Lindsay

weeeeeeeeeeeee! down a lb this week, with no food changes, but slight increase of intensity of cardio. 164lbs.

I would think this would be applicable to fills done by flouro. NOT blind.

I found the wording a bit off .. but at least i know i'm "Healthy and Attractive" to this! (slightly ridiculous!)

aww! you poor thing. you must be a nervous wreck. keep us posted <<hugs>>

Concept BMI or Body Mass Index, a ratio of weight to height, has long been considered one of the best measures for assessing overall health risk.Getting your BMI into a healthy range used to be considered a top health priority. However, recent research shows that there is a new sheriff in town: your waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Studies now indicate that WHtR is a much better measure than BMI for assessing obesity and cardiovascular risk. Read on to find out why, and whether your WHtR is in a healthy range. Nutritional Facts and Figures The Research In a recent study presented in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology Metabolism, the WHtR was the strongest predictor of cardiovascular risk and mortality. On the other hand, BMI was not always positively associated with cardiovascular risk. The results of this study discourage the use of BMI as a measure of health risk and encourage the use of WHtR. BMI Flaws BMI provides a guide to the relationship between a person's height and weight. However, having a high BMI is not always a telltale sign that one will be at greater risk for disease. For instance, many thin people who have low or normal BMI's still have heart attacks or die from strokes and many people who have high BMI's are in good cardiovascular shape (as the study above indicated). BMI does not take into account an individual's frame, gender, or the amount of muscle mass versus fat mass. For example, two people can have the same BMI, even if one is much more muscular and carrying far less abdominal fat than the other; this is because BMI does not account for differences in fat distribution. WHR The WHtR is calculated by dividing waist size by height, and takes gender into account. As an example, a male with a 32 inch waist who is 5'10" (70 inches) would divide 32 by 70, to get a WHtR of 45.7 percent. The WHtR is thought to give a more accurate assessment of health since the most dangerous place to carry weight is in the abdomen. Fat in the abdomen, which is associated with a larger waist, is metabolically active and produces various hormones that can cause harmful effects, such as diabetes, elevated blood pressure, and altered lipid (blood fat) levels. Many athletes, both male and female, who often have a higher percentage of muscle and a lower percentage of body fat, have relatively high BMIs but their WHtRs are within a healthy range. This also holds true for women who have a "pear" rather than an "apple" shape. The following chart helps you determine if your WHtR falls in a healthy range (these ratios are percentages): WOMEN • Ratio less than 35: Abnormally Slim to Underweight • Ratio 35 to 42: Extremely Slim • Ratio 42 to 46: Slender and Healthy • Ratio 46 to 49: Healthy and Attractive • Ratio 49 to 54: Overweight • Ratio 54 to 58: Seriously Overweight • Ratio over 58: Highly Obese. MEN • Ratio less than 35: Abnormally Slim to Underweight • Ratio 35 to 43: Extremely slim • Ratio 43 to 46: Slender and Healthy • Ratio 46 to 53: Healthy, Normal, Attractive Weight • Ratio 53 to 58: Overweight • Ratio 58 to 63: Extremely Overweight/Obese • Ratio over 63: Highly Obese Alyse's Advice New research shows that the WHtR, not BMI, is the most accurate assessment tool for health risk. People with the most weight around their waists are at greatest risk of diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Therefore, since you can't change your height, you should take special care to keep your weight and in particular, abdominal girth in a healthy range by eating nutritiously and exercising regularly. 1. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Apr;95(4):1777-85. Epub 2010 Feb 3. The predictive value of different measures of obesity for incident cardiovascular events and mortality. Schneider HJ, Friedrich N, Klotsche J, Pieper L, Nauck M, John U, Dörr M, Felix S, Lehnert H, Pittrow D, Silber S, Völzke H, Stalla GK, Wallaschofski H, Wittchen HU. Los Angeles nutritionist Alyse Levine MS, RD, founder of NutritionBite. Visit her profile on LIVESTRONG.COM. Source

hm. i don't even own a car! LOL! Everywhere I go is based on walking, running or cycling.

Imagine it - I was in China in October, Very large dinner work-function. Table of 25 strangers. Mostly men. and my eyes started to water, and my hand went up to my mouth. I made a mad-dash for the bathroom! (in heals, of course!)

This is essentially a modified low GI 'diet'. Which a few things that make no sense added in (ie. grapefruit, bread, vanilla ice cream)

I'm the outcome of the over concerned parent. I was an over weight child. And it wasn't until I was almost 25 that a severe eating disorder raised it's nasty head, the outcome of a very struggled childhood. I have absolutely no idea about your situation, but I was taught at a very young age that I was 'bigger' than I was 'supposed' to be; I too, was sent to a 'camp' for girls 'like me'. (aka the fat ones) At that age, I didn't understand why my mom would say things like, 'Do you really need that extra bite?!'. I still hear this over and over in my head, now at the age of 32. Your son is far too young to understand the real effects of his eating. And of course, the frustrating & concern you have as a loving parent, and his mom. I know your love for him is unconditional, but it's extremely difficult for children to understand this. They don't have the psychological comprehension of it yet. At 13, IMHO, you should be concentrating on teaching your child what healthy is. Not how he's defined by the number on a scale. He hasn't even reached puberty yet. I would never ever recommend the band for someone this young. But that's only from my experiences, dealing which quite a very similar situation to yours. At 13 years old, DIET shouldn't even be a word in your household. He is also not purchasing the food in your household. It sounds like it's far beyond physical for him, but a psychological barrier that should be dealt with accordingly. Maybe is does 'feel' hungry all the time - this could be a very obvious symptom, under the correct medical care & attention. I wish you all he luck - I can't imagine how difficult it is, having a child that doesn't fit societies norms, esp when there's obviously something far more to it.

I feel giving people the misconception that once you get the band, and fills, you'll be making better food choices, which is completely false. OR, you 'won't' eat white rice, breads, and other foods that are relatively empty in calories. And there are many ways of 'cheating' the band, even with the appropriate amount of restriction.

No. It sounds lke you're either: 1. not chewing enough, 2. you're too tight (time for an unfill) 3. eating foods that you may have to stop (ie white bread or other 'fluffy' foods) But by the sounds of it, you're just too tight.

I took my fills very slowly; that's the way I was taught to, esp if you're doing blind fills. You should be waiting 6-8 weeks between fills, before determining whether it's time for another. It took me almost a year to find my perfect fill point - I think it was a total of 6 fills, before hitting it. It's normally not reached in a 'fill or two', for us blind fill people. I'm going to assume you're getting blind fills done, and not done by x-ray, which I find are far more accurate by the sounds of it. You will NOT have full restriction, even if you're at your 'sweet spot'. You'll still be able to eat rice, bread, etc. This is a misconception with the band. That some how, some way, the band will prevent you from putting things in your mouth. Or it miraculously forces you to make health food choices. Please post a few days worth of your eating. Including portions. This is usually the tell-tail of why weight loss is stalled; Underestimating cal's taken in, and overestimating cal's burned while exercising. It's a long(er) than expected process for the majority of us. While those who have a lot more to loose (100+lbs) will drop quite a bit in the first 6-8mths, the others, like us, who only have 30-50lbs to drop see things happen at a completely different rate. Don't compare your weight loss to anyone else, and concentrate on adjusting your lifestyle & eating habits.

There's a BIG difference between shakes & bars, esp when it comes to the SUGAR content. There's a reason some bars taste like crap, and others taste like a candy bar - basically, they have the same nutritional value! This is when reading labels is crucial. Calories Fat Carbohydrates Protein Here's a simple approach, what to look for, and what each means.

I did post a thread on this, try doing a search. but i found it outstandingly expensive, for a service they don't guarantee (and charge for unfills). they also make you pay upfront, to 'hold' your appointment, which i found extremely shady.

I changed up my fitness routine. found something new to start and concentrate on! now i'm jogging with my dog, and it's made a world of difference, and has kept me from getting lazy & unmotivated.

I too, had little to no restriction, so I was eager to get my first fill. By rule, the OCC leaves the band completely empty, so most of us are super excited to get the progress going, which includes getting the first fill. I booked my fill 6 weeks in advance (yes, i was that eager), but I also didn't get my fills done at the OCC. I have had blind fills, so it's been a process, of 6 fills for me to get to my perfect 'sweet spot' as they call it.

yeahh, i had a feeling that's what it was. I know when I was heavier, there was more blood involved - I always had a tiny little bandaid covering the needle prick. As I got a lot smaller, there wasn't nearly as much, and I'd walk out with no bandaid!

I had 6 fills before finding my sweet spot.

I found a version of this on Recipezaar, by the Queen of HIGH FAT cookin', good ol' Paula Deen. It has a few little extras, including the fresh basil which I can't imagine it without. Ingredients * 4 tomatoes, peeled and sliced * 10 fresh basil leaves, chopped * 1/2 cup chopped green onion * 1 prebaked 9-inch deep dish pie crust * 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese * 1 cup grated cheddar cheese * 1 cup mayonnaise * salt and pepper Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 2. Place the tomatoes in a colander in the sink in 1 layer. 3. Sprinkle with salt and allow to drain for 10 minutes or longer, if you don't the pie will fall apart. 4. Layer the tomato slices, basil and onion in pie shell. 5. Season with salt and pepper. 6. Combine the grated cheeses and mayonnaise together. 7. Spread mixture on top of the tomatoes and bake for 30 minutes until lightly browned. To serve: cut into slices and serve warm. I just made it, and I have to admit, there is grease floating on the top of it, and it really turned my stomach. I know my boyfriend will think he's died and gone to heaven, as I would never categorize this as 'healthy eating' - a whopping 30.6g FAT per serving! :wacko: I tried to reduce the fat content (ever so slightly) by using half the fat mayo. I'm not a fan of low fat cheese, so I went with 5 year aged cheddar & fresh mozz from a local cheese boutique. But with the amount of fat in this, it's definitely a treat and not something I'll be making on a regular basis.

I'm not a doctor, but I'd have to hazard a guess that he might not have been pulling from your band OR, you may have a leak. OR, there might just have been a bit of blood on the syringe from going through. How long is the needle? The saline should be clear, otherwise I would guess that having blood mixed in would be a bad combo. Wouldn't be considered (bad) bacteria/cross contamination? I would definitely email the Dr's at the OCC, and not try and self-diagnose online. This could a sign of a leak, or possibly something else as serious.