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Dubchild--and it's hard to explain, right? Obviously we choose to have the surgery and took all the steps to follow through with altering our insides in hopes of a road that leads to better health, but there IS a loss. I feel almost crippled. I always knew food had power of me, that I didn't eat right or couldn't eat the right portions of the right foods, but I never looked at is as a true addition, like drugs or alcohol, but holy smokes, it is! I had a lot of visits with the NUT and a diabetic nutritionist over the years, and I had the prerequisite psychological visits, but I almost think I need a 12-step program now to get over this loss! At least I know how to share this feeling with others who are contemplating bariatric surgery. I think all should be prepared for a period of mourning and an understanding of what that mourning period will feel like. I would have still gone through the surgery, but maybe be better prepared for this psychological drain.

Thanks guys. lol, I’m the queen of disorganization myself, but Anna is super kind and I’m always such a big fan of hers. November feel free to chime in with any questions or concerns, we’re more than happy to help out. Research and prep are KEY to success, and as a type A control freak, I definitely understand. Anna, I’m so glad your hair stopped falling out! Honestly I don’t know if mine has stopped, but at least it doesn’t seem to be falling out more. I’ve got a cut and color scheduled for mid-next month for a bday present, and I haven’t had new color since about 2 weeks after surgery. Can’t wait. Girl you’ve GOT to keep drinking that water. So far I’ve avoided the dread UTI, but I think I came close back in July when we took that NOLA trip and I drank about 1500 calories a day in alcohol. Usually I’m uber-hydrated at 80 plus ounces water daily, so it was a radical change. I can’t believe this, but I’m about 7 pounds away from goal and it’s probably going to happen by my 9 month surgiversary. TBH, I knew I’d lose weight from WLS, but never would’ve imagined I’d ever truly hit goal. How many of you guys have an actual plan for maintenance? I’ve discovered that I really kind of don’t have a plan and that’s a bit scary for me.

I have also loved this thread. It has been so supportive and so good to "talk" to folks at the same stages throughout the year. I reached my goal at 7 months and have maintained at about 5 pounds below, which feels good. My clothes fit and I am wrinkly, but not gaunt. I,too, am eating more normally than every before. I still have some restriction, but am finding that I need to watch portion control a bit more now. Being able to eat more at a time, however, is really helpful as I step up my exercise. Surprisingly, I still have a little trouble getting in fluids more than a couple of swallows at a time. It is my goal each day to get in 64 oz minimum, and sometimes it is a real push to do so. I have transitioned to a whole foods plant based (WFPB) eating plan now, and have developed lactose intolerance. In fact, it looks like the whey protein started an allergic reaction in my esophagus. So menu planning has become a bit more challenging with no gluten, no dairy, and no animal products. As far as complications, I developed blood clots in my legs after surgery, even with walking right away. I also got an ulcer at the the GJ junction which is being treated now (in spite of no alcohol, NSAIDS, coffee, soda, or anything else that would predispose to an ulcer.) But would I do it again - YOU BET! My life if so full and active now. My family is have a bit of a time getting used to the "new me," but it is the best decision I have ever made for myself! Year two challenges: I anticipate a lot more "head work" as I dig deeper into emotional eating issues and not wanting to stop eating once I start, especially with evening time munching. As the "honeymoon" period ends, I want to be strong and resilient to temptations, having good tools to fall back on - like IF, longer fasts, and exercise goals. Best wishes for all my Feb buddies. I hope you will all post and let us all know how you are doing and what your new goals are.

Everythinganna: besides drinking alcohol every night and the scrambled egg, we are so similar. No judgement here! I have my post-op visit Wednesday, I’m waiting to see what the doctor tells me about exercise before I begin.

Yes- which is why I stopped beating myself up about not following mine exactly and revising it to fit my needs. How do these surgeons come up with the post op plans? Mine says I can drink alcohol 4 weeks post op; other people have to wait 6-12 months? Some are requiring 80 g of protein beginning immediately after surgery and others are 15 g for the first week? Some people are supposed to start with multivitamins day 1 post op and others wait 1-2 weeks to integrate them? Are these surgeries so radically different that the post op diets need to differ this much? I’m listening to my body and pushing to get max protein but I’m not going to beat myself up if I don’t get in 80 g of protein. Sorry.

So a question... (with some background first): I think I’m probably the worst post op surgery patient on this forum. I don’t get my adequate water, I don’t take vitamins (I use patches), I have skipped about 20 calcium supplements at minimum, I have been eating basically anything I want for almost 2 full weeks now. Oh and let’s not forget I get no exercise. That said, I feel better than I have in ages. I am consistently losing about a half a pound a day, give or take. I am moderately active in my regular life just with the day-to-day chores, going on sales calls, etc. Concurrent with this surgery I have been getting epidurals in my back which have alleviated most of my pain. So I feel pain-free and I feel like I look much better. My energy level has returned and I basically feel normal again - just improved. I am thrilled at how I feel these days. I actually have a very positive attitude as where last year I would say I was almost clinically depressed. I just feel joy now. I am excited to be social again. Last year almost stayed home hundred percent of the time hiding away from the world. A lot of it does have to do with NOT having that back pain but I just feel positive and optimistic and empowered now. I know my WL surgeon would probably kill me if he knew that I have had alcohol or bacon but it is in such moderation... Come to find out I don’t need a double bottle of wine or 3/4 a package of bacon to make me happy. One glass of wine and one strip of bacon brings me all the joy I need!!! Do you think I am teetering on that slippery slope or is my attitude about this healthy?

Hi all- I am a ER nurse and I have access many ports in my career and hand sanitizer is not a normal standard of care- Every healthcare professional who is giving you a fill should use cloraprepp which is a clear soap (alot like rubbing alcohol) or iodine. The hand sanitizer is weird and puts you at risk for an infection in my opinion. So on that not I would tell you to speak up, if you think what they are doing is not right ask questions. Now I will get off that soap box, I haven't posted much since my surgery but I love reading everyones input, I feel great now, I too, struggle with my diet at times, I am just trying really hard to stay positive and active. I am running a half marathon next weekend and I haven't done that for a few years, I am having a great time training, and I love that my body doesn't hurt all the time. Thanks for all of your positive energy and GG thanks for your recipes, I'm excited to try the chile. I think my kids would love it. I have been eating a lot of beans and legumes for there protein power. I hope all is well- stay strong all you A11's

Hi GG so happy that all went and is well for!! And for an update with me........I did horrible, horrible for the new years weekend lots of food and alcohol and because of this I have a 5 pound gain. I think I am still in shock!

I didn't see the Oprah show but i have seen a few research articles about how we are at risk or replacing one addiction with another. For the first year after banding I didn't drink any alcohol because I didn't want to waste calories. Then I went through a few months of bad drinking on my own where I felt very alone. Now I've pulled myself together and am back at goal weight and am verging on anorexia to stay at goal weight. It is one addiction or another

Hi! I'm enjoying reading where everyone is so I will check in too -- I had surgery on 5/20 so I'm about 7.5 weeks out. The worst part about this for me has been no caffeine. I'm really looking forward to being cleared for step 4 which includes caffeine allowed at my appointment in about a week. I'm also really missing wine but I think I need to stay away from alcohol for as long as possible. I'm 50 lbs down overall (355 to 305ish -- I lost a LOT during the 3 week liver-shrink) and about 25 of that is post-surgery. I'm definitely noticing that it's easier to move around and my clothes are looking different on me, which has been great. In terms of taste, shredded cheese tastes a little weird to me, milk is disgusting, and butter tastes a little... off. I'm really interested to know if I'll dump/if I can ever have sugar again, but I'm not going to mess with trying something until I hit the step 4 diet. I'm REALLY stressed out about the hair loss that people say starts at around 4 months. But the only way out is through..... and it'll be worth it. I'm just worried I'll have bald spots!!!!! 😧

Hi Fox - I'm really pleased you are feeling a lot better now - don't over do it though!! Have you tried a drink yet? I know I will realy miss my vodka and coke after I have my band. I don't like any other alcoholic drinks but I'm sure I will try my best to find an alternative if I have to :-) T x

Hi kathy I know yours was nothing to do with alcohol and I really hope more than anything I havent upset you. It was just before you posted I was going through all the things that could go wrong and that was one of my fears. Hope you are able to breath more easily and are feeling better. J x

Well thats me going for my third fill tomorrow with wendy at wls and it cant come soon enough.It was my sons 13th birthday today and i have stuffed myself.We also had a party for him on sat were we had a buffy and loads of alcohol so i was not very good then.Today i took him for a mcdonalds for lunch and had one my self then my mum took us all out tonight for a chinese .So im sitting here disgusted with myself i realy hope i get some restriction after tomorrow as i feel as im eating as much as i used to before i got the band when i have a blow out.Most of the time i can eat small portions which does not bother me but lately it has been hard so roll on tomorrow.

i eat and drink alcohol,well i eat when i can i just find i dont loose any wait for a while then drop 7lb lol i just go with the flo,i think walking helped me the last time but it's too damn cold he he

Evening ladies! so many pages, so little time! I just did a quick scan thru but I'm exhausted and need sleep. NICOLE - I thank you!!! If you didn't call me back I would have never went in to get weighed! Had a great time at dinner with you, Mike & Audrey - she is adorable and you & Mike are just so funny & fun! Thanks!! Tina - why don't I have your number? Wow, I had no idea that your job is so heartwrenching & stressful, why aren't you an alcoholic yet LOL I want to see you in some smaller pants next month!!!!!!!!! DONNA - YOU DID A FANTASTIC JOB TODAY - WISH I HAD MY CAMERA WITH ME TO GET A SHOT OF YOU IN THAT SWEAT SUIT. INGENIOUS IDEA - GREAT MOTIVATER!!!!!! LOVE YOU! Welcome Dana!! Good luck on getting approval - tell your Dr. he has your height wrong and you're an inch shorter LOL Heather - missed you today - everybody was asking for you - Rosy too even though she NEVER gets on to talk to us! I was really looking forward to seein the real thing - 50lbs lost - AMAZING! Riley Jane, you are missed as always - Reggie, where are you? Missed you today and I wore my tall tall steve maddens - I had to take them off for the girls today - they had no idea i was so short LOL Having fun in fresno Jes hahaha. Ok, so thanks for waiting for me :tongue2: we can now move forward together - NO, no CM appt yet. I emailed Dr. fisher who is out till monday but I checked my appts and a new one showed up - it's for the 31st with some nurse and I have No idea what it is for - I didn't make it! So, maybe it has to do with my surgery. All I know is it wasn't there two days ago! Missed you today! Pammie - you're on a roll, finally - good for you! Love that you went swimming in a PUBLIC PLACE! You go girl! Sorry to be so absentee lately but, as most of you know I'm helping my friend move and get situated. by the time I get home it's damn near midnight - like tonight - and Im sore & tired. VickieJ - Great to meet you! I hope i look half as good as you when Im at my goal - you look marvelous, damn near in your 20's again! - it must be a great feeling - thanks for all the good info. lunch was fabulous ladies! I always enjoy hanging out. Still rootin for a Saturday that Riley can make it! Riley, you crack me up! Reggie - missed you today - did I already say that? I know there was so many things I wanted to comment & post on while I was reading thru the pages but I have forgotten ! so goodnight and I'll try to talk to you all tomorrow - don't have to move a thing tomorrow - whoo hooo!

Good Morning Ladies, I've been reading your posts this morning and am so glad that everybody got the same feeling from Dr. Fisher. I thought I was trippin! I have my appt with him on June 3rd but since he seems so anit-band I'm wondering if he's the right Doctor for me... So this 1200 Calorie diet isn't as easy as I initially thought!! I did great till 4:00 yesteday evening - routinely I sit on my bed with a bag of almonds and snack away while watching The Doctors. Not yesterday and hopefully not today. I now fully understand the term "head hunger" I wasn't physically hungry but I absolutely could not watch my show and not snack so I had to go wash my car & keep busy. I missed the doctors. I had a slight headache still from the diet coke withdrawl so I took more excedrine after dinner and laid down - then it hit me! Excedrine has caffeine in it - grr!! This is where all the anxiety kicked in - can I really do this for the rest of my life - "forever" is such a long time - and "never" is even longer - never have pasta again, never have diet coke again, never have peanut butter again... So I woke up this morning happy that I made through yesterday but worried about today. I got on this site and read everybody's logs, saw all your progress and I WILL do this. THANK GOD FOR THIS SITE AND ALL YOU GIRLS THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE ME - LOL. I come from a long line of drug addicts & alcoholics and did my very best not to become an addict - I don't drink, smoke or do any kind of drugs but turned out to be an addict anyway-food addict! So I will approach this like atticts do: Take this one day at a time and keep it as simple as possible - forever will come on its own! Have a great fill, Christine!

Hi all Jes and Tam - Thanks for the early B'day wishes. I am taking tomorrow off to celebrate. Chrissy - you are doing so amazing. WoW - keep up the great work. I'm happy for you. Ali - you'll be there in no time. I got chicken noodle soup and strained it for the broth because I couldn't stand the regular chicken broth. The only bad thing is that it has a lot of sodium. During the full liquid stage when you can have creamed soups, I pureed Progresso's black bean soup flavored with bacon - it had more protein than the regular creamed soups and seemed to hold me better. Laurel - everyone's weight loss is different. I think you are doing great - just think about it in relation to how fast you lost weight before surgery - it is likely that losing that much in a month would never have happened. As long as it is going down you are doing fine. John - you are so funny - prison labor!! You are doing so well - I envy your 5lbs a week! Lee - you are also amazing and so positive. I will definately try to make the next Kaiser Richmond meeting. Jes - I think your spring renewal sounds great - I am glad it seems to have kicked the restriction back in. Donna - Happy 24 - wow! Congrats. Hope Tahoe is fun. CoCo - sorry you were not well, but I am also now going to try a 3 week challenge for my Dr. Park appt. This weekend my eating was a little better but not great - I need to go all the way back to being totally by the book - measuring and no snacking. Mo - glad you had a good active week. Riley - you left the meeting early and I didn't get to give you a hug. Why don't we get together next weekend for a walk? Candra - where are you? Are you OK? Don't stay away. Regarding fills, I went to the So. Co. Weight loss support group saturday and they have the local bariatric surgeon, Dr. Woodbury, who does a lot of WLS answer questions at the end of the meeting. I asked him about why there seems to be different philosophies about fills - fewer larger ones vs. many more frequent smaller one. He said there are some different schools of thought. He said he was trained by Dr. Obrien who is the founder of lap band surgery in Australia. He said that in order for your brain to receive the message from your stomach that you are full, you stomach walls needs to expand/stretch and it is that process that sends the signal to your brain. By gradually increasing the restriction, he said that your new pouch expands a little and sends that signal. He said if you overfill, then people tend to adopt maladjustive behaviors (eating softer foods, drinking liquids that don't expand the stomach walls and send that signal). He believes also that the overfilling can lead to the complications like the stretched esophagus, slipped band or the band eroding. He also said there is a school of thought that does the fills by doing a barium swallow and looking at the size of the opening that the liquid goes through. He doesn't subscribe to that because he doesn't think that is a better way and that learning to eat to fill the pouch to the right amount is very important to sending that full signal to the brain and he also says that doing that many xrays has negative effects as well. For those of you stuck on a plateau, there was another member there who is now a triathlete and he spoke about the importance of varying what you eat, the amount you eat and the type and intensity of your workout to move your plateau. He said your body adjusts to the lower calories and to the same exercise routine and what was once 'hard' becomes 'easy' for it. He suggested varying the food and the exercise. I think it is worth a try. Finally, I finished reading Coleen Cook's book the Successful Strategies of Weight Loss Surgery patients. It has a section on getting back on track. So here are some tid bits that struck a cord with me: Fearing Success -- "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure." Maryanne Williamson -- " my entire life I have blamed everything on my weight. And if weight-loss surgery were to succeed, what would I blame my shortcomings on?" from a patient on the show Chicago Hope - Successful Failure -- "Obesity is a disease much like alcoholism; there is no 'cure.' Rather, there are habits one can develop to treat the disease through the remainder of life. I recognize now more than ever that I am not normal; my body is different than that of a thin person. It metalbolizes food differently; it requires constant monitoring of the calories in/calories out balance to maintain a healthy weight. While I had won the battle, the war was still going on and whenever I turned my back on it, I would be struck with another pound or two...Each success habit is important in its own right, but it is the constant adherence to ALL of them that fosters life-long change. One thing I know for sure is that weight-loss surgery patients are some of the strongest, most resilient, committed, never-say-never people I have ever met. We are well acquainted with failure. We know what it takes to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and do whatever it takes to meet out goals. But as experienced as we are with winning and losing, admitting and taking responsibility for our failures is never easy, but we must learn to becomes successful failures." "...I believe you undoubtedly have your own food obsession stories, hang ups and tempatations...May I encourage you to recognize your mistakes, take responsibility for them, own them, learn from them and do watever it takes to become a 'successful failure.'"Colleen Cook -- "For winning is no more than this: to rise each time you fall." from The Race by anonymous Love to all my surgery sisters and brother! Have a good Monday.

I'm gonna print this out & show it to her!! SMART LADY. I truly hope she gets a grip on it before it gets way out of hand!! And ur right, her body has compensated - she can eat ANYTHING - even sweets & alcohol - no dumping symptoms. I'll find an RNY support group for her. And, Tina, you better get use to that male attention, girl - i don't see it going away any time soon - It must suck to be beautiful

Candra - My migraine sister! I've had em since I was 15 and they went haywire 2 years ago - I actually was out of work for a month - maybe had 5 days out of the month without a migraine. Badlands! Tried everything - headache clinic / neuro surgeon put me on Topamax - bad drug - makes you really feel weird - hands and feet go numb but they tell you that is normal - NOT. Since I've gotten through the Big M they are better but not gone. My sister's went away after the Big M. Maxalt worked great for me for years - but not with the big hormone thing with menopause. Now that I'm through it the Maxalt is working again. My biggest triggers are lack of sleep (can you tell I'm a night owl) and stress, some foods, but mostly the other 2. Now that I'm eating right I think it helps. But like you say, sometimes they just come on for no apparent reason. Sooo I really understand and feel for you. Nothin' worse (except when you get the vomitting with them too.) Oh and Candra, I have you beat - my engagement was 7 years and 1 kid! Since I had already tied the knot 2 times before I wasn't too anxious to do it again. Then when I was ready he wasn't, then he was and I wasn't and so on. We also got pregnant in there by accident and decided to have our oldest son but held on the marriage thing since we weren't sure. Finally tied the knot in 1991! So its been a total of 25 years now! Riley - I agree we are worth waiting for - the North Bay Gals! Seriously, it would be great to met up with the group. I'm game for a walk, but not sure how long I can go because of my foot. (I'm scared of the power girls: Riley and Jes!). Is the Tuesday night group at the same house each week? Beatriz - congratulations! and Maria congratulations on a new, sooner date - it will be fine. Annalynn - we are going to do this together! Good job on the alcohol - lots of sugar! I'm waiting to get weighed at my PCP's next week before I update my ticker, but my home scale last week showed I was only 3 from surgery goal. (I know it is more but it is really making me push - I really want my case manager appt in Nov.) Tamara - don't give up - we are here for you. Jess - My work has been nuts - more layoffs today. I've worked every night this week until 9:30. Its hard. I know when I'm banded I'll need to not do that so I can eat - I was starving tonight - I only ate a little extra but it was hard. What do you do? Night ladies - have a good Thursday.

Yikes! That doesn't sound good!!!! LOL!! I have been a very, very ,very bad girl... I have absolutely no restriction, and am out of control!!!! OMG!!! I am afraid to get on the scale!!!! The holiday family drama has begun!!! I guess you never completely have bad coping skills under control all of the time. Maybe I need to switch to alcohol instead of food!!!! My family is NUTZ!!!! I don't know if I can do it!!!! (I won't bore you with pages and pages of insanity... just know its BAD!!!) Next year, maybe I'll just leave town!!!!!

I can't work out whether that's a compliment or an insult! I've had papers to write for my postgrad. They all went in yesterday (woohoo!) so i'm officially on university holidays for the next four weeks! Not on holidays from work, unfortunately, but such is life. I've also been busy reading your book - you should be pleased! And actually I don't drink alcohol at all! I haven't had a drink for 2 years now. Believe it or not! :rolleyes2:

Sounds great. I have my work function on Friday night do can give you an update of my first experience of having some alcohol.

:clap2: VA hey buddy .... I had a piece of toast for Breakfast today ...wow that was the nicest and slowest eaten piece of toast ever! I haven't eaten since but just to wet your appetite...I am going to have a feast this evening Heinz baked Beans and mini sausages. The beans I mush up and the sausages are almost the sort that melt in your mouth so it will go down well. Just the very tiny tin. I never thought that would be the main meal of any day ..just shows you that even at this stage, pre any fill, it has an affect. In fact I am surprised at how tight things get when you eat. I still have the plaster over my port wound and it seems to want to stick on there so I am leaving it. All the others are off and they are TINY...bless my surgeons [i had two because I was the first at this new clinic locally]. I am sooooooooooooo glad I found all you December bandsters...we truly need the support here. I am divorced, have been for 6 years and have a 19 year old. She's very supportive. I don't miss food....I miss a glass of Californian Merlot or Cab. sauvignon. Anyone know of any post bandsters who actually drink alcohol ever again..I see no mention of that in my blurb from the surgeon? You know the hardest thing I find? Not drinking when I eat. I realise now that drinking when we eat helps us to eat more. Often when I was feeling stuffed, sipping some diet coke cleared the way for more! This is the most difficult time of the year to be banded...and also I think the most sensible for us... we are avoiding the pounds piling on .. I'm glad of that and I am glad of all your company. I may sneak a chocolate on Christmas day!! Hugs folks...going off to heat up my baked beans!!:hungry: Karen

Yea I know... I thought the hard candy would help when I'm craving sweets and before surgery I always had peppermints or butterscotch in my mouth. I figure the sugar alcohol was better then sugar but I guess I need to break the habit if always having hard candy in my mouth. This is not the easy way out.. My mom had this divert in 2005 and she was bedrest for 6 months and never had food temptations... Sometimes. Wish that was me because I'm tempted all day everyday and chicken soup and potato broth an getting so old.

Gillian, you dont know?:glare::laugh: Arent you on it? Does this diet last for a week or 2? Geez, cutting down on the fags, no alcohol, no food, can I have s*x???:thumbup::w00t::laugh: Been reading some of the 'after op' experiences......a bit scarey for me, as I dont remember having any pain, except when I had to sort of lower myself onto the loo for wee wees. After the op, I was actually back in my room, painting my nails and yakking to my daughters on the phone, then sleeping, the day and night wizzed by and it was soon time for me to fly home. I had to ask for a seat belt extension though as my tummy was tender, and the cabin crew were great, it wasnt a problem I just said I had had surgery on my tum. That was on Flybe. So I hope I have the same sort of experience this time, I dont feel nervous about the op, as I'll be out of it. I hope all you girlies who are getting banded soon, have the same experiences as me and will come back and tell us all about it.:thumbs_up: