cookiebaby

You guys were right. Even though I thought it would never happen, it did. I'm a little over four weeks out. I ate whatever I wanted on Saturday and then Sunday I was in bed most of the day with a migraine and didn't eat much and boom - 2 pounds off. I woke up this morning and weighed and another 2 pounds were gone. I also did the vibration therapy yesterday too. Please let this continue for a little while.

I posted another thread about it. My tanning salon (had to go get some vitamin D) had this little platform with numbers on it and I asked about it. They said we could try it for free. You stand on this thing for 11 minutes and it shakes you. They said that the manager did it every day for seven days and lost nine pounds. I figured what the heck - it's free. I googled it and apparently it's a new thing. They used it on cosmonots when they came back from space to help build back their bone density and it's supposed to help you lose weight. I'm not sure if it works but it felt good and I lost two pounds today so I'm going back. Google it and see the stuff written about it. If it works, it's good for me because I'm a little limited on exercise options right now because I have to get a knee replacement.

It has been a complete miracle for me. I am taking 450 mgs each day. Each capsule has 150 mgs so I spread them out during the day. My only bad side effect has been the weight gain which lead me to this surgery. Before Lyrica, I spent a great deal of time laying in bed watching TV - I was in too much pain and too exhausted to do much of anything. I would say it cut 40 percent of the pain. I have been able to reduce my pain medicine and go on walks with my dog - sometimes two or three each day. Of course, I'm nowhere near being back to "normal" but I can function. I would love to be able to go back to work someday - that is my dream.

Water exercise and swimming are the only things I can do that don't kill me. I have Fibro in addition to needing a knee replacement. I do ride my recumbant bike right now and yes, it hurts like heck. I can't get into the water yet because I still have a little bit of scabbing at my incision site. I have also lifted some light weights. I don't think people understand the pain. They will say that of course it hurts to exercise. Here's what I do - wait until they have the flu and complain that their whole body hurts and they want someone to shoot them. Then, politely tell them that is how you feel most of the time. They get it then.

I found this thread while searching and thought I'd bring it back. Wouldn't it be nice if weight loss cured Fibromyalgia? I hardly think so. I imagine that some of our aches that are due to being overweight will go away. I also think that when we eat better, we will feel better. I was hoping for surgery shock to magically help some symptoms but that didn't happen either. My main problem is the Lyrica - both miracle as far as pain help and terrible as far as weight problems. I just took a dose after not doing it for two days just so I could lose a pound. Anyone with help on this subject, PLEASE post. I think it does more than make us hungry. I had a friend go off of it and lose 10 pounds in one week and she wasn't that big. And yes, all the weight I gained from it was in my upper stomach.

They really must work out eight hours a day (at least). To lose ten pounds, you have to burn an extra 35,000 calories in one week. I get that it is easy to get off ten when you start but one guy lost 100 pounds in eight weeks. If only I could sleep while riding my exercise bike.

It didn't happen to me but I made a comment in the office before surgery because their scales were off and I said I didn't want to come back and have gained 10 lbs. They said it is always possible because they pump you so full of fluids. Of course, they pump you full of basically sugar Water. Do you think that's such a good idea for a diabetic? My blood sugar went to over 400 in the hospital and then I kept having to reminding the nurse to check it because they just left it in. Oh yeah - now it's ONLY 300. You think? - get that thing out of me!

I went to the doc today for this crazy cold that has gone into my ears. He knew about the surgery so gave me the liquid c-pack. This one doesn't taste so bad. Just thought I'd remind you guys that most pharmacies have free flavorings they add to kids liquid medicines. If you ask, they will put it in yours. Believe me, some of them taste so bad that they can make you sick on the spot. Maybe everyone else knows about this but just in case it helps somebody, I thought I'd post it.

female problems after surgery? Specifically, how many of you got a terrible period especially those of you who were done with that. I have taken the depo-provera shot for at least 15 years because of heavy bleeding problems combined with a bleeding ulcer (that equals anemia). I never get breakthrough bleeding except during EXTREME stress like a death or Mom being very ill. Guess what - I've had one for one month straight now and I don't mean just spotting. Insurance won't pay to get my next shot early so I have to wait this out. I've talked to other people who have had weight loss surgery and found out this was common but that's a small sampling. Just wondered how common it really was and think docs should warn us to get stocked up on supplies because it's a possibility. One person told me she hadn't had a period in a year and boom! Also, people need to be prepared. If someone hasn't had one in a year, they might think they are past the worry of having babies. I would think that if your hormones kick in that they need to be informed. My regular doc thinks this could be contributing to me losing nothing after the first week. Someone please tell me this does not go on forever!

I didn't think about the blood thinners. I only had the one before surgery because I don't have any history of them in my family. Just interested to see what people have to say.

I think we get so used to seeing them each week that we don't realize how much they have changed. The poor older man is going to need some major surgery on his stomach but he really started out that way with all the overlaps. I get too involved - yelling at the TV - stupid blue team, why did you kick off your best guy. At least the show motivates me to try to exercise more.

I know I did go a little crazy a couple weeks before my surgery. Ate at McDonalds which I normally only do about once a year and had at least three coconut candy bars in addition to other meals I usually didn't eat but knew I wouldn't see again. I have a little problem with the exercise right now. I need a knee replacement so regular exercise is out. I do ride my recumbant bike - just waiting for the incision to heal completely so I can get in the Water. Physical therapist and doc wanted me using crutches or a cane and walking much is a no no. I have still gone on some walks with my dogs - just can't wait to get my heart pumping by swimming or doing water aerobics.

I buy "Bariatric Advantage" chewables - kind of taste like sweet tarts. The pharmacy in the hospital where I got banded have them. I wish I would have bought the chewable calcium citrate (maybe I will make a trip) because it's hard to cut those big horse pills up every day. I think you can buy the Bariatric Advantage Vitamins online.

Obviously, if a person weighs over 300 pounds, then 20 pounds is not unheard of in the first week. When you go from Big Macs to grilled chicken and veggies, that should happen. I'm saying how crazy it is that they can pull this off week after week. I'm just going nuts because I had surgery four weeks ago and I lost 15 pounds in the first week and then nada nada nada. I probably ate worse than I think before the surgery - fried foods, fats, etc. Now, nothing fried touches my lips, no sugar, etc. I just want to know when the losing starts again. I have been on diets where I lost a bunch the first week and then kept losing at least a little each week. Yikes - frustration! The worst part is that my doc is very careful about fills so I don't know when I will hit that sweet spot. Should I have had gastric bypass?

You also have to consider your height when you figure how many calories you need. There are many sites on the internet to help you figure out how many calories to maintain, lose, etc. some let you put in activities. A person who is five foot would need less calories than someone who is six foot tall. You really do have to consider that.

I swore to myself I would only weigh once a week but there it is every morning calling to me. After two weeks, it finally says I lost .5 pounds which puts me at 15.5 and into a new ten - you know like from 240 to the 230s. However, I just know if I weigh tomorrow it will say I gained it back. How often do you guys weigh yourself? How do you stop the urge? I am definitely addicted to my scale! Did you measure everything before surgery? I wish my doctor's office would have done that for us. The only thing I measured was my waist. I had this big plan to measure everything and take pictures and then time got away from me and I figured - who cares - this is for me. Now I feel kind of selfish because I like seeing everyone else's progress and hearing how many inches they lost.

Looking for ideas about where to go out to eat. What's your favorite restaurant (chain - so we can all enjoy) now? Do they let you order off of the kid's menu? What Entrees have you found that are good to eat? Do they offer nutrition info? I think Red Lobster would probably be my favorite - there's a lot of healthy options.

I didn't do it and I wish I had. The only thing I measured was my waist. Now, when I'm not really losing weight, I wish I had something to compare.

I'd say it depends on the kind of people you work with. I've worked with some really nasty people and some really nice people. You have to know that if you just tell one or two that more will find out - people talk. For some reason, many people don't have enough to worry about in their own lives so they have to involve themselves in everyone elses. I guess it's just human nature?

A huge NO. My doc says never. Yes, they can give you ulcers - I can attest to that. With our smaller pouch, that chance is much higher. We were told that if we were prescribed a baby aspirin that we could take that daily. That is a very small amount. Don't take Ibuprofin or any other NSAIDs. You really don't want an ulcer - they are awful.

You guys might have already talked about this but I love to watch Caitlin Van Zandt on "Guiding Light". She had lap band in May of last year. She is exactly my height (but half my age) so I like to watch her progress. I'll take anything that keeps me going right now. I tend to be a little too hard on myself. There's online videos if anyone wants to search on her. I left a message for her on Facebook to see if she has a blog. I doubt I get an answer but you never know.

The only thing I could find is that her goal is to be a size eight and she's not quite there yet. That doesn't really give us much info. It seems to show through that she's a really sweet girl and then I read that she's majoring in religion. I wish I could find a blog or something.

I took the prescription of Alli (xenical) years ago. I think it was double the strength of the OTC. Yes, I threw away some underwear because of accidents and had the leaking they describe. It's not pleasant. I did lose some weight, though. But, eventually, you get tired of it or the expense and stop taking it. My gut says that the doc would say "no" because we already have some Vitamin issues. When you don't absorb fat, you don't absorb certain Vitamins (I dont' remember which ones). Since I'm diabetic, I've learned to make some of my favorites healthier. I love the junk food too. Maybe you could look up some diabetic recipes to help with the sweet tooth. There are really some good ones now that you can use Splenda. I also have adapted some of my favorite recipes to be healthier - make my own pizza with a lower fat crust and healthier toppings with fat-free mozzerela - turkey burgers with the fat free cheese. The list goes on but you get the idea. You can find really great sugar-free ice creams and toppings too.

I'm three weeks out and have a terrible problem with this. I have been taking laxatives for the past four days. I know you aren't supposed to keep taking these for very long. Is Miralax a laxative or is it something we can keep taking all the time? I have to take vicodin every day for my Fibromyalgia so this problem isn't going to go away on its own.

On my ten day visit, I had lost 15 pounds. I haven't lost anything this week and actually, 1-2 pounds came back on. I know I shouldn't be discouraged because most of that 15 had to have been Water but it's a little disheartening when I'm not eating much. I'm assuming that it will start falling off again soon - someone tell me their story and make me feel better. Good heavens, I miss salads of all things!