suzbuni

I told anyone who asked. I was at my daughter's school yesturday and ran into her first grade teacher( she is in 2nd now). She said to me "you look great did you do something different with your hair? " I replied, "I may have, I don't think it too different then normal, may have got it cut, but I DID lose about 40 pounds." She was amazed and asked how I did it, so I pulled up mt sweater and showed her my little month old scars, and said "determination, will power, protein shakes and WLS. I had lapband surgery last month." She wow, "Thoses are tiny incsions, thats all! sign me up!, But really, I think you hair looks great!" hahaha Of course I did lose half the weight on my preop diet.

I get my first fill in feb. Was banded on 12/20. Similar story, lost 16 pounds since surgery. It really slow now. Good luck!

what does your doctor say? Did a nutritionist set the protein level at 150 grams? Mine told me to work to eat the protein to support then bodysize you wanted for your goal/ideal weight. I'm suppose to eat 65-80 grams a day. I think its a little higher for men, but you might to revisit you nutritionist or doctor and see if something else is going on. good luck

Good Luck!!

Ok. Number ONE NSV: Now weigh less then my hubby. TWO: Hours of fun sliding my buttoned pants down over my hips. THREE: Went into Victoria Secerts and fit in something right off the shelf - a 38DD, but didn't buy because I didn't want it to be too big next month. (was a 42DDD/44DD). FOUR: Got rid of bags of clothing that was too big- all my size 22, and 2x and 3x's. FIVE: The size 18 jeans I bought two weeks ago are loose! Put on a new pair size 16 jeans! I could zip them while standing up, even breath and move in them-no problem. and SIX: A friend of mine since kindergarden came over last weekend and said ' you are full of energy, I haven't seen you like this in years"

Hang in there! I'm One Month out today too. I was discourged because I have stalled and been the back and forth with three pounds the last two weeks. I inched forward today and am down a total of 16 pounds since surgery- I lost 21 pounds in pre op diet, was hoping post op would be easier/quicker weight lost but its hard. I have no restriction and going on will power and walking only til I get my first fill Feb 8th. My sister reminded me that the beginning is hard and it will come off. Don't stress over it. She had got stuck at the same weight for a few weeks,she said it pissed her off, weeks with no lost - then droped 5 pounds the next week. 6 two weeks after that. No change in what she did, her body just took a while to catch up. She had surgery in sept. and is down 70 pounds now. I also know exactly how you feel with the added stress of returning nursing school term. I start back on the 30th. I still have another year to go with Nursing school. I am very proud and excited for you and me- to have been doing this and school is amazing. My uniform fits a little better then before. I am actually looking forward to being back in class and clinicals because I can control my food better. I have three small kids and this house is a dieters nightmare. So at least at school I can bring my protein shakes and I can do that can still go to clinicals. Sometimes is easier then eating other foods. I bought this battery operated smoothie maker on amazon for $6. I tried it out and it works. Has a little plastic whrilpool blade. Plus a bunch of ready made shakes for my locker at school. Try to relax! I know = like that is really an option. The stress of nursing school can be crazy I know- I have so much read and class hasn't even started yet, ( Mother/Baby and MedSurg this term) Plus stress also makes our blood sugar go up, -lead to retain more weight- lossing less. Plus school doesn't always have best options for dining, so just come prepared. Bring your on shake or greek yourt,soup in a cup sugar free jello, whatever yoiu need. Good luck with school. Hang in there you will do great!! Remember it is not a quick fix but a change for life and may take a little bit of time for our bodies to figure all this new stuff out. So relax and hopefully let weight slip away when it ready. Suzi

Congratulations! I found it a little hard once I got off pure liquids, and I could eat almost anything,unless it was very dry. I did th same things eating out. Soup or had them pack up and rice or anything before bring to table. My kids got the rice or leftovers with their dinner. Good Luck!!!

So today I was so excited I got on the scale and it said 220.5 I my journey started at 256 so after a few days stuck at 222-224. I was down to 220 today. I was so excited I took a picture of the scale. My sister was so excited too, except text back not to take another picture of the scale until I had a pedicure. My toes were scary. So tommorow I off to get a pedicure, I had had time to get one in the last...ok I can't remember my last one, but September? Between going to Nursing school, studying, and then in October I sort of cut through my two fingers instead of pumpkin. My hand surgery actually said it was more come than one would think, slippery pumpkins. So once my fingers and tendons were sewn back together, I could drive til the week of my lapband in December. Now that my hand is working again and can see my toes again- I guess it time to go for that pedicure. I feel really good now, so far so good. I had my first post op visit on the 5th, but nofill til Feb. That was disappointing, but I'm doing ok now that kids are back in school and I have been keeping busy. Got a few things stuck. chicken, and something else I can't remember that I didn't chew enough. Not a fun feeling. I have lost 15 pounds since my surgery on Dec 19th. This week I have been going through my clothes. My friend is making me try things on so I can see them hang there and then toss into the goodwill bag. Today I actually got a pair of new jeans on ....Size 16! I got them zip and on, they were a bit tight but I was still excited. Ididn't wear them long, But it was still cool. I gladly put my 22's and 20's into the goodwill bag after that!. We dropped off all the bags at good will. I can't wait to go shopping when I get smaller. Trying not to buy too much too soon. But My pants kept falling off so I got a pair of 18 and one 16 to work towards. Now wearing my leggings and workout pants that I can adjust waist. Ok that's all for now. Good luck to all of you! Off for my pedicure! Suzi

Hang in there. Take it easy while you can.

yep.. couldn't get on either

Hope you are feeling well after your surgery. Plus you know you were in good hands. I am currently a nursing student, just started back to school this year for my RN. So far I've got to work with my OBGYN, and cardiologist both have seen me naked. Last time I ended up in ER my nursing instructor was the charge nurse. My mom has some weird skin disorder and they can't figure it out, so she is being presented on grand rounds, said 50 dermotologist get to see her naked next week. she a little uneasy be over 300 lbs and standing in front of 50 doctors looking at the rash on her bum, she was laughing about so that is some thing. SHe is a nurse also.I had my surgery in a different hospital. How are you feeling? Good luck. Suzi

had mine day of. no issues. just let preop nusre know.

Try add crushed ice,in blender,makes it thicker and then I use suger free flavoring ( like for coffee). vanilla, carmel, whatever you like. Greek yogurt can thinken it and add protein too, but wil cut the sweetness and may be too sour for that favor. good luck

Take care of you. Hope your husband is feeling better soon, I know this is really hard time for you and your family. You do need to remember to take care of your\self so you can be there for everyone else too. try not to overdo it. I have learn that somethings can wait and I need to do what is most important and take care of myself and my family. my thoughts are with you. Suzi

good luck on Thrusday. I did the messed up broth and protein trick before too. Here is a tip with the whey protein. i have screwed up far too many glasses, bowls and cups of it putting it into liquid that was too hot. Heat de-natures the protein. you end up with clumpy, slimmy goo. I was stuck in a three hour class and put my chocolate protein powder into my coffee- decaf. sounds good, but it was too hot, gross mess. i tried to drink around slimmy clumps, but was not longer that hungry. can't be too hot. Container says liquids under 120 degrees. My rule of thumb if its cool enough for my three year to drink you can add protein. Otherwise you just wasted the whole mess. Your almost there good luck with surgery!

yep. much more than before surgery.

Can you see someone else? i would.

So Just want tell my experience with surgery. I have had few surgeries prior to being banded. So when I came out of surgery I was a little alarmed that my vision was blurry. At first it didn't concern me too much. I did have a lot of meds flowing around inside me. I was kept over night and my husband took home my purse with my reading glasses. I soon realized I couldn't read a thing without them. Before surgery I used my readers when I did a lot of reading and my eyes go tired. I could usually see if I held the object at arms lenght. But I got really scared that night in the hospital- I couldn't even see who was call on my cell phone. I couldn't text. I felt totally cut off until I got my glasses. Very frustrating. But what was scarier was it didn't go away. My eyesight was blurry until Christmas eve.(6 days later) It slowly got better over the first week. My friend's husband is an anestisologist and she said that it is common effect. Also it can linger on for a few weeks. I felt better after knowing that, but still pretty wierd. Just want to let any of you know- I was pretty alarmed myself so hopefully knowing about in advance may make it easier if it happens to you. I had no other issues with surgery and everything when great. I doing very well I think. Happy New year.

So I am on my last day of my first two weeks post op with my band. I started out at 256 when my journey began. I was 235.5 going into surgery and I am now 226.6( In the morning that is not in afternoon or evening or any of the other times I get on the scale like a crazy compulsive woman- I always a pound or two higher then). My first gem of advise is this- stay away from the scale: Ok, it exciting seeing the weight come off, but weighing yourself 3, 4 or 12 times a day isn't going to speed it up. It will just drive you crazy. I have been back an forth at 226/228 range for last few days. I get upset if it goes up a touch here and then get crazy about. So here is gem number 2: Drink your water like you should. I was trying to figure out why wasn't loosing, and realize I'm not drinking enough water. Not drinking at meals is making it very hard for me. I use to drink a glass or two with meals and a glass or two after. So now I'm actually drinking less then normally. I really need to work on that now. Gem number 3: Maybe you all are smarter then me. But for some reason I thought it would be ok to schedule my dental appt one week after my lapband. So here I am only drinking liquids and I go and have a crown fitted. I had a temp crown put on two weeks before surgery and this was follow up So Dentist put crown on without numbing me totally cause was only going to be a "little sensitive" she said. The shot to roof of mouth may hurt more. Whole cow was that awful. It was like brainfree on full force. And didn't go away for a day. I had stopped my pain meds form surgery but took them the next two day for my tooth. I wish I had the shot! So dentist then tells me I may be a "little sensitive" to temputure for next 4-6 weeks and should have anything to cold or too hot.Great. So luke warm seems to work. If I have something too cold or too hot and it makes it way to back of my mouth and new crown- instant headache. So allready only on liquids, now just warmish liquids. great idea Suzi. If you need dental work done get finish well before surgery. Don't make life harder then needs to be. Now I get to start mushy phase. I just made split pea soup. A lot of split pea soup. 2 1/2 galloon- it seems. I also added other beans to it to pump up the protein. It is good to be prepared so next gem of advise: Before you cook a ton of food, make sure you have enough containers to store it in. I just ran out and got a much of rubbermaid single serving containers and now have 18 cups of soup ready to go. just the size I need. Going to put some in the freezer. I got thru Christmas no problem. By the time New Years eve came around,I was on my fourth week of liquids and going a little crazy. I wanted to eat everything last night. Things I don't even like, just to chew something I think. I was mostly good. But, I did sneak a couple little mini pigs in blankets, chewed, and chewed them and was surprised that they went down so easily. But I felt really guilty and bad afterwards. I found myself tasting things last night. I little nibble here and one there. I would even spit it out after trying, but it was crazy. Today I total goofed up. My kids were eating lo mein, and I was making my protein shake and reached over and grabed a piece of chicken from my son's lo mein he didn't eat. It was very thinnly sliced and not breaded or anything. I popped it into my mouth without thinking. I chewed it up a bit- and swallowed. I had gotten the little pigs in blankets down no problem, night before: but not the case this time. This was my first experience with something get stuck. It was scary and I did not like it at all. I felt like I was almost choking, but I could still breath. It was a tightening of my throat and lower. I was panicky, I didn't know what to do. Still have no idea what to do. What I suppose to try to get it to go down or back up. I was so afraid that I screw up eveything. I drank some water, at first it didn't help. Kept trying to burp or cough,anything to get it loose. It took a few minutes for feeling to go away. I drank my shake once I was settle down again. Won't be doing that again any time soon. Otherwise doing well, trying to walk a bit every day. Today did 65 minutes on treadmill, yesturday walk the high school track with kids for a mile. They were getting bored with it quicker than mommy. Today I wore a pair of pants I couldn't even button morning of surgery- Not even close to closing. My husband laughs, cause my new favorite thing today was sliding these pants down over my hips and off without unbuttoning them. " Honey, look, look what I can do! Isn't that cool" He's response " yes sweetie, just don't show that off to everyone, they might not all understand like I do" I go see my doctor on the 5th for first post op check up. Wish me luck. Suzi

mine came early the day before surgery. What a pain that was. A little nervous for the first one after.

welcome and good luck. My sister had bypass and didn't have to do two week diet. Lots of lap bands do. I had a hard time starting, and re starting the liquid diet the next day. I cheaped a bit in the first 3 days= wasn't all liquid had two real meals, then felt sick after. I lost 20 pounds pre surgery! in those two weeks. I think that's the ticket right there. It gives up that mental boost-see the weigh come off and also make surgery easier and safer. But it also gets you ready for what you going have to do post op. It like a test drive, if can make it through the pre op diet you are gold're en for the first two week post op. It not as big a shock to your healing body. That's my thought on it. A few more days and you are there! You going to do great. Happy New Year and Happy New You. Suzi

thank you for the inspiration. Great job.

Congratulations. Welcome. I feel you pain with the gas. I took the couch cushion and put behind me in my bed so I sort sat up in bed. Take your pain meds, before you start hurting too much, I only needed them a few days. My recovery was much easier and quicker than I thought. I am 11 days post op and felt really good. so good, i forget sometimes that I shouldn't bend or lift things. my body reminds me quickly. If I overdo it my port site hurts more or I get crampy. So just remeber to take it easy and be good to yourself and you will be fine. Happy New Year!!

cutecamille and everyone, I was just banded on 19th. Lucky for me, my sister had Gastric Bypass in Sept and gave me a heads up on foods options and protein. Greek yogurt- Great choice. Here some help so it not so sour cream like. I get Plain nonfat greek yogurt- then mix in a tiny bit of a sugarfree jam, a little gos a long way. Also a little bit of splenda helps a lot too. My sister sent me for Christmas a case of different flavored sugarfree coffee syrups( like they use at starbucks) I didn't take foil cover off top of bottle, just took toothpick and made a few holes so it can add a few drops here and there. Add the vanilla or carmel to plain yogurt too- has less sugar and calories then the vanilla flavored yogurt can add as little or as much as you want. I sometime add a little greek yogurt to my protein shake, makes it a little thinker and cuts the whey flavor down. I use the harzelnut or peppermint in my chocolate protein shake sometime. Still I miss chewing food. I was really wanting the popcorn the kids were eating today, and then the tacos. But soon we will be off liquid only. It been almost four weeks and I going a little crazy. I keep hiding in my room so I don't start looking at crunchy food in kitchen with longing. I'm starting to want food I don't even little just to chew something I think. When I almost grabbed the stale cheetos, I got in the car went to store, past all the fresh crusty breads and filled the cart with sugarfee jello and puddings. My kids thought I was a bit crazy when I came home, all my sugarfree stuff and a bag from McD's for them, so I didn't have to make them lunch. So far they have eaten most of my sugar free popcicles, and one package of pudding and half of the jello, and half the McD's is in the frig. funny. Oh well it is only 60 cals, but now mommy needs to go shopping sooner. I also walk for an hour today on treadmill. it felt really good. New Year = new us! Good luck.

good luck. take it easy for a few days and heal.