make33

Like you, I didn't have any major health issues when I began my journey--acid reflux, achy knees occasionally but nothing like diabetes, sleep apnea, etc. But also like you, I WAS NOT happy with the way I looked or the way society perceived me--and frankly, I was sick of never feeling full--always looking for that next "something good" to eat! This Band has done wonders for me--in the area of portion control, of losing weight I never could before, of making me feel like a vibrant human being again--and I would change nothing about the last year!! 1. Cereal for Breakfast - 1/4 cup instead of 1-1 1/2 cups! 2. 1/2 can of tuna for lunch - instead of a huge tuna croissant from the deli. 3. A small piece of chicken for dinner, with veggies--instead of 4 ribs, 1/2 a box of Kraft macaroni and cheese and veggies! I can still eat pizza and bread--I just eat slower and more carefully. You can eat ALMOST anything you want if you're careful... It's your choice, I made mine--and man, am I happier than I have ever been! :regular_smile:

With being able to eat so little and needing Protein, I go for the real thing! Like Soniacan, I buy the 8 oz blocks of (Helluva Good or Kraft) colby jack or muenster and eat a small piece each day. I used to avoid fats at all cost, but now it's carbs--and whatever comes with my protein, I say "Oh well!"...

I'm almost four months post-op and I went for my third fill on Friday. My surgeon said "Liquids only" on Friday (which he had never said before) and so yesterday was my first day of food. And WOW! I have such GREAT RESTRICTION--it's just unbelievable! I was beginning to think the Band was just a trick to make me monitor how much food I was putting in, because I had NO restriction with the first two fills. Now I have a 10cc band; and I must have an ultra-conservative surgeon, because my first fill was 1/2cc and my second was 1cc. This third fill was another 1cc and from reading these threads, I thought for sure at this rate, it would take another 4 - 5 fills to feel something. Wha-hoo!!! I am really one of you now!!!!!

Hey Soozan, a girl here at work just sold her Total Gym--and she's constantly working out. What she said was that the pin was easy to put in when changing exercises but it was a bugger to pull out--and she used the video with it, so she had to stop the video when changing over and so was cooled down by the time she began exercising again. She also had a Pro Form treadmill, which she said wasn't bad (mine lasted two years of good use) but has just bought a Nordic Track treadmill which she also likes. Just thought I'd add her opinions of both...

I absolutely feel my port when I do sit-ups--in fact, my surgeon has me propped up that way when I get my fills!!! I feel my port very very much when I do the Leg Press too and at first, actually thought my port was a hernia!! I guess we must use our abdominals with that, too!

It was so funny that you said you didn't think your surgeon would allow you to have a fill because you made some bad choices--but m'dear, that's the EXACT reason you SHOULD have a fill!! "Frustrated" is right--as we lose weight, I understand that the Band loosens and so we need a fill to get it tight again. I just had my third fill and finally got restriction--so sometimes it takes a while to get to a good point. Try to get going on that exercise--I am telling you that you will be so-o-o glad you did! Besides being good for you, it sure boosts your self-esteem and just makes you feel terrific! (AND it's time AWAY from food!!) My suggestion to everyone is to start with a Curves--it's a relatively simple circuit to do (8 preset machines and 8 "stations" to walk on), takes less than 1/2 an hour and can have the added benefit of comraderie with other women!! Good luck on Friday...

Thanks so much, Jack--it makes me feel better to know that this is normal in the weight loss processes. I was concerned initially because I'm four months out and thought maybe this would become a permanent situation, rather than temporary. I DID have a wheat Cereal softened with milk this morning and I brushed my tongue (which I have NEVER done before) while also brushing my teeth. Your insight into the "bowel" thing is right on the money, too--and am still experiencing issues occasionally... badabing! It's truly hard with my good restriction to eat more than Proteins, but I can always cut down to 1/2 cup Protein and 1/4 cup veggies. In my life, I've never been good coming up with the "right mix" of foods to balance out--I've always gone "all dairy" or "all beans" (thus my 'gout' the last two weeks) or all tuna........ I should've paid attention in Health class for sure!!!

OMG, you guys are just too funny--you sure know how to make me laugh (keeping my hand over my mouth, of course!!!) :eek: I've got to try to mix up my food intake daily so I can get some more carbs in--besides buying more strips and mouthwash. But Jax, you are so-o-o right---that definitely is the UPSIDE of all of this!!:eek:

Restrict--thanks! Hey, I totally forgot that oatmeal is a carb--will be on that in the morning!!! My last/third fill gave me such great restriction that I barely have room for Protein but I will have to try to enter veggies and fruits in too. Again, thanks...

Thanks so much, Molly--I'm a trainer at work and SO concerned about getting close to my trainees now... I've got the breath strips, but think I will buy mouthwash and carry a toothbrush and toothpaste with me at all times! :eek: PS I wanted to thank you for your support on that other thread over the weekend--you have such a gift of insight--and you really made my day! (Before you wrote, I actually thought about giving up LBT....!)

Here's my suggestion: if you have a gym (YMCA or whatever) near you, why not see if you can sign up for a month. If so, you can try both, weight training as in the Total Gym, and the treadmill and decide which one you enjoy more before you buy! I've belonged to Curves for five years but continue to go just for the aerobic activity I get there--I also belong to the YMCA, where I get my weight program in twice a week-- Good luck in making this great decision for yourself! :eek:

Last night I actually had Peanut Butter get stuck!! I've been able to eat peanut butter since surgery, but NO MORE!! Looks like I'd better review what I've been writing in these threads about being able to eat peanut butter, pizza, etc!! Swstacey, I was upset with my surgeon too, when the first fill I waited six weeks for was a mere .05cc--but now I see he errs on the side of caution. I just didn't realize what real restriction was going to do!! Good luck--but don't be too upset if he goes for another 1cc!! :eek:

Wow, what a terrific idea! My house-husband was just saying today how hard it is to choose what to make for dinner for me! Love, it--count me in!!

The only thing I will ask is if you realize that your new pouch needs time to heal? Digestive enzymes are very hard on it, and you risk band slippage. It's very obvious that you weren't mentally ready for this surgery and the key word in these few weeks is "discipline". Now you are banded and you are risking injury by not following the band's rules. "Mushies and soft foods" are required for so short a period of time--you have the rest of your life to eat solids. And you already know drinking is definitely a no-no. There's really nothing anyone can say to you, because you've covered it all: you are totally aware of what you are doing wrong and it's YOU that can get back on the right track. I sure hope you do...

OMG, Foofy--I laughed so hard tears were rolling!! My YMCA is ancient and the dumbells I use actually have the poundage worn down so low, you can barely read them! When I went back, I grabbed what I thought was my former weight for concentration curls (way too much weight) and just did as many as I could-- Would I return them to the rack, in a display of embarrassment?? No-o-o-o, Ms Macho had to continue on, like I PLANNED it that way!! Biceps hurt for four days!!!!!!! We live and we learn....! :biggrin:

I'm almost four months post-op and I am finally getting back to using the weight amounts I used prior to surgery, especially the Bench Press. At eight weeks, I went back but had a lot of pain I attributed to a hernia, which turned out just to be my port--and it was caused by, of all things, the Leg Press!! We must use abdominals more then we realize for the leg press--and I am nowhere near to the weight amount on the leg press as I was prior to October. It's okay--I just take it slow and don't force myself onto the next level until I'm sure I can do it without pain (and before, it would freak me out if I couldn't do a certain limit). Just take a "mental valium"--we DO have the rest of our lives to build back up--it's not a contest, except to ourselves...

Unlike a few others, I don't think three weeks is too much time to be off--if you are paid for it, why not take the time??? I did, although I probably could have gone back after two weeks. And it DOES depend on what your surgeon uses to close: staples steri-strips, glue. Mine used staples and they didn't come out for a week and THEN I really began to heal. So if you have the time, girl, take it!! Unlike you, I'm afraid I told all my coworkers when I was just thinking about it and of course, they followed along asking questions during the first months of the seven months to surgery. But when it came right down to it, they were all against the surgery, thought I should "find the right diet for my metabolism and do it myself" and so the last months were spent not telling them anything about it. I like the hernia idea or the gall bladder idea (even though if you ever have to REALLY have to have your gall bladder out, they will wonder how you grew another ). I will say that now, four months post-op, my coworkers are back on board with me (it's not their life) and it's an area where I will answer questions if asked. Best wishes to you, Rachel!!

I just told the surgeon yesterday that when I started Curves five years ago, they had a contest and this woman lost tons of weight and inches--and then I found out she'd had gastric bypass and you know what I thought? I thought, "Cheater!" How prophetic that I would be here and now--and I told the surgeon, people do think you have the surgery and ba-da-bing! You're thin! This most certainly is not the easy way out--the easy way out is just to live as we were living--if you can really call that "quality of life"!! My best to each of you as you begin your journey--I started mine last February at the seminar and you will NEVER NEVER regret this move, believe me...!

Reading all the responses, isn't it funny how different all the surgeons are?!! Yesterday was my third fill and my surgeon told me to do just liquids yesterday. Today I had an egg for Breakfast, which was no problem (just a little tight) but I had a piece of fish for lunch just now and had some issues. Think I'll take myself back to mushies for another day!!

We've all said that what you put out in cost will be redeemed in the money you're going to save on groceries, believe me! The only extra cost you will incur is the whey Protein isolate powder--but that's only about every two months, depending on the size you buy. You are going to so love the Band and the portion control you will have. The Band's rules are tough--but it is all well worth it -- for the sake of our lives! Welcome and congratulations on getting on the road!!

The one thing I know for sure and I hope I never forget: all the people who suddenly think I have a brain (hello, I've HAD one) and treat me with more respect than they ever did--Lord, let me never forget how very shallow they really are! Yes, I'll still be cordial to them--but deep down I know they are "fatists". What a shame that all people aren't treated alike. Well, it's our gain and their loss... ! (Getting off my soapbox now, people!) :smile:

I was very nervous too about whether they would pay. My BMI was just borderline and other than acid reflux, I didn't have any real medical issues. I work out three to four times a week and am relatively healthy--plus I had been bulimic for four years in the late 80's and the psychiatrist said she was sorry but she had to "write that down". So I was just positive I was going to be turned down--sometimes I think they put hoops out there just to make sure we are serious about wanting/needing this. If we persevere, we will prevail!! My very best to you...:smile:

When I went to the initial seminar in the Greenville UPMC, the Bariatric Center told me UPMC required a six-month tracking of attempting to diet--and they said either I could have my primary care physician fill in the form monthly and send it in, or I could just go to their nutritionist in Greenville. I just felt 'safer' having the nutritionist do the tracking since she worked for UPMC (I love my primary care physician, but twice I made an appointment and asked for a letter of recommendation for the surgery and then even emailed a sample letter to them--I finally had to call their office manager, emailed her the same letter, and she had it at my Bariatric Center within 15 minutes!! I think I made a good choice, going through the nutritionist). All this nutritionist did (15 minutes each visit) was require me to fill in a food log, and each month she would say "Okay, for next month, let's cut down by 100 calories a day". She knew nothing about supplements (protein) because "she didn't have that in college" and so I just went through the motions to get that part done with!! I'd say, check with your Bariatric Center--maybe the 'six month course' is the same as visiting the nutritionist (who just handed me a book on diabetics). Hey, the very best to you in your journey--I found UPMC to be nothing but professional all the way around! :smile:

Cool, I can't tell you how very happy I am for you! I got goose bumps just reading about the call!! I just KNEW you'd get over this little bump in the road, and you KNOW we are all here for you whenever you hit the next one :frown: !

How many different flavors did you try? There are like a gazillion on Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, books, DVDs & more. Don't give up after one try (was it unflavored that you bought??) The biggest reason to keep on trying is that one day you will have just the right adjustment and you may not be able to get in your daily requirements just from food. Try samples or maybe just buy 1# containers at a time. I use my belgian chocolate in just Water and I personally think it tastes phenomenal!! :tongue: