anon

Hi Helen! Welcome to Lapbandtalk! congratulations on taking the bull by the horns and deciding to do something permanent about your weight. I have to say that on here you will find a real mixture of guys and gals.... some have told everyone, some have told nobody, and quite a few like me who have told people on a need to know basis only! I'm 12 weeks post op this week and have lost 3 stones so far... I started off around the same weight as you too. You may find that your fertility improves once you've lost weight too. (although, I don't know what your particular problem is, so I couldn't comment on your specific case!) Good luck on your banding journey.... As for the op, I have to say I woke up feeling just as welll as I went down! I looked at my plasters (yes, I did say plasters... small plasters at that!) on my belly and had to poke them to make sure that they'd actually cut me!!) I had a bit of windy pain the following day, but that was it! The op is very straight forward, you'll wonder what you were panicking about afterwards.... promise! Keep us up to date! feel free to write here!

At 6 weeks out I had the same feelings as you regarding restriction, this was because I was, like you, satisfied with 600-900 calories a day.... at the end of week 7 it disappeared and I was as hungry as I was pre op! So I booke my fill to help me along the way.... only has a smallish fill it's been variable with really good restriction some days and none at all on other days. Previously I've lost 125lbs on my own with no band. Unfortunately it all came back and then some more! I could suffer and follow the same Very low calorie diet I did and lose the weight again, but this way, it's no hardship, I'm not hungry (most days) and I eat what I fancy, in small quantities and I've lost 16.5kg so far... ( my starting BMI was 43 so I expect slower weightloss than your spectacular 39lb!) It's still early days for both of us and maybe when we're further down the line we'll have different opinions/thoughts on fills and how to use our newly fitted 'tool'!

The only reason I ask is because it was mentioned that many surgeons offer liposuction to flanks (the sides where your waist curves in) at the time of a TT which apparently help to give a better defined waist. This will be important to me as even when I lost all my weight 2 years ago, I still had no waist (I'm such an apple!) So I wondered if your piccies showed the results of that.... but no, you have a great waist already!!!

Awwww, BrandyChick, :girl_hug:sorry that the scales aren't moving in the right direction, maybe you could eat a bit more for a couple of days, to try and fool your body into speeding up your metabolism.... as you've been eating so little for a while it may be protesting a bit. The other alternative is to just ride out the plateau.... easy in theory,much more difficult in reality, but sooner or later you body will have to give up some of the fat to keep you going, it's just protesting at the moment and holding on to everything that you give it! In the end it's about keeping you mind strong, your body will have NO choice but to follow! Well yesterday was OK food wise 7/6/07 I only have to add 40g of 72% cocoa chocolate and small handful of almonds! Todays Plan; B; Cambridge pack L; IDS New Whey Protein 42g shot D; poached salmon, baked sweet potato, posh mushy peas I might have another Cambridge pack later as I feel I'm eating too many nuts lately!

I am told that the longer you can wear the corset the better the end result will be! ( my friend is a nurse) I'm sure that your leaky bit will heal up quickly! Did you have any liposuction in the end?

Tomorrow is chest, back, shoulders and arms at the gym at 6.45am sharp for a real good early morning blast! I do have a gym ball at home, it's decorating the top of the wardrobe currently! food for today June7th 07 B; cambridge shake L; IDS New Whey Protein 42g shot dinner Italian tuna balls from the Good Food magazine, well almost I've improvised somewhat, as usual, I see recipes and a vague nod in the direction I need to go!! Can you tell that I was bored with my meals and needed fresh inspiration

I hear what you're saying about the exercise on a swollen ankle... I'm suffering again today, so I'm wearing my support and NOT doing any cardio until it settles down (I know that I need to rest it in order to let it heal... it's just that I've gotten so much out of my programme in the last 6 weeks I don't want to go backwards! Well, I've figured out that if I don't eat anything solid until the evening my restriction is still good for the evening.... if I start eating solid stuff for brekkie, I struggle with it then it slackens off and by my evening meal it's completely gone!!! So with this in mind I've been having Meal Replacement for brekkie and a Protein shot for lunch food for 6/6/07 B: Cambridge shake L; IDS New whey Protein shot (42g protein!) D: recipe in this month's Good food magazine, vegetable and chickpea tagine with cous cous Later; small handful of raw unsalted almonds. Feeling positive, but frustrated as I know I can't exercise. (never thought I'd see myself writing that!!)

Ok guys time for me to get back on here posting! I've been having a bit of a tantrum.... the scales moved UP last week! (OMG!) how can that be possible without eating lots of food???? I sprained my ankle at the gym. It's all swollen and hurts quite a bit.... it's made me a bit miserable! No cardio to speak of for a week! Even the dog didn't get her walk! This morning did legs and abs at the gym with ankle strapping, still a bit swollen, but the pain has gone off now! Got on scales and lost my 3lb gain, Plus another 1.5lb!!! Very happy!:clap2: No idea how that happened, I've been eating around 1700 calories a day... about twice as much as usual! Shall I keep eating at that pace or slow it down?

Thanks for the update liz, it's definitely looking good! Looking forward to seeing the pics after all the swelling has gone down! did you lose any of your band scars? (not that I can see them in the piccies!)

Well yesterday I ate loads and loads!! Brekki and snack as already listed. then had roast veg and cheddar panini with frappucino light in Starbucks 4 squares of dark chocolate smeared with peanut butter trukey chilli with rice (small portion) handful almonds 200g fromage frais with choc options mixed in Actually not that bad, but loads more than I've managed over the last few days... no pb's either! today I'm having a frugal day with lots of veg and lean protein.... Plan is B; l/f cottage cheese with pineapple L; roll mop herring with salad d; cod portion with broccoli and cauliflower. No snacking!!! Might not work that way but we'll see!!

I think that my problem is that my restriction is so changeable... Yesterday I found the daytime hard B: Cambridge shake L Cambridge bar Dinner; 50g Salmon with Cranberry compote, rice and stirfry veg (about 3tblspns) Later two bites of son's apple and half a muller light layer yoghurt No pb's! :clap2: I think I just have to learn to go with whatever restriction I have for the day and not stress about how much I'm consuming... I may even stop counting the calories:eek:Not sure yet if I'm ready to let go of that though! disaster struck at the gym yesterday.... twisted my ankle at step aerobics... I've not done it for about 12 months, overslept got to gym minus my ipod, so hung around til the class started..... I kept up no problems :Dbut it was a very complicated routine and I lost myself jumping up and doing straddle lunges and went over on my left ankle.... :cryit's all swollen, but doesn't hurt too much.:rolleyes.. today was arms, back and chest so I was able to do that no problem... if it's still bad tomorrow, then I'll have to do my cardio in the pool, not sure how that will work, as I don't think I work hard enough when I swim.:guess Today I've had B;40g of Kellogs all bran oat bakes..... they were lovely! :hungry: S; two slices of cold roast lamb... took it slowly chewed well, and stopped before the problems started! I'm learning really I am:clap2: Brandychic; Thanks for pointing out to me just how much I was pb'ing..... until you said it, it hadn't really registered..... i re read my posts and it's true, I'd been there far too much of recent days..... I will make a concerted effort to avoid at all costs!

Hi Jo Ann , I can see why you would think that my fill was anything but small! However it is a Big BAND (midBand) and the usual 1st fill is around 4ml in the UK, so I hope you can see where I'm coming from! Thanks for responding to my thread though, it makes me feel a bit less like a freak!

Well, head was in the mealtime mode.... so dished up chicken, and veg..... pb'd... started again....same again..... gave up, no dinner for me.... I'm not hungry, but I feel utterly utterly cheated!!! If I was on a diet.... I'd be giving up about now! So today I've essentially eaten a cambridge bar, and a oatcake with cottage cheese:mad:, it's not that I'm hungry it's just that i WANT to eat! It's often said that the op is on your stomach not your head... it's so true... i chose my restriction, although it chooses to change all the time! I just need to give up on chicken now, it's come back so many times, I think that it's just not worth the drama! Well, it's 9.45 and I'm going to bed :notagree

Yesterday I had the MIL to the house, she has The trick with drinking I find is to keep a small bottle of water near to me and sip it when it catches my eye... that way I make sure I get through at least 4 a day! HTH no idea I've been banded.... B: cambridge bar L; 1 glass of white wine to loosen band, 2 thin slices of roast lamb, braised red cabbage, 2 small roast potatoes about 4 carrot slices and a mouthful of broccoli and a tablespoon of braised red cabbage...... then pudd! small slice of chocolate raspberry pavlova and a spoon of bread and butter pudding:o:o My saving grace was that before I'd have had a massive slice of pav and a bowlful of bread and butter pudding with custard..... I at nothing else for the rest of the day, so the damage wasn't that bad and I didn't embarrass myself by pb'ing:D although I probably deserved to:o Today has been better:clap2: B: Fresh raspberries off the top of the pavlova (threw the rest in the bin! (how good am I??) then pb'd the lot:o so later had a cambridge bar! Lunch: handful of salad leaves with balsamic vinegar and handful of almonds.... pb'd again Went to bed at 4pm in disgust as nothing solid is/was staying down.... had a herb oatcake with cottage cheese on at 7pm it's stayed down but I feel really full I've got some slow cooked chicken and leftover veg from yesterday..... we'll see how that goes, If I still feel like this I won't bother!

Really sounds like you could do with a fill babes! I've been quite good for my day off day although I've not eaten all the veg I should have as the dog ate it instead (Cowbag, she is!) Off out for my curry now.... quite hungry so I'm looking forward to it.... I never watch what i'm eating on Saturdays, so it's as much as I like, which is usually pitifully little if I'm totally honest, but I don't care because I'm NOT on a diet!!!

I was told in no uncertain terms no fizzy pop ever again... although I could have the odd glass of champagne, if it was a very special occasion!! So I have been experiementing, because, I don't like juices... why drink your calories when you can eat them? And, frankly, flat coca cola makes me want to puke! drinks.... Brandy and peppermint... really nice and good for the windy tummy too! Margaritas.... sweet and sour with the lime juice .... just the thing! Daquiries! Again no fizz so they do down well too I love a black Russian (vodka, coke, tia maria).I've found that it's perfectly drinkable without the Coke!!! If I'm driving I usually opt for Oasis light, or lime juice with tap Water and a spenda sweetner!!! or lime cordial as it's very refreshing. I hope that you find my suggestions helpful, it's what's worked for me so far!

Oh almost forgot.... weigh day was pants!! I only lost half a kg!!! Still it's off not on so I should be grateful!

Glad to hear that your soul is in good shape, and I hope that you enjoyed those fish and chips 'on the wall' Welll yesterday was difficult for me to get anything down foodwise... B; 2/3 pear... stuck so left the rest L; Cambridge diet shake.... thought I should try something nutritious! S; Apple went down ok D; wasn't hungry so had a cambridge bar S; made 'posh' mushy peas for OH and had a couple of spoons of those, but really couldn't face the salmon of sweet potato! Today has been funny.... B; two mouthfuls of vegetable omlette. Left it on the table went out to mess with the washing machine and the dog ate the rest!!! L; 1 piece of toast with melted Gouda slice on top! Was yummy As you may or may not know tonight is.... Yes, you've guessed it! Curry night! Looking forward to it already!

See!I said that posting is good for the soul!!!Yesterday... B: Cambridge diet Snack 1/2 Protein shot Lunch; cottage cheese with pineapple and one rye crispbread Snack nuts and seeds (sml handful) dinner pork chop new potato and green Beans... ate half the chop and pb'd it back.... deserted rest of dinner! Today I missed brekkie, Lunch; 200g cottage cheese with 50g fresh pineapple and 1/2 pear. Dinner will be salmon with a cranberry topping new potatoes and broccoli Well that's the plan, but we'll see!

I too have struggle with my weight for as long as I can remember. 2 years ago I finally lost 7.5 stones and got down to a bmi of 27.4... I was happy.... but as soon as I stopped dieting the weight came back and when i finally went for my op my bmi was 43 again! This time I know that my weight it going to come off and stay off! I'm very happy so far..... it's the best £3000 I've ever spent as far as I'm concerned. I'm only 9 weeks post op and already I'm 2 st and 6lb lighter, which means that I'm just obese now, not morbidly so. I'm confident that I will lose all of my weight with the right restriction. My only regret is that I didn't have this done when I first thought about it in October.... I gained 35 while I saved for the op, and argued with my OH about having it done!

The whole problem is that the op is on our stomach not our brain!!! My head still really wants to eat loads and loads of food.... but I can't! Even my binges are not really worthy of the name anymore! I sit and stare at others plates and I know that I really want to eat all of it.... I just know that it won't go down and stay down, and I' really had pb'ing! So I don't do it although it makes me miserable to watch other people eating piles of food!

Well done Liz! Glad to see you back on the boards and posting.... we will need photos of course.....

:oWell, yesterday was a stressy day.... I found out that I'm redundant.... No prizes or where I found comfort:rolleyes: Yes! you've guessed the bottom of an ice cream tub! Cookies and cream to be precise... got home and No1 son had made Peanut Butter squares (a fantastic mixture of sweetened peanut butter pressed into a tray, covered with chocolate and sliced! Yum! ) so I had one piece of that too:o :grouphug: So yesterday's food diary goes like this! B; chocolate tetra (cambridge diet) S; banana L; the fish out of a fish pie... left the rest and 4 sugar snap peas snack 1 tub of B&J ice cream.... I struggled with it, but it went down! another snack peanut butter square... just one when I would have eaten at least 5 before! Dinner: 1 chicken fajita So all in all I've had maybe 2 portions of fruit and veg....... 35g of Protein maximum........ and soooo much fat!! Total calories 2215!!! :hungry: :faint: It's not too bad I suppose but the ice cream was over 1000 calories on it's own and the fat in it doesn't really bear thinking about! Previously, I would have eaten cheese sandwiches, piles of cakes, all of the peanut butter squares and at least 3 chicken fajitas, the calorie count would have run to at least 5000 calories, so damage limitation has occured! We can't change the past but we can shape the future by our actions in the present.... so today will be a 'clean' day! Funnily enough I don't feel like I want to do it again today! Got up and went to the gym as normal this morning, so I'm just going to put this down to experience and get on with it

Oh Lord I wish I could eat two eggs!! For me last night was tough and today, just as bad! Curry 1 tbspn rice and 3 pieces of chicken... oh managed the poppadom just fine! Sooo wanted to eat more, but didn't want to pb so restrained myself. Today I've had another tough day... Friends for brunch 1/4 slice toast, 1 dessert spn scrambled egg 1 slice black pudding (158 cals for slice!) Wanted to have bacon, tomatoes, sausages toast with butter and marmalade, but my restriction stopped me ( Well that's what it's supposed to do, but it didn't make me feel any better!) Lunch 2 slices canteloupe melon Dinner Mediterranean chicken about 4 pieces with loads of spicy sauce to ease it down! I feel really full, but cheated as I made some lovely piri piri rice to go with and managed about a tspn! All I can say is the scales had better be kind to me next Saturday!! I'm conscious that I've had hardly any fruit or veg, and I probably need to have a cambridge diet meal to ensure vitamins and protein... will try and force one down before bed! I did ask for a fill.....

Well in the end I had a Baked sweet potato with a bit of tuna and sweetcorn and 4 cherry tomatoes.... you wouldn't believe how stuffed I was! Today is 'junk day' But all I've managed is 1 cambridge shake 1 rye cracker 150g cottage cheese small pb, must remember to chew chew chew :-( about 4 cups of coffee.... really unusual for me as I don't have much in the way of coffee, but have had a friend round and she drinks it like it's going out of fashion! Tonight is curry night! Dunno how I'm going to get on with that!