SoonToBeTheRealMe

Everyone's diet will differ, it all depends on what your Doctor thinks is right for you. What your doctor tells you overrides everything you read online or on a forum. You will be on a liquid diet for a few days to a month after surgery (once again depending on your doctors recommendations) I was only on a clear liquid diet for about a week, and by the time I hit puree foods my body was just starting to feel hungry....prior to that liquids did fill me up and kept my satisfied. Now as far as your skin, it all depends on age, how long the weight has been on, how much you exercise, the natural elasticity in your skin....but it is easier find excess skin in a pair of pants then 200lbs of fat! Good luck!!

Congrats....a great accomplishment in which no one can ever take away from you!!

I lost almost 50lbs prior to my surgery. So it can be done. Mind you I was not required to do so prior to the surgery, but I was at the point for real change. Surgery was just another tool that was going to get me to my end game, not my entire plan. You need to decide if you are truly committed to making the change needed. Because if you think getting band is a cure-all you are going to be in for a BIG surprise! I was 465lb at my heaviest, I was able to move and did start walking about 1/2 a mile daily, that was built up to around 3 miles by the time surgery hit. It's a marathon and not a race any extra you can do will help. As big as you are (sorry if I offend....just stating) cutting of calories and extra exercise is going to make a huge impact on your weight lose. Yes it is hard, yes you might feel hungry, yes it takes dedication...but guess what all those things are applied after banding. If you think once you are banded you are going to miraculously be able to exercise? You're wrong it takes time to build up stamina....if you think you won't be hungry after having the surgery.....wrong.....it can take 6+ months until the doctor and you find your sweet spot....and most of all it takes DEDICATION..Because it's a daily battle on making healthy choices! So while I hope you find the courage to do what needs to be done to save your life. I also hope you realize with or without this surgery you need to lose weight, and while 40 lbs seems like a lot it is only 10% of your body weight. Think of how much you need to lose and if you can't even imagine getting 40 off without the band how would you plan taking 250lb off????

They give you a few different codes, make sure you are using the one specified for message boards. Also, your signature can only be 10 lines long, so make sure that isn't messing you up as well! If you need any more help, please feel free to PM me!

Congrats on your anniversary!! I think 2/3 loss :wub::thumbup:of your goal is a huge success and you should proud!!

Good luck Fresh, sounds like you are finally ready to change your life! I started walking on 1/2 a mile and now walk/jog 5 miles 4 times a week. So it is totally possible and do-able!

Neither....you need to realize the new way your body feels full, and by the sound of it you are not there yet. I don't feel full in my lower stomach, like I did before. Now I feel it in my chest area. There is no pain just a feeling that I know if I eat one more bite it might not stay down. Some people say they never feel that before BP's, to them I say they eat to fast! Also, I am not able to eat anything I want regardless how much I chew it. Breads, some meats, pastas and a handful of other things I was able to eat until my 3rd fill, not any more. I don't even try, there is plenty of other foods I can eat...that are healthy choices...that I stick to now. Good luck! Hopefully you find your "sweet spot" soon!

For me, I have waited until I drop at least two sizes. I know how to sew, so I would do minor adjustments on them, so I wouldn't walk out of my pants. Drawstrings are now my best friend!!! Try not to buy clothes with a lot of stretch in them, especially the pants/jeans otherwise they will not last that long. Buy basics when doing pants (tans, blacks, and jeans, navy) and keep the color to the shirts that way you can mix and match and stretch your wardrobe. Shirts I think you are able to get away with longer. Also, my support group does a clothing swap once a month, might check-in to see if yours does if not suggest it!

I think everyones goal is different, and it should be a personal choice. When I first got banded my only goal was to get under 300lbs, and I am sure for many here that would be an unthinkable goal. But being as overweight as I was and being 6ft tall, 300lbs sounded skinny to me. But as my success has surpassed my expectations I have set new goals and I am sure I will amend them again through my journey. When I first made the choice to get the band, I knew I was going to have to change more then my food portions. I knew I had to change the foods I did eat, the way I cook, and most importantly I knew I had to exercise. Going to the gym was scary for me, but I found a wonderful personal trainer and my success is half hers. When I kept saying I can't do it, she said yes I can...and when I really couldn't she made modifications so I could! So what I guess I am saying, is make goals that are realistic and remember they can and will change as you lose weight and become healthier. Good luck!

I drink about 96oz of water/crystal light a day. I exercise everyday....3 days a week I see a personal trainer for about 1 1/2 to 2 hour training sessions...the other four days I walk/jog 3-5 miles a day. I don't count calories, I try to eat clean, and eat small meals every three hours...which my dr totally recommends!

Drinking water is extremely important to your weight loss success. Tea is a diuretic, which will help flush excess water out of your body. However, if you are not taking enough in you could become dehydrated. Plus drinking the 8 glasses helps with appetite control.

Congrats!! What an awesome accomplishment!! I know I can not wait until I drop another 3 lbs so I can FINAL weigh in on those old fashion scales that only go to 350! Let alone the day I only need 200!!

Everything you are experiencing is normal! We have all have been there and understand how emotional hard it is before your first real fill. Good news is it gets better. When you go for your first fill, your doctor will know how much to give you, remember he is the expert. Your doctor can't put in to much at any one given time because there can be complications. First everyone one has a different "sweet spot" you won't know where yours is until you hit it. Second, some people tend to swell after a fill (me included) which could make you so tight you can't even swallow your own spit....been there and you don't want to be. Third, the band works best by small little fills that tighten gradually over time until you hit your sweet spot. All you can do know is eat clean, workout and know the weight will come off on its own time table not yours. Good luck:thumbup:

Congrats you are doing great!!! Super hot goal, here you come!

:mad2: WTG!!!! I bet you are doing somersaults at the moment!!! A great accomplishment, and great motivation for everyone reading your post. :thumbup:

I was 465lbs for my first consult with a bmi of 64.8, after a 6-month insurance waiting period I was 418lbs with bmi 58.3. Now three months out I am down to 374 (3 weeks ago, probably more now ) and bmi 52.2! It is so worth getting use to your new lifestyle eating habit prior to surgery. Good luck!

I agree, food poisoning so highly more likely. If it was something you ate, you would of never been able to get to sleep and if you did go to sleep you would of known something was stuck before laying down.

I would say about 2 weeks before I was able to go back to work as a nanny for twin 2 year olds. After we did modifications for about the first 3-4 weeks. Their mom and dad taught them to climb up on the ottoman so I could just grab them, instead of bending and lifting 28 lbs....twice!! When they got hurt, or was crying I just gently grabbed their hand and walked them to the couch, where I sat down and they climbed up to cuddle. I couldn't lift them into their high chairs, but their dad brought in their little tykes picnic table so I just feed them there. Mind you, I am obviously really good friends with them, so they helped me out a lot. They also did a lot of pre-planning and thinking of what would help me which helped out A LOT!!!! Mind you it was in January so I didn't have to worry about taking them outside....and we eliminated all extra activities....like library and play group for about a month. But never during that time, did I feel I couldn't take care of them...so I know you can do it. Just takes planning and innovation! Good Luck!:thumbup:

Congrats! Those little unexpected surprises....are what I really enjoy the most with losing weight! Hope you have a lot more...soon

Don't worry it is totally normal! Once you get more restriction in the band, "food life" will get easier. At this point I would recommend perfecting your new life eating habits of high-lean protein/low-carb/good-carb. It will make life a lot easier once you start feeling restriction, if you have your new eating habits down to a science. I know people in my local support group that haven't had great weight loss successes, because they still eat A LOT of simple carbs, claiming they go down/thru the band easier! If your doctor has cleared you for exercie, start! Exercise helps move those numbers on the scale a lot faster then the band alone. I started off walking everyday, now I see a personal trainer three times a week and power walk 4 times a week and feel great!!! Good luck to you, I have a feeling you are headed in the right direction.

I'm 5'11'' and it took me almost 50lbs until I had to change my clothing size. But with that being said I know I was wearing clothes to tight for me when I started, so probably wouldn't of taken me so long if that was not the case. I don't get the comment that I look smaller, everyone keeps telling me I look taller! Go figure, at 5'11'' that is the one thing I didn't want to hear......lol

I go straight to liquids for 24 hours. My Dr. recommends liquids for at least 1 to 2 meals after a PB,I stretch it out for a whole day. How he explained it to me, is that every time you have a PB or vomit your stomach naturally swells making your tighter and irritated. If you have a few PB or vomit sessions within a few days, it might be necessary to remove liquid and let the lining of your stomach to heal. As someone who hates needles, I'll suffer 24 hours of liquids instead of the possibility of a needle.:thumbdown:

Yes it's normal! It can take up to 6 weeks for the tenderness to go away and to heal properly. This is why my Dr. doesn't recommend any abdominal exercise for the first 6-8 weeks. However, if the pain becomes worse or any discharge around the incision site, contact your doctor immediately. Congrats on your new "tool" for a healthier you!!

I second the motion to CHEAT!! I think that you are restricting your calorie count so long your body feels it is starvation mode so it is hanging on to ever calorie you in take. If you don't think you can handle cheating, try upping you calories a hundred or so a day and see if that helps. Everyone's metabolic rate is different and it is partly based on how much you weigh, so if you are "starving" your body, your body will protect itself! Good luck!!!

There is no such thing as exercising to much. The practice where I had my surgery done also has a full equipped gym and personal trainers for us patients who have undergone lap-band or gastric bypass. I exercise everyday and was wondering the same thing. Both the doctor and personal trainers have assured me that cardio workouts can be done EVERY day without causing any harm to your progress or body. However, that you should only lift every other day, giving your muscles time to recover and heal, since you tear them down to build them up. The only exception would be if you lifted with legs one day and arms the next, would you be able to lift everyday. And since I read your workouts consist of cardio you are fine! Everyone keeps asking me how have been able to lose at a steady pace, my answer EXERCISE!!!!!!