Search the Community

I already have started doing the exercises they demonstrated in my class. I'm doing 10 exercises 2x a day. A minute for each. Can't wait until I can do more. I've had 5 back surgeries which makes this more difficult for me, but I'm hanging in there great! ☺

Had a revision surgery done on 10-16-10. Wasn't sure my band could be left in or not. But with great luck I was able to keep it. They did a endoscopy to make sure my stomach tissue was still ok. So now its starting all over again. No fluid in band now, will see maybe in 2 weeks they will put some in. Although can't eat a whole lot now anyway. Question for all banders out there, did any of you suddenly start your monthly cycle after surgery. I am mid cycle and am having a period now. Also anyone having trouble taking oxycodone pain meds? It makes me not able to focus my eyes.

My name is Robin and I recently underwent Lap-Band surgery. I am like 10 days post-op and have been adjusting to reintroducing foods. I decided to do the Lap-Band because I feel it is less invasive and also it is something that you can have removed later, if you choose. I have over the years made several attempts to lose weight and would have temporary success and would soon hit a plateau after losing like 10 lbs., that has been very frustrating, to feel like you are doing all you can to no avail. I needed something that would help control my appetite and I feel that this is a great tool. I have had a very good outlook and felt completely comfortable with this procedure and my Dr. Roy Schwartz, he puts you at complete ease and always check to see if you have any questions or concerns. I discovered this website through Google search engine, and I plan to use it to its full capacity. I found myself searching YouTube trying to find others that have undergone this process, just so I could connect with others that are on this journey and are sharing in their journey. I find myself needing to talk or ask questions to see if what I am experiencing is normal or what to expect ahead. I am looking forward to being able to do things that have been such a limitation for me before and just enjoying life without feeling weighed down.

dr. argotte is my doctor younger seems nice been doing this for 10 yrs does about 150 ayear

Well, not really from the beginning because that would take us back to about 12 years old. I have wanted to have WLS for years and have never been able to afford it. Since starting with my current employer (2/1/10) I learned that our insurance policy will cover it. One of the requirements is to be employed for one year, so here I am a year later starting my journey. I used last year to fulfill my 6 month w/ PCP requirement so that I would be all set on 2/1/11. I am going to keep up with a timeline on this blog and try to track my entire process. I am not announcing it to the world, but I am being honest if someone asks me about surgery. I hope to be able to help others through transparency in my process. I can honestly say that so far, my dietition consult has been the most enlightening and helpful. While we did talk about food and nutrition, she actually did a great job of making me think about some of the emotional pieces of this puzzle. I have come to realize that I am ready to do this for ME. I need to be able to put myself first for a change so that I can be the fit wife/mother that I am in my heart. I have lots of dreams of jogging on the bike trail with my kids, running a 5k, fitting in the swings at the amusement park (not being afraid to take that Disney trip out of fear of not fitting in the seats), having pool parties in my back yard and actually getting IN the pool, etc. My main fears with the surgery revolve around whether or not it will be sucessful and a fear that I won't be able to keep the weight off. I know this is because of the lifetime of yo-yo dieting, but I'm just trying to be honest with myself. I am concerned (not really a fear, but concerned) about not being able to drink with meals and drinking liquids in general. After my surgery consultation, I realized very quickly that I am a "gulper". Never really thought about it before, but am very aware of it now. I know that this is going to be a very difficult transition and I hope that my friends and family will see the work that it takes and realize that it is not the "easy way out". I want this tool for the better chances of long term success. While I am VERY nervous...I am mainly excited and so ready to start seeing results. I'm hopeful that with a 3/28 surgery date that I will see some good "summer" results. Bring on swimsuit season. Weight Tracker: 290 - Highest Weight (before 6 month PCP visits) Size 24 270 - Current weight before surgery (BMI of 43.6) Size 20/22 Timeline: 2/1/10 - Clock ticking on one year employment requirement 6/1/10 - 12/1/10 - 6 monthly visits w/ PCP to document non-surgical weight loss 2/1/11 - One year employment anniversary 2/14/11 - Consult with Surgeon 2/19/11 - Psych Consult 2/22/11 - Dietition Consult 2/23/11 - Pre-Certification Packet submitted to insurance w/ scheduled date of 3/28/11

The other rule is no drinking with meals. There are lots of post on that topic. Drinking at least 10 minutes before meals and you'll feel full faster. If you eat with your meal., you will wash your food out of your stomach and experience hunger shortly thereafter.. then you'll eat more, there by adding calories and eventually stop your weight loss and even go to weight gain. Many surgeons and NUTS give varying advice bot most are consistent with following a high protein and low carb way of eating for life. Low sugar often relates to low junk food, sweets, desserts which of course will add to weight gain. Protein helps weight loss ( I forget why but I'm pretty sure it helps ). There are usually reasons for the guidelines. ONce you reach your goal weight you eating lifestyle will be what works for you. Be sure its still a healthy way of eating or you will gain weight and that is not a sleeve myth.. that is a sleeve fact. Good Luck with your journey.

I'm sure this information is on this site somewhere, but I'm not able to find it and I'm too tired to look anymore. I need to hit the hay! Please forgive me if I'm 're-asking' a common question. Ok-what is the deal with band size? My doctor said he is using a size 10 band- what does that mean? Is that common? How can I cross-check whether that is an appropriate size for me? Also, as we live in Malaysia- this might be a metric listing, if it's in reference to the circumference size. My current BMI is 36. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sorry to be an idiot. :help:

Hello Hopetbthinrn: I had surgery the same day and I am finding I am happily on the road to recovery. I have 2 children ages 14 and 11. I try to join my family at the table (when there is room) for the connection and sip what I am having. Soon I will be eating with them and want them not to notice too much change. I wanted to cook my favourite food 2 days after surgery, spaghetti meat sauce, just to smell it. I had 10 peeps around for dinner that night, and they loved it. My sister had gastric by pass 5 years ago and she came by the next day and had a small bowl of the sauce. That provided me with great hope. So I won't have the Pasta and garlic bread, but I have the best part, the sauce and people to share laughs and conversation with. Today is day 4 and I look forward to feeling even better tomorrow, and having a Protein shake. You will find your groove. Congratulations on having a great husband, they make all the difference. Kim

Everything went extremely well. Was only at the hospital until about 12:30pm. Surgery was at 7:00am. Went for my weeks ck up and lost 6.5#. First fill will be on the 5/18. Did I do well. Please help me out. I am starting to want to eat more.

I'm still hiking for the search and rescue party. I've walked (hiked) at least 30 miles since Wednesday. I've gained 4 lbs!!! I'm eating food with carbs in it but goodness, shouldn't it burn off with all of the hiking? Really frustrated, sore and tired. The feels like temp is -10. Please pray we find our person. It's been 8 days

I know I seen this posted before but I am 10 days out and I am not starting to feel hungry I had the bypass I am only on the second stage. I also have no fullness I just try not to over do it is this normal and will it change when I get on pureed food HW 413 SW 383 CW 370 Sent from my HTC6525LVW using the BariatricPal App

Ayay, This is NOT a diet. This is a lifestyle change. I don't know how far post-op you are, but I'm guessing you're in the 3-5 weeks category. If so, search here for the 3 week stall. Almost everyone goes through that stall and finds that the scale is standing still for a bit. Take your measurements now, so you have something to refer to later, pay attention to how your clothes are fitting as well. Are they looser? If you did take pre-op measurements, are you losing inches? I lost my first pants size during my 3 week stall. I put them on, zipped them up, and they fell to the ground! I'm not following any diet except: 70grams of Protein and 64 oz of Water per day. I don't track calories, carbs, or anything else. I have started adding in more "good" carbs because I've upped my exercise routine, but that's about the only time I worry about carbs. Stalls will happen, but they happen because your body needs the time to adjust to the changes. I shape-shifted in the last few months, losing a good bit of mass in my hips and thighs and developing muscle definition in my arms, tummy and thighs. In that same three months, I lost 10 pounds. Now my weight loss has started up again, but I imagine that I'll go through another shift in a month or so. The best advice I can offer you is this: Don't let the scale run your life. Weigh less often and concentrate on your protein and water goals. The weight will take care of itself. Add in some exercise, even if it's 5 minutes on the treadmill or exercise bike. Once it's part of your routine, you'll miss exercise when you don't do it. Good luck!

I slept in my recliner the first 10 days, I could not lay down without pain during that time.

I was sleeved on December 10, 2012, and I just returned from a 5 day business trip to China during the last week of February 2013. I scheduled my surgery in December hoping that I would be well enough to travel, and I am happy to report that everything went just fine. Here are couple of points that may help future travelers: - Overall, my recovery from the surgery has been trouble free, and I feel that I could have easily made this trip at the end of January. - I was a little nervous about carrying all of my Vitamins and meds (Multivitamin capsules, D3 gels, Biotin, Calcium chews, and Prilosec) through security, but no one even asked about them. - I did not bring any Protein powder, but I did eat 3 or 4 Quest Protein Bars during the trip. - I had no problems getting enough to eat. Most mornings I had an omelet in the hotel for Breakfast, and I had chicken and vegetables for lunch and dinner. I avoided some of the more exotic food choices, but I did try Yak meat for the first time. - All of my colleagues know that I have the sleeve, so they were generally supportive of any special needs such as eating half of a Protein Bar for a mid-afternoon snack. - I did not use this suggestion, but I read in an earlier post that some travelers sent Protein Powder and other food to their hotel by FedEx so that they would not have to carry it through airport security. - I thought that I was over eating during the trip and promised myself that I would get back to my normal eating practices as soon as I got back home. However, I was surprised when I found out that I lost 5 pounds in 5 days. - For exercise during the trip, I walked on a treadmill in the hotel everyday for at least 45 minutes. Good luck to all.

When I had decided on surgery, I was fairly set on the sleeve. But as I thought more about why I was actually going through this (for the best "tool" to carry me through a lifetime of better health), and after having met one-on-one with the dietician before surgery, I ultimately decided for me RNY bypass was the best way to go. Plus for many, MANY years I had dealt with GERD, and supposedly the bypass is a better option in the hopes of helping with that (which I feel it definately has helped). I'm now 10 weeks after having my bypass, and while it is definately an adjustment, I'm not at all regretting my decision. Good luck, it really has to be a personal decision, but focus on what you really want to get from it and you'll come to what works best for you! Sent from my SM-G928V using the BariatricPal App

Time of the month, Sweets....it makes a lot of us put on and hold on to Water weight before our cycles, and during, sometimes, too. I can easily gain 3 lbs the week before, then my body flushes it all the week I have my period. I agree 100% that there is physically no possible way to gain 10 lbs of FAT in one week after this surgery. I am guessing a moody, picky scale, water weight, and like rootman said, solid waste retention, maybe, too....or all combined! I'll bet you'll be on here in a week saying that 10 is gone, plus two more!!

I lost almost 40 on my own pre-op diet from April 5 to surgery day, July 17. About 10 of that was on the required 3-day pre-op diet.

From what I understand from my nutritionist, people react differently to Meridia. Has to do with brain chemistry. A woman at my office lost tons of weight using it. When I had my fill removed b/c of slipped band and started gaining weight, I tried it and it didn't do a thing. But, it's worth a shot. It's expensive ($100+ for 30-day supply) and my insurance didn't cover it. I am VERY glad it works for you because you're flying solo, if I recall correctly. (I haven't posted in awhile b/c I'm too busy eating everything in sight while I'm un-filled! Missed ya'll.) Elizabeth 8-28-03 -60 w/three fills unfilled 6-04 due to slippage +20 re-positioning 3/10/05 A second chance!

Just had my third fill and I finally am feeling some restriction with 5 cc's in a 10 cc band.But what I'm wondering is what's an average weightloss per month for someone at a good level of restriction? Also is it better to"go for it" and get filled as quickly & as often as you can? or is it better to ride it out slowly & carefully,even if the weightloss is slower?? Hope this posts make's sense!!:tongue_smilie:I'm trying decide if I want more of a fill next time or if I should ride it out??

OMG- I just read your post and I have been feeling quite blue, I had surgery 01/07/08 and have lost 10lbs only to find it all back again, I eat around the band. I initially exercised then gave up and wanted the band to do all the work. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I feel awful and my clothes fit terrible, it is almost as if I have not even had surgery at all. my girlfriend has invited me on an early morning hike tomorrow and I am going NO MATTER WHAT. thank you for your post as it has given me the inspiration that I need. i copied your quote at the bottom, it is great and really hit home with me.

Wow girl! You are an exercise fool. I thought I was until reading this. It sounds like you are very determined to get the weight off. Good for you. I go to the gym 4 days per week and ride my bicycle most nights after work and on my days off of work. I ride anywhere from 10-30 miles, just depends on how much time I have. You go girl:thumbup:

oh darn it I wished I had seen this before I ordered. I could have saved 10 instead of the 5% I did. Oh well maybe next year as I just ordered for the next 2 months. So glad you opened the store and I know I will be a steady customer. Thanks for the tips on Halloween as I have a party to go to in about 2 1/2 hours and will use some of these to stay away from the foods.

Happy Halloween from BariatricPal!#subject#> body,div,dl,dt,dd,ul,ol,li,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6,pre,form,fieldset,input,textarea,p,blockquote,th,td { margin:0; padding:0; } table { border-collapse:collapse; border-spacing:0; } fieldset,img { border:0; } address,caption,cite,code,dfn,th,var { font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; } caption,th { text-align:left; } h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { font-size:100%; font-weight:normal; } q:before,q:after { content:''; } abbr,acronym { border:0; } address{ display: inline; } html, body { background-color: #d8dde8; color: #5a5a5a; } body { font: normal 13px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; position: relative; } h3, strong { font-weight: bold; } em { font-style: italic; } img, .input_check, .input_radio { vertical-align: middle; } legend { display: none; } table { width: 100%; } td { padding: 3px; } a { color: #225985; text-decoration: none; } a:hover { color: #328586; } div.outer { margin: 0 auto; padding: 14px; } table.wrap { max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; } td.logo { background-color: #0f3854; padding: 8px; } td.content { background-color: #fff; font-size: 14px !important; color: black !important; line-height: 150% !important; padding: 8px; } ul { margin-left: 25px; } Hey BariatricPal Members! Happy Halloween! It’s a fun time and the beginning of the holiday season. We’re celebrating a lot here at BariatricPal, and we’re super excited to share it with you! Here’s what’s in this newsletter. The BariatricPal Store: Grand Opening! Your Ready for the Holidays? Thanks for your support and for making it possible for BariatricPal continue to grow. There’s no way we could do it without you. Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Grand Opening of The BariatricPal Store! We are so excited to announce the grand opening of The BariatricPal Store! We know, The BariatricPal Store doesn’t fit into a Halloween newsletter because it’s anything but spooky, but we just can’t stop talking about it! That’s why we’re offering 10% off all orders with coupon code SPOOKY10 just for you! Your Source for Bariatric Protein, Meals, Snacks, and supplements Weight loss surgery changes everything, especially your diet. You need to get enough protein without too many calories; eat a nutritious diet while keeping portions in check; and get your Vitamins and minerals without fail. It can be overwhelming and time-consuming…unless you have help. The BariatricPal Store can give you the help you need. We have the protein supplements, meals, snacks, and vitamins to help you lose weight and get healthy. Protein bars, shakes, and powders. Low-calorie, high-protein snacks, Entrees and breakfasts. Bariatric vitamins and Fiber supplements. Make Weight Loss Shopping Easy We know you need the top products, and they need to be healthy, nutritionist-approved, and convenient. We have all that! We also have: Tons of BariatricPal brand products. Product packages so you can pick up a bundle at once for a discounted price. meal plans for the pre-op and post-op diets, plus maintenance and back-on-track diets, so you can easily pick up the foods you need to stay on track. Sampler packs of different items so you can try different varieties to see which you like best. Other Reasons to Shop The BariatricPal Store We truly believe we’re number one. Here are just a few more reasons why. Subscribe and Save options on every product so you can get automatic re-delivery, 5% discounts, and free shipping on each order. Lowest prices – guaranteed. Free shipping on orders over $69. Save money with sales and discounts plus our Refer-A-Friend program. For help, you can look at the FAQs, give us a call at 855 WLS-BPAL (855 957-725), or use our live chat with a customer service specialist during business hours. Visit store.bariatricpal.com often to see current specials, and check out our blog for updates on promotions and new products. We can’t wait to take this next step in helping you reach your weight loss and health goals! Your Healthy Halloween Plan Halloween is about costumes, haunted houses, and scares. Unfortunately, some of the “scares” are the ones that show up on the scale if you eat too many Halloween treats, or the “scares” that come from feeling sick from too much sugar. You don’t have to experience the bad scares this Halloween, though. The trick? Plan ahead! Here are a few things to think about as Halloween approaches. Trick-Or-Treating Almost everyone is affected by trick-or-treating. If you have kids, you’ll probably find one or several big bags of Halloween candy showing up at your home when they come back from trick-or-treating. Your best defense here is to have a healthy dinner before taking them out. Then, focus on anything other than candy – you might fix your children’s costumes, be the flashlight holder, or designate yourself as the neighborhood crossing guard to keep kids safe. If you don’t have children, you may be the one handing out candy to the neighborhood children, which probably means buying a bunch of candy to give out. If that’s the case, you’re best off choosing candy that you don’t like that much, so you’re less tempted to eat it. Again, have a healthy dinner, and focus on other things besides candy for the evening. You might work on answering the door in a scary way, or taking photos of the cute costumes you see to share with the kids’ parents tomorrow. The Aftermath No matter what happens on your weight loss surgery journey, there’s always tomorrow. After Halloween, “tomorrow” is November 1. Take inventory. See what’s in your home that shouldn’t be there. Get rid of the extra candy. If you must keep some candy in your house because of your kids, make sure it’s not tempting you. You can always ask them to hide it away in their rooms. You can also make a game out of it: have them label each piece so they and you will both know if you “steal” some. Go for a walk. There’s nothing like a walk to clear your head and get you ready to go back to healthy eating patterns. Halloween’s scary, but it shouldn’t be scary because of the weight gain. It should be scary because of the fun things you get to do. With a little planning, that’s exactly how your Halloween can be. Healthy Halloween Tips Did you know there are tons of fun things you can do to get into the Halloween spirit without touching a piece of candy? Here are a few ideas! Go for a Walk It’s true…walking is really quite a good answer to most questions. How to burn off a few extra calories before Halloween? Go for a walk. How to enjoy the Halloween decorations in your neighborhood? Go for a walk. How to let your kids show off their Halloween costumes to all the neighbors? Go for a walk. Get the point? Get moving! Volunteer That’s right. You may think that volunteering is just asking for trouble, since you may be faced with a lot of candy. In truth, it’s a chance to be surrounded by the Halloween spirit while being so busy you don’t have time to grab a treat. Volunteering at a local school, homeless shelter, or retirement home can be the perfect way to immerse yourself in Halloween. Help decorate for a party, serve treats, clean up afterwards, or help make costumes. You’ll be appreciated, and you’ll get to be a part of the holiday in a way that’s healthy for your body and soul. Make Healthy Treats It’s true…treats make Halloween so much better. But you can do better than chocolate, candy corn, and decorated Cookies and cupcakes. Here are a few ideas. Greek yogurt popsicles: Use a little sweetener and keep them white for ghosts, or add some pumpkin and cinnamon and shape them into pumpkin shapes. Then you can decorate them like jack-o-lanterns! Jack-o-lantern orange protein cups: hollow out oranges to leave the peel mostly intact. You can “carve” a face in the peel shell to make it look like a jack-o-lantern, and fill it with cottage cheese or fruit. Greek yogurt “eyes:” freeze circular spoonfuls of Greek yogurt with blueberries for eyes. A happy, safe, and healthy Halloween however you choose to Celebrate it. Don’t forget to come talk about yours on the boards at BariatricPal! See you there!

Hey all. I am in the process of getting the lap band surgery. I starting everything on 12/10/09 with the seminar, saw the surgeon 12/17/09. I have to do an upper GI scan and an x-ray on 1/4. I do the psych eval and the nutrition counseling on 1/6. Aetna won't cover it unless I do a 3 month program, so I am hoping it will be approved in March to do the surgery in April. I am 28 years old and have been obese/overweight my whole life. Thank you genes. lol. I have teetered back and forth about doing the surgery and am finally doing it. I have gained a significant amount of weight in the last 2 years, now being 255. I am definitely not happy with myself about that. It's time for a change. I am glad I found this site. It seems to have a lot of great information. :biggrin:

Breakfast - Coffee/cream lunch - 3 whole wheat crakers with soft cheese and turkey salad spread on them. dinner - 3 bites of roast, small small bites - then was bad - 4 or maybe 6 girl scout cookies - then I threw the rest away. Exercise - None, DH had surgery and had to take care of him Wt - 192.8