NewLife'sGr8

Sounds like the band was too tight

Not that I've done it yet, and not that it might be the most popular post but.... This thread brought me back to my art major days & fashion design classes... and home ec- back in my younger years. It also brought me back to basic family training. In my family, the boys learned to sew & cook and the girls learned how to do years work & minir repairs- as well as all that traditional male/female trajectories. My family cross-trained. We also learned to buy GOOD quality and make it last forever. lol So I've hung onto a few meaningful 'fat' pieces. I have the intention to either alter them to fit me or to recreate them into something else altogether; a skirt, new tank, scarf, even a pillow or throw. Those things that have a place in my heart like the gown I wore at my daughter's wedding, my first date with.... outfit , my later-in-life graduation from college dress, that kick-ass power suit that I kicked ass at work & got kudos with, etc. I think it's important to surround ourselves with what's meaningful, even if it's not recognizable as what it once was. It makes sense though, because I'm not recognizable as what I once was either, but I'm still the same me and what's meaningful still matters, imho.

I love making homemade soups of all kinds in the fall. A great fall "cream" soups is: Creamed Acorn, butternut & carrot soup. I like to freeze portions so usually I make a lot of soup at a time Adjust the amounts to whatever you like. start with peeling & de-seeding the squashes and chop into ~ 1in chunks. chop up the carrots ~ 1 in chunks. I wash & don't peel the carrots to get more Fiber & nutrients in. Toss all of it in olive oil, pop on a big cookie sheet or roasting pan, sprinkle with sea salt and pop in a 425 oven for 30-40 min (=roasted veggies) In the soup-vat, brown up lots of big chunks of onion, celery, garlic, then dump in 8-16c broth (depending on how much you want to make) into the vat when onions look clear/ browned. bring to boil & simmer until the roasted veggies are done cooking. Toss in roasted veggies, bring back to boil, then down to simmer again. throw in some cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, sea salt & pepper. simmer for an hour or so. TASTE THE BROTH & AJUST SPICE TO TASTE. let cool a bit to not scalding hot. If you have one of those stick blenders, stick-blend the whole vat until smooth & creamy. serve with a dollop of sour cream on top & a few chopped scallions if you like. If you don't have a stick blender, then let it cool to tepid, then spoon the broth & chunks into a blender & blend until smooth & creamy. If you don't let it cool before blending, the lid will blow off from pressure & you'll get 2nd/3rd degree burns like I did 1st time I tried this. Don't worry about the lil dollop of sour cream because you're not adding any extra cream or butter fat other than the olive oil you roasted the veggies & browned the onions with (not much per serving). SO YUMMY! Enjoy!

If you're feeling ravenous again, go get a fill (as long as it's not 'head-hunger', i.e.: all in your head) I lost weight. Looks great now, but it literally took me 4yrs to lose the 100lb you see on my ticker here. That's ~25lbs a YEAR! Doesn't really sound like that much when you do the math; less-than a 1/2 pound a week. It's MY doing. I asked for a loose fill so I could have enough nutrients to heal from ortho surgery. One surgery led to another, to another to another... 8 in total during those 4 years. I was in so much pain, either on crutches waining for the next surgery or laying around post-surgeries. No exercise other than rounds of PT. Pain made me not so hungry, so I think I would've lost the weight without the band- a lot of it anyway. After the last ortho surgery, I was literally good as new. No contraptions just to walk- walking freely, with a bounce in my step again even. Hunger hit me hard. I gained 15 fast. Went in for a fill, then the acid tummy kicked in with a truckload of stress dumped on me. had to un-fill a little. Lost the 15 but am not at that sweet spot yet. Not sure I was ever at that sweet spot even though I lost fairly steadily. I'm now trying to work out the band fill -vs- tummy acid + weight loss. I'm back at square one with re-learning all the do's and don't's again. This site is a God-send for me. Learning so much here. Be patient. Don't jump into the band weightloss like another yo-yo fad diet. Take it slow. Communicate with your doc good and bad habits and keep coming here for support. You'll get there. Be patient. The band isn't like the sleeve or bypass. Not a quick drop like that. Make good choices. Read up on nutrition and satiety. Forgive yourself when you stumble. Most of all, LOVE yourself, which includes making healthy choices & daily activity (something I need to work harder at), and trying on new clothes to ramp yourself up occasionally. Maybe even an occasional pedicure = self love. Best wishes for your success.

I've never been a runner. Never wanted to be and won't be due to bi lateral hip replacements & knee-meniscus scopes. That said, I do know a little about nutrition and exercise. I don't count calories so I hope my advise still helps you. This is what i do know: Within about 15-20mins after your run/workout/walk, get some hi quality Protein in. A Hi-gram of protein (not energy) bar (a little one) or Protein shake (1 scoop), or a hardboiled egg ( I keep a few hardboiled eggs in the fridge to grab & go), 2-3 cheesestix. Try not to do much carb (after the workouts). Just protein. Keep it quick & easy so it doesn't interfere with your day (prep time). Try to think ahead and have a few of these quick-grab Proteins around just for this purpose- no thinking involved- just grab, get it in, & go. The exercise literally shreds your muscles up. The protein re-builds muscle fast as long as you get it in within 15-20 mins post-run/ exercise. That way, your bod won't eat up your muscles due to your too low caloric intake- assuming you want to keep it that low. Your bod will burn up the post run protein calories immediately so no real need to add it to the daily count.

Alex: I started having acid reflux a while back and cut out coffee (as well as caffeine, most chocolate, tomatoes, high fatty foods etc) about 20 months ago. I don't remember going off coffee before surgery. Maybe I did but I'm pretty sure I'd remember. Coffee has long roots in my family growing up & I carried it through m own adulthood. I've been struggling with acid belly on & off for over a year. Doc & I trying to regulate the acid and get the band into that sweet spot now that my 8 surgeries are complete, finished, done. It's mostly at night, I wake with a belly full of acid sometimes 3,4,5 x's a night- sometimes bloody. We're getting the bloody under control with Omniprazole but when I stop the med, the acid starts up again. At the same time, I can eat pretty full portions, a regular dinner plate full usually, so the bands not too tight (I think). Did quitting coffee and acidy foods cure your acid reflux? I really need to get that stopped to I can tweak the band to lose this last 35 and maintain, in a healthy way.

I used to drink coffee all day up until 3-4pm. Now, I have a big mug in the morning & that's it, for Breakfast. Can't seem to eat anything early most days. I still need that jolt to get me going. Around 10am, I'll eat a little something like a Protein bar.

I have to use a recumbent bike due to ortho issues. I bought a Schwinn & it works nicely. Muscle Confusion is recommended by body trainers to blast through plateaus. It's all about not doing the same thing everyday, or even during one exercise session. Keep the muscles confused (rather than 'muscle-memory, i.e.; muscles knowing how and when they'll be worked) for better results

Thanks Angie, for the clue

I remember seeing an interview with a WLS patient that showed before during and after struggles. Post-surgery, after that extreme hunger phase, all he wanted was a nice bid salad. As much as he chewed and chewed, it wouldn't seat down & he had to vomit. What was said is that foods that are hard to keep down/eat are different for everyone. Personally, I have trouble with eggs of any kind, breads, crackers.........etc I found that If i mix some foods on the fork, like a Protein with a fibrous veg or chopped salad or something moist, it goes down better. Sometimes I have a glass of Water there in case something starts sticking- to help avoid getting 'stuck'. I found that cooking solid Proteins so that they're very moist helps get them in & down too. Still waiting to establish my new green zone after complications. Not easy. I'll advise you to not avoid eating because it's more frustrating to eat and vomit after awhile than it is to eat. DON'T DO IT! I did. Started vomiting blood-up all night w/ acid blood pooling in my stomach which the bod immediately rejects. Getting up several x's a night to vomit blood was not only not fun & worrisome, but I was exhausted- never getting into REM sleep for months. THAT was awful. Back off to softer foods if you have a day of probs getting in solid dry proteins is my advise.

What's a NSV?

5yrs out. Today I made a smoothie in the nutribullet. milk(extra protein), Protein powder,frozen wild blueberries, Lecethin (brain), psyllium husks (fiber), liquid collagen (skin leasticity), L-Carnatine (fat matabolism), L-Glutemine (muscle support & muscle recovery) & ground flax seeds. Blended, was like a milkshake. I really had to suck it down & get ready fast. I could't. the band restricted it. I felt full and really had to push it into me. Mid-mornings is when I finally eat after waking. My band feels tight. Maybe it's the mucus plug that has to shift before I can eat. coffee is my daily Breakfast. then abut 10am I have a fortified protein smoothie or a Protein Bar. Sometimes I forget to eat. I don't feel hungry when I'm in "flow" and hours pass before I realize I'm going to tank soon & rush to get something in me. Thses times, I go for the smoothie or bar. I carry bars in my purse and briefcase- just in case I'm in a pinch & need to get it in, quick, before I tank. I don't always chew to mush at these times. BAD Girl! Oh well. IMHO, a good take-home is to listen to your doc #1, listen to your body #2, and eat what you like, in moderation. The band works to restrict.

The low Iron could be an issue for surgery even if it doesn't delay it. Low iron is a high risk of bleeding, not clotting, during and post surgery-which gets surgeons very concerned. Greater risk of losing the patient on the table.. also, iron delivers oxygen to the blood- and organs. if you don't get enough oxygen to your organs (brain too) it could cause probs including not healing well. low iron is a cause of lethargy, low energy, general can't ever fully wake up all day feeling low D causes scabies. can't remember what scabies are but surely, unpleasant VitaD manufactures melatonin which regulates your body clock and sleep cycle

That's fabulous, Country Sweet! What a great feeling, huh? Congrats on your success

I don't know if this is why but chewing to mush extracts maximum nutrient from the foods. Makes for more soluble (absorbable) nutrients. Plus, if you take time chew-chewing everything, it's gives your stomach time to tell your brain time you've had enough to eat, and to stop eating at satisfied, not full. Eating fast with not enough chewing gets a lot of food in before the natural system can let the brain know to stop. You consume too many calories and get that OOF! I've eaten took much feeling

you can do a LOT of exercises with resistance bands. They're great for strengthening & muscle toning. They travel well; take up little space and are lightweight A good inexpensive investment

I'm 5yrs post-op. I never really used straws. Probably one of those unnecessary expenses during those uber lean financial times years ago. It never caught on with me. Then again, I'm not a soda-drinker. That said, I do drink coffee through those little stir straws while I'm driving. I don't have air or gas problems with it. My bigger concern with straws is: do the have bysphenol (sp?) in them? Bysphenol is a carcinogen and is in many of plastics we use with consumables; Water bottles, storage containers, pitchers, etc.. I haven't heard whether or not straws have it in them. My health is more important than the continuance of using potentially dangerous straws or anything that has something in it that could kill me. just saying

Put the money you spend on cola, into an interest-bearing savings account and watch how fast it adds uP! Visualise yourself buying ALL those cute new clothes with the cola-savings when you've lost your weight.

PureVida: I tend to do the same thing you do. Tell those little 'truths' without really telling them anything. We should be politicians! ha Another go-to answer for me is: Being in PAIN, from all that waiting around for surgeries in pain, and all those post-surgeries, OUCH! made me not hungry @ all (true). Pain eradicates hunger (true). Which did in fact help me with a lot of the WL. Now that the pain's gone, my final stretch is much more of a challenge.

Thanks for the info again. SO helpful! I realized we're of similar height as well so your info on 'ending boobie-size, post implant" was extremely helpful. If you've always been a DD, then DDD isn't too far of a stretch for you. I'm happy for your improved body & self-image. SO important! We differ a lot on originating boobie sizes though. I'm 36B. If I went in for a fitting, I might be a 34B now. At my fattest, I was a 38B-probably needed a 40B but couldn't go there. I've always been B, fat or skinny, always a B. I Can't imagine being a DD or DDD. (with my warped sense of humor) I can picture myself toppling over at inopportune times as I try to get used them. hahaha Then again, you probably can't imagine being a B-cup! You'd probably be like, "Where's the beef?" LOL I suppose that conversation is best left for the Plastic-Man, as well as the over/under pec & saline/silicone debates. I didn't know silicone had come so far in respect to being auto-insured, not as leaky, and if they do leak, the goo now won't attach to organs etc. THAT was my greatest concern with the implants. Thanks for picking up on it & easing my mind. I'm 50, & this big multi-surgery expense will take a good long time to recover financially from. I have to ask myself- is it worth the investment? Will I get good return on this investment? I'm leaning towards yes. I've been single for a long long time. Put off dating to raise my kids in a safe secure environment w/out revolving door of men in & out. Now, I feel very unattractive with this saggy baggy skin. Outwordly, I look good, with clothes ON! lol I keep thinking what it'd be like ... errrr....SURPRISE! with this sag-skin. I remember on Oprah, someone showed their post WLS skin on-cam, and everyone gasped... repulsed. Right at the time I was ready to date to meet someone for LTR, I got injured. The next 4-5 yrs I blew up like a balloon from reduced activity & went through this WLS banding adventure while at same time, going through 7 other surgeries. oof! Now, I'm thinking I'm too old to meet anyone I'm attracted to for LTR so what diff would the Plastic surgeries make? Then again, I KNOW I'd feel better about myself regardless of love life status. I also know that when a person feels good about themselves, they're more likely to attract someone. I appreciate your honesty & help as I ponder possibilities.

I told my daughters, one of which was with me during and after. I didn't tell my mom. She's too self-absorbed. Dad doesn't need to know @ 87yo, why bother? At work, I think some people know. I discussed it with 1 co-worker who was banded, on the QT, though I don't know just how QT it's really been. With so many other surgeries, I was out of work for extended periods & the last time I returned I was "tiny" (their words). One woman who really doesn't like me, & I don't like her- asked me, "I HAVE to ask: HOW did you do it?" I told her every time I wanted to eat something I shouldn't, "I pictured your face and lost my appetite." OK, not-so nice but she was just being nosey & wanted something to gossip/ tear me down over. None of her business, IMO. Not too many others know. I'm not ashamed or embarrassed about it. Early on, I did do a presentation of before/after and what I did, to a group of WL patients and patients in waiting. I don't mind helping others through my experience. I tend to keep my personal info close to the breast, in general. That's just me.

Thanks again. That was really informative & helps me get a little closer to making a decision for my own needs. You & I were at similar starting weights, though I was 25-20lbs heavier. You're at my approx. goal weight now, So I'm assuming we have similar sag-issues. Everyone's different though; body type, exercise history, personal stories re: how we got there, and then here from there, etc. That's a huge investment at mid-life, closer to retirement than when I was in my 20's. Did Ins. cover any of it? Most of it? Thankfully, my banding was paid by Ins., minus co-pays, so I'm not complaining. It's just that I've seen so many posts rattling off multiple expensive procedures.... it makes me gasp & wonder, with this economy, how do they afford it? My other concern is that I've heard the full body lift is one of the most painful a person can go through. I imagine the full TT w/lift & augmentation is too. I've been through so many surgery ies over the past few years- some very painful- that I'm a bit hesitant to go through it 'electively', even though I know the pain subsides & is soon forgotten. Lastly, is 400cc a C cup? Not sure what to do there. I like my relatively small breasts, except for the bit of WL sag. I'd like them to be more shapely but avoid going for the big "watermelons". I'm a petite 5'2". I have no clue how many cc's are small or big; whether to go for saline or silicone, to place under the chest muscles or just under the breast apparatus'. I'd want my butt lifted with a brazilian butt lift. I always had a nice full "Latina" butt that went flat with the mass WL. I have those bat wings too. Hoping exercise will help too.

If you don't mind sharing, what's the tally for all your procedures, combined? A ballpark figure would be nice to know. Why didn't you go for the full body lift & chose separate procedures at different times? I'm contemplating possibilities right now, gathering data. I appreciate your informative posts.

You can let air out of the Nutri bullet by tapping it lightly on the counter, or in the palm of your hand a few times or more. Air rises to the top in bubbles. Probably not all gets free but it at least it releases some.