danide

It looks like you are doing wonderfully! :tongue2: 10 pounds in 1 or 2 months is awesome! Remember, even though we want it gone fast 1-2 lbs per week is normal and healthy... Keep in mind, this is not a diet, its a lifestyle! (I just started the process but I could imagine it getting annoying if you focus just on bland food) Add stuff to your food. Don't be too afraid! What do you think is missing? Add spices to your foods. With onion, garlic, salt, pepper lemon or lime wine Cream sauces- with skim milk. salsa ginger pickles hot/sweet peppers easy ideas- frozen meals (lean cuizine/smart ones has some tastey low calorie stuff); subway sandwiches (veggie delight with pickles); turkey and low fat/fat free cheese rolled up with lettuce; tuna with mustard and pickles (lol I love pickles can you tell-gives it tons of flavor); egg whites with salsa... I was told by my doctor that I pretty much can eat other foods then just low calorie after my full food phase BUT its all about portion control and moderation. So if I decide to have a higher calorie meal, I will just be sure to compensate with exercise or watch the other meals... and just have a smaller portion of it. I would think that if you look at this as a strict diet, you will give up. But look at it as a lifestyle and allow yourself to have other foods as a TREAT once in a while, then you will feel more satisfied. Be good all week then allow yourself one or two meals/snacks on the weekend that you normally wouldn't have, as a reward... But remember moderation and portion. Sorry it was so long! Good Luck!:thumbup:

GOOOOOO Morning everyone! Oh I am in such a good mood this morning even though I have been up since 6:03 am for no other reason then when I don't have to work, my body wants to be awake. :tongue2: I am tired though but GOOD news on my end.... Last night was the FIRST night that I was able to sleep in my own bed, for the whole night! I have been so uncomfortable with my back, that it was easier to sleep on the recliner chair. I almost did transfer to the chair again but I readjusted my pillows and was able to survive with out tooo much discomfort! :thumbup: I can't wait to sleep on my stomach again!!! I have been feeling port pain more the last 2 days. I guess the muscle (whatever muscle I might have) is trying to heal around it maybe. I had the single inscision so my port is under my belly button and a little to the right. I had to take Tylenol when I woke up because of it but thats okay... (I hate medications so I only take then when absoloutely necessary). Oh and though its not official till I go to the doctor and start a full food diet- as of this morning- I am 6 pounds down from surgery; 14 pounds down since pre-pre diet! YAY Anyhoo... about the influence about the children- I don't have kids yet but I have thought about this topic and discussed it with my boyfriend as far as our future... I initally thought it was the "easy road" and maybe a bad influence for children but then in thinking more about it... I struggled all my life with my weight, this surgery is not easy, its just a helpful tool. With the surgery I would then be able to teach my children a healthy lifestyle so they DONT become obese like me. I will be able to now teach portion control and healthy choices. Before it would be, sure mommy can eat 3 bowls of pasta and 4 meatballs... well, what kind of influence is that? Now I can teach to eat until you are full and walk away; make healthy food choices- sure you can have pasta but have the healthy lean protien first; snacks- its okay to have a snack/dessert- a portion of it, not a half gallon of ice cream or half the cake. I will be able to Practice what I Preach.. not just do as I say, not as I do! Point is- this will be helpful to your children as far as healthy living as well as being around for them, to see them grow up and even to watch their children grow up! You will be able to be more active with them, be more involved. The children will be proud!

Just wanted to say hello as a post-op bander! I was banded on Tuesday so Im still in the healing phase. Its been a little rough but every day gets a little easier! Regardless of how I feel now, I am so glad that its done! I can't wait to be healed and back to normal life! :thumbup:

OMG I get hiccups every so often too... Ohhhyyyyyyy yeah not fun at all. I almost have to brace myself when I feel it coming. :smile: Thanks everyone!

bandednellie- Ohhh so glad to hear about your post op stuff. Im so glad you are doing well. I am only 3 days post op and every day seems to be a little better. I cant wait till all this gas pain is gone. And ohhh I cant wait to be able to sleep normally and back on my stomach! Butterfly- congrats and welcome. I am so glad to hear that you are doing so well. Good luck to those getting done today! Woo hoo! Question for those now banded.. When did you finally go to the bathroom-bathroom? And Is it just me or is it impossible to drink the recommended amounts of post op stuff? Today is the first day that I had mor then a few sips of anything. I had about 4 oz of protien drink and 2 teaspoons of pudding. My diet recommends 8 oz of drink 5 times per day...

Hi everyone! Im back from the dead... lol I hope everyone is doing well! :thumbup: Surgery went smoothly on Tuesday; single incision done and the hiatal hernia repaired... I stayed over night at the hosptial and got home yesterday afternoon. Major gas pain yesterday and last night, mostly in my upper back area, but today seems to be a lot better but still not feeling too great. I slept like crap since the surgery due to discomfort but I have been taking naps here and there often. As far as the liquid diet thing, I am barely able to sip anything. I have a horrible taste in my mouth, still probably from the previous medications and I just feel like ICK. I have no desire to eat or drink but I do force myself to take a couple sips here and there. I am able to walk around pretty well, just sore here and there. I personally try to avoid pain medication as much as possible. One thing that really hurts like a bitch is hicups- I get one every so often and because of the hernia repair... uhhhh it is not a good feeling.:thumbup: OMG can I just tell you that my anesthisologist (sp sorry) was super beautiful! When I met him before the whole process... OMG I was in awe... he was HOT! LMAO. So Im laying there half naked and trying to be serious about him taking about the procedure process on his end.. then my mother is sitting behind him making comments and faces about how good looking he was. I kept laughing and I think he thought I was crazy. But yeah... Dr. McHottie! LOL. It made my surgery process a little smoother! :ohmy: Okay well for those still waiting to get done! Its gonna be here real soon! Im so glad this is finally done! :thumbup:

I love that show! Can't wait to lose with them this season! :thumbup:

Okay 7th ers! Tomorrow is our big day! Good luck for all of us! Is it odd that I am not nervous at all? I have no concerns, no anxiety, no fear.... Maybe that will all kick in when I am trying to sleep LoL... (Thoughts and feelings usually like to come to me in the middle of the night and keep me up from 2 am to 5 am... go figure. ) My mother keeps checking in on me... Shes VERY nervous and anxious for me. Its pretty comical. And I guess because I minimize everything, my boyfriend seems to be unphased. I really just want it to be done already! :thumbup: Well, I will be back on here to check in as soon as I can! :w00t: Everyone else, stay wonderful! (though I don't always comment of everything/everyone, I do read everything written here!)

SUGGESTION- As of October 1, when we are ALL banded. We should start a new thread for our post-op journey. Skill keep the name September 2010 but no more Looking for.... What do you all think. Start a fresh thread? Have a happy weekend everyone! For those newly banded, heal fast and well! :biggrin: See you on Monday!

Oh My... you went through hell! :scared2: Im sorry you had that experience but I am certainly glad that you are doing better now! :biggrin: Thanks for letting us know! 1. How long after surgery will you be on liquids? 2. How long will you be on mushies? 3. At what week can you move to regular food? My answers: 1- 2 weeks 2- 2 weeks 3- 5th week I can eat regular

A blessing? A miracle? OMG you won't believe this, I still can't... So I get called at 930 am from the hospital telling me that if I need to bring money to the main hosptial and more more to administration building in a whole other area by 2:30pm today or I can't get the surgery on Tuesday (since everyone is closed for Labor Day). So I get the checks by 11:30am, run to the one place (15 miles away) then to the other place (22 miles away in the opposite direction)... OKAY- I get home at 1:30 this afternoon after all is said and done.... OKAY- at 1:45 pm I get a phone call from the surgeons office.... 6 minutes before the financial lady gets a phone call from my insurance company... OKAY- They are APPROVING me for my entire surgery! :thumbup:OMFG... are you SERIOUS. I literally screamed. So apparently my doctor sent ANOTHER form for a second appeal... And it was APPROVED! HOLY CRAP. After all this poop I have been going through emotionally, after the running around today, after PAYING today, 1 HOUR before the office was closing until Tuesday--- I get approved! I am SOOOOOOOO thankful! I don't know how it happened but it did! So she told me that a family member can pick up the check during my surgery one Tuesday for the one check. I had to call the administrative/finance people- they were able to verify that its approved too- they said they will mail me the check back.... And then I had to call another department about my refund for the pre-surgery cost- they said they will mail me back a refund check! OMG How CRAZY is that. Thank you dear God! :biggrin: WOW I don't even know what to say! What a relief! :scared2: Ohh and then 25 minutes later I get called again- I have to be at the hosptial on Tuesday by 5:45 am!!!!!! Thank you for the support people! I <3 You all! Brian- maybe you will receive a blessing too!

Thank you for this post! I am getting my surgery on Tuesday (9/7) and this has been so inspiring! :wub: Like some of you said- some people will have regrets probably because they didn't work the band right- probably ate the same as they did pre-op that got them fat to begin with and didn't get anything positive from the band but most people are thrilled with the band. If you work it, it will work! I think a lot has to do with your mental changes too... your mentality needs to change with the lifestyle, with the body, etc. I am mentally prepared- finally- it took a while! :wub: If I tried to do this 2 years ago, I don't think I would be successful but NOW I am emtionally and mentally prepared for what I need to do! Even though it would be nice to have been thin in my 20's... But thats okay- I recently turned 30 and its a new life/ new me baby! :thumbup: Again, thanks for the post and thank you everyone for the information! :tt1: Best of everything to everyone!

I have not gotten my surgery yet (9/7) so I don't know how much I can add to this but... are you exercising? That will really help a lot (even with out the band)- even just a few trips up and down the stairs, jog in place for 10 minutes, lift a chair up and down several times, do leg lifts or squats while on the phone- point is just add some extra activity here and there. and if you ARE exercising- maybe check out some fitness websites to get some tips to boost yourself again. Sometimes (so I was told), if you do the same routines- your body levels out and its not challenged anymore and hits a plato (sp?) so change up your routine a little or add weight training to your routine- I hear that helps... (like many fat people who have been there done that a thousand times- I could be a personal trainer and nutrionist if I was just able to maintain myself :thumbup: and keep it off ). As far as snacks- I think thats going to be my tough spot too! are you eating Snacks because you are hungry or you are just bored and want to munch? if you are hungry- add more protien to your diet. but if its just to munch.. you need to find things that are low calorie or at least very low fat. some ideas maybe- low fat frozen yogart (turkey hill has awesome flavors just make sure you check the fat percent cause some are still pretty high but most are very very low and some are zero), fat free pretzels (or will those get stuck?), fat free string cheese, frozen grapes, italian ice (at least you have to work to eat it so it takes longer to eat), fat-free pudding packs, fat free yogart, as previously mentioned 100 calorie pack things (but I cant just have one lol), sugar free lollipops, baby carrots (even if you add fat free dressing), apples slices (they now sell pre-packed snack packs of apples and carrots). Hope some of those are helpful!

i can't really give advice as far as hands on experience since i am not a smoker but something to consider is... well if it comes down to either smoking or wls, which is more important to you. wls can save your life by preventing co-morbidities realated to fat; smoking does nothing but destroy your health and ultimately your life- including others around you. i know that smoking is an addiction and extremely difficult to stop but you have to fight the urge if the wls is what is most important. some tips to use toward quitting (i worked in an addiction treatment center for some time so these really can help) -patches/gum; smokeless electronic cigarettes to held cut back; chew on gum; brush teeth or rinse with mouth wash every time you want to smoke; rub a pencil or marble between your fingers to keep your fingers busy or flip a penny around over and over between fingers; keep busy to not think about it; write or draw or color to keep your hands busy as well as keep mind occupied; talk to a friend/family member; spend more time around children since you should not be smoking around them; count to 100 forwards and backwards till the urge goes away. cut back on the cigarettes- ex- if you smoke 1 cigarette per hour, try to go two hours before having another one. also break the cycle- if you smoke after you eat; brush teeth/rinse/walk around right after. while drinking coffee- sip water between coffee sips. while on the phone- use the pencil thing or doodle. I wish you luck with that. I know its gonna be difficult but you CAN do it!

Pooky- glad to see your pretty well considering all that you went through! Thanks for letting us know how you are doing! :wub: Scarred- welcome and woowww we are date twins (along with a few more of us)! Just think- 4 more days! Welcome newbies! Good luck dear September Sweeties on tomorrows surgeries! :tt1: So yeah I just need to vent please, you don't have to read it, I just need to get it off my chest some how ... okay... now that I am 4 days away and I am super excited... I am thinking... am I crazy for doing this? I mean, I know I need it and I know I will be successful with it but... as I mentioned before, my insurance was denied- even with an appeal... and well $16,000 is a lot of money. Its gonna take me like 3 or 4 years to pay back. If I didn't have other bills that would be fine, I'd pay it back in like 8 months... but thats just not the case... Uggghhhh g-damn insurance. WTFoo. Why can't they consider that this is beneficial for prevention of poor health and early death.... they just wanna see that Ive been too fat for too long... sorry I couldn't be a fat ass long enough for you stupid jerk heads. (yeah im trying to watch my language for all who may be reading) Uhhhhh I know this is something I have to do but now that is coming closer its just pressing on me. I re-think my budget every day and its like Im becoming compulsive about it. :wub: I guess at this point I just hope that there are no complications and they send me home that same day so then maybe I can save a couple thousand. :thumbup: But this is my life, my health, my future, my happiness. I really gotta keep that in mind. That stuff is priceless right...... GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Okay Im okay now.... Thanks:lol:

Okay newly banded peeps- tell us all about it! Hope you're all doing great! Good luck to all those today! Okay is anyone else going through this---- since not eating real food- I have been have WEIRD dreams, every single night since Saturday night- when I started it. I haven't been having bad dreams anything, just very odd. And yes I really do believe its the lack of real food. LOL My body must be detoxing and going through withdrawal! :thumbup:

Good Luck and Congratulations to all you Septermber Firsters! :scared2: Praying for quick and easy recovery! Can't wait to hear about all of your experiences! 1Regin- geese, sorry to hear all that :wink2:. Thats madness! But at least everything is taken care of and you are healthy again! This time there will be no problems and you will get your "shrinky dink" (yeah Im stealing that kick name :huh2:, thanks Kydman)! okay I kinda cheated today... :biggrin: Not horribly... I had a small slice of my dads home-made pizza. (the slices are half the size of a pizzeria pizza slice)... I saw it in the fridge and I was starving so I took a piece. (I was still hungry after it so I had a cup of jello too). It can't be too bad though, definitally not more then 200 calories and very little fat (the way he makes it). So I am trying to forgive myself cause it really wasn't bad and the rest of the day I think I had like 600 calories and about 5% of the "daily fat" so again it wasn't so bad... But why did I have to give in? Even with that small bit I am kicking myself a lot. Yes I did enjoy that little bit so at least it wasn't a total waste... But wwwhhhhyyyyy? :drool: :thumbup: I keep telling myself that its okay and tomorrow is a new day.... hmmm....

Good Luck today Drivera! Congratulations!

Woo hoo! Congratulations and Good Luck! It is a bit sad but it will be sooo worth it in the long run! Just think.. This time next week we will be in the operating room! :biggrin::thumbup: I started my pre-op on Saturday (3 days sooner then I was recommened) and its pretty good for the most part but yeah, its sad when I see commercials that have some tastey stuff! I saw pizza, fried chicken and tacos... Okay all 3 that are my favs. Uhhh what a killer. But I survived and told my boyfriend that in 6 weeks from now I want pizza. So he said okay, it will be my first official meal... but then he asked what are we gonna order - just 1 small pie since Ill only be eating 1 small slice probably. How exciting. hahaa Im sure we'll still have to get a large since the guy can literally eat a large pie at one sitting on his own (i've seen it and hes skinny--- uhhhh i hate that).

I am thinking that you can go as long as you take it easy. You can't do any heavy lifting, jumping or bending. You may be in some pain but I doubt that it will be unbareable by then.. liquid Tylenol should do the trick. But keep in mind, you won't be able to eat solid food or drink beer (well I guess you can but its probably a good idea NOT to!) Can you go to a tailgate party with out eating the unhealthy foods thats usually involved? Can you avoid jumping around? If yes, then you will probably be fine. But you will have to be the judge of that after the surgery... you may not feel ready to do that type of event, but then again, you may! I'd say, take it as it comes. Plan to go but leave room for an escape plan.

Hi EVERYONE and Happy Monday (if mondays are ever happy!) :cool: So much to read after 3 days (yeah never really on the computer from Friday night-Monday or Tuesday). I hope everyone is good! Cathy- so glad you are doing well! I think its okay to be a couch potato for a few more days! :thumbup: Welcome all the newbies! I love that our family keeps growing! :smile2: Rebecca- OMG those recepies sound awesome! I will def. try some of them! YUMMM. Congrats to all those newly approved and or got dates! :smile: Most of us have been told by our surgeons that it there is a 1 week "pre-op diet" which mostly consists of low fat/low cal protien drinks, fat free yogart, fat free frozen yogart, sugar free jello, sugar free/fat free pudding and low sodium/low cal/low fat soup. Some people have different diets which are just low fat. The pursose of this diet is to "shrink" the liver which means that its easier to perform the surgery. The surgeon has to lift the liver to get to the stomach. The smaller the liver, the less it weighs, the easier to lift with the tiny tools to do the surgery! Not all people on this site have been given a pre-op diet but I think its a good idea anyway in order to better succeed and prepare yourself for the new lifestyle and eating changes that will occurr with the surgery. PS- my pre-op has been good since saturday-- it was difficult tonight when my dad made an awesome dinner... the aroma filled the whole house! it smelt soooo good but I survived.. while they ate that, I ate my soup! :cursing:

wintobethin- Thats horrible. How can they be so jealous? Family is supposed to be supportive. Uhhh Sorry to hear that! Some people really just suck! :sad: Day- thats really sad that your fiance isn't super supportive. He should be encouraging you to be the best you can be.. Its not the easy way out cause its still a lifestyle change, still need to watch what you eat and still need to exercise, it just makes the process more successful and long term, rather then the usual lose 10 gain 15 lose 25 gain 40. But yeah, lots of people probably have that idea as its easy... Screw them all I say! Take care of yourself how you feel would be best!

So sorry to hear that. That really does suck but try to stay positive. At least your mom can help you! Im sure he'll be on the phone with you as much as possible and sending all his support and love your way! jlr58- Congratulations! Thats awesome! Not too long now! PS- Im having a "fat" day... how ironic is that... Uhhh I can't wait to have fat days when I am less fat. LOL

I think that most people have an unrealistic self image. Like you, most of us were "thinner" at some point and thought we were fat then. Now, at least for me, I have a better sense of myself and where I know I would be happy physically. Being a size 20 (tight 20 but 22 is too big) now, I can appreciate a size 16, 14, 12, and 10. Because I have gotten this big and to my breaking point, I recognize where I went wrong, why I went wrong and have changed my mental image a little. I was truelly happy when I was a size 14/16 but society made me feel it wasn't good enough but now this is about ME, not society. And mentally (before looking at mirrors, reflection, clothing size and photos), I feel like I am smaller so now its time to live and be where I envision myself. We ALL need to start changing our mentally and make it fit to the physical changes we will have. Make a list and start really digging deep inside yourself.... 1-Where do you realistically believe you will be happy. 2- what is your ultimate goal 3- what weight would you accept (we all cant be 140 lbs and a size 5 realistically, so where would you be comfortable). 4-Why do you really want to lose weight (is it for you, is it for society, is it for someone else) 5-What lifestyle changes do you think will occur (cause there will be tons) 6- How will those changes fit into your current world 7-How will you prepare yourself to handle feelings/emotions/situations that will make you want to just eat and eat and eat (we need to have alternatives now) 8-Who can we truelly rely on to help us through all the changes, challenges, progess and set backs? I have read stories of some people on this site that did not handle the new them very well. I would like all of us to succeed and have beautiful lives and the only way to do that is to be mentally prepared, be honest with yourself and be realistic (sure I'd love to be a size 5 but realistically, my body will probably do best at nothing below 10- due to past experience and body type). And make sure this is for yourself... Of course you want to be better for your family, for your spouse, for society but ultimately, we will not succeed unless this is for ourself and about ourselves. Everything else is just a bonus. I want this for my health, for my life, for my future, for my happiness... Time for me to be selfish! (sorry I was on my soap box!)

I think thats amazing that you are adopting from foster care. I am a Clinical Social Worker and worked in the foster care setting for about 2 years (now Im doing individual and group psychotherapy) so I can tell you hands on, you are doing such a wonderful thing. God Bless you for having the courage and love to do so. Of course there is nothing like biological children I guess (i don't have any yet) but these adopted children will instantly become your children. You will love them as your own. There are other circumstances that you will have to face with adopted children, then with bio-children-due to their history and backgrounds but with paitience, love and understanding, you will do great! How old are the kids and how many are you adopting? Has these particular children been with you at all as foster children? Good luck with the home study, Im sure it will be just fine. As far as being banded around the same time, other then the emotional stress, I think that you and the children will be just fine! How exciting! I know you are stressed and a bit overwhelmed with everything, but just think, soon you will have a new you, your own family and probably great recognition at work for all the extra things you have been doing! Hang in there! For me personally, I don't feel like things around me are going crazy but mentally I am. I guess I just have a lot of expectations for myself and nervous at the same time. I mean, I only have 11 more days (not counting today or the actual surgery day).