CanCan1791

Try some of the classes if your gym offers them. There are many different types so try them all. You'll find the instructors very helpful and your classmates very supportive. My personal favorite is spin class because I can work at my own pace and only I know if I turned the knob.

I was banded April 11, 2013 and today my band was removed. I had problems from the moment I woke up from surgery. I was in a great deal of pain and was nauseous the entire time. Everyone I spoke to said that my case was extremely rare or they had never seen anything like it. I had two upper GI's and everything looked normal. I watched my band working the way it seemed should. I don't know why my body hated it so much. My stomach spasmed so bad, I relate it to putting a flea collar on my cat (that's some seriously funny stuff) I am really disappointed and sad but I am relieved my struggle is over because it was very painful. Also, my doc was very supportive and Memorial Hospital did not charge me for the removal, since I was a cash pay. It's good to know that there are still kind people in the world. I was pretty active on this site and I wanted to thank you all for your support. I learned a lot from you guys, the pre-op diet and my few weeks with the band, so hopefully, I can take the weight off on my own. Thank you all for your help and caring. For anyone who hasn't had their surgery yet, I'm sorry if I worried you. I'm told this is extremely, extremely rare.

Sloan1412 you look like you're doing great! I thought it was funny how we found each other on here. I'm going to keep working at it. I want to get to one-derland so I'm going to keep working. We should definitely stay in touch and help inspire each other.

Thanks SageTracey for pointing out my error. Yeah, it was 2013. I had it for less than a month.

I was banded on April 11. It's been an okay journey thus far. My biggest wish is for the diarrhea to stop. My question is... I think I have located my port (I see the doc on Wednesday so I'll know for sure then). I think the port is almost smack in the middle of my belly, about 3 inches above my belly button and slightly to the left (I'm very tall so this is nowhere near my bra line). I can see and feel a lump under my incision. Is that the port? Can anyone else see their port? I have some belly fat but I gain weight all over, so my stomach is not excessively fatty. I'm afraid that when I lose weight, the port will be even more noticeable and might even be seen under some shirts. Any advice or comments are welcome. Thank you for your help <3

Okay I'm going to paraphrase one of my favorite stories for you. I hope I can get this point across in a couple of sentences because this story was a biography of a prisoner of war. Sorry, I don't remember the name of the guy or the book. Anyway, this guy was a prisoner of war in Vietnam for six years. He lived in a tiger cage, almost starved to death and was tortured on a regular basis. Even though he had been a prisoner the longest, most of the other prisoners died. When asked in an interview what was it about him that made him survive, while so many others died, this was his answer. He said, I knew one day I would be freed. Others, would arrive a say, "We'll be out by Christmas" or "I gotta be home for my kid's birthday". When those days came and they were still there, they would start to deteriorate and die within months. My goal was to be free but I never set a time. Keep doing the work and one day you will be at your goal weight.

I know for a fact I am addicted to processed carbs. I can eat a piece of bread or candy and literally feel my mood lift. Last year (preband), I tried to quit processed carbs. It worked for about eight months and I lost about 40 pounds. The battles I had with my brain were way more intense than the battles I had when I quit smoking. I fell off the wagon with a thin slice of birthday cake. I gained the 40 pounds back in about 6 weeks. I was banded in the beginning of April and have been processed carb free for eight weeks now. I'm feeling alone with my battle against these carbs. I often think people think I'm just a crazy fat girl, looking for excuses. Does anyone else suffer from a sugar and/or flour addiction?

This is the phase where you learn to fight your head hunger. I'm going through that right now. Boy, is it tough. I was banded April 11. Some days i can barely look at food and others I could eat my shoes. You may be getting legitimately hungry and that might be making it harder for you to fight off those head hunger demons. Try to eat a little something at least every three hours. Also, are you counting calories and tracking your food. If not, you should, it will make a huge difference. Also, two pounds a week is a great goal. Lastly, don't beat yourself up over two bites of a sandwich. That's the head hunger demon and he's really tough to battle. Keep fighting you will win and it does get easier.

Try to not eat corn for a week. It is in everything. Corn flour, starch, oil or syrup (and that's just the stuff that uses the name corn). Talk about reading labels. It will scare the hell out of you.

I had 2 c-sections. I know there is a TT in my future. Mis73 will let us know how painful it is? I don't want to talk about surgery the night before surgery but I would really like the truth.

CanCan1791 221 lbs 211 lbs 41 level out blood sugar Start exercising April 11 2013 29 lbs Lillies of the valley

I use an Ice Tea spoon and shrimp fork. There much smaller but they have a long handle so no one else notices your tiny flatware. Yes, I take them to restaurants.

I'm new to all of this but I would like to help if I can. For me, if I eat a food that contains even the smallest amounts of refined sugar, flour or corn, my brain and body demand more. I feel like I am starving to death, even if I just ate a Thanksgiving sized meal. My body will even produce a tight hunger pain like sensation that can range from mild to really freakin' painful. It takes me about 6 weeks of no refined carbs before these feelings go away. And the cravings are daunting. It is exactly like carving a cigarette. In my very humble opinion, I don't think you could go wrong starting over with liquids to give that tummy a break. It beats giving up. And if it were me, I would quit eating the processed carbs (easier said than done) for 6 weeks and see what happens. Good Luck. I very much hope you keep fighting. We're all on here to give and receive support from our fellow warriors. :ph34r:

I remember reading a post from another person that had a kink in their hose. Sorry, I can't remember her name. I went back to try to find it but I couldn't. Anyway, she said it was really easy, virtually painless. They make a very small cut and then gently pull the hose to unkink it. I hope this helps. Good Luck

A lot of people start here pre band. I found it after I was banded and missed out on some really good info. Welcome aboard

I have a panic disorder and it did not cause an issue with my banding. I also quit smoking and am on wellbutrin (that will cause anxiety). I was a cash pay, that might make a difference.

I use Ice Tea spoons and shrimp forks. They are little but have long handles. It makes taking smaller bites easier. Also, during my pre op liquids I was putting everything in the blender.

Wow that's awesome!! Good Luck at work tomorrow

I was banded on the 11th and I am still having issues with pain. My port incision hurts and I still can not lift anything or bend over. I'm no wimp, I had 2 c-section and never used pain meds. I was up bouncing around within days of that surgery and slept on my stomach the night I got home. This surgery has knocked me on my butt. I really sympathize with what you're going through.

I had to have an upper GI the day after my surgery. I had to drink that really gross stuff. I got to watch the liquid fall into my pouch and then almost immediately into my stomach. I was told my band was behaving normally and as expected. My mother and my father-in-law both had issues with their esophaguses. It's a nightmare. I suggest you see a specialist immediately. Seriously, don't mess around with your esophagus.

Holy Cow you have been through the ringer. I can't believe you think you could ever be a failure after surviving such a traumatic experience. You're strong girl! Don't beat yourself up over a little piece of partially chewed steak. Relax, you are learning an entirely new way of life. Most people give up and make excuses for their size. You are obviously a fighter. Remember, the key to winning is not to never get knocked down, it's to always get back up.

I bought a punching bag for my son a few years ago. One day I was playing around and punched it. I fell in love. I now have a mini boxing gym in my spare bedroom that the entire family enjoys. The speed bag is my favorite. The point of the story is that you never know what you're going to like, so try a lot of different stuff. I never would have thought a wimpy mother of four would start boxing at the age of 40. ps. I only hit bags because they don't hit back

I didn't even realize this site had ads. You can get software that keeps your browsing history private and blocks ads.

Thanks Selma. Does it give you recipes and stuff? I have to be completely processed carb free or I'm off on a binge. The bananas and honey sound fantastic. I'm afraid to do honey right now but I may try it later.

I don't like cream soups, so instead, I ordered a quart of Miso soup every day from the sushi restaurant. It has bean curd in it, which is filling and a little bit of tofu, which is super soft.