Happy 2011 July 2010 Bandsters!

[hiddnstar 167]

Hi!

Those of us who were banded last July have now come to our 6 month mark. How is everyone doing?

I have lost half the weight my doctor wants me to lose and I'm excited about that. However, I have been reading posts here about how for lots of people the first 6 months is when the weight comes off the fastest.

I guess we, as a group, will now see for ourselves.

My weight was stalled for 3 weeks in Dec. until I got a fill. Then I lost a pound a day for 5 days. Now it is stable. Hopefully I will be losing 2 pounds a week again.

My physical therapist told me it is important to do different kinds of physical activitity. So I have added riding an exercise bike to my walking. I really need to add some weight lifting for my arms...

Is everyone staying motivated? Or maybe going in and out of being motivated to finish this journey??

I was thinking maybe if we all pull together, since we were banded around the same time, we can get each other thru the rough times.

I would love to hear how much people have lost or how much closer to goal and what has been the most helpful to them. Anything at all!!! support, recipes, types of Protein, favorite foods, jokes.

I've been stuck on a craving for tapioca pudding! I never even knew I liked tapioca pudding...and now I can't seem to get enough of it. What the heck is tapioca, anyway?

My doctor wants me to lose 120 pounds and I have lost 62 of those so far. My own goal is to lose 130 - 140 pounds. And I have lost 62 of those so far

I am not a good cook, so I have found that buying food at organic restaurants is a way for me to get yummy, good quality food. I eat so little compared to before being banded, that one restaurant meal lasts several days. Luckily I'm not picky about eating the same thing over and over

I also have a 20 oz washable glass water bottle at work. I drink 3 of those every day while at work. (I was told to drink at least 64oz of Water a day). My problem is getting enough water on the weekends.

That's all I have to share for now. I hope everyone is hanging in there no matter what.

Never, never, never give up.

Lets all get this show on the road for 2011!!!! Yahoooooooooooooo!!!!

~hiddn

[RaSCal 0]

I'm down about 80 lbs since surgery on July 2nd. I just now feel like I'm starting to get good restriction. bread and chik-fil-a waffle fries are a clear no-no. I've only vomitted twice and those have been in the past two weeks since my last fill. Other than that, I've had a really easy time of it. I can still eat what I feel like is a good bit and I don't usually get hungry. However I have found that my stomach growls like a bear when I do wait too long to eat.

I exercise every day. Usually this means walking at least a couple of miles around the neighborhood. If I don't get home until 10p.m., then I walk at 10p.m. I want to lose another 50 lbs and I know this won't happen unless I keep at it. My weight loss has clearly slowed. I'm only losing about 5 lbs a month now, but I know if I went back hardcore on watching what I eat I could lose more. I still have a sweet tooth and I have to avoid that as much as possible.

Another thing that has really helped me is avoiding liquid calories as much as possible. I usually only drink Water, though I will drink some OJ on occassion.

I still haven't tried to eat steak yet, but I was able to handle fried deer meat with no troubles.

[pollywogg 17]

I have lost almost 60 and I have 100 more to go. I also stalled over Christmas and its been very very slow since. I'm going to have to pull up my socks and watch what I'm eating closer. I exercise a lot. I love cross country skiing and get out almost every day to do 7-10k. I got my husband to measure me the other day as we think I'm gaining muscle and losing inches - I hope??

[hiddnstar 167]

You both are doing great!!!

I have stalled at 64 pounds, but have seen a little movement recently. I just saw my surgeon last week and he is happy with my progress -- he likes it slow.

Something happened last week....a squigly sensation in my abdomen and now I feel great! I had had discomfort under my ribs since surgery to the point that I had to lay down during my breaks at work and as soon as I got home. Now that is all gone. I dont know what it was that squiggled, but it was a good thing.

My surgeon had an xray done just to be on the safe side and I do not have those results yet. But I feel great!!!

I hope he does not want to "fix" something in there.

Keep up the great work you guys!

love, hiddn

[Dawn5115 0]

Ugh... I have only lost about 30 pounds since I was banded at the end of July. I hate exercise and I am really bad about avoiding it. My husband has promised to walk with me now that the weather is getting better. I saw my doctor for another .5cc fill on Wednesday. He also says the slow loss is best for my body, but I know that the first 30 is much easier than the next 30.... or the last 30. I love the restriction I feel after a fill... I just wish it would stay that way. Being self-pay (I sold my pretty car to get this surgery) I am a little worried about not meeting my goal before my 1 year is up.... that's when I have to pay out of pocket for fills. My jeans are falling off, but the smaller ones I own are still too small..... and I just can't bring myself to shop for another pair of plus AND tall sized jeans. So I belt my big jeans and just keep moving. LOL

[Dawn5115 0]

Ugh... I have only lost about 30 pounds since I was banded at the end of July. I hate exercise and I am really bad about avoiding it. My husband has promised to walk with me now that the weather is getting better. I saw my doctor for another .5cc fill on Wednesday. He also says the slow loss is best for my body, but I know that the first 30 is much easier than the next 30.... or the last 30. I love the restriction I feel after a fill... I just wish it would stay that way. Being self-pay (I sold my pretty car to get this surgery) I am a little worried about not meeting my goal before my 1 year is up.... that's when I have to pay out of pocket for fills. My jeans are falling off, but the smaller ones I own are still too small..... and I just can't bring myself to shop for another pair of plus AND tall sized jeans. So I belt my big jeans and just keep moving. LOL

UPDATE: This new restriction is almost perfect! Hunger? What hunger? LOL and I found a pair of jeans on clearance and bought them "for now". It's better than belting my old jeans.... and for $18, well worth it.

[starsinmyeyes 29]

I was banded July 29th, 2010. I have lost 55lbs so far and counting. I have had a few stalls along the way, around the holidays mostly. But I just keep moving on. I haven't been exercising for the past month or so, but I am kicking myself in the rear and joining the gym this weekend. I am also really looking forward to the daylight savings time change, because my favorite exercise is walking outside in the evening, and it is pitch black by the time I get home from work.

I have trouble eating some things, like bread, which is no surprise...so I eat flat bread or pita sometimes. I have trouble with meat too, unless its fish, ground turkey or moist chicken. I find myself having Soup for lunch because I fear getting stuck and throwing up at work. But it also helps keep my calories down. I love veggies and salads, without lettuce, lol, that gets stuck too. I have trouble eating first thing in the morning, so I drink a Protein shake for Breakfast. My caloric intake fluctuates between 800 and 1200 a day, but I always get my Protein and my Water. I get dumping syndrome with sugary foods, so after that happend 2x I never have touched sugar again. That has been a good thing for me, as I had been a cake and ice cream feind. I was hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) before my band, and now I no longer have the symptoms unless I forget to eat a meal.

I have so enjoyed shopping for new clothes...I went from a size 26 pants down to a size 20 pants. When I run into people who haven't seen me for a while they cannot believe how much smaller I look. I haven't been at my current weight, 242 lbs, for at least 10 years and pre-baby, so I feel absolutely awesome. I find myself walking with more confidence, not feeling winded when I walk, able to sit in office chairs with no problem, and a lot of people tell me I look taller...that's funny to me because I am only 5'4".

Well, I really hope that my weight loss continues at a steady pace....actually I know I will lose more once I am an exercising machine, lol. I really hope that by my 1 year mark I have lost another 50 lbs...I would love to be 100lbs down. Oh, I also have my 20th highschool class reunion coming up in October of this year, so I am really looking forward to being close to my highschool weight and looking and feeling awesome.

I wish all Bandsters good luck and success in their journey to a new healthy lifestyle and I know we can all do it! Stay motivated and connected to this website...it's awesome to have a place to express yourself, get support and get much needed information!

[txredgirl36 0]

My goal is to also have lost 100lbs total on my 1 year band-aversary, but I need to get back to the gym regularly. I had a little set-back as I decided to start running in the fall and ended up tearing the meniscus in my knee. I had surgery in Jan, and have been fully released to go back to the gym and exercising, but haven't gotten back on track. I need some motivation.

I've got great restriction, and sometimes probably too much, but I think my main issue these days is just remembering to take my sinus meds, because the extra drainage really affects how well I'm able to eat. Anyone else have this issue?

[Dawn5115 0]

YES to the drainage thing! I have allergies and it's making it very difficult to eat healthy instead of ice cream or something crunchy that goes down easy! *just excited to know it's not just me!

My goal is to also have lost 100lbs total on my 1 year band-aversary, but I need to get back to the gym regularly. I had a little set-back as I decided to start running in the fall and ended up tearing the meniscus in my knee. I had surgery in Jan, and have been fully released to go back to the gym and exercising, but haven't gotten back on track. I need some motivation.

I've got great restriction, and sometimes probably too much, but I think my main issue these days is just remembering to take my sinus meds, because the extra drainage really affects how well I'm able to eat. Anyone else have this issue?

[Dawn5115 0]

I've got great restriction, and sometimes probably too much, but I think my main issue these days is just remembering to take my sinus meds, because the extra drainage really affects how well I'm able to eat. Anyone else have this issue?

Thank you, it's not "just me"!! My allergies are a real problem with eating! If I forget my pill I get so much mucas or something and I can't eat without being uncomfortable. I think my doctor dismissed my concern about this --- but it sounds like I'm not alone. *Thanks. Sometimes that's all I need to hear. : )

50 pounds and counting down.