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That's my date as well. We are getting close 19 more days!

Hi all, I like sharing the story, because I remember having just as many questions when I had this (lapband) done back when my youngest child was 2 (so 8 years ago) I had been at a regular weight (5'5 or so and 130 lbs) - was good for me....until I got preg with my first - and SOMEHOW gained 70 with him (when I was 26) and despite diets, Weight Watchers, boot camps, south beach, no carb, walking, gym memberships - I only lost 30 of it. THEN, 6 years later (at the age of 32, I purposely got pregnant again, gained only 30 this time around, But remember - I was still carrying around the 40 pounds from my first baby(cakes). Anyway, in desperation, I did it. And I felt embarrassed that I had to go that route. But with my new metabolism and having two pregnancies - and after all the regular stuff, gym, walking, boot camp etc. -- it would not leave me and I didn't feel healthy. So, I did get the lapband, and it was a pain in the ass, there were required seminars and prescreening and pretests, liver checks, etc. etc. (but btw, eating healthier, exercise *walking was a huge help*) So, when my daughter was 2-3ish (back then it took forever to get certified, especially if you were too close to the BMI weight, which I was right on the cusp of not being qualified. Back then, it was like you had to gain weight before you qualified for it. When all was said and done, (again about 10 years ago now) I did land at a net weight loss of 70 pounds (from 240ish to 140/150) - but once I stopped having it filled, I did gain about 20. However, it doesn't matter, i'm back to close to pre-pregnancy weight and feel more in control about losing that in a healthy way. I know it's not easy when it's more than 50 pounds to lose. But, I do feel better! I don't really care now the nubmer that I weigh, as long as I feel good and more healthy. I quit getting it filled after after three times- it was very restrictive , even the doctor could see that. So, LONG story short, I was at where I wanted to be and had it completely unfilled, then removed about a month ago - I have not gained any weight!!! That is people's fear, but nope, I am happy to report, I actually lost 7 pounds since it was removed. And I feel much better with it OUT. I, obviously, am not against people who want or need it, but just keep an eye on it. My doctor said (not quoting him direct but in a nutshell he said ----> "10 year shelf life, if that - the statistics are still coming in" - just be careful. One POSITIVE experience from it: because I was restricted from eating for so long (whether band was filled or unfilled), I learned quickly to eat reasonable portions, not binge eat like I did when I was pregnant or whenever (everyone situation is different of to why they over ate)....and with the confidence that came with losing the weight - it did encourage me to PERMANENTLY eat different, healthier, and overall be more conscious of our eating habits and choices. And for those of you with kids, I don't need to repeat that! we want our kids to lead by example. I wish you all the best - I guess I'm leaning any advice for people with hesitations or wondering about self-experiences , and here to say - if you have the band, control the mind set and make it a permanent mindset and keep an eye on it!!! Because eventually you will not need it nor be able to have it. The removal surgery very me sucked badly, it was all wrapped around my intestines. (my doctor quit even doing them 7-8 years ago because of the complications they are seeing now that they have been reported more). But I guess, after everything else I tried and in combination with the rest of effort, it was worth it. if you get into that new "groove" - you won't need it the rest of your life. The important part, I think, is to sustain how your appetite and mind reconfigures itself afterwards. If you have any questions at all - feel free to message me! P.S. - I am not condoning lap band nor against it. I am only sharing my personal experience - just because I know that people need it for whatever reason they choose (health/self-confidence/feel better/not be so hot in the summer/can't lose/new metabolism sucks/never lost that baby weight, , etc., 👨‍⚕️

I am flying out for a holiday in a few weeks and have given snacks a great deal of thought. I can eat only a tiny amount at a meal, just a tiny bit more than a boiled egg. So I need in between meal options. In the UK there are lots of stuff to pack into children's lunch boxes. A lot is rubbish food but some is ok. 10 gm Pepperami sticks, Snacking nuts in 20 gm packs, Tiny packs of Melba toast to eat with a tin of tuna salad, 2 Oat biscuits in a packet with a 32 g pack of soft cheese or peanut butter, 65gm packs of snacking olives and 20 gm packets of mixed seeds are some that are on my tick list

I want to answer this because I want to help you and HUG you. I just don't have your answers because I am afraid to say the wrong thing and make you decide the wrong way. I know what my depression was like - I was alone in a sea of people and had to pretend everything was ok until the dam broke and then 10 years of Citalopram. I still have my bad days but I recognise them and take action. Having the surgery has done nothing for my depression except given me my legs back and that gives me more options to help myself. My surgery was done for every other reason except depression. Speak with a therapist who deals with these issues. Dont listen to people who are filling your head with their fears and jealousy.

Thank u for the information. 10 years ago I lost 110 pounds so I truly know what I have to do about my eating. But you right I gotta take this as a tool and start anew. With a new stomach and losing the weight I need to and eating right and go on the right path. I do truly hope for the best.

What if I can't lose weight before the surgery? To lose 10% of my weight, I need to shed 25 lbs. That's a lot and could take 6 months. Has that happened to anyone?

Thanks for indulging my curiosity. To [hopefully] clarify the conversation, black are my original questions, red are your replies, purple my feedback. Just to ensure everyone is on the same page, Dumping Syndrome is typically related to consuming sugars and/or fats, as has been previously mentioned. Dumping on other foods is exceptionally unusual. How often do you dump? If it's responsible for the majority of your weight loss as you claim then you would be dumping pretty frequently. If it is actually dumping you wouldn't likely be dumping enough to impact weight loss. So I never said I was losing weight because of this. I think I lost weight just from keeping on the proper plan initially. I would say I get sick at almost every meal, regardless of the ingredients, but it's severe with anything carb or sugar-related. Sorry about my misunderstanding. I inadvertently connected two unrelated thoughts. I apologize. The fact you get sick at almost every meal would tell me you aren't generally dumping. It's not to say that you are never dumping, just that it is not generally what is going on. What actual foods cause you to dump? Pretty much everything but it's particularly horrible with carbs, sugar, and greasy/deep-fried foods. Again, "Pretty much everything" would indicate that much/most(?) of what you are experiencing is not dumping. Dumping is in response to specific foods rather than most foods. In what quantities? I don't measure anymore but it doesn't take much. A few bites will do it, or even a small square of something sugary. I understand that you don't measure, neither do I. "A few bites" does answer the question, though. A 1.5" x 1.5" square of fudge or comparable sugar dense candy can easily make me dump. How soon after you eat do your symptoms appear? Within 10-15 minutes. What are the symptoms? It feels like my heart is going to pound out of my chest, feel dizzy, head pressure, brain-fog, and overall sense of anxiety. I also get reactive-hypoglycemia...but not true hypoglycemia. My body just responds very poorly to blood sugar drops because they happen so fast, but rarely have I been in hypo numbers. These comments add I think what are the more important pieces of information. If this were dumping, you could simply reduce the sugars or fats that might be causing distress. But when it's almost everything, frequently, then it doesn't sound like just or even mostly dumping, if it's dumping at all. If you are, in fact, over consuming sugars and/or fats over frequently then your initial steps would be clear: stop doing that and see if this fixes your issue(s) in short order. If you've tried yet continue over consuming sugars and/or fats frequently and unable to stop yourself then were I in your shoes I'd get myself to a therapist post haste. [ETA: I have not gotten the impression you are out of control in this way. Quite the contrary.] This is not a diet or nutrition issue in my opinion. It's not that you're not working to eat the correct foods, it's that eating any foods too often cause physical distress. Were this me, I would have long ago become a squeaky wheel. I would be camping in my surgeon's or PCP's offices until I got a resolution, or at least significant progress, in fixing whatever is going on. I would not be put off. Bottom line: Get your medical team to work helping you. Be your own advocate. Good luck, Tek

Hi there, thanks for responding. Here are answers: How often do you dump? If it's responsible for the majority of your weight loss as you claim then you would be dumping pretty frequently. If it is actually dumping you wouldn't likely be dumping enough to impact weight loss. So I never said I was losing weight because of this. I think I lost weight just from keeping on the proper plan initially. I would say I get sick at almost every meal, regardless of the ingredients, but it's severe with anything carb or sugar-related. What actual foods cause you to dump? Pretty much everything but it's particularly horrible with carbs, sugar, and greasy/deep-fried foods. In what quantities? I don't measure anymore but it doesn't take much. A few bites will do it, or even a small square of something sugary. How soon after you eat do your symptoms appear? Within 10-15 minutes. What are the symptoms? It feels like my heart is going to pound out of my chest, feel dizzy, head pressure, brain-fog, and overall sense of anxiety. I also get reactive-hypoglycemia...but not true hypoglycemia. My body just responds very poorly to blood sugar drops because they happen so fast, but rarely have I been in hypo numbers.

June 13th is my surgery. It’s been hard doing the pre op diet but I’m doing it. One meal a day and the other two meals are a shake. I can also have 2 snacks. My main issue is chewing very slow. That is hard to do. 10 more days to go. I was reading that someone is doing the liquid diet? What is that about?

Im new on this app. Im 47 years old and have gained a lot of weight. I had tried soooo many diets and every week was always the beginning of a new diet. I tried so hard to get myself mentally focused on dieting but it was so hard and hard to get the motivation to do it. So about 3 weeks I was at 290 the biggest I have ever been in my life. I had already seen the a doctor about doing surgery. Which I feel like it was my last solution. But TBH I feel like I’m also taking the easy way out. Does anyone feel like that???? Anyhow so two weeks ago I started my pre op. And it’s been so hard just having one meal a day and the other two meals are replaced by a shake. I also get two snacks but It’ sucks. Surgery is June 13th. My insurance approved my surgery too. Which is the great part of it all. I been approved. As I been counting down my days I’m getting more nervous about surgery and I now been losing weight I’m down today at 276. Doctor wants me to be at 270 so I got 10 days to go. I don’t want to mess anything up for surgery but I’m hungry and I been reading some of these posting about afterwards. Some seem scary. But I do hope for the best. Anyone doing surgery this month? How is your pre op going?

Heya everyone! I'm scheduled for surgery June 26th! Seems so close now, especially considering I began the process in February...of 2021. My daughter is my main motivation for getting the surgery. She is 10 and non-verbal autistic. She'll likely never be able to live independently, so I want to make sure I do everything I can to take care of her as long as possible. I mean, being able to shop in the regular women's section, and fit on rollercoaster and airplane seats will also be nice. But my little girl is my world, and it breaks my heart to think that someday I'll die, and she might not understand what happened, or where I've gone... so I'm doing all I can to make sure that day is a long, long time away. This is an older picture of her, but one of my favorites, because it really shows her personality. Such a happy kid.

I find that if I don't eat to restriction, I am so hungry in 30 minutes-1 hour. It's not particularly comfortable, and there's a fine line between feeling too full and wanting to puke, but I don't know how else to eat enough to stay "full" more than 10-20 minutes.

My surgeon takes 25-30 minutes to complete the procedure. You are likely under sedation for 10-15 minutes longer.

I’m doing everything my surgeon’s practice told me to, AND I’m being nice to me. 😊 I have a post about ‘that’ in the June surgery topic. Yesterday I was online shopping and I bought a gorgeous $$$sweater for me that hopefully will fit by the holidays. It was marked down from its prohibitive cost so I grabbed it in the only size they had. It’s a size 10 and I think that in 6 months, if not sooner, I’ll be able to wear it. And gorgeous black velvet ballet slippers. I bought skin care products (which are my weakness). At home and at school, if anyone around me starts to sound contentious with another person, I leave immediately. I don’t want to be around the stress or tension. My husband is ALWAYS talking about food and what he has prepared for dinner. He may not do that around me. He knows that he does this and he understands why he can’t do it now. I am truly being somewhat introspective, selfish and self-protective. My husband is always that way to me…very protective. I am never that way to myself, but I am being that way now. With the two of us being that way about me, I’m doing my best to be calm, positive, and focused. Trust me, if I lose my 💩, it’s not going to be pretty. 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣 Good luck with your surgery.😊

This is what has worked for me: I look back on the past 10 years when I began to pack on the pounds with menopause and yo-yo dieting. 10 lbs a year for 10 years = 100 lbs. 😡 As I became increasingly frustrated with my weight loss attempts, I indulged in forbidden foods more and more. I am continuing to come to terms with food I won’t eat again by: (1) Reminding myself that I consumed more than my fair share of food during my 10 year food free for all; (2) Taking steps to return to my former perspective of controlling what I put in my mouth as THAT was always where I found my control; (3) Literally taking it one second at a time when I am feeling overwhelming like I MUST eat something; (4) Becoming adept at (3) makes me take pause and make mental note of my food triggers; (5) Remind myself that I can taste a fork/tiny spoonful/bite of pretty much anything in a few months, but I know me, and I think I won’t; (6) Sugar-free ice pops have been a godsend. The above-mentioned works for me. I think it helped me to assess and identify my weak spots and go from there. It will be different for everyone.

Awww, thats sweet. Actually i tied my own record of 13 days i set back in 2019 after i had plastics. Constipation has been a pretty regular issue for me since getting WLS (prior to that i used to go 2-3 times a DAY…yes, i know TMI lol). Couple that with my historical issue of not being able to go Number 2 anywhere but my own toilet at home, it was kinda expected. 🙄 In any case, my colon is clear again, thanks to 2 rounds of suppositories, and implementing the trusty pregnancy/labour breathing techniques during the deed!!! 😂😂😂😂😂

You still have to take Vitamins with sleeve, sorry but I disagree with that statement, I barely took my vitamins directly post op because they made me sick etc and haven't taken any at all since about the 4 month mark, now at 10 months post op my bloods come back fine. I also had gerd before the op and now it has improved dramatically still on 20mg on nexium though. Everyone is different though. I totally agree talk to your surgeon and get a second opinion as Liz has suggested

How exciting! I start my pre-op tomorrow! I agree about wanting to jump off the table and be right back to what you were doing before. I had a lap chole. when I was 19. I was out grocery shopping the same night and want to be doing that this time too. I had a baby in 2019 and rushed them to discharge me, so I could get my other kid to her volleyball practice. I'm not one for sitting around and being taken care of. All of your other fears are valid. I'm a chronic weigher (multiple times a day). I'm thinking of avoiding my home scale, but I have access to scales everywhere. Even eating tuna at lunch today I wondered how I was ever going to get used to eating without drinking or having to wait 30 minutes. I've have a slow gut like even with my gallbladder gone, it's 3-5 days between BM's. I've done some other diets that were very low in calories but had decent fiber and still needed a laxative weekly to have a BM. I work in the medical field as well, and I 100% have said that I'll go to a competing practice/surgery center before I was treated at my own just because I don't want any of them to see A) my charted weight and B ) my derriere. All in all, I think it would be strange not to be worried about some of the nuances this is going to change. Best of luck with your surgery tomorrow!

I had my band removed, hernia repair and the sleeve done on 5/19. So far so good. Just now adding in a few mushy foods. I am only down 10 lbs so far since surgery day - but am keeping at it. I had minimal nausea or pain. The hardest part for me has been feeling weak and feeling like my head and body aren't in sync.

I am 6ft tall. My surgeon's team did NOT give me a "goal" weight they only made sure my expectations on how much weight I would loose (based on averages) were within reason. Years ago I lost a bunch of weight and was 245 and looked fantastic! Size 10/12 pants, large shirts.( I will have to find an old pic) According to medical charts 6ft woman should weigh 140-177lbs. I am sorry if I offend anyone but that is disgustingly skinny. My brother is 6'2" and weighs about 190 and looks sick and starved. I could never imagine myself under 200, although I would like to see 199 just to say I saw "100's" as an adult. My ultimate long term goal is to maintain 200-225lbs.

Hi, I'm 5'11 (close to 6') MY team gave me a weight that is not accurate. Even one of the providers said that her previous patient was given the exact same number as goal weight (214). When I plugged in my info into the same tracker she should have been using, it said like 190lbs. I have previously weighed and maintained 160lbs for 10 years - and for me, that is my goal weight. I like 160lbs.

I just came back from a two-week overseas vacation. I decided not to track calories because I had no idea what was in food and I wanted to try different things, like a bite of this or that that my family was eating. I ate way too many sweets, but I also noticed that because I was not "tracking to eat" (usually I serve myself a portion then add it into the tracker and finish it), I was focusing on my hunger (that's not to say I wasn't eating too much, because I was. I ended up gaining about 2 lbs over the two weeks, which is a LOT less than before surgery, when I might gain 10 lbs on a two week overseas vacation. I found that I enjoyed focusing on my hunger cues, and I am thinking about not counting calories, but I have read so much about how tracking calories is the best predictor of success in weight loss and maintenance. I am wondering if I can focus on eating healthier foods and honoring my hunger, can I continue to lose weight and then maintain? What have other people found?

Quest chips = 19-20g Protein per bag (140 cal), Clear Premier Protein fruit punch = 20g protein (90 cal), Unjury pre-made Protein Shakes = 20g protein (110 cal). You just have to make sure you’re spacing out your protein enough so your body can actually absorb it all. I try to make sure I have a variety on hand with me - at least 3 per day. I need the variety so as to not get bored with it. Any other protein consumed is just a bonus. A serving of Fage 0% has 18g protein. I have to be intentional with my protein in order to get it in - we all do.

You will feel better soon. you shouldn't be in a lot of pain though have you spoken to your surgeon about it ? Regret is common the early stages I had very intense regret for a few months but it got less and less eventually and now at 10 months out I have no regrets.

Thanks! Yeah it went well but I wasn't feeling it tbh. He luckily didn't offer food or anything but we talked about weight loss because he said he really wants to lose 10 lbs and I can't believe it but I told him I was on a weight loss journey and recently lost a lot of weight. That was the first time ever I've been comfortable enough with MYSELF to talk about that so I'm very happy about that. In the past I would freeze up if a date talked about diet or exercise (even when I was losing weight in the past, I had such a negative relationship to myself and my body) but it made me realize how much I've grown as a person to be able to speak openly about that. I phrased it like yeah I'm on a weight loss journey so I'm very conscious about what I'm eating and drinking right now. Didn't mention surgery but then he was like thats great i want to lose 10 lbs, maybe for our next date we can go on a run together LOL Not sure there will be a next date for me. I did that for experience and to flex my dating muscle a bit. He was very sweet But I'm also moving states so I'm not particularly interested in long term relationships at the moment. He did give me this funny business card at the end. I wonder how it will be in the future though. I don't know why but I almost don't want to tell whoever I date I had gastric bypass until I'm at my goal weight. Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app