Singer

I am 8 days out from my surgery. I have lived with a phobia of throwing up for many years and am starting to see this upcoming surgery as a nightmare. I am hoping (and diligently praying) that I will be able to follow the rules to the extreme and I shouldn't have a problem. I really need to hear from others on this subject.

I had to do the pre op diet and struggled with it just like you are. On day of 3 of the pre-op, I glanced out the window and saw a pizza delivery guy walking up the driveway next door. For a fleeting second, I actually thought of attacking the guy for the pizza. (no lie) It did get a little easier as each day went on, and the shakes seemed to taste better. I ate lots of sugar free popsicles. If I had to eat something when I wasn't supposed to, I tried to stick with vegetables. At the end of my 2 weeks, I had lost 20 pounds and noticed the difference. I was feeling pretty accomplished! My preop diet was my first "detox", and it was rough. It took a lot of will power, like any addict giving up his vice. Stick with it as much as you can and don't beat yourself up. I had my surgery May 6th and I had to do 2 weeks of liquid diet after my surgery, that was phase II of my detox! During all this time, I was miserable and very grumpy. But, I look back at it now that I am 4 months out, and down 76 pounds, and think....it was soooo worth my efforts!! You are trying to work through your detox, go easy on yourself. And pick yourself up and brush it off, get back on that wagon! Keep up the good work! And God Bless you on September 10th!

I had the same thing with my first fill. I could set a clock to 2 hours since I ate a meal. So, I had to start eating healthy snacks ...instead of starving myself, I ate when hungry, just smart about it. I just had fill #2 yesterday, so I am hoping it will be better! Good luck with your next fill!! I hope it works for both of us!!

hahahha! I know EXCATLY what you mean, I was so excited that I could find a bra that the straps change to criss cross!! It has been YEARS!! whoohoo! I'm with ya!

Great feeling isn't it??? I just went in my closet and cleaned out all of my 20 or more 1x, 2x, and even 3x's. Honestly, I was a little scared to let them go...but, I have started buying 14 or 16 pants and love that they make me look so much better!! I WISH I had taken some good before pictures and data. I don't have anything except a couple of pics. So good for you!! Wonderful job on the weight loss!!!! I know how proud of yourself you must be!

Congratulations!!!!! Keep up the good work!

Good for you, Happy Birthday...you deserve to have a little cake and ice cream! Just not every day for the rest of your life

Pitboss, I had my surgery May 6th, and haven't regretted it for a minute!! I hope you have the same experience. I feel wonderful, and still have 30 pounds more to lose. It is work, but it is worth it! God Bless! Keep us posted!

I have only had one fill and have lost 66 pounds, currently, I am hungry all the time. I have a Dr appt next week to discuss fill#2.. From what I have read it takes 3 or 4 fills before you hit the green zone. Is it TRUE ? Is there really such a thing as the "green zone"? And, for those of you that have experienced it, how long did it remain? After I eat, I could set clock to my 2 hour hunger pains that follow. What I want from a "green zone" is not to be obsessed with food. Like I felt when I first had the surgery. Please give me hope...

Thank you all for your opinions. My Dr appt is next week, and can't come soon enough. As of sunday, I had lost 70lbs. I go to the gym 5 or 6 times a week, and watch my calories and fat content. I'm proud of the work I have done, and hoping for some more help from the band. Honestly, I think it's the weight that I have lost that has made it lose, and the amount of exercise is making me hungry. Hope to get help from the band. I'm getting tired of being hungry!

Ohhhh, I see that you had LB surgery a few years ago. And, now you have a heital hernia? Isn't it common that most Dr's do not want to do surgery to fix heital hernia's? I had mine repaired when I got my lapband but I read that surgery on them is usually only temporary. Are your side effects that bad from the hernia? Why do you want surgery again?

How can you tell already? After my first fill, it took about a week before I could eat normal. I am anxious for my second fill. I am HUNGRY all the time! I had my surgery on May 6, and have lost 66 pounds. But, I am leveling off and have 34 more pounds I want off!! I PRAY that fill#2 does the same thing for me as it did you!!

I'm still new at this, but I count my Protein and calories everyday. I average about 80g of protein. I watch my fat since I am only 7weeks out from surgery. I usually concentrate on filling my 1/2 cup with mostly protein. My calories average 600-700 a day. (I haven't had any red meat yet) My weight loss seems to have slowed down since I added "extra" carbs into my diet. (ie, special K crackers) But, I am still losing, and happier adding some carbs back in to my diet. I guess we are all different, but I think the common thread is we must count/keep track of something to help monitor what we are consuming in a day.

FINALLY, after being stuck at 200.0 for a week, I have reached ONDERLAND!! Today, I weigh 198.1!! I stood there just staring at it. I wouldn't get off the scale for one minute! I was thinking...does that say what I think it says?? Am I actually under 200 pounds!?! I have a LOT more work to do, I am half way to my goal. But, I am happy and very proud of myself. I don't want to see that scale go over 200 every again!! Thank you God for the strength, self discipline and new found energy!

I don't know how anyone can get 1000 calories in?? I average about 600-700 a day. I am eating "good" Proteins..(first choice fish, second chicken, third pork) I do add in a little bit of veg or fruit with my meals. What I recently noticed, I added in more carbs (put my tuna on crackers) and my weight loss seems to have slowed down. To get over my hump, I am going back to no added carbs. I'm going away to beach with some friends this weekend, AHHHHHH!!! I am bringing all my necessary food. But, weighed in at exactly 200.0 today, and want nothing more than to break 200, so I hope to be a good girl this weekend.....pray through my temptations, and Celebrate what I have done. We can do this!!

I had a very dear friend that failed miserably with the band. She told me the other day that she ate a quarter pound with cheese a couple weeks after her surgery. And she is quick to tell anyone that the lapband doesn't work. I felt bad for her. Now, she see's me and wants to do it all over again. I'm a work in progress, but feeling great and willing to keep on healthy eating for ever if that is what it takes.

I am 6 weeks out from my surgery and just had my first fill yesterday. I had a hard time getting my Calcium pills down before the fill, and I'm afraid to even try them now. The chocolate ones seem awfully high in calories. Can anyone give me suggestions?

Thank you everyone, I went to my CVS to see if I could get them, and the pharmacist said she could order them for me. So, I am going to give those a try. In the meantime, I bought a pill crusher, and put the crushed pills in applesauce... ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? That was like eating applesauce with sand it in !! OMGoodness!!!

I heard someone else on this site talk about how it bothered her that her stomach was getting flabby and it hurt her incisions when she turned in bed. I believe someone else said to try the stomach support. Personally, I felt like I didn't even want the elastic from my sweat pants confining my stomach, especially around the port incision. I don't think it would hurt to try! Good luck!

I just had my first fill this past Friday, I have been on mushy foods for 2 days. What I have noticed is, I am feeling STUFFED after my 1/2 cup meals. HOWEVER, that is lasting for 2.5 hours then I have to have a snack. So, I do..but, it is a "healthy- useful to my body" snack. I am a freak about getting all my Protein in everyday, I always go over 60, but it's usually because of my Snacks..like cottage cheese. I worry about wanting food every couple of hours, but I think as long as we keep it healthy, we will do ok. I'm glad to hear you are feeling better, and I'm very sorry for all the stress you are experiencing at the same time as dealing with your own health issues. All this talk about food is making me hungry, I have to go to bed!

Just make sure you are getting enough fluids, I went to my GP for a different reason one week after my surgery. She was checking my mouth, eyes, etc. And said.."you are dehydrated" I truly thought I was drinking enough. She made me go directly to the store to buy some Soup. And, lo and behold....with in 24hrs I felt better! I am BIG on sugar free hard candy in my mouth, especially I was told not to drink for 60 minutes after eating! I truly depend on them to cleanse my mouth and keep me "busy". My favorites are SF Lifesavers -5flavors, SF Jolly ranchers hard candy and Brach's cinnamon (sf). Try them, trust me! God Bless

My surgery was May 6th, and I totally understand!! I have heard that once they hit the "sweet spot" with your fills, the "voices" stop. I just had my first fill yesterday, and I have to say that has helped me the last 24 hours since I am on liquids, it has made me uber aware! Until, I get comfortable again.. I'm with you EXACTLY! But, good for you for spitting out those jelly beans!!!

My advice is to make sure you are prepared for the pre-op diet in your mind. Most of the people on here have had a 2 week "liver shrinking" diet..or "detox" diet. You will have all the other things mentioned above, pre-op testing, etc. Congratulations! It was a long haul for me to get my approval, I cried when I finally got it! I am 6 weeks out from having my surgery, I have lost 50lbs! It IS exciting!! What a life change. Good luck and God bless

Welcome Shelly! I did a lot of reading on this site just like you did. Everyone is very supportive, so don't be afraid to post questions. The best thing I can tell you is, I am very happy that I got the band (surgery date was May 6th 2013) and I think you will be too! Good luck and God bless!