roziecakes

Hi there! I was just wondering how many other folks on here are into yoga. Despite being overweight for a long time in my life, I've been doing yoga for over 10 years. I taught modified yoga classes to other overweight folks for a while to show that yoga can be done by all body styles, even people with very limited mobility, as long as the pose is modified enough. Anyhoo, I was curious if there is anyone else around here? My goal is to eventually heal myself enough and become healthy enough to become a yoga teacher as a side career. It's probably my favorite form of exercise.

5 pounds is still pounds lost! Every pound is a victory I think. Keep at it!! I hope your surgery goes well!

I was walking the first day! However, at first it was more to stop the gas pain and prevent clots than exercising. In my case I had a regular walking routine before surgery of 2 miles a day, so about 4 days after I was back up to 2 miles again. The first couple of days were difficult and a little painful, but I did it anyway, I think it helped in the long run. I probably could have taken some pain meds before I walked to make it more comfortable for me, but I didn't. My best advice is to walk as much as is comfortable at this point. Don't over-do it, and don't do it to the point of pain like I did, I don't think that was such a great idea. One thing that really helps is don't try to go out for one big long walk all at once; what I did the first few days was I would get up every couple of hours and walk about the distance of around a city block; then I increased it over time. I'm two weeks out now, and I'm trying to increase my distance. I'm up to 3 miles now. My goal is to be able to participate in a 5K Run/Walk in September, which is something I've never done or thought I could do before, so I'm excited! Hope that helps you and best of luck!

I was banded June 8th, and I'm still in the 'mushies' phase. I really enjoy cottage cheese, and sometimes I blend it with a little salsa to make it interesting. I find that the amount of Protein in it is really satisfying. I know you're still on liquids though, I was allowed mushies after the first week... So that being said, I suggest sugar free pudding. I even blended a little Protein powder into my pudding to make it a little more nutritious. I also eat a lot of tomato soup with some protein powder (tasteless) blended in. Puree'd oatmeal and bananas for Breakfast. I find that putting my Protein shakes in the blender and adding fruits and veggies to them makes them more nutritious and more interesting. Hope that helps!

Congratulations!!!

I agree, I personally could have no idea what anyone is dealing with after having their first fill, or anything like that. Also, I think that a forum like this is the perfect place for griping because you can talk to other people going through the same thing, which is really a wonderful asset! I feel like I'm learning so much from this forum, and it helps me cope with each stage that I go through better.

Hi there I've lost 50 pounds total since starting my pre-op diet; so 25 pounds of that was the pre-op diet, and 25 pounds is since the surgery. I've lost weight kind of scary fast since the surgery. I really like to exercise, and I exercise A LOT. I would love to run a marathon someday. I find that losing weight helps me exercise more, and exercising more helps me lose more weight, so it's just kind of snowballing; in a good way. I walked 7 miles today; normally I walk 2 miles a day, and I do yoga for 1 hour four days a week. Once I heal a little more I'd like to take zumba and start jogging; and I also take Belly Dance classes (haven't started back up yet since getting the surgery, I'm waiting a couple of weeks) Anyhoo, I didn't have a hernia repair, so I don't know how that will affect your healing time; but I didn't have a lot of pain. Where I had the most pain was in my shoulders and neck from gas, but walking a lot helped more than anything! I just mostly felt tight and bloated. It did hurt when I tried to lay down the first couple of days, so I slept in the recliner (thanks to the suggestion from someone on the board here) and put a heating pad behind my shoulders and neck. That was great! At this point, I haven't really had any pain for almost a week now. The most pain I have is if I do too much bending, my port feels a little sore. My greatest advice thus far, and I don't know that much yet since I'm only 2 weeks post-op, but anyhoo, is to do what your doctor says. My doctor has a fairly conservative plan in regards to diet, and he advances his patients fairly slowly. I actually think it's helped me a lot, since I haven't had any sliming or nausea at all. Hope that helps, sorry for those who've read my info before and I'm repeating myself. Just remember though, that we're all different, and we all have different metabolisms and rates at which we lose or don't lose. You may lose a lot more than me, and you may lose less. Just remember to focus on healing first and don't compare yourself to others after your surgery. Some people will lose a ton of weight and never have a fill or only have one, and some people will need a lot of fills; some people lose quickly, some lose slowly. The best thing you can do is listen to your body and what you need! Good luck!

My doctor also says that when I get a fill to do clear liquids for a day after, and then full liquids for a couple of days before going back to regular food. Of course I haven't experienced a fill yet, but I remember them telling me that in the office.

Oh my gosh, I want one! That is so cool!

My best friend Karen is someone I've always regarded as just one of the most amazing looking people that I know. She literally looks like Lucy Lawless (Xena) and is the same height as me, but is slim and healthy, and graceful, and a health nut. I've always admired her. We are in a pirate singing group together. This last weekend at a performance, I had noticed that my costumes were all huge big gigantic and looked SILLY. I had one that didn't look so bad, and I was wearing it, but I had to wear two belts to get it to stay on right. She said to me in regards to the costume she was wearing. "Well, I'm getting tired of this bodice, and I think it would fit you. Do you want it?" You cannot believe how thrilled I was that she said that. I never thought I would live to see the day. I can't wait to try it on!!

I had to be at the hospital at 7AM for an 8:30 AM surgery. I was the first one on the list, so I got in pretty quickly

You can do yoga even when you're a big person! If you learn how to modify the moves in a way that suits your body you can do some of it at any size!

I personally do not, obviously, since I was banded only 2 weeks go; but a good friend of mine got pregnant with her third child right after she got banded, and as far as I know everything went well for her. She was still able to maintain weight loss after her son was born too.

I'm 2 weeks post op, and I am still a little itchy there too... my steri strips all fell off within a few days of getting them. I had staples first though; don't worry too much!

Sugar free popsicles were my best friend after surgery. A sno-cone is similar as long as you let it melt... enjoy!

I just had a really funny image of someone happily munching the sprouts off of a chia pet. HA HA.

Thank you Jennifer! I will certainly take your advice to heart. I appreciate it. It's true, I've always had some amount of fear about vomiting since childhood. Thankfully, I've only vomited maybe four or five times in my entire lifetime, so I feel quite lucky. It's gone from being terrified of it, to just some small amount of paranoia. What I definitely need to do is shift my thinking from being scared of sliming or puking to preventing sliming or puking because I care about myself and my new anatomy. Thanks again

It is true that people will follow by your example. My partner Greg, while not heavy enough to be a bandster, does have about 40-ish pounds to lose; and he has seen me getting healthy and being extremely happy, and I've inspired him to start walking with me in the mornings. He's walked a total of four miles this week! I'm so proud of him! I agree with what others have said that your sister will probably be inspired by you. Some people have a really hard time with change, and it's true when they say that someone has to really be READY. It sounds like you're ready! Don't let your sister's hesitation stop you, focus on your health and happiness. You have chosen life and health! Good for you! Good luck with your surgery.

I noticed you posting about them on another thread. I have definitely been curious about them, and every time I pass them in the store I think about getting some. I think I'm going to try them, since I've heard such good things, and now I've heard a good review from a bandster, so I think I'm on it once I'm back on regular food again.

WOW! You are truly an inspiration! What a great job you have done, and you look so GREAT!

Just wanted to say good luck to all of the June bandsters who are getting surgery this week (and congrats to those who have gotten since I was on this thread last!) I'm so excited for you all!!

It's so awful how news spreads like that!! Sometimes I wonder if people have anything better to do! I think you have a really positive attitude about it, and yes, it will work for you! It's just too bad that people have to be nosy sometimes... best of luck!

Thank you so much! I'm glad that this is a positive experience for you!

Honestly, there are a TON of people I didn't tell. I only have told my nearest and dearest about the surgery. Obviously, people know that I'm losing weight; but the methods that I use to do so are my personal business. Really, it's no different than any diet / exercise program, except that I have a little tool to help me eat less. I'm sorry that people are asking you so many questions and pestering you. I think you have every right to tell them that it's your personal business and you don't feel like talking about it. I don't think it's being secretive at all; I think it's a matter of personal boundaries and comfort level.

I know that I'm definitely a 'scale stalker,' but I don't let any minor changes bother me.