Lisa0203

My doc says 3 days full liquids then 1-2 days mushies.

57 and counting!

Haven't checked in since week #1...down to 226.4. That's 3.2 lbs from last check in and 7.2 total for the month! Going on a cruise next week which will be the ultimate test of strength and will power!!!

As someone who worked at a Jazzercise for a few years, I was always told if someone asked for sneaker recommendations for dance/aerobics it is wise to tell them that cross trainers provide the best support. Running shoes don't provide enough support for the directional changes you make during dance. They also don't usually have a ton of grip on the floor allowing you to change direction more easily which takes a lot of stress off your hips, knees, and ankles. The Nike Musique and Ryka Studio D are worn by many of the women and fitness instructors of all ages and seem to be very popular.

Staten Island here! I'm 3 months banded.

Sorry about that!!! So, most of us have been able to lose a considerable amount of weight with the many diets we've tried throughout the years but have not been able to keep it off for the long haul. Not sure who on this site says this on a regular basis, but it's 100% true...until restriction, it's just another diet! Use this time to learn and practice the eating habits of a skinny person. By the time you would typically have lost a bunch of weight in a diet, you will have gotten several band adjustments that will help you from putting the weight back on. You must take the time now to do the diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes so when you finally do have restriction you are that much more ahead of the game. I know it's hard but you can do it! Just because you can eat it, doesn't mean you should!

Here's the way I look at this bandster he'll...most, if not all of us have been able to lose a considerable amount of weight

My NUT says a cup of coffee a day is fine, but any more than that reduces the amount of calcium that our bodies absorb. Also, I've been instructed to not take calcium supplements within 1 hour of drinking coffee because they negate each other.

I would do the lap band first. Losing weight could very well reduce the amount of pain you are experiencing in the knee and you may be able to put it off for a while. As far as the crutches causing you pain...it's very important that they be fit to you properly. Adjusting them for your height is easy because the measurements are on the bottom. The most important part though is the hand bars. Make sure the underarm portion is approx 2 fingers below your armpit when standing tall. Then, move the hand bars til they hit just where the heel of your hand is. When walking with them, make absolute certain you put all of your body weight on your hands, not your armpits. It's much more safe and painless for you to get around! Last resort, wrap the armpit pieces with hand towels and rubber bands to give more cushion. Good luck with both surgeries and best wishes for a healthy and speedy recovery!!!!

Checking in at 229.6...down 4lbs this week! Have a great week everyone!!!!

They make spanx workout wear now and some stores sell compression yoga pants (old navy is one such store). Haven't tried the spanx pants since they are like $80 but I love the ON ones...hold everything in nice and tight! Congrats on your fantastic weight loss!

I am a coding and OASIS-C specialist working from home as a home healthcare auditor. Basically, I am privately contracted by home health agencies to review the work of their nurses and therapists to make sure they are paid as high as possible without being fraudulent under Medicare guidelines. And now that I've put you to sleep...!

It's an abdominal binder..you can find them online or at medical supply stores for around $30. They help hold your belly in when moving around and also help your posture. I used to own a medical supply store and sold quite a few...better to upsize if possible because they run rather small. Feel better!

I had pain at the port site...it's very normal. Feels like you did a million crunches! It helped to hold a pillow against by belly when getting up or down because that's when you engage those abs. Good luck on your journey and welcome to the other side!!!

I'm scheduled for my first fill tomorrow morning and I'm not sure I want it. Banded 10/11/12, I've lost 47lbs...couldn't be more thrilled! My weight loss has slowed to about 1lb per week which is still fantastic, but I've found over the past 3 weeks that I'm looking to snack in between meals. To this point I've managed to lose my weight by measuring portions, tracking calories, and exercising. I'm scared that I will be hugely disappointed if I find that after a fill I have difficulty eating certain foods...especially eggs and meat. I just know that not being able to have something makes me want it that much more!!!

Well, my "first" fill is over! Turns out I was pre filled during surgery and I had no idea! My doctor was fantastic and stayed with me for quite some time while he added and took out fluid til I was comfortable. I was so nervous that he would just add what he wanted and let me walk out the door without any say in the matter. Boy, was I wrong. Felling great...now to full liquids for 3 days...should be fun! LOL

Thank you so much for the encouragement! I am committed to making this lifestyle change and will be sure to be as conservative as my Dr will allow. I will definitely keep you posted on my progress. Optimizing the bands potential is a key to my success, but knowing I've been able to manage til now with shear willpower alone assures me every day that I am able to change my life in so many positive ways!

Name, real or screen~Lisa S. Goal weight for January 29th~223 Weight on January 1st~233.6 Age~32 Dietary goal for January~ Increase servings of vegetables and fruits, decrease carbs Exercise goal for January~ Increase my cardio kickboxing workouts to at least 4x per week Personal goal for January~Make the same smart choices I make at home while on my weeklong cruise at the end of the month. Be more focused and on task while working from home. Date banded~ 10/11/12 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~46 lbs What is your favorite New Year Activity?~Spending time with those I love and dreaming of how we can make this year better than the last!

Mine required chest X-rays and breathing deeply into a machine. Also, he asked question about snoring and sleeping habits so he could decide whether to send me for a sleep study. It was quick and painless...good luck!!!!

10 months for me! My doc is part of a center for excellence and required 6 month diet, nutritionist, psych clearance, sleep studies, cardiac clearance, pulmonology clearance, ultrasounds, Doppler tests, EGD/gastric clearance, several support group meetings, etc. etc. etc. I know it sounds like a lot...and it was! BUT, having full knowledge of my health status prior to surgery was not only reassuring to me but it also gave my doc an indication of how successful I would be post op. Today, I am 2 months post op and 42 lbs down!!!!!

Hi All! I was banded almost 8 weeks ago and have been taking the Unjury/Opurity brand of multivitamin and calcium chewables. My Dr and nutritionist would like their patients to switch to the pill version of vitamins after 8 weeks, so rather than buying several kinds I figured I'd ask for suggestions. As I said, I am almost 8 weeks postop, I have no fill in my band (which I would like to keep that way for as long as possible), and I have already lost close to 40lbs. I haven't had any "stuck" episodes or even any discomfort, but I am fearful of purchasing vitamins that are big enough to cause any of those problems! Somehow, in my brain, I cannot process how I have to chew chew chew my food but I can swallow a whole solid pill and not have any issues. My instructions are no chewables, no gummies, no Viactiv...1 multivitamin daily, 1500mg calcium daily. Any suggestions would be SO greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Thank you everyone for your suggestions! My Dr. says no more chewables unless absolutely necessary because, as someone with a Calcium/Vitamin D3 deficiency already, it is sometimes best to take supplements that can be absorbed slowly by the body. My labwork already came back for my 1 month post op as being low on calcium/D3, and that is with taking 1500mg daily + 1 multivitamin. So, I will follow Dr's orders and see what happens at my 3 month labwork. I'm actually looking forward to being able to swallow my pills...no matter how many days went by, there is no getting around that chalky, sweet, sour taste! Yuck!

No need to be nervous! I had my staples removed at my 1 week post op appointment and barely felt a thing. Just a tiny tug on the skin...no more than if you pulled the skin on the back of your hand. Good luck!

I just realized... I'm sitting here wide awake on Thanksgiving night!!!! And...it's fantastic!!!! I'm 6 weeks post op, 30lbs down from surgery date and I used my tools to get through the day. I prepared 1 cup of food and survived!!! To think, this time last year I had already taken 2 naps, pulled leftovers from the fridge and made myself a sandwich, and been ready to call it a night! Holiday coma no more! No thanks!!!!!

NY here too! Would definitely love to hear your secrets to success! My nutritionist and I are on the same page...diets don't work. Skinny people are skinny because they know when to stop! Will not be counting carbs, calories, sugars, etc. Had surgery 10/11/12 and feeling fantastic so far. Drives me nuts on here to read "you can't eat this, don't eat that"...didn't get fat eating "A" cheeseburger. Got fat eating a double quarter pounder and a large fries washed down with a chocolate shake!!!!