JuneAct2

You really need to talk to your doctor. Follow what ever plan he/she puts you on. This is very important, because by not following the pre-op diet you run the risk of having surgery and NOT coming out with a band. After surgery, and AFTER you are back on solid foods, there is no reason not to eat lettuce unless it gives you problems. Raw green leafy vegetables are the easiest foods for me to eat. Cooked spinach, not so much. This is about six weeks out of the rest of your life that you'll have to live without it...you can make it through that. Follow your doctor's orders! Good luck to you.

Me!!!! I can't wait to go NAKED!!!!

Thanks for a kick in the butt!!! I know what I want to accomplish, but I really had not formulated a plan of action. I read your post last night, and had to go think about it. So, here's what I'm going to to differently. I will start drinking all my water (64 oz), going back on livestrong.com and tracking my food, and going to the gym at least 3 days a week. Yesterday was my 8 month bandiversary, so that makes today a great day to start. Good luck everyone! Have a great day!

Me, too! I need to update... My goal is now 135. And my current wt is 156! Thanks so much for keeping up with the board!

Okay girls, I'm right there with you. I stayed the same from 5/19 until today, and I finally had a 1-1/2 lb loss. I gained and lost the same 5 lbs for about 3 months!!! Maybe we're all just getting too comfortable with our bands...you know, the new wore off, and the rules are a distant echo in our heads, and we're struggling...(kind of like we did before when we were on a diet.) It is time to get recommitted to making this happen! Find the paperwork you got from your doctor. Re-read the rules, and the eating plan. If you need a fill...get it! If you are exercising...ramp it up a bit! If you're not exercising...get off your butt! Are you drinking enough water? Following the eating rules? Track your food for a couple of weeks to make sure you're not eating TOO much or TOO little. Oh, and I'm directing this all squarely at myself! I am just as frustrated as the rest of you. I know we can do this! Everybody set a reasonable goal...and let's achieve our goals together! Good luck to us all!

There is no reason you can't eat the Nutri-system meals, since you already have them. Just be sure to chew really well so the pasta doesn't get stuck. I have noticed that when I eat pasta I don't always chew it well...now it gets stuck! And that's NOT fun! Some people are able to eat pastas with no problem. I'm just not one of them. Hope this helps!

Okay! I am back! Vacation is over. Holiday is over...time to get back on track! Only worked out one morning while on vacation. The resort had an awesome gym so I decided to take advantange! But, on day two, I turned my ankle so I stayed out of the gym. Walking around was hard enough. The food was great, but I didn't go overboard. I DID have the worst "stuck" episode ever!!! Bottom line, we had a blast..and I lost 2 lbs on vacation!!! I have NEVER done that before! I will be headed to the gym at 4pm today! I am ready to get going again! I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

It IS hard! But, do hang in there! You're doing a good thing for yourself. One thing I found that helps is taking a walk when the family eats. Get out and away from the smell and the sight of food. Use the time to do something else good for you..exercise. Or, if it's too late in the evening for that, go take a shower and brush your teeth. Anything to avoid the temptation! You have a rough few weeks ahead of you. It will be easier if you go ahead and find ways to handle the temptations. Good luck to you!

Hormones affect every thing that happens in your body to some extent. When you retain water, it's INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. You don't just get puffy hands, feet, abdomen, etc. You also get puffy on the inside, too. It's just like gaining weight. It's not all in your hips and thighs...there is also fat around your stomach, liver, and all your other organs. Hope this helps.

Okay, so here's the update. Hormone Patches came in the mail on Wednesday. Within 6 hours of putting the patch on I lost about 1-1/2 lbs of Water. By Breakfast Thursday morning I was able to have my Protein shake without any problems. And, I have been able to eat normally every meal since then. So, I believe this WAS the problem for me. PJTP - I love being able to eat like a skinny person. Just normal amounts of foods...:biggrin:

I was never diagnosed with GERD, but I had really horrible indigestion for about 6 months before my surgery. I started my pre-op diet, all liquid, and within 24 hours the indigestion was gone, and I haven't had it since. I hope you have the same success! Good luck to you.

Wow! Great Job, Debbie! You CAN do this. I'm glad you got your motivation back! Keep us posted on the exercise, too. Well, I've made it to the gym twice this week. But, I only did 30 minutes on the elliptical each time. No weights. I kind of lost my motivation for a few days. But, I bought a really cute sexy dress to wear on vacation, and I want to look my best in it, so I gotta get busy!! Have a great weekend everyone. Get out in the sunshine and MOVE!!!!

You're right. I went through TLC Edge in Dallas. They work with several surgeons for the actual surgery, then the PAs at TLC do the fills. I forget that some surgeons do their own fills. I was thinking the OP was concerned about seeing the surgeon again for reasons other than a fill.

Get the fill. My doctor has me do liquids for the next 24 hours and mushies for 48 hours after a fill. If yours has you do that, it's a great time to get control of the sugar monster. For the next 3-4 days plan exactly what you're going to eat and stick to it. That's very short term goal that's easy to manage. Just make sure you're eating the right foods. Then when you go back to solids, you'll be back on track. Keep exercising! It sounds like you've got that one under control. There's nothing that says you have to work out EVERY day.:redface:

Michelle, You are doing AWESOME! You walked more in the last week than I have in a month or more! Good job on the shoes! I finally went to the gym Monday after not going for over a week. I plateaued a few weeks ago and I can't seem to make the scales budge. I had to modify my vacation goal, and I still don't feel like I'll make it! That, combined with having to buy clothes for vacation, has really bummed me out. I was SO hoping to be down another 10 lbs before I had to shop so I could wear the clothes longer. Now that I'm back in the gym, I'm hoping the week off will help kickstart my weight loss. I hope everyone else is having a great week!

Charms - you're doing fine. You should have just started eating solid foods again and it's perfectly normal to stop losing for a few weeks. Just stick with your program and the weight will start to come off. Good luck.

Yes, for some it is normal. I saw my surgeon for the last time 3 weeks after my surgery. All my fills are done by a PA, as well. Unless you are having problems, there shouldn't really be any reason to see the surgeon again.

I am getting snowblind from trying to read the forum. Is this permanent? Or a glitch in the system?

If I were to guess, I'd say this is why you're not losing. Do you have any idea how many calories you are eating each day? Are you drinking Water? Are you exercising? How often? There are several websites where you can track all these along with your weightloss. Once you've started keeping track you will see what you need to change. Don't give up!

OMG! Did any of you see the lightbulb that just went on over my head?!! :smile: I ran out of hormone patches about 2 weeks ago and I've been struggling with extreme tightness for several days now. I never put the two of them together. It makes perfect sense! That is the only thing that has changed for me since my last fill in April. Thank you so much for bringing up this subject!!! Fortunately, new patches are on the way. I will let you know if the problem resolves with patch in place. Sorry to hijack your thread! I just go so excited! Perhaps it's time to have your hormones checked to see if you ARE in menopause. Keep track of the days you are too tight and see if there is a pattern. If there is, then you can plan your food/liquid around those bad days. I hope you find a workable solution. Good luck.

I go every 4 weeks! They can wax down there all they want, but touch my upper lip and all hell will break loose! Of course, they make "No scream" cream to put down there to numb the area. You put it on a half hour before and you're good to go!

Michelle, go get you some shoes! I am a FIRM believer in good quality shoes for working out. You have such a beautiful place to walk. I would love to live in the mountains! Katie, Great job on the water aerobics! I've never done the classes. They have them here during the middle of the morning. I can't get off work for that. Good luck with it! Oh, and WOW! 6 lbs in ONE week!! I would be over the moon if I lost that much in a week. I hope we all have a great week! Get out and MOVE!!!!

Follow your doctors program to the letter. Drink lots of water as suggested. And, stay busy! I cleaned out closets, worked in the yard, cleaned out my pantry and got rid of the junk. Start your exercise program. Walk ALOT for the next couple of weeks. Stay out of the kitchen if you can help it. If you have someone else to do the cooking, let them. If you can take your walks while the family is eating, do it. You get some "me" time, and you don't have to suffer through the meals you can't have. Just remember that the pre-op and post-op phase is temporary. It's only a few weeks, and you can do this. Good luck to you.

So, you lost 6 pounds the first week, but how long ago was that? If it's been a couple of weeks I'd say don't worry about it and keep up what you're doing. If it's been months, then maybe you need to track your food and exercise to make sure you're doing what you THINK you're doing. I know from my experience that I lose great for a week or so, then hold for a couple of weeks, then lose again. Good luck to you.