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@@KingMoose - I worked as an Air Force Cop, know exactly what you mean. I can remember being part of my local gym's 1300 Club. (405 lbs bench press, 600 lbs deadlift, and 375 lbs squat), and being able to run 8-10 miles with a 100 lbs of equipment on my back... While I don't need to be able to do this anymore, I want to be able to pull up my own(lighter) weight, and at least have a 4-pack... I'd like to run some local 5ks our town has every year. And I want to be able to go shirtless without having to fill out an environmental impact study first! LOL!

Hi All its 3 1/2 years since I have been banded and 1 year since my body lift. I need some help to see if I am just fooling myself and eating too much or If I really OK and should accept myself where I am. Its really frustrating. My top weight was 330 335 in High School. Today I'm 240. The lowest I was was 233 a few months after my body lift when I was recovering. I have been around around this 240 Mark now for a few years! And don't know what I can do to get to my goal which is moving up now to from 225 to 230! I am 6 Ft and a big guy. I have been heavy all my life, my dad and mom were big. So the it's in the Family. The only really thin "ADULT" member of my family is a cousin (HE's ADOPTED!) I was always the biggest guy in the class or room etc. So hear I am. Down 90 lbs from my High and 60 since the band. I work out 3 x a week for 3 years now. Yea I have built muscle but want to loose more. I keep looking for an answer and no one seems to have one for me. My Nutritionist says that my body really likes this weight! At my thinnest was 225 when I was 25, Now I am 55 and 240. My Medical Dr says I am fine! Not on any medications, labs are good. He is really happy where I am. My Lap Band DR says I am a success. Because the band gets you healthy not skinny. My Shrink says! "Live in the Now look where you have come from" Your a big guy and can't change your body type. My Trainer says do more cardio on my off days But I still want to loose some more. I also had a body lift a year ago, the Dr said he took off 10 Lbs but not so with the scale. I was 245 when I had my body lift, so I should be like 235 now but I am hovering around 240. I had gotten down to 233 during the recovery of my body lift. One I got back to the gym it started to up again. I would love to get some other suggestions too. It is frustrating, I know I am building muscle. My chest is almost a big as when I started ( NO MAN BOOBS THOUGH) but my waist went from a 44 to a 36, My Chest from a 52 to like a 48. My Shirt went from XXL to L but now back to XL Because of weight training my chest is getting bigger. Some guy friends have poked my chest and commented about the muscle so I guess that's good but not what I was really aiming for. So really at a loss as to what to do next. I have tried eating more, eating less. Low Carbs, no carbs, normal carbs? The scale goes up if I eat too many carbs or go off my plan. A few days back on its down. I have had the tests done on the amount of calories I should eat. They say around 2,000. I actually have My Nutritionist and I agree around 1500 - 1600. I work out with a trainer 3 x a week, doing mainly strength I really should be doing more cardio on my off days. But I do have bad knees. Guess I am looking for motivation or something. I never thought I would have a body this good especially at 55, Yea my abs are fairly good but still see that fat guy, Yea when I look at old photos I know I look much much better but still, want to be thinner but not sure if I am willing to starve. And I can't starve and work out! Just can't do it! " I have tried it! " Any suggestions am I kidding myself or just being ungrateful.

Hey KB look what I am about to tell you is going to be the hardest thing for you. If you keep your carbs real low "I used promasil from GNC - 0 carbs" drink 6 shakes per day and maybe some egg drop soup if you have to -chicken broth or hot n spicy would be better choices btw- by the time 10 days rolls around you will absolutely be NOT hungry. My last 4 days Preop I wasnt hungry at all. Totally amazed me. I was fortunate to have a training captain work with me for my preop period just in case I fell out. But I never had any problems. Now post op is another story. Thats where u should be worrying. At 3 weeks post op I was puking on alot of stuff. Getting dizzy when I stood up from sitting. So please schedule some time off post op. Many times I was offloading and having to run to the side the vessel to throw up. Imaging having to hit the side the road really fast. So its in everyones best interest for anyone operating heavy machinery to take atleast a month off. Goodluck and stick to it

i agree with you betsy. pureed Pasta just isn't gonna be the same. however, there are some great canned Soups i love and want to be able to eat but they have rice or noodles in them and wanted to see if that would go over as long as it were pureed first. i'm not big on spaghettios and ravioli outta the can but it's good to know they worked well being blended and you got what you wanted outta them lisain. today we went to a easter thing for the kids (early, i know) and they all ate while we were there. but by the time we left i was starving. so hubby picked me up some chili's chicken enchilada Soup on the way home. i put it in my hamilton beach personal blender (my first time taking it outta the box i must admit) and that thing pureed that soup up til it literally was a liquid! and it tasted just as good as usual. i even added in half a packet of my unjury unflavored Protein for 10 more grams of protein. it was awesome. now i'm super excited about the abilities of my personal blender to make things into liquids that i can have. i'm totally full and happy now and ready for a nap. only problem now is that i'm having trouble figuring out when i'm full..... hmmmm.....

I chose Spivak because of a lot of reasons... I went to his seminar and was completely impressed with him. I have 4 friends that have used him from here at work. He was the first surgeon to perform the lap band in Texas. He won't operate on any Tom, Dick or Harry. He doesn't seem to want to just cut everyone open. I have met Spiegel and was not impressed with him. I am not trying to sway your decision... but I would not let him touch me with a 10 foot pole. That is just my opinion. I have a dear friend that he really screwed up and I am sorry, but I can't respect a surgeon that does the things that he does. A lot of people claim he is an excellent surgeon, but the one person that I know he operated on, would beg to differ. A lot of people say he doesn't have good bedside manner... well I wouldn't know personally, but again, my dear friend loathes the man. I sincerely wish your wife and you the best of luck in your decision. Just research as much as you can... and talk to some patients of his that have had it done.

Just a gentle reminder to my fellow sleevers to always stay hydrated! Spring is here summer is around the corner so water is essential. I had my sleeve in January 24 2012 so I'm over a year out. Even now im still trying get my 64 minimum! I started at 240 highest and currently I weigh 165- my goal is 140 so 25 lbs away from there! I check the scale every other week because now I dont care about my weight I care about how I feel. By now I can eat anything 6 to 8 oz max if its protein then 6 max. Carbs I can stuff more lol. I ate carby foods and gained 10 pounds and I acknowledge every savory bite. Breaks over!! I'm going back to protein shakes and sticking with my vitamins and I know I'll hit my goal. What I'm focusing on is yoga, cardio and strength training. I love working out! Its an amazing and beautiful experience to know that you can do something and not feel tired in pain. At 24 years old feeling that happiness brought tears to my eyes. I LOVE my body. My scars my tiger marks are a part of me. I'm okay with it. I eat as many fruits and veggies as I want because I can't eat that much anyways. The sleeve works there is no excuse! I can share one slice of pizza with my mom and feel good when before I ate the whole box. Seriously. I share food with my family when before food was something I couldn't even control. Working out is my high. I just need to remember to drink water! Hope this motivated and helpes some good luck and well wishes to all!

I am scheduled for the 17th, and I am getting more nervous as days go on. I've had surgeries but nothing this major. I start my pre-op diet on the 7th (10 days). Not to freak you out (actually this still freaks me out!) but the other night I actually woke up in a nightmare choking, thinking that I already had the surgery and had some kind of obstruction from it and couldn't breathe... It's weird, because I know this is something I chose to do and not an immediate life or death surgery. In the end I keep telling myself it WILL be life or death if I don't get the weight off.... regardless the anxiety is setting in bigtime as the days pass and the date comes closer. I am going to ask my primary if he can give me some anxiety relief meds when I see him in two weeks.

I am told 1) it will shrink my liver and 2) I did not really loose the required weight before surgery. But mostly I guess it shrinks your liver and is better for surgery. I can drink Protien drinks i am going with Designer Whey with 100 Calories and 18g of protien. So I can drink more in a day. I plan on drink 5 so that will get me to 500 calories and 90g of protien. Inbetween I plan on fat free jello which is 10 calories per box and probably going to pick up some fat free popsicles. I am really not look fawrd to it but I am going to do this.. It is my first of many goals in my life and it starts with this clear liquid diet I need to do!!! As I type this it is now early Thanksgiving morning and Thanksgiving is my last big meal I plan on having. hahaha I have sleep apnea and I want off my cpap machine. I can not sleep with out that thing. I have to bring it with me if i want to sleep other then home. If the power goes out in the middle of the night I can not sleep at all with out. I try to lay down and take a nap I feel like I can not breath.. I don't like the way I look I hate my neck and other parts of my body. I need to do this for myself but more importantly I need to do this for my 15 yr old daughter. I want to be around for her longer then I am going to be if I continue down this road i am on. The surgery part scares me to death, like I said I have never had surgery before for anything. I like the fact that there are others out here that have the same date as me.. Its like we can start this new life together and have each other to talk to about things and how each otehr is doing. Mel I will add her right now

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?

I had lap band on May 26th and immediately felt great. Well day 4 and I am nauseous and running to the bathroom every 10-15 minutes. I am still on a liquid diet and feel like there is nothing I can do. I am more than a little panicked. I left a message for the doctor by with the holiday I am not getting any response. I could use any advice I can get. I have read on some forums that diarria is very common with Lap band and I am starting to wonder if I have made the right decision. Help.

Leslie - I feel I'm in the same boat even 3 years out. I have a 4 year old son and a dh with the apparent mentality of a 4 year old, a full time job and a part time job. Even with both jobs times have been so tight what little "free" time I have is usually spent "couponing" so I can afford the next tank of gas or gallong of milk. I do manage to get away from the house once a week to walk with a friend and another 2 times a month for a local band support group and our neighborhood association group that I'm on the board until the end of the year. That adds up to a whopping 6 nights a month I get out of the house and its like pulling teeth just to get those. My DH is always complaining I need to spend more time at home. But still in some ways I still feels like I'm just spouting one big set of excuses. I think I'm going to try and take some of the others advice and do the multiple 10 minute walks (maybe 5 minute walks) even if its just around the house. I use to play "pacman" with my son around the house which consisted of him shouting out that he was different color ghosts, whenever he was blue I was to chase him and ofcourse just before I'd catch him he would turn green or red and then start chasing me. He loved it and it was a great mini-workout for me. I just need to start doing it again and make it a daily event.

I have always had a problem with overdoing when I exercise. I try to start small and work up gradually but I end up getting worn out and can't do anything for a week or more. This lady tells you how to build up after WLS. She said to increase the time by 10% per week. I hope this works for me. This is an excellent lecture for those new to the band or exercise. It is called "Lecture on Importance of Exercise Immediately After Weight Loss Surgery Weight Loss Surgery http://www.dynamic-progress.com/exercise-video-lecture/ http://www.youtube.c...t=FLFNut9fnDIMQ

I ran 10 km this week

Hey are located in Santa clarita California when I started with them around 6 months ago I was 236lbs 36% body fat 12cc in my band first day I ran a mile in 12 minutes did 15 pushups 10 situps 10 box dips 10cirls with15lbs weights and was completly exhausted now I am 207lbs 18% body fat 5cc yes I took the Fluid out run a mile in 8 minutes do 68 pushups per minute 55 situps 50+ box dips and I curl both arms 50+ with 15lbs weights last week I climbed my Whitney from portal to submit and back down in the same day at this point I have control of my health and my weight I can not be stopped

Hey All, I am entering Day 1 of my Pre-op and I am sooooo excited. I think I am almost too excited to be hungry! It's been an okay starts. My husband and I have been up since 7 with our DD. He keeps slipping up. He brought me some French Vin coffee in bed. But then I had to remind him that start my pre-op today. So only Water. I think I am going to try to plan each day out the day before. While there aren;t any calorie restrictions, I still want to make sure I look at my carbs (no more than 40 a day) sat fats (no more than 5/serving). So here is what I had and what I plan on for the day Goal: Shrink the Liver not Loose weight 9:00 am 16 oz of water and a plain hard-boiled egg 10:15- 16 oz of water a a half of banana (other half is my daughter's :-) 11:30- 16 oz of water and a apple 1:30- Protein shake (150 cal/ 1 gr of sat fat/ 6 g of carbs/ 26gr Protein) and 8 oz of water 4ish -Some snack within guidelines (I was thinking Greek yogurt with frozen strawberries) with 16 oz of water Dinner- Plain chix breast w/ sweet pea with 16 oz of water Late night snack if needed- Protein Shake (280 cal/ 2 sat fats/8 gr carb/ 56 gms of protein) Wish me luck!

Go to the hardware store and get a decent sized pipe (3-4 inch pipe) that is about 10-12ft long put an end cap on one end and a twist off cap on the other fill with water. Now carry said pipe in a crooked arm carry around the yard, now lift the pipe over head an do it again. You can vary the exercise by adding more water or also try walking backwards. One of the best core work outs I've ever done...using these slush pipes seems to target your weakest muscles in the back, core, and arms so it seems to work different things each week.

60 lbs! That's 10 lbs a month. In all my years of dieting and with weight watchers I never managed that consistency. Our sleeves our doing their job as a tool to help us lose the weight at a healthy rate. You are rockin' this. Keep up the great work

I weight about 10 pounds more today than the day of my RNY (which was Tuesday). How is this possible? Is it all retained fluid from having an IV and fluids after surgery?

i knew in my head that the weight wouldn't fall off immediately, but i did kinda expect that when you go from eating 2500 or how ever many calories you eat when you're not dieting... to less than 600 a day, i did expect to lose more weight in the pre-op/post-op stage before i started adding solid food to my diet. Some people do, i didn't. i'm still struggling... i was banded march 30, 2009 and only lost 7lbs pre-op and have only lost another 10 or so since then... it's very frustrating for me. I got on the scale last night at support group -- that I was a speaker at, and had actually gained 2lbs... this journey is very hard for me right now. it's hard for me to stay motivated when i'm not seeing any weight loss or in the case of last night, a weight gain. i knew it was going to take a long time to lose the weight, i just wasn't prepared for the reality of the slowness. i hope that soon, i will start losing consistently and i hope that when you have the surgery, you lose in a constant manner.

10 am may be too early for me. We are flying in but I can't remember the time If I can make it, I'll post what I'm wearing

I am 10 days from my surgery, and on my pre-op diet. My daughters, 2 preteens and one young teen, have already noticed Mommy is not eating ( I am on the liquid preop diet), and of course they are curious about what I am doing. They are regular girls, and completely inundated with the same media messages that we all see daily. They know about diets, they know how everyone treated Britney when she was a little curvy, and how she is "back on top" now that she is skinny again. They worry about what size jeans they are wearing, and if they look "fat" in their swimsuits. I have tried to always stress health over specific size or weight, but they hear what I say, and then of course, they see all the messages from everywhere around them. I understand that what I am doing is an important life change for me. I have considered this surgery very carefully and I am most looking forward to the improvements in my health and in what activities I will be able to join in on with my kids. That said, I also know that if I tell my daughters, two of whom have inherited my genetic shape and are already curvy-beautifully fit and healthy-but more Beyonce than model-thin, I run the risk of setting up and reinforcing all kind of body image issues and questions with them that they just do not need. I have struggled mightily, even when on one of my ridiculous diets, to stress to them that life is about healthy eating, not dieting and starving yourself, that some people are naturally skinny, others more rounded, all in an effort to try and avoid transferring my weight issues onto them. I feel that if I tell them I am getting banded in order to lose weight, that to them, I will look like a very big hypocrite! How have you all handled this? Thanks for the input.

I am scheduled for surgery on 10-21 and now weigh 219 and am 5"9 I get it all the time but I have a bad history of weight gain and loss and would like to be at 150 or 160 and just stay. I am hoping my band will help me MAINTAIN!

I was 218 LBS & 5'1 with a BMI of 42, just 6 months ago. Now...BMI of about 29 and I am at 151 LBS. I have lost 67lbs in 6 months and am just 21lbs from goal. I have gone from a size 18 to a 10...in 6 short months! So, yes even though you may have a smaller BMI, you can do it!! If you feel deep down that this time is your time to change, anything is possible. Good luck! :thumbup:

My skin really itched also. I rub some cortizone-10 onto my skin but not directly on the incisions just all around it. It seems to do the trick.

You could also try a couple of at-home fitness DVDs that are very quick. Two I like are "[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Jillian-Michaels-30-Day-Shred/dp/B00127RAJY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1225378829&sr=8-1]30 Day Shred[/ame]," which takes 20-25 minutes and is a killer workout (seriously, you'll have a hard time walking for a few days - it's great!) encompassing cardio, core and strength training. The second is the "10 Minute Solution" series. The one I like is the one with a [ame=http://www.amazon.com/10-Minute-Solution-Fitness-Workouts/dp/B000GEIRB4/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1225378906&sr=1-17]fitness ball[/ame], but there are dozens. On each there are usually five different workouts you can choose from, each lasting 10 minutes - core, upper body, lower body, cardio, flexibility. I usually do just the core and upper body, but since they're really just toning and sculpting you can do all of them in a row if you have the time. I also have the [ame=http://www.amazon.com/10-Minute-Solution-Kickbox-Bootcamp/dp/B000A3DGG2/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1225378906&sr=1-13]Kickbox Bootcamp [/ame]which is fun for a change up. Again, each section lasts only 10 minutes. Surely you have 10 minutes in the morning or at night?