What has helped you most????

[Divamom 1]

What has helped you most in your lap band journey???

Eating less food, quality food, excercise, or what, please let me know because I have been in a slump and would like input of your experiences to see what can help me become more successful with my band. Although, I just got to 3.5cc in my 14cc band I am now starting to have some real restriction. But any info will be appreciated.

[Jachut 487]

Without a doubt running.

Committing myself to high quality exercise in valuable amounts - an hour five days a week plus some strength training is definitely the most potent factor in my success.

And, forgive the smugness, lol, but I am not only thin, i look REALLY fit. I have shapely muscles, I look way way better than if I had have just starved myself skinny. I ate fairly good quantities of food the whole way through.

[Melody2006 1]

food journaling. You need to know what your putting into your body at all times. If your guessing, it's not going to work. I use thedailyplate.com, and it's free!

[chrisssssy 0]

I honestly think it has to be the all the above answer!! I give it 100% and I have been having great success!! I journal everything, and try to make good quality food choices, I only drink Water and lots of it. Of course exercise is key! I know it is alot, but after you start doing it, it become second nature! I was banded Sept 30th and as of today I am down 70 pounds! I never thought it was possible! The band works, but it is just a tool....you still have to do the work! Best of luck to you!

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Restriction. and I only WISH I had it with 4.5 cc in my 14 cc band. RIGHT after my 3rd fill, I felt the love for a few days and it was like a glimpse of heaven. I can't get in to get another fill until Feb 5 but I expect wonderful things then.

[alicez 0]

Do more exercise and also make changes in your eating habits and lifestyle.

[crzytchr 3]

food Journaling. Logging everything that goes into my mouth makes me more aware of what I am doing. It amazes me to imagine the amount of calories I must have been consuming prior to my banding.

[gingerbug 3]

If I dont journal my food I stop losing. I dont gain but I spin my wheels.I think it makes me more aware. Making a point to measure and weigh my food and eating high protien first helps a lot,a well. After that, the gym. 6 days a week. It is easy enough for me to go because it is the only break I get from the kiddos all day. An hour to myself with my MP3 player where I can sweat and have my thoughts in peace is priceless.

[skhopp 0]

I agree with others that making good food and drink choices coupled with exercising is the key to making this work; however, I tried just the good food and drink choices - without some sort of exercise, and the scale NEVER moved (for 19 mos). Last week I started working out 2-3 days a week with a small group of ladies, and I lost 2 pounds in 5 days. So, I am a firm believer that exercise is an absolute MUST, whether you're extremely careful about what you put in your mouth or not. There, now you have my 2 cents worth!

[Jodi_620 37]

I would say for me keeping at proper restriction has helped me the most. I see my surgeon once a month whether I need a fill or not and I go sooner if I need a fill.

Keeping the high glycemic carbs out of my diet has been a close second.

Following all the rules: Three solid meals per day, small bites, chew well, Protein-Veggie-Carbs in that order, no drinking with meal have all helped too.

I have never kept a journal, that is just not for me. I make healthy choices and don't eat between meals (a treat sometimes but not regularly) so there has never been a real need for journals. I don't count calories, fat grams, carbs and I do not measure or weight my food. I eat when I am hungry and stop when I a no longer hungry.

Edited January 14, 2009 by Jodi_620

[Divamom 1]

Thanks ya'll for all the input. I guess I just needed reassurance about the choices I am making. I am soing all these things except food journaling. Might be a change I need to make. I do work out, maybe it's time to step it up a bit. But thank God for the new restriction I have at 3.5cc in a 14cc band--it's made a huge difference just since Friday the 9th of Jan. I have already lost 1#. Thanks for the replys.

[aubrie 6]

I always ate a VERY healthy diet. I just ate to much of it. That's where the band came in, but the biggest help for me was EXERCISE. I was a couch potato. Now I'm not.