gowalking

Congrats on your valedictorian. I'm not a big coffee drinker but when I do, it's always regular coffee and not decaf. I don't recall my dr. ever mentioning no caffeine.

Welcome Alicia and good luck.

Fortunately I have the work from home option. I was out of the office for one week and worked from home the second week. No way was I in any shape to go back to work in 'a few days'.

I'm at RTP fairly often for business. Are you in the Raleigh-Durham area?

Oh.....OK. Duh...I should have realized that. True that knowing about this would not have changed anything but at least you wouldn't have been so taken by surprise. Hope the posts are making you feel a little better in that you are experiencing what many of us experienced as well.

Everything you are feeling is totally normal. Congratulations for taking this step to become healthier. I am a little more than 5 1/2 months banded so I can tell you that it will take a while for you to incorporate the band and all it entails into your life. But when you do, you'll be golden. I can't say much about fills as I've not had any but most folks on this forum say that you will need a number of them to find your sweet spot. I have mobility issues so I cannot exercise as I'd like but I have done as much as I can in that I go to the pool three times a week to swim and exercise and I've tried mightily to change my attitude and for now, it's good. I struggle as many do to make good choices but most of the time I do and I've dropped a little over 67 lbs so far . Aside from the arthritis issues, I feel so much better. I have more stamina, and with less bulk, I can move better. I can fit into a plane seat again and into a theater seat comfortably. People don't look horrified at me if I move to sit next to them on the train or bus. Oh what a relief that is. It even feels good to focus on chatting at dinner rather than focusing on the food in front of me. It's also wonderful to have found out how good fish is, and well made veggies instead of heavy fat laden foods. Good luck with your surgery...you'll do great!

Wow...surprised you did not know about this. Shoulder pain after surgery comments are all over this forum. It's a very common thing and yes, is due to the gas they use during the surgery. It helps to walk walk walk and use a heating pad. Good luck.

Oh lots of folks on the forum have had this concern. It's why lots of them keep the surgery to themselves and do not let others know. Your situation is not unique and you will find lots of support on this site. Good luck.

Awesome!!

Not sure if your friend ate on the plane but my dr. said no food 1 hour prior, no eating in the air, and no food 1 hour after landing. liquids are OK. I've flown several times since being banded and have never had a problem. It's hard sometimes to say no when they offer you a snack, but I'd rather be hungry than get sick. Check with your dr. to confirm his/her recommendation and don't stress about flying.

I must apologize for a response I made to a poster last night. I was not very sympathetic when she noted a struggle she lost with a poor food choice and the amount eaten. I find myself thinking uncharitable thoughts lately when I read things like that. I even read a post the other day where someone said they got stuck because they ate a Big Mac too fast. Excuse me?? Why are you even eating a Big Mac? I hear Missy and Carolinagirl in my head all the time saying make better food choices and stick to band size portions. It’s become my mantra and it runs through my head all the time so thank you ladies. And every night when I go to bed, I feel good for sticking to the rules. I don’t feel that awful self hatred for once again, losing control. This feeling is so much better than the fleeting good feeling from eating a big old bowl of spaghetti. I really find myself wondering what people are thinking when the get banded. So many of them seem to think the weight will come off magically and that the band will just stop them from overeating. Is this our fault or the doctor's fault? I wonder how many people go into this with no understanding of the changes we must must must make in order to be successful. So again, I apologize if I was unsympathetic and I will try to do better….no one should be blasted for admitting they made a mistake especially if you use it as a learning experience.

Good Luck!! See you on the other side.

yeah...I was banded at NYU

I grew up in Brooklyn, raised the kids in Jersey and once they were out, I moved to the West Village. There are lots of NYC folks and the surrounding boroughs/suburbs on this forum.

I live in the city Connie but there are a number of LI'ers on this forum.

Is your husband also newly banded? I ask because I know how much food there is in a take out portion of chicken parm. It should have been more than enough for you two to share. And it's concerning that he basically remarked that he needed more food than the meal you two were supposed to be sharing. Because the both of you are banded, I would think there would be support and you could pick each other up if one of you starts to make bad choices. Almost sounded like he was trying to sabotage you. Forget about the pizza you ate....what's done is done...just don't do it again. I'd focus more on having a discussion with the hubby on how you two should be motivated to think and act positively rather than enabling each other when poor food decisions are being made.

I was banded mid January. I saw Dr. Ren every month starting in February and only now am seeing her every two months since I'm not getting fills. She didn't really tell me what or how to eat. Despina (one of the nutritionists) told me to eat 3 oz protein, 1/2 cup of veggies, 1/4 cup carbs. that's what I do and I use the myfitnesspal app to track what I eat. I stay around 1,000 calories a day and that's about it. I eat out plenty....being in the city, I hardly cook. I also pick up prepared food at Citarella's mostly and portion it out and freeze the meals. It's working for me...I've lost 67 lbs.

I never met him and like you, I never met the other surgeon's either. I'm happy with her and have had no issues or complications. I haven't needed any fills so I don't know how that goes..I don't even know if the doctor does them or if someone else does them.

I was banded at NYU. Who was your surgeon? I had Dr. Ren-Fielding.

Oh I love your post! My boobs have totally deflated. Like balloons that were stuck with pins. I was a 46D and am now a 42C....and I have to move the boobs around so they fill the cups correctly...LOL. I've been saving up money to redo my kitchen one of these days and that money is now going to a boob job fund I think. Now..to answer your question...it was definitely my face. I noticed my face was thinner probably before anything else..

Hi Yes. I know that you are trying to anticipate as much as possible, what your future holds once you are banded. I tried to do the same...I trolled this forum all the time, reading everything I could including the bad stuff. I just wanted to know what to expect. All I can tell you as a person banded five months now is that everyone really and truly experiences this journey individually. I have not had any fills and have lost 67 lbs. I can eat anything...there's no Fluid in my band. I must must must measure out my food so I can stop before eating too much. I tend to under-eat when at restaurants because I can't measure my food. I know some people bring measuring devices to restaurants...but not me. I would be horrified to bring that kind of attention to myself. I'm getting better at eyeballing the portions, but I'm not always right. Last week I thought I ate well portion wise during a lunch out at work, and I did not. I was full...uncomfortably about a half hour after eating and did not eat anything else the rest of the day. I've read enough posts that I know some people cannot tolerate rice, or meat, or shellfish, or pasta or bread. I had steak yesterday at a Father's Day BBQ. First time attempting it but I figured I'd be OK and I was. Again...I just ate a little of it...same with the salmon, veggies, potato, shrimp and tuna. I even had a few spoonfuls of panna cotta for dessert. The only foods I stay away from are very chewy items such as calamari or even clams/mussels. I still chew well and it's no fun chewing and chewing those foods. Good luck with your surgery.

I have arthritis and I told people I was having surgery to help my knee. It was a stretch but not an outright lie in that the weight loss will help my knee. I've since told some people about the lapband because I find it difficult to not be truthful and especially when I'm one on one with someone and they really seem interested in how I've lost the weight (it's coming off pretty fast and I think that has alot to do with it), I usually 'fess up. I do have to say that I haven't gotten any negative reaction so far.

Boy do I understand that once the decision is made and we've had the surgery, we want to see those pounds melt off...but try to remember none of us got fat overnight and we won't lose it overnight either. Work the plan and I know you will be successful. Good luck.

The first place I lost weight was in my face. I'm still pretty bottom heavy and have started to see saggy skin after losing 67 lbs. but I noticed the other day that my behind has absolutely gotten smaller and my boobies have literally deflated. I was starting to overflow in a D cup and now I fit easily into a C cup. I can clearly see my collar bones again and while I still have a double chin, it's considerably smaller. Not sure how old you are but I am soon to be 55 and I know and accept that after two children and yo yo-ing as much as 80 lbs up and down, I look better in clothes than out of them....which is OK with me. I'm on this journey to get healthier, not prettier.

Now that is one heck of a NSV. Way to go!!