MarcyLoo

Just thought I'd start a thread on the post-op side...

Rosie friend me on FB...I just created a group there so we can talk privately...

Oh Tim, no no no...no offense....be PROUD of yourself!!! Seriously. We're all here for the ups and down, the joys, the discouragements... I'm under MARCY HENSHAW on Facebook....the one wit a profil epic...I'll come up as Marcy Henshaw Lewis

TNT, I'm right there with you. I've been so bummed I haven't even had the courage to check in here. I went for about 6 weeks too tight and eating crap foods cause they went down easy, had an unfill of .8 cc and was excited to get back on track and instead I've gained about 9 pounds. My fear is that I'm one of these people who has no willpower and is failing because of it. It's like all the times I've dieted before and got sidetacked for "just one day" and never got back on track. I know I have the band and CAN get back on track, but have yet to do so. I just feel like a great big fat failure (literally). Maybe we can help each other somehow? If yo want to? Somehow be accountable to each other? In truth as I type this I keep thinking about what can I eat....what can I find to binge on...

Frustrating appointment yesterday...but happy with the end result. I got off work at 7am, my truck started and made it to the parking garage exit then the clutch went out. 2 coworkers pushed me across the street where I called AAA then the clinic to CANCEL my appt for an unfill...I tinkered under the hood and got the truck going again. Anyway my appt was at 9:15 with the nurse practitioner and I did NOT like her. She rushed me, did a barium xray and said my band (at 5.8 out of 10 cc's) "looks wide open" so I need to look at my eating technique. I take tiny bites, chew well, and have resorted to eating junk food. I tried to explain to her that not being able to keep healthy foods down and eating chips, ice cream, chocolate, etc (foods that would go down) was something I was blaming on willpower & stress until I realized I was maybe too tight. So, she agreed tot ake fluid out even though the xray swallow "looked fine" (well yes thin fluids go down fine...it's solids I have trouble with) but that I need to find a way to cope with the stress (working on it), be busier, and "just not eat the junk foods or take seconds." Ok if it wa sso easy to just not eat I would not be obese. Duh. And busier...holy heck...I agree I need to start an exercise program and plan to once my youngest starts preschool in September, but I have 3 little kids, work 24 hours a week (and often do not sleep around that work schedule), have a mini farm of animals to tend to, plus do some work on the side as I can. The past month it seems like every waking moment has gone into cleaning/organizing house. I cannot be busier. :-( Anyhow she did take out .8 cc and I CAN EAT!!! It feels so good to not be getting stuck and be able to eat protein again. So, now I can focus on my 3 meals a day and get back on track.

I've stopped losing and am even at about -28 now (was at -32). I've had so much stress lately between the dang pets, the kids being home for the summer, my IL's, my husband and his mental issues/job issues, and my own job issues. You all know we've lost 3 cats in the past few months...now our corgi puppy has 2 broken ribs from my hubby tripping over him, a tapeworm, and we added 4 ducks to the family. Oy. My job issues are settlign down but DH's job issues/mental health issues are worsening. I'm not tryign to find excuses, but I had thought maybe all this stress had caused me to be horrible when it coems to my eating. I've fallen into a pattern of eating really bad for me stuff: chocolate, Cookies, chips, etc. I stopped counting my Protein and know I am at a major low protein intake. Every day I tell myself "tomorrow I'll do better" and tomorrow comes and I don;t do better. So, I got online and discussed it with the support group manged by the clinic I had surgery at. Their nurse practioner is so awesome...she seems ot have nailed my problem. She thinks I'm too tight. Of course the stress and mental hunger is something I have to get control of, but when I really looked at my diet what she said rings so true. It's so difficult for me to eat the foods I should be eating...ie meats, even tender ones with chewing so well. I've been dreading meal times cause I know it'll be a struggle. I opt for soft carbs like mashed potatoes, stay away from the protein and veggies I should be eating. Even ground beef & turkey and Beans are hard to keep down. So, the next few days I'm going to try to at least omit the junk food and I go in Monday to see the nurse practitioner and have some Fluid removed.

My band is very hormonal. Since I have PCOS my hormones are all over the place. Sooooo, I never know what days I'll feel extra tight. On tight days though, I have a really hard time getting food down if I'm sitting upright. If I lay on my side or stand up, it's much easier. Is this weird, anyone else notice this??

109!!! CONGRATS! :-)

I'm seriously lacking in the exercise department.

In all honesty if your nurse practitioner told you you'd top out at losing 30 pounds with the band, she/he likely doesn't have a clue about the band. The band is considered to have been successful if a patient loses at least 30 pounds, but if you work with the band you can lose much much more -- but be aware the band is not a magic wand. The work ahead is intense. I was diagnosed with PCOS years ago...no idea if it's helping wet. I'm down 32 pounds (1/5th of my way to goal!!!). since i;m done having kids, my only way to judge if my PCOS is getting better will probably be based on cycle regularity & mood swings. But, losing weight SHOULD help with PCOS and so many other health issues. Deciding between the band and bypass is really personal, just be sure to do your research. :-) Best of luck!!!

Do you all have any summer activity goals (speaking of Tim's 5K goal)? These may seem kinda dumb, but here's mine: hang as much laundry out as I can....goot to ge tme off the couch and decrease our power bill. (hubby just made and installed a line for me) hiking with the kids when we go camping, vs sitting in my usualy camp chair eating. just spend time outside...gardening, etc. walk the dogs

Lauren, try some hot tea/coffee/water in the mornings to see if that helps loosen you Mel, congrats on the -15!! I agree, ANY weight loss is super! If I look at my WL since band I'm around -20. Since the first month isn't even supposed to count, and I can't recall much loss there, I think 15-20 is right on track

I've tried eating in the car 4 times now...and never will again. Each time I've slimed into either spare coffee cups or a McD's paper bag I had on hand (they are not at all slime proof BTW). Water though...I guzzle. Unless I have a full pouch. If I know I'm 2-4 hours after a meal I have no problems getting fluids down. I did have a stuck episode while driving once. I had taken my zoloft pill 5 minutes before leaving the house...and 5 minutes into my drive to work it hit IT WAS UGLY.

105.4 pounds???? Holy weight loss Batman! Way to go!!!!! That is seriously awesome. I'd love some pics!! Inspiration!!!

Hi everyone! I've been having a heck of a time. Mostly stress, I fear. I feel like I'm back on track and am really focusing on band rules: not drinking during/after a meal, only 3 meals a day, cutting way back on snacking that got out of hand. I'm back to 266 (I tend to jump up to 274 pretty easily) and am seeing the scale move down. I truly stay full for 4+ hours if I follow rules. I reminded myself of soemthign last night: this journey began for me the last couple days of 2010...and 6 months later (well 5 1/2) I'm still going, still losing. My record before the band is 1-2 months of "dieting" then gaining back everything plus a bunch. So 5 1/2 months, over 30 pounds in all...before the band I'd be lucky to make it to minus 20-23 pounds then crash and burn. So, I'm looking at this as a huge success so far. I want to start losing again though so am really working at it again. Our cat Bromley never came home, and his sister was so mournful that we brought home 2 new tiny kittens to keep her company. Pandie and Pandora. My 6 yo was having a tantrum, causing me to carry him down the hall, and I stepped on Pandie. 10 minutes later I watched him die. It absolutely crushed me (pardon the pun). I know it was an accident, but I've never ever hurt an animal like that before. I wrapped him in a white eyelet sheet I used to have on our youngest son's toddler bed and sat with him on the porch for awhile. Anyway, I'll always wonder if he wouldn't have been hurt so bad if I wans't so fat. I guess that's helped me get back on track band wise.

I think if the band slips it's an emergency and you'd have severe physical symptoms. Maybe google it? (or hopefully someone else has a better answer). The pouch can stretch...by overfilling it. I think they'd need to do fluoroscpy to check it? But again I'm not 100% on that.

I look at my band success one way: I've only been banded since March 15th of this year, but started working at pre-op loss late December. I lost some weight, as usual, and it started to come back. I got back on track with my pre-op diet, lost 12 pounds the week before surgery, and have continued to lose (slowly, but I know that's expected). The most I have ever lost dieting on my own (no band) was about 40 pounds, 20 years ago. It came back, plus brought many friends. My typical dieting attempt results in 20-23 pounds, lasts 1-2 months, then I fall off the wagon and gain it back, plus more friends. I'm counting my band weight loss from my high weight the end of December, since all attempts since then have been with the band as my long term goal. So, this current weight loss attempt has LASTED 5 1/2 months and helped me los eover 30 pounds so far. Do I wish I was losing faster? You bet. But any slowness, in all honesty, has been my lack of willpower. Knowing my weight loss stretch has already lasted almost six whole months, a RECORD for me, and that the weight loss is over 30 pounds -staying off- and still losing...man I'm thrilled. My band is preventing me from eating certain things. I'm at a point now where I'm borderline overfilled, but opting to leave it as is and just be careful of textures. I've been truly overfilled once, had to go in for a small unfill the next day, have had a pill get stuck once (I break them in half now), throw up/slime occasionally but again that is me chosing the wrong textures/not chewing well enough. No major complications. The staff at the clinic I go to, aside form the surgeons and surgical scrubs, have all been banded. Many 15+ years.

According to my surgeon, tha band is considered successful if one loses 30 or more pounds. It is a tool, though, and ultimately it fails if it's not being used properly. Can you get in to a band nutritionist to help you get back on track, or to figure out what the problem is? Hugs, and good luck!!!

I've been having a terrible time, stuck at 30-31 pounds since preop diet. But, I know what my issues are so am working hard at them. I've had a lot of mental hunger, stress hunger, snacking hunger that I've acted on. It's also very very hard for me to NOT drink between meals. If I drink anything after a meal, up to 3-4 hours after, I do not stay full. If I avoid liquids I do great and stay nice and full. Mentally I just have to really pay attention to what type of hunger I;m having. I constantly think about snacking but am really working on it daily (on not doing it). Avoid Snacks. Even 100-calorie snacks. Teh goal of the band is to eat 3 meals a day, focus on Protein first then produce. Avoid carbs. Get in at least 64 ounces of Water a day (I drink a 20 ounce glass of water before each of my 3 meals...right before) and allow myself one flavored 20 ounce glass of water a day (Mio or crystal light), more if I'm working overnight. I've started having a cup of coffee before Breakfast too, and if I want another an hour before lunch I'll have another coffee. Fat free milk is ok too, up to 16 ounces a day, but do not drink it during or after a meal (just like any fluid). Are your meals a consistency that will stay in the pouch? Or mushy? YOU CAN DO THIS!!! WE CAN DO THIS!!!

Also...something odd...I'm having trouble with soft meats. Like turkey sausage, ground up reformed pork (which was nasty anyway so no big loss lol)...I'm ok with ground turkey & chicken. I wonder if the other meats are "doughy?"

And to those who have lost 60, 70, 80 pounds....WAY TO GO!! I mean to all of us who have lost anything at all great job...but wow....awesome!

I am sostalled out it's pathetic. My problem right now seems to be alack of appetite and being too tight (that TOM), but I want to snack. On carbs. It's so hard. I need to kick myself in the butt. We leave for a 2 night cmaping trip tomorrow and I MUST behave.

Fly-call for a little fluid to be removed. I had this happen last fill and called about 24 hours later and was told to NEVER wait. They want you able to eat normal band diet... No kitty. We're so heartbroken. I bought a pair of shorts yesterday - jean shorts - size 24 and they're too big * HAPPY DANCE * I was a size 26/28.

I calle dmy doctors office to ask if I can buy more Bariatric Advantage from the (cheaper), and they said YES but do not want me to...not wanting me to have ANY liquid calories and to be getting my protein from solid foods.

I know I haven't lost a ton of weight yet, but I'm wondering if I carry myself any differently? Or present myself differently? even before losing any I've always tried to walk with my head up and smile, and for some reason I seem to have more people smiling back and acknowledging me? I;ve heard this can happen when peoplelose weight. Anyone else taking notice to any such thing? I know my face has thinned out. I've gone down about 2 sizes, but I know I'm still very obese. I did have a big NSV yesterday! I stopped at walmart after work and took notice of their cheapie rings...I would have looked for a size 10 before, for my left ring finger and my RIGHT is almost a size larger. I saw a really pretty blingy ring so just had to try it on my right finger (I never wear anything other than my wedding ring and have used these cheap rings at my heaviest as a wedding ring stand-in but am back to fitting my real ring). Anyway on my right hand I fit into a size 8. Fnny how little things like that can make our day huh? Yesterday was a bad day for me. I got into cookies and am afraid I ate about a weeks worth of calories. We BBQ'd for memorial day and I was so excited to eat chicken that was super moist...and it came back up. I think it's the first time eating in front of people other than my hubby where I had to make a run for the bathroom. Since this last fill/unfill I'm really having to chew and watch what textures i eat. I might actually need another .1-.2 cc removed but I want to try to work with it first. So, today is a new day and I'm moving on from the cookie binge. It's a sad day here, too, so I need to be really careful of stress eating. The kids left the front door open too long yesterday and one of our cats took off. Bromley is just a year old, and we're really attached to him. He has a total of 29 toenails, 7 feet, and is the neatest cat with such a great personaily. We adopted him in the short time we lived in Virginia and he drove back hoem across the country with us. We just lost another cat a few weeks back (in the country with coyotes). I know there's a chance Bromley will come home, but it's been almost 24 hours and I'm afraid he's become a snack. I'm actually not a cat person, but Bromley owns a little chunk of my heart and I'm devastated. I feel partly responsible because I brought home a new puppy as a house dog, and Bromley hates him. I'm afraid that's why he's been gone so long...and every minute he's out the risk of coyotes is that much bigger. Sorry to ramble.