JustWatchMe

Those videos were very informative. Saving those for reference!

Amen! Imagine, for a minute, how many of us came here while still debating ANY surgery. Then again, how many of us told almost NOBODY that we were having this surgery. This forum is invaluable to me. I am learning every day and getting a better understanding of my body and its new "partner", my LapBand, because of this site. Alex, I read your "The BIG Book on the Lap-Band" (available at Barnes and Noble or on Amazon folks) over the last several months, which mentioned LapBandTalk.com, which by the time I found it, was this combined site. I knew from these resources what to ask my surgeon before, during and after surgery, and what to expect every step of the way. I do like to read some posts from the other forums (Sleeve, Bypass) because as you said, so much of what we face is a shared experience. I also casually know a person with gastric bypass and another with the sleeve. It helps me understand what they face. One last thought. I've been on Weight Watchers literally dozens of times. Some members of their online community can get pretty in-your-face mean if you admit a slip or ask how many points some "bad" food is. I've been shredded there in the past, which caused me to no longer post those types of questions. One of the first things I noticed here is how kind most posters are. Thank you for this wonderful haven of knowledge and support. I check it throughout the day and it gives me such hope for my future!

4ccs? Oh my gosh. I just found out my band placed 12 days ago is 14cc. No fill yet, but my surgeon typically starts with a 4-7 cc fill the first try. Is this unusual or are bands getting bigger? They told me mine was Large. (All my life, large.....)

Congrats!

It made me sad too. This is certainly no cakewalk for any of us.

These were so helpful to read. I really wasn't comparing to others, at least I didn't think so. I was comparing to how I've felt in the past (hungry) and what that resulted in (weight loss). You're all right. The surgery's effect on my body really is a bigger deal than I anticipated. Thanks for the reality check!

But it won't keep me down. Today was my first post-op appointment. I looked forward to today all weekend. I was really hoping for a big loss, but when I got on the surgeon's scale, I've only lost 0.8 pounds since my surgery day 11 days ago! Whaaaa? I did lose 13 pounds in the five days before surgery, so overall I'm doing fine, but what the...? I've been tracking intake (averaging just under 1000 calories per day), walking every day and increasing my workout each day, drinking my Water, not cheating at ALL, and 0.8 pounds in 11 days???????? GRRRRRRRR! Nobody was disappointed but me. (They don't know I weighed myself in the hospital on surgery day, which is not their protocol anymore.) I know it will all work out and it will start to drop, and I have four weeks left of liquids and then I get to go on regular foods. My doctor suggested I go down to 800 calories a day and ditch the Protein drinks. Yikes! Those were the only things keeping me from being ravenous! I'm not giving up. Just ranting. I'm determined to do what I need to do, and what I need to do is cut more calories stick with this. The good (excellent) news is that I am healing very well, and can go back to my Aqua Zumba in two weeks. I'm also due for my first fill on April 28th if I want it. That "if I want it" is because I am taking a trip abroad in mid-May and I'm scared to go with a new fill. My NP says no problem, wait until you come back. Doc prefers I get filled before I go (probably so I don't overindulge in Italy). Of course, it is my choice, so I'll decide next month. Anyway, I found out my band size is LapBand 14 AP Large and they typically fill the first fill anywhere between 4-7 ccs. I came home, walked my 24 minutes on the treadmill, and had my crappy yogurt for dinner. OK, I'm done.

These were so helpful to read. I really wasn't comparing to others, at least I didn't think so. I was comparing to how I've felt in the past (hungry) and what that resulted in (weight loss). You're all right. The surgery's effect on my body really is a bigger deal than I anticipated. Thanks for the reality check!

I had the same fear and my daughters are in college. Pray and know this is a lifesaving choice. You'll be happy you did it. I am.

Gowalking, I did see that here, actually, but I didn't realize it was weeks. Thanks, I feel better about it now.

Thanks, Kitt. I guess I just expected to see a drop because I've been going to sleep each night with a growling stomach. That used to mean weight loss back the day. I know I'm still healing. I can still see and feel the puffy incision area, so I know things haven't totally returned to normal yet. Just not looking forward to 200 fewer calories a day with no restriction yet. Is this the bandster hell they talk about? Everyone says the liquid diet post-op is the hardest time.

Ten pm here in Chicago. Thanks for the tip!

Successful Bander Problems! Hang in there. I remember the frustration too when I lost a lot of weight twenty years ago. Two suggestions while you're still losing.... A relative of mine loves Gwinnie Bee which is kind of like a clothing rental online. Nice outfits, and I think it's pretty affordable. Lots of women who are losing weight use it. Secondly, just keep hitting the Goodwill stores to see what's new each week. For a couple of bucks you might get a blouse that you can wear for a couple of months. Your post inspired me. Thanks for seeing the humor in a frustrating situation! (I hate to shop too.)

PPS: the time right before surgery is needed to shrink your liver. Makes laproscopic surgery safer.Visualize your skinny liver!

You can do this. Write out a plan. Go on MyFitnessPal.com and record your daily intake and exercise. Every single day, review your progress. Follow your doctor's pre-op protocol. It's for your safety. Call your NUT and tell her or him you're struggling and ask for advice. They want you to succeed. Stay connected here. This final month will really go by fast. It's so worth it! P.S. My last "chewable" meal was (too much) fried fish. It's not all it's cracked up to be. LOL. If I had that meal to do over again, I swear I would just have had some balanced normal portion of something healthy. I'm on liquids now, 10 days post-op and won't chew again until April 24. We can do this together!

Sorry, just soups and protein shakes and yogurt for me. My protocol is six weeks full liquids post-op.

My blender, a protein shaker bottle, my daughter's NordicTrack treadmill, this site!

Congratulations!

Good luck and don't worry! I'm ten days post-op and feel great!

Amen!

Seeing my surgeon for the first time tomorrow, 11 days post-op. Here are my questions so far: What size band do I have? What brand band do I have? When can I go back to Aqua Zumba? When can I go in a hot tub? I will bring my MyFitnessPal food diaries and see if I'm on track in his eyes. I previously discussed with the NP that I have a trip to Italy in mid-May, which would be a week or so after my first planned fill. She and I agreed to wait to fill until I'm back in the USA at the end of May. Apparently your organs, not just your legs and feet, swell when you fly. Since I will be eating real foods by then, I want the surgeon's input on this plan and what I should eat in Italy. My overwhelming concern is getting sick or stuck abroad, and no, I do not speak Italian. Where's my card that says I am a bariatric patient? I thought I was supposed to get one of those laminated thingies. I need to make one up in Italian. LOL. WhatDoIWeighWhatDoIWeighWhatDoIWeigh????? Was mine the skinniest liver you ever saw in surgery? LOL What else should I ask?

Thanks, all!

Not all friends can be all things. I'm 52, and my three best friends are all from my high school years. I stay in touch with all three, but only told my very best friend, because she is my emotional rock of support for everything, not just WLS. I wanted to tell my friend who lives in another state, but she was recently married to a guy who basically is a blowhard, opinionated jerk who fights with me about politics, etc. , every time we interact. I just didn't want the drama from him, so unfortunately, I didn't tell her. They have one of those joined-at-the-hip marriages where they read each other's Facebook, email, etc. I would love to tell her, because she had her own huge weight loss a few years back and knows the struggle. She was also my first WW partner when we were 16 years old. My third friend is a good friend too, but honestly, I just don't want it slipping out over Facebook, and she posts stuff constantly. I have business associates on Facebook, and many family members who don't know (only 5 people total know) and it's not worth the risk for me. Maybe someday I will tell her, but not now. My point is, I am choosing not to tell these two very good friends for my own reasons. I expect that if they figure it out or whatever, they may feel hurt that I didn't. I have to accept that with my decision to remain private comes the real possibility of them not mentioning my weight loss. I doubt it, because all of us have struggled and it will likely come up. Now, I'm a lot older than you are, and not in competition with anyone anymore in any real way, except in my career. We're old ladies now, LOL. But I'll just say that, guess what? These three babes were also my bridesmaids, and I was maid of honor for two of them. If your friend is your friend deep down, you'll eventually talk it out. I don't think prior to the wedding date is good for anybody. Rejoice in your weight loss, toot your own horn, and wait for a heart to heart until the wedding is behind you and everything's not all about her anymore. She could just be an insecure bride. And don't kid yourself, right now it's all about her. As it should be.

LOL I thought that was a typo of boring until I read it twice. Me? I have an exciting gastric band!

I'm day 5 post-op and doing full liquids for six weeks. Yesterday I got a bowl of soup from a local take-out. I had to eat the liquid and throw away the chunks of veggies, but it was fine, satisfying and only a little wasteful. So today I think, hey, speak up and ask for what you want. I spent several minutes explaining to the cashier that due to a dietary restriction, it would help a lot if today they could just skim the top, liquid part of the soup into my container and not give me any chunks from the bottom. Questions back and forth a few times, it seems they understood. When I paid at the second window, I confirmed that it was just liquid, right? Right, no chunks. Excellent, thank you! It smelled a little too good, however. Sure enough, when I opened it up later, there was the lovely liquid soup, with almost no chunks. Plus a hunk of bread and a free order of French fries. Gotta laugh. In the trash the freebies went. Good soup though.