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I think walking is a great way to start. Typically, it is recommended that people aim to get their heart rate up for about 30 minutes on most days of the week. Work up to it if you need to. You want to walk at a pace that is like you are late for a meeting. It should make you breathe through your mouth. Again, work up to that if you've not been exercising at all. Eventually, you will have to pick up the pace to have the same workout. At some point you can start to add in 2-3 weight lifting sessions, and some stretching. It is important to pick/find something that you can find enjoyment in-- that's what helps people stick to a routine. Some people like group exercise, some people like to be alone. Try something new if you want. One thing that will really help your body (and keep you from getting really bored) is to switch things up from time to time. I often recommend to people (I work at the YMCA) to use several different machines at several different speeds during the same workout. Instead of spending 30 min at one speed on the treadmill, do 5 min on the bike at a slow speed, 10 min on the treadmill at medium, 5 min on the elliptical at a high speed, then 5 min slow on the bike again... or whatever. mixing it up is great for your body. And "fast" or "slow" is relative for everyone. Do you have any "special" needs-- like painful joints, etc? That would also affect what exercise routine you choose.

Wow how great do you look!!!!! I guess the weightloss has to slow at some stage. Just keep doing what u r doing you look 10 years younger!

I only did 9 days preop just because i was in such a hurry to schedule my surgery. Dr Benavedes let me do it. I had my surgery last wednesday 10/22

Thank you everyone, i will try to show him, i dont plan on going anywhere, i know i have told him a million times, after all we have been together 10 years and have kids together lol! I do wish he would be happier for me, and not say things like, well i guess we wont be going to the buffet any more! Smh

Hi Finsmama! My name is Karen, I'm 43 years old and have struggled with weight all my life. After must research and discussion with my surgeon, I was just banded today! I was nervous as it got closer also, but knew that this was something I had to do if I was going to lose and keep the weight off. I was at the hospital at 5:30 am this morning and home by 10:30! I was groggy from anesthesia for a few hours, but tonight after a quiet day, I feel pretty good. My pain level was not over a 4 on a scale from 1-10 and I think that is just gas pain. Everyone is different, but I honestly didn't have must pain. I drank plenty of water, tea, and chicken broth and took the minimum does of pain meds and did some walking. I think after a goodnight sleep, tomorrow will be as good day. I'm returning to work on Monday. If your surgeon seemed rush, maybe ask her to take time to talk with you about any questions or concerns you have so that you are clear on the procedure, diet, and lifestyle changes. I have been reading the post on this forum for a while trying to decide if it was something I wanted to do and be committed to. There are many helpful people telling their stories here, they didn't know it, but I enjoyed reading about them and learning about real experiences. I registered tonight because I saw your post. I hope it helped you in some way and can help you decide if it is right for you. Good luck in whatever you decide to do!

I have fibromyalgia and I'm really worried about the exercise routine after I have the surgery. What if I am unable to do any exercise (like now) because of the pain levels I experience 24/7? If you were to ask me how bad the pain is from the Fibromyalgia, daily, I would have to say 8 out of 10 on a good day. (10 being the worst):teeth_smile: How do I deal with that?

Hi Mattie. I have fibromyalgia as well. I agree that walking is a good place to start. Start out at 20 feet and see if you can increase it a little over time. On my bad days it is so hard to go walking. I started walking about 10 years ago when I hurt my back. It helps so much. I am not as stiff. I do find if I will work with weight machines at the YMCA I feel much better. I never stress too much. I go up very slowly. It just helps me feel stronger. Medications I use are Elavil, Lyrica, Zanaflex, and Hydrocodone. Most are to help me sleep at night. I also use acupuncture. It helps also. Funny thing is since my surgery I have not needed to go to acupuncture. It's not that I don't hurt and get depressed, it's just that I have not gotten to the point where I just want to roll around on the floor in pain. I stay away from the hydrocodone except to sleep. Have you tried a pain management center? My doc says most of her fibro patients go there. I hope this helps some. I know fibromyalgia can be overwhelming. Some days I can hardly get out of my chair. The pressure just feels better and I have no energy on those days. I think losing weight can only help. At least I had more energy when I weighed less. Let me know how things go. Tina

Vera, have you tried Balsamic vinegars? (about 10 cal. tbl.) You can mix them w/ oil and spices for a marinade also. But I think it's the creaminess we're craving. Hidden Valley has a Ranch Lite w/ 40 cal. tbl.) I love stews, Soups, or a pot of Beans any time of the year. I think it's wonderful comfort food. And aren't we getting our vegetables in that way? (Any excuse to try to make it right. LOL)

For me it was really basic. I had a painful knee that I had suffered with for 37 years and I wanted to get a knee replacement. They wouldn't do it at the weight I was then, so I took the plunge. I had my bariatric surgery in March 2019 and my knee was replaced in August 2020. It's SO GOOD being out of pain now!

I was banded by Ortiz in March of last yr and I went to a nice Mexican place across the street from the pharmacy (farmacia) which is directly across the street from the Lucerna. There is also a pizza Hut right next to the Hotel too. What we did is go to the Revolucion area (cab is like $2) and there is alot of yummy restaurants. We had some drinks and chips at another mexican restaurant on the strip ( I know, I ate ALOT before my surgery but I was starving...LOL :welldoneclap: ) Good luck to you!! ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/155/160 5'8''

Ok..02/25/09 I've completed all my testing..Current weight 215 bmi 37.. I've also met with the Psych and Nutri... The Nutri asked me to lose a few pounds and see her again when I meet with the Doctor and go over the test results on 04/01/09.. Hopefully all is good and he will submit the paperwork to my insurance company.. and then I can schedule my surgery date.. If all goes well I am to be at a weight of 205 bmi 35 the date of surgery.. Check back for more information

Just 2 more steps..next appointment is 04/01/09 a visit with the Doctor at Cleveland Clinic to go over my test results.. :cursing:

Hi I am 35 yrs old with a bmi of 35.1.. I am 5'3" and I weigh 205lbs..I would like to get banded as quickly as possible.. I can feel my body and health deteriorating.. I currently take high blood pressure medicine, I take prevacid, and I tested positive in Nov 2007 for sleep apnea... My mother is obese.. My grandparents are deceased but both were overwight, had diabetes, high blood pressure and died from stroke.. I have tried to maintain for years.. I've tried every diet available from phen phen to south beach.. I submitted my application to Cleveland Clinic on December 10, 2008.. I received a call on December 17, 2008 stating that I have been accepted as a potential candidate for the lap band surgery:thumbup:.. and that to begin the process there is a 12 step program.. I needed to attend an informational workshop which had been scheduled for Jan 13, 2009.. I went to the workshop and learned that my insurance Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield doesn't require a pre diet program.. so I was very happy:thumbup: because I've heard that some insurances require from 3 months - 2 yrs.. About 2 days after the workshop I received a call to get my testing done.. I go for testing on Feb 25, 2009.. 7 Steps down.. 3 more to go... after testing I meet with the Doctor who will determine if he will write the letter to my insurance company, next my insurance company will decide if they will approve for me to get the lap band, then i make the appointment.. If anyone has had this similar situation can you let me know your outcome and what you think my chances are of getting approved and about how long b4 i actually schedule the appointment..everything is spaced so far apart it seems it may not be until May if I even get approved.. I'm just so nervous I've gone this far and don't want to hear No!! any information will be appreciated

Beautiful! All the best wishes for you! I often hear that the amount restriction often becomes more apparent about a week later. Would you report back next week and tell us if you notice anything different? I'm having my first fill 10/18. Thanks, Jo Ann

Hi also start my preop Tomorrow for the second time. I have another 10 pounds to lose by December 16

I am a teacher and when I start back to school in the fall I will be only a month out from surgery. I have read on this list how long it takes to eat a small meal. At the most I have 20 minutes to eat lunch and on days I have lunch duty ... I have 10 minutes. Anyone in the same position and have found a way to deal with this? Are there foods that can go down faster than others? What are some ideas of foods I can take for lunch? Khy

I can't say enough about Dr. Kelly and his staff! I am NurseMichele's sleeve sister! lol Everything she said about the staff, well I say it too. Dr. Kelly surprised us with operating on us the day we got there instead of the next day. We thought that was great so we didn't need to stress another day. Being a lapband revision I had a little tougher time than the other two (I was first also). It took 1.5 hours for me including the endoscopy I had to have before they started because of the lapband. They had a little problem with my stomach because of the lapband but they took care of it fine. I had a rough time coming out of the anastasia also and started to go into to shock but they brought me out quickly. My sister was there at that point and said she got worried because I was pastie white and shivering bad. She did a good job helping out when needed and I'm glad she was there right then. I had to have a drain tube for 2.5 days but that didn't bother me, I thought it would if I had to but it didn't. By day three I think I was caught up in heeling with the other two. Cece (Dr. Kelly's wife) and Omar, the coordinator, took us to Lucerna Hotel. Beautiful! And then they took us to lunch for a nice bowl of broth and then to the board walk on Tijuana beach and we all stuck our feet in the ocean. It wasn't that warm of a day though. A bad day on the beach is better than any good day at work though. Then they took us shopping and back to the hotel. We did a LOT of walking and all of us did good. The next day they gave us pedicures compliments of the Dr.! Cece gave us each a massage and plucked our eyebrows! lol My niece and I also chose to buy the manicure. Each day we felt a little better. I'm not hungry much at all and just been drinking broth, juice and water as told. I have a little pain in the area where my tube was but it might be a gas pain from being operated on. Scale of 1 to 10 it's only a 2-3 and it is very seldom....good! Tender where the incissions were is about all. We got home Friday night. The flight was 2.5 hours and then we drove 4 hours, a little tiring though but glad to be home. Today my niece and I went garage sale-ing and then to a Vintage Fair and walked around for 3 hours and then I visited my uncle for 1.5 hours and home to rest as I have to visit my aunt in another hour. I might go to bed a little earlier than my normal time. I do feel good though. I would truly recommend Dr. Kelly and his staff. The other doctors were very nice too and obviously competent since we are all doing good. Michele was so much fun to have around with my sister, niece and myself; we had a lot of fun together; she's a hoot! Nice to have a Sleeve Sister that you care about and want to keep in contact with. Good luck to you! We will all do good I'm sure. That's my update with no sugar coating on it. I will post my progress also. Good luck to all that have this done, I'm feeling it was a good choice for me.

Everything went extremely well. Was only at the hospital until about 12:30pm. Surgery was at 7:00am. Went for my weeks ck up and lost 6.5#. First fill will be on the 5/18. Did I do well. Please help me out. I am starting to want to eat more.

God will work his grace with you as he has done with me. Congrats on your insurance coverage. Mine was sticky too and it was approved. I've been banded 10 days now and feel good. Good luck with your surgery.

DOS 262 11/19 Today 235

I think I'm just not going to talk about it. The only reason the topic came up is because all the women are on diets and I was pretty open about being Sleeved from day 1. I got the whole "it's the easy, quick way out" I just haven't run into someone like this in so long. Usually when I say I dropped 100 pounds, people are like "oh" or "congrats!" But not "that's a whole person! 2 kids! Like 10 infants!!!" I'll just let it go. For now.

I everyone. I am beyond happy that I found this site. Like many of you, I have tried to lose weight for the past 7 years(I'm 25) and I just can't seem to lose it. I lose the weight and gain it right back.. My sister got sleeved on January and OMG she went from a size 18 to a small .. Amazing I know.. So at first, after seeing her have some complications, I said I can't do this, forget it... But just 3 days ago, I was trying to wear something for work and it wouldn't for properly and after trying few other outfits, I said that's it, I will have the surgery regardless what ends up being. Not for nothing, but I have an amazing life, I have a awesome job, I go to school which I graduate next fall, but I'm not happy with my weight. This is where the problem arises, I weight 200... I could of swore I was more but I was too scared to weigh my self. So 2 days ago I wanted to see how much I weighted and I was disappointed lol.. I calculated my BMi and it's 34 Uhg so frustrating.. Now some of you may say well wtf are u doing here, but that's not the case.. I am very self couscous and I don't ever go on dates bc I feel like I am huge (which 200 is not small) I am 5'4 also... I am registered for a seminar for Wednesday 10/2/13... Not sure if I qualify? Would I? I mean I do wear a size 16 so you would think I do? Right? I was always a size 4 until I turned 19.... I know it's wrong but should I gain a little weight? I did have a heart surgery in 2010 and my heart beats more than normal peoples so maybe they can consider that right? Worse comes to worse and my insurance say No, can I do it anyways paying cash? Will they allow me even though my BMi is not 35? I really want to be at least 130 and I have tried almost every single diet on the planet.. I just want some insight since I really want to do it but my family won't really support me since they still think I have a heart condition which I don't anymore.. I have decided I am going to do it even if it costs my life in the end... That's how serious I am .. And I have read so many of your stories and I am inspired.

I'm on day 5 of my 10 day pre-op diet....I'm suppose to be doing liquids...I've been really good so far...but yesterday I did take a can of heathy choice Soup and blend it in the blender...It tasted really good (considering I've only been drinking Protein shakes before this)... Would this be acceptable after banding? I was looking at my diet plan and on the 1st week it says I can eat baby food....So does this count? It was high in protein and low in Calories..But I wasn't sure how well my stomach would take it after the banding.

Never had one until now....which even Dr is baffled how I lost so much with no fill. I say don't complain and am grateful. Just right now I am starving. Today I can eat but am at work all day and don't want any issues while I'm here. So mushies today and food tonight. I better lost 10 pounds. Lol. J/k

Thanks for the info- I've just recived my pre op medical test package. In that came a page with regards to pre op diet. I tried it for a couple of day this week, and you are right about the head ache thing. My official start date of the diet it Jan 8th (10 days) Surgery date is the 18th. Here's another question, I know where I can go to get the blood work done, as well as the x ray, but the ECG, do you know of any particular place in Scarborugh/Toronto area? Soooo tell me about the fill story.