leshers2x2

Weight day of surgery 248 7/27/09 234 Michelle

I just thought of something else to share with everyone. I have discovered the special k protein lemonade packets. It is like the crystal light packets you put into your waterbottle. It tastes like crystal light but you get 5 g of protein. I have been drinking one a day as a way to get a little extra boost of protein. Michelle

I have been using whey protein from trader joes. I really like the vanilla. I like it two ways. I really can't stand it plain. the first week of liquids only I would put a teaspoon of almond extract. Very yummy!! Once I was on mushies I started putting a little bit of fruit. 3 strawberries or half a banana turned it from a protein shake to a really tasty smoothy. I have even got my kids hooked. They always want smoothies. I used to make them with yogurt now I use two scoops of vanilla protein, one banana and a few strawberries and 8 oz of fat free milk. It makes a full blender and the kids love it!! I am just wondering, do you think adding fruit to my shakes is a good idea? I don't see a nutritionist so I am making this up on my own as far as what to eat. Michelle

last weekend my sisters were in town for a visit with their families and my mom ordered pizza. I could not resist so I ate all the toppings off of a slice of combination. It was heavenly. That was the only day that I really struggled with the no carb rule. I absolutely love pizza and used to be able to finish about four or five slices. The toppings really stopped the craving and I got through it. Michelle

I had a lot of swelling around the main incision. It looked like a large grapefruit almost. It took about a week for it to go down. I took my measurements a couple days ago and I have lost an inch off my waist already!

I am trying to stay away from carbs as well. That is what my doctor has recommended. Carbs are definitely my downfall. Tortillas, potato chips, pasta .... I have done fairly well so far... My family had chicken alfredo and salad for dinner tonight. I am still not suppose to be eating anything raw so I made myself some stirfried veggies with chicken breast. I put maybe two table spoons of alfredo over it and I was totally fine avoiding the pasta. My husband suggested next time I make the chicken alfredo with veggies for everyone. Michelle

This is such a great thread!!! I'll be glad when I can get changed at the gym and not hide in the bathroom stall. Go to an amusement park with my kids. Stop checking to see if I am the fattest person in the room. of course wear CUTE clothes not just what covers me up best. Michelle

I had a great one yesterday. I have high blood pressure. I forgot to take my meds yesterday. I had a checkup with the surgeon. I gave my disclaimer, "I forgot to take my meds so its gonna be high." She took my bp and then checked my chart and said it was lower than the last time I was in when I hadn't forgot my meds!! Yeah!! Hopefully soon I won't have to take them at all. Michelle

I was banded on the 6th and have had an amazing recovery as well. The all liquids was more difficult than the actual recovery but I have muddled through and was allowed to start puree today!! Scrambled eggs tasted like heaven! The cute sparkly things you can get by clicking on someone elses and it will take you to the website to make them. Once they are created you want to copy them to your signature which you can find under user cp at the top of the page. Hope that helps! michelle

I went with the realize band. The surgeon told me that their really wasn't any difference in outcomes with either one however the realize band has a lot of online tools for tracking weightloss. I liked that part so I went with the realize. I go Tuesday for my checkup so I guess that is when I will find out about all the tools he was talking about.

My surgery was on 7/6. I went in at 11:30. They did all the preop stuff, paperwork etc. I was given a patch behind my ear for nausea as well as a shot for nausea. It seemed to take forever before my surgery finally got started. All I remember is the anesthesiologist giving me a shot of something in the IV. He and the nurse kept talking to me all the way to the OR. I remember about 10 seconds in the OR and then I was in recovery. I had very little pain, just difficulty breathing from the anesthesia. I can remember thinking my blood sugar feels so low I wish they would give me something to eat. I was taken up to my room and the nurse right away brought me sugar free jello and some broth. I was able to eat it right away and get up and walk. The night went pretty well. I did get regular pain shots because I wanted to keep feeling good instead of waiting until I didn't. I was released around 9:30 the next morning. I came home and pretty much stayed in bed and did a little bit of walking just inside the house. Sleep that night was a bit challenging without the hospital bed. The next day I felt completely fine. I have not been using the vicodin since the first day home. I actually went with my kids to chuck e cheese and then to the grocery store yesterday and then went to Mothers of Multiples last night. I already feel more energetic than ever and can't wait to really start seeing the weight fall off!! This went better than I thought it would, no gas pain, no nausea, very little pain at the incision. All of you waiting good luck!! I know I made the right decision.

I was banded monday 7/6. I have not had any real pain at all. Tuesday was a bit of discomfort from the anethesia where I lungs ached. I am on full liquids until Monday and I am starving!!! Yesterday was the first day I really felt that way. I have doing Protein shakes like crazy but I still keep thinking about wanting to eat something!! Part of it for me is that I have never been a big sweets eater and on liquids sugar free sweets is most of your options, Jello, yogurt, Protein Shakes. I have already been planning what my entire menu will be on monday!! Today I am making my family chicken tortilla soup so I can eat the broth from it. Yum! Michelle

I am two days post op and feeling great. I have had very little pain. The most pain is not from the incision but from the anesthesia. My lungs still ache and I am using the darn spirometer every hour. I have not had any cravings or urges to snack at all. Today I started on Protein shakes. After two days of broth and Jello it tasted like heaven!! I haven't really had much appetite at all so far but I could tell when I was drinking the shake too quickly. My stomach felt tight. I couldn't resist so I weighed myself this morning!! 242.5 !! Michelle

I think the doubts and worries are normal. At least I am hoping. My biggest fear is that this will be yet another failed attempt to lose this weight. I am so glad I found this place because it is hard to talk to other people who haven't gone through this.

Is anyone else totally preoccupied as it gets closer to the date? It is constantly on my mind!! Will it be painful? Will I be able to really lose weight? What if it doesn't work for me? I am driving myself crazy thinking about it constantly!! I just want to hurry up and get it over with! My surgery is in 8 days on July 6.

My story is very similar to others. I was actually extremely thin as a child. I think I learned a lot of bad eating habits then because everyone kept telling me how skinny I was. I hit puberty, we moved to a rural community where I did not feel like I fit in and the weight began to go up. I graduated high school weighing 160 and 5'6". I went away to college where I was way less physically active and ordered in too many pizzas. By the end of my freshman year I was over 200 lbs and have been pretty much since then. I have done weight watchers numerous times only to regain the weight as soon as I wasn't super vigilant. I got married in 2000 and my husband and I started seeing a nutritionist. I was down to 199 lbs. Then I got pregnant with a set of twin boys. After pregnancy my weight was about 220. When they were a year old I joined weight watchers again and was back down to 200 lbs. Then another unplanned pregnancy with twins again!! I actually lost the weight right away after this pregnancy. It was the year at home with 4 kids under the age of 4 while my husband was deployed that put on the 55 lbs. I also developed high blood pressure during my last pregnancy that has not gone away. I am so ready to be healthy and not taking medication anymore. I finally started seeing a therapist, being treated for depression, have a great job, and want the outside to match the way I feel inside for good. I told my husband I don't even know what style of clothing I would choose if I could pick from anything in the store. I have been in plus sizes so long I can't remember what it is like to shop in regular sizes. So my surgery is scheduled for July 6. I am nervous not about the surgery itself but about screwing up and not losing weight after putting myself and family through major surgery!! Michelle July 6

July 6 for me. 1st consult with doctor Dec 27, 2008 Psych eval February, 2009 Submitted to insurance June 4 Insurance approval June 8 Pre-op appt June 10 Surgery scheduled July 6

I am scheduled for July 6!!! I want to be a July Jewel Michelle