finallyncontrol

Hello! Congrats on being banded and making it this far!! I know this month or so is actually the hardest! Once you make it to your first fill it is hard! I will help you now and after that help you get thru this time!! Many people on this site will also help you!! It is so worth it. I was banded 11/23/9 and have lost 112 lbs. When you do start eating mushies? Are you able to drink milk or protein shakes?? What is your protocal? Where do you live? Please take care!

I think the best feeling that I have had is when I see people out and I have completely forgotten that I have lost 112 lbs and look completely different...well these people don't recognize me. They look at me and I talk to them..they get this weird look on their face like...I know this voice, she sounds familiar.. is that Michele?? did you lose weight? like a lot of weight?? Then I remember I haven't seen them in a while. I take this as the best compliment ever. Yes, I could let it go to my head but I don't! I can put on the sexiest outfits and get all glammed up..but only for my husband. But on an everyday all day basis..I am just me..just a lighter, healthier me! So that is my advice..just be who you are now and forever. You have to do things for yourself and no one else! Take good care of yourself!

B..I know you are getting close to your goal weight..would you do this now or would you wait until you actually hit your goal weight (or I guess come within 10-20 lbs if that is how much they would remove). I guess why I am asking is I would want the scar to be as tight as possible afterwards. I had the opposite happen. I had a tumor remove and the surgeon made it really tight..I gained a lot of weight and now the scar is kind of sagging. If I had a tummy tuck I wouldn't want the same to happen. So the question is your opinion if I was to do it...reach goal or do it if I was 10-20 lbs out (I am 12 lbs out from goal..it is in my belly and my thighs). Lipo might even be a better choice. I haven't seen anyone. Thanks.

I agree 83 lbs is fantastic. I usually go one week a month with little loss due to it being that time of the month. Not sure if that was what was happening in your life. If you lost 12 in one month that is excellent. The worse thing that can happen is to be overfilled..it does more damage than good. I would stay just where you are and keep trucking at 12 lbs a month!! You are doing great!! Keep up the excellent work!

Can't wait to see your pictures! As for you pushing out your fills..don't worry about it. I know one lady who didn't have her first fill until 8 months out. I am 12 lbs away from reaching my final goal...I am seriously planning on writing my first blog at that time and going to include before and after pictures. As for your feet..your feet do lose weight so your shoes might be too big and could be rubbing wrong?? Take care! Can't wait for the pictures!!

WTG on the weight loss!! Also, you are doing great on the fluids!! That is very important!! You have a wonderful attitude! That attitude will allow you to reach all of your goals in life!! Keep it up! Take care!!

I agree..I was torn but then I said..you will have no choice but to NOT gain it back! I had (have) clothes from size 7 to 3X in my closet & boxes..so yes I have been hanging on to the dream of losing weight for a long time!! When I am going closet shopping and doing my fashion shows now my husband will say "are you having a flash back to the 80s or what..or did that one come from the 90s?" I just laugh and tell him that these styles are coming back. With me getting rid of everything that is too big (16 & higher and some 14s) I still have a full closet and then some. I am wearing somewhere between a 9-14 depending on the cut. I am just happy not to have to go spend money on clothes!! I so keep going forward and don't look back! Take care!

Congrats debus! You are doing the same as me. I had to integrate my family into this as well. I don't even call it a diet. It is a lifestyle change for me. I cook about 90-95% of our meals (some are pre-packaged). I was banded 11/23/9 and have lost 109 lbs. I also walk and work out in our pool. This has been the most amazing journey I have ever been on BUT I have to have my family's support. I wish you continued success!! Take care!

I am in shock reading this..You go girl! I think they would have to put ME away before they could take my scale away!! I at least only get on it once a day..first thing in the morning with no clothes on. I sort of feel sorry for you but in reality I think of how much strength it shows that you have! If you can do this just think how much determination you have!! You will succeed in reaching your next goal and then some!! Once again...you go girl!!

Congrats on your first fill! The one thing I realized right away was that I could not eat the same thing everyday or for the rest of my life and my greatest fear would be was to hit my goal weight and then change what I was eating to only gain weight. So I dropped the word diet out of my vocabulary and replaced it with lifestyle change. Then I started going on different websites...sparkrecipes.com and others my criteria was high protein, low calories I found so many amazing recipes out there. My family eats the same things I do and I have lost 109 lbs in 8 months. I have made things I would have never tried before and only a couple I didn't care for. The bottom line is I believe you have to spruce up your menu in order to keep your interest in changing your lifestyle and you never know what is out there or just a click away!! Good luck and I wish you the very best on your journey!!

I still have a Myoplex EAS Chocolate protein shake everyday! I am one of those weird ones that absolutely loves them...still 8 months out and still loves them!! I also have the Protein Shots from walmart on hand just in case I don't get enough protein in that day..depending on what I eat that day or if I just feel like I want a little extra I will take the "shot" of protein. I drink the shake for breakfast due to I do not like breakfast food..unless it is biscuits and gravy with fried eggs (now doesn't that sound healthy...more like a heart attack waiting to happen!) Take care!

I know for me these two ideas worked... 1. sugar free Popsicles--everytime I thought I needed something to snack on I would have a SF Popsicle. I am now addicted to them. I have at least 3 a day. 2. If I wasn't having a popsicles and wanted something warm I would have a chicken bullion. It will also make you crave more water (or make you thirsty) due to the sodium. Like I said these work for me but not for everyone. The other thing to do is to do something else (take a walk, read a book, go online..anything to distract the "I am hungry" signal) for 15 minutes..see if it comes right back. If it does then you are really hungry, if not it is in your head. If you are really starving and have been for so long I would call your surgeon and see if you can get your fill pushed up. Take care.

Yes, please go get liquid Tylenol and or pain pills. I know for a fact you can liquid pain pills I take it on a regular basis for chronic back aches for a non band related issue. I am so sorry you are in so much pain. I know this is going to sound wierd but I honestly think that the best thing I could advise you to do is to walk as much as possible and get in as much liquids. I would play around with the liquids..see if you did better with warm ones or cold ones and then stick with which ever felt best. As for the walking...When they did the surgery they put in a ton of gas in your stomach to blow it up..I think you are still full of gas and you need to release it. Walking helps so much, actually more than one would believe until you do it. If your surgeon will not order you the liquid pain meds call your primary doctor and explain the poor treatment that your surgeon gave you. I would request 10-14 days worth and see how you feel then. I hope this helps. Take care of yourself!

I am on of those who agrees with Bob...walking and swimming in my pool is my game. I like to check out what is happening in my neighborhood and then I work out in our pool. Once the work out is done then I can relax in the pool but not until I work out. My doctor also agrees..you do not need a gym membership..we live in Florida there is so much sunshine and outside areas to see! I firmly believe you do need a positive attitude and believe in yourself and see yourself succeeding. Once you picture yourself succeeding then you need to follow your dreams one day at a time achieve all those mini goals on your way! I wish you the very best!!

Another thing that I do is if it is a planned event I will check out the menu before I go. Some will list the nutritional values of each dish so then I can make up my mind as to what to order. Some restaurants don't and then I just do the soup and salad. I also do the take home the leftovers. I am very lucky that I get the hiccups when I am full so as soon as I get my first hiccup I am done and ask for a to go box.

It is really hard to tell. My doctor puts me on a strict plan after each fill...clear liquids for 2 days, protein shakes for 2 days, pureed foods for 2 days, soft protein foods for 2 days and then solids. He feels that when you get a fill that you swell and you need to give your band time to heal each and every time. Not each doctor feels this way. If I was not able to get the clear liquids down then I would say I was too tight..which one time I was and yes you are right that being too tight does not do you any good. I hope this helps. Take care!

You are doing so well!! It is kind of like the saying if it isn't broke don't fix it!!! Keep up the awesome work and the great attitude!! You will be reaching your goal before you know it! :-) Take care!

I take a water pill every day for the same reason..low leg endema. What I have learned is that if you are taking HCTz it will release all the potassium that you take which is not good when you are banded. It is actually very serious. I had to switch to another med which does not work as well. I have been battling this for the past month. I had a couple of trips to the ER and spent a week in the hospital over it so be very careful about what water pill you are taking. HCTz is hydrochlorothiazide...like I said it worked wonderfully before I was banded and for the first 4 months but then it caused other medical problems..chest pains, numbness in my arm and other things. It can be really serious. Take care.

Bentsam, I hope you made it to the dr and got a fill by now. I am familiar with the pouch test and have recommended it to others but I would not say for you to do it right now. I am hoping you were just needing a fill especially since you had not had one. It seems like it is hard for you to get to the dr but I can't stress it enough how important it is for you to find that time until you get to your sweet spot. Hopefully you have an agressive dr and it will only take 3 or 4 fills. This will make a huge difference. I wish you the very best on your journey!!

I am a little behind in my reading but I wanted to say AWESOME!!! You have done so well!! You are an inspiration to others!!

crsti I hope your dr appt went well! I just wanted to add that I use pineapple juice when I get stuck. You can get the small cans of it. It only takes a couple of drinks and you will either throw it up or "move or swallow" whatever was stuck within minutes. Take Care!!

I am so sorry to hear about all that you are going thru! I will say a prayer for you and your family! I am certain that your uncle will understand. He will know that you will be there in spirit and would want you to take care of your health and how much you have been looking forward to this. You also might be able to call the hospital and explain your situation and they may put you on the schedule for the end of the day. I wish you the very best!!

what a great story!! the moral of it to me is...don't give up!!! Make sure you remember that once you are banded!! In everyone's life there are always ups and downs (or as I say not so ups). Just stay positive and don't give up!! I wish you the very best!