indigostorm

Hi Maybeoneday I was really sad to hear what you are going through. Man, that really sucks! I am getting sleeved in Tiajuana on 12/6. I just decided to do it on Nov 26th and they said they could get me right in. I haven't been told that I have to do any kind of pre-op diet either. (cause lets face it, if I was that sucessful at dieting, I wouldn't need the sleeve.) I am really shocked you have to wait so long. Couldn't you go see another dr? Good Luck!!! indigostorm11

Hi Dinnah, I hope you are feeling better soon. I had a lapband put in two years ago and I really struggled with exhaustion for a while. It took me a while to realise there was some depression mixed in there too! I know how hard it can be when something disrupts your relationship with food, it was like loosing my best friend. Have you tried any cardio exercises? I know that always helps pick me up. Best of luck to you! indigostorm11

ok, no kick in the a$$, but I will send you a big hug! Look you are doing great! Why don't you appriciate yourself a little more? Someone once told be the reason diets don't work is because people go on diets because they hate their bodies. How about approaching WL as something you do because you love your body and want it to be healthy? Eating healthy is hard this time of year, if you are holding steady then I think you are really rocking the program. How about exercise? Thats a great way of showing your body how much you love and care for it! Seriously, 78 pounds! OMG! go to a store and load 78 pounds of potatos in a cart just to get a visual of what you have accomplished. YEAH YOU! Lots of high fives to you! indigostorm 11

Hi Lila, I really appriciate your list of mistakes. I am going from a lap band to a sleeve on 12/6. I am very concerned about the possibility of leaks. Do you mind telling me how you got a leak? How you knew you had a leak? Most importantly, how soon after surgery did the leak develope? I am especially concerned because I have to travel for my surgery so once I am released from the doctor in Tiajuana MX, I will be returning to Washington state, USA. This means I will no longer be under any doctor supervision. How will I know if there is a problem BEFORE I go home? Hugs, indigostorm11

This woman is your best friend? Really? Maybe I am judging without all the facts, but from what I read in your post she seems judgmental, negative, manipulative and just a plain old user. She only calls or comes over when she is broke or wants something from you. Do you really need that kind of nastiness? You deserve to have a friend who loves and supports you NO MATTER WHAT! Isn't that what friends are supposed to do? Isn't that the kind of friend you are to her? Maybe, this is just who she is and she isn't capable of being supportive or even respectful. (She may have BFF status, but you still have a right to medical privacy). If that is the case, please do yourself a favor and let her go gently out of your life and find a friend who will be as good a friend to you as you will be to her. Best of Luck! Indigostorm

Hi Crash, Wow, 2 weeks liquid diet pre-op. Whats up with that? I could eat right up to the night before surgery. I think it sounds like you are doing amazingly well. You should be very proud of yourself. I love BBQ also. LOVE THEM! There is no way I could go to a BBQ and not eat. I think you are being WAY too hard on yourself. Remember, the band is a tool to help you control your appetite and learn to eat more consciously. Honestly, I really had no idea how fast I ate or how poorly I chewed my food until I had the band. (That cured me in a hurry). I hope you have an exercise program already started, but if you haven't please start walking as much as possible right after surgery. Yes, it will hurt, but it will hurt less and you will recover faster the more you walk. Please do not let your Aunt make you feel bad about yourself or your journey. She may actually think she is being helpful. When you need support, turn to your online community. We are people like you who will understand your problems, temptations, successes and failures. Yes, there will be failures, there will be times you think you let yourself down. THAT IS PART OF THE JOURNEY AND LEARNING PROCESS TOO!!! Embrace it! Love yourself right through your flaws. You are very brave to be taking this challenge. This is an entire lifestyle change. You don't have to be perfect. If any of us were perfect we wouldn't need any lap band or any support. GOOD LUCK ON YOUR JOURNEY!!! Indigostorm

Hi Jaymer57, I was having the exact same problem. I was exercising lots and eating less, and getting next to no results. I asked for help and many people wrote to me and they all asked the same question " So how much protein are you eating a day?" I quickly realized that although I had not increased the number of calories in a day, I was only getting 3 or 4 grams of protein (I hate protein). My nutritionist had warned me that I am incapable of loosing weight unless I consume most of my calories in protein. She recommended 60 to 80 grams per day min. I am struggling to get the protein in, but wow, what a difference. The scale is moving in the right direction again. Please try not to judge your journey by what other people can get away with. My Sister eats ONLY carbs, no protein ever, and she is skinny as a stick. That works for her, but it doesn't work for me and it never will. Have you had your diet evaluated by a qualified nutritionist? They are really worth going to IF you are willing to listen to them. ( I know I really resisted. I didn't like hearing that I needed to eat lots of protein." Well, Good Luck! Let us know how you are doing. Best Wishes Indigostorm

Thanks for the great ideas, everyone. I really kind of forgot about protein. After I read your replies, I really thought about how much protein I have in one day. UMMM, pretty close to 1 gram. Like I said, I really hate protein shakes and bars and can barely gag down meat of any sort. I appreciate everyone calling me out on the whole protein thing. I need to remember, my body needs it. I don't have to like it, I just have to do it! Thanks, Indigostorm

Hi everyone! I have been banded now for six months and my weight loss has completely stopped at 30 lbs. I know I am not getting enough protein (I hate, HATE protein drinks and bars!) but, I am also concerned that I still can eat as large a portion as I want. Shouldn't I be full after a cup or two of food? I think my restriction is tight enough. I have to be extremely careful about chewing or it will HURT and come back up, but as long as I chew thoroughly, I can eat as much as I want. Also, I find that I get hungry just a couple of hours after a meal. Has anyone got any good advice how to tell if I have enough/ too much restriction or how to get more protein? Thanks everyone! indigostorm11

HI Don't worry, I really don't have anything mean to say to you. Actually, I think we all feel that way on some level. I knew that the band "was just a tool", but deep down inside I was hoping for a magic pill. Getting into an exercise routine can be incredibly hard, but it is especially important for people loosing weight because if you are loosing weight without exercise you will be loosing muscle as well as fat. Remember, the heart is a MUSCLE. The weight loss can cause a lot of physical and mental stress. Not, in my opinion, a good time for your heart to be under attack. I sympathize with you for not wanting to exercise, but is there anything that you would enjoy doing for an hour or so a day? Maybe go swimming at the YMCA, go power walking at the mall, go for a bike ride, volunteer to walk dogs for the humane society, I purchased an eliptical machine so I wouldn't have to deal with the Ballys nightmare. It is OK to start out slow and look for fun! Life should have fun in it too! Get creative and let us know how you are doing. (also, pass along any good ideas you have to share) Best of luck to you! Indigostorm

Dear Kourtney93, I totally understand you're nerves! The same thing happened to me. There was a sudden opening and I jumped at it. I am so so so glad I did. I love being banded. I haven't gotten a fill yet, but there is still a decrease in appetite. The hardest thing for me now is to learn to recognize when I am actually hungry and when I am eating out of habit. That one may take me a while to really sort out! Good Luck to you! Indigostorm

Good Luck, Keia, You're going to do great. Just remember after your surgery to walk as much as possible. It will be hard at first, but it will get better! Lots of Love to you! indigostorm

Good Luck, Sarahgirl!!! We're all behind you 100% Your going to do great! Indigostorm

Hi Everyone, I just had my surgery on 12/1410. I am already tired of the bland diet and beginning to feel hungry not long after a meal. I was wondering if any one has any advice about when I should get my first fill and how much I should get? I had my band done in Tijuana, and as I live in Wisconsin, they recomended a place called Fill USA. Has anyone else every used them? Does it hurt? Do I have to go back on clear liquids afterwords? Any good advise on how to break out of old habits would be very much appreciated. Also, can someone tell me how you set up the ticker tape thing to track your weight loss and goal? Thanks, indigostorm11

Dear Sdart0828, You didn't say when you got banded, so I am assuming it was within a month. It kind of sounds like you are falling into the same trap I am always getting stuck in! (I'm an instant gratification girl!) I have spent my whole life going to extremes for weight loss. Loosing fast (mostly water and muscle), finding that my new "diet" is not sustainable, going off diet , and then gaining everything back plus a couple extra pounds. I am hoping to break out of my old patterns with the lap band. Please try not to compare your weight loss with other peoples. Instead of focusing on the scale, why not focus on your health and lifestyle changes and sustainability of the new changes. A liquid diet might give you quick weight loss for right now, but will you loose fat, or water and muscle mass? My surgeon told me to try not to loose more than 2-3 lbs a week as anything faster will mean loosing muscle and result in a nasty drop in your metabolism rate. Which certainly explains why I gained all my weight back plus a little bit more with every extreme diet. I wish you lots of luck on your new journey. I hope you will look at this as a long term marathon instead of a sprint. Never mind what some stupid scale says; It is how you feel that is important. You are more than just a number on a scale! Love yourself today for who you are today! Sending you lots of love and luck! Indigostorm

Please see your Doc ASAP. This doesn't seem normal to me and it might be dangerous to let it go for too long. Let us know what you find out. Good Luck, indigostorm