gowalking

Morning everyone. I'm finally seeing the swelling start to go down on my hips...especially on the right side. The softball sized lump is now more like a tennis ball and I dropped seven pounds this week....which obviously is Water. I even think I'm going to try to get into the office later this week. I really miss my coworkers and I think it will help me emotionally to get back to a more normal schedule. Speaking of which.....I've also got something else on my mind and would like some feedback regarding emotions. I've mentioned lately that I feel very off kilter between the hip replacements and the enormous changes to my body from the weight loss. I actually suffered from an anxiety attack last week. That's never happened to me before and I didn't have a clue what was going on but fortunately I had it in the doctor's office so he was able to tell me what it was and help me to get through it. So I'm just wondering....between the anxiety attack and a general unease I have, has anyone else had feelings of doubt, fright, and uncertainty after the weight loss? I took plenty of psych courses in college and I think there is a sort of safety net when we are obese, and in my case, seriously limited by my mobility issues. Now, I have no excuses and that scares me in a way. I can't say 'I can't' anymore. Anyone else feel this way or do I need to just shut these kind of thoughts down and try to refocus more positively?

Yup...I think you got it right mrsto. Needing water, dry mouth, sweating and headache does sound like a hypoglycemic event. But what you described at the market sounds just like what happened to me. I swear it felt like my heart was going to come right through my chest. I got terribly flushed/warm and lightheaded. By the way....I work on diabetes studies in my job and know the symptoms of hypoglycemic events...so Bama....if it happens again...go see your doctor, OK?.

Try tracking your food intake with a food diary or something like myfitnesspal. It makes such a difference when you account for all you put in your mouth. Oh...and yeah, peppermint mochas sound absolutely delish...LOL.

Oh yeah....the changes are very noticeable. Good job!!

Thanks for mentioning that you see a therapist. I was thinking I might investigate doing the same thing if I find I can't shake this uneasy feeling. Most of the time, I can stick it in a corner but sometimes I feel really overwhelmed and think it would be good to talk to someone.

That's a great NSV Tara! It means you are engaging with people instead of retreating and that's a wonderful thing.

Thanks Missy. I really just want to make sure that I'm not alone in how I'm feeling these days. I look in the mirror and I don't know who that woman staring back is....

Oh I may have opened a Pandora's box here. I can relate to everything you wrote. I am so known as the funny gal in the office and yes..I often made self deprecating remarks about my size to try to avoid hurtful remarks. And guess where I was an hour ago? At the drug store buying concealer and a couple of softer shades of lipstick and new eye shadow. I don't like the bags under my eyes and I want to spiff up for work but in a subtle way so as not to bring too much attention. I'll get enough of it anyway coming back after being out more than two months. I look better than I have in a long time and the vanity is rearing it's head. I want to look good....it's been a long time since I've even bothered....

That's pretty good actually..to go 5 weeks post op before your hunger came back. Good luck with the fill.

I also bought baby spoons/forks when I started this journey. Nearly a year out, I don't need them anymore however....when I go out to eat with a larger group and we order several apps/entrees to share, I usually don't order something for myself but I take a little of each item. As I don't have my own meal so to speak, I ask the server for a small plate for myself. That helps me alot to minimize my portion. I find that this little trick works well for me and keep me from taking/eating too much when I'm in a restaurant setting and the scale is obviously not available for me to weight the food. Good luck to you and just know that if you want to succeed...you will.

Love it Missy! Glad to see you back online.

I was banded at NYU and I know they have a support group once a month. I don't go because ...I get my support here. There was talk of some of us New York folk getting together over the summer but it sorta fizzled out.

Relax, relax. She's fine. What I mean by the topic title is that when I was at my son and daughter-in-law's house for Thanksgiving last night, I was talking to her mom and she he knows about the lapband so I had no issues discussing details with her. When she asked how much weight I had lost, I told her it was now around 95 lbs. She said, 'really? Do you realize that's what Debbie weighs'. ...and suddenly I realized...OMG...I've been literally carrying around another person all this time. I know we often say of someone who has lost alot of weight that they're half their size and while I haven't actually lost half my size, I really have lost a whole person. And not just a 'virtual' person, but the person who was right in front of me cooking dinner. What an amazing visual that was. I pictured carrying her around on my back and realized that was what I had done to myself. I'm proud of the loss yet truly disturbed by having gotten so heavy. In my head, I will keep a picture of me carrying Debbie on my back and hope that this will really help me if I find myself not being compliant in the future. I think it will really help me to keep the weight off as that is my focus now. PS: I hope everyone had a wonderful and successful day yesterday.

Hi cc. Welcome to banded life. I don't have any suggestions regarding a book or some other type of information regarding what meals to make/eat. I can only give you my thoughts as someone who has been banded almost a year now. I found that for me, following a basic weight watchers type of program has been very successful. I basically stick with 3 oz. Protein, 1/2 cup veggies, and 1/4 cup of carbs. I even have dessert....sugar free pudding/jello...even 100 calorie cookies/ice cream once in a while. I also track everything in myfitnesspal to give me an idea of my calorie/protein/sugar/sodium intake and to keep me compliant. This is for me, a very easy plan to follow without a whole lot of guess work. I also change it up alot.....fish, chicken, meat. This way I don't get bored and stray to poor choices. One more thing. You ask about band safe foods. While some bandsters have difficulty with certain foods, everyone has different experiences so don't presume there are any foods that are not safe to eat. I eat everything, just in band sized portions and as you can see from my ticker, have had great success this year. Good luck to you and can't wait for your first NSV (non scale victory) post.

Well...obviously you are aware that the friend who abused the band created her problems by being non-compliant so her opinion shouldn't matter to you at all. Not sure why the friend who is heavier won't discuss it with you. Is she banded? If not, she may be seeing your being banded as a threat to your relationship. Same for the friend who wants to put meat on your bones. That's nothing but misery loves company. Honestly, these are all very negative people and if I were you, I'd steer clear of them for a while.

At almost a year banded, lots of folks are aware that I've had WLS. I don't advertise it but I often 'fess up' when asked about it. I've never had any negative feedback but the truth is that I am embarrased that I got so heavy and out of control in the first place. There is still that part of me that thinks I am a failure for not being able to do this on my own. I'm not embarrassed with you folks on the forum as so many of you can understand what I mean but out in the regular world, I must admit that I don't often care to discuss it. I realize this is my issue, and not a reaction from any negative response or feedback from anyone but it just is how I feel and I can't change that. I'll tell you what I am looking forward to though. I want to be able to maintain the weight loss and over time, have people forget how heavy I was and just see the thinner me as the 'new normal'. That's my current goal for now....not the 20 or so pounds I'd still like to lose.

Your doctor has you eating food 3 days out? Most of us were still on liquids that soon after surgery. I'm sorry I can't give you any feedback on your GERD symptoms but I would suggest you contact the doctor to find out if this is an issue or not.

I've seen so many posts recently about folks so very worried about the upcoming holidays and how they will be able to manage with the band. Maybe I'm a little off kilter still from my hip replacement surgery but I am so so friggin' excited about Thanksgiving this year. I couldn't care less about how much less I can eat....because I'm thrilled at how much less I can eat. I mean it. Think about it folks....it's what we've all been looking for. We just don't know how to think about it the right way yet. Stop mourning the 'old' way of eating....it's what made us fat and miserable in the first place. Really....embrace the new you, and the new way of eating because it's freaking awesome!! Last year, I was as big as a house and in horrible pain from my hips and knees. The lapband surgery was looming and I was not a happy camper at all. Fast forward a year and I have new hips....hooray!! My pain is post op only. The crippling joint pain is gone and I am so thankful for that I'd like to shout it from the rooftops. Also....I'm 93 lbs. lighter. I look good, I feel good, and I'm just looking forward to spending the day with my family tomorrow. The food is secondary...which is what it should be. I will eat and enjoy my turkey and trimmings but I will also feel great when I walk away from the table having eaten my band sized portion and knowing I'm in control of my eating today and hopefully every day afterwards. To all my lapband friends....have a really great Thanksgiving and I mean it with all my heart.

That info is on my ticker but I'll post it here as well. I was banded on January 14, 2013. My preop weight was 267 and the day of surgery, I was 250 lbs. I weighed myself this morning and am 171 1/2 lbs. which puts me at 95 1/2 lbs. lost. I would like to get closer to 150 lbs so another 20 or so would get me there. Just be aware Coach, that these are just numbers and we reach all kinds of goals before we reach 'goal weight'. For some of us, it's smaller sized clothing. It's also fitting into airplane seats comfortably, or being able to slide into a restaurant booth. For others, it's being in less joint pain, or being able to walk/run/exercise. That's why non scale victories are so important. Those happen throughout the weight loss journey and are real motivators to keep you compliant and keep your eye on the prize. Good luck with your journey!

Hello neighbors. I live in Manhattan. My surgery was on January 14th, 2013 so in about six weeks, it will be my one year anniversary. I hope to hit the 100 lb. mark by then.

Welcome. I'm 55 and was banded in January. Like you, I also did this for health reasons way more than vanity. Was very successful in losing enough weight to move forward with my much needed hip replacement surgery. I went from incredibly crippling pain to just dealing now with post op pain as surgery was seven weeks ago. I can see my mobility coming back which is like a miracle to me and the lap band helped to make that possible. Good luck and keep us posted and let us know how you are doing once you 'make it to the other side'.

Hi all: You'll find this sorta cute I think. So.....I saw my sports medicine/pain management doctor today. First time I've seen him since about two weeks prior to the hip replacements so....about 9 weeks ago. I was in the waiting room and he called me into his office so I got up and started walking towards him. He then started walking to me and right in the middle of the waiting room, bent down and whispered in my ear....'I can't say this out loud with a room full of patients, but you look f***ing fantastic'. I've never had a doctor use that particular word before but he and I are about the same age, and I've been seeing him for a year and a half so I know he only meant well and was giving me a huge compliment. I must admit, it's kinda nice to have an honest reaction from him rather than a 'medical assessment' so to speak. It was unexpected but it really felt good to hear it.

Same to you Bubie!

Saw your response to my post Arlene. Happy Hanukkah to you as well!

The ladies have similar experiences. At least I know I have. I had two pairs of 'workout' pants that at my heaviest ended just above my ankles. I kept them a long time since they were just for around the house and when I finally tossed them oh...around 60 lbs. down, they actually were almost dragging on the floor. They had a tie around the waist so the change in the length wasn't because they were sitting lower on me...I know it was just because the pants didn't have to stretch as much to cover my tummy/bottom/thighs.