cunner

Sorry you had to go through all that but on the other hand it does sound sort of cool to be able to see the band "in action".

That is awesome Shelley. Keep up the good work. With numbers improving like they are not only do you look 10 years younger, but you probably added to years to your life. I love NSV's like this. I am also 3 months out and was thinking this morning how funny it is that I no longer even unbutton/unzip my pants. They are big enough that I just slip them on and put on a belt to keep them up. These are pants that came out of storage because they were too small to wear for the past several years.

There are several styles of masks that you can try. Maybe you can look into nasal pillows which may help you feel less claustrophobic. I had mild sleep apnea but the machine definitely helped me get better sleep. Now 3 1/2 months post op I no longer have any need for the machine. Hopefully you may experience the same and this will become a non-issue. Best of Luck!

Random things from my weekend: I was running up and down the street in front of my house playing with my daughters instead of sitting on the front steps watching them play. I went to the movies and saved $10 by not buying a tub of popcorn and a gallon of soda. My wife told me my tuxedo pants looked like clown pants on me an I had to be sure to keep my jacket on all night. I ate a chicken sandwich too fast last night and got stuck. My daughter said "ooow.. dads throwing up". It wasn't that bad.. Just 9 year old drama. I had to wear pants to a party on a warm day because all of my shorts are too big. Would I do this over again? 100x times YES !! Even getting stuck I was thankful for. In the past I would have wolfed that sandwich down and probably went back for another before I even realized I had eaten enough. This time my "little reminder" kicked my butt and made me slow down and eat a proper amount for dinner. This may not be the solution for all but I am sure grateful that I chose this.

I was actually thinking about this today and was struggling with whether I should be more open about it. I have had quite a few people ask me about weight loss and my standard answer is I spend more time in the gym and less in the kitchen. This is the truth but really there is so much more to it. I know we have to do the work but it is SO much easier now than it ever was before. My hesitation to tell others was more out of a fear that it might not work and I would be judged for failing even with surgery. I still have that fear that it can't last. It never has before so how can this be forever? Hopefully as time goes on I will be able to accept it as a permanent solution. Maybe I need to go back home today and throw out those "fat" clothes I put in the attic last week.

Last November I was having a having to "suck it in" a bit to fit into my 50R suit. In fact 2 years ago when I went to buy a tux the guy measured me and said "right this way" and proceeded to walk over to the suits with a sign hanging overhead that said "portly". That was a bit embarrassing. Well this past weekend I was shuffling around my clothes in the closet to put that 50R in the back as it is WAY to big now and move some others to the front. On a whim I grabbed a 44R that just about 6 months ago I was doing my Tommy Boy impression of the Fat Guy in a Little Coat song with. I wanted to see how much more I needed to lose to wear that. I couldn't believe it.. IT FIT !! I tried on the pants and they buttoned too. I then noticed something in the pocket of the pants. I reached in and found a pacifier. As soon as I found it I realized that the last time I had that suit on was when my daughter who just turned 9 this month was baptized. Something that may seem so little means so much and can boost my motivation into high gear. It can be something like this that pushes me harder in the gym to do the extra mile or do en extra set. It also makes it easier to stick with better food choices. Wouldn't it be nice to have one of those types of motivation moments once a month. That made my day and I just wanted to share it.

Haha.. I took a bunch of big pants/shorts/shirts of of my dresser and closet and put them in a big bag and then into the attic. My wife asked me the same thing last night. Why am I saving them and not bringing them straight to goodwill? I guess I am having a hard time accepting that it is really forever this time and not just like all the other times I lost weight and gained it back. I think that is something I need to work on.

I'm not sure of the numbers but I do know that I had a fat head that is much thinner now. I used to have an extender on my 18 1/2 inch shirts when wearing a tie. This weekend I wore a shirt with a 17 inch neck and had room to spare. Two inches in a neck must add up to something. Two weeks ago when I was last snowmobiling I noticed that me head was flopping around in my XL helmet. I've only worn the helmet about a dozen times and now I need a new smaller one since my head shrunk. That would have to be close to a pound or two I would guess.

I had an ex-girlfriend 15-20 years ago that was very into the raw food diet. She studied under Ann Wigmore. It was all about wheat grass, rejuvelac etc.. My ex was kind of a nut with a lot of food issues bordering on eating disorders. I was a vegetarian (not raw food) for 6 years or so. I put on weight as I seemed to have gained a growing fondness for Pasta, bread and other carbs which were my mental replacement for Protein. Once I started eating meat again I was even worse as then I just added a bunch of sausage into my giant bowl of pasta. That went well with a loaf of Italian bread. Not a very healthy way to live. With regard to the raw food diet I don't think it is very consistent with the band. It can be very hard on the digestive system as we depend upon cooking to help us properly break down food. With the band you also need to get the essential Proteins while eating only a limited amount of food. That would be VERY hard to achieve on a raw food diet. Hopefully the surgeons office where you were banded has a nutritionist on staff that works closely with you. I know mine does. You may want to consult with them to get better advice. Best of Luck to you

I think I am the opposite of disgusted. Since first exploring WLS I have become much more aware and sensitive to my own and others struggles with food and weight. I am much less likely to judge others as over the last year I noticed how hurtful even well meaning comments could be. One example that I recall a few months ago was at a community meal put on by one of the local churches I was having a small portion of the meal and a server approached and made a comment that it was good to have some big eaters here. She meant it well but the fact is I had less than a cup of food on my plate and she was really saying that it was good to see a fat guy there. If someone want s to eat a big meal then that is their choice. If they as me for advice or my opinion about something then I would be happy to share but other than that I tend to make it my business to not notice or judge. I have spent enough time on the other end and don't ever want to put someone else in that same position.

Mine is about 3 inches to the right of center about 2 inches below the bottom rib. I have the Realize band so it is a lower profile port. The NP said that it was very easy to find and access when I went for a fill 2 weeks ago.

Congratulations, that's awesome. I'm planning my first 5K on April 16th. Depending upon how it goes I may do a few this summer.

That has to make you feel good. I was at the gym the other day and had to keep pulling my shorts up while running on the treadmill. These same shorts were a bit tight just a few months back.

I had the same issue post op for the first day or two. I realized that I use stomach muscles to push and that didn't work out so well. Pushing just shut it down. What I figured out was if I sat down it was lots easier and I could just go. No pushing required. Couple days later and I was back to peeing like a man.

Andy Dufresne... weren't you and Red hanging out on some beach in Costa Rica not too long ago? Oh well.. Never mind. Anyway, congratulations on your surgery and welcome. It's great you are doing well. Wish you the best.

I take one Flintstones chewable and 2 calcium chews. Maybe I am strange but I like the Flintstones vitamins. My blood work indicated I am low on B1 so I need to find another supplement and add that as well.

I was also surprised at the overwhelming support of my PCP when I first mentioned getting banded. I had a lot of anxiety before my appointment thinking that I would be talked out of it or told it wasn't a good idea. I'm not sure why I thought that but it was quite the opposite response. The response was immediately positive and he wrote up a referral right away. After just 2 weeks pre-op followed by 4 weeks post op the surgeon already suggested that I should contact my PCP to discuss getting off the blood pressure meds. My snoring has stopped altogether and I expect I will kicking the CPAP to the curb before too long. That's going to be great. Hopefully when I get my next labs in march my cholesterol will be much better and I can cut down or eliminate on those meds too. So far at least this seems like the greatest decision I made made for my health. Good Luck Bob.

Hi Bob and chillin' You may have noticed that there are not a lot of men on here. My guess is maybe 10% are men. Definitely do not let that discourage you. As of tomorrow I will be 4 weeks post op and I feel great. I feel like this was the best thing I could do for myself and my family. If there is anything specific that you want to know please ask. I still have 2 weeks before my first fill so I am pretty new at this and am just learning too but I am happy to share my experiences up until this point. Good Luck with you decision.

Hi Lunita, I have a very similar situation as you. My BMI was about 38.5 but I have has high blood pressure, high cholesterol, GERD, NASH (fatty liver disease) and sleep apnea and have been on medication for all of these to help control them somewhat. I am 41 with 2 daughters in elementary school and I want nothing more than to be healthy so I can enjoy activities with my family and live to see them grow up. I had a very difficult time with the insurance company and it took almost one year to get approval after several appeal denials primarily due to my BMI going below 35 at one point in June of 2008. (I was one pound below 35BMI). In any case I am 4 weeks post op and I feel better than I have in years. I think you have done a great thing for yourself and family. A healthy, happy Mom being there and sharing life with her children is a very unselfish gift to give to the family. Good Luck to you. Keep up the good work.

That's awesome Chris !! I never made it too a 44 but I would never admit to myself I was more than a 38. Of course the only 38's that ever fit were the ones with the elastic waist that stretched an extra 3+inches and even they were tight. I am now in the REAL 38 waists and pretty happy about that. I haven't been in a 30 since I was in high school. I was thinking if I ever got to a 34 even I would be doing back flips. Keep up the great progress Chris.

Good Luck Zeniada. I hope the interview went well. I'm sure you looked great!!

My wife just pointed out to me this evening that I seem to get the hiccups a lot in that past few weeks since being banded. I guess I sort of noticed but didn't think too much of it. I did notice that while I eat WAY less I still tend to eat fast. Maybe I just need to concentrate on slowing down.

Congratulations!! Keep up the great work Amber. I am 4 weeks out today as well and I feel great so far. Its strange that I am eating so much less but have so much more energy. I just went to get a cup of coffee at the coffee shop at work. It is only my 2nd cup since mid December. The girl who works at the coffee shop asked if I had been losing weight and said it was very noticeable. I said "Yes, Thanks You" and walked away with the biggest smile. Its a good way to start the day. Be sure to keep us updated on your progress. Good stories like yours kept me motivated for the year I battled for insurance approval and continues to almost a month post-band. I'm sure it does the same for so many others throughout their journeys as well.

Hi Prin, I was banded 2 days before you. So far it has been pretty easy for me as well thankfully. Best of Luck to you going forward.

As others said, the most important thing is to get in your protein shakes. At least 60 grams a day. This should help a great deal with the hunger. If you don't get enough protein you will be sure to get hungry and struggle a lot more. Broth didn't really do much for me. If I was still hungry I was told to have an extra shake. After a few weeks your Dr will likely have you transition to getting your protein from food sources and cut back and eventually stop the shakes. Good Luck and congratulations on getting banded.