Big Momma is Shrinking

WOW Farmgirl!!! You are VERY LUCKY to have found a Dr who will fight for you!!!

Every Dr follows their own protocal. No pre-op diet for me, just had to eat light the day before surgery (but I had the insurance required 6mnth Dr monitored weightloss routine I lost 24lbs in that time period).

When there are not one but TWO HUGE Carrot Cakes sittting out on the break room table (which just happen to be my ALL TIME favorite) Tell yourself: "I am doing this for me."

Teachergirl.... Forgive me for sounding like a big B (and I know this will), but why in the he!! are you eating like that??? You worked hard to get your band, and you worked hard to be able to go buy smaller jeans....so don't blow it by eating crap you shouldn't be. My personal experience has always been if I want to see the scales move then I have to limit the amount of carbs I eat, and do my best to avoid simple carbs (ie white anything). Please don't think I'm trying to beat up on you, I just want to see ALL OF US succeed!!! It's a new day, and I know you have it in you to be a super loser (in a good way lol)

Fab I can assure you if ANYONE ELSE called me Big Momma those would be fightin words...lol Actually that's my Mii's name on the Wii.....and since she's finally shrinking I thought hey I like that!! Just rememebr we all deserve a chance to be healthy and I don't think any of us should feel guilty about it. As my DH pointed out (when he saw me writing that post last nite about his spending) how much money have I wasted on pills contraptions memberships diet foods yadda yadda yadda over the years trying to loose this damn weight? There is no shame in trying to improve your health!! Pezo...sounds like that was some HEAVY chocolate. Maybe your body was sooo excited to get something yummy that it wants to hold onto it for dear life...lol Just remember we are all still band babies, your body is going thru major adjustments, don't be too hard on yourself, just follow the rules and sooner or later your body will get onboard.

Barbie Girl, Have you talked to your Dr about this? I could be wrong, but I'm guessing you didn't sign up to eat soup the rest of your life. There should be something your Dr can do to help you live comfortably with your band. I know the idea of an unfill sucks, but maybe that is what you need (just a slight one) to allow you to eat foods that are going to get the scales moving again. Best of luck to you, I hope things start working better for you soon!

Fab: I can relate to you feeling like you might be being selfish...but your not. You are making an investment in your health and your future. I shared that feeling of selfishness in the begining, but then I stopped and thought about how much money my DH has spent on things he's wanted in the past and I really don't feel so bad (now that's easy for me to say because I'm not a self payer so insurance coveres about 95% of my costs). Linlay: most of my weightloss so far was during the 6mnth pre-op period (24lbs) only about 12 since surgery, but I ahve noticed my stomach is flatter. My DH says I'm more narrow in the chest and my best friend says my face is looking slimmer.....I'm not seeing huge changes in my clothes yet can still wear anywhere from an 18-22 all depends on how things are cut....ugh I hate that our clothes aren't like men's where is 34 is a 34 no matter who maked it!!!

I know it seemed like it took me forever to gain the weight in order to qualify.... But the good news for you is that the insurance bases your weight off of that initial weigh-in so eat all you want and were the heaviest clothes you have....a word to the wise I had to weigh barefoot so don't worry about heavy shoes just clothes. You only have to weigh that much for that one time weigh-in. Good luck let us know what you find out.

I'll admit it.....my BMI was 38, I gained the weight in order to qualify, and there is another thread on here if you find it you will find alot of others have done the same. I agree it is stupid that the insurance co want to make things so difficult, but I just didn't feel it was fair to create a $14,000 for myself and family when I was sooo close as it was.

Cindy, I'm sooo happy to hear that you and your doctor have found the obstical that's been blocking your way!! You know the right way to eat and it sounds like now that you have finally discovered the real problem you are well on your way to a healthier you!! Best wishes!!

Good for you, I'm so happy that you didn't choose to throw up our hands and say oh well and fall back into all those old nasty habits!! We will be your cheerleaders pushing you forward to Onederland...I'm happy to hear that you decided you deserve to be healthy and happy. We are all rooting for ya!!!

Some of you may not being eating enough and therefore your body is going into stravation mode. If this is the case it's going to hold on to every ounce and you won't see any progress. Talk to your Dr or nutrionist, you may need to add some calories to your daily meal plans, just make sure they are from healthy foods and not junk. Good luck to you all and keep smiling, it won't be long before the scales catch up to you.

My office said ok to have a drink after you are in the solid food stage. But she warned go VERY SLOW it won't take much with the weightloss and smaller amounts of food in your system to do you in. Also no-no to carbinated drinks. She suggested having the first drink at home until you know how it's going to effect you.

Try to be patient, that feeling is coming back, but it's gonna take time. In the meantime, stay strong and just remember you have a leg up on the rest of us b/c you already KNOW how the band can work for you.

YEAH for you Techergirl!!! I also bagged up pants that look like part of a clown suit on me now. Now I'm just waiting to be able to pull the box of smaller clothes out from under my bed!! Congrats on the 20lbs....once you have adjusted to solid foods you will be back on your way.

Good for you for doing your research before running to a surgeon!! Now the answer to your burning questions.....if you are not ready to make healthy food choices then you are not going to succeed. You will find very few healthy people who fill their bodies with fast food and junk food and sit on the couch and do nothing. Until you decide that you are going to live your life as a healthy person you will continue to yo-yo no matter how you go about losing weight. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but the reality is no one gets healthy deiting, it's not until they commit to a lifestyle change that they get there. The band requires a lifestyle change. If you are not ready to make one, then in my opionion you are not ready for any surgical weightloss procedure.

I guess what I feel is restriction, it's hard to say for sure. I'm still on soft foods, but I am not eating nearly as much as I would before. I fix my meals on a baby plate, eat what's there and almost always feel satisfied ( I also eat with baby silverware). I think after doing full liquids for 8 days I have a new appreciation of what hungry really means and now I try to eat when I'm hungry not just when I want food. I start incorporating solid foods back into my eating Friday and then get my 1st fill May 1. I guess I'll see how I'm feeling on solid foods, but so far I have noticed a pretty significant decrease in what I eat. As far as differences with the two brands of bands, my Dr had both in his office for me to the "inspect and play with" Realize band is much wider and not as rigid when empty as the Lap-band brand, also has a smaller port, and "pillow like" chambers on the inside of the band for your fill Fluid. To be honset I don't remmeber if the Lap-band version had the pillow pockets or not.

You shouldn't feel bad or beat yourself up. We are all going to lose at different rates. It could be that some of the folks that are losing 20-30lbs have alot more to lose then you do. Keep your head up, you are losing and not gaining. Watch the amount of carbs you are eating those can sneak up on you and carbs are in EVERYTHING. Just keep following your doctors regimen and I'm sure the scale will start moving.

I think this sounds completely normal. I was down 11.5 8 days post-op....started eating mushies and gained back almost 4....I just keep telling myself this is all part of the process, don't freak out.... This moring those 4 were gone and they took another .5 with them. You just keep following your doctors schedule and don't worry about the scale, your bodies going to adjust and the scale is gonna catch up.

My Dr said kinda like Coke and Pepsi.... He also told me that his patience have been having fewer issues with realize bands and seem to hit their "sweet spot" sooner. But he uses both bands and both are good products. I'm a realizer, still on the soft food stage, but have not had any problems with my band to date. I think the biggest difference in the two is the online support offered with the realize system (but I beleive lap-band is jumping on that bandwagon too). For me I let final decission up to my surgeon.

Sandi...OMG that is awesome CONGRATS!!!! I think you are doing things exactly as you should. I don't think there is any real reason to "test your band" although I know lots of ppl do. I am still in the soft food phase, but I plan to follow your lead. Nothing has made me sick or really disagreed with me yet, and I'm going to do my best to keep it that way!! Keep doing everything right and nothing can stop you!!

The hospital where I had my surgery demanded my out of pocket up front the day of surgery ($1000). I got a call from the hospital a few days before my surgery was scheduled and they went over my portion at that time. Actually they wanted me to give them $1250 b/c I have a $250 deductable, but I had already paid medical bills outta pocket for the yr. I just took all the receipts for what I had already paid and they deducted that from my outta pocket. I ended up writting a ck to the hospital fot about $850. My biggest concern is that my insurance co has a cap of i think $25,000 that they will pay for bariatric services (lifetime if I remember right). The hospital told me the "negotiated rate" for my surgery was $14,000 (I think that is a load of crap) so I'm expecting the insurance co to cover all the rest of my costs, but I'm worried that it'll all be on me if i have any problems in the future. Lilith, you could always call the hospital directly and as what they will be charging you.

glad to know I'm not the only one with my mind in the bedroom....lol

Banded 3/26 after reading all yall's posts I feel like my weightloss is a little slow, but I'll take what I can get. Feeling pretty good these days, I have had some discomfort around my bellybutton but I think that is radiating from my port, I'll be watching this I think it's most likely healing pains but if it continues I'll call the Dr. For those of you having trouble with getting your Water down, if it is a taste issue I have been drinking decaf cold brew tea add a little Torani sugar free raspberry flavoring (found it on the coffee isle). Keep up the great work everybody!!