jg9956

Wow! That's great...sounds like you picked a great Dr...I would love to have all that! Our local gym, costs $110 per month...that's their way of taking advantage of being the only outfit in town. It's ridiculous.

I'm knocking on wood right now...but my hair has never been healthier! I used to lose so much in the shower before surgery and now it's very minimal. I'm excited that it's the opposite from what I was expecting. I think for once I'm treating my body well and it's responding well. Obviously what I was doing before was depriving myself of what my body needed. A friend of mine experienced hair loss and it grew back in time. Hang in there, I'm sure that can be frustrating. I hear that Biotin is a good supplement for that. It wouldn't hurt to try I dont think? And maybe not wearing a ball cap or tight hairbands for awhile as to not pull on it anymore than necessary? (if you do) I wish you the best of luck

Yes, if you do not feel comfortable, look for another Dr. even if it means driving a distance. You don't want to regret your decision later because there is no going back. It's interesting for me that someone said if you're addicted to sweets to not have the Lap Band. I am addicted to sweets but fall in a different category...I am a pastry chef and need to taste my product on occasion, therefore I couldn't very well have dumping syndrome all day at the bakery! lol But on another note, it is very hard with the band to keep away from the sweets, especially knowing you can have them with no awful side effects. I'm in a tough spot, sometimes I wish I hadn't had the band so that I would'nt be able to touch sweets but knowing that I can eat normally is wonderful. I don't want to be running to the bathroom if I make a slight mistake and take a bite of a cupcake.

Hang in there. I feel the same way, although I'm a month out from surgery, I feel like, why doesn't anyone notice I've lost 30lbs?! My family does not notice at all...very frustrating! Even my own husband! The only person that commented was my kids' bus driver! LOL and even then, it was just, wow, you look slimmer in your face. I was pretty bummed when I went to visit my BFF after not seeing her for nearly 3 months and mind you, she had WLS herself...she didn't notice! It's definitely hard because I notice myself shrinking and my pants size down. I'm hoping this is all just a long, slow process and hey, at least they aren't talking behind our backs saying OMG, so and so looks really sick, wonder if something is wrong with her? Like I've admittingly done to other people I know that have had gastric bypass because they lose so fast. Guess we can take solice in knowing that we are doing the right thing...slow and easy. It will pay off!

I did get quite a bit of information ahead of time and also met with the nutritionist as well as a behavorial eating and nutrition class. My problem is, it was a lot of talk, not a lot of take home material. I took alot of notes, but honestly, I'm a small business owner and I'm consumed by notes and stress, therefore I'm sure they got pushed aside, or I was quick writing and they didn't end up making much sense. By the time surgery came, I had forgot a lot of what we discussed. No to mention, our groups were not specifically toward one surgery or another, so alot of my information was jumbled between sleeve, roux en y etc. I wish it was more band specific. I was the only bandster, so I felt a little left out. I was confused at times and so excited for surgery, I was a little blindsided by what I needed to do. I should have certainly taken much more time to become educated about the whole process,not just leading up to, but aftercare. I definitely strongly encourage those in the beginning stages to take all the notes you can, read all you can, ask every question imaginable, whether you think it's stupid or not. I'm a little on the shy side in front of groups and if I had one thing negative to say, is that I wish it were a little more one on one rather than in groups like high school. I had things I wanted to ask, but wouldn't in front of other people. Alot of regrets and now I'm making up for it, but I'm doing well, but live and learn

HaHa, I know all you Southern folks think it's going to be "cool" in January in Florida! I will be the silly one on the beach in shorts, I'm sure. But right now, I'm in the coldest spot in the country, a mere 0 degrees this morning! Try that for chilly! haha So even 50 degrees sounds tropical to me! My husband and I are going to Fort Lauderdale on a reward trip he is part of for his job. It's an all expense paid trip for a week. Woo hoo Trust me, I am a thrift store shopper for sure, I love a good deal. Problem here is, they just don't have lighter clothes out right now, so that's out of the question. I am not sure if we are going to be renting a car while we are down there, so I don't know how easily I will be able to get around. Hopefully there are some stores near where we are staying! Plus, I'm also on time schedule with his other employees, as I'm sure his boss has an itinerary for some of the days. But, if anyone knows of anything near Ft Lauderdale, I certainly welcome your suggestions! I'm always game for thrifty shopping no matter where I go!

I am headed to Florida in January and in need of 16-18 summer clothing. If you still have anything, I would be interested

From the beginning of this whole process, my bariatric center was great. Informative and supportive. I expected my approval to take almost 6 months, so when I was approved at three months, I was excited yet scared to death. It was a whirlwind from there. I met my surgeon once for a half a minute before surgery. He was nice, good looking lol but that's all I had to go on. I didn't even see my surgeon while I was being sedated on the operating table. He then stopped by at 8pm after 8 hours of pain to tell me I could stay overnight. He didn't tell me until the next morning that he repaired a hernia and that's what was causing my extreme nausea. Then he said I could go home. I begged 4 different nurses that day to provide me with a post op diet. Never did get an adequate one. Nothing with calories/protein amounts or suggestions. Went home and figured it out by researching online and with the help of LBT My post op was like I was a # on a conveyor belt. I asked questions but was rushed as if everyone wanted to go home. My dr. suggested ground turkey when I said I was having a hard time getting anything in me. Mind you, I was one week post op! I was supposed to be on liquids! Needless to say, my surgeon is not horrible, I just feel like he's taken on too many patients to give us the attention we need. He is the only surgeon at the bariatric center and also performs non-bariatric surgeries as well. Too much in my opinion. I also now only visit his office and never go to the bariatric center again which is a bummer. I feel like the only support I had was there. Now I'm in an office full of all walks of life. From Botox to hip replacements. I can certainly figure it out on my own but feeling important to your Dr. Should be his priority. We will see what happens from here...my first fill is in 2 weeks. I will certainly be more vocal at my next appointment. I joined Lbt for support and comraderie. It's here that I get my most useful information. Sometimes people don't think before they comment and come off rude and crude, but for the most part there are people that genuinely want to have your back. I wish I could say I have the most fabulous support system from my family to my surgeon but I don't, that's why I'm here!

Feel free to add me, cakeplacid. I'm new...only 4weeks out from surgery.

Cakeplacid

I understand completely. I ordered take out almost every night of the week before I was banded. And it was good quality food...not McDonalds or Burger King. However, that is how I kept creeping up in weight and led me to 270lbs and counting. I'm not going to lie, I miss it at times, but I feel so much better now that I cook my own food. I still get take out maybe once a week but it's much healthier, all protein, no carbs and usually only eat half and save the other for the next day, or better yet, share it with my kids. I run a very busy lifestyle so it's hard to cook all of the time. Not to mention, the extra $150+ a week in my purse is so worth it! I couldn't believe how much money I spent on take out. I could've saved to buy a house after all those years! lol

I'm still very new at this but I average about 900-1000 cals per day and it tells me the same thing. I checked out weight watchers to see how many calories I would normally consume with their program like I had in the past and I was around 1800, which is obviously way too much for a bariatric program. However, I wasn't moving at that calorie range so I find when I step up my calorie intake to just above 1200 it helps me lose weight more. Maybe you should try upping your calories one or two days per week to give your metabolism a little shake up. Just make sure you're eating good foods for the extra calories. Good luck!

My husband did the same thing. We as women/mothers tend to act like superwoman and try to do it all, therefore giving them the idea we are ok without them. They're morons, they'll never get it...trust me, we may actually be better off without them while we try to heal lol

So I am 3 weeks out and Dr. ok'd me to start mushies and turkey with gravy etc...I said I wasn't going to over indulge on Thanksgiving, but I did...although I was still somewhat good. No rolls, very little stuffing and pecan pie without the crust. I had turkey with gravy, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, veggies, cranberry sauce and watergate salad. I started with a very small plate and shhh...went back for seconds. I don't have restriction right now, my first fill isn't for a couple more weeks, therefore I don't necessarily feel any different when eating slightly past my limit, such as yesterday. However, as of two days ago, I hit a plateau and had not lost anything since my first week after surgery. I kept thinking maybe I was under eating and it was stalling me. I specifically told my sister, watch, I ate this Thanksgiving dinner, stuffed myself and it will probably boost my metabolism. That it did. Woke up this morning 4lbs lighter! Guess I did need to eat a little more afterall. Ive been so scared to eat over 1000 calories per day, but in fact I really do believe it is what is stalling me. Anyone else splurge a little or have any advice? Anyone not losing like they should? It makes me hate the band right now because I want to see that loss, even if it is 2lbs a week, I'll take it. But I'm stuck and it's so frustrating. I hope this 4lbs lasts and doesn't creep up somehow. I think it's time to start exercising more?

Thank you everyone for your kind words. Thank you to those of you that reached out to me through private message. This was exactly what I was thinking LBT was going to be when I joined. I understand that certain people have no filter and that is the way they are. I'm not judging anyone just the way that I don't want to be judged. All I have to say to certain individuals is congrats to you if you've made it through this process mistake-free...perhaps I cannot be that perfect, nor do I want to be. If life was perfect, it would be boring and unfullfilling to me. I am going to make mistakes and hope that I learn from them. I'm early in my weight loss journey, some of you are at goal...please don't forget they days when you were in my shoes. When I read the first few posts, I was distraught to be honest. I cried in my 1 cup bowl of turkey chili...in front of my kids, nonetheless. They couldn't figure out why mommy was crying while she was eating. I couldn't explain it to them other than to just tell them to treat others the way you would want to be treated. A couple of things struck a nerve to me. First and foremost that the pie killed me. Now, not knowing my personal struggle with food or just everyday life, I wouldn't expect anyone to know that would hurt so much. I went through a long period of time where I secretly struggled with suicide. Maybe not over pie, exactly LOL but food was a huge issue for me that made me depressed. Secondly, that I chose food over family. I never once chose food over family, EVER. I sat at a dinner table with my parents, my sister and her family and my own two beautiful children. It was never about food. Sure I was excited to eat, but to say that...those are fighting words. My father told me during dinner that I needed more on my plate...I politely told him, I can't eat more than this. He took it as me starving myself. I said, NO I really cannot eat more or I will vomit. Enough said. My father never liked seeing me over weight, as he has never had weight issues, but yet always wanted to make me happy, even if it meant feeding me more than I needed. I deal with this on a daily basis. Family who doesn't really support me, a semi-supportive husband who understands but at the same time, lost his eating buddy. And then my kids, who don't understand why I can't eat the way I used to. Their too young to understand all of it's complications. So yes, everyday is a struggle for me...I don't need a stranger to point their finger at me and tell me what I'm doing wrong or that I'm a complete failure. Food is all around me...I will always struggle...I'm a pastry chef, I own a cupcake and cake bakery. My husband is a manager for Dunkin Donuts. Together we are a recipe for disaster LOL And this is why I empathize with the two donut hole girl! haha. I was the 25 donut hole girl, the 6 cupcake girl, the frappuccino girl, the fresh baked sugar cookie girl...oh i could go on and on... Long story short, I understand where the negativity was coming from. I don't like it, but I understand it. I just think words can be used differently. Think before you write...think about what your words can do to another person that you don't even know. We're all here to support each other. Thanks again to everyone that appreciated my honesty and stood up for me. You're the best!

Thank you Floridays... I believe you did misunderstand me and that's totally OK, I just wanted to clear up what I was trying to say. I just wanted some feedback really about what anyone else went through for Thanksgiving or if anyone else finds themselves at a stand still, if I'm not eating enough calories and so forth... Apparently Cheryl finds it ok to judge when I was being HONEST. I'm sure there are a lot of people on here that wouldn't admit online that they overate at 3 weeks. I wasn't asking for harsh criticism, I was asking for advice. Being as far out as some are, I would expect words of encouragement, because after all, I'm sure those people have had tough times, too. It's sad that people will make you feel awful for eating 1/16 of a pie on a holiday. Really? Apparently 3 weeks does not cure my love of food and neither will 3 years out...it's about adjusting to it. I'm a smart girl, I can figure that out. It's not easy...I'm learning...and I'll be successful because I have support, not people telling me I'm sabotaging myself when I fall off track for one stinking second. Wow.

I'm not feeling guilty that I over indulged at all. It was one day, one holiday. While overall I have to change what I eat, the whole purpose in having the lap band was so that I could still consume the foods that I love, just in moderation. I'm early on, yes, but I've been dieting for nearly 20 years and I'm well aware of what it takes to lose weight. I am proud of myself for what I did eat yesterday...considering it was a fraction of what I would have eaten pre-band. That to me is success. Perhaps it sounds like much when I say I over ate, I had seconds and I had pecan pie...my first plate was very small, I was being cautious because I wasn't sure what it would take to fill me up, and as I went into the second plate...I'm talking maybe 1/4 cup more of food. And for the pecan pie, we're talking 1/16 of a pie, so at 250 calories, probably less considering I didn't eat the crust, I feel I did pretty good! I definitely ate more than perhaps I should have, being 3 weeks out, but like I said, it's a fraction of what I used to eat and I knew right away it was too much and learned from it. My body has always worked well with less eating and then taking a day to amp up the intake to give my metabolism a bit of a shake up, I really feel this was the case. Maybe I should try that carb cycling everyone keeps talking about? Of course, I do not intend to eat Pecan pie and Thanksgiving everyday...I am pretty sure I know better than that! LOL

3 weeks out and I'm planning on having a little of everything. It's of course my favorite holiday and I don't want to deprive myself or I'll indulge later. Of course I'll skip the rolls and the stuffing but definitely eat the turkey mixed with gravy first and then a little sampling of all of the other yummy stuff! I'll probably skip dessert and just go for the cranberry sauce. I'm not loving sweets lately, and this is coming from a pastry chef! Happy Thanksgiving!

I've become addicted to looking at recipes on pinterest. I'm too trying to find ways to tweak them. I'm a pastry chef and this has almost inspired me to try different recipes at my bakery. I think something looks super delish so I make it, even knowing I can't have it, it just makes me happier now that other people love it. It's really strange. I am hungry all the time and trying hard to stay within dr.s orders but I've advanced myself a little to the next stage because of my hunger. I am a "foodie" by profession and my palate is a little more advanced, so protein shakes and broth just do not cut it for me. Good news is that I'm down 12lbs from surgery on 11/2.

I just got banded 3 days ago and in fearful of being where you are. I too have a bit of a food obsession. I'm finding myself now, even not being hungry, still wanting that delicious food , especially sweets. I hope I can overcome it. I don't think it's realistic to have chicken and veggies forever but I think people like us need to find a balance that allows us to have something forbidden once and awhile, because what's the fun anymore? I'm a foodie due to my profession and can't imagine never eating some of the things I love ever again . I think counseling is a good idea, but it's only us who are accountable for our actions. We just need to find that balance. I think u can enjoy your favorite foods in moderation. Just allow yourself maybe once or twice a week to not feel deprived... Just keep portion in mind as delicious as it tastes. I hear you, you're not alone.

Banded on Friday 11/2 and I agree, I had less pain with my 2 c-sections! Having a hard time getting all of the water in, I feel so full. My back is aching and can't sleep because im a belly sleeper. The minute I even try to turn a little to my side it feels like all of my insides are floating around lol. I had a hernia repair as well, I'm sure that doesn't help. I hope I feel better soon. I own my own business and it can't run without me, which means no income

Yes, I'm a pastry chef, cake designer, cupcake maker...I own a successfull cake business and I'm on day one of my pre-op liquid diet. I have no idea how I will ever make it through these 9 days...working in the bakery this morning, I quickly realized how bad my habits were. I kept grabbing, unconsciously for cookie dough, an extra piece of chocolate, a little lick of frosting and had to stop myself. Honestly, I don't know if I even did take a sample of anything, my unconscious eating habits have gotten that bad. I'm starving...I have a headache and I just want to stuff a turkey club, chips and a cupcake in my mouth. I certainly hope this gets better after surgery, and certainly hope its worth it, considering my love affair with food. Surgery is November 2nd 2012 and I'm feeling depressed about it, wondering if I've made the right decision. I know I need to push through, I'm just hoping I'm not the only one feeling this way? It's not like I can distance myself from food...it's my livelihood. I also hope that I will still have the drive to come up with new recipes. I found myself wanting to make something different today, and then telling myself who cares, you can't have it anyway, what's the point? Oh boy, I hope I can get past this! Or I'll be broke! LOL and hungry....

Currently laying in bed, IV hooked up and should be going in very soon! Very nervous. I made it through the shakes and happy to say I've lost 14lbs! Happy surgery day to me.

One week from surgery! November 2nd is my date. Day 3 of the pre-op diet which consists of 4 shakes per day plus one yogurt and a juice. I can drink as much water, sugar free drinks as I want. Sugar free popsicles and broth. It's tough, as some of you know, I own a bakery and spend all of my time around cupcakes and sweets, so it's definitely a big struggle. However, I find myself wanting breads, ,pasta etc. and not so much the sweets, like before. 6 more days of liquids...I wish I had a preop diet like some of the others on here! I would be satisfied with a bowl of veggies right now