Keeper

I can't wait to get to where you ladies are! There are sacrifices i am making, but I am not to the point where I don't miss it. For instance, Cereal is a trigger food. I used to be able to put away a bowl or *two*. Actually, I am sure I still would be able to, but I just don't buy it any more. My kids don't really ask for it. it was always there for me, nights when I didn't want to cook, or nights when I wanted a "snack" or moments where I was too stressed or emotionally drained and wanted a quick sweet-tooth fix. So I just don't buy it. But I still crave burgers or chocolate. Or there are days I think I will go crazy if I eat one. more. almond! But I look at what summer could look like for me for the first time in a dozen years. I don't even know what that looks like, but I really, REALLY want to find out! This helps keep me motivated.

@@MaryRN66 - so happy for you! This is exactly how I felt after my 4th fill. it feels great, doesn't it??!!

@@funky_monkey800, yes! I agree with you totally. I am so not ready for something like p90x. My brother in law swears by crossfit as well, but I feel like I need to lose some weight before I can handle something with higher intensity. We got flurries today and I am so not having it. I don't need 4 seasons - I would be happy with 65-75 year round!!

My first step in my whole process was to call and make an appointment. I met with a 'patient advocate' who told me basically what to expect (very condensed version) and that they would verify my insurance coverage. I made the pysch appt, the appt with the nutritionist, and had my blood work done. All that probably was done over a couple of weeks and the biggest lag was me getting around to doing my blood work. Oh, also I had to do a sleep test to see if I had apnea. From that point they told me it could take 4-6 weeks to get approved It was probably exactly 4 weeks and I met with the surgeon for a pre-op appt and surgery was scheduled about 10 (maybe??) days later. I would say my overall process was super fast and was about 2 months. I feel very lucky. I have already paid off the portion insurance didn't cover (Thanks Uncle Sam!) which was about 2k.

I have only had one small stuck episode and it was quite unpleasant. But from what I have read on here, this is quite common if food is eaten too fast or not chewed well enough. Esp so soon post-op when your band is probably creating a little swelling from surgery. Just hang in there, take things slow, and use this time to learn the process! Good luck :-)

Feeling that I might just be in my green, seeing this thread at the top of topics is very timely. I have only had one very small stuck episode - bread - and it passed very quickly. I have never slimed or PB'ed. I am grateful as I am one of those people who rarely gets sick - I just cannot handle it. Right now I am considering the fact that I cannot eat as much as I could before and the length of satiety after meals to be my green. I am feeling this was after my 4th fill which was last week, so I know I am still in the early process of learning how my band will affect me after this last fill. I am sort of in awe of the people who do not crave foods the way they used to. I do. There are days I would do anything for chocolate, but there are days where I could absolutely care less. Since I got stuck on bread that one time I have stayed away from it and have not really missed it. I have had rice and potatoes but no Pasta. I guess I feel that cutting out some of the white starches is better than none. Yesterday hubby brought home Chipotle for dinner. For those who don't know or have one around them, you can order salads, burritos, tacos, or "bowls" and pick your fillings. These are pretty large portions. I always get a bowl with rice, meat of choice, a little sour cream and a little cheese. Before being banded I could eat an entire bowl, plus some chips. Yesterday, I basically let myself eat until I was satisfied. Actually I ate a little more than I should have because I was a hair uncomfortable afterwards, but I was astonished how much was left in the bowl. There was this little part of me that wanted to finish it because it is good and satisfying and because I always used to, but the majority of me was happy to leave the rest of the food untouched. That, for me, is huge and a definite sign of success!

I am so glad that i don't work right now. Some ladies I used to work with kind of all started losing weight and I, too, was super inspired by it, joined WW, etc. but it DID not work for me. I tried - believe me. One of the women had a sister who had had bypass several years ago and who was having it done a 2nd time. This woman was very judgmental. I sort of get it, because she was seeing her sister continue to make bad mistakes and not change, but it def made me not want to tell people. Now that I am not working (all that was a few years ago) I have the luxury of not having to explain myself to anyone, but I still haven't told many people. I have a couple of girlfriends who I don't see very often, but I was debating on whether or not to tell them. Part of our dynamic was that we were "fat gals who have fun.' It was part of who we were together. Even though I don't see them often, I thought about what it would be like to see them all of a sudden and I had lost a lot of weight. So I sent them both a message on Facebook just to let them I had the surgery. One of them was so supportive and enthusiastic that I laughed to myself about being worried of their reaction. But the other friend didn't say anything. I just assumed she let her sister (the other friend) express for both of them. Then I saw her at church randomly and she herself had lost a good amount of weight. I don't know; that kind of hurt. And I realize she went down a more traditional diet path, but I was surprised she hadn't shared with me when I reached out to her. Oh well. It just goes to show that you never know how others are going to react, but I am still glad I haven't told many. this is my journey, not theirs. And I, too, will respond with changing the way I eat, portion size, exercise as my response once the people who are around me start to notice.

My next appt will be around the same as yours, so I will see if I need another fill or not. I am def a little hungrier today than I have been so far, but when I eat I can still go pretty far between fills. I am ready to start really losing, so maybe it is mind over matter a bit?? I know I shouldn't weigh everyday, but the scale has not been my friend that last day or so. :-/ even with eating less! But I still feel pretty good, so we'll see!!

Just remember that it can take a few fills to really feel the satiety. I lost weight post-op to first fill, but only because of the post-op diet. I was definitely hungry between first and 2nd fills (plus Christmas, an out of town vacation and new year's) and gained a couple of pounds. After my third fill, I started to feel satisfied longer, but my portion sizes were not where the needed to be. Just had my 4th fill last week and so far I feel great! I am not near as hungry as I was even a week and a half ago. That feels great! So just hang in there. Remind yourself there is no miracle fix (believe me - I wish!!!), but that this is totally do-able. good luck!

Thanks for sharing - so inspirational! I know we all have those moments of doubt, those thoughts that we will be the one that the surgery doesn't work for. I look at losing almost 30 pounds and thinking, oh, I should be further along, or what if I can't lose 100 pounds in a year - as if that is some sort of failure bench mark. It isn't! And I know that. But look at you! You look great. so, so encouraging!

Congrats on your surgery! Your Littles are going to keep you on your toes! :-) it'll be so great to enjoy your success both for yourself but also for them as they grow up with a healthy mom. (my youngest is 7) The only other advice I'll give is follow those instructions, but don't forget about grace. Self-care is a must, esp considering that you have children and actually car for seniors as your profession. I bet it is so easy to forget about yourself when you are constantly giving to others. Use this early time to get used to the things you know you'll need to do long term - chewing slowly, putting down the fork between bites, eating small bites. I sort of feel like I still don't do all of those things and I hope they don't impede my own weight loss. Good luck!

this thread is very interesting! But I've been quite the insomniac for a while now, even before WLS. I do take b12 but it is because I am consistently B12 (and Vit D for that matter) deficient if I don't. And again, that was even before WLS. I haven't had any follow up blood work done tho. I have no idea if my sleep is any better or worse, but I take my Lunesta as needed and am a happier camper for it! :-D

@@amponder look - we got snowed in! hahahahhaha (crappy view from my balcony) hmmm, picture turned sideways, but you get the point, lol

Yes!!!! that! :-)

One of the things I did was add a couple of (fake) rings to my set. The wider your ring(s) is (are) the tighter they will be on your hand. Meaning, that the more real estate they take up the less slipping and sliding they will do. I have a picture attached for reference. Literally, the 2 on the ends are some cheap Avon bands I bought on Ebay.

@@briefs199 I totally get it! I measure at 5'6" but I grew up thinking I was 5'7". Maybe because my mom was 5'11"?? :-) Either way, it was really hard to come up with a goal weight so I settled on 160. My identical sister lost a bunch of weight when we were younger and her smallest was 155-160 and some said she was too thin. And that was way back before life and marriage and having kids, so I just want to see what I look like when I get there. But, it feels good because of the weight I have lost right now, i am officially under the "I need to lose a hundred pounds" point. I think this last fill might have gotten me to green, so I am really happy about that. But there are days it still feels really overwhelming. Just taking it a day at a time. Hope everyone is is well! AND staying warm!!

@@Djmohr, oh poo! you were supposed to confirm that we would magically go from 11's to a 7 or something like that!! But I do have a narrow foot so I am curious as to what will change. I don't want to size my rings until I have lost all the weight. My identical sister at her lowest wore a 4 1/2 engagement ring.

I halve always had skinny fingers (by most people's standards). My wedding rings are a 5 1/2 and a 6, soldered together. They slip and slide all the time. My largest ring size is a 7 - middle finger, and those slide as well. i don't know how small my fingers will be. i do have a wedding tattoo. Since I am home most of the time, I don't always wear my rings anyway. As for shoes, oh I hope I can go down a size! I have long skinny toes, and long narrow feet - size 11. Even going down half a size will open up shoe options for me! :-D

My DH and I have, and have always had, a very healthy sex life. We're the kind of couple who reflects a lot and talk about anything and everything, past, present and future. He tells me (and shows me) that he has been attracted to me at every step we have been on, but it is impossible to not get self conscious sometimes. I've told him about my fears of loose skin, but he just loves that we can be closer. He is only a little overweight but has always loved curvy women. He jokes that I better not lose my curves, but on a more serious note, he tells me that he is just as excited as I am for me to lose the weight. He tells me that he hopes any decision like PS is for me and not for him, and I am grateful for his support.

This is a tough question. I am 34 now. I believe we walk the paths we are meant to. I don't know that I would want surgery younger, necessarily, but I desperately wish I had not been overweight my entire life. My children are 11 and 7 now. They have never seen me at a healthy weight. They are very healthy active boys, and I hope that as they see the healthy changes in my life, that they will remember it as they grow. I want them to want to be healthy and I want to be that example for them. I really don't want them to have to go down the same path that I have. But as many have stated, I would support them in whatever decisions they would need to make. I just don't want them to have to make this one.

yay, Miss Meg! I just had my 4th fill a few days ago and I feel great. It was like I was stalled for a few weeks, losing a little here and there and then, like you, it seems to be coming off faster. I am super excited by this!

I'm simply echoing every one else, but I wanted to add that I very much felt like I was going to be the one person this wasn't going to work for. I think it was day 3 that I woke up and was literally like, "what the hell did I just do?!" But that was just a feeling, and lucky for us, feelings are fleeting. You can do this! It will be hard at times and it might even feel like it isn't working at times, but it will.