JustWatchMe

Congratulations!!

First of all, congratulations on the pregnancy. Second of all, you are not a failure. You are struggling, and you're looking for help. Please, please give yourself a break. I don't think I have very much to offer except to tell you my experience with my band. I lost a lot of weight quickly in the first 7 months, and then I stopped losing. I know full well that it was because of the food choices I was making. I was not binging anymore, but I was refusing to give up certain foods, like fried foods and other delectables. I was very discouraged and afraid that I would not lose the final 50 that I needed to lose. Like you, I felt like I could eat more than I should be able to eat. I went to see my NP. Instead of yet another fill, we discussed me trying to clean up my food first, and see if that helped my restriction.I did just that. Little by little, I gave up the items that were causing me trouble. First to go was alcohol. Second to go was fried food and a carby Thai dish that I loved to eat once or twice a week. Finally, I gave up the movie crap corn. I went back to tracking my food in MyFitnessPal. It took a good four weeks before these changes became comfortable. But once that time had passed, I no longer craved the crappy food. It was easier to stay within my measured portions. It was easier to track and stay committed to what I planned. I began to get hungry only at meal times again. I began to crave vegetables instead of greasy fried food. And slowly, slowly, slowly, the weight is coming off again. I don't know if any of this helps you. I know that if I were pregnant, it would be an additional challenge. But please give yourself a break. None of us entered WLS as a short-term solution. We have made this decision for life. But the good part about that is, the solution will be with us for life. We can work with our doctors and our bands to help us get back or stay on track. Again, blessings to you on your pregnancy. And good luck to you with your band!

I've had a month and a half of very clean eating and my band is really doing its job. Slowly the weight I gained over the past six months has come off. I know without my band, this restart wouldn't have happened. It's such a gift to have this tool that helps with the hunger if I only do my part. After three or four weeks of no fried food (!!! me!?!?!) and no Thai noodles and no crapcorn, I no longer missed or daydreamed about them. Nothing short of a miracle.

OA, Bariatricpal, therapy.

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Way! To! Go!

Keeping it real, sister. I've started to actually prepare less than before, so throwing extra away is happening less. This is huge for me, since I've never learned to cook "small" my whole life. I will add, my dog is not a garbage pail either. Poor guy was getting all the excess p rotein from my plate once I felt my soft stop signal. I've lost ten pounds in about five weeks. Problem is, he is up ten pounds from last summer. Routine vet visit weigh in. I was shocked. He's a big dog but that's not good for him. So I abruptly stopped giving him the extras. Now he gets an essential oil head massage each evening instead. Healthier for both of us.

I'm not a trucker but I want to say your post is very inspirational. Planning for a healthy lifestyle and getting your ducks in a row before surgery is so smart. Best of luck to you!

Slow down your eating and chew really really thoroughly. If you do this and still PB, let your team know.

Lisa, take that nap.

Calgon, take her away. Don't you love how every doctor, therapist, etc. says it's important that we reduce our stress levels for our health? But never tell us how? Life doesn't cooperate.

I asked my daughter to karate chop my neck and upper back several times a day. Another poster recommends windmill arms. It's trapped gas that needs motion and time to dissipate. Good luck. Also, mine took longer than a few days to go away. But every day got a little bit better.

Feel better soon, Lisa.

Last thing: scootching over from the gurney to the table. First thing: pain in my chest and saying, I can't breathe, I can't breathe. They gave me something in my IV and the pain disappeared and I could breathe. I fell back asleep.

I'm 22 months post op. Lost 100 pounds in the first seven months and then stopped losing with fifty to go. I logged until I didn't. Once I stopped I began making poorer food and drink choices. Gained ten pounds back from my lowest weight. I began logging again back in December, and now I work with an OA sponsor too. I commit my food a day ahead in MyFitnessPal. I can change it, but if I do, I relog the correct food and tell my sponsor. Since mid December, I've dropped 8 pounds of the 10 I gained. Logging works for me.

I had an elderly great aunt who was pure love. She saw me once every year or so. 25 years ago I lost 130 pounds (gained it all back later) and she saw me at Christmas. She privately told me with an ear to ear grin, "You look just beautiful. You have always been beautiful." That's it. No mention of the weight or any questions. It made me feel so good that I can remember it like it was yesterday. On the flip side, I've been accidentally guilty of asking an acquaintance (daughter's Girl Scout leader) who lost a great deal of weight, "what's your secret?" I was about 250 at the time. She snapped, "No secret. Diet and exercise!" I was flabbergasted. I wanted to apologize but I felt I had been insulted at the same time. It still bothers me, but it made me realize that the question can be taken differently by different people. When someone asks me that today, I usually tell them low carb, high p rotein, portion control. I have only told a few people about my WLS. Maybe after I've been at goal weight a few years that may change, but I'm leery of advertising it now.

All of the above. And once more: you look beautiful!

Jane, I missed the post as well, but I've never seen a post from you that I found objectionable in any way. Heal quickly and know you have many cyber friends here.

Aw Liz, that's a wonderful picture! You are both great looking people. And so happy too!

The tomatoes were delicious but labor intensive. Next time I'll stuff larger tomatoes. Great ideas here. Thanks everybody!

I'm headed to a dinner party Friday and I offered to bring a veggie appetizer. It was a selfish move -- I wanted to make sure there was something WLS-friendly there for me to eat that wouldn't derail my food plan. Any ideas for making something classy and healthy? I'm tired of my old standby, the raw veggie and dip tray. I did read over the Food and Nutrition thread before posting this here, but I think that doesn't get as much traffic. Thanks in advance!

Debbie, you look beautiful.

Woo hoo!!! Congrats!! Walk walk walk. Welcome to the new you!

All I remember is that between the six day pre op c lear liquids diet and the six week post op full liquids diet, I lost fifty pounds before my first fill. It certainly jump started my success. Which is what my surgeon told me he wanted.

My surgeon told me pre op that tests showed I had a "tiny" hiatal hernia and if he felt it necessary, he would repair it during my LapBand surgery. Well, he didn't. Funny thing is, now that I'm down 100+ pounds, I can see the hernia bulging out when I bend forward. I wish he'd have fixed it then. But near as I can tell, it isn't causing me any problems. I used to have reflux before surgery but I've been off Prevacid since being banded and never needed it again.