male only Eyeopenner

[ronnfia 13]

Well well well. I was banded on March 17th (Go Shrinking Shamrocks!)

My first fill was with my surgery Doc and went well. Felt restrictions right away. Didnt lose weight but actually gained the following month. My fault due to continuing with liquid calories, yogurt, Jello Soups etc...

2nd fill was bad, new Doc that does fills from 2nd fill on. Sed I was eating too much and wrong foods and didn't want to do the fill. I was under the impression i wouldnt be able to eat after getting fills, I was wrong. I need to also start up exercising again, I am a little disgruntled and off set mainly because I know i did bad. anyone else out there with similar problems??????

[plain 12]

Hey Ron. You just have to get right back on that horse again. Start fresh right now by eating the right foods in the right amounts, and exercise, exercise, exercise!! You can do this, man!!

[Fenton 3]

plain is right - even if he IS from Texas!

This is a simple process - the LapBand is not an off/on switch, it's something that will work with you to help you get control over your eating and weight. And it's all simple math: if what you burn is greater than what you take in, you'll lose weight.

That gives you two options: increase what you burn (exercise) and decrease what you eat (diet). More and more, I think that exercise is the key.

From being completely sedentary at the beginning, I now walk more than 3 miles every day. I do my best to stick to 1500 calories or less, and, despite a disastrous July, I am down just under 100 pounds since February.

Here's what I would do if I were you:

1. One day of liquid diet, strictly adhering to intake of less than, say, 1200 calories

2. One day of mushies, strictly adhering to intake of less than 1400 calories

3. solid food, 1500 calories or less (others would suggest a lower intake)

4. Get a pedometer and start counting your paces. Try to make each day more active than the one before. Set goals for yourself - say, a minimum of 8,000 steps a day, then 9,000, then 10,000.

5. Start journaling your food - go to dailyplate.com and start being compulsive about tracking how much you're eating. You'll likely be very surprised.

6. As your fitness level improves, keep moving forward. Get a walking buddy, join a gym.

The process isn't easy, but it's simple. You have to be strictly honest with yourself about what you're REALLY doing - you can't just pretend that, because you have a lapband, you're engaged in weight loss.

Time to do some WORK, my friend!

[DavidB 0]

I agree with Plain, get back on the horse. Can't go back and undo what's already been done but you can start now and change habits.

Even with the band it's been no easy ride for me. In the beginning I was only loosing a few lbs a month and sometimes not any. It took until my 3rd fill to really get a grip on my eating. Also though I could drink all the Atkins Protein shakes I wanted and still loose weight....learned the hard way this is not true (but they really do taste good!) . Took a cue from one of the guys who posted here and mentioned most of his calories come from solid food, he hardly does any liquids (other than water). That makes sense since it will really limit the calorie intake.

Exercise...also a hard one for me. Took 8 months to get motivated for this one. What I picked was jumping jacks. Gets my heart rate up, can do it in the comfort of my own home, doesn't require any special equipment (other than arms and legs). My wife got me some dumbbells for Fathers Day and have been using those consistently. Soooo....it took me awhile to get in the mode but now am seeing the results.

Seems like your doctor would want to give you the fill since you are struggling, that's what worked for me. BUT...I'm not a doctor.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[dwrd73 0]

I believe the other guys just gave you great advice. The only thing I would add is you may want to consider buying a BodyBugg. It is a tool to help track you how many calories you are burning so you know how many calories you can eat. I learned about it from this forum. Several people here used it to help them succeed. I told myself if I don't lose any weight for 3 - 4 weeks then I am buying one.

BODYBUGG :: HOW IT WORKS

[ronnfia 13]

Wow, you guys are great. I have had a hard time lately because I had stopped posting on this site and 1 other I am a member of, I forgot the great advice and motivation I can get from just making a posting.

I was modivated today and went for a run/walk. I have lost a total of around 30 pounds since I started my journey but like I sed I gained some back the last 2 months. I am signed up for a 1/2 marathon the end of the month and although I will walk most of it I am getting ready starting today.(thanks Plain for the great advice!)

Please keep posting and help keep me on track. My eating will be the hardest but I will really start watching what I eat and try and keep a journal.

Thanks again guys!!!!

Ron:thumbs_up::Banane37:

[plain 12]

Ron - that's why we're here dude! Accountability to your fellow band-mates will help you out when you hit a misstep. 30 lbs lost still means you are doing great....but we all know you'll improve upon that.

Fenton - I was wondering where in the hell you've been hiding yourself...

[bigrick 0]

Dont beat yourself up over it by any means, many of us on here struggle with this otherwise we wouldnt be here because our weight wouldnt be a problem for us. I have only been banded a few weeks, waiting for my first fill and there are times when I want to kill one of my dogs, put him on a spit , roast him and eat him and he is a big dog. So you are not alone in coming here for support, it works!

[Jachut 487]

Unfortunately, it takes quite hard work to lose weight with a lapband. But I dont think one single person on this forum wasnt a little bit deluded that it would be a bit magical and effortless, so dont get down on yourself.

It is ENTIRELY normal to not lose (and even gain after doing that stupid Optifast!) at first while you work it all out. And out of any group of obese people, you are definitely going to find some whose bodies simply do not behave the way they are meant to when calories are restricted.

You have to watch the calories, exercise regularly and get good restriction, which can take a few months. And then you'll be away. So just take it as a learning experience, dont worry about it or feel guilty about it and look towards getting all the elements working in harmony. Good luck!