banditalovely

I'm so upset! I charged mine this morning while I was in the shower and TOTALLY FORGOT TO PUT IT ON!!! I have a long day of walking ahead of me too. I really think I could have broken 10,000 today!!! Wah, guess I just have to do it again..

I'm lovelybandette on there. I could use some friends too!

July 6th is coming soon!!! I am doing protein shakes or meal replacement bars for breakfast and lunch (I just found out they aren't 100% whey isolate though so I will have to find something else for post surgery), and a similar dinner. Last night i had this shrimp and crab salad (2oz fresh shrimp, 2oz fresh crab, 1/2 cup fresh diced tomato, and 1/4 small avacado) + a wedge salad (1/4 iceburge lettuce, 1 strip bacon, 1.5oz blue cheese crumble, 1 tbsp blue cheese dressing). According to myfitnesspal.com it was around 450 calories, 35g protein. I stuck at 1,027 calories for the day!!! I am down to 279.6 this morning from 292.8 last friday!!

alcohol swabs (like those sold at walmart for $2 in the pharmacy/diabetes section) will take take off permanent marker, just don't do it on open wounds. If you accidentally do, you will see/feel why...

You say you are on vacation. Are you using a different scale? Sometimes when I walk around I feel Fluid build up in my arms and legs (same with traveling) so you might also just be retaining some extra Water right now. All the suggestions on here are good. Def make sure you are not starving or your metabolism will slow and try to get in more water to help flush the potential retention out. You may also be eating more salt if you are eating out most meals. Wait until you are on a normal scale again to weigh yourself and just try to get your mind past it. Worrying will only make it worse. Enjoy your vacation, journal, focus on portions, and Protein and water! No one will judge you if you are up a few pounds.

love this!

My doctor said he would do it if I didn't do any diet, as long as I did the 24 hour clear liquids before surgery. The benefit is a less slippery and smaller liver so the surgery goes smoother/faster. If you can cut down to less than 100 g carbs and lower your fat the week before you start Atkins it will help, but if your doctor doesn't ask for it, he must not be worried about it. My guess is you have a relatively low BMI. My therapist always tells me it takes 2 weeks to break a habit. So if you want to make the transition easier for yourself, you might benefit post surgery from breaking the habits sooner than later. Don't worry if your Dr said 1 week though.

I have read online and seen on youtube people who claim msm has helped them a lot with sagging skin and stretch marks. Has anyone here tried the soaps or lotions or made there own from the powder? Anyone ingest tablets or powder? Notice a difference? Is it worth it? It isn't particularly expensive. I would love to know your thoughts.

Wow, there is a lot going on! I am horrible dealing with change, and especially when you aren't really in control of it. Definitely forgive yourself. It sounds like you are dedicated and in the right mind set to succeed, just outside of this awful situation. Cut yourself some slack and I'm sure you will be more in control next time

Don't beat yourself up about not losing. This is a process, not a magic trick. We all have our weaknesses (cheetos are high up on my list too). I suggest asking yourself a few questions and making a few behavior modifications to regain your control of the situation. And believe me, I need to start taking some of my own advice, so no high horse here. Just sharing tools that sometimes work for me. First, why did you reach for the cheetos? Are you actually hungry or are you feeling discouraged? Is this an emotional hunger or actual hunger? -- If it is actual hunger then add more Protein to your meals and wait until you have restriction to be perfect with your meal calorie counts. Avoid snacking so you are breaking bad habits and once you do feel restriction you aren't working to break them on top of everything. Make the lifestyle change, but don't deprive yourself within these changes. Eat more of the "approved foods" if necessary until you have restriction. Even measure out what you should eat, and say I will add 1/2 portion more, or even 1 whole portions more! Be aware of how much you are eating (weigh/measure it out) but don't just stop because you are "supposed to not be hungry" because you will end up snacking later. Keep the portions in mind though so when you do get restriction you can easily identify a portion and eat enough but not too much -- If it is emotional hunger. First, identify what the emotion is. It sounds like you might have done this by saying you are self "sabotaging" for not losing. Forgive yourself for not losing. Like everyone on here has said, it takes time and fills and patience. You weren't given some cure to obesity, you were given a way (once it has been tweaked to work) to feel fuller faster. You haven't failed at anything. At this point, it is too early to feel guilty. If it is a different emotion then try to tackle a way to forgive yourself or accept it. Post it on here and ask for advice for how to cope without food. Some behavior/lifestyle changes I am working on that might help you (I am no where near perfect at them yet) are to: 1) Avoid buying the foods that trigger you. If for some reason you have to keep cheetos/trigger foods in the house (you don't live alone and your kids would die without them, you don't do the grocery shopping, etc) then I suggest designating a "me" cabinet. Put foods that are acceptable for you to eat (high protein, shakes, low carb Snacks, healthy snacks that require lots of chewing, non trigger foods) in the cabinet and don't let anyone else you live with steal them. Keep them in a box under your bed if you have to! Designate a shelf in the fridge for yourself that has your yogurts, etc and avoid the rest of the world when it comes to food. I am in a huge habit of "hunting" in the fridge or cabinets for food. And normally when I open my fridge and see my roommates take out box, even though it is not mine, I open it up and at least look! I have been known to eat things roommates have left in the fridge for more than a few days. This is a habit I am trying to break-- mostly because it is mortifying when someone comes in to eat their ravioli and you are face deep in them. I only look at my fridge shelf, I only look in my cabinet, and when there isn't trigger food for you to eat, calling your name, you are less hungry and tempted. 2) Identify your trigger contexts, the places you like to eat or find yourself mindlessly eating. For me it is in front of the TV on my couch, in my car driving, and in my bed watching TV. I am (still working) to avoid eating in these places. I am even buying a new couch-- I need one this is not just weight loss related-- that will be FOOD FREE that I can sit on to watch TV and I am trying to read to keep my mind --and hands-- more occupied. I try to eat my dinner at the dining room table, turn the TV and computer off. Not buy food that I can eat in my car, put the groceries in the trunk or back seat. I try to keep a Water bottle in my purse that I can drink while I'm driving so I don't miss eating as much. A key is to think about what you are eating and enjoy it instead of doing it as a secondary thing. You will feel more satisfied by what you are eating -- or realize what you are eating isn't satisfying, aka cheetos kind of taste gross after just a few-- and you will be more in control. 3) Track your food. I can't do this all the time. But when I notice I am snacking more or bingeing, I promise myself I will do it for 1 full week. Get on a website like myfitnesspal.com or calorie counter app or even just in a notebook or piece of napkin, write down everything you ate for the day and hold yourself accountable to it. Don't lie to the tracker. If you had a 200 calories worth of cheetos write it down. Write down the fat, the carbs, the protein, the Fiber -- look it up online if you have to. Add up daily totals, weekly totals, you can highlight things that were good in one color and bad in another. Own it. You ate it. Don't pretend it didn't happen. When you hold yourself accountable, even if it is private for you only, you will think twice the next time that chip comes to your lips. You will imagine yourself having to write it down, you will think about the poor nutrients that it contains. Maybe you won't eat none of it, but you will probably eat less. For me bingeing is a huge problem, and part of the pleasure is how secretive it is. I eat 4000 calories in 10 minutes, and its like it didn't happen. Do not let yourself get away with this. It is great you posted it on here for us all to see. 4) Give yourself incentives. It sounds like you want to not be eating cheetos since once you became overly cognizant of the choice you threw the bag out. But if there is a food that just feels "too hard" to give up yet, then give yourself a way to have it. Promise if you burn 100 calories, you can eat 100 calories of the food. If you skip it three days you crave it, you can have it the 4th day. Portion out a serving size or less and reward ahead of time and keep it hidden for when you meet your goal. Keep the reward package in a different place than your "me cabinet" though. No need to trigger when you are just looking for a quick snack. You can also make incentives that are food free. Like if you avoid the craving for a whole week you will buy new nail polish and give yourself a manicure. Sometimes I do this just to occupy my hands! I doubt my roommate loves smelling nailpolish 5 times a day but whatever. Pamper myself and become skinny!! #winning. I think you also made a good choice by posting on here. Make a goal next time that before you open the bag of cheetos you post for help, and see if that stops you from taking the first bite. There are plenty of people here to remind you of why you should stay focused on your goals or suggest alternatives. Good luck and I have plenty more suggestions if none of these feel like they are helping. I am just starting my preop diet and have the most optimistic view right now (I have to or I would be eating cheeseburgers and fries 24/7), so I know that this may sound unattainable. I have plenty of times been in the place where I am choosing to eat, but know it is wrong and all these tools were at my fingertips then too. Just be patient, forgive yourself, and keep trying. Best of luck next time you want to snag a cheeto Also, this is my personal opinion/philosophy, and I am sure some people will/do disagree. I am happy to hear suggestions on ways to improve my tricks.

I am disappointed, I wrote a long and elaborate post to respond to this and my computer failed and deleted it.... Essentially, I am getting banded July 6th and share many of your concerns (or did). My big fears are how people will react to my weight loss and change in diet (no more chugging beers and eating pizzas with the boys). How I will like my new body (will I be a bag of skin? Will I lose weight in the right places?). And how I will cope with not having food as a comfort (I am seeking out support - therapy, overeaters anonymous, this forum, trying to start journaling). For me, as a type-A person who likes to do things right and be the best, a huge part of my anxiety was the food. Getting my supplements, taking the right Vitamins, following the rules so I don't make myself sick by being ignorant. What really eased my mind was making a list of the things I needed, calling my Drs office and asking questions when I didn't understand the packet, posting on here for more variety/first hand experience with these issues, and then actually going out and making the purchases to prepare my self to be successful. I talked to my doctor about scars and found out about/opted for single incision. I got my vitamins, found Protein powder/shakes I like, started tracking my calories (myfitnesspal.com), and bought a lapband specific cook book. I youtubed all sorts of skin remedies (I am using MSM and Biotin, and stopped tanning + more). I bought a fitness tracker (fitbit) and just set myself up for success. I ate through the excess food in my house that I wouldn't be allowed to have preop and post surgery so that it wasn't a temptation later. I made a bucket list of 10 foods I knew I would miss or restaurants I had been dying to try and I ate them all before starting my preop diet. I tried to count the calories and track them and see what I was really eating and I even took note of how I felt after each meal (to be honest when I really thought about the food, it wasn't as good as it was in my imagination). Thinking about my food I was also able to actually feel being full (not that that really stopped me from eating what I am kind of considering 'my last meals'). As for some of your direct questions, the pain can be monitored by pain killers that your Dr will prescribe. And the pain of surgery will last a few weeks most, but the emotional pain of being obese.... maybe we'll never fully kick that. Not to mention the physical pain of being obese -- chaffing, clothes pinching, sweating, walking far, stairs, sore feet, back pain, broken ankles (I fall all the time being fat and having awful balance). The reason I am doing the band instead of other bariatric surgery is because if I regret it, I can reverse it. You can get a 100% unfill, or the band removed completely. I can almost promise you will regret not getting it in a few years more than you regret getting it. I don't know if your regret is cost related (I am lucky that my insurance is paying), but when I talked to my surgeon, he asked why I decided now. I told him I got insurance that would cover it, and he said "but if you think about all the costs you have from being obese, is the band really that expensive?". I went home and crunched the numbers and I spent >$15,000 last year on food/fad diets/trainers/gyms/fat people clothes/obesity related drs appts/stretchmark creams/herbal remedies. The band costs well below that and will maybe even SAVE YOU money. I still can't imagine what it will be like not to tear through the only pair of jeans ($80/pair) that fit my body well every 3 months, and not having the perpetual "food drip oil stain" or "hole from where my stomach leans on the counter and rubs my jean zipper" on my shirts and having to buy new shirts every couple months (the same freaking shirts!!!). How nice it will be not to fight myself from breaking out the credit card at every infomercial offering weight loss/cleanse/diet pill. How it will feel to order $10 of chinese food and have leftovers rather than $40 of chinese food and wish that I had gotten those crab rangoons too. I don't mean to be corny, but you can't succeed if you don't try. You automatically fail. So worrying about failure, seems moot. If you are like me, lapband is not the first diet plan you have tried. It is the last ditch effort to get your weight and life under control. By having the surgery you are upping your chances of success hugely, and without it, at least for myself, there would be virtually no chance of success, and a better chance at gaining another 100lbs in the next 4 years. A huge reason I chose lapband was because of the automatic support it provides and the virtually guaranteed success (with patience). You are REQUIRED to see your doctor for fills and follow ups. They don't just cut out half your stomach and say "good luck". They work with you and your band to help you get the results you are looking for. The support and motivation that seeing your doctor until you have it under control, for me, is a huge win. It almost feels fool proof as long as I am willing to put in the time and wait until I find my sweet spot. My advice is to keep using this forum to ask any last minute questions you have. Re read through the surgeons packet and make sure you have no questions. Start taking the steps to success by purchasing the tools you need to begin with your best foot forward. Get into the mentality that you are about to add life to your life. Make a list of the things you want to do once you hit your goals and use that as motivation to do the preop diet and walk into the surgery feeling confident you can be successful. I started looking at all the skinny girl clothing sites that I have not fit into for >6 years and started making "shopping bags" of all the clothes I would want to fit into. I made a pinterst board of the tattoos, skydiving, rollercoasters and things that I can't or don't feel comfortable doing now, that I want to add to my life. Think of scenarios that frighten you (for me it is how I will be social with my friends without food) and make alternatives (go kayaking, see a movie, have a cookout at my house where I can provide myself with proper food, work out with the boys instead of drinking beer with the boys). My therapist helped me look up overeaters anonymous groups in my area and lapband support groups from my surgeons office and plan to attend a lot in the first few months. I'm sure it won't all be easy, but removing these "variables" has eased my mind SO MUCH. I hope this is more helpful than preachy. It was actually a huge help to me to write all this down and reaffirm why I am doing this. I wish you luck with your surgery, fellow-july-bander. And please contact me or ask more questions. I don't have all the answers and I would love as much support as I can get as I make this change. This forum has been beyond helpful for me in answering questions and realizing that I am not the only person with my concerns. I have found plenty of people with the exact same fears/concerns/flaws and sometimes they have the answers too. There isn't one way to be successful on the band, and between lapbandtalk and youtube I have found the pieces I need to feel like I can succeed. .... Can you imagine what my pre-deleted post was if this is my "essentially" version. HAHA.

I am not hairy, but i do have some peach fuzz on my stomach. do think they will shave it to do a laproscopic single incision surgery? I am worried my blonde fuzz might come in darker after.

I'm July 6th and started my preop diet today (2 days after recommended but I had to get my last few hoorah's out this weekend-- burger, beer, chips, salsa, rice). Today I managed 1200 calories, 112g carb and 88g protein. Much better Staying on track tomorrow!

I was told by my nurse that the reason for calcium citrate over carbonate is that with our lower acidic stomachs (particularly if we are taking antacids) that the carbonate will not dissolve properly and can cause kidney stones! I bought the viactiv calcium carbonate ones, and am debating sending them back. I have been reading up on it and if you take it with food (so your stomach acid is higher) or with some acidic juice (i'm thinking tomato juice or orange juice) that it might dissolve just fine. Since we do have our whole stomachs, unlike bypassers or sleevers, we probably are at less of a risk for kidney stones, but definitely be aware!! Also remember to have Vitamin D with your calcium to improve absorption, and avoid taking it within 2 hours of your multi vitamin or it will be ineffective. Yogurt and milk will probably only get you 200mg a day, so take a supplement! Women over 18 should be taking at least 700mg of calcium a day, preferably 1000mg. We can only absorb ~500mg at a time, so twice a day is helpful. I am excited to take the caramel chews and use them as a "snack" with 2 oz orange juice. Anyone taking the carbonate have kidney stone issues?

July 6th!!! I'm supposed to start my preop diet today but I haven't bought everything to start so I will do it starting sunday. Hopefully 12 days of diet will be enough to shrink my liver

I am was 280 a week ago and maintained that eating a lot of junk and Pasta. Now I am 286!! I feel bloated and gross and I have gained weight despite starting my preop diet! I am worried I am doing it wrong. I am having: 8am: 1/3 a cup of dry oatmeal for Breakfast with 1/2 cup skim milk and a splenda ~10am: 1 cup oikos greek yogurt (usually with a fruit on the bottom) 1pm: premade salad from my grocery store that says it is under 300 calories. I have been switching between santa fe salad (1oz chicken 1 oz corn/black Beans, and like a few tortilla crunchy things) and chicken caeasar (2oz chicken, 1 oz cheese) They do come with 1 oz of creamy ish dressing each, but the nutrition label says the calories (210-280 depending on the salad) 4pm: 1 skim milk string cheese 8pm: 8 oz of talapia or swai fish fliet and as much vegetables as I want. The other night I made collard greens with no added salt chicken broth and a small amount of olive oil and ate the whole pound. And before that I was grilling eggplant and zucchini on the grill or defrosting (with just water) brussel sprouts. I usually have a glass of skim milk somewhere in there too. I would guess this is around 150-350 calories per meal which is less than 2000 calories. I thought this would be a good diet!! but my body is fighting it!!! Help me figure out where I'm going wrong!!! I don't want my liver to be fatty/big when I have my surgery in 2 weeks. My hormones are not telling me to bloat right now, so what do you think is the cause? What was your preop-diet? DId you gain weight? CRAZY!

i get gas there too without having been banded. i think it is just a susceptible area. did gasx help at all?

i was looking online at different pedometers and was thinking about getting the fitbit. it monitors acceleration/steps/stairs/sleep. i think the reviews look pretty promising and it is really discreet which i like. has anyone else used a monitor of sorts to help them stay active and monitor activity after surgery? does it help? do you think something like this would be beneficial to making sure i am active enough since my exercise is sometimes limited? help regulate my calorie intake based on activity levels? opinions on which are good and whether it is helpful would be great!

can anyone recommend a good blender? i don't have one... i am hoping to get 2 blenders, one for savory one for sweet because i can sometimes taste the crossing of the two and dislike it, so a less expensive but rockin' blender would be so appreciated!! also do people suggest single serving blenders or larger blenders and store your extras? thanks!

any recommendations for Protein shakes or powders that have little after taste? that is my biggest problem (that and consistency i guess). I am getting banded in 3 weeks and really need to work this out. any suggestions or ways to get sampler packets of protein powders/shakes would be so helpful!!! thanks! also Vitamins that people use that are best? i need to take a Multivitamin and Calcium and would like to add fish oil but i have not liekd any of the liquid ones i have tried. suggestions for how to take it or brands that taste better would be appreciated!

the article specifically talks about how it is not just changing of addictions (although my therapist has mentioned this to me before as a word of caution towards my drinking and other "addictive" habits). It says that it is due to alcohol processing in bypass patients that isn't the same in lapbanders since we still have our whole stomach. however as banders, our decreased food intake does allow alcohol to be more potent in the blood stream and thus have more effects on us than pre-surgery. i would suggest trying medatation when you feel like drinking alone. i know it sounds corny but sometimes you just need to have some reflecitve time to clear your head instead of using alcohol to do it. there are lots of guided tapes and i bet you could find something on youtube to help you medatate. i usually meditate about exercise. i know it is dumb but actually it has been said it helps you release endorphins. maybe those endorphins will be the "bump" you need to get past the alcohol craving. even if you can just stop yourself from drinking a couple times a week you are on a better track. i have lots of trouble with using alcohol and food as a crutch. if you find something else that works please share!!

i think it is likely water weight from eating out so much... drink a ton of water in the next 2 days and lower your salt and i bet you lose weight. eating out and having others cook for you (particularly bbq) is so heavy in salt compared to what you normally eat. don't beat yourself up. try more water to help flush your system and report back!

i am pretty positive gallbladder pain is on the right side of the body.

i was a college swimmer too, and let myself go 3 years without swimming. I have started up again. it is hard getting back into it. i love weight lifting though. i joined a "swim team" for adults in my area about 2 years ago. it was great. everyone was triathletes or beginners and i was really keeping a good pace and working out hard, but not slower than everyone, since most were bikers and runners trying to increase their swimming. i joined a separate team of swimmers only this past year and it has been more frustrating. it reminds me of what i once could do and can't do anymore. i think the key is to just take it slow whatever you decide and don't try and compare yourself to how you once work.. at least not at first. currently, i have a pair of "tru-balance" shoes i bought over a year ago and have been walking in them to burn some extra calories. i am looking at beginner adult ballet classes too. i want to get a ballerina butt swimming never did that for me. it is harder to find than i thought though. good luck!

my surgeons office recommended unjury. do you have flavors that you use for these delicious sounding concoctions? or do you use the unflavored?