Jim1967

Someone recently asked me for advice or a tip about finding the green zone and struggling with slow weight loss and here is my answer to her.

Thank you and I am very sorry for your loss. It is unfortunate your dad did not have access to the options we have available today but you can use him as your inspiration for life change to ensure you do not go down that same path. I would bet money your dad is looking down on you and is cheering you on tell you to keep going and make the most of your time. 16lbs is exceptional and you are on your way!! Congratulations!

Hi Maria, Thank you for the kind words. My best advice would be to continue working with the your bariatric team. Even if you get embarrassed about lack of weight loss or whatever it might be you need to keep communicating with them and tell them exactly what is going on. Those follow up appointments are extremely important in keeping the process moving forward. They're not there to judge but rather to help but they cannot help without you doing your part and being honest and concise. I have read a lot of posts on this forum about people skipping follow up appointments because they are embarrassed because they've lost no weight. THAT is so counter-productive and the last thing anyone should ever do. They're only digging a bigger hole for themselves. Good Luck, Jim

Thank you Cheryl and it is good to see you.

Everyone has to make up his or her own mind on this but I will say when I get asked about how I lost weight I am always quick to mention WLS. WLS no doubt saved my life and if hearing me talking about it inspires someone else to make that first step then all the better. I give WLS more credit then I give myself because of my past attempts/failures. At the same time... Do I think it is my responsibility to stand on a soapbox and sell it or preach it? Hell NO....I feel awkward enough posting pictures and flashing tickers under my name. I think I see where you are coming from now Kindle and I respect that you admit your initial post was a little "off the cuff". I agree that intentionally misleading people on how one has lost weight is just sad. It is a personal decision one must make to disclose but in my opinion if one can't be truthful then why answer at all. End of the day you're lying to yourself anyway. When I was attending mandatory preop support classes there were people in there making statements that they want the surgery, lose the weight and then move on and forget they had WLS at all. These are the ones today that make me think back and wonder if they were successful or not. Deception is not always about fooling or lying to others. Sometimes it is about coming to terms with your own demons and accepting you needed help.

It has been said many times but... Obesity is the last acceptable form of prejudice.

Ginger, If I could like this post more than once then I certainly would. You have hit the nail on the head exactly. I will talk to anyone about my WLS experiences and more importantly those who are genuinely interested and those who need to know they're not alone and they don't have to live life with limits because of weight issues. When I was at my lowest point I had moments of not caring much about life but rather going through the paces of making it through another day. Scary times indeed....

I told everyone from the beginning. Well actually I told my Mom and she told the rest of the family but everyone else heard it from me. Even my Barber knew the week before my surgery day and every six to eight weeks I would be asked about my weight loss progress. I had a lot of weight to lose and my biggest fear was failing. I had reservations about telling people because I was afraid of being the fat guy who couldn't even lose weight with WLS. I will admit throughout my journey (which has no end) there have been many times that I wish I hadn't told people. Same old questions over and over and over gets very redundant. You know which ones I am talking about "Oh how much weight did you lose this week" or "how much weight have you lost" or "how much do you weigh now". I am very open book but I tire easily from being asked those type of questions. Ask me about the procedure. Ask me about the lifestyle change. Ask me about the process and how long it took and what my challenges were/are. Those questions come up every once in a while but not very often unless I was in an actual support meeting environment. Nope it's all about weight.....physical outcome....again tiresome. Still flattering and I would be lying if I said otherwise but still quite tiresome. I come on to this board with hopes of helping others the same way the people before me had helped me. I have to admit I am not as active as I once was because I get even more tired of the band versus sleeve versus bypass arguments.

Hang in there Lola and keep up with the follow up appointments. They're a very important part of the process. Even if you have gaps of no weight loss and perhaps a feeling of embarrassment because of it you still need to push through it and go to those appointments. Follow ups and needed fills are very important and even the slightest fill can make all the difference in the world. Good luck!!

If it were me I would scoop that day up in heartbeat. I wanted the surgery and the new life start. Fact that it is so close to a holiday would tell me the place would be empty of patients as well. You would get even more attentive care. I guess it depends on how bad you want to start that next Chapter.....

Good Point!! If she has a good surgeon + team then this shouldn't be a problem. My Office has a Surgeon on call at all 24x7 plus holidays on a rotating basis. It is definitely something I would check in to.

Thank you. Some days it still doesn't feel real and I also have days where I look in the mirror and it doesn't look real to me either. I guess there are worse problems I could have.

Hi James and welcome to Bariatric Pal. Thank you and I wish you well with your journey.

IMO that seems like a lot of calories for very little Protein. I'll stick with Body Fortress.

Wow that was a quick in and out. 3 hours? Jeez I stayed over night. Glad you're doing well. Welcome to the band life.

As many posts I read that push me away because of the negativity I come upon those few, those ones who make me constantly want to come back and stick around and help others out while helping myself. This is one of those posts. I would be downright lying if I said I could have done this without the support of many on this site. Some of you on this very thread in fact. I feel I owe it to those to pay it forward. We cannot ever let the negativity push us away. We need each other and we need this site. We are strong because we all have something in common that a lot of people do not simply understand. I am not sure about you all but I have entered what I consider most frightening phase of my marathon....Maintenance. This phase worries me more then anything because I have been here before with those fad diets. I am hoping it will be different this time but still that worry lingers.

Do people actually post in this group? LOL

Between my half a cup of OJ for meds and a Protein shake I am usually full until around 1-1:30. Too tight for anything else that early in the morning.

That's awesome. Out of years of habit I still go into the handicap one but it's nice to not have to. Especially when it is occupied.

That first step is the most important one....congratulations and cheers to new beginnings.

When is the last time you've had a physical? Lab work? Something to think about. I know myself since losing a lot of a weight I have slacked on my lab work. Been about 8 months now since my last labs. I am cold and tired a lot lately myself so I wonder if I may be anemic. Time for labs

Sounds normal to me and you're also describing exactly where my port is positioned and if memory serves that was tender for a couple of weeks. Probably didn't help that my cat jumped on me in my sleep 2nd night banded. Any doubts check in with your Surgeon. That's why they're there. Good Luck!

2+ years out and lettuce is still a problem for me. I have very little of it and it has to be shredded very fine.

Erin, Are you skipping meals? I hope not. I used to skip lunch at work because I was too lazy to prepare something and by the time dinner came I would over eat and end up sick and a lot of times stuck. My weight loss was slowing as well because my body was going into survival mode from lack of food. I now bring a Protein shake for lunch every day and it really helps get some form of nutrition and I am no longer over doing it at dinner. Just a thought..

Alex is the lead singer in our Bariatric Band....yes the pun was intended LOL Congrats my friend!!