stateofzen

I 100% believe that the 6-month diet was what put me on the path to success (so far). It seems like I did the biggest bulk of retraining myself how to eat during that period so that by the time surgery came, I was in the groove. My doctor put me on Atkins for the 6-month loss and for me, it worked wonders. The first week or so was a bear, but after that the carb cravings really did disappear and I found myself eating healthier and smaller amounts of food. In fact, the only weight-related medication I was taking before the surgery was for cholesterol-- and my pre-op diet alone got me off of those meds. You will absolutely not be perfect. Don't even bother trying For me, I set in my mind that I was going to try to learn to eat in moderation-- the way I wanted to eat for the rest of my life. So even though I was generally low-carbing it, I wasn't insane about it (and I am still not). I asked myself-- am I going to go the rest of my life and never eat dessert again? The answer is no-- but I certainly didn't need dessert every day and even now it isn't really what I'm interested in. I've had dessert (like pie, or a cupcake) maybe a handful of times since surgery because it isn't what has been hard to give up. Pasta, on the other hand, was hard for me so I still have it about once a month or so. How about a hamburger, which really only tastes the way it is supposed to on a bun? Yep-- I've had a hamburger about 3x since surgery with the bun intact. And pizza-- again, about once a month (for several days actually, since a medium thin crust gets me a LOT of meals these days). No matter what your 6-month diet is, to me, it is most successful when you treat it as an opportunity to start learning new things and not like a hurdle you have to jump to get to the surgery. Treat it sensibly, and think about it as setting the stage for a path you can follow for the rest of your life. I wish you luck!

You've gotten great advice here, and I would just reiterate the point that the surgery will be here when you are ready for it-- so make sure you're ready and it's the right decision for you. I think we've all been where you are, to varying degrees. I'll tell you, the thought of giving up Diet Dr. Pepper and beer forever seemed like a huge deal to me before surgery and I had a bit of a pity party over it. But it is seriously no big thing to me now. It was easier than I thought to give up both and I really don't miss it, especially when I consider all of the things I've gained in return. And I have gained a lot. I feel like I'm fully living my life now in ways I didn't even realize I was missing before. Just being able to comfortably move my body is amazing-- right now I am feeling some major abdominal soreness after belly dancing followed by yoga followed by Zumba-- but it feels awesome, especially compared to the real lower back pain and foot pain (plantar facitis) that I had before-- both of which are gone now after a 98 lb weight loss. The skin saggy-ness isn't great, I'm not going to lie. I will be having plastic surgery next summer if I'm at my goal by then to fix my stomach. But let's really be honest here-- how is saggy skin any less physically appealing than a big old fat filled belly of skin? If any of us are going into this merely for vanity reasons then it's probably not the right time to have the surgery. Vanity is part of it-- yes-- but it probably shouldn't be the primary driving force or the results may be somewhat disappointing. That said, I look soooo much better at 195 than I did at 293. Not perfect by any means, but pretty darn good and my husband definitely agrees. I totally understand worrying about the "new person" as opposed to the already-loves-you person, but there are new men who will be just as unconcerned with some saggy skin as there are new men who were just fine with the obesity. It's scary, but it doesn't have to be the thing that holds you back if you don't let it. As for being a successful dieter: Your story is the story of countless women who have been banded, and it's my story too. I am great at losing weight. I have been able to successfully exercise and diet my way down several times in my life. The thing I suck at, and the reason I got the band, is keeping the weight off. I had reached the point where I just gave up trying to lose weight-- what was the point if it just came back in no time and brought 20 more lbs along with it? The band is my "one last shot" and I got it because I truly wanted to have something that would help me really make a lifestyle change and stick with it forever, even when I was finished losing. We'll see if it works that way or not, but for me, that possibility was worth the try. With all of that said, if you still aren't ready by April-- that is ok. You don't have to rush into anything you're not sure about. For this surgery to be effective, it DOES require major life changes when it comes to food choices and it's hard to make the correct choices if your head isn't 100% in the game. So take more time to yourself to weigh the pros and cons (make a list- it will help) and maybe stop talking to this friend about it-- let her politely know you're not looking for outside opinions at this stage in the game. I'm sure whatever you decide will be the right choice for you.

I have no regrets. All of the changes I've made in my life have been for the better. I feel better, I look better, I'm more active and more willing to try new things-- and I don't miss food because I still eat what I like (just not as much or as often if it's unhealthy).

I don't eat fries anymore. Have almost gotten stuck one too many times so now I don't bother trying. I consider this a good thing.

I'm 35 and have lost 90-some lbs. I'm going to have to have plastic surgery on my stomach, no doubt. My arms are starting to get a little turkey waddle going on too, but it's liveable. But the saggiest part of me? My boobs. That was pretty true before (I was a 46 H), but it's definitely true now that I'm down to a 38DD. All that fat-loss has left them sagalicious. Creams/etc. are a waste of money on this type of problem but if it's something cheap, why not use it anyway.

The cabbage as pasta kinda makes sense to me- same texture, right? And the taste is "bland" enough not to be unpleasant with the sauce. I'm with Heather above though-- I've found a good meatball marinara with cheese makes me happy enough to forget about the pasta. But this cabbage idea is worth a try.

I think the best piece of advice I can give is this: stop comparing yourself to your friend. I think it's only going to be a source of disappointment, and I'm not sure that her experience is going to be a close enough match to yours to make her comments helpful. If there is one thing I've realized in the last 6 months, it is that no two banded experiences are alike. Here's what I think: some people are slower losers than others and short of making themselves completely miserable with overfills and self-induced starvation, there isn't much they can do about it. If you are slowly but steadily seeing the scale go down, then you're doing fine. Certainly take a look at WHAT you are eating, and if it makes sense, experiment with calories or carbs or whatever. Be honest with yourself no matter what. And if you are honest and eating healthfully, then the odds are highly in favor of the weight coming off. It might take 3 years. But in the end, it will be gone and you will be healthier for it.

Well I'm glad it's back! I'm feeling it right now too-- I think it's because I flew this weekend. I'm not gonna complain though, that's for sure! Not when a snack pack of peanuts was enough to fill me up for lunch yesterday

The ONLY thing that I can't eat is french fries. Hallelujah for that! I have no idea why (though I suspect it is speed), but the only times I've almost gotten stuck were with fries and I can always feel them going down slow. Now I don't eat them. It's random. My band works well at a low fill level, so I don't have problems with anything else.

Yay! Congratulations Lisa

Awesome!

Hi September folk. Just a quick post to let you know that today's weigh in marked onederland for me! I weighed 198.2 this morning, which is 94 lbs down from my pre-op high and 65 lbs down since surgery!

Try propping yourself up with lots of pillows. I wasn't able to sleep on my stomach for probably a month, but I could sleep on my side after about a week.

First, don't beat yourself up. Just treat today like a new day with increased determination. I certainly don't know your daughter and her temperament, nor do I want to tell someone else how to parent, but I'm wondering if this might be a great opportunity for you to help your daughter be healthy for life by bringing her along for the healthy eating ride? I don't blame my parents for my obesity (well, except for the genetic contribution), but I do wonder if my life would have been different had we as a family had a different eating history. We had the "clean plate" rule, which we all know is a bad thing for setting up the habit to keep eating even after you're full, and then there were the delicious but completely unhealthy foods we regularly indulged in. I'm not suggesting that you not allow your daughter (or yourself!) pizza ever again-- I certainly still eat it. But maybe it can be something your daughter learns to eat only occasionally in favor of other more healthy foods. Or, at least this can be the case while you are healing?? Again, I don't pretend to know your situation, but it might be nice to look at this as an opportunity to teach your daughter healthy eating right alongside yourself.

i don't have any additional suggestions, but I want to offer you my support as you go through this time with your mother. Internet hugs to you :huggie:

I was told that picking up anything more than 10 lbs was a problem, but that regular activity would not do harm. I think you can relax!

This is completely normal. It will go away, though I had port pain longer than any other kind (not constant though-- like you said, when I moved a certain way or when I tried to lay on my stomach). If you put the heating pad on your back you should still get some help in the stomach area-- at least I always did/do. One thing about heating pads-- recently I've found that I can't put one on my stomach over my port because I've lost enough weight that it heats my port up (the metal parts) and youch! Putting it at my back still works great though.

Name, real or screen~ Stateofzen Age~ 35 Weight on February 28th~ 201 Goal Weight for March 31st~ 191 Exercise Goal for March~ Zumba every weekend I'm in town, BD on Mondays, Hot Yoga on Wednesdays Dietary Goal for March~ no overeating just because it tastes good (it sure doesn't feel good) Personal Goal for March~ no more clothes shopping Date Banded~ 9/17/2010 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~64 lbs

Grilling usually dries things out pretty quickly. What about baked meats? "Wet" meats or slow-cooked meats in the crock pot? If you can't get down solid proteins and veggies, then it sounds like you might be too tight. I know, it's a delicate balance-- too loose and you're hungry, too tight and you can't eat anything so you lose, but you're still hungry. I've heard of plenty of bandsters who get just a little taken out and find huge relief and the ability to eat healthy foods again. It definitely requires some patience, and perseverance. The fact that you've lost so much tells me you have both inside you, maybe hiding behind the frustration. That's ok-- I'd be frustrated too, but frustration run amok never did anybody any good, you know what I mean? I wish you the best.

Yay for you! I noticed today for the first time that the stairs I have to walk to get to my office (a lot of them) did not leave me at all winded. It was great to realize it-- I wonder how long it's been that way and I've been taking it for granted

Only the perfect can identify one another. It's the advanced eyesight

Hahahaha-- oh I've been there. I am not a crying-type. I am pretty emotionally laid back overall. But the first time I cut out carbs, on day three, I had a hysterical crying fit when I realized that the seasoning I put on my chicken had 4g carbs. I'm talking sobbing, snotting, crying. I was INSANE. My husband talked me off the ledge, ate my carby-seasoned chicken and made me more with a no-carb seasoning. But now I know that for 3 days of carb detoxing, I am not in my right mind.

Gotcha. All I can say is, I AM perfect. I am the most perfect formerly 293-lber to ever walk the earth

I'm confused. It seems like you are saying that people who live by the "it's a tool" mantra are pretending to be perfect. Am I reading that right?

I'm with Cleo's Mom on this one. Ask 10 different surgeons you'll get 8 different answers. Mine says don't drink 30 minutes before to one hour after eating. He says don't drink before because it may make you feel "full" and you won't get the nutrients you need from food. Don't drink after because it washes the food through. I think they have no idea what they're talking about in this particular area, but I still follow it to the best of my ability. However, if I have a glass of wine or a cocktail, I drink it while I'm eating (so I don't get sick or drunk from drinking on an empty stomach) and I can tell absolutely no difference in how hungry/full I feel nor how much food I eat. If anything sometimes I think a glass of red wine with dinner makes me get full on LESS food, but since my bloodwork is good and I get plenty of Vitamins I'm not going to worry about it. I have to say, drinking enough fluids is my primary challenge with this band. I just absolutely get nowhere near 64 oz a day, especially since coffee is my drink of choice and since it has caffeine I'm supposed to drink even MORE Water to counteract it. If I didn't have to spend so much time worrying about whether or not I wanted to eat soon and thus avoid liquids, this would be a whole lot easier.