his_spirit

Many many years ago (feels like another lifetime) I was a runner. I loved it and it always made me upset with myself that I have become so fat and out of shape. Every attempt I have made to lose the weight and get back on track have failed (obviously why I am here). Now I am nearly 10 days post op and feel optimistic and a renewed sense of self confidence that I felt I had lost. Reading about the program on here was a wonderful surprise and I am totally excited for when I will be able to start this. Never heard of it before. I am wondering for you all that have done this program how soon you were able to start after being banded? I just got myself a gym membership and can hardly wait.

I am nearly 10 days in and it is a world of difference how I feel today. It does get better. I feel great! I am allowed mushies now and that is going well and full for hours after. Hard to eat everything. The cream of potato soup is good, I didn't mix it just strained out the big bits. Hang in there because in a few days you truly will feel so much better. The first 5-6 days or so were really hard and I had lots of those moments thinking what have i done? None now lol.

No abdominal exercises or weight lifting until 6 weeks I was told but of course every doctor seems to be different. I am itching to get started on something too but only 2 weeks in. The walking DVDs seem interesting.

I just use a handmixer for pretty much everything. I have never been a smoothie person and like to eat my calories. The handmixer works for everything that I need an appliance for.

It was a culmination of many things for me. Realizing last summer how out of shape I was when I did a hike locally that is known for its harshness with my kids. They both did it no problem and it took me over 3 hours instead of the usual 30 mins. My son standing about 20 feet above calling down "you can do it mommy!" and people giggling on the trail. Planning a trip to mexico in the fall with my kids for a family wedding and the first holiday that I have ever been able to go on with them. I didn't want it to less fun for my kids because I was embarrassed to be seen in public as I am on the beach. Them missing out because of me made me feel awful. Being frustrated, tired and generally like crap every morning when i woke up. Always tired. Along the way there have been many things but those two stood out a lot. Oh, and i am turning 40 this year and named 2012 the "get on with it already" year.

You are very welcome and good luck to you too. This is a great place to vent. Alot of us felt that way I found out this week.

I was very emotional after surgery, cried a ton for days. Had no regrets or anything about the surgery and wasn't in extreme pain or anything. All emotional. Going through an enormous life change even if it is a good one is emotional. I don't know if I was grieving the loss of my old habits or scared or what. My weight has always been depressing to me so it made no sense that I would be sad to see it go. However, my self esteem is going to take some work. Made an appointment to discuss all the changes with a counsellor next week. I read somewhere that anesthetic can also cause a bit of depression after. Today is my post op day 8 and no tears! Slowly starting to feel more like myself again. Hopefully the incredible tearfulness is over now and can move on to focusing on the positive changes. When I was really sad, I just cried and talked a lot with my best friend. My partner somewhat but we are long distance right now and he isn't much help. That made it harder too. So suggestions I would have are to talk and talk, let yourself feel the things you do, it's normal. Do some really caring and nice things for yourself too.

*had

Hi Sophia, I has mine done on the 13th. There is a whole group on here for us done in February. Lots of support and a really great group of people all at similar stages and going through a lot of the same feelings and thoughts. I have found it very helpful. So welcome and lots of luck in your journey!

I actually have an electric blanket that i put on high when i go to bed (turns off after 3 hours). I spread it out over the whole bed and seems to make everything relax. It was a big comfort for me this last week.

scrambled eggs are on my mushie list too

Great ideas! I like the charm idea too. To wear a constant reminder daily about keeping health and ourself first.

What a great attitude! That is where I am at myself. For too many years letting my weight and looks dictate what I do and don't do for fun. Holding me back from enjoying and living life. You can do it! There is an excellent source of support here and I am finding it really helpful for those emotional moments and there have been plenty. Any life change comes with a lot of emotion and something such as this is definitely no exception. Good luck on your journey!

Excellent, great to hear you are doing so well and up and about! There is a good support network here and so much to learn.

It is amazing the improvement after only a few days. I feel better and better each day.

I was banded last week and adjusting to the many changes which at times has seemed overwhelming. No regrets as I feel this is the best thing, I could have done for myself to take care of me. I have also been very emotional and going through some personal relationship issues that have made the transition even more difficult. I know that I lack confidence in areas of my life, and have low self esteem as well. Being overweight has damaged me both physically and emotionally. The surgery was and is a big step for me in starting my personal journey towards feeling good about myself and my health. I always thought that I was strong enough to take on the emotional stuff on my own as I change and learn a new way of life but today realized that I don't think that I can. It is a personal question but I wonder if anyone else feels that they will need professional help to learn ways to cope and change a lot of the old patterns of thinking that they have? and for those that have gone that route, did it really help? I hope that all made sense. It has been a horrible day for me as my partner who is usually my rock for the last three years told me today that he is drained (he has personal things going on unrelated to us) and just can't be there for me right now like I need him to be. I'm heart broken by that in itself and just dont feel strong enough to do this on my own right now.

I am doing well but have wicked shoulder pain mostly at night. Otherwise, no nausea and healing well.

Thanks! Mental health is as important as physical health to me. I am turning 40 this year and told myself that this is my year to finally get it together and become the best I can be. Is that a mid life crisis? lol

Good luck to all of you going tomorrow. Will be thinking of you! This IS a great group.

Thank you all. It is helpful to know that I am not alone. Good suggestion to call the surgeon and ask for a bariatric professional for the counselling. I need to learn new ways to express myself and also how to cope with the new lifestyle changes, etc. I know where I want to go but I need direction and help with how to get there in my mind. We have a good EAP program at work too so I will also look into that.

You are so right. Neglected myself for far too long. There is such a great group of supportive people on here. We can definitely do this.

Thank you all for the kind words. I know that he feels awful (we are separated by long distance right now too). I know that in the end the only one who can deal with the issues are me. It was the right choice for me and I know it is worth it, just feels really hard right now. Have some really great friends that I can lean on sometimes but I don't like to be a burden or feel like one. Never been good at accepting help from other people, I am usually the care giver. The cabin fever isn't helping too much but when i went for a walk broke out in a cold sweat and had to come home and rest.

Funny enough, I had no shoulder pain until the third day and then it came on with a vengeance. Kept me awake all night one night and no amount of pain meds, heating pads, or walking around would let it up. It is still there but much less so and tolerable.

I have been really quite sedentary for quite a long time apart from work where I am on my feet the whole time. So, I will be starting at square one. Actually looking really forward to it. For many years I have been really self conscious, even though I know it is silly and no one else at the gym really cares or pays attention to what I would be doing at the gym. My daughter goes to a gym on a regular basis and I will be going sometimes with her to get started. Just where to start is the question lol.

I have only burped once in the five days since the surgery and a little one lol. Seems unusual.