pink dahlia

I dont have your difficult schedule, so I dont know if these ideas would work, but......... could you cook extra casseroles on weekends and make extra salads, and have hubby just heat a dinner up 2 times a week, then you could exercise while he "cooked dinner". ? That and exercising on weekends ( by yourself or at the park with the little one ) would give you exercise 4 days a week ! Try googling"freezer cooking" or "hobo meals" and crockpot cooking. Also maybe have your nephew do some gentle stretching/ yoga with you at night ? This might make both of you relax for better sleep and less stress. Good luck !

If this is any help, I honestly had more issues with root canal surgery than I did with the lap band surgery. Both times you're out, both times you have a recovery period, but honestly, the surgery and recovery from lap band was a breeze . Up and walking gently the evening after surgery, and just took it easy for 7 days , then went back to work, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnddddddddd.................. wait for it............. The weight started falling off ! Woohoo! 1-1.5 lbs a week! Down 62 lbs, 18 to go, and soooooooo worth it !!!!!!!! You can do this, !!! Good luck !!

You look great !! Keep up the good work !

Unfortuanetly, I can eat almost anything, healthy or not. The only things that are defite no nos are raw broccoli, and certain meats due to the texture, (like if it is too stringy) Chicken breast and porks chops are too thick, so I substitute chicken thighs and pork loin. I am careful with breads, but most do fine if i eat them very slow.

YOU. ARE. AWESOME !!!!

I am in no way a 5 yr veteran , lap band wise, but the q. Comment about hamburger gristle , etc. My only advice is to not be shy about trying new foods , just a bite or 2. I can eat most meats with no problem, but I tried moose hamburger this year for the 1st time with no probs. I already eat elk burger as my hubby hunts. Stop by a butcher shop and see what they'll charge you for a small amount. These meats are high in protein and better for you. Good luck ,!!

I was just barely a 40 bmi, but I had sleep apnea, high bp, and 1 other co morbibity, I just dont remember which one, and I was approved on the 1st try ! If you have to put a couple of small weights in your pockets and have your dr weigh you before he sends off your paperwork again. I hate to lie or cheat but sometimes you have to sway the info your way so you can get healthy !! I am SO glad I got banded, it brought me back to the healthy happy " me"!! Good luck !!

Congrats ! Your story is very much like mine. My 2 yr anniversary was Dec 13, 2014 , and I started at 225 lbs. I lost 55 lbs the 1st year and then I slowed down and lost another 10 to put me at 160. My goal is 140, but if i dont get there I will still be VERY happy. My life has changed for the better in SO many ways. Im happier, healthier, and in better shape by far. I swim, run ( me? A runner! Unbelievable !) My sleep apnea is gone, I fit into a size 10 pant, I have alot more energy, I like what I see in the mirror and I feel good from the inside out. No food in the world can give me that feeling, and yes, I still eat a sweet or 2 every day. My diet is not perfect, neither is my life, but oh, it is SO much better than it was before. To anyone who is unsure about getting banded, go for it ! I dont regret a thing!

Did you ever consider becoming a comedeian ?? You're hilarious !! I was cracking up the whole time I was reading your story, twice !! Im still laughing ! Why on earth you would need extra time off because you're hungry is beyond me ! Im on my feet all day and only took a week off and did fine . Good luck to you, thanks for the laughs !

I think people speak before they think when they quickly say " oh , you dont need to lose weight!" They only think that you will be thinner, but they dont think of all the problems that go with being overweight, because they cant SEE problems like sleep apnea, heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, etc. They dont SEE the problems that we have to deal with 24/7. If YOU feel that WLS is best for you, and your Dr. agrees, Go For It ! I dont regret it for a second, not only am I 63lbs lighter, but the previously mentioned problems are gone, forever !! Good luck to you !!

Hmmmmmmm. Good question. Im not religeous in the typical sense, I dont go to church or read the bible, but I have great faith in God and talk with him often. I couldnt get my body to respond to a popular weight loss program , so I got banded and have done well the last 2 years. I believe that God has great plans for me, I often ask him what he wants me to do, and I could'nt live a happy life while being overweight. I think I can do more for myself and the world if im healthy and strong, in mind, body and soul. I dont know if this is the answer you're looking for, but it is what it is. Best of luck to you !!

You look beyootyful ! Way to go ! If its any help I cant do chicken breast or pork chops ( too dry) but I do just fine with chicken thighs and pork loin. Biiiig difference in texture !! Keep up the good work, I figure my day is only 5% negitive by being banded, but 95% positive by the weight loss and feeling healthier, so i look at the bright side . Good luck !

I took 7 days off, I work retail an d it was the perfect amount of time off. T he first 2 days I was a bit worn out from surgery, anesthsia etc, but by the 3rd day I felt great and raring to go other than the soreness on the left side. By day 7 I went back to work and had no problems at all. Good luck to you !!

I dont come to this forum very often anymore, but im sending hugs your way, I cant even imagine what you' re going through. I agree with every bodies advice, but you also might try grief counseling to get you on a game plan to allow yourself to move forward. It sounds like you' re treading water right now with no sure direction of which way to go. Now that you know a little bit of what you want to do ( work with the band), you might want to have help in other areas too. Years ago a therapist was a godsend for me to help me deal with my own grief and loss. I hope you find some comfort here and know you have lots of support.

You look great, btw !! I look upon lap band kind of like getting braces or wearing glasses. They make your life better, and since you cant correct your teeth or eyes by yourself, why not get braces or glasses ? Some people even change from glasses to contact because they look better without glasses, and hey, nobody thinks thats bad !! Well, I couldnt correct my weight problem by myself, so I had a lap band to make my life better, and yes, I upgraded to a better , healthier body, a more attractive appearance, and more energy. Im really happy with my decision, and if someone else isnt then its " Not my circus, not my monkees !" - in other words, not my problem !! Good luck to you !!

As the late, great Steve Prefontaine (was a track and field star training for the Olympics when he died in a car accident, 1970's) said .......... " Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great." In other words, there might be something even better for you than what you had in mind . Maybe someone upstairs is looking out for you in ways you had'nt thought of. Works for me ! Good luck !

Yes, yes, and "Oh, hell yes !!! " I never had a weight problem until I hit 30, and im 55 now , so the last 2 years have been so much better after being banded Dec, 2011. Down from 225 to a healthy 160, hopefully someday 140. Before, sleep apnea, no energy, old lady size 18 clothes, could barely roll over in bed or get off the couch without feeling like I was 9 months pregnant, and didnt like how I felt or what I saw in the mirror. I was literally a slim girl trapped in a big body ! So not "ME ", now, ............. no more sleep apnea, more energy, cute size 10 clothes, I swim and run, I get almost daily compliments or looks , I like what I see in the mirror, and more importantly, I FEEL good from the inside out ! Ummmm , my answer would be "! YES !

Well good for you for reconizing the problem and getting back on track ! Way to go !! Take it 1 day , one meal at a time, not the whole picture , ok ? As far as Christmas and moms cooking, just remind yourself that you will always have food in your world, there will always be chocolate in your life , and you are not going to be hungry if you eat your protien first, fruits and veggies 2nd, etc. I had my lap band 2 weeks before Christmas 2011, and just tried to focus on the family and fun, not the food ! Good luck !!

I want to continue to get stronger and healthier, as I still have 20 lbs to go, and I want to try cross country skiing or snow shoeing this Jan, and maybe get back to horseback riding too. So exercising, eating right ( most of the time ) getting the scale to go below 160 and keep moving down is my motivation right now. I keep bouncing btwn 160 and 158 !! But I' ll get to 140 some day !

Wow ! You guys rock with the "standing up for my self attitude !!" Great job ! I have never received a single negitive comment in the 2 yrs that ive been banded ( Dec 13th, 2011 ! ) , just great positive remarks and compliments . I put WLS in the same catagory as I would if ihad to get braces, if it was needed for my health and future to get braces , no one would think twice or say anything negative . Well you cant fix bad teeth by yourself and some times you cant fix a weight prob by itself either. I truly feel blessed that lap band was available to me as it literally gave me my life back, but im the one that exercises 3 -4 x a week, eats healthy 95 % of the time, and follows my drs orders. So its definetly not " the easy way out!" Down 65 lbs , 20 more to go ! Woohoo !!

You're Awesome !! Keep it up !!

Congrats !!! I could see why that funny comment would be a great ego booster !! You must look great for him to say that, so good for you !!!! And I always think, hey, im married, not dead !! If a man wants to give me a nice compliment, I won't turn it down !! Keep up the good work !

Way to go !!!! Thats awesome!! Your hard work is paying off, so keep it up !!!

Hi all , im rarely on here so I may not reply, but I was banded 2 yrs ago on dec 13, 2011 and it wasnt a problem to be banded just before christmas, I just stuck to my drs rules because I knew I would be happier with the weight loss than I would with all the food, ( hey, thats what got me overweight in the first place, so it was a no brainer ! Okay.....I did sneak 1 soft cookie !! Iwent from a size 18, 225 lbs ( with a goal of 140 lbs ) and by end of feb was down 19 lbs and my clothes were falling off of me !! I lost a total of 50 lbs by aug 1 andam now down to 159 and a size 10 ! Woohooo life s so good !!

It never gets old, does it ? Yelling to my hubby, "they fit !! They fit !! They fit !" The jeans that I could barely zip a month ago , now they zip up just fine !! This was a few months ago, now the jeans are long gone cause they got tooooooo big !!!!!!!!! Woohoo !!!