Sojourner

Nice to see your post...Great job!

I guess the third try is a charm...I met with my surgeon yesterday, and for the first time in 3 appointments, I did not get sent to the ER! I am scheduled for my first band adjustment on June 6. He wanted to do it on Thursday, but I will out of town for the weekend, and neither one of us thought that it was a good idea to do my first fill and then have me leave town. I know that it is beyond time for this first adjustment, but I am a bit apprehensive, as I have read of so many incidents where the adjustments were difficult or left the patient unable to keep anything on their stomach. I still have more medical testing to get done, but that could go on for months at this rate...so my official mantra for this journey is to be "Onward"!

It is a wise move to have an official "goodbye" to some of the habits and foods which as you aptly put it "all the things that got me in the condition I am today"...and I believe you will be pleasantly surprised at the speed you will heal and adjust to having the band. I would not get disappointed to miss out on your summer activities just yet! From experience, I can share that recovery from this surgery was a breeze compared with my other one (also abdominal). I felt limited in my activities for only several days following the band surgery. I have to say there are many things I miss...pasta dishes, dark chocolate, and my occasional glass of wine with dinner to name only a few. Everything in life involves trade offs. If in return for giving up those few things I am blessed to have no diabetes and improved health, than it is well beyond worth it! Good luck to you as you continue on this journey...you are light years ahead of many, because you have the accurate insights into the need for change, and from your writing seem committed to the cause!

I was quite surprised to learn that the "target" weight as determined by my surgeon (166) left me in the high range of the overweight category on the standard BMI scale. That is definitely not where I want to be for my weight goal. The PAC explained to me that there is the "target" set by the surgeon (how the surgeon arrives at a particular number is unknown), and my "ideal" weight (134), which I was well below as a young adult, and unrealistic to expect at me current age, and the numbers in between. As was explained to me by the PAC, with the band, most patients will stop loosing weight somewhere between the surgeon's number and the ideal weight. The ideal weight is not attained often, but the doctor's don't really expect you to reach that low on the scale. As others have mentioned, you need to be at a weight where you feel good, and your physical exam reflects a state of good health.

I also am still waiting for my first fill, which I guess will be scheduled tomorrow for sometime in June. I get very hungry also, but drinking Water helps me manage the hunger so I don't cheat with extra bites of food, and every day I meet the high side amount of free fluids my surgeon recommends. It's a win-win situation for me...

I have also discovered that this journey is also about developing patience and perseverance...you are correct; every journey begins with the first initial small steps! You are on your way!

It sounds to me that you have lost your focus on your goals. I want to point out that the feelings of guilt and shame that you expressed originate with you. No one, not even your doctor can make you feel those feelings...but if you allow it, than you will feel that way when you have an appointment with your doctor. A good start to getting back on track would be to keep a food journal, and limit your food choices to only the ones which will provide good nutrition. Never add sugar or fat to anything you eat. Avoid processed foods. You did not mention if you had ever met with a dietitian...if you never have, it would be an excellent idea. If several years have elapsed since meeting with a dietitian, it would be helpful to have an appointment to refresh your memory about the proper choices and menu planning. Are you getting enough exercise? Not being active enough will stall your weight loss. You have already proven that you are capable of loosing weight, 70 pounds is nothing to scoff at, and more importantly, you have kept it off. Focus on what you have achieved, and feel good about it. Structure your time, and plan meals in advance so you will have minimal opportunities to stray away from the good choices. Adopt some positive thinking, and a positive affirmation you can repeat to yourself every time you feel challenged to make the good choices with your diet. Good luck...I believe you can do this!

Yes, I believe that you are doing the right thing to increase your calories...though I was advised to never count calories, only to measure all my food carefully, by volume after being cooked. Your daily grams of protein seems high...my daily goal is 32-50. Are you measuring your portions? How many grams of protein does the yogurt have? I am allowed to have only 3 oz of protein and 2 oz of a Fiber carb with every meal. I have the protein shake to help me meet my Calcium intake. I also was having a difficult time with getting all of my free fluids in every day until I structured my time and meals. I know that by lunch time, in addition to the 12 oz of tea or iced coffee prior to Breakfast (Most needed to take my morning pills), I need to have 1- 16 oz bottle water down. Between lunch and dinner, I focus on having 2 more bottles of water. After dinner into the evening, another 16 oz bottle. Another 8 oz of water for the evening pills. I had to do something to remind myself to drink more; I ended up in the ER with severe dehydration, which I did not recognize the symptoms for. Like I said, knowing your own body, and experimenting with different ways to meet all of your daily requirements will help immensely. I like to keep everything very simple, though it does mean lots of repetition at times. It will take me several meals to eat 1 medium sweet potato, 2 days to finish off a skinless chicken breast. But, happy thing for me, I always enjoyed leftovers! My new favorite lunch is a bed of fresh spinach, a sliced hard boiled egg, an ounce of turkey breast, with a small drizzle of fat free dressing. Dinner varies, with lean protein, usually fish with lemon juice or skinless chicken or turkey breast with a cooked vegetable. I prefer carrots, broccoli and sweet potato. I should add, that only 1 of your carb servings every day is allowed to be a complex carb, such as sweet potato, peas, or lima Beans. I avoid "white" everything. If you have not met with a dietitian, it would be a great idea. I do not have to limit my fluids to water, it's just that I like it, and the bottles make it much easier to stay on track with drinking enough. I did not intend to write so much, but I am passionate about people being successful with this journey. I have a long way to go, but am feeling positive about my progress to date. Good luck!

Insurance companies are focused on their "bottom line", and in general want to save as much as they can. Perhaps with reading your benefits, some people who read that the WLS was excluded would never inquire about it. I'm glad you did! When you "state your case" to UHC, be certain to emphasize any co-morbidities you may have or develop over time as a result of your weight, and the fact that the company will save money with fewer illnesses and medications that you are likely to need if you weigh less over time. Be persistent...they want you to give up and go away! Look out for you and your own best interests! Good Luck!!

It's important to look at the nutrition label of everything you eat. Generally, I have been advised to avoid cheese, as the amount of fat it contains with the ratio to the Protein grams you get from it are not acceptable. Also, foods such as cottage cheese are not solid enough to keep you feeling full longer. I have found 3 things slow my weight loss: 1. not having enough calories. 2 not drinking enough Water, and 3 not having enough protein every day. Also, every 10 pounds or so, I will hit a plateau for a week, and then will loose again. I was advised to avoid anything which is processed, and eat as many whole foods as possible. Processed meats, like hot dogs, are major offenders in this area. Also, sodium content is another number you should be aware of, as you will retain fluids. You should have a daily calorie maintenance target, and also daily protein gram number to shoot for. I am still able to loose weight with having 1 Protein shake daily, as it provides 37g of protein and has very low calories and carb grams. Much of this journey is knowing your own body, so some additional trial and error may be necessary to reach an equilibrium. Keep up the good work, it will pay off for you!

I just prefer to not suffer the negative consequences from ingesting something I have been warned by my surgeon to avoid... I believe that I would not have been told to never have a carbonated beverage again or to avoid having a glass of wine until 1 year post op if there was not a valid reason to do so. It's about one's belief system which govern the choices we make...I've not been totally compliant with the diet for the stage I am supposed to be at (I am not supposed to have any Peanut Butter until 6 months post op, but have an occasional teaspoon now). When it comes to carbonation in a beverage, that was a different story for me; I knew the Coke Zero was not healthy, so it was a fairly easy mild addiction to wean myself away from starting 6 months prior to my surgery. I realize we are all individuals, but never saw the reason in looking for complications for a moment of enjoyment with a soda...our mileage does vary!

Any time that you feel unable to tolerate foods or liquids when you have been following your surgeon's instructions, you should call your surgeon's office for further instructions. My surgeon and his staff have been very responsive and helpful to address my questions and advise me on the proper course of action based on my symptoms at the time. There have been 2 times which my concerns have resulted in been hospitalized because of unanticipated complications.

A "reality check" is one of the best motivators for change! And instead of feeling depressed about your weight, try to redefine those images into ones of temporary and not permanent, because you have a real opportunity to change those images! I believe I am not alone with other members on this forum who really dislike seeing their "before" pictures. I am still thankful that I am granted an opportunity to revise those images with my diet. I want to leave the past in the past, and focus on where I am going, not where I have been. I never want to forget where I was, because the past and those images will continue to assist me to remain compliant with my diet and exercise.

If "it never happens", then why the guilt feelings? I agree that you should not "beat yourself up" about having wine, but if you are banded you should be compliant with your surgeon's instructions unless you are willing to manage the possible negative consequences for non-compliance. We were told that post surgery, your tolerance for all forms of alcohol changes dramatically, and that one drink can put your blood alcohol levels above the legal limits. My doctor warned us that he will not intervene in any DUI cases where the patient had a drink, drove impaired, and then was arrested.

One of my sons is a pharmacist, and he has told me that a capsule should never be opened, and any "timed release" medication regardless of the form cannot be crushed or opened if a capsule. If you were to crush a timed release medication, there is a potential for overdose on the medication as you would receive the entire dose at once upon ingestion, instead of a gradual infusion into your system. Just sharing what I have been advised to do by a licensed professional in the field...your mileage may vary!

I got a pill stuck once about 3 weeks post op, and it was not a pleasant experience. That pill was the only thing to date which has gotten stuck. As my son the pharmacist would say, you have to consider the risk/benefit ratio. I have learned to focus on "mindful" swallowing while taking pills, and there have not been any more stuck episodes. I guess it depends on how much your allergies are bothering you. I don't like taking pills either, but for some it is definitely a better choice than suffering the effects of uncontrolled hypertension or hay fever.

My high school reunion is next weekend, and I waited until this week to go shopping. It is not possible to predict weight loss rate, and not reasonable to believe that the same rate of weight loss will be maintained throughout the next few months. I would wait until the week before to go shopping for the "must fit well" items, such as a swim suit. Some blouses still look like a good fit when you have shrunk a size down, also a few stretchy t-shirts. Other items, such as Not Your Daughter's Jeans are very stretchy, and I have been able to wear them a size larger than I really am without them looking baggy. They are on the expensive side, but you can find some more reasonably on eBay. As for me, to have 1-2 pair that fit me like they should at every stage is important to me psychologically. I look at it as in investment into my emotional health. Stretchy fabrics seem to have the best longevity during this time. IMHO, your mileage may vary...

For my initial post op time, I had my physician change all of the medications which came in a liquid form to the liquid, one script came in a chewable form, and the rest I had to crush. And you are correct, they taste horrible and bitter, even when disguised with apple sauce. Post op, I can take pills up to 1/4" round with out difficulty, and I have been able to take one which is oblong, about 1/4 x 1/2", but I know once I have a fill, I most likely will not be able to take that one. If a pill is scored, I can usually cut it in half, and then take the pill in 2 swallows. I was told to never take a capsule apart, and any other medication which is a "timed release" medication cannot be crushed. You will need to ask your doctor and/or pharmacist for advice as to which pills have alternative sizes and forms (liquid, chewable, etc.). Any prescription modifications, I would have on hand prior to your surgery.

My dietitian specifically told us that we were NOT to count calories...only to make good food choices (SF, low fat, high protein), and determine portion sizes by volume (3 oz Protein and 2 oz of carb) for every meal. We NEED Calcium for proper nutrition and bone health! From my experience, there are 3 factors which have slowed my weight loss: not having enough free fluids, not having enough calories (you should know what your calorie weight maintenance number is, so you are able to stay well under it), and not having enough protein. I also hit a plateau every 10-12 pounds, where I will not loose any weight for a week, though I remain compliant with my diet. Very frustrating, but I know the routine now! As always, making sensible food choices is essential for success. When you have too few calories, your metabolism goes into a sort of hibernation mode, and slows down. Weight loss is about making your metabolism work with you to burn the calories.

Yes, you can. It would depend on whether or not you needed the extra protein provided by milk to meet your daily protein goals. When I was on my pre and post op diet, I needed the extra protein from the milk. I have made my shakes with ice or milk, either way is good for me, but the ice definitely makes it thick and more like a "shake".

You are most welcome...I'm very happy to share what my trial and error experience has taught me!

We all tend to be impatient with waiting to see the real results of weight loss, and it is easy to become discouraged if you are compliant with your diet and see no results. We cannot reverse the years of gaining weight immediately, so this journey is also about developing patience and perseverance. Keep your focus on the goals you have set for yourself, and take a day at a time. I am also waiting for my first fill, and the only remedy I have found for managing my hunger is to keep sipping Water. But at least I meet my daily recommended Fluid amounts every day! You will do fine...keep your eye on the prize of a healthier you!

Caffeine withdrawal is fairly common when going though the liquid diet unless you were able to wean yourself off of caffeine prior to starting the diet. I had stopped all caffeinated beverages in the months prior to starting the diet, with the exception of my daily plain iced coffee. thankfully, stopping the coffee "cold turkey" did not result in a headache! I did not experience any tummy troubles, as I was also advised by my surgeon to use powder form Benefiber dissolved into my shakes. Pre-op, I was also allowed to have 1 cup of raw salad greens every day.

When will you begin your mushies phase? While I was on "mushies" everything I ate went through the blender. Maybe there needs to be a provision to make certain you will have with you what you need to prepare your meals...