Try to recognize the feeling of fullness-then stop eating at once. Rule 4: Do not drink while you are eating. The LAP-BAND®® can work only if you eat solid food during your three meals. You should not drink anything for one to two hours after a meal. This allows you to keep the feeling of fullness as long as possible. Rule 5: Do not eat between meals. After a meal, do not eat anything else until the next meal. Eating Snacks between meals is one of the major reasons for weight-loss failure. It is very important to break this habit. If you have proper "fill" levels (you eat the right foods, slowly) you will not feel hungry in between meals. If you are still feeling hungry, this may be a sign that your LAP-BAND®® System is too loose and you should tell your clinician. Click here for more information on information on adjustments and "The Green Zone", which ensures that you will stay satisfied and full! Rule 6: Eat only good quality, nutritious food. With the LAP-BAND®® System in place, you should be able to eat only a small amount so the food you eat should be as nutritious as possible. Follow the nutrition guidelines in the previous section and specific instructions from your surgeon and/or dietitian. Also, ask your doctor or dietitian before you take any Vitamin supplements. Click here for more information on nutrition and what you should be eating. Rule 7: Avoid fibrous food. Food that contains many fibers, such as asparagus, can block the stoma. That's because you can't chew this food well enough to break it up into small pieces and your saliva can't break it down. Fibrous food should be avoided. If you would like to eat asparagus or other fibrous foods once in a while, then be sure to cook them well, cut them into very small pieces first, and then chew thoroughly. Rule 8: Drink enough fluids during the day. Drinking enough fluids is essential for staying hydrated and for flushing waste products out of your body. Individual needs will vary, but you should drink at least six to eight glasses of liquid a day. Remember: Drink only non-carbonated/zero calorie liquids such as Water, tea, or coffee (without milk, cream, or sugar). Also, keep your food and drinks completely separate during the day. Rule 9: Drink only low-calorie liquids. Drinks, including those containing calories (milkshakes, sodas), simply run through the narrow outlet created by theLAP-BAND® System. If you drink liquids high in calories, you will lose little weight, even if you follow all of the other dietary guidelines. Rule 10: Exercise at least 30 minutes a day. Since physical exercise consumes energy and burns calories, it is a very important part of any successful weight-loss program. Obviously, exercise can also help improve your general health. In addition to adopting a routine exercise program, you can increase your activity level in your everyday life. For example, stand rather than sit, walk rather than stand, be outside rather than inside, walk rather than drive, climb the stairs rather than use the elevator. If it's too hot outside to walk, go to the mall. It's as easy as finding a parking space away from the entrance to the mall and using the stairs, not the escalator! If you don't have time before or after work, take ten minutes out of your lunch break and walk then. Remember that you should always check with your doctor about the amount and type of exercise that is best for you.

This is a great post! I Said no, I tried WW and could not do the plan banded either. I found myself buying their snack foods and eating too many of them! Lets try to keep this post going! I would love to join in and support you. Maybe we can get a few people to join in and we could post our weekly losses, challenges, etc. I have gone from a 2 to 3X clothing to maybe an X-large top and probably 16 pants, but I want more darn it!! I have been stuck for months. :crying:

Hi Heidi, :thumbup: Sorry you are bumming! Maybe you just need to give yourself more time for everything to come together? I am from the Boston area, and I find the further "North" you go, the prices are cheaper. I had a breast reduction by Dr. Dina Eliopoulous in Chelmsford, MA. She is wonderful and runs a great practice. I can't say enough good things about her. She has a web site. She is also georgeos, so it made me feel kinda reassured that she would make me look all purdy! lol. If you want more information feel free to PM me. Good luck Heidi. PS: You are already beautiful! You are going to rule! :smile:

Barb, That is good advise. I find weighing myself every day can be really annoying! I will stay at the same weight sometimes for a week or two, maybe even gain a little..then all of a sudden there will be a good 2 or 3 lb. drop when at the right restriction. Thanks for reminding of of that Barb. :smile:

Mama java, My plastic surgeon told me that fat definitely weighs less than muscle. When she removed the tissue from my breasts (huge) it only weighed about 1 1/2 lbs. It all depends on how much of the breast is "fatty" tissue. Some insurance companies can refuse to pay for the procedure after the tissue removed is weighed. That is a shame. There has to be a certain amount of tissue "weight" removed for the insurance company to pay. You had to have at least lost a few pant/jean sizes from all that working out. If not, something is definitely wrong if you worked out that much. I think your personal trainor should have been more supportive of your plight. Seems you felt really bad about yourself during this process, which makes me feel really bad for you. I hope you get some answers and we are always here he help.

:thumbup: Thank you all for your advise and kind words. You guys are awesome and should be so proud of yourselves in your terrific weight losses! I'm amazed. Kelin - 188 lbs. my gosh....you are the weight loss queen in my book! Do you mind telling me your age and how much exercise you did during this weight loss? I think posting here really helps keep me motivated. I have lost 2 lbs. this week! :thumbup:

Stayin on plan because my 2 year check-up is coming up in 5 weeks and I wanna show that smug doc a thing or two!! lol. :thumbup: hee..hee

Gosh Kossde, You are young! I say go for that bikini. I draw the line showing my bod in public at 54!

Hi Kossde, I have a similar post, but I am 2 years out! You have done great! Congratulations on your weight loss. I say just ask from a tiny fill. I am going to do the same thing. Do you still PB if you over-eat? I still PB sometimes at night, but I know I can still eat more than usual without getting to that point, and that is why I am going to schedule a tiny fill. I have come to the conclusion that the last 1/3 of our weight loss really needs a lot of extra work on our part. It's almost as if we have to gear up and almost start all over again. Do you mind telling me your age? That has a lot to do with my decision to NOT have a tummy tuck. At 54 I am not going to be sitting on the beach with a bikini on. I did have a breast reduction last June and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the results. Just give it time. It will all come together. This is a great post. Thanks for posing this. I will be watching the answers you receive. :mad2:

This is a great post! Lets try to keep this one going! You can take either Celebrex or Voixx with the band. I keep forgetting which one. I think it's Celebrex. If you post on the General Support, I'm sure someone will know. Another wonderful thing is Euflexxa injections for your knee. This has worked wonders for me. I had knee surgery and still lots of pain. This injection replaces the synovial Fluid in your knee. You need to have 3 injections 1 week apart. Having arthritis and being banded is yet another challenge. I hope we can all support each other. Great post!

Aimee, Nice to hear from someone from my clinic! I had Dr. Jiser. Wow, we are almost the same age. I am 54 and I am also stuck! I go for my 2 year check-up next month. I have lost about 70 lbs., but the last 30/40 lbs. is a killer. My husband's family lives in Westford. Small world! I hope we can keep this post going. It's great to hear from all you ladies!

Hi Tq, I think this sudden hair loss is actually from the surgery. After a "traumatic" event, it takes a while for your hair to be effected. This is about the time my hair started falling out too, then it tapered off. It takes a while for your hair to react to the trauma of the anesthesia and the surgery itself. I still have "bouts" but it tapers off. I am actually going through one again right now. Seems when I start losing more weight, a lose a little hair. Rogaine for women has been a blessing for me! I lost a lot of hair about 3 or 4 months after the stress of my Mom's death. The doctor told me this was to be expected and it did taper off. Good luck Tq.

I take Celexa, no problem at all. I actually find that taking all my Vitamins at once with a large warm tea kind of takes the place of a snack at night. Gives me something to do. Does this sound weird? After that I put my teeth whitening stuff on my teeth and go to bed.

Hi Melissa, I'm sorry your surgery was cancelled because of your cold. The #1 thing to remember is we have all been where you are right now. Sure, there are things that will slide right through the band and I am definitely addicted to food, but I still managed to lose about 70 lbs. Every day is a new challenge and I have more to lose, but I keep plugging away. I think the thing that helps me most is making sure I keep the problems foods out of the house. Sure, I slip, but for me finding subsitutions for my fav. foods has helped me a lot. I make diet hot choc. for my choc. craving and drink a lot of chocolate Protein drinks. A good one that I like is Designer whey. I add a little powdered sugar free choc. pudding and tons of ice. If you can get through those nasty cravings you are half way there. Please don't feel discouraged, we are all in the same boat. You can do it if you follow the lap band rules and keep in VERY Close contact with the weight loss clinic. They help me a lot, even the psychological support is there for us to use. Private message me if you want. I would be happy to answer any questions for you and best of luck! :mad2:

I feel for you, as I'm going through this right now. I have been losing and gaining the same 5 lbs. for months. This is a tough stage to go through! Don't you feel that after a year or so the support goes away? I am in the same boat, but they are not going to pick up the phone at the clinic and make us go, we have to pick up that phone and make the next move. I know..easy for me to say, but this is what I need to do too. Those monthly weigh-ins helped keep me on track, then it went to 3 month weigh-in to now just every 6 months. I need more discipline than that, but when I complained to the clinic they said they would work with me. What did I do about this? NOTHING! So, not sure this will work for you but I am going to 1. Call the clinic for a fill 2. Make appointment to get back on track with the nutionist. I need to be accountable for the foods I eat. 3. Start journaling again get get off my lazy arse! :scared2: Sorry to rant, but hope this helps! PS: Your picture is wonderful! You can do this! You are already just about there. Just focus on the good stuff.

Hiya SanDiego, :wink5: I could have written your post! Thanks so much for posting that. I signed on today looking for something to make be get of my arse too! I am about 80 lbs. down, have the same amout to lose as you. I keep gaining and losing the same 5 lbs. I started journaling again on Sunday. I'm trying to go back to basics. Maybe we should start a thread and get others to join in so we can track each other. I think I need a fill also. The last 1/3 is the hardest to lose. Reaching the end of the rainbow, do you think we will ever get there?

Thanks for posting such a great question. This really made me think. Not sure anyone mentioned this, but as you lose weight, for me anyway, I became move active. With all that extra weight everything was a effort. I think I am burning more calories now. The other thing, even if I do lose control a little, it is nothing like before. EVen with the slider foods, I just can't do it anymore without getting sick.

: Does Banding Work if you're over 50? I'm not 50, just a baby of 41, lol. But of course its possible! I think you have to really realise that band statistics are just averages. And when you consider weight loss surgery statistics, you're not considering only how people's bodies work over 50, you're considering people's BEHAVIOUR. Sure, it was much harder (and slower) to lose weight getting banded at 37 than it was in my early 20's. My body had been through significant changes, borne 3 children, I had an entirely different lifestyle. But i have a better (stronger, fitter, and more attractive) body now than I did at this weight in my late teens/early 20's. I would hazard a guess that more of the over 50 group struggle with the exercise part of the equation - a large percentage for example would consider walking daily as adequate exercise. Not that there is anything bad about walking, great daily exercise, it will keep you out of the cardiac ward, for the first part of your weight loss journey, it is ample and will help speed your weight loss along. It gets harder at the other end, you need more vigorous stuff, weight training etc and that can be hard to even think about when you're out of condition, obese and not 18 years old. You dont really even need to think about it at first, but see how you feel as the weight comes off. The point is, it really is up to you, its a function of what you want to achieve and what you're prepared to do to achieve it. I'm certainly not suggesting that you must spend 2 hours a day in the gym, but the choice is there to do it if you want to. Losing 100lb is your choice also! The reason your doc was close lipped is probably because choosing to really throw yourself in the deep end like that is less common in older AND younger patients. Many many people get banded, eat less and lose some weight, end of story. Some get banded, work the band, exercise smart and hard and lose TONS of weight. You can be in whichever group you choose. __________________ Jacqui Jachut, I agree with you, but I have to add that walking has treated me well! Being 54 with arthritis we have to do the best with what we have to work with. I could do a lot more at 41 than I can do now. I picked a large HILL to do my walking. It really packs in quite the workout! I go up one hill, down the hill, then back up. First time thought I would die, but it can be done! Every day is a challenge, but we have to find our own way. I find the best tool is keeping the problem food out of the house and setting rules and sticking to them. So, my answer is YES we can all do it!!!

Well said Steve. :huh2:

Lmao. Very well put Jachut. I agree totally!

I received the mag yesterday, and I have to say the caption was very honest and self-degrading. I don't think she is full of herself at all. I think it takes courage to get up there and post a pic of yourself on the cover like that. What bugs me is that fact that she always has to pose for a cutesy pic on the front cover. I think deep down she does not like herself at all. It's actually very sad and a good point that was made that with all her resources she still strugges. Lets not forget she is in the entertainment field and she had to write about SOMETHING every month, so just take it as is and get over it. Who cares? In the end it is "me" getting on that scale every morning and Me that I have to answer to. My business.