chasingadream

WELCOME! Had my surgery back in september and am happy with the results and the way I feel! There is a lot of information out there and a lot of opinions out there about all types of WLS….do your research and weigh both the pros and the cons….and be sure to find a doctor you are comfortable with who will answer ALL of your questions, no matter how many you have and how silly they may be….that is important (at least it was to me). And yes, seeing the scale number go down is an amazing feeling but there is some emotional aspects to WLS. I think everyone has different reactions to it….as long as you look yourself in the mirror and honestly address what you are feeling/going through and seeking help if you need it, you can make it through in a positive way! Wishing you all the best as your pursue this amazing journey…keep us posted!

OH….AND YOU LOOK AMAZING! GREAT JOB!

Lots of good advice given above….and yes, if it is bothering you than you should address it with her….my only concern would be the timing….if you think she will get defensive….maybe you would want to wait until after the wedding….as some said she may be wrapped up in the wedding and I would think you don't want to be the reason there is a fight or bump in the road during what will/should be the happiest time in her life, so to speak….just my opinion. Waiting will only give you more time to get closer to your goal….just my thoughts….wishing you luck…let us know how it goes!

That's great…you are right…it is truly funny when someone hasn't seen you in a bit…..or even if they see you everyday….here's what I mean: I had my surgery in sept…the school year was underway but you didn't really notice my weight loss until about Jan/Feb…by that point i was in my "old" "too big" winter coat but you could see it in my face. So my daughters preschool teacher asks me at dismissal one day, if I lost some weight and I said yes, 85 pounds….her eyes got really wide and she says "since I've known you"…I said yes since september! LOL It is neat and a bit funny to see peoples reactions. What a great story…thanks for sharing and much continued success for you!

I used Dr. Geiss….he is very knowledgable when it comes to the band! Experience with him and his office has been great! Answered all of my questions and even took the time to meet with us a 2nd time because we had more….have 2 cousins and 2 friends who also used him and everyone's experience was good! He was recommended to me by my PCP which is why I originally went there! Nothing but good things to say!

You are amazing and Im glad Ive gotten to know you better! You are strong and determined and very inspirational!….and a very big success in my book….in all ways!

Bags upon bags upon bags have gone into the BigBrothers/BigSisters donation bin. I couldn't take it anymore either @@lisacaron !!!! I now own 4 pairs of pants and 2 of those Im already able to pull on and off as if they were "stretchy" but they actually have a button and zipper….and I have 4 shirts that actually fit too….i need more but shopping is annoying….even at a smaller size…and since i want to lose more its still transitional!!! I NEVER thought I would be complaining about something like this when it came to my weight loss. I have a casual dress code at work but still like to look nice in what i've got on!!!! My closets are bare and so are my dresser drawers after Ive tossed out decades of clothes all in sizes 18-24….. And I find myself falling into old habits….head hunger getting the best of me and giving into it….a yummy piece of sausage pizza for dinner….which isn't a problem at all until I kept on eating…and on….and on and now I have that "oh my…you ate waaay too much feeling" that is finally beginning to pass. Makes me wonder how easy it would be to fall back into old habits and start climbing sizes again. I torture myself some days wondering if i should get my first fill….but I'm losing each month and the PA tells me that a fill will not stop that head hunger…it will not stop me from making a poor eating choice…so no fill for me! I'm amazed that even with a 87 pound weight loss I'm having so many issues….i feel frustrated…this is soooooo much harder than gettining the scale to go down….there are so many others thoughts and feelings involved than just pure joy over losing that kind of weight. And I am happy about the weight loss and feel blessed that it has happened as it has…but how do I get past/through the rest of it. Somedays, I just feel confused and sad over it…..lately that's just the way its been!

thank you for saying all of that….that is exactly how I am feeling….like a nervous Nelly so to speak….I had surgery 8 days after you and have also lost 87 pounds quickly…which is nice and I feel good …but it comes with lots of baggage……good and bad!

Congrats…take one day at a time…and feel better. Its a great journey…wishing you all the best!

Congratulations….Hudson is adorable!!! Wishing you all the best! Good luck with breastfeeding and figuring it all out with your fills….look to your doc for advice there.

That was well written and came straight from your heart! You are an inspiration and you look amazing!! You have made such amazing strides!! Thank you so much for sharing!!

LOL….that should scare him off okay!!!

I agree with you on that one…I have put myself on the "back burner" for so long that its nice to move to the front. And to have to deal with people who don't want to support you 150% is not my idea of putting myself first.

Nassau County, Wantagh…. I'm with @@lisacaron ….the first NYC meet and greet was nice….looking forward to one in Spring…maybe we can connect with more LI bandsters!

how long do you have to wait to eat normal foods after the lap band surgery My doctors protocol was a 2 week all liquid pre-op diet, then after the surgery it was 2-3 days of Clear liquids followed by 2 weeks of all liquids followed by 2 weeks of mushies and then onto solids…. So for me it was about 4 1/2 weeks post surgery before I had solids…. But like @@valarie kk has said every doctor is different….so please make sure to check with your surgeon and ask those questions. Please make sure you know all that is expected of you pre AND post surgery. This surgery, as any, is serious. Please make sure you are informed, understand, and have all of your questions asked before you undertake anything. Best of luck to you!

I agree with @@2muchfun …. although every doctor and protocol is very different (please follow yours)…mine told me the first 6 weeks was all about healing and learning/practicing mechanics and getting through the phases and back to solids….AND NOT TO EXPECT ANY WEIGHT LOSS….if you have a weight loss it would be a bonus. That helped me stay off the scale, follow MY docs orders and HEAL….. Good luck to you…keep us posted!

I also kept it quiet except for close family and 2 friends I knew I could trust. I was out on a Thursday and returned on the following thursday. Since I took personal time without pay I just told my boss I was having a medical procedure done and left it at that. People asked questions when I returned but I just told them I was taking care of some medical issues and left it at that. Nobody asked anything further than that. And I work with nice but GOSSIPY females!!!! Hopefully that you just called in sick for 2 days there will be little questioning….if they do you can use any assortment of reasons….stomach virus is always a good one. Do you think people will be questioning you about your absence?? And when they started noticing my weight loss which was a while later I just told them the truth…i've been working hard to eat smaller portions of high Protein and lower carbs and walking, walking, walking…it IS the truth!!! Its harder now that I updated my wardrobe to fit the weight loss that Im getting bombarded with questions…I still use that same explanation as above!!!!! Hope that helps you in some way…hope you are feeling great and good luck returning to work!!!

I went with the Bariatric Advantage. You can order them online…there nutritional info you can get from the site I don't remember it off hand. I could not stand the pre made shakes…muscle milk light, EAS, pure protein…they all had a horrible taste and aftertaste in my opinion. These shakes where thick but i liked that you could buy them already in a bottle…all you had to do was add Water and shake. And I liked the taste…especially they had one that tasted like an orange popsicle…they chocolate tasted like chocolate….they were sweet though. But lots of the shakes were…. Hope that helps you in some way!

I fall into that category….besides the closest of family and 2 really close friends only about 7 trustworthy "work" friends (out of 65) know about my surgery. I have had an abundance of compliments as of late, that's what happens when your wardrobe finally catches up to the weight loss. I HAD to buy new clothes since the old ones were falling off of me and i did look ridiculous. Let me begin by saying I DO NOT like being the center of attention EVER…especially when it comes to my appearance….good or bad! So all of the compliments are a bit tough for me but i am adjusting. Usually I just give a big smile and say thanks and keep on moving…but there are those people who 'corner' you and want to know what you are doing….so I give them an honest answer …."I am eating small portions that are high in protein…some carbs but not a lot and Im out and walking"….and that is the truth….so I left out the part about the tool…well they didn't ask about that now did they…LOL. I feel that not everyone needs to know about MY decision. It was one of the hardest decisions of my life and I did not make it lightly. My ever supportive hubby and I talked and talked and talked and asked a gazillion questions to my doctor…we even went back for a follow up appt to answer all of our questions. So I do not need anyones unsolicited advice on something they do not really know about. And NOONE can understand where I was coming from at 280 pounds (my highest) when I made this decision. I have told a few more people lately but ONLY people I trust to keep it between us and people I know will support me as I continue my journey. Sometimes I think people ask "what are you doing" like this has been some miracle weight loss that they can embrace and lose for themselves…and in some cases that is true but unfortunately in others that I know it is just them looking for gossip and waiting for me to fail…as I have many many times before….NOT THIS TIME! So although I am learning to hold my head up high and take a compliment for simply that…and I am getting better at it…it is a new experience for me. Many of my colleagues I've known for 15 years working in the same school and they have always seen me as heavy so this is new to them AND me. To be honest, I can finally see the changes to myself when I look in the mirror and it feels wonderful….so although uncomfortable at times it is nice to hear the compliments for what I've accomplished thus far. Hope this help you @@Carol Annie !!! Best of luck to you!!!

Welcome aboard @@silverclipse !! Having the lap band with plication has been a wonderful experience for me personally. I've followed my doctors rules to ensure success…and so far things are going well. I've learned to take things one day at a time and not beat myself up over things…I am human and therefore NOT perfect…and I cannot expect this journey to be perfect either. I've learned that it took me 44 years to put on all of my weight and although it surely won't take 44 years to get it off, it isn't going to come off in 3 months either! That's where the one day at a time comes in!!!! I love that I can eat ALL foods and that I am NO LONGER ON A DIET!!! Such nice words to say and hear. I eat healthier now than I ever had and I feel really good both physically and mentally. I often envision 80 pounds in terms of bags of 5 lb potatoes and cannot imagine going to the grocery store and trying to carry 16 - 5 lb bags to the register but that IS what I was carrying on my body before surgery!!!! Wishing you ALL the best as you move onto the next steps of your journey…..keep us posted! and GOOD LUCK!!!

Thanks so much for sharing your success….you look amazing….love that beautiful smile that shines through in ALL of your pictures. The transformation is amazing….I like looking at myself more and more in photos because i can see the changes so much more than when I glance in the mirror. You look AWESOME @@PrettyThick1 !!

Thanks for that article….im 6 months out so technically in the honeymoon phase…and enjoying every minute of it….but I will keep this article as time moves forward... Thanks @@BariatricGirl !!!!

Congrats on making a decision to regain your health. It is a wild ride and it is hard but it IS SO WORTH IT!!!! A tool is only a good tool if you use it correctly…I agree with @@Leepers --I've told very few people about my WLS and that was the best decision for me…you will do what works best for you! Best of luck…keep us posted on your progress!

What a transformation….but your beautiful smile radiates through in every one of those beautiful pictures!! Congrats on getting yourself to such an incredible place…what an accomplishment…and you should definitely share it with others…you have obviously worked hard! Good for you….what an inspiration!!