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I also have bad knees and have belonged to Curves now for five years. First of all, the squat machine is totally out! (the one where you are standing under two shoulder pads and you squat down and raise up again). Avoid the leg curl (the seated one where you curl your legs around the padded bars) if it hurts your knees and also the leg press (seated where your legs are up pushing on two metal plates). The inner and outer thigh machine (seated spread-eagle where you bring your legs in and out) shouldn't affect your knees. If you have a leg extension at your Curves-you may not- (standing, where you press back with your foot), test that one out for yourself. When I've had issues with my knees, I don't hesitate to skip that machine and go on to the next aerobic pad. And you can then just time 25 minutes around, instead of "three times around on the machines". I got a steroid shot in my worst knee last August and it has lasted until this past month, so that may be an idea for you! It may just be a while until you reduce the amount of weight bearing down on your knees. I work out at the YMCA also (weight training) but I adjust my program there also to accommodate for my knees. Working through the pain isn't an option for us--because it IS pain and not the good "burn" of working muscle groups. Whatever you do, don't give up--it's all so worth it! :thumbup:

I'm one month out and have lost 12 lbs but am seeing where people are losing large amounts of weight after being banded one or two months. It makes me wonder that if you are one of those people, how many calories and protein are you getting in? Are you getting enough nutrition?

Hi Everyone, I use a CPAP maching for sleep apnea and I had heard that often people don't need one after lapband surgery if they have lost weight. Has anyone ever been able to go off the machine after losing weight? I would love to hear about it. Going off would be wonderful for me! I am going through the preop testing now.

Well, i'm probably not to first to say i've had a problem with dieting. Doctors always tell me . "you'll lose weight if you eat six small meals a day." Hrms six small meals eh? I can barely find time for one a day . I'm a single mother of 2 and i work alot. When i fix the kids food i make a plate for myself but by the time i get them fed and try to sit down and eat they are trying to either A. Eat my dinner or B. Trying to get up from the table so i just put my plate on the counter and dont even bother with it til they are in bed. Ever since high school some how i've programed myself to eat just once a day. I'm wondering how this is going to effect me after the surgery with the different types of food they want us to eat. Anyone got any suggestions or advice? Cause all they seem to serve at the casino is fast food stuf and i'm so tired of fast food i just dont eat til i get home. That is if i have enough energy to eat something. I'm hypoglycemic so when i feel my blood sugar running low i drink OJ or eat a sandwhich. I go through more OJ and water in my house then actual food, mainly cause i smoke so damn much to curve the cravings but smoking is about to be out of the picture.... I have one pack left and i'm forcing myself not to buy any more after this.

I am very interested in getting the lapband surgery as soon as I can get my finances in place. I live in Canada and will have to pay $16000. I also have convinced my husband that he needs to do it with me. We can get some money back on income tax and a bit of a discount for two of us. I have a consultation appointment at Toronto Lapband Surgery Centre, TLBC, on Nov. 27. I want to book surgery immediately after that. The burning question in my mind is "Is this the solution that will work forever?" I have dieted so many times and gained it back again. I have also spent so much money on diet plans, pills, etc. It seems like a miracle that lapband will finally get me to the weight I need to be and be able to maintain it. I am ready to focus all my energy on the diet and exercise part of lapband. I just am worried that I can hijack my own efforts if I start eating unwisely again. :phanvan

Go you! Cycling is awesome. I used to cycle a lot before I gained so much weight. Can wait to get sleeved and lose enough to return to it! I will cycle vicariously through you for now. Good luck.

Thanks for that! And actually since i posted this my friend accidentally did it again. So I tried something different. She was having a conversation about some guy she just met and naturally her weight insecurities came up, she seems to think that if a guy is interested in her, therefore he must have a big girl fetish. Long story short i said, stop thinking that way, he's interested in you for you, embrace it, it has nothing to do with your curves. She actually stopped and thought about what i just said like a deer in the headlights. But it clicked, and she wasn't offended. So hopefully going forward she realizes this.

Hello, I came across your profile, i'm not in the Bronx, but I'm in Manhattan. I too am looking for a bandster buddy that can identify with what i'm going through.. I JUST got banded 22 days ago, weight loss to date 11 lbs. I was given my first fill today of 3 ccs. I took a gulp of Water and thought I was going to die! lol. The pressure in my chest was horrible. If you have IM I have yahoo messenger and a facebook page.. you can find me through my email or user name rosadosonia@yahoo.com I look forward to hearing from you.. and congrats on your weight loss you are doing gggreattt!!!! :thumbup: Sonia

Today I had my appoint with my surgeon to officially start my journey as a sleever! I really did not have any questions to ask because I have been reading everything on here and talking with a few people that I know that have already been "sleeved." The next step was to call the Bariatrics woman at our hospital and give her some information. It was mainly name, address, DOB, weight, and insurance. She is to send me an email with what to do next. I am excited about this! I feel very positive! So glad I found y'all! I need to go take my official BEFORE picture.

Wow that is a dilemma. Congrats on hitting your goal weight! Great job!!! Its good that you have not developed a false sense of security and know your Achilles tendon. You are right to be concerned and considering your options to maintain at goal... and I understand not wanting to go under goal. I say trust yourself for now give yourself a weight range to maintain on your own and if you're struggling (you'll know if you are) just know that options for revision are on the table if you should decide to go that route.

I was told by my dr that larger women have a tendency to get pregnant easier as they lose weight because fat absorbs a lot of our hormones, hence the sketchy periods. My surgeon wants me to wait at least 18 months before trying to get pregnant, but have told me a story of a client who got pregnant 2 months after surgery because it made her fertile again. Just err on the side of caution would be my suggestion...

OH, I am NOT ready to have a baby right now. Maybe in five years. It's just comforting to know that the reason I am not able to conceive is because of the weight. (which is going bye bye) lol

i got sleeve april 16 2013 before the 30 day liquid diet i weight 441 today im 375 .im almost 1 moth post op .

Try reading some blogs, that really helped me...these are people who have been where I am, have gotten banded and then had major success. Like anything else in life, it's not success only and there are people who find ways to make it not work, and there are some people who just don't like it but the vast majority it seems do lose weight and use it as the wonderful tool it is. I am scared too but am getting excited about getting it done because I honestly believe it to be the first time that I am truly going to succeed because the drastic physical change will force me to make permanent changes. I am on a journey already to finally put myself first in my life and that is what I am doing. Part of me feels terribly selfish to pay all this money but it's about time that I took care of myself for a change...I figure the family will have to adjust but in a short time I will be able to take better care of them and for longer because I will be healthy and I will be able to teach my kids how to grow up KNOWING how to be healthy so they don't have to wade through the train wreck of contradictory information out there. I think we will look back and say..."I should have done it sooner, it's the best thing I have ever done for myself."

So I am scheduled for surgery on November 29th. I started this in August. It didn't take too long as my insurance covers Lap-Band, and I didn't need a 6 month diet. I started my journey at 265 lbs. I am now at 250 lbs. I started journaling my food and exercising more than usual. Not too bad. I am now on the pre-op phase as prescribed by my Nut. I am not hungry but not really satisfied. I guess this will be the new normal. I think some of the problem is the pre-op liquid diet is mainly milk based and sweet, ie Muscle Milk Light, yogurt, fat free sugar free pudding, etc. I really don't have much of a sweet tooth. I look so forward to my two daily meals of Soup to get some savory. Thank God I can cook. I cooked a big pot of soup. Canned soup is not all that tasty, but I have some to mix things up. I found out the hard way yesterday about getting enough to eat. I was about an hour late for my evening mini-meal, and had a real soupy soup with little in the way of calories for lunch. It was canned soup...big mistake. I was sick with a headache and dizziness by evening, and I ate stuff not on my plan. I started my pre-op diet 2 days early (on Sat) and was doing okay before yesterday evening. I am back on track today and am being a lot more mindful about getting enough calories in as not to get low blood sugar and compensating by eating the wrong things. I also went for walk on my lunch break, like I usually do, which may have contributed to the incident later in the evening in conjunction with not enough calories. I am excited about my surgery! My husband is "cautiously optimistic" as I have lost and regained weight most of my life. One of my sisters knows and is very supportive. My mom and best friend know but have bombarded me with failure stories as they are both jealous. I have decided not to tell most of my friends and co-workers as I am also "cautiously optimistic" about them. My co-workers have no need to know. I have told everyone I am getting my gallbladder out which my dr. does do so it won't seem odd with my dr excuse. Most of my friends are obese and I really don't need any more failure stories or other forms of acting out of jealousy. I'll be in North Shore LIJ Syosset, on Long Island, with Dr. Geiss. I qualify for single incision, and if all goes well, I'll go home the same day instead of staying over night as I am healthy other than being obese. I have bought most of the things I need post-op. I need to get a Fiber supplement and Vitamins. Any one else being banded on the 29th? Good luck to all out there in Bandland.

It will work honest! I felt the same way though and seriously without even trying that hard at all I am 19 lbs away from my goal and its only been a little bit over 3 months! and the BEST part!!!!! I wont gain it back this time!!! woo hoo!!

Its now been two months since I've lost weight! Im going to up my calories, lower my carbs, and force myself to exercise more.

Hi I am new here and love all the support I see on this site. However I am very nervous. I have been reading the forums and online articles preparing for my surgery. Ordered shakes, Protein and Vitamins. My friend who had her surgery 8 months ago said I am too prepared. LOL I am not thinking so. I am so nervous today and my gastric bypass is tuesday morning. I am doing this for medical reasons and for the weight. I have severe reflux, hiatel hernia, gallstones sleep apnea and IBS. I am looking forward to feeling better after the recovery from these issues. Any support or suggestions are very much appreciated. Thanks Cynthia

GA_googleFillSlot("LBT-TextAd05");Hi, I am going to be having surgery in about 1 1/2 weeks and trying to get some advice with other guys who have had it done. What was your experience after surgery in regards to the diet and exercise? I am in need of loosing 50 lbs to be at my goal weight . I am wondering if anyone has experience visible ports or complications. For the past 3 weeks I have been eating small meals and working out in order to get a head start. I have lost 15 lbs but not sure if I should go forward with the surgery or not just a bit worried. Any comments will help. Thanks. Cesar

Dr. Schulman, Again I want to thank you for the reply. I know that my weight has contributed to the hernia, and that's one of my big motivations for the lapband. Your information will help so much when I lose this weight and start looking for a plastic surgeon. have a wonderful day!:thumbup:

Well..tell us a little bit more about yourself. How old are you? If you're 21, suck it up and change your lifestyle. If you're 71, then losing (only 1 'o' ) weight may significantly improve your quality of life and surgery may be a better option. Are you physically handicapped? I only needed to lose about 40 pounds to be at a pretty healthy BMI, but because my mobility and ability to work out is severely hindered by my spinal cord injury, I opted to do the surgery. It would be a catalyst to my healthy lifestyle. You have to give a background before any of us can answer anything...

I can't seem to get on the right diet to lose weight ahead of time. Before I meet with my Dr. I am trying to get a head start, but I keep slipping.

I am not a woman, obviously but I do have some insight here. My wife got pregnant two months after Gastric Sleeve Surgery, obviously this was a surprise baby. Our baby was born on 07-16-2018 and he was absolutely fine he was actually bigger than our other two babies. He was born via C-Section and she did experience more pain but I think it was due to all the scar tissue from the WLS and the previous two C-sections. The pregnancy did slow her weight loss considerably. I think she still lost about 80 pounds total. We are trying to get refocused and get back to basics to get the weight loss started again.

Yes, I gained a few pounds along the way. Several times. But eventually lost 160 of them....forever! It's just the way it goes. Stay on your program and stay OFF the scale.

So today, just a few days before my 1 year anniversary of STARTING my program I've reached my goal weight! I started at 280lbs. I'm at 150lbs. Lost 60 of it before surgery! You guys this feels amazing. Size 24/26 to an 8. Sent from my LG-H634 using the BariatricPal App