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Thanks guys I definitely have several NSV's... Joined soccer again after not playing for 5 years due to my weight. I fit into the dress I wore to Grade 8 graduation (when I was fairly thin) I have done a 5k walk, when I couldn't even walk around the corner without having my feet kill me. This is a weird one, but I had trouble finding comfortable shoes, I was a size 8 and sometimes had to go to 9 or 10 for the width. No I am a size 7 and shoes fit amazing! I took anxiety medications before and could not ride public transit alone. Now I am medication free and have no problem taking a bus or a train. But by far the biggest NSV I have had is being able to walk down the street and hold my head high, not worry what people think about me, and not being paranoid that everyone laughing is laughing at me. As I have shed the weight, I fell in love with myself again (let me be clear it wasn't only because the weight loss, it was because my mentality changed as well). It is the best feeling in the world to build yourself back up to feeling like you have worth. Every time I worked out, I would tell myself it is because I am worth it, and that is how I gained some confidence. I do still have moments where I am insecure, that will always be there, but the difference is astonishing. As for extra skin - Yes, I do have extra skin on the boobs, stomach, butt and arms. But it isn't that bad, I will probably need surgery purely for cosmetic reasons, but not bothering until after I have kids. It isn't enough skin to cause any discomfort or hygiene issues.

@@Gaby86 I lost 2 lbs at my first weigh in, gained 2 in the second, lost 1.5 in the third, lost 1 more in the 4th and got approval. Don't stress it. My nutritionist kept saying, "we want to see that you are making healthy choices and working towards weight loss." That being said, I was told that if I net gained (ending up heavier than I started), I would be denied. I worked so freaking hard to lose that 3.5 pounds. I biked, worked out, barely ate, drank massive amounts of Water, did I mention barely ate? Now I'm working hard to not put it back on before my surgery (sept 14th). It's hard for me to give advice on losing weight because I've obviously never been successful at it. The only thing I can think of is to follow your plan and don't let yourself get close to your triggers. For example, if I go too long without food and get hungry, my blood sugar drops and I get insanely ravenous. I will reach for chips, fries, a pizza... anything to satisfy that crazy craving. Right now I don't let myself get too hungry. I drink half a Protein drink in between meals or snack on veggies. I hate it. I really do. But I do it anyways.

So I get the morning call from the boss as always before he comes in. And today he tells me how his happy I'm getting this surgery and that is 100% supporting my desicion for doing this. Then he tells me that he knows I'm going to be away for 10 days but since he know how surgeries are and the mayor toll it takes on an individual ("he had a kidney transplant and removal also cancer in the stomach so he has been through hell and back") he wants to bring his Granddaugther as a Temp until I come back and he wants me to train her on my daily routine (I'm and office administrator). He was very nice told me that even though I'm not perfect they all love me in the office and I'm good at what I do (it's a family owned business there is only 8 of us here) and they want me to be healthy and come back that my job will be waiting for me when I'm ready. They truly are great people and very understanding but I don't know what to make of this I would be devasted if I loss my job with this new life and all the expenses that come with it plus all my othere expenses rent, bills, etc etc etc. I really don't know what to think just needed to let out before I do or say something stupid and make a fool out of myself in the office. One thing I can tell you I'm not turning back now my day is Nov 5th and this is not going to stop me. But I'm truly concern :( :'( :'(

You may be looking for a sensation that doesn't exist. "Restriction" isn't something you feel. Restriction is supposed to provide satiety sooner than you would experience it if you weren't banded. Satiety is when you feel full. If you can go 4 hours without feeling hunger pangs, then you are probably very close to your sweet spot. It was explained to me that once I had enough fill in my band that I didn't get hungry before 4 hours after a meal, then I was "there" or very close. And sure enough, when I found I could go 4 hours (or even more) between meals, I also realized by eating the prescribed meal quantity that I was indeed full on a relatively small amount of food. Yes, I could eat more, but that didn't mean I should. So, now, if I eat 3 oz of lean Protein, steamed or raw vegetable and a single serving of whole grain carbs, I am full, don't get hungry for at least 4 hours...and if I eat more, it stalls my weight loss.

I think patience is the hardest thing to grasp. When I went for my first fill 5 weeks post op, I had lost 1 lb. Since then, I have dropped 12 lbs. No appt until 3/8 for second fill and have been at same weight since 10 days after 1st fill. (I was scheduled for a fill on 2/4 but had to reschedule due to inclement weather in Houston...go figure:) ) I'm really not worried because I know the weight loss will resume. I keep telling myself that the band is a tool and as long as I am doing the right thing, Life is Good! I'm sure you will do fine. It gets easier every day,

You are doing fine with the weight loss! Are you eating enough Protein to keep you from being hungry? If not, you will over eat and not lose. I know you are not quite a month out of surgery so you are probably still on mushy stuff and liquids for the most part. Try a protein shake (I drink EAS AdvantEdge carb control that has 17 g of protein and only 110 calories) and that should help. (fish, eggs & chicken are real good sources of protein too) With the band you still have to make a concentrated effort to watch what you eat and exercise. Walking is the best exercise you can do at this point. I was banded 071506 and didn't have my first fill until 012307. I may have waited a little too long but I was still consistently losing until about a month before my fill. Up the protein and start an exercise program if you haven't already. Lap banding is not a cure all, it's simply a tool to help us get from Point A to Point B. Keep up the good work! :clap2: high: 335 lbs pre-op: 317 lbs now: 252 lbs goal: 140 lbs banded Monterrey, Mexico Dr. Garcia www.litenfree.com

I'm on my 4th week of Optifast and I love them. They are a little pricey and only available through distributors. Check out their website OPTIFAST - weight loss, weight management, improved health, renewed energy and self esteem

Exercising probably won't make the weight fall off, especially since exercise inflames your muscles and makes you retain water. I'm at the same weight as you, the only different is I have lost a lot of weight to get here. The lower your weight, the slower the weight comes off. You are not going to see the huge losses you see most people posting about because they started so much higher tan you. Not just that but your body naturally stalls, adjusts then starts losing again. That is part of the process.

If it's just two weeks that you haven't lost weight you could be in a completely normal stall. That happens all the time in weight loss. Stalls last 1-3 weeks regardless of how "perfect" you are on your program. And... you did lose a pound in the last two weeks, so you're not even technically "stalled". The only thing I would say is if you still don't loose in a few weeks, maybe increase your clear liquids and find something with more protein for breakfast instead of oatmeal. Good luck!

well i dont live in the area but I know I saw your post and wanted to respond I got banded on Aug 21st of 08 and have only lost 14 lbs so far but with my pre op I am around a 30 lb weight loss so far. I have experienced the hunger pains and I am still in the no real food stage or at least no solids so I defenitely feel your pain, some things I do to keep my mind off the hunger and to quiet it down a bit is drink water or chocolate soy milk mainly just put liquids in and that tends to help out I also just try to keep myself busy hoping I dont realize how hungry I am. Good luck I know its not exactly what ya were looking for for an answer but I just wanted to drop ya a line let ya know dont get discouraged and 40lbs is alot so keep up the good work and focus on how much weight you have lost so far without the lap band ya probably wouldnt have lost so much. So keep working out at the gym and loesing that weight you seem to be doing a geat job so far

Milk is a good (not great) source of Protein. unjury has a chicken Soup flavored Protein powder, which I have a sample of, but have been as yet afraid to try. If you're still on the full liquids phase, you could blenderize some cottage cheese with a little milk to thin it down. Cottage cheese is a great source of protein. Personally, I don't like ANY of the sweetened protein powders or shakes. None of them taste good to me, and they all seem to give me the trots. Always keep in mind that this phase of the post op diet is NOT for weight loss, it's for healing, so try not to worry too much about your calorie intake right now.

Yes, it's normal. You've probably entered ketosis, which is kicked-off by a sudden and sometimes very substantial loss of body fluids. In the first two week of ketosis, you can figure that about 20% of the weight you lose is fat, while the rest is fluid.

How long did you guys wait to exercise? I'm almost 5 weeks out and my Doc cleared me to exercise at 2 weeks out but my incision is an open hole and leaking constantly so I'm nervous to workout and make it worse. I'm trying to let it heal but I want to work out to help weight loss. I've only lost 11lbs since surgery on August 19.

I came home after surgery 5 lbs more than when I went in. They fill you up with fluids in the hospital. It is probably water retention. Watch you sodium intake. And remember, the first 4 weeks are for healing and not weight loss. You will be much better off if you heal quickly. Good luck and don't get discouraged.

I just ate popcicles, jello, broth, tea, coffee, juice and water when ever I was hungry. This is a healing time, not a weight loss time. I still lost a lot the first 4 weeks.

Hi Daisydog ~ I'm in Salisbury, NC ~ where are you? Dr. Roc Bauman from Carolina Weight Loss Surgery Center in Concord is doing mine. I started looking into it around September, talked to my MD about it, got his approval, and in November, I went online to sign up (you can't call there to make the appt. , you have to sign up online first, then they'll send you an email letting you know it's time to set up the appt.) So anyway, I just found out that if my insurance (United Healthcare) approves me for the surgery based on my medical problems & history, then they will cover me 100% (minus office visit copays). You can actually call your insurace company and they should be able to tell you upfront what they cover on obesity surgery. Just ask for the benefits dept. Goodluck to you!

My daughter Rowen is a very bright and perceptive four (almost five!) year old girl. Maybe it's because I am an "older" mother, or maybe because it is just the two of us, but she seems different than others her age. I mean that in a good way too. First of all she started early on talking in clear and concise sentences. Wasn't much baby talk or anything, her vocabulary picked up quickly. And her pronunciation has always been spot on. So a lot of people have a hard time believing she is only four. Yes, she does have a lot of traits typical of her age, but other things about her are more advanced. She notices things quickly, she gets that from me. She is very aware of her surroundings and what is happening at all times. Which sort of leads me to my blog topic....She knows. I told her up front and plainly I was having surgery to "lose weight and get healthy". I know everyone has opinions on how to handle telling their children, especially young ones. I chose to be honest. Rowen has had to deal with me being hospitalized for blood clots on a couple occassions now and it was scary to her. Mostly because each time was sudden andd unplanned. One day mommy is there, then she is in a hospital with things hooked up to her. So I wanted her to feel confident I was going to be ok this time, that I am planning this trip to the hospital. But in my confidence I am also being realistic and mature. I have drawn up a will and a living will. I know this is major surgery. I know I have a history of blood clots doing bad things to me. While every precaution in the world has been taken to ensure my safety, I know sometimes things just happen. So I am being an adult and dealing with every possibility. I am afraid my daughter has heard things though that are scaring her. I'm not sure. I know she has overheard me explaining the will/ living will to a couple people. I don't think she is old enough to grasp it. But I do know she has become super clingy of late. My child has never been the whiney momma's girl type. While we have always had a close bond, she has always been an independant girl. I have encourged it because I know it will help her succeed in life, make her a confident and outgoing person. But lately she is clinging. Suddenly she doesn't want me to leave her at the sitter's in the morning. (And this woman is like family, she has been with her since she was 6 weeks old!) In the evening Rowen wants to be on me every moment. She gets upset that I have to cook dinner, she just wants me to sit down so she can get on my lap. And she has been refusing to sleep in her bed. Again, never has been a problem. She isn't scared of her room, she just wants to be by me. I am afraid she is afraid. I don't know much of what to do. I reassure I will be ok. I talk of all the fun things we will do when I am "skinny" and able to. I think she is afraid I am going away. She has only known me as I am, obese. I am what is her normal. She has even told me I am fine and she doesn't want me to change. Even though she gets that I am much bigger than others, and that my weight makes me hurt and have problems, this has always been me. I even think her sudden desire to eat junk and snack all the time is her way of trying to emulate me, to be like me. ( which I actually don't do, but she knows eating like that will make her gain weight eventually) All I know to do right now is to show her I am here. I just love her and keep going. At this point, when it is so close, I think I just need to get through it. What better way to reassure that I am still mommy than to show her? Have the surgery, make the changes, and show her I love her all the same. I know that I will be able to be a much better mommy physically once the weight is gone. I just think right now a certain four year old is realizing "this" mommy (the obese one) has to go away, and part of her will really mourn the loss...

Stacy, sorry for not responding while you were here--I was off celebrating! The missing snowmobilers here in NM were long time friends of mine---and they are SAFE!! Well, sometimes it does take some tweaking with your fill to get to a point that restriction is steady. Are you sure you are chewing small bites well enough on the things that still cause you to slime? If it is hard Protein type of things, it might take much much less to make you be too full, which would bring on the slime. With the Pasta, it is much like a mushie, it goes in, and goes through which is what allows you to eat more of it. Pasta is difficult for me, for whatever reason, it seems to grow---maybe I drink too soon, or too much, I don't know, but----all of us react differently. My SIL and I went together to get banded, and she was like you for the first several months, it was slow losing, and her restriction was all over the place. I on the other hand, was losing pretty steady, and hit restriction early on, and have continued like the tortoise, slow and steady. She was overfilled, then had some removed, and then BAM one day she began dropping it fast and furious! She actually was too tight, but liked it she said, she was losing like crazy!!! She is now at goal, has been for 3 months or longer, and I am slowly creeping along, and we had similar amounts to lose! Where I lost a bit each week, she went slow, then raced!!! She is now a size 8 from a 24! She is back to medium restriction---but the huge losses for her did not come until she was probably close to a year out from surgery! It is so hard to predict how someone will react. We had surgery the same day, same Dr, use the same fill Dr.---and have had totally different experiences!! My best suggestion at this point, while you work on getting your fill level adjusted, is to try to avoid the pasta and the high GI foods, they just make you crave more of them. Try to eat lots of lean meats, and whole grains, and veggies, to get the full feelings that last. It causes your body to react differently than the high starch foods do when they break down. Your full feeling lasts many times longer---just take a few small bites chewed really well, and stop after a few, and wait awhile---so you can avoid the sliming. Hope you get past this soon! Where abouts in NM are you? Getting lots of snow today? It is coming down hard in Aztec!!!!! Kat

Hi all! I am new here and have an important question. I apologize if it is TMI but I am desperate. I have my first appt. with a band doc in April, but have been having severe bouts of dysfunctional uterine bleeding with no underlying issues identified (no cysts, polyps, hyperplasia, etc.). My current gyn is concerned about doing a hysterectomy because I carry most of my weight in my stomach and she would have to cut deep -- since I am diabetic, she is very concerned with healing issues and the risk of infection. Since the cause of this is probably an overproduction of estrogen cause by excess weight (bmi 48), I have been told that this MIGHT be improved or even cured with weight loss. I am trying to decide if I should wait or move ahead with a specialist. I am on double doses of birth control to stop the bleeding right now (have had 3 d&c's, etc.) but I cannot stay on it forever and am still having breakthrough bleeding. Please, please, please...if anyone knows anything about this, can you share it with me? Thank you so much. I look forward to being a part of this board!!! Karen

I would love to make this meeting ......but I have my hair salon ........I need to see If I'm not already booked that morning........afternoons are better for me .......on a Saturday ....but I will try my hardest .....I really want to meet you gals ........Rose Banded 1/11/07 242/216/140

I have heard of some doctors prescribing it several years out for regain, but not to help get to goal, no. Look, people love to trash Phentermine on these forums, but I just look at it as just another tool in the fight against obesity. So what if there's several different tools needed to get there? If it's doctor supervised, I see no problem with it? I also find it extremely hypocritical that people who have turned to major surgery to lose weight can poo poo a weight loss drug. I've been maintaining my weight now for well over a year, but if for some reason I felt I needed to take these drugs to stop regain or take regain off, you bet your bottom I would.

Well.... I did it. Surgery went off without a hitch. My entire family was there for me before surgery. My hubby, daughter, mom and dad. I loved all of the support. I don't remmeber a thing. I literally was rolled into the OR and the next thing that I remember is the nurse waking me up in recovery. Within a few minutes they were rolling me down the hall to my room. I noticed my parents in the waiting room (I was still in and out of it) and the nurse told me that the rest of my family was in my room. I was very drousy the rest of the afternoon. I got to my room at about 4:00. My husband, daughter and dad left at about 8 to go home. My wonderful mom stayed the night with me. I really would not have survived this without her. She got me up and walking as soon as she new that I was really awake. I was not in much pain at that point. I was super thirsty. The first night felt like an eternity. I just wanted to have something to drink. I probably slept about 4 hours that night. I walked a lot. The gas pains were not as bad as I thought. It kind of felt hard to breathe because of the gas, but once I got into the recliner that was much better. The doctor came in at about 8 on Thursday. He cleared me for liquids. YAY!!!! I was never so happy to drink a little water. I sipped all day. Even had a little broth and jello to go with it. The day went pretty quickly. I was really looking forward to going home. I walked and started having some pain in my right side. I am still having the pain, but I am looking forward to it going away. I got the all clear to go home around 1 on Friday after I took the drink test to check for leaks. My husband brought the recliner down from upstairs and that has been where I hang out between walks around the house. I went upstairs to sleep the first night, but it was so hard to get in and out of the bed that I decided that night two would be better served in the recliner. I slept really well. I am still in quite a bit of pain in my right side, but I am trying to work through it. The pain is only when I am up and moving. I think maybe I should have been moving more to prevent the pain. If it is not better tomorrow, I will call to doctor to make sure that there is nothing to worry about. I am working on getting all of my fluids in. That is a little hard. I just keep drinking as much as I can. Sip sip sip.... All day long. LOL. It is weird how I am not hungry at all. My husband is worried that I am not eating even though he knows the rules. I think that it is just weird to him. Good luck to everyone. I go back to the doctor on the 5th. I will post my progress at that point. Hoping for a big loss.

Hi. I have been visiting this site everyday for a few months now and I am finally posting something. I live in Charlotte, NC, I am 21 years old and plan to be banded by Dr. Roc Bauman in Concord,NC. Since July I have been completing all of the tests and whatnot. My information was submitted to insurance (BCBS Federal Basic) last Wednesday. Then yesterday, at work, I got a call from Kim at Carolina Weight loss Surgery telling me that I was approved. YAY ME!! I have a surgery date set for Dec 5th. I couldn't be more excited. What was really great was how happy everyone at work was for me. And my mom was super excited. Now I just have to contain my excitement for the next 33 days. tgirl03

I lost seven pounds in the first three days of my two week liquid diet. For the last two days, the scale hasn't budged when I am really needing encouragement. I know a lot of the weight was water. Just curious what others have loss on the liquid diet.

My boyfriend has had a cornea transplant - the good news is you'll probably recover much faster from WLS than from the cornea transplant! The stomach has better blood flow Edit: I weigh myself daily usually, but I don't let stalls weigh me down. I just use it as motivation to keep up with my water, protein, and exercise. Just remember, unlike previous weight loss attempts, the weight WILL come off this time as long as you stick to your doctor's recommendations, so don't sweat the number on the scale - just make sure you're doing your part! ❤️