shortgal

For over 25 years, I thought if I just tried harder, I could lose the weight and keep it off, instead I piled on more pounds. I applaud anyone that can lose weight and keep it off and think it's difficult no matter which route you take to get there. Good for them, good for us. Different path, all ending at the same place.

What is "normal" eating? Is that a certain amount of calories a day? this makes no sense, to me. If you were a 180 pound person and at their ideal weight, that was in an accident would they recommend that person eat more and gain weight while healing? I would think that for good healing, good healthy food consumed within portions that you would eat if you were at your ideal weight, would be right. If you were in a hospital, isn't that what they serve patients? Maybe I missed something?

This is still healing time! You are less than 2 weeks post op. At that point I was still on liquids. Keep to the post-op diet the Dr recommends, including the portions. You might not feel "full" until you start getting fills and get restriction and that might take a couple fills anyway. The "young" banders seem the most impatient. I guess that's part of youth or because us older age banders have been dieting longer, we just do it. Get out of the house, go for a ride, walk around the mall etc, to make the time go by. when I started on eggs, I ate one, yes, i wanted more.

My pre-op diet was low calorie, low fat and then two days before surgery Clear Liquids. I followed it! I knew the reason for the diet was to help shrink my liver, so surgery would be easier. Would have been harder if I had the two week pre-op liquid diet.

Thanks for sharing your success. Too many banders post the early few months when struggling to get the right restriction etc. and that's what the soon to be banders or newly banded see. It's great for them to read about a success. A year out, one 100 pounds and no more struggling with weight! Hope I'm there a year from now, too!

I just sat with a pysch that counsels weight loss patients, she mostly asked about what diets I tried over the years and how much I weighed over the years and when I eat etc. I paid $100 for her to "write my report" and in the end was self pay for the surgery anyway, but I guess I "passed". My nutritional consult was a joke! She basically had a package ready of lists of what I could eat at each stage and just reviewed it with me. No discussion of how to eat long term etc. I've done my own research and at 56 I'm not a kid that doesn't understand this surgery will change how I eat forever. But I don't think either one of the "evaluations" was thorough.

The band is like an invisible belt around our stomach. It is like an XL with notches and when placed during surgery is at the biggest notch. At first the "belt" might be tight due to swelling from the surgery. The swelling goes down and the belt isn't tight anymore. Now the surgeon can't "see" the belt inside you, so when they do the first fill, ( lets say it's like moving the belt one notch over) they can;t tell if it's too tight or not. so they wait and see by how much you can eat etc. So the next fill, your belt gets moved another Notch and the same process continue unitl you get restriction or your belt fits. Then you lose some weight from getting the right restriction and the belt gets loose, just like your real belt, so you fill it again. Eventually, you remain at one final size and your belt fits everyday! That's the way I like to visualize my band inside of me and I am also waiting and getting fills until I get the one that starts to feel tight. Like a real belt, if you cinched it all the way to the tightest notch right away and your stomach isn't small enough, you'd barely be able to breath ( in this case, even keep liquids down). This is how I explain my band to people that don't understand how it works.

The band is like an invisible belt around our stomach. It is like an XL with notches and when placed during surgery is at the biggest notch. At first the "belt" might be tight due to swelling from the surgery. The swelling goes down and the belt isn't tight anymore. Now the surgeon can't "see" the belt inside you, so when they do the first fill, ( lets say it's like moving the belt one notch over) they can;t tell if it's too tight or not. so they wait and see by how much you can eat etc. So the next fill, your belt gets moved another Notch and the same process continue unitl you get restriction or your belt fits. Then you lose some weight from getting the right restriction and the belt gets loose, just like your real belt, so you fill it again. Eventually, you remain at one final size and your belt fits everyday! That's the way I like to visualize my band inside of me and I am also waiting and getting fills until I get the one that starts to feel tight. Like a real belt, if you cinched it all the way to the tightest notch right away and your stomach isn't small enough, you'd barely be able to breath ( in this case, even keep liquids down). This is how I explain my band to people that don't understand how it works.

I was not offered a choice of where my port would be placed. Mine is center midriff area. So far it has not bothered me ever, except if I lean over the kitchen counter too far, as the counter hits me almost exactly at that spot ( I'm short!).

Thanks for fixing the list. I updated my measly 1/2 pound loss! this is my second of my 2 day plan to have liquids until 5pm and then dinner. Yesterday and today both 800 calories. Protein both days over 70 gms. Something has to happen, right? Name Starting # Current # Goal # To Go # Hollyberries...........298.............298..............285........... 13 Momto1(Wendy).....241.............241..............229...........12 Hungryforchange....227.............227..............215...........12 Cagstorm (Craig)....360.............357..............345...........12 Teresajo...............212..............212..............205.......... ..7 Skinny_Jill............195..............195..............180.......... .15 Foofy ..................249..............248..............237...........11 want2lose.............236.8...........236.8............225...........1 1.8 sades...................199.7..........199.7............189........... .10.7 chiqui...................231.............231...............220........ .. 11 MarieGabrielle.......268..............262...............256........... ...6 Trixie...................264.............257.5............244......... ..13.5 Firebolt.................224.............224...............212........ ...12 Kristin1031............256.............256...............240.......... .16 Longhorn...............211.............211...............199.......... .12 BarbBee................284.............284...............272.......... .12 Jen......................264..............264...............249....... ....15 Steph...................203.5...........203.5............188.5........ .15 Goldie1109............228.............228................213.......... .15 Shalee04/Kelly.......218.............218................206...........12 Pattypoo1.............202..............202...............192.......... ..10 Shortgal ..............198..............197.4..............192.............5.4 Cindyg.................218..............218...............208......... ...10 Suedoenimm.........204.............204...............192.............1 2 plump_princess.....237..............237...............227............1 0

Why is that if Doctors think you shouldn't worry about the number on the scale, the first thing they do is weigh you when you come to the office? And why figure out our BMI and a goal weight, if the numbers don't matter? Yeah ok, because the number does count!

I think if you lose 100 pounds, you will have areas of loose skin no matter what you do. Where you carry a lot of the weight will most likely be the most affected area. Arms: you'll get the bat wing look when you lift your arms, legs: they'll be sagging skin. Boobs: will look like tennis ball in a long sock Tummy: well you get the point. But look at the before and after photos. Would you rather have diabetes, high blood pressure and nothing to wear that doesn't make you look like and old cow OR have some excess skin that can be removed with PS. I know my answer! That's why I got the band.

When most banders are having a "bad" day, say right after a fill and are tight and getting stuck, we tend to come on and complain and moan looking for sympathy, so you tend to notice posts about the problem days. Hey, the pre-banding "problem" days were "I have nothing to wear", "I'm too fat to walk", my BP is high etc. We had bad days previous to band surgery, now the bad days are just about a different issue. There are plenty of good days and many people post about them, if you look. How about all the people that post the before and after photos, or post that they hit "onederland" or post they've lost 50 or 100 or even 180 pounds! There are successes and failures and some of the failure is fate, a slipped band or erosion, and some is the person not using the band as it was intended and they fail at weight loss. I have not been below 200 pounds for over 10 years despite many attempts and yet at five weeks post op, I am there. I am into the smallest size clothes I had hiding in the back of my closet for years and they are getting too big! SO YEAH, IT'S BEEN WORTH IT! SELF PAY AND ALL!

Ann D, You're still doing better than I am. At six weeks post op, I have lost 18 pounds. Next fill Tues, hope it works!

Down a measley 1/2 pound, not sure how we are posting the changes from our starting point? Hollyberries...........298.............295..............285.........10 2. TxArcher..............360.............357..............345.........12 3. Longhorn..............211.............209..............199.........10 4. Momto1(Wendy)....241.............242...............229........13 5. Steph..................203.5..........200...............188.5......11. 5 6. Hungryforchange...227.5..........225...............215.5.......10 7. shortgal Goal for challenge lose 6 ........ 5.5 to go.

Track your calories for a few days up to a full week, just to see what you're taking in. Some "full" liquids have lots of calories and carbs, so I suggest you track your Protein intake as well. Keep your protein high, your carbs low and drink Water. I'm a slow loser, too, so I understand how frustrating it is, but as long as the scale is going down, we're headed in the right direction! FOR ME, if my calories go over 1100 -1200 calories daily weight loss is less than one pound a week. Once you track your calories, you have a better feel for how many calories daily helps you lose and you'll be searching for the best food choices to stay satisfied but within your daily allowance.

I would recommend you call your ins company and find out if weigh loss surgery is covered and what the requirements are. It's just an informational phone call. Some ins. companies require a six month supervised diet, some have certain BMI restrictions etc.

Congratulations! You look great, I have followed ths with great interest. I am also 5"0' tall and started at 216 pounds. I'm older and carry a lot of weight in my arsm and legs and they are already looking bad after 18 pounds gone ( I was as high as 230 a few years ago, so I had some sagging from that as a high point). I hope you'll post a few more photos as the scars heal, so I can see. Like everyone else, I'm worried about the scarring, but just as worried about the "bat wings". Want to see what's in store for me.

Sounds like it's just part of the suture material. It's usually the dissolvable type. I had that too. I left mine alone and when I saw the Dr they removed the pieces they could and the rest they told me would go away eventually.

Ha! Just got thru with the same venting as my last post and then my husband tells me it's only been five weeks and not seven weeks since surgery...... Really? I guess it just feels like seven. LMAO

Thirteen pounds in about one week and your going crazy? Hey let me get on that bandwagon with you. How about seven weeks post surgery, weight loss 18 pounds, scale won't budge now? 2 fills, no restriction. Third fill coming but I don't have much confidence in that one either. I think it's going to take number 4 or 5 before I get anywhere. What's that like another month or six weeks? Talk about crabby. It is 5:10 pm and I've had 260 caloreis so far. One Isopure CLEAR and one large glass V-8 low sodium. This is to be sure I don;t gain any back! I'm sure I will pretty much inhale dinner... oh wow, I hope I don't get too full on those giant lean cuisine meals! HA! My willpower is shot and I never had much to begin with OR I wouldn't be FAT! Ok, that felt good. Thanks!

Did you loose weight during the five months before you gained the 10 back? If so, you're still ahead! Catch it now before it becomes 15 pounds! Don't allow the DR to make you feel anything bad about yourself. You went there for help and you still need help. Maybe you just need a fill? That's what the band is all about. And in the meantime, maybe try to get rid of the bad stuff in the house and get some healthier choices to substitute. I am at a plateau right now and waiting for my next fill and wondering if I will get any restrction from it. I don't want to gain any back, so today I am having liquids all day and then dinner. I've had one Isopure CLEAR ( 40 gms protein 160 calories) and one large glass of V-8 low sodium (100 calories). I'll have a lean cuisine and a protein shake for dinner and maybe a yogurt. That will put me at 800 calories for the day. If you could do something similar one or two days a week (spread the two days out if you want) then maybe that would be the jump start you need to get back on track. Believe me, I know how hard this is. The holidays are over and even the "normal" people are dieting in January, so just jump on the bandwagon!

I moved my fill up to Jan 15th from the 17th. scale won't budge! I am drinking all day and having a small dinner to help things! One bottle of Isopure CLEAR and one small glass of V-8 juice so far today. Wanted an Atkins shake but we're out. I think my husband is getting some. If I don't get some restriction on Tues, I think I've reached the stage where I'm lucky if I stay the same weight until I reached some level of restriction, even for a short time. UGH!

<p>Your body was on liquids for several weeks and then we begin to add soft but solid food. Your body holds more Water when we have solid food in us, so it's the added weight of the solid food and water. It's also the reason we drop so much weight while on the liquids.</p> <p> </p> <p>solid food also has more salt/sodium than liquids and that makes us naturally retain (not necessarily over retain, tho) water weight.</p> <p> </p> <p>Look at the bright side you're still down 17 pounds!</p>

In the early post banding days, it really isn't about having food we enjoy ( we all did that before and that's why we got a band), it's about sucking it up and getting our protein in and allowing the healing from surgery to happen. It's kind of like taking cough medicine, we hate the taste, but we need it to stop the cough! Isopure CLEAR protein has 40 gms of protein in one bottle. Drink just one bottle a day and you've met 2/3 to 1/2 of your protein goals for the day. Several flavors: I am drinking a glass of Pineapple/Banana right now. I also like the Alpine Punch and Apple Melon. There is blue raspberry, orange, grape and peach mango. I prefer it very cold over ice.