nothereanymore

I replaced food with exercise - its just taking one habit and getting rid of it (if its bad for you) and replacing with another. I move all the time, like when you are swinging outside - I'll be dancing or doing something that keeps my body moving. I do yoga, palates, crossfit - weights - cardio and belly dancing just to name a few. It helps to curb the need for food, and cigs - and really helps you mentally. Then the side benifit is, it really helps to shape your body and helps with the skin. Another thing I do is always have lemon water around, I found I'm not always hungry - but I just didn't realize I was thirsty. Also you can buy really good protein water that has about 40 grams of protein in it - that really helps to keep you on your game during full liquids. Good luck! Lisa

Great job, you deserve to shout it to the world - have some fun with it!

Congrats!!! I am soooo happy and proud of you! Not only have you reached your goal and lost your weight - you've changed your life. You are going to be an amazing personal trainer - you have such insight to the needs of those of us who are or have been overweight. And you're such a caring and positive person, you are going to make a big differance and change peoples lives for the better! This is just the start of a new journey, you finished one and it was hard I watched you struggle at times. But you made as I knew you would and now you're on to another - can't wait to see where that brings you! Congrats again! Lisa

The band is just a tool, just like exercising and eating right. I would have a had time believing they will succeed long term (as most of them don't) on that program if they couldn't succeed with WLS. If you're at that point and can't use the tools as they are meant to be used - you most likely need heavy counseling. I use all of the above and have done so since 2 weeks before getting my band. I know I'm going to make because I changed how I lived my life, don't let or expect my band to do all the work (90% is mine) and just focuse on staying true to living a healthier life. Its pretty simple. I don't know if I'll watch it or not - I never have but it is entertainment... Lisa

I love Terry, been following him for close to 2 years now. Met him on a trip to AZ. He's a cigar smoking older doc who's just a hoot! I love reading all of his writings, whether about the band or his life in Alaska - that guy is awesome! Great post!

I also had 3 surgeries with Dr. Nyte, extended tummy tuck with lippo, breast lift and then breast aug. Love the results! And since you're in WA it really makes the traveling easy! Good luck!

You have a lot of questions, I'll hit the drinking one and let others hit the food questions. There a couple of reasons why we don't drink when we eat, it actually can flush the food through us so we can eat more. Or (and I don't know if this is studied but I have felt it) you can eat and if you drink the liquid it can sit on top of your food and stretch your band. Here's my take - you just invested thousands of dollars to get your band - you're going to have to make lifelong changes and sacrafices to succeed. And trust me when I say I know many who have failed and they own their own failure by cheating the band. All I can say is I'm glad I didn't, its a tool I use on a daily bases and it works if you use it right. It doesn't if you don't. Good luck - and there's no way a burrito or french toast can ever taste better than being, thin, healthy, in shape and downright sexy. No way girl! Best, Lisa

Hi Heidi, I think the key thing I heard is you have a hard time getting protein down. That right there tells me you most likely don't need a fill. We're suppose to eat protein first, it fills us up. Make sure you start with really moist fish or something light, moist and soft. Measure a quarter cup, take small bites of the fish and chew each bite 30 times, (feeling it - slow down and take it easy) next move on to your veggies, chopped in small pieces, cooked well and again only a quarter cup - chew each bite 30 times again. Next some fruit, quarter cup, small soft peices (this time of year cantilope is great) you still have room, add in a quarter cup of carbs. Really focus on your meal, get away from the TV, small bites, 30 chews - don't cheat. If you do this and you don't fill satisfied - you may need a fill. But this is pretty much how we are suppose to each - no sliders or things that go down easy - you'll cheat your band unless you get to the point when nothing will go down. Just forgo bread for while - its not the best for bandsters and not the best test method. Good luck! Lisa

Hey Ang, Try some protein water, you can pick it up at GNC or other stores. Often when our bodies are use to taking in so much and then we start eating less it can make us fill ill and weak. The protein water really helped me. Take care, Lisa

Hey Margaret, I was married for a long time - over 29 years, started dating my husband in 77, (we met when I was still in HS) and we married in 80. Its funny, (you've got to laugh at things sometimes ;-) otherwise life just isn't fun). I had problems in my married life for a long time and started on my weightloss voyage to actually save my marriage and realized it doesn't matter if you're fat, thin - whatever - we are great friends, but bad married people - and losing weight couldn't fix it. It fixed me and made me a better, stonger, happier person so I think I could with more dignaty and in a kinder way let go of my marriage, we still care about each other and have stayed friends. It was hard, but you look at it and suddenly we start asking whats the best thing for us, not for everyone else (which I use to focuse on before). He's been dating and the lady he is seeing now is rather big. Its cool, it is what it is. Here I am at almost 48, living alone in an apartment for the first time in my life (I left my family home right to my husband) dating a poor guy who has to deal with the fact that not only is he dating someone who has only dated one other person in their life - and hasn't been on a date with anyone one else since the original Star Wars was in theatres.... Add to the fact she use to be huge.... I don't know how he puts up with me.. On another note - I could always find sexy big panties at Lane Bryan, and I was almost 300 pounds (I truely don't believe I hit that mark - really I could have and never known it - but I hope I didn't). Its not that its bad we just all have our limits... I always see myself as a fat person, that's why I think my guy thinks I'm so special, I'm differant - everyone is very beautiful to me, I have a lot of understanding and I don't see myself as beautiful or thin - I'm still "Big Lisa" and that was my nickname..... If you're not happy, change things, its never too late. I'm loving life right now! Lisa

Its the best thing I ever did for myself - my highest scale weight was 275, I was much higher than that - wouldn't get on the scale for a long time - my surgery weight was 265. I'm now go from 128 to 133 and I can't tell you how amazing it is. I love Dr Ortiz and his staff, I have sent many (MANY) people to him and they all feel the same and are doing wonderful. The surgery center is top notch and noted as one of the best in the world. (How can you beat that)? Just do it. You wont regret it, you will if you don't - being obese is horrible - I didn't realize how horrible till I lost the weight - I feel better, my health is amazing and life has improved sooo much! Go girl!!

I'm such a dork - we're still together but I chicken'd out and didn't tell him I had the band or how much I use to weigh. I told him I use to be overweight and he said, what does that mean to you - 5 pounds? (that's the weight of one of my old meals - so nooooo - didn't say that though). I said more and we kept it up for a while - he asked if I ever weighed more than 2 bills (had to ask what that meant - its 200 lbs) I said yes - he looked at me sideways and I was a bigger dork and started crying - poor guy - he started crying and said it didn't matter and that was the end of that.... Anyhow - it is what is is - I'm just going to "weight" it out at this point. I told him to watch Shallow Hal because that's what I see us as - (he's never seen it or heard of it) and I told him I was Rosemary, he's Hal - we'll see.... I kept a pair of really sexy underwear that I had when I was close to 300, I should watch the movie with him and throw those at him at just the right spot of it. (Could be scary).... They are huge - just like Rosemary's for those who've seen it.

Hello, I was told no ab for 90 days, I could start walking immediately and regular exercise at 30 days. I hired a personal trainer and explained my situation - he showed me exercise that would help burn fat and build muscle without the use of my core. I'm totally into yoga and palates now and take classes 5 days a week - the other 2 I do crossfit or cardio and weights. (I also do 20 minutes of elliptical machines before any workout). And based on how elliptical machines feel - it does use more core more than walking but I "lock" when I use them so I'm using my core. I recomend starting slow and working your way up. Its amazing how fast time goes by and you can quickly start on your core. Its not worth the risk of hurting your band. Best, Lisa

Congrats - you will do fine - and the thighs, me too - hate mine!

Its funny, I'm telling my boyfriend tonight - he has no clue. Don't know how he's going to take it - I think it will be difficult for him. He does have an issue and doesn't understand why people become overweight and I try to explain - but he looks at me sideways since I'm a size 0 or 2 now and tells me I have no idea and how could I understand - I just start cracken my ass up and he wonders whats come over me..... He knows I don't eat much, he can't tell by my body..... (Thank you Dr Nyte) I'm kind of looking forward to it in a weird way, I think I must just have a little bit of evil in me. My thought if he doesn't love me knowing that I use to be over twice as big, (145 lost to date....) that's his issue and he just needs to get over it - or move over and get out of my way. And the reason I didn't tell in the first place - I've been so open with my weight loss - I got tired of living for the fact that I use to be morbidly obese - wanted to live normal without out that huge old shadow of me in the way. It was the wrong thing to do - I care a lot for him (love him) and he loves me as well - I should have been honest in the first place before it got to this point. Lesson learned - I'll update tomorrow. (I put a picture as my avitar of him and I together last week at a party - if its still up tomorrow we're still together - if its just me - he didn't take it to well and we're done...) (Hello everyone) Lisa

It looks like a hernia, my neice has one that sticks out - she's very into palates. And yes, I have gotten a divorce after being banded - there a few of us who have. Changing your lifestyle can be very difficult for those you love. Believe it or not, some don't like the look of the new you. My ex husband, and we are still best friends is dating a bigger girl. Its interesting.

I'm in one and haven't said a damn thing. I'm normally very open about being banded and pretty much broadcast it to anyone who will listen. But I'm getting to the point were I'm almost tired of talking about it and don't want it to be such the focus of my life. Also its pretty difficult to see that I've lost over 140 pounds by looking at me. I do need to say something, we know some of the same people and someone is going to tell him at some point - just have to get up the nerve. And yes we have..... ummmm... like I said you wouldn't know it by looking at me.... except for my port. It pops out a bit - need to get it fixed. He thought it was this one condition and I just kept quite... I am really not looking forward to that conversation. I'll let you know how it goes when it happens.

Its funny, I always like Lindsays responses - she's smart - (I knew should would make it and work the band great - I can't say the same for others). She's honest - and she isn't afraid to give her opinion - and she's disagreed with me before and that's cool - its awesome that we can get such great information - and we get to pick and choose what we want to get out of it. I personally don't mind the fact that she is blunt. (My doctor was blunt with me today, when I tried to get him to let me go back to work - and its funny - what came to my mind was "he means well" and he's dam smarter than I am about this subject so I better listen) I know she really cares for people and wants them to succeed. I have never yet seen her get personal and attack someone in that manner - however I have seen others do it - and that is plain silly in my book. She's got my respect for that. (And I always like to see her going back and forth with my other favorite "L" girl, they just make me laugh, two extremely smart, STRONG, funny, caring ladies - who are so much alike that it makes me smile - its always fun to watch them banter). And they do it well, though they seem to get on each others nerves - but are cool with how they do it. Lisa

Ohhh Pammie, I'm so sorry - right now mine is off due to the surgery - its something I'm trying to watch right now. And for me it feels like the acid travels from the stomach to the esophagus and causes a burning pain. You can feel it traveling up, sometimes it feels like gas. Its odd - it does differ per person. But from what you described, it sounds like it. Take care Pammie and let me know! Lisa

I did this for a while and still do it in a small way - I can gain a few pounds fast and lose it fast. However the longer I stay at my goal weight - the more stable I've become. It use to make me batty, I just learned that it was part of my new body and I made sure to watch for the weight gain, focus on getting things back under control - and the hardest part was not letting it affect mentally. If you notice - your clothes aren't as tight as they most likely would be to a normal person who gained weight like that. Sorry you're dealing with it - I think our bodies just do weird things sometimes and we just need to listen, fix em and learn to live with them. Best, Lisa

OK, I really need to start listening to my body better. I'd been having stomach aches for a while, they'd come and go and not to bad but kept getting worse. I have been so busy between work and my now active singles life that I didn't listen to the pain. By Wednesday night I ended up in a huddle, couldn't move - couldn't call on the phone crying for 5 hours, I was in deep pain. It was worse than child bearing, I'm not kidding you. It finally eased enough that I could jump in my car and drive myself to the emergency. Luckily the hospital was only 5 minutes away, and yes I should of called someone but I was just in survival mode at that point. The pain was located in the upper quadrent of my stomach on the right side and when it was bad would shoot through to my back and take over my entire stomach area. They did an ultra sound and you could see a big rock stuck in the tube which hardly ever happens, it was blocking everything. Keeping it short, they removed the bladder and this is something that people who lose weight deal with more than others. I'm at home recovering today, thankful that the darn pain is over. I do have 4 more scares on my belly due to the surgery, one right under my belly button - may need to go to Dr Nyte to fix it - I must look like a big pin cushions from all my wholes on my tummy! (I'll take those any day though) So make sure if you feel this, get right into your doctor and get checked out - I sure wish I did! Lisa

You will love his work, I had an extended tummy tuck, lippo on my back and sides. Breast lift, and then breast Aug with Dr. Nyte. I am so happy with what he did. I love my breasts and tummy! Congrats, and like Pammie said, we're both close and will be happy to help you out. Take care, Lisa