Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!
$99 Yearly Supply Alert! 🌈 "1 per Day!" Bariatric Multivitamins
Sign in to follow this  
Followers 0
  • entries
    68
  • comments
    184
  • views
    581

Entries in this blog

 

Life is to short to be FAT

I just completed my first week of the pre-op diet, not to bad. One week to go. I have a pre-op exam by my primary tomorrow. My surgery has been moved up an hour to 8:30 Monday 3-16. I watched the Emmi program yesterday, then sat down with my other half and watched it again to make sure we were both on the same page. This time next week I will be wanting to leave the hospital to come home.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

1
 

Just when you think life returns to normal you are attacked by PB's

OMG I thought I was going to die. A little background first, I love chicken, I ate chicken almost daily before the LB. Well I am 3 months post OP and have had a second fill that has me very tight, now your caught up. So yesterday I go to Sam's and buy a rotisserie chicken, like a have done a few hundred times before pre-LB. I got it home and took it off the bone and in the fridge it went. I am thinking I can eat this, the ground turkey is getting old and I needed something new. Now the gross part. I am setting at lunch today have a very small plate of chicken approx 3 ounces and I take a bite chew very well and a nice change from the ground turkey. I few more very small bites go by and then it happens. I get stuck, it is so painful and just down right nasty. I stand at the sink for at least 30 minutes foaming at the mouth, coughing up nasty and every time I think I am done, I am not. I chew papaya enzyme pills trying to get unstuck while I am in pain. At one point I thought what am I going to do. It just keeps on....then one last painful puke and it's gone. Boy did that suck. I thought I was past this..... I was so tired afterward I layed down for a while. Now the good news, when I got up I had a brainstorm as opposed to the brain farts I usually have. I wanted ice cream, so I broke out my ice cream maker and turned my chocolate protein shake into ice cream by adding a little splenda and some sugar free Hershey's chocolate sauce to my protein shake milk and soy milk. It was great, I don't have to feel left out.. I can live with my LB. Oh the chicken was finely copped and added to chicken broth, orzo, corn and pea dish that I had no trouble getting down at dinner. I should also note that I did not walk this weekend it was just too hot, it's time to Wii.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

5
 

It's my Birthday and yes I am really 52, my boss thinks I am 32

So I take a half day off work today, but when my Boss arrives, or at lease when she logs into the system in Atlanta, I am in Little Rock. The first thing she does is tell me to wrap it up and go home. She is such a great boss, and no she does not read this or even know I had a LB. So I go to walk the Big Dam Bridge, it is a 2.5 mile walk above the water crossing the Arkansas River, it is awesome. Then I go to the store and buy two filet minon steaks for dinner. Thinking it will be great to have beef, I have only had one other small sample of beef since the LB. I cook them in the oven and start to eat. TWO BITES, YES I SAID TWO BITES and I was full and had to take a papaya emizine just to get it to go down. My friend was all apologetic, but I thought it was great. I thought all day I was going to over eat, I was going to cheat, at least cheat with more protein than I should have had, not a chance the LB worked perfect. So next week when I get my official weight I should be down 60 pounds or at least that is my goal. Happy Birthday
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

2
 

It's been a week

I was banded last Monday, don't remember much about that day. But here a week later I am feeling much better. I did leave the house today just for about 30 minutes and maybe that was not such a good idea. I am sure it is just a matter of time. The good news is I am still not hungry. I make my 3 protein shakes each day, now off of broth. Next week is mushies, but at this time that is no big deal. I am having to learn to bend at the knees and not at the waste and that was the issue with my trip out today. I want to go to group support on Thursday, I think it will be good for me. Again thanks for reading my blog.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

1
 

It's a lie

The Lapband works, if anyone tells you different they don't have a clue what they are talking about. I post this since some people get discouraged and hear people saying it's just a gimmick or it's too hard once you get banded. October the 16th will be 7 months for me and I am doing great, I took a vacation from the band while I was on vacation (extended which really lasted almost two months). That means I ate whatI wanted too, not always what I should. While I did not lose weight during that period, I did not gain. Thus the band works, it controled my eating even it it was not my intent. Well I am back from vacation and had a fill the day after I returned. I am back to losing. I did walk in the Little Rock "Walk for Obesity" and now I am back to working my ban. I know I will be in "onederland" soon. Get the band, it works.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

5
 

It just keeps getting better...

You know I was a slug before the LB, I did not feel like doing anything other than stuffing my face and watching the tube. Not anymore, since dropping the pounds it is all about what can I do today. Today I worked all day and cam home and mowed the yard, remember I fired the yard boy. I went to Sams Club today and the only thing I bought was water, that has to be a first. I have saved enough money on food in 3 months that I am treating myself to a trip to Vegas. It has got very hot so now I walk in Walmart at lunch, I can still work up some sweat and I only have pushed on "bluehair" down so far. Hope your all doing well.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

1
 

It has been a while since I posted, but life is good

I have been so busy and so at a stand still with my weight that I have not posted in a while. But that does not mean I am not as happy as I can be with my Lap band. It means I have I have gotten off course. I have been at a stand still since before my Vegas trip in late July. Here a month later I still weigh the same, but I have changed. First I have not fallen off the wagon, I just don't follow my previous winning routine as I did before. I am not eating bad, just not as good as I could. No sweats or anything like that, just more than I should and I joined a gym and go almost daily. I am in 38 jeans, do you know what that means. Six months ago I would have bet I would never be in 38's I would have bet I would not join a gym. But still I feel this has been very successful and I am sure I will take off the rest of my weight. Perhaps I just needed to take a breather and slow it down. I am headed to the beach in a week and when I get back I will get another fill and take off that last 40-60 pounds. Even now I feel wonderful. Last weekend I walked 9 miles on Saturday and 6 on Sunday, six months ago I struggle to get to my office.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

1
 

It gets better all the time

I have not posted in almost a week, but that is a good thing. I have been so busy. I am walking 2 miles at lunch and 5 miles each day on the weekend. I took a 5 pound weight to work and now do a routine while I am on those long calls. I also took an exercise band to work and have a routine for that as well. After work it is straight to the next project, I am getting so much done. I had a garage sale over th weekend and yard work and it just keeps getting better. The task I use to dread, I can do at a run. On Sunday I was at the park walking 5 miles at 6am, then did my shopping on the way home and came straight home to mow the yard. I could have never done that before I had the LB. I went to the Bonefish Grill on Saturday night and did not feel like people were watching to see how much I ate, then took most my meal home. I am on a routine on what I eat daily since food no longer consumes me, the same thing each day because I have placed so little importance on it. I still have a ways to go, or quiet a ways to go, but you can't believe how much better I feel. When I think about cheating, I just look in the mirror or get on the scales. When people look at me now it is not because I am so fat but because I am beginning to look good. Another point I should make is find a support group and go, Group keeps you encouraged. The support I have found on here is also great, fabby50 Bernadette is always there for my support. Try to do the same for others...
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

3
 

Interesting twist of faith

Well,, I am up in the middle of the night; not by my choosing. My other half, is having back issues and I had to get up an get him a heating pad. The reason it is interesting is because it use to be me. I was up all night tossing and turning or with back pain. But not anymore, the LB has changed that; not that I have lost a ton or weight yet. But since I have had the lapband and recovered I sleep like a baby and I sleep longer. This is amazing, I don't remember in my adult life sleeping like this...so good. I have been working in the yard non-stop after being limited by my weight and lack of energy for years I am able to go out for 10 hours of straight work with little after pain. Not only is this good exercise it is good on the food aspect as well. Today I only had morning and lunch shake and then shrimp and lobster for dinner. Since is have little restriction I had no trouble getting them down. The lobster was broiled in the oven and the Shrimp was Ruby Tuesday's ( I know this was not the best choice, but it was the first outside food I have had since surgery and I shared the portion). My weight loss has slowed to a stop but since I am working hard in the yard and walking (when I can) and still keeping to 650-1000 calories a day, I know it will come off. Back to bed, the yard will be calling at sunrise.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

1
 

Interesting

I had read about LB's having hiccups, well today was my first time, very odd for me. In fact I seemed to be in some distress most the day. My stomach has been rumbling, my belching is more than normal and also lots of gas, I did not eat till around 11 today and then for dinner I had turkey burger, minus everything but the turkey. Maybe it is just my body making adjustments, or a least I hope that is all it is. Excuse me while I belch.............ok guess it's just one of those days. It could be a reaction to the Vemma and assorted pills I am taking, went from one pill a day to now 6. Hope I am back to normal tomorrow. :thumbup:
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

1
 

I was so stuck I thought I needed to call a plumber

last night I cooked a turkey medallion, one of those you get from Sam's Club, I have not had any issues before with them, so I was quiet surprised when I got stuck almost at the end of my meal. Guess a took a bite without chewing it the way I know I need to chew or it just went down the wrong way. I was not too bad at first but it just kept getting worst. It took over two hours of slimming and puking before I got any relief. You know it ti bad when you are so stuck you drink water just to try to get it up, since as soon as water went down, it came right back up. I was so exhausted when after two hours it went down, that I had to go to bed. While it was going on I walked and did anything I could think of short of calling a plumber to snake it out. NOT MUCH FUN AT ALL. today I ate another one with out an issue. It is so odd that what you can eat one day you can't the next and vice versa. But even with all that I would not trade my band for anything. This morning I was down another two inches in the waist. I am now in a size 40, begin with a 46 that was tight. I have cleaned out my closet, as soon as they fit the other size is out of the closet never to return. I did this with a big smile on my face. :thumbup:
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

7
 

I slimmed and PB'ed

I have been doing great, sticking to my less than 1000 calories a day and have lots of energy. The weight is coming off slowly, but better than it going up. I still have not had a fill, but think I might ask for one...Anyway to the point. If you read my blog, I am treating myself well, I can afford to since I eat so little. Well Saturday night I cooked the two lobster tails I had bought at the first of the month (by the way lobster is dirt cheap right now due to the economy), I digress. Anyway, yesterday I worked in the yard all day, I mean all day, then came in and got a shower. I decided I would eat the second lobster tail, they are only 6 ounces out of the shell, yes I weighed them, I weigh everything so I can track my calories. So I popped that bad boy in the microwave to heat it up and since I had been so good I also heated up a turkey patty. So I sat down in front of the TV to eat, with my small fork and my surf and turf. I get most of the way through it and I get that feeling that you get when you are suppose to stop. I thought what the hell only a couple more bits, who is going to throw away lobster. That is when it happened. This horrible pain mid-way down my chest, OK, I jump up run around the house for a few hoping it will go through, not so lucky the pain get worst, then I start the sliming, all a sudden I am spitting out slim, a lot of it. Then I belch a few times, it continues on for several minutes and then the food goes down which is way better than up. It made eating very unpleasant. I even thought about just doing shakes, that was how bad it was. But man can not live on shakes, so tonight I bakes 6 ounces of flounder and it went down without issue, of course I was very slow eating. I did not want to repeat that ever again. You may also remember me mentioning my new toy the Magic Bullet, which I mix my shakes in, well, now with the vanillas Chike and some fruit, I have tried, cherries, mango, blueberry's and raspberries (blueberries are the best). It is a great treat like a dessert. I limit myself to one a day since I still have to come in under 1000 calories. I have done so well I tried on my 42 waist pants today, wishful thinking, still a ways to go. But it did start my day out more determined. I go to group on Thursday and will update my ticker after I get an official weight. Stay the course.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

4
 

I have been good to myself

I was reading that you save about $400 a month on food as a LB. So I am thinking since I should eat my protein first that I should be good to myself. So Friday I went to Sam's and bought lump crab meat, flounder, scallops, and lobster tail. Then Friday night I had a piece of Flounder with a little crab on top. It was all flaky and I cooked it in Pam and just a pat of butter. It went down good, no more than I eat now this should last me through the month. Last night I made a turkey burger. I used the Italian seasoned ground turkey and some southwest Eggbeaters added a few spices and got 4 burgers out of a pound package. It went down good as well. Since I cooked all 4 I plan to have another tonight. Still just eating one meal a day 1-2 shakes and no snacks, even thought I was told I could have some 2% string cheese which I bought and only ate once. Just no desire. I am still trying to add a couple of protein waters into the mix. So far I am not wanting, I actually cooked dinner for my friend tonight and I can't eat any of it, but again I have a goal. One of which is not to mess up my band, so I am sticking to my doctors orders. Only have one more week off work before I go back to the grind. Also I still notice I am cold more than normal, I use to keep the AC or heat at 65, now at 70 I am cold. I am also sleeping more and better. I use to be up by 4am no matter what, now I sleep to 7,8, or 9. That will change when I go back to work since I work 6-3 but I don't think I have ever slept like that. Still no exercise other than normal activities,I will start walking when I go back to work.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

1
 

I had my FIRST FILL today, much to do about nothing

I had my first fill today 8 weeks post-op. 3.4cc in a 10cc band. It was a piece of cake other than laying on the table with the pillow ( I would call it a pain pad) under the small of my back. I did the fill on my lunch hour and most of that was drive time. I pulled up my shirt, Dr. Luttrell, told me he would be pressing, never really had much pressure, maybe since it is easy to feel my port. He wiped something on my port area told me I would feel a pick then some burning that was the deadener for the fill. He got the port on the first try, took out everything if there was anything then had me set up so the Fluoroscope could be used, had to drink some strawberry barium just a sip, he could see as well as I could see it went right through, then he added saline, drank some more which showed it was slowed down he made another adjustment then had me drink water to flush it through. I was good to go. But now I am back on fluids for a week then mushes for a week. The issue with that is I will be on mushes for my birthday.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

5
 

I cheated, again sorta

Last night I got really hungry, something that is not an issue to me so I went all out (I guess that is a matter of opinion) I had an extra protein shake, I know I know I shouldn't have, but I also added a banana and two table spoons of peanut butter and a table spoon on Nutella. Bad me I almost double my calories for the day in one shake. So today I made an appointment for my second fill.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

1
 

I cheated and it felt so bad

Well it was the 4th of July weekend. On Friday I took a nephew to see Transformers, did good had water while he sat there eating his popcorn. After the movies he wanted to go to Maggie Moo's and ice cream shop right outside the movie. Cool we went in and he ordered, and before I knew it I ordered one scoop of dark chocolate ice cream. It really was not as good as I had imagined, not saying the ice cream was not good, I am sure it was great, just one of those self expectation that did not live up to the expectation. Wish I had stuck to my meal plan, notice I did not say diet, I don't diet anymore. Then later that night, it was a BBQ and a home made lemon maraign pie. The BBQ went down fine, I guess I had about a half cup. The pie I took home and over the weekend I consumed about a quarter of the pie. Not good, since I am going to Vegas this month and wanted to be down another 15 pounds. For Sunday I had bought a steak, decided I was not hungry Sunday, remember I had eaten pie. So I cooked to tonight. I ate maybe two bites and stuck tighter than you can imagine. I slimed and PB'ed for over an hour, just plain nasty. I swore this is the last steak I will buy...anyway, I don't feel like I failed, just feel like I could have done better.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

7
 

I cheated :)

On Thursday, since I took off Early on Wednesday for my Birthday. The people at work had me a nice German chocolate cake with candles and I had a piece. Well maybe not a piece. I had approx one table spoon, not rounded either. I think they were testing me, in a nice way. They wanted to do something for me and did not know what to do, I skipped lunch since I had that tablespoon and was not hungry anyway.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

1
 

I am BANDED

Well I am now banded, it was interesting. I drove the two hours to the hospital, never nervous as I knew I was making the right choice. Once they put you under you know nothing. Once inside me the doctor found I had a serious Hiatal Hernia, which he had to repair. that took about an hour from what I was told. Then he did the BAND and I had a hard recovery again from what I was told. The worst part for me was the drive back, every move the jeep made I felt it in my midsection. I did have some gas pain in the shoulder on the way home and the first night. But today it has not been an issue. I walked all night, at least what I could. The whole process was not bad I really can't say anything was too much to handle. I did heave in recovery and was a little concerned about that. My doctor called to check on me today and I have an appointment in two weeks. The pictures of my insides are interesting. I had lost about 15 pounds in my pre-op diet. Since the surgery I have peed a lot, just it is from the Iv's. Today I have had about a half a cup of both and some Gatorade. Not really wanting anything but know I need to keep my strength up. I still have on my TED's but they are beginning to bother me. Will write more tomorrow. Thanks for this site and everyone who came before me. I actually knew more than some of the nurses who were helping me with expectations,
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

2
 

Has your mentality changed?

You know I am in a complete different mindset now that my weight is dropping with my LB. I use to plan which restaurants I would hit, what food I would cook, and what grocery's I would consume on the weekend. Now I plan on what I can get done, where I am going to walk, and who I will visit. I have made amens with many, including my Dad that I have not spoken to in about 10 years. I think I carried so much guilt on my shoulders with my weight that I had forgot who I was, I have to say again the LB is life changing. Hope everyone gets the same results.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

2
 

Good News

I went to my first group support meeting last night at my doctors office. I was able to weigh and had lost an official 24 lbs. Group was a nice collection of people in different stages of LB. But it was good information the doctor was there so we could ask anything and got some great advice. I will plan to make these monthly since I know people lose more when they have a peer structure. I am feeling even better today and went to a movie, setting in the chair was a little uncomfortable. I actually made myself eat 3 meals today, two protein shakes and one cream of mushroom soup thinned with beef broth. I still have no hunger. My wounds are looking better and maybe in another week they will be healed.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

4
 

Found a new toy

You know Iam doing the two shakes a day plus the Lean Cuisine, or fish, or turkey. Anyway I bought a Magic Bullet, ya like the ones you see on TV. It is like a mini blender, but has two separate blanes and more than 4 cups. So here is what is cool, I can but my 10 ounces of Silk Light Vanilla Soy Milk, with my Vanilla Chike (protein supplement) and a few Blueberry's and about 10 ounces of water and I have a great shake, you would never know it is diet food, this summer I can add ice instead of water and make a smoothie. Anyway I worked in the Yard the past two days, maybe a little too much, sore back. But I feel great, look great and losing weight. What more can a man ask for (don't answer that).
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

3
Sign in to follow this  
Followers 0

PatchAid Vitamin Patches

Bariatric Forums

For Patients

Health Professionals

Search Surgeons

Bariatric Surgeons: Want to research a weight loss surgery surgeon? Enter their last name below to start!

×