lori_ann

I've lost the complete oxford english dictionary but need to lose the average man! I'd like to find one too if possible. :blushing:

Just came back from London and was scanned and puffed at DFW on departure. They didn't say anything. Not sure if that's a good thing.....

My experience was that the more positive I stayed, the easier it was to eat correctly and exercise. Try to stay optimistic, really play up the small successes. Every time I went down a size or left a "decade" behind on the scale, it was very motivating. I went through that initial period with no restriction, but it will improve after you get a fill and are able to start exercising.

I started at 350 and am about 30 pounds from my goal now. My doctor told me that I would probably only get to about 240 and I told him he was wrong. :thumbup: The statistics, like someone else said, factor in the people who work with their band, exercise and eat right, as well as the people who never get fills, don't exercise, and eat easy foods in too-large quantities. It's totally possible to lose all your excess weight - you just have to work at it. Good Luck! :ohmy:

Like Erin Marie said, PB'ing is not at all like vomiting. I was just like you - couldn't even stand the thought of throwing up. I do PB occasionally but usually because I wasn't paying attention and swallowed before chewing well.

I seem to recall gaining a bit in the first month after surgery or at least being at a stand-still. And that was while I was on liquids as my surgeon didn't allow mushies til one month out. Just watch the sodium and get your water and protein in and you will be fine. :thumbup:

That's pretty funny! I don't think I will ever be able to look good doing some of those moves, lol. Seems like fun though. Thanks for the link.

Glad to hear you are working out a routine that works for you. Working this kind of schedule is tough, although I wouldn't trade it for a nine to five job! I had to ask - what is Zumba? Never heard of it.

I, too, was told to expect to lose about half of my excess, which would have been about 85 pounds. I think the reason for the statistics on lap band are due to the fact that your weight loss is still dependent on you. You have to get fills when needed, you have to choose the right foods, and you have to move your body around more. I told my surgeon at the time that I was a VERY determined person who just never felt full, and that if the lap band would supply that one thing for me, that I would lose all my excess weight. Less than one year later, I am very close to doing just that!

We have a similar schedule it seems. I'm an ER nurse and work 6 of 7 then have 7 off. Honestly, I don't lose as much on the week I work because I just don't work out. I used to try and it just didn't happen. Regarding eating during my shift, I understand where you are coming from. I take a Protein bar in my bag every night - it's easier to take a bite here and there than to get an actual meal some nights. I also keep a few meals in the freezer there in case I do get a lunch break, though. I eat "dinner" as soon as I get home in the morning, then clean or watch TV until around 10am so I am not eating right before lying down. Reading over this, I realize it's not very helpful, LOL. Guess I just wanted to empathize. :biggrin:

I probably will entertain the idea of ps someday, but I am not in a hurry. My sister had gastric bypass and did see skin improvement after about 1-2 years, so I will wait and see.

Just wanted to chime in since we are the same age. I have lost 140 pounds in 10 months, and still have about 40 to go. My skin has not been as bad as I thought, although in places it does sometimes bother me (upper inner thighs :wub:). It was so worth having the band done, though. I really think it has saved my life. Regarding the skin, I also think a factor is how long you have been big, and for me that was 20 years. My skin was stretched for a loooong time. Hope that helps.

Hi Carla! Congratulations on getting your band. I had mine about 8 months ago with Dr. Cribbins (Plano). I don't know if you are on Clear liquids or full liquids, but have you tried blending chunky Soups to a grit-like consistency. This really helped as they seemed to "stick" more and I felt fuller. If that's not working, I will confess to having some mashed potatoes and refried Beans a little earlier than the Dr. recommended. If you have any questions or just need some support, I am happy to help. I LOVE my band! Lori Frisco, TX

I just wanted to add that I agree with the posters above who said it isn't the same as vomiting. I am just like you- I would rather have the runs all day than throw up once. TMI I know! :thumbup: I probably PB about 2 times a month and it is mainly due to foods I used to be able to eat suddenly I can't eat anymore (byebye Pasta of any kind). It is just the food and some saliva (slime) without the nausea or stomach acids. You know when it is about to happen, but it isn't the same as being nauseous and vomiting. Does that help? Anyway, I will definitely deal with it as I have lost almost 120 pounds in 8 months and have an exciting new life now. Good Luck with your band.

Congratulations!!!:eek: I am in a neighbor city to you and was banded almost 6 months ago. I've already lost more than you have to lose :w00t: so we're not real close in amounts that we had to shed, but if I can ever help or offer support, let me know. I am a BIG fan of my lap band!

How many calories are you getting each day? I am counting too, and generally eat about 1000. When the scale wasn't moving, I started cycling. One day I will eat 800-1000 the next day 1000-1300 and back and forth. Worked for me! BTW, we were banded on the same day and I think we're both doing terrific!:thumbdown:

I had surgery on Oct 16th, while I was on my cycle . I should have had another cycle start on Nov 11th or 12th and yet still nothing as of today. Spoke to the PA about it yesterday when I went for my first fill and she said it sometimes happens and I may not have my period till Dec.

I still smoke, too. My doctor didn't tell me I had to quit - which was a good thing considering everything else I had to give up! Like.....chewing! :biggrin: I have gone from a pack and a half down to about half a pack a day by only smoking outside. I would like to quit completely if I could just find my chantix. I got the prescription about six months ago, and have misplaced it.:biggrin: P.S. To Losin-in-Texas, I'm in Frisco north of Dallas. Where are you at?

Yay!!! I'm so happy for you!:tongue_smilie: Hope you get a quick date and everything goes like clockwork.

I think we were both banded on the 16th. My doctor told me to be taking 2 oz every hour. According to him, I can drink it right down, I just can't go OVER 2 oz per hour. He didn't care how fast I drank it, just that I didn't exceed what he wanted me to have. He also told me to constantly sip on water throughout the day. I don't know if that helps.

Just thought I would see how everyone is doing. I came home this morning after the swallow test and am doing really well. Walking a lot and drinking my broth every hour. I hope that all of y'all are having it as easy as I am. Post when you can!:smile:

Yea! More people on our day! My doctor keeps people overnight and then the upper GI in the morning prior to discharge. It's good because my family isn't able to come up so at least I'll have someone with me the first night.

Wow, you're lucky. I didn't get flavored barium, and mine really did taste like chalk. Liquid chalk.:crying: LOL at the table aerobics. It's really not any better when you're having your surgery at the small hospital YOU WORK AT!! :thumbup: My coworkers are going to know me really well by the time this is all over. I threatened my surgeon if he so much as dared order a catheter!

Had my upper GI study last Friday. It was unpleasant, but necessary. You stand/lean on a big moving x-ray table and drink various things. First, they gave me something they called "fizzies" which was a shot that tasted like alka-seltzer. Not horrible. Then I got to drink thick barium, which was not tasty, but they are giving you instructions the whole time, so it kinda distracts you from the nasty taste. Then they move you all around, have you roll this side to that, and drink more thinner barium. Finally, they gave me water, but I had to drink it lying down. Still, it was the best thing I'd had all day! And that was it. Took about 10 minutes. Now I know I have a hiatal hernia that needs to be repaired.

What insurance do you have? Cigna took only 5 days for me, even though other people had horror stories. I think it helps that my BMI is so high and I have several co-morbidities. My co-worker got declined at the same time, but she is smaller than me, and now is going through appeals. Good Luck!