nothereanymore

Do I have this down, yah - the truth is I do. And what does that tell me - if I can do it - anyone can. I sucked at every diet out there - was obese so long that it was scary and I was close to 300. I had an opertunaty that allowed me to learn with one of the best Doctors out there. (Dr Andrew Weil) And I took classed to help me learn how to live healthier (I have 18 years on you - so its harder for us older gals) I agree, the lunchables are loaded with chemicals, I stay away from things that are processed. Ground turkey is good, I would also soak things in broth. I would cook chicken (dark pieces) in chicken broth (leave the skin on to keep it moiste) throw in the herbs, spices and veggies and freeze sandwich bags of portions to take to work. I'd cook beef and soak it in broth. You can make meat soft and moist this way. I don't eat any fat free food, I eat small portions and need the fat - good fat though. I cook in oil oil and always go slow and chew the dickens out of your food - stop when you feel that tight feeling and it may be fast - learn what your stopping points are by really listening to your body. Thats why you have to measure - I've taken many a lap band girl out to lunch and when we measure and really look at what we should be eating they are often surprised - you can force food in your pouch - but it defeats the purpose. Fish is always good, steamed its moist and soft for us - with garlic and lemon, its a no brainer. Trador Joes if you have one should be your new best friend. They have great food thats good for you at good prices. (the frozed food section is awsome) Really cut your food up in small portions, think of chop salad, and small bites. Smoked salmon, high protein and with red onions, cream cheese, lemon and little toasted rye breaks - you have a great lunch. Its hard to learn how to eat meat - but we need to do it, and its doable for most of us. One cheap exercise tip - get one of those big balls and start by sitting on it - just sitting on the thing builds your core - I did it for 3 years. It really helped to slowly build your way to more exercise. Its doable for you - give it a go!

Its a 1/4 cup portions, pretty standard measuring for bandsters. So you start with a 1/4 cup of protein (salmon is my fav) 1/4 chopped vegs, 1/4 cup chopped fruit and 1/4 cup carbs if you have room. I will subsitute dairy for my cards as well. And here's what do for my arms, I am into weight lifting - but I start every day off with 30 push ups and 30 sit ups and I don't include that as my workout - its my morning wake up. I also do yoga and palates, they really can build the arms - and I do free weights about 3 times a week. I'll PM you as well - I do a pretty standard free weight program.

I agree you must eat solids and good for you food. The truth here is you know exactly what to do - you've been with us a long time, and have been on the boards since you began, and a member of our family. Here's what I recomend. First of all go into the bathroom, shut the door - (and this is what I did) strip down and take a good look at yourself and have true conversion. Ask yourself if this is what you want to be for the rest of your life? Is this what I deserve? You're still young, you are at a new beginning. You need to make a commitement and stay true to it. I know to maintain and lose weight how many calories you have consume, I know how many you have to eat to gain. Do you really understand what you are eating? If you don't start tracking your food and be honest and true in regards to what you put down. Eat your food, you don't need snacks, the only thing they are doing for you is making you obese and unhealthy. At this time, I would recomend eating three healty meals a day, portion controled - theres so much information in regads to what to eat you just have to search if you want to do it. (Portion control is a 1/4 measuring cup - use it, you can't say you suck at picking up a plastic cup - you can say you are defeatiing yourself if you don't). Drink water - add in lemon if you can. If you can get a personal trainer - even for a short time to show how to exercise for your body. It will be one of the best investments you'll ever make. You do need your butte' kicked, but the only one who can kick it is you. Start over, stop talking and start moving and eating right and you will succeed. If not, you will be that obese woman who can't move, can't enjoy life to the fullest and you will most likely be unhappy and unhealthy, thats not a fun life to live so get out of it and start working. It is a second job, its hard work but worth it. And most importantly you deserve it. You can do it, good luck, Lisa

All I'm going to say is I have this band, and I lost over 140 pounds. Eat the protein first, then veggies - followed by fruit and then carbs. Measure, make sure that each is only 1/4 cup - like what was said, don't test it and make sure you're not drinking your calories. Add in exercise and work your but off and your band will work for you. And work it means getting fills when you need them - or unfills. Good luck - I know this isn't going to be popular - but I strongly believe we own our own success or failures. Lisa

I'll think about it - I keep wanting to go to one of these things - but one of my problems is they are mainly about getting people to get the band - I'd like to just have fun and meet our group. (We once talked about all just getting together in LA or LV) that still might be fun. Nothing fancy just a fun weekend!

I’ll tell you why I wouldn’t except myself – at almost 300 pounds I was going to end up hurting, (already had a couple of knee surgeries due to my weight) or killing myself from obesity. It’s very damaging to the body, and people can learn to live with it – but they need to understand that if they do, they may end up dying from it. It’s costing us millions and by some accounts billions in increasing medical costs, much of the diseases we are seeing and treating are preventative. From heart disease, cancer, diabetes and so many more common killers of us are caused by obesity. We need to take ownership of our own health and I personally believe we should be accountable for the additional cost if we take risks that could jeopardize our health. I know that sounds bad coming from a formerly morbidly obese person – but that’s one of the reasons I focused so hard on losing, I strongly believe I am in control of my health and didn’t want others to pay for it or my family to suffer because of me. The more I know, the more I see obesity as a very ugly disease; it rarely looks pretty to me these days. It’s a killer and never acceptable, we should fight it just like we would fight cancer or any other disease.

Congrats! That's awesome - you are going to love the changes - its just the icing on the cake!

Here's my newest and biggest one that I just started,,,,, and my whole house now looks like a closet……. Go through all my closets and drawers and clean things out - I keep finding big sizes stuck in weird places and I'm now out of what I thought was going to be my "forever" size 6 is big. I have everything from a 3X, 22 to size 00, XS.... right now I'm sitting well in the 0's with the 25 waist jeans and small tops (some XS are good). Need to get ride of anything over a 2 or small. Yoga and palates really leaned me out..... And I love doing it so much that I can’t see myself ever stopping.

Going in for a second opinion is always a smart option. I’d recommend calling the OCC and seeing Dr. Ortiz, there would be a cost (but his prices are much less than in the States) but he’s one of the best – we all went to him and I’ve been on this board for years and this does sound unusual. He’ proctored many of the lapband Dr’s in the states and throughout the world. One thing you’ll notice is many of his patients are Dr’s and nurses. That’s telling you a lot. Good luck, Lisa

I lost over 140; the most important part is I followed the rules. Next, I was consistent with my exercise, and focused on healthy eating. I’ll be honest, I think the reason I did succeed with the band is it was a friggen big $$ investment for me. I never spent that much on me before and there was no way I was going to take the money I had opted to spend on myself (instead of my family) and blow it. I wanted to prove that “I” was a great investment. (The best money I ever spent was getting my band. No brainer – but I do work it, still to this day). The deal with exercise is to start easy. I was way to big to go out to the gym at first, I started by dancing alone in my room. As soon as I could comfortably wear a pair of sweatpants I hired a personal trainer to show me how to exercise. I didn’t like the gym stuff to start out with, but kept it up – I knew it was good for me and something I needed. I was also told that if I kept it up, it would grow on me. It did, but I also supplemented the gym with doing the things that I use to love. I looked back at my younger days and thought about what I use to like to do, it was dance, and roller skating. Took up both of those right away, from belly dancing to going weekly to adult night skating. I think doing so many different things really helped. Good luck, its hard work, but it’s worth the ride! Lisa

Carrie, I’m just right there with you. I had to stop counting calories and my goal became to just eat healthy and look at portion size – not let food rule my world. And when we are sooo focused on it for so long – we start to hate it, and that’s not how it should be. I have a much better relationship with food now (that’s why I took all those classes - I wanted to be educated on what food actually was for me) I get what it is now. It’s something that nourishes me, in more ways than one and that’s OK. I’m not going to abuse it – and it’s not going to abuse me any more. That’s just how it is, and that doesn’t mean that sometimes I don’t eat junk food or overeat – I do, if I overindulge one day, I under indulge the next, and even things out – that’s what healthy people do. They just know when to stop the cycle of overeating. Exercise is something I use to hate as well, its now one of my best friends. If we do something consistently and you really start to see how it helps you, you start liking it and appreciating it for what it is. I can do things now that I could never do as a teenager, and I’m healthier and happier, most people forget that it not only improves your shape and muscle tone but it gives your brains endorphins so you’re a much happier person mentally as well. On this one, you are on your own because until you get to a certain point and it becomes habit and part of your life – it’s going to be a battle. All I can say is I do it everyday – feel bad if I don’t and I take the time out for me, because of the benefits it provides. I care about you and I really hope that you can do this too, its amazing once you get to a certain point where you realize you are a "fit" person. What you’re fighting is a battle that I had to fight, most of us will at some point in our lives and I’m proud of you for looking it straight on and putting it out there for all to see. Best, Lisa

I had a hard Christmas too, I think something must just be in the air. I'm going forward with the thought that next year is going to be sooo much better than this year and what the hell. Just let it go, no one is going to annoy me, Im so far beyond being annoyable! (Yeah, its not a word but it fits) Take care, seems we always have bumps in the road we have to navigate around, that's what keeps things interesting I guess! (By the way, I love your avatar) Best, Lisa

My goal is to continue what I'm doing now, in eating and exercising, to get and keep my house organized - and get my personal life in order. (I think the last one is going to be a whopper….)

You’re not going to like what I’m going to recommend – because the first step would be to go to the doctor and have your band looked at. If you have been pushing it, you may have a slight slip and its better to get in, get it taken care of before it turns into something serious. Then you have to get “right” with your mind in regards to your band. I always tell people that the band is like a barbell, you have to use it for it to work – if you just put it away and ignore it – it’s going to be a waste of money and effort. Make a list of why you think you’re defeating yourself and then take each item and write how you’re going to overcome it. You’re lucky you’ve got the band, and I understand how having emotional issues can set you back. But the truth is, it’s never too late to go forward. You’ve got the tool – you just need to put it into action. You need to get back in the habit of measuring your food, and keeping a food diary, and if at all possible go back to the beginning ~ if you have it in you pretend you just got the band and go on liquids. Start exercising, it helps with both the physical, and mental issues. It is baby steps, but you need to take the first one and then keep with it. I'm sure its hard and you get winded - trust me - that will end and exercising will most likely make you stop smoking - if you don't do it - you're most likely setting yourself up to fail. (And I get it - I was a casual smocker as well for almost as long as you) Its a bad habit and it ruins our health and body. We can give you suggestions, support and caring – only you can put it into action. And this is a great time to do it, when everything is starting new, you can too! Take care and I’m routing for you! Lisa

Just keep it up and pretty soon you'll be kicking its but. The hard truth is you have to keep exercising at a steady consistant pace and switch it up from time to time. I just cant imagine exercise not being a part of my life to me its just like brushing my teeth if I dont do it, it bugs me all day! Im also pretty darn sure I wouldnt have reached my goal if I didnt do it, and Im pretty damn sure my body wouldnt look like it does now. The best advice I can give you is get it on your calendar every day have a time set to exercise and it doesnt have to be the same time everyday, you just have to be committed to getting it done. After a few months it becomes routine, and youll feel better. If you dont do it youll miss it and your body will crave it. Your skin will look better your muscles will become tone and beautiful, its amazing how you can use exercise to shape your body. Just do it, and get committed to having it become an important part of your life youre worth it.

You look absolutely beautiful and sexy! Wowzer - your hubby looks so proud to be with you! Congrats!

You look absolutely beautiful, love your outfit and Santa sure looks like he may need a lapband though..... (It does look a bit like a pillow in his middle)

Great to hear from you and congrats to all you girls, you're doing awesome!! I think this time of the year is such a great opportunity to think back to where we started and how far we've come - it’s just such an "Ah ha" moment and pretty cool that we get to do it! (So much better than “Oh no” if I was getting on the scale and looking at over 300 pounds, which I’m sure I’d be doing without my band). It’s weird, I need to make my resolutions and none of them will be around losing weight or exercise or eating right. It will now be about getting and keeping my house clean….. (I’ve been traveling a lot) Lisa