BandedBrunette481

Thank you!!! I'm glad it's resonating with so many people

My birthday is May 5th

All the other commenters are right, pizza is not a good choice. But! I will say this. I ate pizza within a month of being banded too. I limited my portion size to one small slice and I enjoyed every bite of it! However, I don't make a habit out of eating pizza or anything else that is unhealthy. I'm not one of those super strict dieters who only eat Protein and veggies. I just make smart choices, limit my carb intake, and limit my portion sizes. I also developed a lot of self control. It takes a lot of hard work on my part and it's something I had to work on, it didn't happen overnight. You asked what you should be eating in the first month. My surgeon's instructions had me back on regular food on the 4th week after surgery. But that doesn't mean go crazy and eat whatever you want. You still want to take it slow and keep it healthy. You should be eating mostly protein. Remember, you're trying to build good habits that will last the rest of your life. You're going to make mistakes. Everyone does. But you have to get back on track and think about why you're doing this. Keep your eye on the prize! It's a tough journey, but it's worth it

Most people do the same thing you have done - seriously diet after getting banded and are in the losing phase, so don't worry, everything you are saying makes sense! That being said, I haven't "dieted" in the traditional sense since being banded. I hate counting calories and weighing food all that stuff and I don't ever want to have to do that. I want to live a healthy lifestyle, not be on a diet the rest of my life, ya know? I have only been banded 2 months, but I've been doing a lot of soul searching and trying to pay attention to my signals as well because I couldn't tell if I was full until I was too full, like you mentioned. I write a blog and I've covered some of these topics, so I just wanted to give you the links in case you wanted to read my thoughts on it all. Hope it helps My post on dieting: http://blissfullybanded.wordpress.com/2014/03/29/how-i-diet/ My post on being "done", not "full": http://blissfullybanded.wordpress.com/2014/04/19/im-done-and-a-weigh-in/

I have a page in my blog with recipes and I have a whole page of Protein shake recipes that my surgeon's office gave me! They are all pretty good. Here's the link if you want to check it out http://blissfullybanded.wordpress.com/protein-shake-recipes/

Sorry to hear you're having troubles! I hate to say it, but if you are getting stuck a lot already, you probably don't need another fill. If you are really having a hard time getting food down without it getting stuck you might actually be too tight, or you're eating the wrong foods. My advice is to re-examine your eating and exercise habits. Try tracking what you eat in a food journal or an app like My Fitness Pal. That will give you a better idea of how much Protein you're getting, if you're truly staying in the right calorie range (eating too few calories is detrimental too!), and you can make a note of what kind of foods get stuck for future reference. For exercise, just try and stay as active as possible, even if you're only walking for 30 minutes a day. I know all of that sounds kind of "duh", but sometimes taking it back to the basics helps reset yourself and allows you to refocus. Best of luck to you!

Congrats on your upcoming surgery! It is worth it all in the end And welcome to the forums! It's a great place to find help and support. I'm only about 2 months out, but I have a blog you can check out that details my progress if you're interested. I have a recipes page you might find useful since you're going to be starting the LapBand post-op diet before you know it. The link is in my signature below!

Congrats on all of your success!! I had a similar experience when I tried on an old pair of jeans. Last time I wore them they were sooo tight and now I need a belt to keep them up because my butt is gone lol! Keep up the good work

This past Tuesday was exactly 8 weeks since the day of my surgery and I couldn't be happier! I'm down 25 lbs, have 3cc's in my band, and I'm feeling great! I love my LapBand and I feel like I'm living a whole new, positive life. It's really easy to get caught up in posting on these forums when something is going wrong, but sometimes, you just have to stop and take a minute to Celebrate what is going right I posted some side by side comparison pictures on my blog of my progress so far. Here is the link if anyone would like to take a look. http://blissfullybanded.wordpress.com/2014/04/18/2-month-bandiversary-pictures/ Thanks for all the support fellow Bandsters! I wish everyone the best of luck, no matter what stage of your journey you are on.

I still appreciate the posts about band problems. There is something comforting about being able to come on here when you have a problem and finding out you aren't alone. It's just when you read too much of the really bad problems that you start to get scared for yourself! Gotta keep it balanced, good and bad is all

I didn't drink all that much the first few days either. It gets easier as the swelling goes down. It's still important to stay as hydrated as possible though so try warm liquids (they seem to go down easier), sugar free popsicles, Powerade Zero, ice chips. A friend suggested Pedialyte popsicles to me even. Whatever works for you, just keep sipping. You'll feel ten times worse if you get dehydrated on top of everything else your body is going through! If you really can't get any more liquids down soon, you should contact your doctor and let them know because it could become a serious health concern. Best of luck to you!

I have similar issues! I don't like when people constantly comment about my weight loss, even if it's to compliment me because it makes me feel like I'm under a microscope. I start to feel like I have to keep losing a lot or they're going to notice that I'm not. Like you said, I realize that they aren't trying to put pressure on me to succeed or hurt me, but it's still hard. What helps me is blogging, to be honest. It gives me an outlet for all of my feelings, positive or negative. It's a good place to Celebrate yourself because it's your blog. It also pushes me to do better, in a good way. And I like having a record of all of the success I've had so far. If I ever feel bummed I can go back and look at how far I've come to feel re-motivated. I realize blogging isn't for everyone, so you could also try a journal/diary. At the very least, I suggest writing out a list of all the things you want to accomplish or all of the things you want to be able to do once you start losing weight. It's called a Weight Loss Bucket List! Put it up somewhere in your house where it can give you daily motivation and remind you why you're on this journey. Another great tool is support groups. You can look them up online or ask your surgeon's office if they have any. It will give you a network of support, a group of people cheering for you and reminding you that this journey is about YOU, not other people. Don't get discouraged. Keep fighting. I wish you the best of luck!! Oh!! And my standard response when people ask how much I've lost is "I don't know the exact number but my clothes fit better and I feel great!" because really, that's a better judge than the scale anyways.

Awesome!!! Isn't it great when you realize all the things your body is physically capable of accomplishing now?

I'm 2 months post-op and I hate to say it, but every holiday/special occasion you experience for the first time after surgery is a test of willpower! There's always some food or candy associated with each one that I get a little bummed I can't have, Like the delicious waste of calories that are Reese's Peanut Butter eggs! Haha! You'll make it through though Congrats on your surgery date!! It's all so worth it!

Congrats on your success so far! I also have sporadic amounts of weight loss. Some weeks I don't lose any and then others I lose 3 or 4 pounds. You mentioned you want to start cutting out carbs and sugar and I think that's a great plan. Honestly, I am finally realizing that the weeks I lose the most are when I eat less carbs and sugar and stay well hydrated. You don't necessarily have to cut out carbs all together, but definitely eat as few as you can. And when you do eat carbs, make sure they aren't the useless white bread kind (aka bad carbs) haha . Go for whole wheat/ whole grain types because they actually have nutritional value. Non-starchy vegetables are a source of good carbs as well. Best of luck to you!

I experienced some random bouts of nausea after surgery and still do sometimes, even 2 months post-op. When I called about it after surgery, the nurse I spoke to called in an anti-nausea med for me and told me to sip warm liquids. I'm not a medical professional, but perhaps you are experiencing nausea associated with indigestion like I was. My stomach just felt hollow and churning for a while post-op, which I think was the cause of my nausea. My doctor said it was a common complaint and it will go away in time. So you could also try something to settle your stomach like liquid Rolaids, Tums, or Pepto-Bismol (my surgeon's office recommended Pepto, but I prefer the Rolaids) You could always call your doctor for a different anti-nausea medication as well, as cloud9 suggested. I hope you feel better!

Great to hear you're doing so well! I feel like I had a very similar post op experience as you, right down to the cold food thing! Lol! You just kind of get used to reheating your food halfway through or eating it cold because it takes so long to eat everything. Keep up the good work!!

I had my first fill on April 9th and I also don't feel much restriction. I can eat anything, I just don't. Like kll724 said, it's basically just dieting right now. My next fill appointment isn't until May as my doctor will only do them every 6 weeks. It's hard work and it's easy to get discouraged, but you just have to keep working hard. It can take several fills before you feel anything and maybe even more until you get just the right amount of restriction. Don't give up! Keep track of what you eat, stay hydrated, and get moving, even if it's only walking. Find a hobby even! Staying busy helps take your mind off the food. You can do this

You've got it right - take it one day at a time! It's a lot harder than it seems, but it is well worth it. I honestly attribute the pre-op diet to most of my success post-op. That 2 weeks of liquids changed my whole outlook on food. By the time I had surgery I could have cared less about fast food and sweets. I would have been happy with a salad! And since you get to gradually add new foods post-op, it's like rediscovering everything. My tastes have changed and healthy foods I never thought I would eat, I actually enjoy. Great job resisting temptation as well! That's something you're going to encounter a lot on this journey, so it's good to start building that habit now. I find that doing other things and staying buys helps keep your mind off the food cravings. Just try and remember that it does serve a purpose and in the end, it is going to be SO worth it!

No problem!! I know that this site is a place people go for help a lot so you're going to read a lot of negatives, and like you said, the what ifs will start to set in. But I'll tell you what a fellow bandster once told me: the people who have the most problems with the band are the ones who don't follow their doctor's instructions (i.e. - overeating, eating junk, not exercising, etc) and/or have poor aftercare (don't have a support system or a doctor to help them). So don't get too worried over what you read on these forums! Just stick to all the band "rules," find a good support team, put in the effort and you'll do great!

Thanks for reading and for the compliments!! It's nice to hear all the encouraging words. I'm looking forward to seeing myself at six months as well. I post regular updates and pictures on my blog, but I'll have to come back here at 6 months and give another update!

I love that you had the courage to do this!! Also it give me hope, and by that I mean we had a pretty similar starting weight, pretty similar weight loss so far and you look amazing. So you give me hope that maybe I'm improving as much as you are! It's so very hard to look in the mirror and see anything other then what you are used to. I wish now I had taken before and after pictures. Keep up the great work you are doing and awesome job I am so glad that my story has given you hope!! That's a great thing to hear. I knew I would regret not documenting my journey with pictures, even though they are hard to take and look at. I encourage it though because it does end up being a good motivator! Thank you for your encouraging words I wish you all the best as well.

Thank you for the kind words!! I can't wait until I'm 6 months out either. I have this fear I'm going to stall out soon, but I'll keep pushing forward no matter what

Congrats on your success!! I'm only 2 months post op and I'm soooo looking forward to all those nonscale victories you mentioned It gives me hope to hear you're 2 years out and still losing/keeping the weight off. I also love that you said you don't diet. I don't diet in the traditional sense either and it works for me too! Keep up the great work!

I felt kind of the same way! I think it was a combination of fatigue from not eating, surgery, and dehydration. Just try and stay hydrated and rest up. If you feel out of sorts or you're getting worse, be sure to contact your doctor for medical advice! I called practically in tears on my second day post-op and the nurse I spoke to was very kind and reassuring. It'll help ease your mind if nothing else. Best of luck to you!