chasingadream

Welcome to an amazing place with some truly amazing people. I've had such support here and have even met several of these great people in person and have now forged some new friendships. There is nothing like a place to come where everyone knows your name ….and understands your weight loss surgery and the journey you are on. I went to my primary care physician (PCP) and told him I had enough of being overweight (which has been all of my life)…and being the biggest I ever was at 280 pounds I told him I was thinking of weight loss surgery…specifically lap band. For me, I didn't want my stomach removed or anything re-routed. My sister has had gastric bypass and I saw her recovery and the struggles she had with anemia and Vitamin deficiencies and now I see her putting the weight back on. I know every WLS is different, with successes and failures…but those were my reasons for lap band. My PCP gave me the name of a surgeon and there was no looking back from there! I went to a seminar where the doctor explained all of the surgeries and then had my consult appt. At that time, he though I would be a good candidate for lap band and he was also performing an additional procedure as part of research study called plication (which is just like the sleeve but they sew the stomach to look like a banana without actually removing anything)….So I have lap band with plication. I was and still am an emotional eater but in such a different way now. I eat all foods…I do not feel deprived or on a diet. There are some foods that make me feel uncomfortable like some Pasta and triscuits, so I choose to stay away from them…..I no longer am dieting and for the first time in my life I no longer let food control my life. Am I perfect…NO…do I always make the best food choices…NO…..do I do the best I can each day…YES. I have lost 92 pounds and feel (and some say look) like a new person. I have more energy and am able to finally keep up with my 4 and 7 year old. I have energy that some days I don't really know what to do with. It was the best decision I've ever made. My advice is to research ALL weight loss surgeries….speak to your doctor…they are the best ones to tell you which surgery would be the best for you….be open minded and to research all that you can! Good luck and keep us posted!

I have the band with plication as well. My cravings and hunger are much more at bay…not gone but better….since I've never had just the band I don't know the difference. I have yet to need a fill and it may be do to the plication keeping me fuller longer…they can't say for sure. But I know a few other people who had the band with plication and had bandster hell from the beginning and had fills to help them find their green zone. Everyone is so very different you just never know how it will make you feel…its so very individual. i love my band and plication….I feel very blessed to have had the success I've had so far. But it is no magic bullet…that's for sure!

@@Lori Voss Green Hope you begin to feel better and get to the bottom of the problem…Please let us know…. @@Short and Chunky I remember reading your post about your experience before. How are you doing/feeling. How do you feel with just the plication. I also have the band (still unfilled) and the plication and often wonder what if? I feel like it is my plication that has really kept the cravings at bay and me feeling satisfied to the point of not needing a fill. Although the doctor cannot totally say this is the case they feel it "could be" the reason…I know everyone is so different. Just wondering how you have been doing.

You look AMAZING!

I smile , say thank you and try to get away as fast as possible….lol….seriously!!! I posted a while back on just this thing. You and I are similar in our stats and our weight loss right down to the 22/24 into a 12. I had someone tell me at work that I don't need to lose anymore weight …and yes another 40-50 off is in my plans. It becomes quite annoying, not only the comments on the loss but how I look and my choices for losing more. And I still have people commenting loudly about how I look even though I've had the new properly fitting clothes for a while now. The hardest comment for me to hear is that I look like a "totally different person" …that one gets me. Like you said, we are not any different….just somewhat slimmer…and I too am battling the saggy-ness and beginning to look into the possibility of skin surgery….somewhere down the road. So on top of the comments…good, bad and ugly (as I called them in my post)…I have to figure out how I feel with what I see in the mirror most days…. As for coping….I just keep on moving with a very big smile on my face ….that is my only suggestion….although sometimes in the back of my mind Im thinking…please just shut the hell up and don't ask me what "my secret is" or how long it took or what I'm doing….those are as bad as the comments….. ….hence the big smile ….thanks so much and move it, move it, move it! I figure it has to get "old" soon enough. Best of luck on dealing with this and if you come up with anything good please send it my way!

I understand you dont want it to happen again but you may want to find out why he wants you on clear liquids. I know my doctor said liquids was to give all those stitches and swelling time to heal. You many even want to call and let them know that you "slipped up" with the all liquids….even though you feel like you are ok…it couldn't hurt to let them know. After all, they are the doctors and you are on clear liquids for a reason. As for you feeling badly that noone else is on liquids for that long…try not to compare yourself to others…it leads to lots of disappointment and frustration, in my opinion. Everyone's lap band experience is different and for some its easier than others but we are all so different and we have to know in our hearts why we chose this journey and what we truly want to get out of it….. Im only 8 months out and Ive had easy days and hard days and I have no one to answer to but myself. You will have the same decisions to make and they are not easy but it is definately doable….

For me this has been a journey…yes, I hope to get to the finish line one day but until I do this is my journey. And not just a weight loss journey. This little trip of mine has helped me see so much more about myself and what I can accomplish. It's helped me look at my life and really figure out what is important and why I want what I want. I was banded almost 8 months ago and feel very fortunate to have take 92 pounds off of my 5'4" frame. Never in my wildest dreams would i have thought it was possible. I look in the mirror some days and say "wow, look at you"….."look what you've accomplished". Other days, I see some saggy-ness and other days I say "you need to finish this time". Being a perpetual weight watchers member from the age of 16 (now Im 44), Im happy to no longer be a dieter. This is not a diet…I am not deprived of anything….I enjoy all foods and there is nothing I cannot eat. Some foods I choose not to eat because they make me feel uncomfortable but it is MY choice not to eat them. I love being free of the food monster that has plagued me my entire life. I am happy with what I've accomplished and I know what I must do to finish my journey and move into the next phase of keeping it off. I will be a winner this time and I will reach that finish line one day…until that day comes I continue to move forward one day at a time making the best choices I can for myself…treating myself kindly and loving the new me.

Don't beat yourself up …whats done is done….however…. You just had surgery and your body needs time to heal…your doctor put you on a clear liquid diet for a reason….do you know what that reason was???? I know its hard and it really sucks but its done for a reason….please be careful you don't hurt what's trying to heal. If you have any problems please call your doc ASAP.

I was banded in NY about 8 months ago but the process is a bit overwhelming no matter what state you are in. Just make a list of all of the tests and appointments you need to do and check them off one at a time as you complete them. Make sure you are well aware of ALL of your insurance requirements right from the beginning so that you are not blindsided when you think you have it all under control. Especially if you are required to complete a supervised diet (some are…I had to have a 6 month one). Otherwise…just take it one day at a time and one test/appt at a time…and believe it or not a surgery date will be here before you know it. Best of luck to you!

@@prettyandbrwn A wise woman from this site (CarolinaGirl) always says…a loss is a loss whether its the scale moving down or your clothes falling off (she says it much better)….just because the scale isn't moving doesn't mean you aren't losing. You just said your clothes are falling off…there's your proof. Don't be a slave to the scale or you will set yourself up for a lot of frustration and disappoint, in my opinion! My doc (and I know each one is very different) told me the first 6 weeks after surgery are for healing and getting your mechanics down. I was told not to worry about ANY weight loss the first 6 weeks and you have already lost 15 pounds….way to go! One thing I always try to remember…as I try and race to get all this extra weight off is this…it didn't come on overnight and it surely is NOT coming off overnight. WLS is our tool it is NOT the magic cure we are all hoping for. It takes work and time…plain and simple. Take each day as it comes and be as successful as you can and the weight WILL come off…for some fast, others slow…for some easily and others a bit more difficult….but the important thing is that it will come off if you stay the course. Good luck and cut your body some slack!

About day 10 I really started feeling like myself again. It is a healing process and takes some time. The port takes awhile longer. Hang in there…and yes, there is an end in sight and a wonderful beginning to so many great new things. Feel good…follow docs orders and heal up….your lap-band journey is just beginning! Best of luck to you all! It is an AMAZING journey!

Life is good…no, actually life is GREAT! The weight loss has been good. I needed to basically buy a new wardrobe of size 12/14 pants and 14/16 shirts….even my feet lost 1/2 a size and the wide width! I never in my wildest dreams would have thought I would have had these results…and as many say, I wish I had done it sooner. Trying to make the best food choices I can…although that is sometimes a challenge but I don't deprive myself and I think that is why I'm so happy. I LOVE that I have lost the diet mentality I've always had. I'm out and walking, walking, walking and loving it. I try to change up my route to keep it fresh. I've never been a gym person so walking will just have to do it for me. I am beginning to think about having some plastic surgery done….going to begin my research and see what can be done….I know its early but some things are beginning to bother me more now as I get closer and closer to goal…. Otherwise, the family is happy and healthy and I have nothing to complain about! @@PuraVida37 You're doing awesome and @@NewMeDebbie You look wonderful! And yes, finding those body parts again is so nice. I have learned that I had a lot of fat on my butt…since now sitting on bleachers at my sons baseball game is just painful…but I will take it…better than the alternative!

My DVR didn't record this episode either. It's a shame we can't watch it online. Mine either…very disappointed not to see it!

I feel the same way…my relationship with food has changed so much! I enjoy it a lot (as always) but not as much as I used to. One biggie I've learned is that the first bite tastes just the same as the 2nd, 5th and 10th. So if its something sweet or a treat…will one bite or two do it…or do I really need the 13th or 14th bite…NOT ANYMORE! I finally feel free from that stupid diet mentality. I am NOT deprived! I enjoy myself! And it's JUST food!

@@Bandista You look amazing! Congrats on your 6 months and all you've learned from this journey. So glad we met thru this great site! Love reading your thoughtful and insightful posts. Wishing you all the best and much continued success!

You contacted your doctor and that was great! Follow their directions they know what they are doing…I've heard lots of great things about your doctor. Try and rest AND RELAX!

Sorry to hear of your separation….life happens even as we try to lose weight. I had a death in the family (my FIL) and the stress of everything plus all the food coming in really sent me in a tailspin and eating all the wrong things and lots of them. Every day for several weeks I kept telling myself today was the day I would be better…and it wasn't…and it took those few weeks for me to realize that I did NOT want to go back to where I was before with weight gain or with letting food control me. And when I realized that, it just came together for me. And now I am back on it and feeling good about myself. Unfortunately when emotions are involved it is a very personal experience and the only one who can make that decision to get back on track is YOU! And that stinks….support is nice but that didn't stop me from eating ice cream and lots of other crap. I made a side by side picture of myself at my heaviest and now and hung it in my bathroom and on my frig. That helps at times….. Wishing you peace and lots of luck with it all….

WILL DEFINATELY GIVE THAT A TRY! I WILL TRY ANYTHING (AT LEAST ONCE…LOL) OFF FOR MY WALK…KIDDIES IN BED…HUBBY WATCHING THEM….ITS ME TIME!

I've been banded almost 8 months and there is nothing I can't eat (well triscuits are an uncomfortable food so i choose to avoid those) and nothing I deprive myself of. You learn to eat in much smaller portions and enjoy what you are eating. I eat out more now after my banding then before….and I enjoy each meal. I always bring leftovers home and its never been a problem. Try not to think that you will never eat again or you will never eat foods you love again. It is just not the case. My tastes and cravings have changed and I'm learning to let it all work together as it should. The greatest thing is Im not on a diet anymore. I track my food intake on fitness pal and I don't fool myself on what i am actually taking in calorie wise. I eat to live….I no longer live to eat! Good luck to you!

Good luck to all of you…you will do AMAZING! Nervous and excited are all normal! Everyone's journey is different. Embrace yours and try not to compare with others…especially on the weight loss part! It's all worth it…oh yes it is, in my opinion! Hang in there all….the pre-ops will be over soon!

Love reading your posts…what an inspiration! I chuckled at your first NSV…i just posted on another thread…how amazed I am that I can now see the seat under me and so much of it too! And like you, the steering wheel would rub my belly and now I had to lower my steering wheel…guess theres not as much butt and back "lifting" me in my seat now! Im also looking forward to summer with my kids…last year I avoided the pool all summer because I didn't want to get in a suit…now Im okay with my new suit in a smaller size! Just did some clothes and shoe shopping on sunday….so happy with my 12/14 pants….14/16 shirts and even my shoes shrunk a little in width! And like you I am feeling like this is just where I am supposed to be right now in my life…and yes….LIFE IS GREAT! Was having a "rut" with my eating and food choices and realized that only I can get myself back to where I was with my revised and better eating habits. I love so much of the new me that the cookie or bag of m&m's really isn't worth it…but it is so DARN TEMPTING…and the head hunger is just killing me…but I'm just gonna take one day at a time….AND BEAT IT! Thanks for posting your successes and your tips….love them! You look amazing!

COLD TURKEY….and keep busy! It's not bad at all….sometimes we let our minds take over what is really happening. I drank nothing but diet soda before my band surgery and stopped cold turkey on day 1 of my pre-op. It was not a big deal at all. Good luck!

Love this…thanks Jean! I just got over a pity party…I usually only invite myself! Im over it and moving on because even though I hit a hiccup with my eating plan, ONLY I, can pick myself up and move right along with my weight loss! I've lost almost 2/3 of my goal….nothing to be pity-ing about there! ..sometimes I just need to remember that!

I usually order a regular meal and just take home the extra..me or hubby usually enjoy it then. Or, I will order an appetizer and just have it brought out of the main course. I've never ordered off the kids menu…but its a good thought! Its nice to go out and eat like a "normal" person….at least for me! And we don't eat out often…so I get what I want and enjoy it without guilt or a second thought! Enjoy!