much2gain

I know your time is valuable, so I'll get to the point. I need your advice!! I'm considering writing a book about being morbidly obese and the struggles related to it and also how losing weight has improved my quality of life. For reference, I've lost over 250 pounds myself. I really want to make sure I don't leave anything out. So, will you let me know your biggest struggle and, after your surgery, what are you looking forward to enjoying? It can be anything... even if you think it's silly. Thanks everyone!

I know your time is valuable, so I'll get to the point. I need your advice!! I'm considering writing a book about being morbidly obese and the struggles related to it and also how losing weight has improved my quality of life. For reference, I've lost over 250 pounds myself. I really want to make sure I don't leave anything out. So, will you let me know your biggest struggle and,if you were able to overcome it, how did you do it? It can be anything... even if you think it's silly.

I feel your pain.. literally. I've been in your shoes. I've had things stuck and I've also had a slip after 3 years with my band. Of course, these are my recommendations but if you can't get anything down, acid reflux, pain, etc.. demand for an unfill from your doctor. In most cases, the ER can't help you. Go on a liquid diet immediately! Your esophagus and stomach are irritated. They need time to calm down. Don't gulp the water; sip. Sip all day long. Warm liquids helped me more than cold; decaf tea, broth, and most importantly, Protein shakes. You have to get your protein and your Water in. Stay away from acidic foods such as coffee, juices, caffeine. A liquid diet is rarely fun but this is the fastest way to relief outside of an unfill. Depending on your true level of pain, restriction, etc.. you should start to feel a bit better day by day (maybe about 3 days until total relief). Oh.. and try not to drink anything a few hours before bed. That really helped me to with the sliming and reflux when I layed down.

Thank you for sharing your story! I'm going to add a little warning on a band slip too, which I am currently experiencing for a second time. (A little personal background.. I've had my band for just over 3 years now, have lost 230 pounds, generally a healthy eater but always struggle with emotional eating) Just a month ago, food was not staying down at all, no matter what I ate. A few months prior, my mother passed away and then I went on a cruise that was planned the year prior. Stress, grief, and motion sickness took it's best shot on my body. liquids were the only things staying down until I started to get unbelievable acid reflux. It burned when I was sitting up and felt like I was drowning in it when I layed down. My stomach constantly felt like it was being squeezed. I immediately went to see my doctor and sure enough, it had slipped. He immediately put me on a liquid diet for a month and removed all the Fluid in my band (I was tight and just past "green" into the "red" zone). After about 4 days, the reflux was gone but I still constantly had what I call "tornadoes" in my stomach. Everything I drank made a sound like it was swirling down a drain and through my band and I constantly burped. Eventually, that sensation/sound went away. After the month's time, I went back to the doctor and, luckily, it had moved back into the correct position. I was very lucky! -- Currently, all it took was one bite of chicken and part of a white flour biscuit. I chewed and chewed because I knew it wasn't a wise choice. I was missing solid Protein and it was calling my name. Since that night and one nasty explosive need for it to come back up, I've had the reflux, tornadoes and pain between my shoulder blades. I immediately went back on a liquid diet. I spoke with my Dr. yesterday (it's going into a holiday weekend) and that was his recommendation too. I got advice from my wellness clinic and went on strong reflux medication (OTC). Thankfully, it took the burn away within a few hours. Today (day 3 1/2), I am extremely tired, nauseous and it has taken me 6 hours to sip 16 oz of Water. I'm hoping this slip corrects itself too. But, my Dr. has also warned me that they have seen more and more bands come out around the 3-5 year marks. For some reason unknown, the body begins to react differently to the band. I'm currently in the process of serious consideration of removal and possibly the sleeve. I'm so scared of gaining any weight back but I miss solid healthy food. Thankfully, I love Soups and soft foods so I have been very happy but to have broccoli and solid Proteins again would be pretty nice too.

I need advice and I'm curious about how others got to their goal weight. I've had my lap band for a year and a half. I've lost 130 pounds after the band (211 total) and have 40-50 more pounds to go until my personal goal. I workout 4-6 times a week; spin class, weights/barbell strength class, cycling outside, TRX, light running, Water aerobics. My average calorie intake a day is 1300 and I generally don't eat back my calories after working out. I get 70-100g Protein per day and drink about 100oz of water a day. I have my moments of weakness but they are still generally within my daily calorie count; Peanut Butter is my weakness. About once every 10-14 days I'll go over my calorie count by 500-800 calories to mix things up. -- I have a 10cc band and it's filled to about 9 right now. But, I don't feel much restriction. I can still nibble on just about anything, but I can't eat even close to what I used to; I can handle eggs at dinner but not Breakfast, I can eat raw veggies in small bites/quantity, sweets go down way to easy, white bread is tough but crackers are fine. My diet is usually yogurt and coffee with sweat cream for breakfast, low carb lunch around 300 calories (cottage cheese and canned salmon is a good example), dinner varies and usually has higher carbs since I'm a muncher but still count calories and around 400 calories. I'm stuck and I can't seem to lose anything!!! I have a body lift (major plastic surgery) scheduled at the end of September and my Dr would like me to lose 20-30. It's still 6 months off but I need to lose it now! What kinds of things do you recommend to get this last 40-50 off.. heck, even just the 20-30? When people say it gets harder, they aren't kidding!! I know that your comments are simply that and not doctor's advice so feel free to be open with your responses. Also, band veterans, what is your average calorie count per day? Again, I know that everyone is different but I'm just really curious. It seems that low is normal and healthy for weight loss surgery folks but I would really like feedback. (My stats: 5'10", current weight 250)

Thank you, everyone, for all the great comments!! It really is nice for everyone to go into such detail on their personal journeys. Food, weight, exercise, and our safe journey is such an incredible balancing act.

Looking good, Scout!! I just scheduled mine for late September with Dr. Stoker in LA (known from Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss). I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. I live in KS so there is a lot of planning required and I'm also trying to raise funds to cover costs. (Gofundme.com/much2gain). I've signed up for a few 5K's and a mini triathlon to keep me on track and lose the last few pounds before surgery. I keep telling my friends "I can't wait until my body stops chasing itself." Loose skin in general is not sexy or enjoyable to have on a daily basis but it become especially painful and annoying when exercising, as you probably know. Thanks for all your posts and encouragement!!!! Keep posting and I plan to do the same for future candidates when my time comes for surgery.

Scout...I have my body lift consolation tomorrow. If you could do that all over again, what questions might you ask?

There's always someone up on their box, or in this case, horse, looking for a verbal fight. Whether you agree with a few sentences of this thread or not, please get off your horse Cowgirl and appreciate what Scott has tried to do here; give all of us a first hand account of a major surgery. He has taken the time to research, experience and document with incredible detail his personal surgery for all for us. It takes a lot of courage, strength and dedication to post as much detail as he has, answer all of our questions honestly and be as open as possible. I'm not saying all of us are not allowed to speak our minds but you would rather continue with your verbal negativity, I think I speak for many people by saying, please take it to another thread. We would all like to get back to the positive work that is being shared here.

I got a lap band over a year ago and find that my body tells me when enough is enough with both my band and my digestive system. I was reading the recent addition of Men's Health (March 2014) and came across this great snippet of information. It's explains, maybe, why I've become more sensitive. It's so good I had to share! The 30 Percent Solution If your weight is trending upward, consider this: Australian research shows that cutting calories by nearly a third primes your body for easier weight loss. Obese men who did that increased their production of satiety hormone, and their small intestines became more sensitive to recognizing food, all of which makes it easier to stick to a diet. The changes too place within 4-12 weeks. Study author Christine Feinle-Bisset, says this calorie-cutting diet may boost the function of receptors in your intestinal walls that had become desensitized earlier during weight loss. Use a good log to stick to the plan, she says.

I've had the same issues with machines hitting my port area. Here are a few things I've learned from classes.... Lay on your back and put your feet up in the air. Now lower one leg and tap your heal to the floor going as slow as you can (or try to lower but not to the floor), raise your leg back up and do the same with the other leg. Repeat. Lay on your back and put your feet up again but bend your calves like you're sitting in a chair but up in the air. Now extend your leg like you're pedaling a bike in the air. Lay on your back and put your feet in the air. Lay your arms at your side and crunch up. A little goes a long way. Lay on your back and put your feet in the air. Crunch up reaching your left hand up towards your right toe; an then right hand to left toe. Lay on your back and put your feet in the air. Crunch up a little and rotate your core slightly left, center, slightly right, center. I'm sure there are a ton more but this should get you going. Good luck and have fun.

I'm a year and a half out and live in the KC area (like you, I believe). Check out your local area. Are there community centers that you can join verses a gym? They can be less expensive and just as nice if not nicer. Snap Fitness is also a good choice if you don't like the crowd of a gym. Their treadmills aren't that great but they are open 24/7 and have a great variety of equipment. Do you like DVD's in your own home or enjoy getting outside? If you stay home, really work hard during the dvd. Don't pause, don't skip a part.. push yourself! My biggest advice is to get out there and do what you love. Exercise is grueling when it's stuff you don't enjoy doing. For example, I really hate the treadmill and taking walks.. but I love kayaking, rowing, strength training, etc. Look at your exercise equipment as an investment in you. Think of how much you're now saving on not eating fast food and junk, and put that money into keeping healthy. On top of finding what you love and doing it, strength train!! Building muscle will not only burn more calories but you will look and feel toned. It's a great feeling!

I'm looking also for a local plastic surgeon for a body lift. I've also looked into the two doctors mentioned and met with one. Any other recommendations out there from anyone?

I am almost a year and a half out from my lap band surgery and I still get this "pain" after eating a meal and it usually comes with some gas and bloating too. Nothing too major, just noticeable. If I eat much more than I should, the pain/gas/bloating can become painful and last up to 24 hours too. It's not "doubled over in pain", pain but enough to make me uncomfortable when sleeping at night. This is more my signal of when I am full verses the band telling me I've had enough.

Strange question... what does the gas and bloating feel like? I've had my band for about a year and a half and still not quite to the "green zone". My definition of "full" is not near the band since I can eat just about anything but in smaller quantities. Now, if I eat too much I get a pain in my side just under my port area and then it moves into my digestive track. Not to get to personal but it will then move into a tight abdomen feeling (bloating?) that can last up to 24 hours. I've tried gluten free and that didn't seem to make a difference. I'm generally not a big dairy eater either. It's just food in general. Anyone else get the pain in their side and then the bloating?

Wow!!! You look fantastic and you can really tell you've been careful and healing well! It's so exciting! Thanks for sharing the photo.

I'm in the same boat! I can't seem to wrap my brain around the "transforming/new" me. I've lost 200 pounds with another 60-80 to go for goal and I'm stuck. The compliments and new looks, especially from men, really freak me out. I still feel like the old person and my brain turns a regular nice compliment into a sarcastic comment. I've been trying to go out more and on dates to help get my mind on the right track but it's really hard. Going out in groups and signing up with MeetUp (social site for adventure, exercise, etc.. not just dating) has helped break the shell too. Just thinking about dating though makes my palms sweat. I'm not a fan of my body at the moment so how can someone else be a fan? And that's not meant to be a putdown to myself, it's just the truth. There is a lot of area that are very "deflated" at the moment. LOL

I can't begin to thank you for this feed! Please keep posting your updates!!! I've lost 200 and need to lose another 60-70 before I can consider a body lift and then move on to arms & breasts and then finally an inner thigh lift. It scares me to death but I'm so sick of feeling like my body is chasing itself when I walk and workout. (LOL but so true!)