danaclark2

Hi, all! Three days out and feeling pretty good--thanks to my Lortab syrup. :Banane56: I haven't eaten anything of consequence in six days (just clear liquids with little calories), and I feel ok, but I'm a little upset about weight. Day of surgery, I weighed 260.5. Now, I weigh 268. I'm sure it's from all the swelling and IV fluids, etc., but it sure sucks to not have any calories for six days, and then gain 7.5lbs. Did this happen to you? Well, anyway, onward I go, not giving up EVER. I'm done being obese. Hope everyone is well, and for those who've yet to be banded, hang in there. This is the greatest thing you will do for yourself. Love to all--

I'm home, too. Had the surgery yesterday. All went well. Hardly any pain and was walking around very well right after surgery. After two c-sections and a gall bladder removal, this was a breeze. Looking forward to a new, healthier life. Love to all, Dana

Ok--I've not eaten perfectly on my preop diet. I was supposed to be on a 30 day liquid--just couldn't do it. I have, in the last few weeks, lost about 8 lbs, though. Do you think an 8 lbs. weight loss will be enough to shrink my liver? I'm starting to worry that my surgeon will not be able to perform the surgery due to my little weight loss.

Well--he requires an all liquid diet plus one small meal (like Lean Cuisine) for 30 days. Liquids include 1-2 Protein drinks, sugar-free/fat-free liquids, sugar-free Jello and pudding,etc. I didn't do that well on the liquid part--but I did eat less, and I have lost about 8 lbs. or so. Hope that is enough! Let us know on the "April Bandits" how your surgery went--I'll do the same.

Good Luck, Amourette!!! How many pounds is 4kg?

Hi, all! Today I went for all my preop tests at the hospital: chest x-ray, EKG, bloodwork, etc. The preop nurse screening me said she has not seen much success with the band. I asked her what that means--not much success. Did it mean that they have not lost 100lbs in six months? They've only lost 30lbs in a year? What? She just said that they had lost some but not a lot. I told her that studies show that it takes a good 2-3 years with the band to be at the point where the gastric bypass folks are in six months to a year. "Oh," she said, "Oh, yeah. That's true." So--I've had the leader of my support group and the preop nurse be quite discouraging about the band. I might be crazy, but I think if I lose ANY weight with the band, it'll be worth it. To say that people aren't doing well with the band because they've only lost 30lbs in a year--well--that's better than staying at the same weight--and that's certainly better than gaining 30lbs. Why are we as bandsters (or future bansters, in my case) seen as "failures" or "not doing so great with the band" if we don't lose 100lbs in a year. Don't you think that any weight loss is better than nothing? My lap band surgery is this coming Tuesday, the 18th at 8:00am. I hope that it's worth it--but to me getting just 20-30lbs off will be worth it--hopefully that weight loss will encourage me to do more and more...Prayers for this Tuesday would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you, everyone! Mouster--see you in bandland! One more day, huh?

You look awesome!!! Thanks for sharing.

Oh--and my surgery is set for this Tuesday at 8:00am.

Sarah, I know how you feel. I go to our local YMCA often. I'm about your size: 5'5 and 264.5lbs down from 270. I often jogg on the track--about 1-2 miles. Though I'm fat, I can run, girl. :eek: I have received all kinds of comments--like, "Wow--you're really doing a good job," and "Keep that up--you'll lose that weight in no time," and "I can't belive you can jog that long," etc. I know people are just trying to be nice, but it makes me kind of ticked. I know they wouldn't say these things to a thin person jogging. They do not know my history. I think many thin people who have never struggled with weight think that we, the obese, just sit around all day eating bon bons. We are not lazy. I'm not lazy. I have three small children, a clean house, work a part-time job, have a master's degree that I paid for myself, exercise daily, and try to eat healthy. I do indulge in food too much, though--my stress reliever, I guess--but my genetics, thyroid, history of being an overweight child--all these things have contributed to my obesity. By the way, a friend of mine is a pharmacist. She said that at a recent seminar she attended, she learned that when people have been overweight for a long period of time--that their fat cells actually release these "demon hormones" (as she called them) that actually send messages to the brain to keep the fat--making you want to eat more--making satisfaction a difficult task. There are so many factors to why we are overweight, and I get sick of ignorant people, too. I know how you feel, girl! Hang in there. Don't ever give up hope.

I love you guys!!! I'm so thankful I stumbled upon this lapbandtalk.com website. You know, before I decided which WLS to get, I looked and looked for a gastric bypass support group on line--I just couldn't find one. I just happened to find this lapband support group by accident. I think by providence, though. I know I am making the right decision! Just 3 more days until I'm a "bandster"!

Just wondering the amount of weight loss I can expect. Of course, there are so so many variables that would influence weight loss/stall/or gain like my effort, genetics, thyroid, etc. I guess I just want to be prepared for the best and the worst and be content with the in between. OK--I've heard that the average weight loss/year with the band is 50-60lbs/year. I would be absolutely thrilled with that; however, honestly, right now I think I'd be relatively happy with a 30lbs. weight loss, as long as I continued to lose the next year and the next. In your experience (personally or from others you know or heard of), what is the most weight lost in a year with the band and the least amount lost with the band? I've heard of people not trying much and losig 70-80lbs in a year, and I've also heard of people faithfully following the rules, exercising, etc. and losing very little in a year. I just want to be mentally prepared for anything. Right now, when I cut back on calories, I lose relatively easily--even with a thyroid problem. I'm hoping my weight loss woes are mainly due to overconsumption of calories and not a physical, metabolic problem. I'm hoping the band will help me with calorie control. I'm to be banded on April 18!!!

Congratulations! It's a great feeling, isn't it?

Congratulations!! I hope I do as well as you did/do!

Congratulations, Shontel, I know you're excited!!! I have just a little more than a week to go until I enter bandland. Can't wait!! I'm happy for you.

Good luck, Lisa. I'll be joining you soon in bandland on April 18.

Welcome home, Audra!!! So glad you're home and everything went well. ***Also--could you all add me to the list (danaclark2 to be banded on April 18).

Goodbye to: 1. not looking on the outside how I feel on the inside 2. rolls, rolls, and rolls of blubbery flab 3. my little boy calling me a "circle" (fat people are "circles" and thin people are "straight"--up and down like a line) 4. any clothing size starting with the number "2" or the letter "X" 5. Lane Bryant, The Avenue, etc. 6. being branded "Morbidly Obese" 7. any weight in pounds starting with the number "2" 8. ugly, ugly clothing 9. obsession with food 10. not feeling my best--the best I know I can be Saying hello to: 1. life 2. health 3. energy 4. looking cute in my clothing 5. normal size clothing stores 6. being proud of myself 7. a better sex life 8. a better self-esteem 9. more years with my family 10. the best me

That's awesome!!! I can't wait to join you there...

Audra, Oh--you learn something new everyday. :confused: My brother has Type I Diabetes, and I didn't know that-- You sound like me, though--but my knowledge is with my thyroid. I have hypothyroidism, and I'm always asking what my T3 and T4 levels were--and what my TSH level was. Many people will take, "Your levels were in the normal range," and leave it at that. Me? I want to know the exact number. I think many people don't know enough about their own health, etc. Doctors are not perfect. They make mistakes. We need to always be on our guard and know what's going on... Anyway--Monday's the big day, huh? How are you going to get through this weekend??!!??? Are you doing well with your pre-op diet? ***I guess I could have PM'd you all of this.

Audra, I'm so happy for you. Please come back (when you feel up to it) and let us know how everything went. I have my pre-op tests on April 5--by the way, what is an hA1c? I feel dumb. :confused: Good luck!!!

Audra, girl, I know what you mean. I have just been ravenous--I think it is psychological. Our brains know that something major is about to occur--whoo--Lord, just let me get through the next three weeks. :confused: You don't have much longer, do you, Audra? I bet you are so excited.

Praying for you a quick and full recovery!!!

Oh--must have missed this thread. Count me in--I'm to be banded April 18, 2006!!! Can't wait. My doc. has me on a 30 day liquid diet. I have not done so well, but I have 20 days to go. I will try harder on these last 20. Good luck to all of you April Bandsters!!!! Hopefully next spring there will be a whole lot less of us.

Oh--if it were that easy: Having the knowledge of how to lose weight=weight loss. I really think that many of us obese know more about health and nutrition than most nutritionists, dieticians, etc. I know the caloric information of most foods--besides casseroles, etc. by heart. I know how many calories I burn in 30 min. withalmost all types of exercise. I know, I know, I know what it takes to lose weight. It's all in my head. Ahh--I'm rambling. DeLarla, I wish you the best tomorrow. Maybe you'll learn something new tomorrow that will change your life forever. If it does, please let us now. Have a great day!!!