Stitchy

Wow, I didn't realize how long it had been since I updated my blog, Now, it's been about two years. There have been plateaus but at least no gains. I really should have gotten fills earlier. For some reason, I thought that the band itself would be enough. Duh! Silly me. I reached within 5 lbs of my goal weight in Dec 07. I have stayed there for months, so I'm calling GOAL! I still weight myself daily because I don't want the *creep* to happen. If I can stay between 145 - 148 I'm happy. Yesterday am it was 150. YIKES!!! Today 149. I guess, I'll have to cut back on my favorite non-band friendly foods for a few days. I really have been overdoing it.

Karen, I understand your frustration but it is not necessarily a bad thing to continue to lose weight prior to surgery. Your liver is most likely fatty and it lies over the stomach. They have to pull it aside for surgery. Losing weight will pose less danger to you.

Like you and the others, I could lose weight. Quite successfully. That's why I tried all of the diets. Then some excuse would come up and it all came back with friends. I was so worried about staying overweight and dying from some weight related problem, I just couldn't face another failure. I had surgery two years ago this month and will be 62 this week and am at my goal weight. It is absolutely the best thing I ever did for myself. I was self pay also but you know it cost about as much as a car. I like myself better than any car I ever owned:thumbup: So, don't worry so much. Give yourself your life.

Hello Everyone. I'm not new to this site, but I have been away for awhile, so I'll re-introduce myself. I am 62 years old (so I'm happy to find this particular forum) and was banded 2 years ago. I've lost about 85 lbs and am at goal weight. I see that many of you are RVers and snowbirds. One year ago, DH and I retired, put our belongings in storage and hit the road. Still love it. I keep busy with counted cross stitch (I'm Stitchy ), knitting and other textile crafts.

You might. I can't eat white bread or sticky white rice. It gets stuck in my stoma. However, I can have English Muffins or crusty french bread. I don't do that too often, of course, but as a treat, sure. Pasta is difficult for me. I just can't chew it well enough and it gets stuck. So, the answer is: Your mileage may vary.

I haven't posted for awhile. Here is a really current pic taken at Oak Alley Mansion in Louisiana. Sipping on a Mint Julep. Lost 88 lbs.

I just came off liquids and am starting of soft foods. The first day I blew it and ate too much of the wrong thing. Lesson learned. Ow! Went back to liquids and soooooft foods. Cottage cheese, poached egg, creamed Soup, canned fruit, etc.:hungry: Now my belly hurts. Not my stomach, but my gut. I am so full of gas and it hurts. It is really uncomfortable to sleep, but in the morning, after much more gas, I feel better. Felt better all day at work. Now, it's after dinner. I had pureed chicken soup and canned peas. I'm starting to have a belly ache again. Does anyone have any thoughts about what I can do ... or not do to stop the belly pain?

I'd say so.

Hello all. I haven't visited for awhile, but thought I would post a before and after picture. The before was on surgery day, May 9, 2006. The after was February 23, 2007. From a size 22 pants to size 12. Size 2x top to a large (Mediums are still a little too snug.) I am not at goal, but even if I didn't loose another lb, I would consider this a success.

I haven't been here for awhile, but here is my progress May 2006, surgery day Aug 2006 - down 39 lbs Oct 2006 - down 48 lbs

I agree with everything that ladydi and DonnaB said. I also had about 100 lbs and a BMI around 37, so was self pay, too. In 4 months, I have lost 45 lbs. That's pretty fast, IMO. Anything faster than 1-2 lbs a week really isn't good for you. I may have the loose skin issue, but it doesn't look like it so far. I love the way I'm looking. I wouldn't have had WLS if RNY was the only option. It scared the Hell out of me. That's how strongly I felt about it. It sounds like you have done your research, so you know all of the reasons. And you would still have to struggle with eating healthy. Even more so than with the band because of the malabsorption factor. Much of what you eat dumps out. Have you read about the dumping syndrome? If you made a mistake or there are complications with the band, you can have it REMOVED!! There are no options with RNY. You're screwed. And co-workers. Forget them. This is for you, not them. If they are talking, they may be envious. Lucky you!

Three days pre-banding should be doable. It's hard, but you can do this. I occasionally did liquid fasts for other reasons. Post banding won't be as hard. Your stomach will be swollen and tender and you probably won't want to eat much anyway. It's the most difficult just before you are allowed to move on to more solid food. I liked tomato Soup from Trader Joe's. Warm and filling. I also blended protein-rich Soups and thinned them down with broth and milk. Visit the food forum for some information. Oh, Yeah! WELCOME TO LBT!!

Oh, Malice-X. I hear you. I've been craving for a couple of weeks, now. And givng in too often. I don't need a fill. My band is working just fine. Lots of restriction. I just want to eat the wrong stuff. I need to get back on track, too.

Welcome to LBT. Keep asking questions. There are a lot of great folks here.

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage. Send pics!

What a relief!

Carbonation? Maybe. I have vodka and tonic with ice. Knocks the bubbles right out ... for me. I don't know what your doc recommends regarding alcohol. IMO there is nothing wrong with alcohol per se, but it does have a lot of calories. I've been drinking too much during BBQ's this summer and my weight loss stalled. So, just take care. Don't be me. :nervous

WOW! The fruit doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?

I will miss him, too. Whenever I watched a show, I couldn't help saying, "He's cazy!" And I loved him. Peace with his family.

Diva - I'm glad your parties went well. Good for you. Yeah, I know where my gain came from, much as I would like to play innocent. :embarassed:

I have left many of the other threads, too. There are just a couple that I am sticking around for. Like this one, the before and after photos, and my May bandsters thread. It's not the same, but at least they aren't being nasty. However, I am hoping that those that left on their own will return. I miss them.

I buy the dinosaurs' children's chewable multivitamins from Costco. I take two (although the doc said one). I also take two Activa chewable calcium tablets a day. And two benefibers, but that's another issue

I waited about 10 weeks to get my first fill. The doc said that they would do them every week or two, but I prefer to wait at least a month between. I have heard that sometimes the restriction takes a couple of weeks to settle in. I really don't want to be too tight too soon. I have been on a plateau for about a month. I think I will schedule my 3rd fill for a couple of weeks from now.

I weigh every day (sometimes more than once) - I'm a scale whore! Generally, there is up to a 2-3 lb difference between bedtime and morning, but last night there was 5 lbs. :omg: I don't get it. However, I only record Monday mornings on my spreadsheet.

Yep! Seems like every doctor is different. My clinic is very liberal. Water went down just fine right after the fill. He said eat whatever you want - but carefully. New restriction. I would try to follow whatever your doctor wants, but if you slip up, it doesn't sound like it is going to hurt you much.