Search the Community

Good for you. Congrats on your weight loss to date.

Ah that's what I'm afraid of. But you mentioned age, so does that mean that the younger you are, the better chance you have of having less loose skin? And I'm a guy, so I know I carry weight different than women. I don't know, guess I'll just have to find out!

I use my wii board to weigh myself and it shows the weight on the tv screen

You could possibly reduce your protein since you’re in maintenance & it’s very filling & up your vegetable intake. Daily requirement in the US is 0.8g protein per kilo you weigh so you could reduce your intake to about 50g. But check with your surgeon & dietician first. (My dietician said I needed a little more because of my age so I work at 1-1.2g protein per kilo of weight.) I can eat more now than I did at 6 months & more than I did at 12 months. To get my calories in to maintain (about 1200+/-) I feel like I eat all day long. I snack about 4 times a day on dairy, fruit & multi/whole grains in addition to my three meals. I also still take ages to eat: 30-40+ mins for breakfast & dinner & about an hour for lunch but it does enable me to eat a little more. Are you still leaving time between when you eat & drink? Have you tried plant based proteins? I believe they can be easier to digest & may not upset you or fill you as much. I really think you need to have a conversation with your surgeon & then your dietician because you’ve been struggling so much.

I had a revelation last night. I am 9 days pre op and I had kept reading prior to my surgery that the band is a tool. It's not a magic cure all. Now I understand what that means. I've lost 26 lbs since I started the pre surgery liquid diet. And for a few days after the surgery I was doing great. Now the swelling has gone down and I can eat pretty well. The scale hasn't budged in two days. What does it mean? It means nothing in the big picture, I shouldn't be weighing daily anyway, but it reminded me of something. After alot of reading here I think I had started falling into the lap band trap. "Boy, it will be great when I get a couple of fills and the band starts doing it's thing and I start loosing weight." Hold on, I don't have to wait around for fills for this thing to start working. I can go dust off the elliptical machine today and do a light work out and start working the tool. The tool is me. The aid is the band. Ah yes, I knew I wasn't going to be able to hide from this thing called weight loss. We still have our parts play. We still have to buck up and face this monster. :angry :angry :angry BRING IT ON!:angry :angry :angry

Congrats on being banded and even more congrats on the weight you've lost! :thumbup:That's an awesome amount and I doubt you are losing too fast. As for the gas pains, walk walk walk and take Gas-X strips. They both helped greatly and I believe by the end of week 1 the gas pains were minimal to none. As for the next few weeks..focus on healing! Take things slow and be sure to stick to your post-op diet. Drink as much water when you can. Be careful on bending especially because it really does hurt. You'll have pain near your port incision for awhile. Good luck!

I have a gffriend that had surgery 5 years ago she lost all the excess weight And now has a completely normal life and drinks beer on the weekends like a college pro But remember her surgery was 5 years ago and she still watches if she is gaining

Many people who have battled weight for a long time don't recognize themselves in the mirror after they've lost a significant amount of weight. Others of us are the opposite: For those who haven't battled weight for a long time, when we gain a lot of weight, we don't recognize ourselves anymore. That's one motivator for pursuing surgery! Then, when we do lose a lot of weight, we start recognizing ourselves in the mirror again. No matter which group you fall into, you are not alone. Good luck.

I had surgery February 18,2011. I am 30yrs. I have lost 38lbs. so far. I had my 2nd adjustment today. I am still very nervous about this new journey. I can't believe I have actually lost weight. Today I weigh 333 lbs. I feel very doubtful about my wight loss but at the same time very, very hopeful.

True. Mileage does vary, I was just concerned that they would deny me if I hadn't lost any weight better yet gain weight.

I remember the day like it was yesterday, you will do great. Follow the liquid meal plan as suggested, the weight will come off quicker than you can imagine. When it starts to go you will have the strength to work to the next stage, thoughts and prayers with you.

I hope to lose 10 lbs a month after that first month. I am about 8 weeks out and my losing pattern is changing from that "I'm losing a pound a day" that happens the first month after surgery - to drop 2 and then hang out at that weight for 4-5 days, drop again etc. Stair steps. I would be happy with 8-12 lbs - actually I am happy with losing anything haha!

There is no way of knowing what one person is or is not doing, or what their metabolism or physiology might be, so it is impossible to tell anyone what they may or may not be doing correctly or incorrectly.... That's my disclaimer..... Myself, it all comes down to how much I eat, and how much I burn off....to loose weight, I need to burn off more calories than I take in on a daily basis....it's that simple. People try to over think it, come up with all sorts of psycho-babble.....I read the strangest things on this forum......but for me it is all very simple. For years, my Dr.'s kept telling me to loose weight....I would come up with all sorts of excuses, etc....the Dr.'s would all call my bluff and tell me I'm fat because I eat too much....stop eating so much and I'll loose weight and not be fat..... Of course, I could not stop....that was my problem, so WLS was needed to do what I could not do on my own. After 4-1/2 years. I am still amazed at how little I can get by with in terms of food.....it's still hard for me to believe let alone convince other people that's all I need, and I'm fine...never been better.

It might. It depends on your insurance company and also possibly your surgeon's office. One of the requirements for me getting approved for surgery is that I had to lose 10% of the amount I was overweight. When I started the medically supervised weight loss, I was at 366. At that time, they said I was 220 lbs. overweight, so I had to lose 22 lbs. They would not submit for approval until I lost the weight. That said, every doctor's office is different, and so are insurance companies. Have you contacted Aetna to find out what their requirements are?

I also have aetna & I wasnt required to loose weight. My weight went up 1 lb.

I put on 12 pounds from the morning of surgery to the next morning! Like the others said, I got rid of it quickly and started dropping "real" weight shortly thereafter.

YEP i gained weight also. Its the Iv fluid. And any fluids you drank is being retained, because your body is in shock.

Hi. I have Cigna. I have competed the NUT visits and went down 5 in four months. Not for lack of trying. I have maintain the same weight for the past 2.5 months. Again still working on trying to lose. I was approved for my surgery. Date is July 1st. Check with your doctors office, they should be able to advise you. Wishing you the best.

I too have not been on here that much. I did have a pouch diditation and all of my saline was removed. For 7 wks I could eat everything I wanted to and I gained 7 pounds back. I then got a fill on the 14th of Sept. and I was doing fine until this weekend when I got super tight and the choking at night etc.. I have placed my self on liquids and I feel much better today. I think I just had been eating too fast due to fact that I have to retrain myself to eat right again. If I can't get back to solids by the end of the week, I will go see my Dr. So lesson learned by me!

Hey, RNYTalk members!We’re into the long, lazy days of summer – but there’s plenty going on at RNYTalk.com! So why don’t you use this newsletter as a reminder to get on over to the boards? It’ll help you stay on track or motivate you to get back on board if you’ve gotten off track a little. Here’s what you’ll find in this newsletter. Burning question: What’s the Big Deal about Protein? Member Spotlight: Meet Mamiof3kids! Bypass Challenge: Record Your Diet! Become a Board Expert: How to Get More Involved We hope you’re having a great summer and feeling great about meeting your weight loss and healthy lifestyle goals. Enjoy the newsletter, and of course please contact me any time with suggestions, comments or any other feedback. See you on the boards! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder RNYTalk.com Burning Question: What’s the Big Deal about Protein? Okay, anyone who’s gotten weight loss surgery or who is seriously thinking about it has probably already heard a ton about protein. You’re supposed to get about 60 to 80 grams per day, and eat your protein foods first at each meal so that you finish them before getting full. Also, your breakfast should be high in protein to give you a good start for the day. But why is protein so important? First, it’s an essential nutrient for your immune system and as a part of your muscles, skin, bones and other body tissues. But it’s even more important when you’re losing weight so fast, like you are after your gastric bypass surgery. When you lose weight, you’re losing body fat, of course. But if you’re not careful to get enough protein, you’re going to lose a noticeable amount of lean body mass, too. That means you’ll lose some muscle mass and your metabolism will slow down. Another benefit of protein is that it actually helps you stick to your low-calorie post-surgery diet so that you lose weight faster. Protein takes a longer time to digest than carbohydrates. That means that eating a high-protein meal will help you stay full for longer than a high-carbohydrate meal without much protein. So don’t forget to hit your protein at each meal! Aim for one to two servings per meal, and if you have a snack, include some protein. What are the best sources of protein? Stay tuned for the answer coming up in a future newsletter! If you have a burning question that you’d like to see answered in the newsletter, just send Alex a PM over in the forums. It can be about anything – roux-en-Y problems, food, fitness, weight loss, health…just let us know! Member Spotlight – Meet Mamiof3kids! This week’s spotlight is on Mamiof3kids, also known as Maybelin from New York, New York. At 5 feet even, this 33-year-old mother weighed 211 pounds at her highest weight. She decided to get the bypass because she was always tired and her knees were always hurting. Maybelin got her gastric bypass done on May 30, 2012, and she’s already down to 167 pounds! One of the best things about her surgery and weight loss is that spending time with her children is way more fun. As she puts it, she has a 15-year old teenager baby girl, a 3-year-old baby girl and a 2-year-old baby boy. She uses LapBandTalk.com to get advice on how to eat after the bypass, and encourages others who are struggling with their eating to find a dietitian for good advice. Keep enjoying your family and working toward your goal weight, Maybelin. Thanks for sharing your story and being in our member spotlight! We feature a different RNYTalk.com member each week in our Member Spotlight section. Let us know in the member spotlight forum if there’s someone you want to learn more about or if you want to be our spotlighted member! Nominating yourself isn’t bragging. We all want to learn more about you if you’re willing to share your trials, triumphs, tricks and tips! If you’re shy, just PM Alex with the message that you want to be in the spotlight. Thanks! Bypass Challenge – Record Your Diet! Each newsletter, we challenge you with another Bypass Challenge. It’s a chance to push yourself a little outside of your comfort zone or get you thinking about ways to make your weight loss journey even more successful. The challenge can inspire you to try things that you’d never thought about but that can make you more successful and confident in your weight loss journey. The challenge is completely non-competitive, but we hope you’ll post your results in the Challenge Forum so that other members can be motivated by your own challenge actions. Study after study proves that the most successful losers – and maintainers – record their diets. If you don’t already do it, now’s a good time to get into the habit. This newsletter’s challenge is for you to record your diet for three days. Include what you eat, how much and what time you had each meal and snack. You can also put in details like how hungry you were before you ate and afterwards, whether you ate exactly what you’d planned, and whether you were eating with people or alone. Did you learn anything new about your diet? Is there anything you can change so that your choices are healthier? Let us know how it went in the Challenge Forum! There, you can always look back at the previous challenges and post your results. It’s never too late to try something new. Better Boarding Tips – Getting into the Swing of Things For some members, jumping right into the conversations on the board feels natural. You know exactly what to say and have no trouble asking for help and providing your own support. For the rest of us, it can be a little tougher. We may not always know what to say to someone who needs help or how to reach out for support when we need it. How can you improve your social boarding skills? Practice! The more you post, the more comfortable you’ll feel. Start by filling in your profile, if you haven’t already. Head on over to the Tell Your Story Forum (or you can get there from the front page) and welcome a few new members. Then browse the forums until you see some topics that call to you. You might be able to answer some member questions about food choices or some of the pros and cons that you’ve experienced with your weight loss surgery. You’ll soon feel like an old pro with so much practice, and the other members will sure appreciate your input! That’s about it for this week’s newsletter. You can always find the old newsletters in the newsletter forum if you ever miss one. Thanks as always for your support, and we’re looking forward to seeing you out on the boards! Take care of yourself and each other, Alex ==============================================================If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: http://www.rnytalk.c...&tab=newsletter

I just have to say at 400 pounds it's risky to take the pill...I had a massive bilateral pulmonary embolism due to birth control. You should talk to your doctor aboutthe risks involved with the birth control pill for obese patients. Also kno the signs. I told my doctor I was having leg cramps and was short of breath and she said it was probably unrelated to the birth control, a week later I nearly died on the floor of my bathroom from the blood clots that traveled to my lungs. Not meant to scare anyone, just I was never really informed about the risk...I don't know what I am going to use when I lose weight....maybe IUD? I have two children and would eventually like another one....but the doc. says you must wait 18 months before becoming pregnant!

After my group meeting to get started with the weight loss program, I quit drinking pop and I started eating like I was supposed to after surgery (paying attention to protein, sugar and fat content). I went to 1 cup of food every 3 hours and ended up losing 51lbs before my surgery!!

Luckily Im not required to lose a certain amount, I just can't gain weight before the procedure. If I do gain he will not do it... Sent from my iPhone using VST

Nope those bad boys are here to stay unless you get cosmetic surgery (in which it usually takes most but not all of the marks away) (think tummy tucks, arm tucks) etc. Creams help some, but it only diminishes the appearance not erases it. And Mis is right, losing weight makes the skin fold where you have stretch marks...as if it wasnt bad enough ey

I'm white, and have had stretch marks since I was a young kid. I started gaining weight at the age of 6, and had many high to low swings since then. Even at my thinnest point, the stretch marks were still there. Although, they did shrink (because they weren't so stretched out), and faded. Still, lots of thin squiggly lines all over my thighs and butt. I now refer to them as my battle scars