Dulci

Merry Christmas everyone!

It is natural to be nervous. I was banded on 10/27/11. I can honestly say that I don't have a single regret. I lost fairly quickly once I began the preop diet, stalled a bit when I started back on solid food, and now I am losing at a healthy 1 to 2 lbs a week.

I have always been a non-athletic person. Even as a child, I would prefer to read a book over doing something active. I have found that listening to a book on my ipod motivates me to get on my stationary bike. The only time I listen to books is when I am exercising and I have found that I lose track of the time on the bike because I am enjoying my book. I have also continued exercising a bit longer than I planned because I wanted to hear the next part of my book.

I used 100% Whey Protein by Muscle Milk from Costco in Vanilla. I added cocoa to it when I made my shakes. It cost $49, but it got me through the preop diet, the post op period and I am still using it.

I hit a stall as I started on solid food. Keep doing what you are supposed to do and you will power through your stall. My doctor also discourages exercising until 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. I was told I can do light cardio, i.e. walking only.

Yesterday, I posted a blog about the similarities between quitting smoking and overcoming food addiction. I haven't been banded for long, but I have learned that my fears weren't true. I can go out to a restaurant and enjoy myself with friends. (I ordered an appetizer, ate slowly, chewed well, chatted with my friends and finished my food at approximately the same time as my companions.) I had a great Thanksgiving meal - small and satisfying portions and half of a slice of cheesecake. (I wasn't overstuffed and miserable afterwards.) I went to an amusement park without snacking on junk all day and still had a great time. I had kids meals and saved lots of $$$$$ at Disney.

I quit smoking over 12 years ago. I didn't want to quit smoking; I quit because my husband had serious heart problems. If he didn't quit, his doctor said he would live 10 more years. My husband stated point blank that he would not be able to successfully quit if I was smoking. I recall feeling panicky at having to quit smoking. In my nicotine addicted mind, cigarettes were paired with so many activities and I couldn't imagine enjoying any of them without a cigarette. Before we quit, I wanted to go on vacation because I couldn't imagine relaxing at the beach without smoking. I wanted to go our favorite steak restaurant so I could have a post-dinner cigarette with a glass of port in the lounge. I wanted to go to Atlantic City and play the slot machines. It took me many years to realized that my pairing of pleasurable activities with cigarettes was a component of my nicotine addiction. Prior to being banded, I started having those same panicked pairing of activities. Could I enjoy a meal at a restaurant without overeating? Would I enjoy holidays without overeating? Could I go to a theme park and not gorge on junk food? I am still learning to live with my band. But I am confident that I am unpairing pleasure from food addiction. Thanksgiving was a wonderful day and meal. I savored the few bites of cheesecake (low fat/no sugar) that I tasted. I enjoyed our office holiday lunch and ordered a drink and an appetizer. Because I ate slowly and chatted while I was eating, I finished my meal around the same time as the people that had three courses. I went to Disney and ordered kids meals; I was satisfied with the portion sizes and saved a lot of $$$. I know that overcoming a food addiction is a process. However recognizing that I have one is a good beginning.

I'm Dulcislim on My Fitness Pal. Friend me, if you like.

Years ago, I tried hypnotherapy to quit smoking. They added weight loss hypnosis to the seminar as a free bonus. On the way home from the seminar, I stopped at 7-11 to buy cigarettes and nachos.

My doctor has me taking a list of vitamins, all chewable or liquid. Last night, I added the calories to my food diary and I was shocked to discover that my daily supplements add up to 140 calories!

I have been adding benefiber to my morning coffee and wheat germ to my yogurt.

Your stomach is still healing from the trauma of the surgery. Even though you don't have much restriction at this point, you still need to be careful with your new pouch. Think of it as a baby's stomach and treat it gently. I know how you are feeling. I was banded on 10/28/11. My first fill isn't scheduled until December 27! This is what they call bandster hell. Eat your soft Proteins, eat slowly, chew well and you will be surprised at how little it takes to satisfy your appetite.

I take a Multivitamin, B-complex, Omega 3, D-3, calcium, Iron, C and Biotin. The D-3 was added because my levels were low pre-op. Eventually, I may be able to stop that one. The biotin is to prevent hairloss/breakage. My hair is fine, thin and tended to break before surgery. If I stop the biotin, I'm afraid I will need a wig.

My doc said that an occasional drink is ok, after the first three months. In my nutrition seminar, the dietician cautioned that a significant number of bariatric patients experience a "transfer addiction" and replace a food addiction with alcohol.

Suggest that the surgical coordinator request a copy of your PCP's treatment notes for the past three years. Your PCP's notes should document your weight and blood pressure at each visit as well as noting any recommendations by your PCP that you lose weight. Perhaps that may be enough to document medical necessity for insurance approval purposes.

My port incision hurt more than the others and it hurt for longer than the other ones.

I'm a band newbie from Florida as well. I'm in SoFla. I was banded on 10/28/11 and I get my first fill on 12/27/11.

Congrats!

Your preop diet is the same as mine was. It gets easier by day 3. Make Jello and eat the entire bowl in one sitting if you have to. I did add about a tablespoon of low fat Peanut Butter to my "dinner" Protein drink a few times. Licking the spoon was amazing! Drink constantly. The liquid helps with the hunger. You CAN do this!

After the first three days, the liquid diet gets easier. Don't beat yourself up, just start fresh tomorrow. Make sugar free Jello in several flavors. One night, I ate two full boxes of jello. Sugar free popsicles were helpful too. Drink a lot of liquids - hot tea and broth added variety.

I had a short list of foods that I wanted to have before I began my preop diet. I had them all, but none of them quite "right". The pizza was underbaked. The bagel was not prepared like I wanted it. The food at the buffet was overcooked. Once I started the preop diet, I stuck to it.

My post op diet was day one - clear liquids; day 2 through 14 - full liquids, including 3 Protein shakes per day to consume between 60 and 90 grams protein; day 15 through two month follow up - Proteins beginning with mushies and adding soft through solid proteins as tolerated (refried bean, chilli, Soups, flaky fish, up to solid chicken). The next stage adds fruits and veggies in the same progression, mushy (cooked or nearly overcooked) through crunchy, as tolerated. I cannot add starches back until I have lost 75% of my excess weight. Beef and pork are not recommended until at least 6 months post op.

I also have both endo and pcos. My gyn said it is unusual for someone to have both. PCOS makes it very difficult to lose weight and to maintain the loss. I have only been banded a month, so I can't comment as to the long term success of the band for me. So far, I am down 20 lbs and I am waiting for my first fill. This has been the easiest and most natural weight loss that I have experienced. I am confident that the band will be the tool that will finally help me to lose the weight and maintain the loss. Regarding the pre-insurance approval, preop weigh-ins, instead of doing all the tricks I used to do to reduce residual weight at the doctors (emptying pockets, wearing light weight cotton clothing, scheduling appointments in the morning and not eating or drinking, and wearing light weight foam shoes), I did the opposite. I wore jeans to every preop appointment. I kept my keys and change in my pocket. Since it is winter, you could wear hiking boots to your appointments. Good luck with your band journey.

For my first soft food dinner, I had refried bean and ground turkey with taco seasoning. I added salsa to both to add some moisture.

Yay!!! Congratulations! I knew it would come through for you.