Lindsay

UGHHHH ....... I gotta say it .. The only way you can decrease the 'look' of fat cells, is through diet. Just sayin'. Don't fall for it. Nor waste a CENT ... http://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/sixpackabs.php http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=52416&page=2 http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1918/ab_belts_godsend_or_useless_gadgets.html

YES - this is common .. Are they doing fills by flouro?

Headaches are usually caused from dehydration.

hm. you're probably not going to like my response, but it's only going to get more challenging. once you're banded, and at a sensible restriction level, you'll be done eating A LOT sooner than everyone else .. and you'll need to learn to push off remarks, or other people's comments in regards to what you're eating (or not). That's probably the BIGGEST challenge of dieting. Not eating, when everyone else is. Food is used more as social time, rather than the 'eat for fuel' theory. I can't eat pizza, fries, burgers -- McD's is now a forget about it food. And I'm usually the one just sitting and watching others eat. If I'm not hungry, I'm NOT eating, esp if it's eating out - you'd be shocked at the # of extra calories you're consuming by not preparing your own food. Stop focusing on everyone else, and start being more self aware. The big picture: food is emotional, and you need to get a handle on it. it's usually a much larger issue that people realize prior to getting banded. And many of us have seeked professional therapy to deal with it. Stay away from 'take-out' parties at work. Go for a walk. And I don't go 'out' to eat. That's what has worked for me.

I think once you start food tracking, things will start to make more sense. Report back in 1 week!

Did you get banded at the OCC? I would assume not, as all of these questions are answered in the package you receive prior & after to your surgery.

It wasn't until my 4th or so fill (I've had blind fills done every time) that I saw real restriction, therefore ate less. As a rule of thumb, stay away from white food. That includes: rice, bread, pastas, etc.

If you do a forum search for Fill Centres, you'll find my review on them, in general. I was not impressed either. Your best bet, IMO, is to find a bariatric doctor in your area, and see if they'll do your fills. A lot of doctors won't, as the band wasn't placed by them. (it can be a liability ..)

GREAT article. Source.

Dr Miranda suggested a goal weight, according her very (old skool thinking & low-tech) BMI chart. But having a background in fitness & nutrition, I set my own goal.

Start a food journal. That usually tells a whole different story ... and typically the reason people don't lose weight. What some people feel is 'healthy eating', often isn't. Relying on constriction/fills is really like the great myth that floats around. It won't prevent you from eating empty calories. Nor will it burn fat/calories. What is your exercise schedule like?

I wouldn't put so much emphasis on the scale, and go with body measurements. Us (unlucky!) women, have a tendency to panic when we see the littlest change on the scale, which is often, if not always, just water retention which can be caused by pretty much anything from stress to a warm day outside.

Don't worry about the results. Just concentrate on the diet - that's the hard part!

myth. you CAN NOT turn fat into muscle. And no. It's pretty much a guarantee you're not gaining muscle in a few days of gym time. It's probably water .. and muscles does hold water, esp during the early stages of working out.

Try adding slow cooked oats to your protein shakes. You definitely need PROTEIN to help curb your hunger. Your mocha-whatever drink isn't going to do it - it's full of sugar & artificial crap.

Yeah, i agree with the comments above. If you're developing severe acid reflex, and can't even lay down, it's time for a bit of an unfill.

I'm very tight in the AM too .. and when I don't drink something warm (coffee, typically) eating the rest of the day is a huge challenge. Also, to gain a pound, you'd have to consume 3200 calories beyond what you burn in a day to gain a pound of fat.

It certainly does. Often, low blood sugar will trigger the release of stress hormones which raise blood sugar. These are what what make you feel wired mentally where you can;t shut off the mind. For sleep issues try this before anything else. 1) If you have difficulty falling asleep make sure you eat within 2 hours of going to bed and include a little more starch than usual. This will increase insulin levels slightly to lower the impact of stress hormones and calm you. 2) If you usually wake at night, then 30 minutes before bed eat a protein snack. This will stabilize blood sugar during the night making it less likely you will have a compensatory blood sugar drop and the ensuing release of stress hormones. 3) If you have already woken up in the middle of the night, eat a small amount of starch to help you fall back asleep quickly. If any of these factors solve the problem than you have confirmed the issue is a blood sugar regulation issue and you should take steps to correct it. Waking up feeling wired at anytime..... middle of the night or early morning is a stress hormone response likely from dropping blood sugar. It is ideal to go to bed with little on your stomach as high blood sugar impedes HGH release. However, many in our culture have an inability to regulate blood sugar necessitating some of the things that we showed above. Some simple strategies we use that help the vast majority of people with sleep quality and quantity. 1) 300mg Magnesium glycinate 30-60 minute before bed. (make sure it is glycinate form or you may have a laxative effect) 2) 1-3 bags Bedtime Tea from Yogi brand 60-90 minutes before bed.

I don't eat 'meals' anymore. I find snacking, eating when i'm hungry works best for me. My snacks include: a Clif Bar (that can last a few hours, as I just nibble on it here and there) blueberries mixed (non roasted, no oil, ect) nuts strawberries baby carrots, cut up cucumber You should eat when you're HUNGRY.

A good MV should not contain any artificial colorings, additives, binders or extra ingredients such as polyethylene glycol. Men and postmenopausal women should avoid iron containing MV unless they have a special need. Vit E should be of the mixed tocopherol and not just d-alpha tocopherol. The minerals should be chelated to amino acids for best absorption. Vitamin A should be real vitamin A with a possible mix of beta-carotene. The folate should be natural folate instead of synthetic folic acid. It is also probably best if the vitamin is a powder or capsule instead of a tablet. It should also not contain any gluten, soy, or possible known allergens.

Research Update: Using lighter weights and higher reps was shown to be better than heavier weights and lower reps at increasing muscle protein synthesis at 4 and 24 hours post exercise. This is despite an equal amount of work done.. Essentially what this study is saying is that the old notion that lighter weights and higher rep protocols are NOT good for increasing muscle size should be reconsidered. The traditional lower reps using higher weight did create a better acute response in muscle building (4hours), but the lighter weight taken to failure was significantly better at 24 hours. ....the higher volume/or greater amount of work done by the lighter weight group made the difference. You have to make sure in these studies the work completed is equal when comparing two different protocol otherwise there is not a fair comparison. The participants did 4 sets to failure of leg extension with 3 minutes rest between. The weights and reps used in the group using light weights and going to failure was 30% of the maximum the person could lift on the exercise (30% of a 1RM).. (roughly 28 kilo or 61lbs on average) compared to t he group going heavier who used a 90% of maximum load (90% 1RM) ( 82kilo or 180lbs). RM stands for rep max. 1RM means a weight that can be lifted one time but not 2.

Great article written by my friend, Jill Coleman. Featured in Family Circle Since each of the movements takes just 1 minute, you'll need a watch or timer. And while the program is designed for an intermediate exerciser, it can be adjusted for beginners and advanced users. To Make It Easier: In place of Squat Jumps, Push-Ups and the intense walk, do a 1-minute brisk walk. To Turn Up the Burn: Try Push-Ups from the toes, turn the 1-minute intense walks into 30-second sprints or add weights when doing lunges. Read the rest of the article, including actual workout templates here.

Where & how did you get your first fill done? (ie. was it a blind fill, at a fill centre, or was it back at the OCC?) I do know the OCC does a much more generious first fill, while if you're going blind, or getting it done by another facility/doctor, they'll do the 'little at a time' method, to ensure they don't overfill, and the adjustment is done gradually. I had blind fills done, and it look about 5 fills for me to get to the right restriction for me. In terms of a time line, it was about 6 months; my fill place made me wait a full month before giving me more restriction. They were very cautious; which I respect. Everyone is different, including how much they have in there band & the # of fills ...

The band is a tool .. it wouldn't result in weight loss if your diet is off & and you're not working out. This is a great opportunity for your shift focus, and concentrate on your exercising & diet. That's where you'll see your results, anyways. Unfort. I highly doubt 'talking' a fill centre would give you much compassion, in terms of your financial situation. The lap band is optional surgery, and a money maker for these doctors/fill centre's. There is no way they'd discount a fill. That's what they do. Make money. Anyways, don't be so hard on yourself, and re-shift your focus.

Totally agree. Also, your band currently has NO restriction. (assuming you got it done at the OCC) They leave it empty, for healing. You won't get your first 'fill' (or a feeling of real restriction) for a couple of months. So don't worry. Work on the mental aspect right now. That's normally the biggest challenge for banders. The road you have AHEAD ....