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Congratulations on getting banded and feeling great! I hope I'm as lucky as you! I'm getting banded on December 30th and I'm slightly freaking out!! I know this is what I want, but I'm just a little worried about the whole thing. I'm doing the pre-op liquid diet right now. They said I can have Jello, slim fast shakes/protein shakes, and if i need it, a small chicken breast in the evening. WHat did you do for your liquid diet? They said I cant have red or orange jello which is the only flavors I like! Did you eat any of the sugar free Jello puddings? What was surgery like? Do you have 5 incisions?

Straight after my op I was offered yoghurt which surprised me as all the paper work they gave me said clear liquid. My doc told me to try and stay with the clear liquids as along as I could but if I really need to, I could have slimfat as it contains the right amount of vitamins. I lost 3st following the slim fast diet long before my op but I liked my food too much to continue, but now I have slimfast a lot mainly after a fill.

I am being banded on March 12th:clap2: and we are going to the beach with my in-laws on March 16th.Problem is I am not telling them I am getting banded.They are all skinny:huytsao Can I have slimfast this soon after surgery and just tell them I am doing the "slimfast" diet.Any suggestions??? By the way......I LOVE this board!!!

Hi everyone! I'm new just found out a couple of hours ago that I'm approved and have a date of 20 Dec. My approval came in 3 short days... and I only decided to have lap-band about 1 month ago so I'm on the fast track already! After I received the call this a.m. I had to go to the bathroom at work and have a little cry spell. I'm not an emotional person but it hit me all at once -- several different emotions! I happy to join the December group.... looking forward to this journey!

Hi Julie. You have received some great support and advice and my experience was the same. I think I felt the sadness pre-op because my surgery happened so fast and post-op, I lost the taste for a number of old favourites. It does return though - your desire for the things you like - but you may also find that your tastes really have changed. For me, I don't like coffee or sweets any longer and those were staples for years for me. Your body will get back into the groove before you know it. I am five months out and I am pretty much back to my 'normal' but I eat very healthy as this is what I gravitate towards. I kept a food diary for about 4 months until I knew for sure I was getting my daily requirements and I am confident where I am now. Rest assured things will get better!

That's some fantastic NSV! You're doing great and I know you're looking and feeling great too. Funny how fast the boobs go, ain't it?:cry_smile:

Probably, 8 oz of Fluid taken in how fast? Thought we should still be in the sipping stage and if you were sipping then it is the natural sugar in the apple juice. I would stick with anything sugar free until you are further along in your weight lose.

So, my fellow lap-banders who have thought about or do triathlons - what are your goals? My A race is the FL HIM in May. I'll be 20 months from band to 70.3 miles, and I cannot wait. I may not be fast, but I won't quit!! :thumbup: For those of you wondering if you can...stop wondering and start moving...it can be done!! Small steps first though. Walk a mile, jog a mile, run a mile, then it is all just numbers. :thumbup:

Oh, my goodness, this is hard. I had my surgery on October 29th, and it has been slow-going ever since. Not slow in the fact that I have been losing weight, just slow in the fact that it's taking me a long time t recover. I don't know why I didn't expect this to be hard and painful. It is major surgery, after all. It's November 4th now, and I'm finally starting to get around and moving, but I get tired so easily and get nauseous pretty fast. My doctor put me on Phenergan for nausea, but that just knocks me out and takes away whatever little bit of energy I had! The pain is finally subsiding and it's mostly just a nagging pinch now, but my back muscles ache something terrible. Initially, I did not want to eat anything. Now, my waves of hunger are so strong, I can't tell if I'm hungry or nauseous or both. I'm still on a liquid diet for 2 more days. So far, all I have eaten since my surgery is a cup of soup, a popsicle, a small frosty from Wendy's, and a small side of mashed potatoes from KFC (I cheated, but I was so hungry!). I think about what I am going to eat when my stomach goes back to normal. I can't seem to stop thinking about food. I hope once I can eat some more normal foods, and am not so hungry, my focus will be elsewhere and not on tempting things I should not be eating. I have lost 22 lbs since October 16th. That's 19 days. I feel good about this and want the weight loss to continue. I figure if I can lose 2 lbs a week until next year, I will be down 100 lbs. Even if I only lose 1 lb a week, I'll be 50 lbs lighter than right now. But there are so many foods out there that look delicious that I can no longer have! What I really crave is Chino Bandidos, my favorite restaurant. I figure once, before my band fill, I will go there. Just once. I know this may be a recipe for disaster, but it is what I have been craving. I willnot eat a whole plate of food. Just half, maybe not even that. If I plan it, and work my dieting and exercise around it, I think I could splurge just once. We'll see...I know it's not the best decision, but if I don't give in once in a great while, I feel I may be setting myself up for failure. I may just reach a point where I eat everything I want whenever I want and will lose all self control. That's exactly what I don't want to happen. Oh well....this is also coming from someone who has not eaten a real meal in a week's time and is food crazy. I can see the weight coming off in my face and in my arms. So far, so good. I want to be at 230 lbs by Christmas. I am at 253 right now. I have seven weeks, so that seems about right. All I know is that the airplane seats better feel more roomy this time when I go home. Last time, I could barely get them to buckle. I was so embarrassed. I don't ever want that to happen again. Anyways, that's all I have for now. Have a great night, everyone!

Well Dr. Weiner has his patients take 10,000 of biotin. The reason prenatal vitamins work well is the extra folic acid (to prevent spina bifida and other things in the baby) - but it works on the mother's hair and nails. I always had good nails when pregnant. I have thin hair, but it grows fast. I take an extra folic acid, started 5000 biotin 6 months ago, and see new hairs near my hairline. It is not a lion's mane but it is improving. Now what happens with surgery for me - time will tell, I am crossing my fingers.

I am an administrative assistant. Lots of sitting at a computer, but some walking. I took off 2 weeks and then worked about 1/2 time for the next week. Then it was full steam ahead. I had laproscopic surgery and a nearly perfect recovery or I don't know if I could have come back that fast. pam

Hi Indysleever; Ah - the what if's before surgery. I was a self payer for VSG surgery here in US and paid a boatload of $$$$$ for this. Had the same concerns as you...what if this doesn;t work for me...because of all the diets before, all of the efforts, nothing ever worked. Was determined, like you, to follow surgeons diet to the letter. Guess what? Sleeve worked. I was at goal in 5 months. I never dreamed this big and yet here I am - below my surgeons goal, below my goal and feeling great, healthy and looking so much better than before. Today I weight just 5 lbs more than I did in college as a freshman and I weigh less than when I got married. Now saying this, ALWAYS is a big big word. No absolutes in this world of VSG surgery but for most of us on this site VSG has worked. Some are fast losers others are slower losers. No matter which you are - VSG works as long as you work it. No regrets.

omg i am so hungry! lol and i cant stop peeing lol . all this water did everyone else have to do a 2 week pre op diet of flavored water and slim fast. this is probably the worst part. i cleaned out the fridge and gave all the food to my neighbor so i wouldnt be tempted. pray for me i will need it.

Thanks for your suggestions and for sharing your personal experiences. I think it's a combination of everything you all said. I ate too fast, maybe too much, and I am definitley nervous about the next eating stage. I need to continue working on my anxiety issues. Thanks and many blessings to all!

It does come off fast at first! Be glad! You've earned the loss! BUT don't be horrified and depressed if it slows down for you once you're back on "food". That time after the pre-op and "liquid" phases and when you have restriction, your weight loss may slow or even stop; you may even gain some back. IF that happens, don't despair...the band is a process. Until you get restriction your band is wide open and you will probably be able to eat as you did pre banding. It's ok when that happens. AND it may not happen for you; some are fortunate to have restriction from the start. Either way, enjoy your 35 pound loss! :tongue2:

I have a feeling like my liquids are going down an hour glass. I take some sips and then it seems to "get stuck" then frees up. I have asked the nurse about it and they don't seem to give me any response. My sleeve was done 11/30 and from my pre-op weight I am down 22 lbs in just 2 weeks. I am scared that I am losing too fast! I can't wait to get some real foods in me as my stomach growls all the time!! Just can't seem to get enough liquids in during the day though.

I just happened to find this site accidentally and I find it very informative and encouraging so I decided to tell my story on it too. I am currently 27, married for 2 years and have no children. I am a pediatric intensive care nurse at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. My weight problem started in high school my junior year. I just slowly started gaining weight, not really realizing what was happening until it was too late. It just got worse in college with all the stress. I graduated college in 2006 weighing 285 and planned to wed in december. I went on a very restrictive diet and lost 50 lbs before my wedding and shortly after gained it all back plus some. I have tried everything, weigh watchers, slim fast, various pills, ect. Nothing really worked. So I decided I needed more help and looked into bariatric surgery. After many months of waiting I now have 11 days before the "turning point" in my life. I am very excited and scared at the same time. I know I have to do something now if I want to have a fun and healthy life. Although I love food, nothing taste as good as being thin feels.

I just happened to find this site accidentally and I find it very informative and encouraging so I decided to tell my story on it too. I am currently 27, married for 2 years and have no children. I am a pediatric intensive care nurse at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. My weight problem started in high school my junior year. I just slowly started gaining weight, not really realizing what was happening until it was too late. It just got worse in college with all the stress. I graduated college in 2006 weighing 285 and planned to wed in december. I went on a very restrictive diet and lost 50 lbs before my wedding and shortly after gained it all back plus some. I have tried everything, weigh watchers, slim fast, various pills, ect. Nothing really worked. So I decided I needed more help and looked into bariatric surgery. After many months of waiting I now have 11 days before the "turning point" in my life. I am very excited and scared at the same time. I know I have to do something now if I want to have a fun and healthy life. Although I love food, nothing taste as good as being thin feels.

Sandi! Thank you for the reply. You are truly amazing, and I cannot wait to join bandedliving and get "started". What I have read and seen so far, you and Gloria have phenomenal stories and experience to share with others! I read some of your blog and I too am at the point where I eat either too much or too fast and my band 'rears its ugly head'. I have contacted a bariatric hospital/surgeon in the city where we are currently (my husband and I travel with our jobs) and am scheduling my 3rd fill with them (it was due the middle of August). I feel that will help me a lot along the way at this point! I have already saved bandedliving to my favorites and I will be visiting it each day and following you! Thank you again! Denise

I eat a lot of salad...usually with tuna, chicken or some kind of protein added. For snacks I eat nuts or string cheese or laughing cow. Dinner it ranges. Ground beef or turkey stuff in zucchini boats...meatballs...fish...chicken pretty much anything in the meat family. I use sauces to make it wet and easier to digest. No shakes anymore I have them for a fast breakfast etc but I try to get my protein from food. I'm the same also a good 4 bites and I'm full. I keep track of my protein and calories with my fitness pal. I have it set to 1000 and usually don't hit it. Hope that helps!

I'm 28 weeks post-op today and have lost 103.5 lbs. And let me second what others have said - WALK. I started pre-op on my treadmill and changed to walking in a park near my home after my surgery. I started with about 15-20 minutes and worked my way up from there. I bought a pedometer and have been walking 3+ miles a day (about 45 - 55 minutes) for several months now. Absolutely no question in my mind that it has increased my total weight loss and shortened the time it would have taken to lose the same weight if I had not been walking. I walk a minimum of four days a week, more if "life" allows. My record so far is sixteen days straight. It is perhaps important to note that I walk "quickly". I don't saunter. The information they gave me pre-op said if you're not working up a sweat you're not getting the benefit you could. I do not jog or run but I do walk at a fast pace. It's a great way to help you with your Water intake (you're thirsty after your walk) and exercise of any kind is a great appetite suppresant. Could not recommend it more highly!!

it sure means that for me. Hiccups=stop! :drool: And the burping means I need to stop for a bit, assess, and then if I keep eating, proceed with caution. It's hard to learn all these "new" cues, but one cause of hiccups even in unbanded people is eating too much and/or too fast... We're configured differently internally so most of us burp more, but especially now that I'm so far out, if I burp while I'm eating it is a sign of DANGER DANGER! Anytime I've disregarded a burp and plowed on without checking my chewing etc, I've regretted it.

Down 32lbs...and I am happy. I felt like I was moving too fast from liquids to food. But I did all the steps and had no problem transitioning to the next food. So it is good. I go back in a month, and we will see what I have lost and then discuss a fill, or not. So glad I did this, No regrets not one. I feel great and am back to my normal schedule. Find I am a little tender when bending right over the port area...but I just adjust so I don't. Hope to come on and read some of your stories to catch up on ya'll. :rolleyes2:

Hi April. I too am 30. Been with my husband 14 years this September and have a 3 year old. I looked into the surgery 6 years ago, didn't like it. Thought about it a few years ago but the thought of not having a baby for over a year after put me off again. Finally last year was all I could take. My dog died last January after being by my side for 14 years. My life was him. Especially the last several years as I am a stay at home mom, an he was sick. So I took care of him as u would a child. His death sent me in a deep depression. I mean I didn't care about anything. I had to force myself to smile or laugh at my daughter. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and possible lupus. I have high blood pressure. The list goes on. I finally decided it was time for this!! My process started oct 2, 2012. I weighed 367lbs. Between then and surgery date which was Jan 14th I lost 38lbs. Since surgery I have lost another 30. I am 5.5weeks out. I regretted my decision my very first night home bc after over a 2 hr drive I was in horrible pain. I have never regretted my decision. I am smaller than I have been since my wedding. Day o surgery was my last blood pressure meds, and after taking lortab for only 3 days after surgery I haven't taken a pain pill since. I was taking 2-4 a day before surgery for horrible pains. Here is my personal key advice: when you read sip sip sip, walk walk walk. Listen!! I was up several hours after surgery and pacing the halls. I came home day after surgery. The next day I was walking a mile... Slow. Don't stop walking! And try to get back to normal as fast as u can. Like don't hide in bed. I was doing dishes and making food for the family. I wasn't lifting or straining. I went shopping and took my daughter to school. I rested for sure and was slower than normal. But force that liquid down! Force it!! Get ur Protein in right from day 2. It helps soooo much. Good luck to you!!!

My name is April. I'm 30 years old, have been married 11 1/2 years and have 5 children. About four years ago I thought about surgery. I started the process. I sat through the seminar, filled out the paperwork, got my pcp referral along with all the necessary blood work and treadmill stress test, had my first surgeon appointment and passed my psych-eval. However, I didn't go through with the surgery. Why? A couple reasons come to mind: 1) the psychiatrist asked me why I was doing this. I was only at 245 and she said I was much smaller than most who do the surgery; 2) I had at that point mainly considered it for the emotional and cosmetic part of the deal. I wanted to be THIN so I could FEEL prettier. So what's changed? Well, today I still consider the cosmetic part but only to a small extent. My primary focus is on health. Every day I have pain in my knees, ankles and back. I have began to have swelling of my legs at times. Palpitations have become daily and chest pain often. I cannot make it up nine stairs to my children's rooms without my heart pounding and being extremely short of air. I get dizzy spells and have had twice in the last nine months (since my youngest was born) that my blood pressure went around 187/114. I should've called 911 but tried to breathe and relax through it, so I am unsure of any possible damage that may have occurred. Yesterday I went from being on (0) meds to my dr putting me on 4 meds including muscle relaxer for back pain, arthritis, Vitamin d prescription, and high blood pressure diuretic meds. On top of that I have recently been told my fasting blood sugar is high though they never said "diabetes", my cholesterol is high,My sleep apnea is getting so bad at times I'm afraid I may not wake up at all, and also it's time for my third colonoscopy as I have had precancerous polyps removed at age 24. I have been obese for around 11 years, since gaining 70 lbs with my first child. My weight stayed pretty steady for about six years until several months ago when it spiked by about 20+lbs. So now I can honestly say I am taking it much more seriously for my health, My kids need me as does my husband. I am very strong in my faith, but (sorry, LORD) am not ready to leave this Earth. Aside from that I have in the past two years made my way through nursing school and have, for the past seven months, worked home health care. I have come across several obese and even just slightly overweight patients and have seen what their lives have become due to their health and limited mobility. I don't want to become that. I want to be able to enjoy life with my family. I want to be able to keep up with my little one, which is truly a taxing effort since he is now on the move all the time. I want to be able to go up the stairs to hang out and play with my older kids: girls 6yrs, 9yrs; boys 11yrs, 13yrs (actually is my nephew I've raised). I want to be able to go outside and play with my kids, I want to have the energy to do these things and more. I want to be a good role model for my children when it comes to health. And YES, I also want to feel confident enough to step in front of the camera at family functions instead of shying away.... So far I have sat through the seminar, had my pcp referral, my first surgeon appt, my sleep study, my dental exam (necessary dental work prior to surgery is already scheduled), blood work completed and other necessary appts (psych-eval, chemical stress test) scheduled. So, what brings me to this web group? I have all the support I could ever ask for in my husband, kids, church and even my boss who is also obese but urges me to consider it carefully before going through it due to the risks (she's an RN). However, none of these people have had gastric bypass. I want to follow your stories and have you follow mine. I am looking forward to being another success story. Thank you for listening and GOD BLESS ...pic to come later...maybe