Yes it has been a while since I visited and blogged on the site. With the help of the band and will power along with good choices I am down 60 pounds in 6 1/2 weeks post op!!! I had my first fill last week (1 1/2 cc's) but didn't make much of a difference so my Doctor wants to see me nxt week to add more to the band. I think it is because I had 2 1/2 cc's taken out during my complications in the hospital. I will say that even though the band is not as tight as it should be right now...I am rarely ever STARVING...The most amazing thing about the weight loss is that I barely exercised but I start today... I coach H S tennis so I plan to get in a good tennis workout... A sport I love and now with my wqeight loss I could move around much better on the court...Very Exciting !!
GOOD LUCK TO ALL PRE AND POST BANDSTER...I HAD SOME DOUBT COMING IN TO THIS JOURNEY BUT DAY BY DAY IT CAN BE DONE AND EVEN THOUGH I HAVE A WAYS TO GO...I COULD SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL...
Peace
Wow..Amost 3 weeks to the day that I was banded and I am down 43 pounds!! I can not believe that the weight is just melting off...and I am not even exercising yet...I will say though that it is obviously coming off slower (naturally)..I also am starting to get a little bored of my food choices (egg whites, cottage cheese, chili, chicken in a can, tomato soup) so if anyone has any ideas of mushy foods/recipes, I would appreciate hearing from you...I had some complications while in the hospital and the Dr took out 3 ccs from my band and I am starting to get hungrier faster...trying to use my will power to my first fill in Mid March...I also just finished my first week back at school(teacher) and it really went well...My incisions FINALLY closed a couple of days ago...Very frustrating when you are trying to work and be active...All and all I am happy with the process and the results and I'm hoping to start some type of exercise plan in the next week or two...A great weekend to all you pre and post bandsters out there!!
Peace
Wow..2 weeks to the day after banding...Im back to work...Thank You..I am a teacher and love my students and school and feel so complete when I am teaching...Not many people know (telling them I had hernia surgery-which I did)...have been doing well with my eating,,,made turkey chili over baked potato last night...soooo good. Things are getting back to normal..each day is usually better than the next..still leaking a little from one incision but other tha that...feeling strong and confident...2 weeks later I am down 40 lbs!!Gotta luv it!! Good luck to all...
Peace
Almost 2 weeks post op and I am planning to return to work/school on Monday.. SOOOO excited to see my students and my colleagues...Almost no one knows of the lap band and I'd like to keep it that way at least until the summer...Anyway..just getting lessons ready and doing some minor small errands , cleaners etc... My daughter has a gymnastic competition sat night so it will be my first real night out...Very exciting...Have been on mushy foods for almost 4 days and things are good...I saw my surgeion yesterday and gave me the thumbs up!! HE said I would get my first fill on my next visit!! So even though Im a little hungry sometimes now, I know the fill is coming..Making really good choices!! Egg whites...oatmeal.. veggie chili plus packing in the protein drinks...Hope all is well for the bandster community out there..
Peace
5:00 am Wednesday and couldn't sleep so I figured thie would be the perfect time to record some thoughts...Had a spectacular day yesterday!! Went out on my own shopping (still not bk to work yet) Bought first sweatshirt that was NOT XXL...treated myself to a Kenneth Cole watch..Im learning to reward myself with non food rewards...Got some schoolwork done in the afternoon...Was able to get back into helping with the family responsibilities like shuttling kiddies to and fro. I did have my first taste of food (mush) went for the turkey in broth baby foood...yeeach!! Started to get my appetite and my protein intake was almost 50 grams...Probably looking at returning to classroom Monday Feb 14th...Starting to get a little confused about how I should be handling stage 2 diet..Need to speak with nutritionist again..Like many of you out there, probably fear the first time eating real food...Gotta Go...Oh and by the way...33 lbs down after 11 days post op..I know that will slow down but I will enjoy the ride while I can..
Peace
The days are getting more tolerable and I'm concentrating on getting as much protein in my body.... up to 30 grams. Still get such a full feeling after drinking and or protein but I try to walk it off..My brain is starting to snap back into place..made some business calls and answered some e-mails...spent some time hanging with the family and tried to just relax...Not sure when I'll go back to school and I'm not pressing it either...i have an appntmnt to see my physician today and have some minor questions...it will be good to go out...also planning on buying myself something that will make me smile...these next few days will be short lived bc once i go bk into the rat race...its tough to come out so i plan to enjoy them as much as possible...
Wow...Good to be back! I am now 1 week banded and with this last 6 days came multiple complications...I am not about to go into them because its not worth it.. I need to look forward. Positive thoughts ...I'm feeling better stronger happier every day...I hope to go back to work sometime nxt week and get back into my life where I enjoy my kids and wife and teach and be with my friends. That day is just about here!! For you bandsters that have done it...I wish you only the best...for pre bandsters...There is a saying,"Meet the fear and do it anyway" . I am just looking forward to my new life and I will try so hard to change all of the things I can....just remember...there are somethings you cant change......and oh by the way...21 lbs down!!!
Peace
I am 1 day away from banding...Surgery set for 9:30 am tomorrow!! I thought this day would never come and all of a sudden its here!! Went shopping for my stage 2 foods and It hit me hard that there will be some foods I will never have again and some foods I wont eat for a long time..Pretty scary but as I weigh (no pun intended) the benefits of being healthy and looking good versus eating these foods...its no contest..Bring on the size 34 pants and the size large/medium shirts..Oh Boy!!n SInce I am on liquids just for today I had my last pre banding meal last night...It coincided with my daughter's Birthday so we took 4 of her friends with us to a Japanese Restaurant and I had steak & scallops hibachi with rice and a couple of beers...MMMM it was gooood!! GETTING LAST MINUTE DETAILS IN ORDER AND OFF TO THE HOSPITAL FIRST THING TOMORROW...SEE EVERYBODY ON THE FLIP SIDE...CAN'T WAIT TO JOIN THE BANDSTER COMMUNITY!1
Peace
Just 3 days to my lapband surgery and the anxiety is getting high... The bariatric nurse at the hospital gave 5 of us (all band patients) a 2 1/2 hour seminar about the procedure from start to finish...She was amazing!! Today I got my Final Final Final clearance from my physician and he is extremely happy for me. I have so much great support and I am soooo ready for this...I want to join the weight loss party so badly!! I see so many bandsters losing weight and it gives me such inspiration and motivation. I hope that I will also be an inspiration for someone in the coming weeks, months and years!! Got all my meds and vitamins and protein supps today as well. Am going food shopping for my stage 2 diet for tomorrow...egg whites, low fat cottage cheese, yogurt, cream of wheat...etc...Also going for the pre-op haircut cause I gotta be stylin at the hospital when I meet my new band...Can't beleive its here...Bring it!!
Peace
5 days from surgery... 1 day from hospital visit and clearing and I am truely starting to feel it...Nerves are kicking in!! Just trying to tie up loose ends at work/school and get my list together for shopping...Its snowing pretty good here in Long Island so I hope there are no issues with getting to the hospital tomorow... I was given a beautiful plaque from sis the other day about strength and courage..I will keep it by my bedside throughout this experience... having a phone consult with thearpist to get somethings off my chest in an effort to unburden myself before the big day..I think the therapy every couple of weeks is crucial to gettting me to look at food differently....Having trouble sleeping but I guess thats normal before something this important...
Untill next time...
Peace
Wow...Just think...
In 1 week I will have already been banded and my journey will take on another form as I start the healing and begin the weight loss process!! I have started to mentally prepare myself as I feel like a pregnant women (no pun intended) who is nesting... I am going food shopping this weekend to get ready for the first few weeks of post op and started to straighten and clean my bedroom out.
At work (teacher) I have met with my Principal and AP and fortunately have a very good repore with them..My Principal has become my mentor in other facets of my job so he is totally behind this and is pushing me to take the entire week off...I'm pretty sure thats what I will do. I am cleaning up my desk and putting all my grades together.. I wll also put specifci lesson plans for the substitute teacher who will teach my classes so I won't have any undue or unnecessary stress will I recover next week.
Let the games begin!!
Peace
8 days to go and the days seem like weeks...I have been using the " last time to party" theory as I am eating anything that is not bolted down over the last couple of weeks. Need to pull back and clean up my act a little bit...I am so uncomfortable in my clothes, getting dressed and so many of the little things that I used to take for granted...I hope to G-d that this works!! Probably had my last beer fling last night at the bar as many people tell me"no more beer after banding". I am not a big drinker so I don't think I will freak if I don't have beer...sure I will miss it on a hot sunny day but I guess I could probably switch to maybe a flavored vodka if I want a drink... getting used to my C pap machine which helps me with apnea. I am hoping to rid my self of this contraption within a few months as I shed the weight!! Holla Holla!!
I'm hoping that the week flies by as I go for my hospital clearance on Thursday and Physicians clearing on Friday..Going all liquid on Sunday to get ready for Monday's banding...
Good Luck and special prayers for those that are banding in the next couple of weeks...
Peace...
Well here goes...My first entry...Im about a week away from my banding and I am jumping out of my skin...Mostly excited...have been reading all the different experiences on the forums and blogs..My sister had a stomach bypass 7 years ago.She lost a huge amount of weight but its starting to creep back in.I remember her saying that she never took advantage of the support systems that are available-Webinars-forums such as this. I love her so much and I kept telling her not to disregard the support...Still proud oh her anyway...I am making it a point to see a therapist on a bi-weekly basis in order to start digging into the reasons why I have this unhealthy relationship with food. I also think that blogging will help me work through the tough days and allow me to celebrate the good days.. I also have a loving and wonderful wife and 2 terrific daughters as well as my sister and some very good friends that will also be there for me for support. I also know that at the end of the day..It is me who has to do the heavy lifting (no pun intended) in order to truely change my life...So jump in and strap on your seatbelts as I go for the ride of my life...
Peace..
