pink dahlia

Bulwookie, congrats on your NSV !! Way to go ! It's the little things that happen that really make you think " wow ! This is really working !!" Great job !!! Lisa, you get by on 3 oz or whatever the amount is because thats all your stomach can hold ! I bet if I asked you how many ounces your dinner was tonight, I bet you could'nt give me the correct amount, but you ate until you were full, right ? Lap band works the same way. I was banded 2 yrs ago, the rules were so easy to follow, and im very happy with my weight loss! Id do it again in a heartbeat ! Best decision ever ! I occasionly think of 2-3 foods that Id like to have, but I dont miss them when I think of my healthy , happy, strong body ! Good luck ! Go for it !

Thank you for starting this forum ! We could 'nt of of been so successful without it, and you ! Thanks !

Slow progress is better than no progress. Congrats !! Your body will lose more when its ready too. Stress makes it harder to lose weight so quit stressing ! And throw away the scale ! Its doing NOTHING for you !

Loosingsoon, im sorry things are'nt going so well at home. I know this must be a rough time for you. Hope you can figure out how to live seperatly, "together ". As far as the WLS itself, I have no idea why the surgery itself would make depression any worse. Hopefully the healthier diet and exercise will certainly improve your mood , and the weight loss improve your self esteem and help you focus on YOU, and your healthier body, and your wants and needs . YOU are important too !!! You can do this ! Remember, slow progress is better than no progress !!! Sending you hugs !!

Thank you Ginger snaps , I explain depression like this . Imagine you're sick as a dog with the flu. Your best friend calls up and says "I got a promotion, let go out and celebrate !" Your response is "im too sick , maybe later !" The 2nd week you're not sick anymore, but not well either. Tired, no energy, so so appetite, ticked off at the world, can't concentrate or focus. The 3rd week you're all better, off to the celebration dinner !! Well, depression is like permantly being stuck in the 2nd week. 24/7, do not pass go, do not collect $200.00. Ever. Welcome to the world of depression, which is why meds/ Dr.s may be the best choice for some, to get you healthy again. Its is NOT an easy journey, but I wish everyone well

My Dr said protein 1st, fruits and veggies 2nd, carbs last. I rarely have room for carbs, and if I do its only about 3 bites. I can do wheat thins daily, but only 1/4 of a potato or brown rice once a week, bread or pasta 1x a month. I started cutting back on anything white well before WLS, so I was used to whole grain or whole wheat by the time I got banded. I dont miss carbs at all ! Good luck !!

Take in to the hospital, a BIG bottle of cool water, a chapstick and lifesavers, for the horrible after surgery cottonmouth. I slept on our comfy couch for 1 week, no recliner needed. I did need help getting off the couch for the 1st 3 days, then was mostly fine by myself. Used the mild pain meds and heating pad for 1st 2 days, then i did'nt need them anymore. I went back to work 1 week after surgery. Im glad I did the laundry and grocery shopping ( and Christmas shopping !) before surgery.., My hubby was and is a huge help, the only thing I would do different is prepare some casseroles/pre cooked dinners for my husband so he would'nt have to take care of me and cook too. Good luck on your surgery, best decision I ever made !!

Bulawookie, I know we have both dealt with depression, and while I support you, I have to respectfuly disagree with your statement " depression is anger turned inward. " Depression has nothing to do about anger, it has to do with a body that became sick and couldnt get well by itself. Thats why sometimes you can't "snap out of it ! " You need medical help , meds or a therapist, etc. Or, in my case , something a little different, but boy did it work !!! And yes, exercise and a healthy diet can help some, but it does' nt cure everthing, and its hard because when you're depressed all you want is comfort food , mostly carbs because they have the most seratonin in them . ( seratonin = happy ) Depressed people are lacking in seratonin, so they crave carbs = weight gain = frustation = vicious cycle.

I was banded 2.5 years ago , at age 53. Im very happy with my 65 lbs weight loss ! Fifties = fabulous !!!! Im happier, healthier and in better shape now than in my overweight, unhealthy, unhappy in my body 40's. !! Thank you lapband !!!

Hi there, hope you're doing well. I don't know what to tell you about your long time of depression. Mine came on in my mid 30's after a a very sad , difficult personal issue. Im usually a very upbeat, outgoing happy person, but depression kicked. my. rear ! Its horrible to be sad, depressed and angry 24/7, add the slowing down metabolism and weight gain, and sleep problems! Well as you know, its NOT pretty... A friend reccommended a product called Plus, from Mannatech. (google Mannatech for more info) I started pounding down Plus 4 pills , 3x a day. 12 days later it was like someone lifted a layer of sadness off of me ! I got better and better, stayed on it = depression gone. Both my husband and I take several Mannatech products daily, what a difference ! ( He' s diabetic, no weight probs). (I am NOT a Dr. so discuss with your Dr before taking taking anything ) Hope this helps, I wish you well ! Keep us posted !

Hey there, glad to hear you're doing better. I never had the horrible pains that you have, my 1st 2 days I was a little sore and tired, thats all . The 3rd day, with a hot shower and hot tea I felt much, much better ! From there on out it just got better and better. Hope all goes well for you ! Good luck !

I was open about it but did'nt shout it from the rooftops. I got nothing but positive comments and normal , healthy questions about it. Zoepoodle, Im a very private person too, so the fact that I share info here with complete strangers is surprising for me too !! But I have an odd schedule ( retail), so I find that I lean towards things that are safe, solid, routine and reliable. This forum is all that ! Just sayin' !

My Dr. told me the fluid settles into to the nooks and crannies after awhile, which is why your fine one day and then suddenly , for no reason, you're starving.

Good for you ! Congrats on all your hard work ! I bet the Dr. was surprised at your weight loss , hmmmmmm? Yes ? Way to go ! You're amazing !!!

P.S. I really did'nt go through much Bandster Hell. I noticed once I was off mushies and on regular food that my appetite was much smaller than before the band. Definetly not in the green zone, but definetly a smaller appetite. So, I just followed my Dr.s "marching orders ", protein first, fruits and veggies 2nd, carbs last. Exercise and water. I lost 5 lbs 2 weeks pre surgery , and 15 lbs in the next 10 weeks. I was VERY happy because I could see the band working, and had to go down a size already ! Woohoo !

1033 + 65 ( my loss) = 1098

1- I have 4-5 small scars on my torso, they're barely noticable. I dont show off my tummy, so who is going to see them ? I quit the stronger pain meds after the 2nd day, just did'nt need them anymore. Walking, a mild pain reliever, and a heating pad , plus water and hot tea was all I needed. 2- I wish I had had a lap band sooner !!! I wasted years being overweight, unhealthy, unhappy, and unable to do some things I wanted to. Not anymore !!!! 3- I understand if you work at "Gossip Central", soooooo, dont tell them if possible, but if you have to, hold your head high ! You have nothing to be ashamed of ! You are taking proactive steps to get your body healthy, its no different than having a root canal or sinus surgery to get rid of a tooth or sinus problem. Good luck to you !!!

"Failing ?" Really ? You are not failing at anything except letting you WLS do its work. Your body is adjusting, and making sure its not being starved by you, which is why its holding onto the fat, in case of starvation.. Once your body figures out that its consistanly being fed good food and water, it will let go of the fat. Nobody is failing because they dont lose weight EVERY week, there is no rule that says you will or wont. Sometimes just staying OFF the scale and staying ON the healthy food program is your best bet. Good luck , and be kind to yourself !

You are a great inspiration to others ! Way to go ! Keep up the good work !

Bruce, I would call your surgeon about the extreme pains ASAP. It might be gas from the anesthia, but check anyway . Try your pain meds, a heating pad , liquids and walking. Id skip the jumping jacks. Let us know how it goes and welcome to the other side ! Keep us updated, somebody is always willing to help . Good luck !!!

Im purely guessing, but if this is happening only since you went on a liquid diet, maybe its stress related ? Worried about the surgery , etc ? Id mention it to the nurse when he/ she takes your vitals this AM, you're probably not the first person to tell him/her this info. Good luck today , let us know how it goes !!!!!!

Best of luck to you ! If you dont mind me asking , where in Wash. are you having surgery ? Dr ? Hope all goes well !

Well of course she didnt reconize you ! It happens when you go from amazing to fabulous so quickly ! Feels good does' nt it ! ???? Congrats on your big NSV ! Keep up the good work !!!!

Congrats ! Great job! Keep it up ! I don't live and breathe by the scale, by jeeeeeez ! That sure felt good seeing the scale at 199 finally ! Keep it going, you can do it !

I only used the scale and bmi charts as a guideline, NOT set in stone. I knew if I followed my Dr.s rules and listened to my body, it would tell me what I needed to do to lose weight and become healthier. Well, I did listen and im far happier and healthier at 160 lbs than I was at 225 !! Even if I never lost another lb I'll have no regrets. I swim 3x a week, run 1-2 x a week, wear a size 10, got rid of the sleep apnea and digestive problems too. Ive been banded 2.5 years , was 53 years old when banded, and could'nt be happier !Stop looking at charts for your success and go by whats the healthiest for YOUR body. Charts and scales come and go, but a body ? A life ? Honey, you only got ONE of those. Treat it nicely, the weight loss will follow.