goal130

you are a total inspiration! I started of at 195. My goal is 130. I had the lap band october 4 and am currently at 172. The weight loss seems so slow and discouraging at times. But you hung in there and you look fabulous. it gives me hope and the drive to hang in there.

One thing i always need to remind myself is that I can only eat a little bit so what I eat must be nutritious for my body and keep me satisified for a longer period of time. Its been 5 weeks and I'm finally finding my will power. I found out really early at post op that eating junk seems to go down easier than that healthy piece of chicken breast and veggies. But eating a small amount of chips would leave me hungry sooner which equalls more coloric intake in the long run. Even small amounts of bad food will be detrimental to your weight loss. You cared about yourself enough to get this surgery, now its time to love yourself enough to follow through. Its so hard to change bad habits, but if you don't, you won't succeed. Do yourself a favor and through out any food in your house that might lead to empty calories. Never shop when your hungry so you won't make unhealthy choices. Shop high protein and high fiber. Not eating the rights foods will also lead to fatigue, hair loss, and higher amounts of vitamin deficiences (which we are all succeptable to).

Great advice. My ultimate weight is 130. This was my pre baby weight 5 years ago when I was complete hottness. But bodies change with age and I might find happy at a heavier weight now. I won't really know till I get there. I aim for 5 pounds at a time since 50 would be too overwhelming. I hate the bmi, especially since it says I'm obese . But it is a good way to find a healthy weight range. So my bmi weight says 145. I will try this weight on for size and see how I feel.Your doctor should have a special scale that measures body fat and muscle. This cannot be done online with the bmi calculator.

I felt exactly the same way. I was so hungry that even the healthiest salads sounded so good. Call your dr and see if its ok to start moving on to full liquids. I noticed watery oatmeal with flaxseeds really filled me up. Another person suggested almond milk in the oatmeal. That tastes pretty good. I felt really satisfied with pureed chicken soup. I add a ton of veggies, chicken, and seasoning. Boil, then puree in the blender. You might have to opt out on the chicken since your a vegeterian. Yesterday I did the same with lentils instead of chicken and that was super delish. i realize these are ideas for pureed foods but if its watered down then i think it will be ok. Take your time and really eat slow. I was starving and would eat a few spoon fulls of purees and would be satisfied. i also found that geen tea curves my appetite and coffee sometimes enhances my cravings. I read a study that coffee can enhance the urge for sweets as a result of caffeine crash.

Just to comment on this my nutritionist told me that hair loss is a result of not getting enough protien. Aim for a minimum of 64 grams a day

I went back to work a week after and was in horrible pain. It has been 5 weeks since my surgery and I still feel tired but not exhausted like the first 2 weeks. I'm a teacher and have brain fog all the time. Water does help me alot. Now that i have a better calorie intake I have found the energy to go to the gym which has really upt my energy. Walking didn't really cut it. Try drinking green tea. It will def get better but it takes time.

I would suggest your starting weight would be your weigh in the day you start your pre-op diet. Here is a link that would be helpful to find your goal weight http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm Check with your dr reccomendations also.

I don't think it is head hunger. I totally get it because I was really hungry. Protein is def the way to go since it fills up our tummy faster. I also noticed that hydration helped battle my fatigue. Oatmeal is really good because it is creamy and a bit dense making you feel full longer.

Funny thing, I just posted something similar to your challenge. I am 1 month post op and the starving hunger began 4 days after my surgery. I don't want to give you bad advise but I listened to my body and went through the week by week reccommended food phases a little quicker than what I should have. I decided that starving all the time was not for me, especially since I was physically exhaused, almost fainted, and could not take care of my family or work. I stuck mostly to the diet but incorporated more softer solids. You are definetly going to have to try to to mix up your menu because feeling bored with your food will lead to grazing. Remember, this is life changing so your way of cooking must also change. Start with your protien, if you have room then move to veggies, and last is the starch. We are newly banded so digestion is still an issue but if you eat in this order then you should feel more full. I got my menstrual cycle 5 days late and my hormones were raging. I was craving everything and totally fell of the band wagon. I think today is my last day and I found my self control again. So if your starving then eat. But make sure its going to be something that is going to satisfy your hunger and not your craving. Good luck!

Hi There, I'm very excited for you. Today marks 1 month from my surgery so everything is still fresh in my head. Everyone heals differently but I will share my experience with you. The gas pain is the hardest part for a few days after surgery. I felt it immediatly after waking up from surgery. It feels worse in the chest and in the shoulders. I thought the pain was going to be permanent but thank goodness it subsided after about 1-1 1/2 weeks. I walked alot and it really helped. I was pretty gassy. Thank goodness for the liquid diet because I was odorless : ). I tried to burp but that really hurt my chest. The pain medication at the hospital was very helpful and helped me sleep through the pain. It was hard for me to sleep in any position. At times I felt I couldn't even sleep sitting up. That too passed about a week after. The pain medication that I was given at home wasn't as strong as at the hospital so I had to break up pieces of motrin to make it easier to swollow. I also took unisom sleep aid to help me get through the uncomfortable first nights at home. I went back to work after a week and regretted it. Luckily it was a friday and I had the extra 2 days to recover. By Monday I was fine. Total hunger hit me 4 days after surgery. I have to be honest that for the most part of my first months diet i did do more liquids but after about I week i began to incoporate softer solids. I was always starving and almost fainted so I did kind of rush through the 1st month post diet plan but made sure to eat wise choices. I'm happy i did because it was the Lap band hell that everyone refers to. I've lost 16 pounds am am so pleased. I know I would have lost more if I would have stuck to the designed week by week eating plan but I was too weak. The hardest thing now is dealing with fatigue. I know my body isn't getting enough nutrients and enough calories. I was even a week late for my menstrual cycle. Today was my first day back at the gym and this really helped my energy level. I can't wait for my first fill next sat. since i am starting to feel my appitite increase. Good luck! The first weeks will be bumpy

The firs 2 weeks after i got banded was super hard for the same reason. Then I realized that maybe its time to change all of our eating habits. If its not healthy for me, its not healthy for my children. I don't want them to face the same overweight emotional rollercoaster I faced almost my whole life. Think of it as a new chapter for your whole family.

oopsy, I meant when you first got the gastric bypass

I haven't had the same surgery but am on the lower end of the scale. I began at 195 pounds on October 4, 2012 and am currently at 183. The first 8 melted off and now the weight loss has slowed down considerably. But as long as i'm losing, its all worth it.The doctor warned me that my weight loss will be slow since I'm not "as" heavy. Just remember that u were much heavier when you initially got the gastric band so the weight loss was much quicker. The more you weigh, the faster you lose. Both you and I are at a weight were our body feels comfortable. So I guess we will have to kick it on overdrive and hope our body pushes itself. For me, i know I still have to work on a better diet. I do have a little snack everyday and that needs to stop. Be true to yourself and have patience. Good Luck!

Thank you for the advice. I am going to step it up on the protein drinks since its too early for anything else. I feel so unhealthy eating creamy soups. I tried eating small peices of chicken and veggies but they get stuck and I feel like I have a rock in my throat. I will go on my fitness pal. never used it but will try it now. When you say a cup of food. Does that mean a cup of liquid too? Since I really can't have solids.

MissE44, I so agree with you. I have a bf who got the gastric bypass and had to force herself to eat since she was never hungry. I thought id be the same but i was wrong. I must admit i had to take a diet pill today. I already cheated 3 times since my surgery last thursday. It wasn't a terrible cheat, but i did. The pill stopped the hunger. I'm just praying i can make it to my first fill.

Thank you, its definelty comforting to have someone to connect with that knows exactly what i'm going through. Awesome job on the 12 pounds!

The gas actually came back and comes and goes. I don't know how you went back to work. I am so tired today. My best friend had gastric bypass and she reccomended Isopure carb free protien drink. I went to the Vitamin Shoppe today and bought it. It doesn't look a protien drink rather like a sport drink. I got the blue one in a case. It has 40 grams of protien and is still a clear liquid so I will try it to see if i feel better. I get really bloated and look 5 months pregnant after i drink anything. I had a small miso soup today and my tummy is huge. Anyone else have this problem? Oh and i also read coffee gives you sugar cravings and you crash. That explains the sweet tooth cravings I've had since drinking that darn cup.

thank you! You just helped me put it all into perspective. I think I'm battling with the feeling of "full" and the feeling of "satisfied." My whole life, I've eaten to feel full and now i can't. Its going to be a long hard road of changing habits.

I had my surgery on October 4,2012. i had a lower bmi so my dr. didn't put me on a pre-op diet. I came home 2 pounds heavier than what I did on my surgery. I was pretty bloated for 4 days. day 2 was pretty painful but my husband rubbed my back and I burped up a lot of air.Yesterday I walked for 1 1/2 miles and took my children to the park and all the gas is gone. I actually slept on my side last night for a few hours. I did take a natural sleep aide and slept well. Today the hunger is starting to kick in and I'm feeling sluggish. I've lost 5 pounds in all. i'm sipping on tea to fill my tummy. Hope this works. Its getting harder since I have to make foods and snacks for my family. i drank a cup of coffee today for the first time since my surgery and definetly not doing that again. I think the coffee is whats making me hungry and tired. I would love to hear how your doing since our surgery is so close in date.

I got banded last thursday and total hunger is hitting me today. Can anyone tell me how to feel more full during clear liquids stage. I started the day with a cup of coffee. Its my first one since my surgery. i don't know if this has affected my hunger and energy level. Today I feel sluggish. i'm def going to stay clear of coffee for a while.

Its like saying "your not THAT fat". Well they are saying your fat. 40 pounds over weight is still considered obese and should be taken serious. i need to lose 60 pounds and am the same boat as you. Like you, I'd rather take prevenative measures now before the problem gets worse.

I have 60 pounds to lose and i don't like when people tell me I'm crazy and that I'm not "that big." I know its not 100 + pounds to lose but it sure is still hard as hell to lose it. The struggle shouldn't be disregarded just because your not morbiddly obese. I've been trying to lose the weight for years and I just keep packing on the pounds. I'm sure there are a great deal of people whom wish they would have got the lap band before their weight gain hit the triple digits. I'm right with you and am planning to get the lap band next month. Good luck on your journey!