Proud sucessful Bandsters out there....

CHEW CHEW CHEW

EXERCISE EXCERCISE EXCERCISE...  even if it's just a short walk... move those muscles!

HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE.... feed your cells!

my tricks...
eating off a coffee saucer... still after 3 and 1/2 years to trick my brain I'm eating off a "full plate"
whenever I'm stressed, I jog... I've been jogging a lot lately so my surgeon actually told me to gain a couple of pounds... 5 to be exact!  He said I was looking too frail and wanted to give me an unfill... I told him I'll bump up my calories but I'm training for a 10 mile jog for next month so I promised him I'll up my calories and have an appointment with him for Tuesday.... I really do have the best surgeons  (I think that helps with my success too!)

Exercise and activity and movement of SOME kind is the most important thing I think.  But since that's been covered I'm going to say...

BE ACCOUNTABLE TO YOURSELF.

Track your calories, keep a food diary but be honest with it.  If you have a snack, account for your snack.  If you don't exercise, don't tell yourself you did.  Find a good food tracking method and be diligent about it.  I really like The Daily Plate on the Livestrong website but I think there are lots of others out there too.

We've all done the half-assed food diary before in some previous and massively FAILED attempt to lose weight and it took me years to figure it out but when we did that?  We were only hurting ourselves.

VERY good thread!!!!

I agree with Bubbles!! (shocker...)  LOL we tend to agree on alot.

Anyway -

EXERCISE - not just cardio.   Cardio burns the fat, but strength training feeds those muscles!! You do not want to lose lean muscle mass!!  Lift those weights ladies!!! You will NOT get bulky!  Promise.

WATER - hydrate that body!!!!!  

PROTEIN - I still struggle with this from time to time, but as another poster said.. if you eat the protein first, you more than likely wont have room for the "naughty stuff".

CHEW CHEW CHEW - even 2+ years post op this STILL gets me sometimes.  You really have to be aware when you eat.


Now - what works for me...

Tracking my calories - I used Livestrong.com  or TheDailyPlate.com whichever you're familiar with.  It keeps me accountable.

Moderation - I give into my cravings.  My "motto", if you will is "Moderation NOT Deprivation". If I want McDonalds, I get those chicken nuggets and fries, but it's just a Happy Meal and I cant finish the fries, but it cures the "craving".  

Drinking hot coffee or tea in the morning to "open up" my band

Last tip is The Gospel for me. if you are tight in the morning... hot tea, hot coffee!

WOW! This is an EXCELLENT thread!!! Thank you so much for all the great information! These are all things I can live by when I have my surgery. Thank you!!! s

#1 - read Bandwagon (yes, I know, a shameless plug)

#2 - believe in yourself

#3 - don't expect your band to do all the work

#4 - remember, you're not in this alone - use your surgical team, support group, and OH forums to guide and support you

Jean

P.S. Ask me the same question tomorrow, and I might have a different answer, but that's it for today!

I live my life like Jan her and I pretty much do the same routine :o)

Moderation NOT Deprivation !!!!! I live by this rule 110% of the time.  The band isn't in us to say we cant eat our favorite foods no more , it is in us to teach us portion control and to dim our hunger that is it nothing more nothing less.

When I want something I eat it , but I have learned how often to eat them foods, when to eat them foods , and how much to eat of them foods that is what the band is there to do is to teach us these lessons also not just to dim our hunger but to learn valuable lessons to.

You want to learn these lessons along the way , dont become dependent on the band to do all the work, dont become so obsessed with fills that you lean on them as a crutch  , because in the end that could be your ultimate downfall with the band and then in the process you have learned nothing about yourself, self control, how to eat healthy , and how strong of a person you really are deep down inside of you which I am learning every day about myself, and so on.

Exercise:  Find something that you enjoy and do it.  Me personally , I think going to a Gym is a total bore.  I can not go to a gym and workout on machines I think its boring, I lose interest and I just wont do it after a couple of weeks.

Find something that you love , that you will continue to do every day.  Mine is Zumba . I love Zumba I do it four times a week and two of them days I do Zumba with two pound weights .  I haven't missed a class since February.

Always ,Always and Always remember the band is a TOOL only !!!!!!  It dont make you exercise, it dont stop you from eating a pint of ice cream, it dont stop you from eating a bag of chips, it dont stop you from eating around the band even with the best of restriction .  Only YOU and YOU alone has to make these choices and do them .  The band wont do it for you !!!!

Thanks everyone! What a motivational post. I am refille(5cc in 10 cc band) d after miserable failure and I feel like I am starting over. This thread really motivated me today! It's good to hear from successful people- cause I just haven't been successful at all!

Control your portions.  Don't wait for the band to tell you when to stop eating.  Constantly over-filling your pouch over a long period of time can cause problems, slips, dilation, etc.  1/2 cup of dense proteins/veggies WILL keep you satisfied if you just stop yourself before you keep eating.

You can always add a healthy snack after your meal if you're still hungry!

Don't risk it!

Best~
Lisa O.

They need to remember that they didn't get OBESE overnight, and they won't get thinner overnight, either. Every time I hear a newbie complain that they're a month out and "only" lost ten pounds, I want to smack them.