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Accelerator, it is part of the whole biolean system (alot of natural weight loss herbs) my doctor uses it for all his non surgical patients, i tried just the biolean pills before we decided to do the band, but it made me feel like i was on diet pills to jittery and bitchy, taking just accelerator i feel no different .. we will see

I got MyFitnessPal right after my surgery and hated it. I can't really remember why. I got it again after reading the post yesterday and find it helpful. I guess I want it to read my weight on the main page but that's not a big deal.

From past links on this site, it was noted that the pain experienced after plastic surgery is more severe than the pain from minimally invasive (laparoscopic) weight loss surgery.

This confused me as well when I first started. Click on your username at the top of the page->My Surgery->Progress. You can alter your weight stats there.

go to my ticker edit and go thru the whole thing. at the end you will be able to adjust the weights

I've been on this liquid diet for 5 days :frown:. My urine is starting to smell like chicken broth :frown:!!!! But, I have lost 10 pounds, so I guess chicken broth is not a bad price to pay........LOL. My starting weight was 239, and today I weighted in at 229. I guess I don't miss the chocolates too much:sad_smile::wub::sad_smile: Can someone please let me know when I'm to start the Protein shakes, and if there is one in particular that you love?? Thanks, and next time I sign on, you'll see less of me:thumbup:

A WOMAN'S WEEK AT THE GYM This is dedicated to everyone who ever attempted to get into a regular workout routine. Dear Diary, For my birthday this year, my daughter (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me.Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try. I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Belinda, who identified herself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear. My daughter seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress. MONDAY: Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Belinda waiting for me. She is something of a Greek goddess - with blonde hair,dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!! Belinda gave me a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which she conducted her aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring! Belinda was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time she was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week-!! TUESDAY: I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Belinda made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then she put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. Belinda's rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT-!! It's a whole new life for me! WEDNESDAY: The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot! Belinda was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. Her voice is a little too perky for early in the morning, and when she scolds, she gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Belinda put me on the stair monster. Why the Hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Belinda told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. She said some other s**t, too. THURSDAY : Belinda was waiting for me with her vampire-like teeth exposed as her thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late, it took me that long to tie my shoes. Belinda took me to work out with dumbbells. When she was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom!! She sent another little skinny thing to find me. Then, as punishment, she put me on the rowing machine -- which I sank. FRIDAY : I hate that Belinda more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic little cheerleader. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat her with it. Belinda wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the darned barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich. The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director? SATURDAY : Belinda left a message on my answering machine in her grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing her made me want to smash the machine with my planner. However, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel. SUNDAY : I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my daughter (the little s**t) will choose a gift for me that is fun -- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!

I had realize band surgery 8-09..I still have about 45lbs. to go until I reach my goal. I seem to keep going up and down on the same 8lbs. and it's getting very frustrating. Does anyone have any meal plan suggestions?? I've changed my exercise routine some, but I gained 3lbs since last week, but probably by next week will lose that 3lbs, but can't seem to lose anymore..help!!

We've received one common request over the last year+ from members on LapBandTalk who've undergone or are interested in the Realize® Band procedure: An online community they can call their own. Following the success of LapBandTalk and VerticalSleeveTalk, we're happy to announce that we've just launched the beta release of the Realize Band Support Community, located at RealizeBandSupport.com . We're confident that you'll find what you're looking for at the new Realize Band Support (RBS) Community. If you're currently a member of LapBandTalk or VerticalSleeveTalk, you can just log in with your current credentials, there's no need to sign up for a new account. Log in now to join the REALIZE Band community and become one of our founding members! Wondering if Realize® Band is the right choice for you? Looking for information and community after your Realize Band Surgery? Look no further. You'll find everything you need at RealizeBandSupport.com . I started LapBandTalk the night I came home from surgery mid July 2003. Following my own Lap-Band® procedure, I was looking for information and community support. I came across a few helpful web sites, but they all lacked a sense of actually belonging to a group of people who share many similarities, struggles and habits. After years of researching and reaching out to the community, we've been able to build the most comprehensive online resources for all types of Weight Loss Surgeries. Hundreds of thousands of registered members contribute amazing stories and useful information to our pages.

Well, hello stubborn plateau! I had one of those. Around the middle of my loss. When I took the time to think about it, it was a weight at which I had spent considerable time earlier in life. I was once told that it was a 'set point', a place my body knew well and which it felt comfortabl. So, I plodded on, kept exercising, experimented with different foods, got a tiny fill, and after a really looooooooong time it broke, and then started falling off again. I have had little plateaus since then, usually every ten pounds or so my body takes a break from losing. Now is the time for honoring yourself to keep the hard work with the faith that it shall break! Good luck!!!

Hey everyone. It has been a while since I posted but need some advice and support. I got my lapband 2 yrs ago. in the first year I lost 70lbs I was about 40 lbs from my goal. I went from 303lbs to 224. I got pregnant last August and had my beautiful baby girl in May. I am now 20lbs heavier than I was before getting pregnant (Im 245 right now) my goal is to get under 200!!). Half way through my pregnancy I had to get most of my fill out as it became too tight for me to eat and I was having horrible reflux. I went in last week to get a fill as I am soooo ready to get this weight off again and meet my goal and Iv fallen into old habits again...eating way too much and not folllowing the band rules at all. I am basically runing in an empty tool right now. when I went to the doctor I found out that my port had flipped and my doctor said it was most likely from the pregnancy. He was able to get the port flipped back to do my fill ( I have an 11cc band) he put 2 back in so now I have 5cc's. Im worried about the port flipping and I am hoping he can continue to flip it if needed during fills. Im self pay and do not want to have to pay to get it fixed unless I HAVE to. The 2cc's didnt do anything so I have another fill scheduled for Sept 27th. Im already frustrated as I cannot get myself back into this whole weight loss mindset!! I worked so hard last year to lose the weight..I worked out alot and really followed the band rules. Since my fill Iv been getting achiness and pain in my left shoulder and arm. I read somewhere that sometimes a flipped port can do that? Does anyone have any experience with this?? Also so worried that my band wont be like it was pre pregnancy. Im still breast feeding so the doctor is hesitant to put in too much of a fill. it costs me $300 each visit so I have to space them apart a month or so. with a new baby, working and I have another son as well its very hard for me to get back in the gym yet..but I do plan on going back as soon as I can. If anyone has any suggestion on the port flip, left shoulder achiness or just general support.....Id really appreciate it!!!! taking a year off while pregnant and having a baby was both good for my family but bad for my lapband and diet!!

I was banded in Summer 2007. I've had all kinds of difficulties with restriction, life issues (dad passed away, mom cancer, moved, 5 kids, etc), and it seemed like no matter what I tried I couldn't lose more than 30 lbs and then quickly gain it back. I worked out to the point of constant pain and ate like a bird, only to lose very little. And the minute I had a setback the weight came rushing back. I'm grateful I got the band and I believe it's kept me from gaining a whole bunch more weight but it never worked for me like I saw with so many of my fellow bandsters. Good news, bad news.... (mostly good) I found out that I have PCOS and some pre-cancer symptoms. One of the main side effects is extreme weight gain and difficulty with losing weight. I've had all the symptoms of this since I was a teen but nobody ever caught it. Now, it has advanced to an alarming degree and they finally discover the issue! Thank God! I will be having a complete hysterectomy next week and won't have those issues anymore!!! I will have to have my band unfilled for the surgery and then go through the fill process again from the beginning. With a new, unhindered metabolism and a fresh start with my band... I get a do-over!!!! I'm almost as hopeful and excited today as I was when I first got banded! Woohoo!

I did week 1 - walk 3.2 Andy run4.2 and I was ok - tried week 2 and I couldn't do it - I went back to walking 3.5 for now - I think I need to lose some more weight first and then I will try again. In

-Protein Bars (I like Zone Perfect Dark Chocolate) -Greek Yogurt -Light Cheese (Weight Watchers has a 1pt/50 cal cheese stick that is good. Also Laughing Cow has yummy light spreadable cheese) - Cottage Cheese

My name is Jael. (Prounounced Jay el) I am a 32 year old Italian female from Chicago. I am the mother of 2 fabulous kiddos and I am in good health with the exception of the weight and high blood pressure. 5'3 209 ! I have done all my evaluations and finally met with the surgeon today. He said I am a great candidate for the lap band!! WOO HOOOO! Now the waiting begins!!

I started seeing a therapist nearly a year post-op. My issue at that time was not learning how to manage my behavior but body image issues. I did not recognize myself when I looked in the mirror. I had lost around 100 lbs. but I did not see a thinner person...I saw an old woman looking back at me. My hair was falling out, my skin was wrinkled, and I looked like my grandmother. I've gotten past the 'critical' issues of learning I need to give up some of my feelings of needing to be in control and I'm starting to get more comfortable with the much smaller sized person I've become but I'm now working with the therapist to tackle some of the deep issues surrounding my need to turn to food when I have emotional reactions to situations. Whether you see a therapist, or go with a support group...or do both if you need to, the point is that you should do whatever you need to make yourself better be it weight loss surgery and/or followup support in whatever way you require it. I agree with others in that those of us who are battling our weight have issues that manifest in overeating behaviors. Some abuse alcohol, others abuse drugs. We abuse food. I understand that I need to go deep to change my behaviors and need the help of a professional. Others do not or they need different type(s) of support. Good luck with whatever you choose...even if your choice is to do nothing beyond surgery.

Hey guys, I've just had my sleeve done, and I am wondering if it is it necessary to have a psychological support for some time. I consider that we have 3 factors for not losing weight: a physiological one (the fat cells that try to keep us in the same weight forever), a psychological one (the stress or anxiety is turned into hunger), and a genetic one (there are people who get stressed and get thinner - envy that!). With the surgery we cut the physiological, but the others remain. What do you do to avoid getting fat again because of the psychological factors? Thanks!! Caio

I am feeling the same as you. I'm at a stall. I am following my NUT plan to the T. But I realized that earlier on I was losing weight daily because I was eating a lot less and healing my tummy. Now that I'm on a regular diet, I'm not losing weight. I track everything in myfitnesspal and my NUT is my friend on it too. That helps track what I eat. I'm so worried too about stretching it. Thanks Nancy

Hi my name is sandy from NJ and I have decided to do the gastric sleeve. I have already met with my nutritionist and have 3 more left. Hopefully there are people out there that plan on doing the surgery or have done it...so let’s be buddies and fight the same psychological & physical battle.

I understand how ur feeling I'm 3 weeks post op and I'm down 13lbs. At first I started getting down about it then i thought to myself this is a journey not a race. I have to embrace the good times and the bad. No other fad diet has provided this 8 or 13lbs of weight loss for me and left me feeling so great. Have I lost in large numbers?? Yes I have on Adkins diet but I didn't feel great like I do now my hair was was dry and brittle and with my critical carb count being so low on Adkins I had very little energy to work out. Trust me follow ur program work ur sleeve/tool get ur exercise in even just walking and the weight WILL come off. Hang in there u r actually doing fantastic.

don't worry. Your body is still recovering from surgery. Some people recover more slowly than others. Once the healing has truly begun...you will see more weight loss. Make sure you are eating your Protein and drinking your Water and you are walking every day. If you do all those things the weight will come off. Good luck and be patient.

Hi, my name is Gail and I'm 4 days sleeved, what a relief that it's over and I'm back home. I had it done at the Cleveland Clinic in Florida on 6/17/2014, I had a great team of doctors led by Dr. Szomstein and great care by the nurses at the clinic I would highly recommend having it done there. One thing I can can tell you if you are thinking of doing this is to research the procedure, go to the nutrition classes and support groups that the hospital offers this way nothing is a surprise. I didn't really have a weight problem until I hit 40 then I stopped smoking and it started piling on, I have been on every diet out there as I'm sure you all have, they all work for a while and then I would slip back and binge. I knew I had to do something because now I had developed all sort of related health problem such as high blood pressure, diabetes etc. I really have to say the whole really wasn't that bad the first 2 days are uncomfortable but otherwise it was okay. So now I begin my journey of dropping the weight i'm down 15lbs but that's moistly due to the liquid diet. I'll keep you posted

Hello fellow sleevers So I am pleased to report that I got my approval today - the whole surgery is now paid for and I can just prepare myself now for this as it is going to happen. I even got to speak to my clinic today and they asked which time I'd prefer for surgery - I asked for the first one if possible. They said that they will put it on the file and contact me closer to the 3rd of September to advise me of the details, when to get to hospital etc. it's just the best news! Everyone was telling me not to stress but I admit, I was totally stressed out. Not that if I'd been knocked back it would have stopped me, just delayed me a bit. But this way I get to keep to my preferred schedule It's not an accident I wanted it as soon as possible in September - I want to get myself healed and losing weight so I can swim this Christmas (it's summer in December in Australia). I wanna get in that pool! I wanna play with my nieces and nephews...and to have more energy, better health and hopefully a better quality of life. So excited - wishing you all well out there! Today is a GOOD day!

Hello everyone I have read on this site and many that lots and lots of people can loose weight but keeping it off is the problem....well i think this may not work for me if its the case of helping us maintain once we have lost the weight. I have been on and off diets for over 16 years and weigh 10 stone more than i did when i started..i cant stick to a diet long enough, yes i can do a week, 2 at most and i give up as i am hungry or crave something thats not allowed on a diet plan im following. does this mean the sleeve wont work for me...i have no will power what so ever and im worried now

I'm so excited!!! Yeah my Ins will not cover weight loss???”. So I have to self pay. That's so awesome, glad to hear!!!