WestieLove

Yesterday was my 1 year anniversary since my band surgery. So I have been reflecting on the past year and some of the ups and downs. I just wanted to post a few thoughts as my first anniversary passes for those of you maybe thinking about getting the surgery or just those who are starting your journey post surgery. Ups - Lost 130 lbs- started my journey at 338 and this morning weighted 208... I am so close to ONEderland I can smell it! - Down from a size 26/28 to a size 14/16 - I have walked several 5 Ks - I have ran (not walked by actually ran which I haven't done in a LONG time) 20 mins straight and working on my first 5k - I work out atleast 3-5 times a week and have tried lots of new things skiing, biking, running (per above), gymnastics - I bought my first pair of pants in a non plus size store since middle school - I actually kind of like shopping - I can buckel my seat belt on an airplane with easy and have plenty of extra space - I can fit comfortably in 1 seat and not take over half of the people's next to me at movie theatres, sporting events, etc. - I don't have to judge a space to see if I can fit threw it - I have more confidence than I have had in years which has shown in my personal life and career - I am happy again- truely happy - I love healthy food and working out (never thought I would say that one) - People who I have not seen in a long time do not even recognize that it is me - I no longer let my weight hold me back from things I want to do or achieve - I could go on with this list for a long time.... Downs - Sometimes I miss overeating- it is an addiction like anything else and sometimes I miss it - I get frustrated when I go out to eat and everyone asks me if I did not like my meal because I only ate a small portion (this is only frustrating because I have told only a hand full of people I had the surgery) - I get frustrated when I get something stuck and it swells and I have to do liquids for a few days - but it is usually my own fault for eating something I shouldn't or eating too fast - I miss the social aspect of eating and drinking (wine mainly)- now I can only do 1 at a time and have to be very aware - I have had some hair loss related to loosing weight so fast This has been one of the fastest years of my life! To think of how many years went by that I kept telling myself I was going to do something to change my weight and then another year would go by and I was either the same weight or most years heavier than the year before. I am so glad I did not put this off any longer! To think that I could still weight 338 at this moment (or more) if I had not gone through with this... honestly disgusts me. Have there been some ups and downs, yes, do I miss some of the foods I can't eat, yes, do I get frustrated with my band when I have "issues", yes, do I ever regret having the surgery, never, not for one second, not in a million years. This has been the best tool I could have ever given myself to finally conquor my weight. I still sruggle from time to time and it is definatly still a journey I am working on but I could not be more greatful and happy that I made this decision.

I have always had the most success and personally feel my body functions better on low carb. I typically stay under 25 net carbs a day. However some days I feel like my fat is too high (60g usually from eggs, cheese, avocado, meats, and salad dressing) and I am not sure if I eat too much Protein (100+ grams) sometimes where my body is burning the protein and not the fat. So I have 3 questions for you low carbers... 1. How many calories do you typically eat in a day? 2. How many grams of fat do you eat in a day? 3. How much is too much protein?

What are you eating? Are your expectations too high? Are you getting the reccomended protein and water? My surgeon pushes low carb which is best for me... I have always been most successful on Atkins so that is what I am doing. I am only in mushie phase but am not eating some things other are like oatmeal, yogurt, cottage cheese, pudding, etc bc it is not low carb. But that is just what works for me. Are you logging your food... this is a HUGE help for me so I know exacltly what I am getting each day and requires me to measure my food. Might try tracking your food and showing the nutritionist in your surgeon's office for advice. Don't lose faith... its a marathon not a sprint....

I actually made broccoli soup and put unflavored whey protein in it to get the protein in and ate it once a day in addition to my shakes. I added extra chicken broth to make it runnier.

299.8!!! First time under 300 in 4+ years! I am so excited I can hardly stand it... and I got to start mushies today... first realy meal in 3 weeks... today was a good day

Congrats! I am 1.6 lbs away from joining you and can not wait! I have been bad and weighing myself daily hoping for it. I think I am only making it worse! Keep up the great work!

I totally agree about the hunger feeling different post op. It is like intense and painful. I did soooo good on the pre op diet with the shakes and did not feel hungry very often and if I did it was not painful and I could ignore it. Now every 2-3 hours as soon as I feel it it is painful and I have to get something in immediately. I was not expecting this. I am just trying to split protein shakes and eat jello cups or 1/2 cups of soups as needed to eat something every few hours. I still have till next Wednesday till I can even have mushies and 2 weeks till my 1st fill. I am hoping that will help. I think maybe bc of the plication and not having any fill in my band, the liquids are just going though my system so fast and nothing is sitting in my stomach. Hopeing the mushies will sustain me longer without the hunger pains because right now I am struggling.

I dont know if all surgeons are the same but for me there was no liquid put in the band when you have the initial surgery. It is just put in place then gives your body time to adjust to the forgein body and there is a little restriction just because it was placed at the top of your stomach. I go in 3 weeks post op to have my 1st fill.

I am also 5 days post op and am experiencing the same thing. I had band and plication and wasnt sure if my stomach was cramping/ digesting/ or I was hungry but I think I have figured out that I am getting pretty hungry and it hurts when my stomach rumbles/growls. I am trying to "eat" every 3-4 hours to help this by trying to get 4 shakes and then soup in the middle of afternoon/night if needed. I think it is odd bc I feel like i was less hungry on the 2 week pre op diet when I was on shakes only for 7 days and the pain of hunger feels worse now. I hope this gets better!

Just curious how long it too for the incision site pain to go away? I am 5 days post op and am getting better each day but my left side with the biggest incision through my muscle is still pretty sore and I have one in my bra line which I am nervous to have to go back to work and wear a bra so just curious on everyone else's experiences?

It is not like a serious intense pain it is just seriously uncomfortable. I think I just do not understand the new feelings in my plicated stomach. I think it is part gas/ sometime part hunger/ part cramping/ spazums from the plicated stomach. I just dont know how long this will last or if there is anything I can be doing to make it better.

Congratulations! I was banded/plicated 3 days ago. I feel like I am having some additional learning curves because of the plication part having to learn the new feelings in my plicated stomach... hunger/cramping/gas/digestion... maybe this is normal for just the banded part too I dont know. Hope you are recovering well!!

I had my plication/ band surgery 3 days ago. My incision sites are feeling better- except the left side where they put the band in which is the biggest incision through my stomach muscle- and the incision where my port is near my bra line... which I am nervous to try to wear a bra! Anyways... I feel like I have done a pretty good job of getting up every few hours and moving around to try and get gas out. My shoulders never hurt so I think I am going pretty good but on occassion I am having some serious internal pain. I am wondering if this is more from the plication part and I am just going to have to get use to the new feelings in my plicated stomach? It is like I can not tell if I have gas, my stomach is cramping/spazuming, im hungry, or it is just digesting. Anyone else experience this? How long does the gas last? and is it all from the surgery or do I need to try and not take air in when I eat?

Back from the otherwise I'm officially banded! A little sore but no issues keeping liquids down thus far. Going to just keep taking it slow. Thanks for all the well wishes! Best of luck to those going today and the rest of the month. What a journey we are on!

Good Luck to you! Tomorrow is my last day band free too! Going in 7:30 am Wednesday. I am hoping to get some kind of relaxation help as well... I'm sure the nervous will trump the excitment the morning of surgery!