cantbetoothinortoorich

So, it has been a year...and what a year! I set a goal to be at my goal weight on my 1 year mark...not realistic, but that is what goals are for...to motivate you. I lost 90 pounds...30 more to go. I feel....great...I can run up stairs, play with my dog/daughter (yes, in that order) and make love for hours...what else is there in life?? And I have come to some truths about lap band...it works if you let it. I was so confused when I started as to why there was such a broad swath of experiences...from very successful to folks who had it removed. It is all clear to me now...the difference between success and failure is all in the adjustments. Folks who want their cake and and eat it too (literally) will opt to keep their band fairly open, allowing them to eat what they want. Those who want to loose will keep getting fills until they can no longer eat bread and are satiated with about 3 oz of food. Crazy people like me will have it tightened to the point of being on a perpetual liquid/mush diet until goal, and then a setting that permits you to maintain thereafter. The difference between these types of peole is those who are motivation to win vs those who are not yet wiling to give up food as a crutch. I have been both of these people...and I have opted to win. And it it not easy. I have sad days when I miss eating (many). I have jealous days when I watch others eat pizza and egg rolls (what else is there?) and I have days when I try to eat more than I should, or something that I should not have and..yes...it all comes back up...and then I have those days when I get on the scale and I have lost another 10 pounds, bought my 3rd belt, experienced my forth drop in pants size, gave all my clothing to charity (I kept the underwear), looked in the mirror ( I have not done that in 20 years) and no longer recognized myself... I often have to remind myself that I got here through glutney and I am now paying the price...and the trade off is more than fair...forty + years of pizza and chinese food vs 1-2 years of protien shakes...and a longer, happier and healthy life forward. You have to keep it all in perspective and always keep your mind on the goal, not what you are giving up..what you are gaining by losing. And a couple of other nuggests...I know foam, slime, burning...all too well...and I have come to another truth (took a year)...you HAVE to take anti-acid meds every day (cause of foam/burning) and allergy meds as well (cause of slime). Without them you will suffer terribly and you will losen your band to stop these symptoms when you could keep the band tight and control them with meds. Try if for a few weeks and then stop...you will see a difference and be convinced to stay on them (minimally) until you reach goal. Walmart has very inexpensive and effective generic anti-acid pills...the dollar store as well, but they dont work as well. For allergies I use Singulair...it has the least side effects for me. We wont discuss constipation...I got impacted once...it was a horrible experience...I proactivly take softeners now when needed...never let it get away from you or you could be in the ER with a latex hand up your rear (for those of you, like me, who DONT enjoy that)....the rest of you...well...get help... I hope this helps someone become (more) successful, feel less alone, suffer less...learn from my mistakes......Seth

TMF - I prefer my big "O's" lying down....my knees get too weak..... Hey, again, I understand the slow and steady not much sacrafice approach....I followed it as well until the weight stopped comming off. Im not advocating a life on smoothies and nuts; I am suggesting for those who are taking that route for whom it is not (no longer) working that PERHAPS you may not be tight enough... I indulged for 25 years...I am OK with a year or two of sacrafice to get to my goal weight...I am not satisfied with simply saying the journey is enough and if I get there fine, if I dont 'Im eating healthy'...For me its about reaching the goal and then being heathly foreverafter...not reaching the goal is not acceptable to me...taking years to get there is not either. Its a personal choice. Some folks who have advocated against my approach have lost immense amounts of weight doing it their way...but one should look at it as a percentage of total body weight...if I lost 90 in a year and someone else lost 180...my 90 may be 33% of my body weight and their 180 may be 20%...at some point they too may reach that point of diminisging return (as I did) where they too stop losing. I would recommend exercise, change in food types, more Water...but if that didnt work I would also suggest less calories as a possible means of continuing the loss...I couldnt do that without the band's help...others may have more self control than I. And for those who have said the band does not work at all...those are the folks to whom I was initially talking...those who may want to eat what they want BUT WHO ARE NOT LOSING WEIGHT....the have their cake and eat it too eprson...they incurred an expensive and dangerous procedure to offset the risk of dying from obesity...(we all did)...why not sacarafice for a while to have the chance to dance at your children's wedding or to hold your first grandchild? ...seth

Thank you one and all for your kind wishes, encouragement and most of all your words of caution. I absolutly respect those who do not agree with my approach, will pay heed and suggest others do as well. At the end of the day, I suppose 'tight' or 'too tight' is somewhat subjective...so it is hard to say if I am over zealous or just agressive....but we can all agree no amount of weight loss is worth risking your life. One need decide where the balance is between obesity and the risk of being too agressive (or worse, foolish). Medical advice I can give none. I can only point out the antiacids and antihistamines help; I would never suggest utilizing them as a means of masking symptoms of a dangerous situation. And I would never suggest 'too tight' as some have interpreted...I only suggest tight enough to lose weight... And to the point that I have learned little about making healthy choices...it is possibly true. I have had the band looser and have maintained my weight flat for 2 to three months during that time. I ate reasonable foods and reasonable amounts...my only issue was I was not losing weight and that, ultimatly, was/is my goal. Once I am at my goal weight flat is good... and I now know I can maintaint it (which was a big worry for me). And MIS73...my hats off to you...175 in one year is unfathomable to me...obviously your approach works very well for you...congratulations! And I guess that is my point...it is not what Seth suggests, it is what works for you...male or female...competitive or not...ok with liquids only for a while or againt it...ok with a long approach or prefers more rapid results...do what works without taking any foolish risks... and always with your doctor's advice Seth

So, the 1st 4 days are hell....day five-seven I felt much better...and could eat mushies...by day ten I was eating solif food with no issue...then I tried pork...omg, Im standing there, chewing like I should...slow...happy as a lark then it hits...this feeling like my food tured to cement in my chest...Im blinking..swallowing...but nothing is moving...my eyes start to tear-up...my daughter is looking at me funny as I am frozen like a deer in the headlights...I just stand there and then the feeling to burp overwhelms me and....up it comes...mouth fulls of well chewed pork and saliva...right into the kichen sink! I have never felt anything like that before...it was not throwing up as I know it...it just came back up and out on its own! And there is my 12 y/o..."see dad, I told you not to push it!" "What have we learned dad?" I warned her this is how seagulls feed their young and I was going to make her eat it...lol.. Then there is my cat....he never sleeps on me...but now that I have five incisions and a port that hurts like hell he suddenly feels the need to walk all over my stomach and SIT on my port...what is up with 'dat?? Went to the Dr today..day 14...told him as my swelling went down I was getting more hungry....so he filled me with 2cc's...wow that felt very weird....like someone reached into my chest and grabbed my windpipe lol.... Im down 35 lbs, my BP has dived, Im wearing my thin jeans, and my belt is out of holes....so..so far, so good....

from the mouths of babes...Amen Elizabeth

Yo go girl! You have much to be proud of... I cant agree more about how much of it is mental....not feeling sorry for yourself and avoiding that 'I deserve a treat'.... I dreamed about pizza for two weeks before the surgery and avoid the junk food isle completly now...I actually morn the loss of food, but it is replaced with the sheer joy of running out of belt holes.... Hang in there!

You know, I have been eating sushi...maybe the cat does smell the fish through the port lol And the pork thing I figured that out too....Im Jewish and Hanukkah is tomorrow....I guess my body was purging me of anything that is not Kosher lol ;-p

First let me congratulate you on your weight loss....now it is time to get rid of the rest of your ugly useless weight...namely your husband. Clearly he is not adding any value to your life, prefers to keep you controlled and in a box and worst of all, is unfaithful. Lose the weight, lose him and find someone who really cares for you.....

It just came to me! Americans are over weight and we have an energy crisis...we can lap band all americans and the gas they produce after the procedure can run our nation for a thousand years...and everyone is thin! I should run for president....

Vote for me! Other canidates are full of hot air, I am full of hot gas...if elected, we will reduce our CO2 emmitions AND our dependency on foreign fuel.... And hopefully I wont be addited to pain killers and Gas-X by the time I am in office....

wow...what a story! I am glad you are ok....

LOL...slogans welome....and Pink, ur right, I was cracking myself up...my 13 y/o daughter just looked at me and shook her head....dad's a dork.... ;-p First full night w/o painkillers too!

Found this link very interesting: http://www.hcgresources.com/shoulderpain.html

I asked for Deloted (sp) 2mg...I take one pill every 2 hrs instead of 2 every four....it keeps me comfortable, not pain-free. As for the Gasx strips...over priced gimmic....buy the generic pills or chews...they have 2x the active ingredient and cost much less...it will help some, but nothing will prepare you for or solve the post-op gas pain you will likely experience. Just going to have to suck it up I am afraid.... I found a watery cream of wheat day 3+ makes me feel better than Jello or any cold liquid....I will be thinking of you!

My will and advanced directive are done, the dishes are washed, the house is clean, my bag is packed, I had my last meal (waffle with butter)...I am ready. I am no longer nervous...I am resolute. Tomorrow morning I begin my transformation back to...me. Wish me luck ....see you on the other side...

You are stonger than me...I DID cry! OMG I have never felt anything like that...felt like the flu times 10...I thought I was about to give birth! I got into bed, took my pain meds every two hours and now, day three is soo much better. Had my 1st BM since surgery Wednesday and ate jello, broth and yogurt. My throat still kills me from the tube, by port is very swollen and painful and I am bloated from all the gas and IV fluids (I gained 3-4 lbs ovrnight from that too)....hang in there!

WOW, ok..the surgery hurt a bunch...but even now, 2 days later I am feeling much better. Those gas pains are...well, not to be described! I found in my case, walking made it worse and flat on the bed better...also taking Bentyl helped a lot. I have had broth, water, tea and jello....no issues. Port site hurts the most and I am bloated and swollen...but seems to be going down. Went up 5 lbs, but that should be all IV fluids...peeing like a horse lol. Do ot stop taking your pain killers! Take them like clockwork to prevent the pain from building...easier to manage that way.

Thank you one and all for your kindness....I am in soo much gas pain...feel like I need a Lamaz coach! I am living on pain killers for now...hope this goes away soon and become a distant memory.....

Almond milk is awesome.....

OK, the purpose of getting banded is to change bad habits.....so, isnt it wrong to want to have a final supper?? One more cheesesteak? One last chinese buffet? Im so conflicted!

Nevermind! I see you are going Tuesday...it will be ok

Mellio - we will hold virtual hands and jump in together! I am thinking not having participated in a pre-op diet is going to make your transition more of a shock....if you have time left, recommend doing it just to get your body used to no carbs...it is like a drug withdraw that lasts a week or two....and the weight loss that goes with it makes you feel stronger...and you feel more confident you can do without the junk.

Aww..thank you m1aman for your kind and supportive words! My paents always said I should have been a lawyer...

LOL...thank you one and all from absolving me of my guilt....I have lost 15-20 lbs in my pre-op diet so I doubt I will be able to eat much without getting sick anyhow....but I am sooo tired of cottage cheese, yougurt, fruit salad and shakes... I too am nervous, but excited like many....my will and advanced directive are done, the counter is stacked high with Jello, anti-acid, gas-x and whey chocolate protien shakes....sooo...I guess I am ready... It is strange...I feel like crying...like an addict who is giving something up...but I am determined to lose the weight for me, my children and my future...so head on in I go...looking forward to being a bandster by Wednesday afternoon....I will see you all on the other side....