Amberley

Ok, I don't know it is for everyone else but I have avoided mirrors for the last four years. I moved to the UK in 2008 at a nice 'normal' size. Started avoiding mirrors when I started to put on weight. Not to say I haven't looked at myself in the 4 years just have looked in sections.... my face when I am putting on make up or fixing my hair, from the waist up when I am trying on an outfit... Never naked and never all at once since I started to pack on the pounds. I had my lapband surgery on the 29th of June. This morning I got up and weighed and I have lost 40 pounds in total. Was very excited and so my very supportive and beloved hubby offered to take me shopping for some new clothes. Now with 40 pounds gone I would have thought I would have dropped some clothes sizes and so with credit card in hand headed to the shopping centre. I was wearing a 28/30 before surgery. I tried on 26s and they were to big... 24... a little loose.... 22 way to tight. Very excited about getting the 24s however when trying on clothes in the changing room horror of horrors... I was confronted with THE FULL WALL MIRROR. Mirror Mirror on the wall - what did I see??? Me in all my naked glory. Nowhere to hide and every lump and bump showing!!! Okay I know I am overweight and I should have expected to see what was showing in the mirror. That is the rational answer. Me, rational. not on the same page!! Shock and horror. What have I done to my poor body? Stood in the changing room and tried to come to grips. Strange that I was so upset. I know that my body has changed. I see lumps and bumps when I shower or change clothes. I think it was seeing it all at once that got me. It was an upsetting experience but a positive out of it. I and my hubby went to BHS and bought a full length mirror which is now installed in the bathroom. I have vowed to go into the bathroom and look at myself fully naked at least once a week. It is so easy to hide away from what I am doing to my body and what it looks like by simply avoiding mirrors. No more. I want to face it head on. I want to see the weekly changes that good food choices make in my body. I want to see how my band is helping me get back to where I was. I know it is going to be a long journey but I am going to face it with the blinders off. No more hiding the truth from myself.

Missy Thank you much appreciated for the support. Wednesdays are now mirror day. For me that it. My westie is thrilled with the new addition to the bathroom and keeps running in to look at herself in the mirror and back to where ever I am to bark and let me know there is another dog in the house. Really cute... until 3am this morning when she ran into the bedroom barking and woke me and the hubby up!! Bathroom door now being closed before bedtime....

Also steam a bag of the birds eye vegs (the individual steam ones that have 4 steam bags per) I blend it with a weight watcher cream of chicken soup. Blend well and heat. Great mushie soup and get me full for hours.

I take half a can of refried mix beans, add a 1/3 cup water, 4 cherry tomtaoes and a dash of taco seasoning. Throw it all in the blender. If it is to thick I thin out a bit more by adding water. Heat it up and its a great Mexican soup!!!

tomorrow I get to start regular food. Goodbye mushies!!!!! First band fill is scheduled for August the third. I love The Hospital Group. The dietician has called every week. When they called to schedule my band fill she booked me for my next three bank fills scheduled 3 weeks apart. I know that The Hospital Group gets complained about alott but I have had the most amazing experience with them. What did you guys eat your first day off mushies?

Banded June the 29th. First fill scheduled for the 3rd. Dieting right now as I have no restriction. Its a bit tough but hoping the first fill will help kill off the hunger.

I was on the preop for 4 weeks. Three slimfast shakes and 3 yoghurts a day. 3 days before my surgery I went on all clear liquids. Wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Lost 28 pounds in 4 weeks.

Hello out there. Sending good wishes out into the universe and asking if there is a mentor in the UK who has some extra time for a newbie please give me a shout!!

I have been steaming bags of veg in the microwave wave and then adding them to my soups in a blender to get the consistency right. the bag of steamed veg is only 100 calories and really bulks out my soup so I feel full. Sorry you are having a hard time

Neka I was banded on the 29th so day 5 for me. I used a hot water bottle on my shoulder to help relieve some of the pain. Worked a dream!! I am struggling to eat enough calories each day. I a.m getting down roughly 600. How is it for you?

I was banded on Saturday the 29th. Today is my first day since banding that I feel good. Weight is dropping off. I am struggling to eat enough calories. Anyone else have that issue?

Banded Saturday by Dr Super at Dolan Park. Great experience. Home now and cant believe how bad I am feeling. Not sure if something is wrong? nauseous but have not been sick. Everything hurts. Not hungry at all. Is this normal?

I have been lurking around and just wanted to say a quick hello to everyone. My band surgery is scheduled for July 1st and am starting to get a bit nervous!!! I have been on a milk and yoghurt diet for the last 4 weeks which has enabled me to drop my BMI from 54 to 50. Dropping my BMI allowed me to move my surgery date from the 19th of July to the 1st. Now that it is so close panic is starting to set in!!

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome!!!! What part of the surgery itself surprised you or were you not prepared for? I am a bit of a control freak and the unknown is killing me!!! (a control freak with a weight issue- how does that work? )

July 1st for me!!! Have been on my pre-op milk and yoghurt diet for the last four weeks!!! Cant wait til I get to chew something again!!!! Good luck to everyone out there`