tgonzale1959

Hang in there..my wait was for4 yrs as when I finally went through the program we got a hurricane and it took all I had to get my house remodeled to move back in. So I started again last year and it took a year for me to get through and just do it. I had to go through all the tests again and I think it is the best thing to do. I am sure you will have no problem with the insurance, They know in the long run it saves lives and health issues. Being that you are young, I think this is the best thing you can do or yourself. I am 52 and wish I had the means and technology at your age. I have wasted so much time. But know what, I now work out and do things that make me feel alive. I am going on my first cruise and going cave-tubing. I would never have imagined doing these things. I went from a 4x in jeans to a 1x at the moment. Just putting those jeans side by side make me feel strong to get going on this adventure. I have had my slip-ups and plateaus but get passed them and right back in it. I have lost half of what I want to lose so still have the rest to go. So good luck to you and however long it takes, it is worth it.

I was at a standstill as well for about 3 weeks and did the same as you and am at 16 weeks now. So I decided like you to get busy. I have lost 35 lbs in that time but expected to lose more especially when I see others post that they lost 50 to 60 lbs in three months. Some of them weighed more at the start and some had issues eating certain foods. Unfortunately there is no food that has given me issues so I can eat everything pretty much. I had to stop working out for over two weeks due to a fall and that slowed me down. Also once in awhile I have to jump start my metabolism and eat more calores for a day or two to get it working again. I have had two fills and did not feel much restriction. I am getting another Friday and hope it will help more. I really want to get back losing. Since the day I walked into the doctor's office, I have lost 60 lbs need to lose 60 more!

But my doctor expects to see an average of 8 to 10 lbs lost a month. I have been doing circuit training and water aerobics and I am losing inches but disheartening when not showing on the scale. I am almost 10 weeks post-op and have lost 24 lbs only. However people say I have lost weight and noticible. I know in a month I lost 6 inches in my waist alone. But still would like to see the scale go down a little more.

Today was my first day of the soft food stage. I felt like I was getting ready to test drive a car and not know what to expect. So even though I originally was going to eat an egg..I went for the Cream of Wheat. I had about 2 ounces and I am thinking this may not be a food for me. I could feel it in my throat an hour after eating. Next test was afternoon meal of pureed tuna and lite mayo...it went down a lot better. When I looked at it, the two ounces didn't look much...but as I ate it in small amounts, I think I barely got one ounce down and was full. I added three teaspoons of chicken broth to water packed tuna to make it softer and not so dry instead of upping the mayo. Also found if I want to eat fruit or veggies, if I drink my EAS protein shake (17g protein) mixed with a scoop of Whey protein (23g protein) that gives me 40 grams of protein right off. Word of caution...almost got dehydrated two days ago. My heart started beating hard with abnormal beats. My pulse was 102 at rest. I called my doctor office and was told to come in immediately. When I arrived pulse rate was back to normal. So I was sent for an EKG and it showed that I do have some abnormal spikes and the doctor thinks that may have been the cause but decided to do some blood work to check for dehydration. My numbers were about to go below normal for potassium and magnesium. I drank some gatorade and after 30 ounces felt better. So far no more issues. Even though I was drinking almost up to 64ozs a day in water, I still needed the extra stuff from Propel or Gatorade so lesson learned.

I didn't ask about the port either! But I am 11 days post op and can't find it myself. My first week checkup I asked my surgeons assistant and he thinks he found it but I still didn't feel it. So at my 2 week appointment the first question I will ask is where it is located. Bethieb, I hope you do decide what is best for you. I qualified to get a lapband in 2008 but hesitated. Then Hurricane Ike blew through and my sole concern was getting my home back in order. In two years time after Ike I weighed the most ever. I gained at least 20 lbs due to Hurricane stress.Today I weigh 41 lbs less than a year ago and really feel great. I hope I continue on this path, I decided not to tell a lot of people about my surgery as some were for it and some were negative. I also heard from some that I can do it with diet and exercise. My response was to them was that I am 52 yrs old and haven't succeeded yet and want to enjoy my retirement travelling so this is what's best for me. That usually quiets them.

@mufasas-mom: Good luck on your surgery! Another milestone today was I could actually cross my legs over my upper leg. Can't remember how many years I have not been able to do that!

I am now ten days post-op. So far so good. I start pureed foods next Wednesday. By doctor's last weigh in pre-op I am down 15 lbs. Per my personal weigh in day of surgery 10 days ago I am down 11 lbs. So I am averaging a loss of a lb a day. I am getting nervous starting the pureed foods next week, I plan to just eat baby food for convenience for most meals. I hope I lose at least 4 more lbs before starting them up. But I must say this has been going very smoothly and hope it continues, It took me a few years to decide to do this but I am sure I made the right decision. I can't wait to be released to work out with less poundage!

Saw my typo..Feel was suppose to be Fill

Since I pay all the bills, I made sure they were all paid for the month so that I wouldn't forget anything. I also cleaned house as I know family won't keep it as clean as well. I plan to have them do all the lifting, cleaning driving etc. I am just 4 days post-op so still on the liquid diet. I bought the whey protein in chocolate flavor to mix with 8 ounces of skim milk. Sometimes having two protein shakes (EAS or Adkins) a day would feel me up and I couldn't get much anything else down. Also bought strawberry whey protein to put a half scoop in my non-fat strawberry/banana yogurt to get my 50 plus grams of protein for the day. But not an expert, just four days into this. I also installed a pedometer app on my iphone so when I walk up and down my hall I can track how much I walked and try to increase a little daily. I also installed the LOSE IT app on my phone to track what I am drinking and it adds up my protein, I also put in my water amounts in and vitamins. I just create a new food and add water and vitamins, etc and don't put any calories. So when I go see my dietician and one week checkup, I will have it all in one place. Good Luck!

I hope I can be as successful! You look great!

Surgery was Tuesday May 8th around 5:30pm. I was in my room around 8pm and walking down the halls by 9:30pm. I did not use my morphine pump only when doing walks down the hall and maybe a few times when moving around. Pain was and still is very tolerable. I can honestly say I haven't been in any severe pain at all. I am 52 yrs old and was kind of worried that my age would cause me problems. The nurses were surprised and said I didn't even look or act like I just had surgery. I was released the very next day at noon. I am on the Full Liquid Diet. Only issue I have three days post-op is constipation and was told to take some colace. I am also trying to get the 64 ozs of water down not sure why I am having timing issues so have kept a bottle by my bed at night to take sips when I wake up. I can't wait to see the weight loss and lost 30 lbs before surgery. I am not going to push my the phases through that I was given introducing soft foods and regular diet...going to take that slow. I couldn't have asked for a better surgeon, hospital and program.