Taz

I have a desk job too where I am in front of a computer all day or in meetings. The first few days I had my pedometer I watched extra closely just how many steps I take in a normal day if I make no extra effort. It was sad. Only like a thousand to 1500 steps a day. It was then I realized that the goal Dr. Ortiz wants of 10,000 steps a day is going to take effort. So at lunch I walk around the block before I drink my soup. And when I get home I walk around the neighbourhood before stopping by the mailbox to pick up the mail. All of a sudden, I am averaging 3000 to 5000 steps without any real effort. I am not much of a walker, and the Canadian winter isn't going to make that any easier. Especially with all the Vancouver rain. However, walking isn't "difficult". Just occupy your mind with something else (music, good conversation with a friend etc), and you will be stepping in no time. Thanks for taking on the challenge. I was disappointed to see so little interest from fellow bandsters on such a simple challenge that aligns with Dr. Ortiz's recommendations anyways. I am guessing the thought of actually exercising with something as simple as walking just isn't a real motivator. At least not yet. But no matter. The few of us that are becoming pedometer fans will see the benefits of the challenge. And more importantly... the results. I am already feeling better... getting more fresh air and getting a better relationship with my body. So far today I am at 5835 steps, and plan to walk another few thousand steps tonight. The pedometer is my motivator... screaming at me that I can take more steps. It's not that hard. I LOVE IT. Welcome to the Step Challenge! Taz

No idea. I know when I was on Atkins I had the same problem, and it was due to the ketosis process. I would assume once I am on solids again I will have more carbs and the process won't be as intense. But I simply don't know. I'll tell ya next week once I am eating solids. Teeth have never been whiter though. ;-) So brushing some many times a day isn't all that bad. Taz

Yep. 10,000 in one day. Was a great accomplishment. And now that I know it can be done, I am making it a personal requirement to do that at least once a week! Glad to hear you got the pedometer. And happy to hear the efforts you are putting out. The iPod is a great idea. I use my iPhone, crank up the tunes (AC/DC fan... so an appropriate "beat" to walk to) and just walk. Can't wait to hear about your first 5000 milestone. And then 10,000!! Taz

1. I am on medicaid and medicare Can Medicaid and medicare Pay if I have the Lap Band surgery? No idea. I paid for the surgery out of my own pocket. Why? I realized that the amount of money I spent on Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Medifast, Sure Slim, Atkins Nutrisystem and every other program, shake, bar etc would eventually add up, along with the expense of my huge clothes, extra fees for business class so I could fly on planes etc. And more than anything, I knew as a tool the band would trigger the right mental "fullness" that I needed. Looking back, I would have borrowed the money had I not already had it. It is TOTALLy worth it. 2. What do I have to expect before Lap Band Surgery? Depends on how you address your circle of influence. Support. Lack of support. Worry. Indecision. Questioning of yourself. Of others. But most importantly... the feeling of a weight lifting off your shoulders, as you realize you are about to make a real change that will matter, and have lasting change. Don't take the pre-op diet lightly. I almost didn't get the surgery as they were going to decline me since I didn't quite lose enough weight for their liking. After meeting with Dr. Ortiz, they decided it was a healthy chance... and I am happy I was allowed in. Don't risk it though. Work hard and reach the target they have for you. 3. Do you Spend the Night in the Hospital After Lap Band Surgery? I did. And I think it was the right decision. I met some new friends as we walked the halls with our IVs. I was made very comfortable while I was there. it was definitely worth it. 4. What do I have to expect after Lap Band Surgery? Some discomfort. But completely manageable. Gas. Out both ends. Not a lot of hunger in the first few days. You're healing. By week two post-op, you may feel hunger. But don't cheat. You're healing and need to let your body do its thing. Watch Dr. Ortiz videos to see why that's important. 5. Do you get sick a lot from Lap Band Surgery? Not at all. No sickness at all. I was up and walking 30 minutes after the surgery was done. They know what they are doing. They don't give you any more than you need... which makes the recovery very fast. 6. Can you return to work the Next day after Lap Band Surgery? Well, I had the surgery on Friday, and was back to work on Monday. However, I doubt I would have went back on the Saturday. It was a nice recovery day for me. Your milage will vary. I am not sure if these are the right questions to be asking. Everyone will have their own experiences. Yours will be no different. Best of luck. Taz

Welcome aboard! The pedometer will REALLY help. When I started, I first just checked what I do normally. Was around 1000 to 1500 steps. Then I targeted for 3000. Then 5000. And now I know 10,000 isn't impossible. Looking forward to hearing how you do. Taz

Thanks for sharing what you are doing Trav. The muscle mass is a good point. I was pretty lean when I was in the military before gaining my weight. Appreciate the insights. Taz

So this evening, my daughter reminded me that if I am going to make a challenge... I have to exceed it myself. So instead of driving to the video store, we walked. And for the first time in two weeks since I started watching my step count, I broke 10,000! Whose next? Taz

Only you will be able to answer if you should reconsider. But consider this... You can control the burping with the right anti-gas meds. And even if you can't, it is an extremely short term problem. Your health ISN'T. If you are ready to be banded... then DO IT. I am KICKING myself for not doing it a year ago when I was original ready to do it. Why? Because I was fretting about the thought of PBing. I am a CEO of a software company. I am always talking in public, on podcasts and on video. I worried about what OTHERS thought rather than what I thought... of ME. Really worried about your career in the middle of this life changing experience? Then TAKE A WEEK for yourself. Plan your banding around a holiday. Your health is more important than your job. Even as a public figure on the radio. You only have one body. One spirit. Don't take it lightly because of your job. Don't put off the banding if you are ready to commit to it. It's the right tool for most of us, and rarely have I heard of ANYONE thinking it was the wrong decision. What do YOU want from your life? If you want to escape the heavy you, then you need to commit to this. All the way. Take those vacation days, and protect both you and your career. Or... talk to your doctor and make sure you can control the burping. Again... its a short term problem. Good luck with your decision. I hope you won't reconsider the banding, but instead how you will plan your new life around it. Taz

Hey Jazzy, I bought mine at a RiteAid in Bellingham as I was driving back to Canada after my surgery. It's an amazing little device. It small enough no one notices me wearing it, and I seem to challenge myself because of it. The numbers don't lie. It tells me what I am doing. And like I said, it was only $15. Great investment if you ask me. The actual name of the device is an OMRON HJ-105. Amazon has it for about $17 (http://www.amazon.com/Omron-HJ-105-Pedometer-Calorie-Counter/dp/B00006WNPY) Taz

Hey Lisa, It's not the success as much as the journey that is difficult to relate to. Listening to challenges like bloating and monthly cramps is just not something I can relate to. Nor the hormonal and emotional challenges many seem to talk about here. I am not criticizing it... its just difficult to understand what you are going through. Everytime a guys loses weight, I always hear women talk about how good it must be to be a guy. Funny enough, I think most guys just look at it differently. Usually, we have a lot MORE to lose (not always... I am generalizing here). Sure we lose more in a given period... but we ultimately have to lose more. So our journey is different. We have many challenges that differ. For some reason, I just like to hear/see guys talk about their success. And more importantly... how they battle challenges. Not sure why. I want you guys to look great in bikinis and cute little sexy sundresses too. But many a day, I am looking to relate to others that are interested in getting into those nice dress shirts and suits. I'll worry about you hot women in bikinis later ;-) Taz

Congrats Mtnman. Your success is awesome. 49lbs in 21 days is amazing. Good job. Taz

Ladies and gentlemen, I have a challenge for us all. Most of us have had a bad relationship with food. Being banded, we have tackled that challenge head on. And we should all be proud. However, although our body is our temple, many still treat it as frat house. The board is filled of successes and failures related to alot of emotional cheating, always around food. Rarely do we talk about exercise though. We got to move. That's what our bodies are for. So I am starting a challenge for November to all my fellow bandsters. Get out and move. Walk. Run. Whatever you like. But track it. Go buy a pedometer. Not one of those cheap ones from your Special K box.. but a real one. They range anywhere for $10 to $50 and can be picked up at your local pharmacy. If you can, get one that resets itself every day, and may even have a memory to store the last 7 days. I use an Omron I got for $15 and it works aweseome. Set it up properly for your height and hook it to your pants when you get up, and really see how you do. I noticed I was only moving about 1000 steps a day. And over the last two weeks I have enjoyed the challenge of increasing that. And here comes the real challenge to you. Join me in stepping a MINIMUM of 5000 steps a day. And at least once a week, shoot to blow that 5000 number a day. Dr. Ortiz says we should be walking around 10,000 steps a day, but I would bet many of us aren't. This is a good NSV. Every day you break 10,000 steps, I want you to post here and let us know. Let's see how many people do that this month. So whose ready to take me up on my challenge? Don't do it for me. Or for the challenge. But for YOU. YOU DESERVE IT. Walk loud and proud. And live with the passion you deserve! Taz

That is SO AWESOME! Congrats. Big milestone. Keep it up! Taz

I have similar feelings. With the dry mouth also comes bad breath. My wife is always pointing that part out. Not sure if its the ketosis process or not, but I am always having to drink and brush my teeth (3 times a day right now). I do get gas bubbles in my chest, but it seems to be going away. I notice the more I move, the better it gets. As for pressure near the port, I DEFINITELY have that. Actually some days I feel sharp pains around there if I bend or stretch the wrong way. I am hoping its just the healing process. Remember, pain like this lets you know you're alive... and healing. I notice its much less than it used to be. Hopefully in the coming weeks it will go away. Taz

Glad to hear you are alright man. Looking forward to your update. Taz

I'm I guy. I can relate. I am happy with 5lbs a week. Don't get me wrong. I am just curious what ELSE I COULD be doing. At my size, I am larger that Trav, yet losing less. Learning what he is doing could help me to re-evaluate what I am doing. Dr. Ortiz told me that I should be able to get down to my target weight in 8 months. To do that, I need to make sure I really take advantage of the faster weight loss at the beginning of the process... as I am sure it will slow down and I hit some plateaus as I hit the low 200's. Learning from the success of others is a good thing. This board has so many successes from woman in ways sometimes hard to relate to, so its good to see people like Trav step up and show what they are doing. Good point on the body reacting differently though. I have to remember all bodies react differently. Thanks for the reminder. Taz

Hey Trav, Is that 37lbs SINCE the surgery, or does that include the 2 week pre-op liquid diet? The reason I ask is that I have lost 28lbs since I started this journey, but that includes the 2 week pre-op. My meal menu is pretty standard right now (just entering my 3rd week of liquid diet): Breakfast: Glass of orange juice, and a 200 ml Yoplait Yop (liquid yogurt). Calorie total: approx. 250 cal Lunch: Campbell Creamy Tomato Soup-at-Hand. Calorie total: 170 cal Dinner: Campbell Gardennay Soup (2 portions strained = 1 bowl). Calorie total: approx 240 cal Evening snack: Sugar free popsicle. Calorie total: approx 110 cal Daily vitamin: Centrum Liquid. Calorie total: 25 cal Water: average 9 glasses a day Total calories per day: 795 cal Exercise: Walking. Pedometer reports I am getting between 3000 and 5000 steps a day. Only about 1500 if I don't make an effort to move. I am seeing about 5lbs a week on average right now. And I am not sure what I could be doing differently. If you are seeing 3.7lbs a day, I would REALLY like to know your secret. I'm not saying I am disappointed in my loss to date, but if there is something MORE I can be doing, I sure would like to know what it is. What's your secret? Taz

Now that's interesting. I was talking to the people at the NorthWest Fill Center in Washington, and I was told their first fill is usually 1/3 the max cc of the band. Since I have a 10cc band, I am expecting my first fill will end up being around 3cc. That seem like too much? Taz

Congrats man! That's awesome. You are doing great. I was banded on Oct 16th, and am down 20 lbs. To see you already down more than that is a great sign for you. You are doing well. Keep it up!!! Taz

OK, a really dumb question. With so much iodine on the belly its easy to look jaundice. I have been cleaning around the incisions with a sponge, but fear getting too close to open the wounds. The skin is still rather "tactile" (sticky). A few days have gone by and the skin is peeling away and the iodine is fading. But I am curious to what people did to really get it clean, as it really looks like a mess, and I don't want any infections setting in from not keeping the area clean. Taz

Stormy, I know its so easy too want to eat... but you need to get a better relationship with food girl. You just invested how much money on your band? How much discomfort and bloating? How much personal and emotional turmoil? Why would you want to sabatoge it by over eating???? Remember the rules Dr. Ortiz gave you. Refer back to your white folder. Your goal is to be eating about a 3rd of what you used to eat. It will be a struggle until your first fill... but YOU HAVE TO BE IN CONTROL. The fact you KNOW its a problem and are struggling is a good thing. It is top of mind. Now turn that into action and do something about it. No one on this forum is going to be able to stop you from putting food in your mouth. Only you can do that. As someone who has recently been banded, all I can say is why the heck would you blow all that money and personal discomfort "just because you can"??? In the end it will be worth it. Trust yourself. Think of the new you. And start having a better relationship with food. Its to nourish you. Nothing more. The thinner you will appreciate that attitude. Taz

You need time to heal. I am at OCC (banded yesterday), and it is NUTS to think traveling any long period of time is a good thing. I'm not dieing or anything like that, but its uncomfortable; and thats what most other around here are saying too. Spend the night here. Walk around and have crash durby with your IV in the hall as you walk around. You won't regret the investment to heal. Taz

I wish I could provide you with words of comfort, but unfortunately I can only provide you with my own insights into this. If you look closely, there is probably a good chance that your circle of influence includes many "unhealthy" people that deep down may become jealous, frustrated, and maybe even envyous. This is a common trait of fat people. We attract like individuals. If you are like me, many in my social circle enjoy their "life" through food. Its part of the reason I have had such problems losing weight. Even when I have been on diets, there has been sabatoge at all levels. They SAY they are supportive and want the best for me... and then give me that extra helping. Or criticize if I don't have a drink with them etc etc. I have come to the conclusion my real friends will stick beside me through "thick" and "thin". If they don't want to... TOUGH. Their loss. Well... my loss really... in the weight. Regaining life as a thin person could very well mean you will need a new circle of influence. New friends wanting to be with you. I look forward to it myself. I can't wait to instead of having BBQ and beer parties, getting out there and dancing the night away. Or kayaking the goergous oceans rather than sitting drinking beers by the river. Keep your chin up. If you friend wants to act like that, it's her loss. You have made a concious decision to make yourself and your life better. If that means some people will shun you... why care? Shows just how much of a friend they REALLY are. Remember, a friend is someone who will help you move. A real friend is someone who will help you move a body. In our case... help us move to LOSE our body. Anyone willing to sabatoge that is someone you don't want to be around right now. Of course, this is just my opinion. Close friendships aside, this is the type of internal conflict I simply won't put up. I hope you might be able to see you are more important to you than anyone else. Don't put up for anything less. Live. Live with passion. Don't fret about those that don't have that same ideal. Taz

That's cool. I have convinced my wife that when I hit a certain target for weight loss, she has to go take Salsa lessons with me. And when I get a 1 as the first number in my weight, we will go somewhere in the Carribean and strut our stuff for each other. Taz

Of course if it is a guy... it might explain why he is getting the band. Man boobs isn't a plesant thought. ;-) Taz