Yvette1026

3 weeks post-op today, I feel great, I LOVE my band I went to lunch with a friend yesterday who's on the spiritual fast with me. We decided to do appetizers and salads. I got the greek salad no olives or cheese. He got a ceasar salad and zuccini. Then I found on the menu what seemed like an "interesting" appetizer... Sweet corn tamale cakes. OMGOSH delicious! Like UNBELIEVABLY delicious. And as I quickly found out, may or may not be considered band friendly lol. They're mushie so they're easy to go down. However, they're corn meal/masa so I'm not sure if what I experienced was them bloating in my stomach or just all that my stoma would allow. I'm going to go with the latter because corn meal doesn't tend to "bloat". I ate 1 and 1/2 of the cakes (shared) with the salsa, avocado and sauce toppings and I was DONE.. Like DONE DONE... I didn't even touch the greek salad. I had 2 bites left when I got that "full" feeling but I admit, old habits to finish it came up only because it tastes SO good. Sigh.. it's a battle being banded when you're a foodie, but I'm learning and recognizing more and more every day. So me being me, am on a mission to make a healthier version of them, replacing sugar with agave nectar, butter with, I'm not sure yet because well I LIKE butter lol... but it's not on my fast. The sauces I can do... well except the one with mayo, I gotta find a way around that one.. maybe use vegan soy mayo and see how it turns out.

It may be head hunger... it may also be that you're not eating in the proper order, or getting enough protein. Without knowing what you're eating it's really hard to say or give any advice.

It more than likely WILL slow down, remember with the band the ideal weightloss is 2-3 lbs a week. The initial weightloss is great, like a jumpstart to get us going (I did 42lbs in my first month, including my pre-op diet) today I'm 3 weeks post-op, I'll weigh myself later, but on Tuesday I was 42lbs down. No need to rush back to scale for me lol.

My approval process was 6 months (Aetna Insurance requirement). And yes I lost 32lbs before surgery (3 week pre-op diet) and another 10lbs in the first 2.5 weeks post-op. I probably would have lost more if i followed the liquid diet, etc.. But I ate mushies on the 3rd day, and had cake a week later, etc.. Which as I later found out, is fine with my surgeon. Today is my 3 week post-op, I haven't weighed myself yet, I don't obsess over the scale. People's reaction is enough for me. Everybody who sees me is like "OMGOODNESS, you look smaller every time I see you" (they dont' know I had the surgery) For example, my Pastor's who hadn't seen me in a month (they're based in ATL and travel to PHX) were amazed, they were like you don't look like the same person. LOL lil' extreme but I guess there's a big difference between 1.5 chins and 3 LOL... I would definitely encourage you to get the band, I LOVE mine.

So I had my "official" 2 week post-op check up and I'm down 42lbs. I was just "sure" I'd hit the 50lbs mark but I'll take 42lbs. This puts me in the 200's a number I haven't seen in ages...I think high school, well and most of 2006. I was in the 200's then that cruise did me in and the scale has been climbing since. But I'm in the 200's and for me is a BIG deal, not as big a deal as the 100's will be but still a huge deal! I have noticed that my restriction is becoming less. I have 3 cc's in my band currently (put in day of surgery) but I still get very full, off of not much at all. 2 scrambled eggs or 1 packet of oatmeal still sustains me. Still on the protein shakes, still coming up with crazy new recipes for them like my "apple pie" one I made last night. But regardless of what I eat, I'm at that 42lbs mark, but my dr says it's right on track because that means I'm losing about 2lbs a week now which is what I'm supposed to be losing. I took my steri-strips off today and I have almost NO scaring. Dr. Nirmul did a good job. the 3 small incisions are invisible, 1 is completely invisible, I'm not even sure they cut there, the one under my breasts is almost invisible and the one on my right side looks like a small healing cat scratch. The port incision is healing nicely and is pink, but will heal quite nicely. I'm very pleased. I've been distracted for about an hour or two from writing this so I totally forgot what else I was going to add.. so I guess this is a good of place as any to stop... Oh and in other news, my love interest is coming home EARLY. He wasn't supposed to be home til oct, and I thought I would shock him with the new me... but he'll be home in a matter of weeks, probably just in time for valentine's day. We'll see how it goes. I'm in faith that it will be excellent and he'll just go through this change with me. :thumbup:

Yes ma'am it's in my blog, previous entry.

Yeah pain meds are your friend the first day and 1/2... I was banded on a friday, took the lortab friday and part of saturday then switched to liquid tylenol til sunday. I was completely off pain meds by sunday afternoon. The extra weight is from the iv fluids and swelling.. you'll lose it relatively quick. Shocked your dr's didn't tell you "don't weigh yourself" like mine did lol.. I didn't weigh myself at all until my post-op appointment yesterday, but funny I "knew" and had been saying.. I lost 42lbs.. I lost 42lbs and that's EXACTLY what I had lost.. amazing! lol

So I had my "official" 2 week post-op check up and I'm down 42lbs. I was just "sure" I'd hit the 50lbs mark but I'll take 42lbs. This puts me in the 200's a number I haven't seen in ages...I think high school, well and most of 2006. I was in the 200's then that cruise did me in and the scale has been climbing since. But I'm in the 200's and for me is a BIG deal, not as big a deal as the 100's will be but still a huge deal! I have noticed that my restriction is becoming less. I have 3 cc's in my band currently (put in day of surgery) but I still get very full, off of not much at all. 2 scrambled eggs or 1 packet of oatmeal still sustains me. Still on the protein shakes, still coming up with crazy new recipes for them like my "apple pie" one I made last night. But regardless of what I eat, I'm at that 42lbs mark, but my dr says it's right on track because that means I'm losing about 2lbs a week now which is what I'm supposed to be losing. I took my steri-strips off today and I have almost NO scaring. Dr. Nirmul did a good job. the 3 small incisions are invisible, 1 is completely invisible, I'm not even sure they cut there, the one under my breasts is almost invisible and the one on my right side looks like a small healing cat scratch. The port incision is healing nicely and is pink, but will heal quite nicely. I'm very pleased. I've been distracted for about an hour or two from writing this so I totally forgot what else I was going to add.. so I guess this is a good of place as any to stop... Oh and in other news, my love interest is coming home EARLY. He wasn't supposed to be home til oct, and I thought I would shock him with the new me... but he'll be home in a matter of weeks, probably just in time for valentine's day. We'll see how it goes. I'm in faith that it will be excellent and he'll just go through this change with me.

Ok so it's wishful thinking, but in my quest to find non-dairy smoothies I came up with this one last night... Took a lil' more agave nectar than I would have liked to use but it was good tasting. Not my strawberry shake smoothie good, but still good. So here we go.. ICE- lots of it (juice only smoothies require more ice than dairy ones) I did 1/2 of the blender, but you could do less and just pour over ice. 1 serving of organic applesauce (unsweetened) I just dumped a serving single cup in there. 2 scoops of vanilla designer whey protein powder (the ala mode lol) 8oz -10 oz of healthy balance apple juice 1 tablespoon (ok it was probably more like 1.5 but I don't measure anything) of agave nectar. Blend....scrape down sides, blend...and serve. Enjoy

Ok so it's wishful thinking, but in my quest to find non-dairy smoothies I came up with this one last night... Took a lil' more agave nectar than I would have liked to use but it was good tasting. Not my strawberry shake smoothie good, but still good. So here we go.. ICE- lots of it (juice only smoothies require more ice than dairy ones) I did 1/2 of the blender, but you could do less and just pour over ice. 1 serving of organic applesauce (unsweetened) I just dumped a serving single cup in there. 2 scoops of vanilla designer whey protein powder (the ala mode lol) 8oz -10 oz of healthy balance apple juice 1 tablespoon (ok it was probably more like 1.5 but I don't measure anything) of agave nectar. Blend....scrape down sides, blend...and serve. Enjoy

Most of them aren't very good tasting. I use the designer whey products. Their taste is easy to cut with mix-ins. I've found most brands to be too overpowering, even with the mix-ins.

Sooo true.. 3 weeks post-op and I picked that up last week when my gas *suddenly* came back.. But I refuse to not use a straw in public, I'm just strange like that.

I'm stuck at my 42lbs right now too, I was just on the phone telling my mom this before I read your post. 42lbs including pre-op. But I'm in the 200's which is a number i haven't seen in a long time except for 2006... most of 2006 I was in the 200's then that cruise did me in and the scale has been climbing since. But I'm in the 200's and for me is a BIG deal, not as big a deal as the 100's will be but still a huge deal! I have noticed that my restriction is becoming less. I have 3 cc's in my band currently (put in day of surgery) but I still get very full, off of not much at all. 2 scrambled eggs or 1 packet of oatmeal still sustains me. Still on the protein shakes, still coming up with crazy new recipes for them like my "apple pie" one I made last night. But regardless of what I eat, I'm at that 42lbs mark, but my dr says it's right on track because that means I'm losing about 2lbs a week now which is what I'm supposed to be losing. Welcome to your mom, my mom will be on here soon as she's now considering the lapband (yay!). I took my steri-strips off today and I have almost NO scaring. Dr. Nirmul did a good job. the 3 small incisions are invisible, 1 is completely invisible, I'm not even sure they cut there, the one under my breasts is almost invisible and the one on my right side looks like a small healing cat scratch. The port incision is healing nicely and is pink, but will heal quite nicely. I'm very pleased. Excuse me while I cut and paste the bulk of this into a blog entry of my own lol..

This is a tricky subject....and depending on his contract at work, he may not be allowed to keep you on. He is court ordered to provide you with insurance, the company is not. Several times we had ex-wives and or soon to be ex-wives call up FUMING over the same issue and we always had to tell them to go to their lawyers because there's nothing we can do, and if he as the employee has removed you, you couldn't be added back on. Some employers don't allow removal until the final paperwork is submitted, some will remove at separation and some will remove with just a word from the employee.. I feel your pain on this, I worked in benefits administration for quite awhile and as one of the higher ups in the food chain, I would get all of these angry ex-spouse calls. I totally get it.. but good for you blowing that steam off in a productive way. Show up to court looking that much more fabulous than the last time he saw you!

Sorry to hear of your condition, and yes as you know the weight gain is because of the medication. Be encouraged because you know that you can lose the weight again. You already have the tool in place and once the medication and treatment is done you can go back to losing. I know it sounds like a step backward, but really you're the encouragement and testimony to the band. Yes you're going through this now, but you'll lose not once but twice because you have the tools and knowledge on how to do it, and do it successfully. You're a testimony and inspiration to others. Yes you may have some tough times, but get back on it, as soon as you're able and do what you can... setbacks are part of life, but it's when we overcome them that make us great!

Remember that men made these and it's for *ahem* their use, not ours. "Split crotch" ALWAYS implies that. Snapable...etc...lady use..."split or crotchless" man use lol.

The bulk of what you're eating is quick burning food (carbs) which is why you're not staying full. You should be eating things with more protein in them. Eggs Cheese Greek Yogurt (less carbs and sugar and very high protein) Sandwich/deli meats Protein smoothies Chicken Salad Beans (refried/pinto/chili/doesn't matter) Etc... Protein is what keeps you full and you should have it at every meal. You should aim to get 60-70 grams of protein a day, in what you ate yesterday you had maybe 32 and that's being generous. The milk from the carnation instant breakfast with the lil' bit they put in there. 8 grams, from the cereal 8 grams, the cottage cheese 8 grams, fruits and veggies have minimal protein in it usually >1 gram of protein per serving, unless you're eating greens, etc, even then still low. So to answer your question, no you're not eating "too much" but you are eating "too much" of the wrong thing. Protein first, then other stuff.

1. People at work are always looking at me... I know it sounds paranoid, but it makes me feel uncomfortable. Let them look, chances are they're just jealous. 10 months is alot of time, YOU did this, not just your band so hold your head up and give them something to talk about. 2. I get tons of attention both negative and positive. This is to be expected. 3. Im worried b/c I haven't told people about the band... and I don't want them to know but at the same time I almost feel like Im being dishonest. It's nobody's business but yours. Just because somebody knows you doesn't give them instant access to your life and situation. It equates to, would you walk around showing these people your medical records? If not, then chances are they don't need to know. 4. Without the band I can't control myself around food. but with the band I find myself wanting to eat even when Im not hungry, or when I know Im at the brink of vomiting... Ill still try to eat more and then end up vomiting. Its absolute insanity. Head hunger, you have to deal with the underlying issues. Or sometimes it's just because food tastes good. Just have to be stronger than the food. 5. I want to be at goal weight in a year...I have two more months and Im hoping I don't set myself up to fail. Not sure what your goal weight is, but 71lbs in 10 months is awesome, I'm sure you'll get there. 6. despite what everyone tells me....I still see myself as a fat person... trying to cope with that. And you probably always will. I still look at booths at restraunts, roller coasters, etc and thing I can't fit in that..and I can, easily, with extra room. But I still feel like I'm "that" big. 7. New love interest... do I tell him that I am banded? Depends on how serious you are with him. This is a hard one for me, I haven't told mine, but I intend to, once I see how sincere his interest is. But he's a different case, we dated before so I know he likes/loves me either way. If I were dating somebody completely new who didn't know me when I was fat, I would tell them once I decided I was serious about them and/or their possibility because if they're with me, they have to be able to love me either way. Not to mention the eventual physical part, they'll know what the scars are and not ask in some awkward pillow talk lol 8. Still battling a war with food even with the band. HEAD HUNGER KILLS! You can over come it... recognizing it, it's the bulk of the battle. 9. I get anxious going out to eat or around people with food and even having to eat in front of people... Why? Do you think they'll "know" or something? I went out with a group of people for the first time since being banded and it was so natural. I talked and ate, ate and talked, no I couldn't finish my food but nobody "noticed". 10. Scared to gain weight back... and I am forever ffffreeeeezing! LOL Understandable but have no fear, you KNOW how to lose it, YOU did this, the band was just a tool to help you do it. You're in control. And it's the loss of your um "insulation" lol. Brrrr, with the 42lbs I've lost I've been colder myself and I'm ALWAYS warm/hot. 11. LOVE SHOPPING! lol LOL me too.. can't wait to do some more of it!

What BG said... I'm 2 days shy of being 3 weeks post op and I've never thrown up, not even during the healing phase when everyone else talks about being nauseated, etc.. I've been stuck once and it was TOTALLY my OWN fault. I was 1.) eating something I shouldn't have been. 2.) Distracted and that old habit of just wolfing down food while working crept on me, because I was distracted. I didn't chew chew chew like I was supposed to and I took a bigger bite than I should have. It was stuck for about an hour or more. I felt like I wanted to throw up but even when I tried, nothing. It's my humble opinion that alot of this is mind over matter - I do NOT like to throw up, it's one of those things for me I just ugh.. yeah anyways.. so I don't allow myself to, or ever really get the urge to either. Just once since being banded and again, TOTALLY *MY* FAULT, or as BG says "operator error". So if you're eating right, chewing right, etc.. you shouldn't really have any problems unless it's a food your body can't tolerate. Even then though, I believe in mind over matter.

Well PRAISE HIM and Congratulations! I'm excited for you, it'll be here before you know it!

The book says to avoid alcohol during the losing phase and to limit alcohol in the maintaining phase. Beer is carbonated and shouldn't be consumed. However my surgeon told a man yesterday, that in the maintaining phase he can drink it, but said that he would probably find it very uncomfortable. I personally stopped drinking for spiritual reasons before the band, but I made the mistake of sipping on sparkling cider over the holiday and it was PAINFUL, the carbonation, just a few sips was NOT fun. Someone else asked about wine, and he said if you limit it to a glass a day you would be fine, but they recommend abstaining for the losing period because it's empty calories and turns into sugar in your body. Hope that helps

I always love the before and after pics and success stories. You look amazing!

This is GREAT Robyn! Keep up the great work! That's a great menu and the caloric intake and protein WOW! Awesome job! Keep it up!

Well you're in the right place.. we're here to support each other and it'll be here before you know it. Speak positively into the situation. "When I get my band in ," etc... As for BP meds, would depend on what you're on but there's LOTS of BP med options, let your DR know what you're on isn't working. Be encouraged, you're going to be exactly where you want to be. Instead of feeling bad about yourself, be proud that you're taking the steps to correct the situation. You've seen it, you've realized it and now you're correcting it. Start making your future plans (that helped me during my waiting period) vacations, deals, ideas, etc... setting some goals for myself, etc... You have the advantage of being able to see how your mother and sister do, so you already KNOW how well this will work for you, and being a man, you'll lose weight faster than they did. You'll be back to your previous status or better before you know it. Besides sexy happens at any size, rock what ya workin' with! lol Hope you're having a better day!

So after the NYE portion control at the party success...(see previous blog) I went to dinner last night with a group of people from church. Chain of command is basically My Pastors, Me, the ministers, ushers, etc.. So at the cheesecake factory, of all places I ordered the small plate greek salad with no olives. It was sliced cucumbers, roma tomatoes and some feta cheese over greens. The lady next to me then orders the same thing, then changes her to the asparagus salad, then her husband who normally gets the regular sized cheese pizza, orders the small pizzette, and so on down the line, with the exception of 2 or 3 people out of 8. As the course of dinner goes on my Pastor asks us if we're getting cheesecake, everyone looks to me and I say "oh no sir, not on the plan." We walk out, say our goodbyes and go. Today my Pastor calls me to put the church on a fast until Feb 1st. Nothing but fruits, veggies and protein powder drinks mixed with water. As you all know this is pretty much how we eat so I just had to laugh a lil' because it's spread like wildfire. I've lost 42lbs + (I'll weigh in today) in the past 5 weeks, a noticeable result and now everyone is on board. See my band has gotten me healthy, and it's getting everyone else around me healthy as well. Like my Pastor spoke to us about leadership last night, What makes a good leader? Achievements... If you've made achievements people will follow you regardless of your methods. I chose not to tell people at church that I had the surgery, I didn't want the judgements, food policing and gossip, etc... So I kept it to myself. I think it's the best thing I could have done because now my choices are influencing and leadings others to make positive changes, so that hopefully they will not get to the point where they feel they HAVE to have the lap-band. I'm in faith that those that need it, will receive it, and those that just need the guidance will receive that as well. Oh well just thought I'd share.. I think this is a great thing! Kind of like a cleanse no animal products at all for the next 27 days or almost 4 weeks/month. Soy and almond milk, here I come. Need to keep my protein up.