chasingadream

@@bsellis ….you look amazing…beautiful smile on ALL of those pics! Thanks for sharing your AWESOME progress!

@@Kai-shek ……. You look wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

Hang in there! There will be good days and not so good days…and thats okay. Everyone is human and in my opinion, there is NO perfect! One day is not what the future will hold. In fact, it was a great learning lesson of what to do next time your schedule gets thrown off….make sure you find time to eat/drink a shake regardless of the time of day. As for beginning solids, I was there and understand the fear. Stay within the guidelines of what your doc/nutritionist has given you and listen to your band. I know, for me, after being on 2 weeks of liquids before and after surgery and then 2 weeks of mushies and finally onto solids, I thought all hell would break loose too with that first bite and it didn't. In fact, being off of all the crap food I was so used to eating for so long, changed my palate a bit and my desire for all that stuff. Your band will also tell you when it may be too much. That is a big learning curve…I am 7 months out and STILL learning that one! I know I need to stop eating when I am SATISFIED and NOT full…but when you've spent your entire life overeating that switch just doesn't turn off. But it can be done and like I said before there is a learning curve. I find myself weighing and portioning my meals…not to the point of craziness though…i don't want diet mentality….but i need to constantly remind myself what a REAL portion size looks like! Hang in there and let today go…it is already in the past!!!! Tomorrow will be a better day! Get ready for those solids and enjoy them….dont fear food….we need it to survive…and that is ALL we need it for!

Call your doc…they are the best ones to know what is going on and if they want to see you earlier than wed. Good luck…keep us posted!

'Twas the night before surgery and all through the house everything was quiet even this mouse! Well in 12 hours I will be leaving for the hospital to begin a new chapter in my life. I never thought this was a road I would be taking but here I am nevertheless. It has been an eye opening journey so far. My pre-op diet turned out to be a total success. For 14 days I followed all the rules and directions of my surgeon and nutritionist. It was a positive experience and actually taught me a lot about myself. I can do what I must even when it puts me in an uncomfortable spot. I've re-learned what TRUE hunger is and I now have a better and more intimate understanding of what head hunger is and feels like. I wonder why I never strayed for these past 2 weeks and then I came to this conclusion. Besides laying on that operating table for the surgery, I have one job...and one job only. Shrink my liver! Well, I figure since they need to move it a bit I could at least make it as lean and non-slippery as possible. I've read many posts lately about how people are falling off the "pre-op wagon" and that its okay because after all if we could stay on a 2week diet we wouldn't need weight loss surgery would we....those posts really got to me. But in the end, I am only responsible for me and my body. I've abused it enough over the past 44 years so i figured I could do it right for 14 days at least. So I am not saying I am any better than the next person, because I surely am not....but perhaps people should think about those goldfish or that cheeseburger....is it really worth it....ummm, for me....NO. And please know, with a 3 and 6 year old I made it thru making lunches (with extra peanut butter on the knife)...lots of snacks (some with just a cookie or two left in the bag)...and meals (nothings better than leftover mac and cheese from my kids' plates). I lived my life and made it work because I HAD TO! I've learned more about fear and uncertainty...constantly wondering if this was a good decision, the right decision, what may or may not happen before, during and after surgery. Will I love it....will my band be good to me...will i be good to it???....will I have success like so many here. Lots and lots of unanswered questions. I've learned more about support and friendship. I've met many nice people, on this forum and in person, and am happy to now call several of them friends. It's nice to have a place to go and people who support you. A place like this...a place to come and not be judged....for what you look like or how "large" you are. That's a rare thing in todays cruel society. I sit here on my couch feeling very calm and at peace and it bothers me a little that I am not more nervous...since that is my nature. Granted, my one and only concern....and its a biggy....is I just want to wake up from this surgery and know that I will see my babies again. I know that I will...I've come this far and all of this has happened for a reason. For me, I'm going to take each new day as it comes....each one is a gift and I am walking forward on this journey with good thoughts and the hopes of positive things to come. Tomorrow's a new day! A day to celebrate a new and healthier me! I want this...I want it bad. I'm willing to work and following what I must. I'm willing to take responsibility for me and my new little friend that will soon become a part of me! Sometimes it takes a lot of faith and a lot of work....I'm ready for both!

WOW….What a success and you look marvelous and happy! Thanks for sharing your story!

Congratulations on the job and feeling good about yourself! This journey is a wonderful one filled so many emotions….but feeling good about yourself is such a wonderful thing. Wishing you much continued success in ALL areas of your life!

Hang in there…each day that passes is one day closer to your surgery day. You are doing great…moody or not…lol. I had a 14 day all liquid pre-op AND a 16 day all liquid post-op…so I understand but I felt so good when I made it through. And thats great that you can't use the number on the scale to see your loss so far because it is already showing you that there are so many other ways to see if your are losing weight (clothes fitting, energy levels etc). I tend to be a slave to the scale and am learning to let other avenues guide me on my weight loss journey as well…. Wishing you much success! Keep us posted!

Everyone is different so anything is possible. For me I eat 3 meals a day….sometimes a little snack between lunch and dinner if needed. I try and stick with solid foods. I don't used shakes at all. My exercise is walking. I have bad knees and back so that works for me. Hope that helps you in some way….good luck and much success to you!

It is a real fear especially when it has been a part of your entire life…as it was for me. I had lap band w/plication surgery and it was the most difficult decision I've ever made. Obviously the fear of losing my dear friend "crap food" and the risk of complications from the surgery. But I stuck by my decision and I have not regretted it once. I still eat ALL foods, just in lesser quantities. I choose not to eat so much bread anymore…and I don't crave it either. If there is something I want, even something "not so healthy" I have a bite or a little bit of whatever it is…enjoy it and move on…and try to move a little more too. I am no longer in deprivation mode which i was always in thru dieting. I no longer need the crap food i used to rely on so heavily. I am no longer controlled by food. I don't need to live to eat…I now eat to live. Am I perfect….absolutely NOT…am I living….absolutely YES….am I succeeding…absolutely YES…and am I happier and healthier than I have been in years….ABSOLUTELY YES! Wishing you much success on whatever decision you make!

Congrats and welcome….sounds like you are off to a great start! Having the band has been amazing for me…and I agree with @@Bandista its amazing to have my hunger under control and not have my life focused around food only. I have been lucky and my hunger was under control since my surgery and still is and i have yet to need a fill. I take it one day at a time…and just go from there! Wishing you continued success!

This is such a hard journey….I find as I get further out from my surgery that sometimes I get too relaxed…let old habits creep in that I thought I had control over…. ..and forget it if something really stressful happens….its like everything just "goes to the wind"….its so easy to fall back into old habits. And it is quite easy to "get around" the band if you really have the desire to. Focus, hard work and severe determination are a daily must, I find, if I am to remain successful….but it is just SO hard some days!

I like pure protein bars (at CVS/Waldbaums)….most have 20g protein and about 200 calories….not bad on carbs and pretty low in sugar.

It's so individual based on your doctors pre-op recommendations. After that its all about your metabolism, exercise, how you eat….etc, etc, etc, etc. Basically, so many factors….. In my opinion….try not to compare yourself and don't look at anyone else as a gage for what you could possibly lose. it could only set yourself up to be disappointed if you don't lose what you "think you should" be losing! You and I have a very similar starting weight….but that is the only comparison you can make…. my success may be very different than yours….just be yourself… take one day at a time and do the best you can do for YOU! Wishing you lots of luck and success!

You are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G friend!

Yeah...the day is here...you are going to do great! Let your mom take good care of you for those 1st days!! Let us know how it goes and message me if you need to chat!

Hello all! Glad to be working with Lisa and Liz! I live in Nassau county and work in Queens. I was also banded with plication by Dr.Geiss at Syosset hospital. I just had my 6 1/2 month visit with the doc and all is good! Woo hoo!! It was so nice to meet several "bandsters" at the first meet and greet and we look forward to meeting so many more at the next one!!!!

Congrats on your wedding....you looked so pretty...loved the color!!!!! Sounds like you had a great honeymoon too!

That's GREAT!!!!!! I don't like running ...walking does it for me, but I am always amazed by runners and what you can do.....WAY TO GO!!!!

The thought of swallowing it and getting it all gummed up scares the heck out of me….so no gum for me…plus my doc said no gum!

Have been following your story @@parisshel and thanks for the information on the anti-inflammatories….been using tylenol only when needed! Hang in there…you can and will do this! You are already learning from the experience and that will only make you stronger in the end! Wishing you continued improvement on the health front…and as for less restriction…you will handle it just fine!

That must be an amazing feeling….to feel "content" with what you are eating and what you are doing to maintain your weight…. …and to be happy with how you feel and look….even better! Love reading your success story…thanks for sharing your journey!

You are always thinking…and looking at the "whole picture" for yourself. I love that and have to try it more….in all aspects of my life. I spend so much time worrying and fretting over things that when I look back are pretty silly….then i resort to old "foodie' habits and then beat myself up. I need to look in the mirror more and REALLY see what is going on…. Thanks @@Bandista …. like always!