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It's hard not to cheat. Luckily the liquid phase I was good on. Mushies and onward have been harder. I had Meatloaf this weekend. Which isn't for another 10 days. Didn't overeat at all, but just had enough to make me happy, and knock me back on the track. I think thats the important thing to realize, we all have gone through a life altering surgery. We all used to be able to eat whatever we wanted, as much as we wanted, and whenever we wanted, I for one relished this, and revelled it like a King. Now, after being banded, this is no longer the case. We on a daily basis have to, not really struggle, but be mindful of everything we put into our mouths. The most amazing thing of all is that it works. But shoot, it's a hard process, and every once in a while you can start to make yourself a little nuts/crazy over it, and have to break the mold. It's not something any of us is proud about, but it does serve as a reminder to put us back on track. Cheating won't kill ya, but at the same time, it does defeat the purpose of the Tool we have all installed for use. So no, I don't think you destroyed yourself or your chance for happiness. But, you have to maintain on your path, and continue to follow the healing plan. Which is the hardest part of all. I'm guilty of having a Guilty pleasure here and there, but getting back on track helps. I go in for my first fill next Wed on 11/18, and I've come to the part where my swelling from Surgery has gone down, and I find myelf hungry. Its hard, and I have a long week ahead of me with my family having Turkey day this coming weekend. But I will do what I must and I will utilize my support team here and at home ALOT till my fill, and continue to do so afterwards. So yeah don't get too down on yourself, but use our support to help maintain your Healing Plan. We have all been in your shoes at one point or another, and are here to help support ya through the good and the rough times that will continue to come and go!

Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum and am particularly interested in what everyone thinks about the role nutrition plays in helping you reach your weight goals. I can only imagine how stressed and frustrated so many of you seem to be now that your weight loss seems to have stalled. It's also interesting to see the number of you who have received advice from doctors to 'just exercise more and eat less'. Seriously? I've done my fair share of dieting over the years, losing weight, it finding me again, fasting, calorie counting, exercising 6 days a week etc etc. But the one piece of advice I got last year from a particular weight loss program that has held true til now is that exercising is only 10-20% of the equation when it comes to sustainable weight loss. The other 80-90% is down to nutrition. (Ask your trainer at the gym, they'll confirm.) For most of you on this forum you are already eating within calorie restricted allowances, which makes the issue of 'quality' nutrition far more important. You want to feel full, you want to feel energised all day, you want to curb cravings, you still want the pleasure of eating, you want great sleep, you want to feel happy with what you're doing, you want to feel in control of your health. If any of this sound like you, then I can help. But first you need to ask yourself: Am I SERIOUS about getting to where I want to be? Am I WILLING to take a look at one nutrition solution that will help me get there and make an informed decision? Am I prepared COMMIT to at least 30 days to see if this really is for me? Do I like the sound of 30-day MONEY BACK GUARANTEE? If you answered yes to these questions then please get in contact with me (Melanie) at onefinelife.net@gmail.com. Whatever you decide, I truly hope that you get to your goal - not only in regards to your weight loss, but also in regards to living the life you dream of. Just remember, there’s no better time than RIGHT NOW to start living the life you want

I really struggle with this too! It's a problem that I bring on myself because I let myself get super hungry before I take the time to eat....so when I do I just shovel it in. I did it just last night & 10 min later I had to pull over my car & throw up on the side of the road. I feel like such an idiot for doing this time & time again. Actually, I feel like a sleeve failure. I told myself last night that I am going to realllly work on this. I need to eat.in the day, but I get super busy & I'm not very hungry.....then by the time my household is ready for dinner I am soooo hungry. I am going to have to put a 3 hour timer to force myself to stop & eat. Protein shakes don't seem to stave off the hunger for me either. I'll feel full after about 10 oz of a 14 oz rtd then starved 2 hours later. I'm about 10 weeks out & realize I still have so much work to do still to readjust my bad habits!!

:scared2:This liquid diet sucks! I know its for a good cause....I really need to get my health back. I want to feel better. This is why I have decided to do the surgery. My son keeps telling me that it's "mind over matter"! Yeah, whateva! It's a lot harder then I thought it was going to be. :confused: I can't believe that I have actually gone 4 whole days without eating food!! 6 more to go! I have lost 10 lbs. in 3 days, so that is a good thing, but truthfully that's the only good thing I can say about this. I have my surgery next Monday! 1 week from today. I am so nervous and excited at the same time. I have doubts creeping in...I keep wondering if I am doing the right thing? Am I making a mistake by doing this? What if I die? What if something goes wrong? I guess this is normal. Also, this liquid diet has taken away all of my energy. I don't feel like doing anything. I think I could sleep all day. I'd like to say, that at least when I'm asleep, I don't think about food! However, I can't say that! One night this week, I was actually dreaming of cooking bacon, frying tenderloins and fried potatoes!! The smell was heavenly! Thank goodness it was only a dream...I'm not sure I could've resisted the temptation! LOL Ok, I've rambled on enough...I just want to remember what I felt like at the beginning of my journey....TIRED, HUNGRY, SCARED, NERVOUS, EXCITED, HUNGRY, READY FOR A CHANGE.

Today is May 5, 2009 The 1st to many Blogs I hope..... The day after my Pre-op appointment. Where do I begin... I was so scared and nervous most of all because of the Blood work, the date approaching and just overall scared. I have been praying for so long that I could have this surgery and after being turned down 3 times the date was set for June 18, 2009 only for me to receive an email stating that my date could be pushed up to May 21, 09 !!!! This is Great because it will be done sooner than later which is also very stressful because I am scared. Just a little. I have so many High hopes and expectations! I really truly want it all to go well and I really want to lose this weight, for several reasons the most important Health and the ability to finally become a Mother! I started my journey at 289.1 lbs on November 2008 only to increase to 297.3 lbs after being turned down 3 times. I called and nagged the hospital for an answer I call and asked the insurance company for an answer. I submitted an appeal and went off to visit realities in the South. upon my return home I phoned the hospital for any update to which I learned "nothing as of yet sweetie" The very next day the young lady who handles the insurance company calls and tells me I HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR SUGERY! I would have to wait however till the letter the healthcare provider mailed out. I received the letter the very next day. My surgery was set for June 18, 2009. A week or so later I received an email stating it could be pushed up to May 21, 09, if i wanted? If I wanted?! I jumped on it! My pre-op was set from 2 weeks from April 20,09 I was overjoyed! I started thinking "Oh no I'm fatter now than when I started I need to lose weight". I also needed to learn how to eat right and start putting the lap band rules into practice, so I did just that. I now weight 282 lbs. down from 297 lbs. I went in on May 4, 2009 at 9:00 AM to meet with the Dr. have blood work done, X-ray and meet anesthesiologist. I was so Nervous! I am on my way to a better life and God willing a step closer to becoming a Mommy! My surgery is scheduled for May 21, 09 at 10:00 Am. I will arrive at 8:00 Am and look forward to being health and safe through out the surgery! I will continue to pray for myself and others. I hope you all reading this will do the same!

I think the person to be asking this question to is your doctor. He would be the best persons instructions to follow. I know my post op diet is 4 days Clear Liquids, 10 days full liquids, 14 days pureed foods. My doctor says this is so that you can heal up completely and that while maybe you feel like your fine to eat something that doesn't fall into those categories or during the proper stage time frame - doesnt mean that you should. That they have this post op diet in place for a reason and that while it may not seem to have any affect to you now - maybe 6 months down the road if it turns out that you have slipped or something of the sort it could very well be tied to any post-op indescretions. That in itself scared me enough to not risk trying ANYTHING out of turn. Good luck with your healing - today's day 1 of my pureed food stage and I am VERY excited to be having pureed tuna for lunch instead of yogurt and pudding!

I don't want to tell you to do something your doctor doesn't recommend but my doctor said if it doesn't hurt or cause you discomfort go ahead and eat it. Within reason though. Hamburger, mashed potatoes, soft veggies, tuna, scrambled eggs, fish etc... were all considered mushies even though they are not literally mushy like mashed potatoes are. I think if you eat it in moderation and choose healthily you should be fine. No STEAK! LOL. I have had no problems eating at all and I was banded 1/10/08. Some people will not agree with me though. Good luck to ya. Any real food tastes amazing after a liquid diet.

You know I am in a complete different mindset now that my weight is dropping with my LB. I use to plan which restaurants I would hit, what food I would cook, and what grocery's I would consume on the weekend. Now I plan on what I can get done, where I am going to walk, and who I will visit. I have made amens with many, including my Dad that I have not spoken to in about 10 years. I think I carried so much guilt on my shoulders with my weight that I had forgot who I was, I have to say again the LB is life changing. Hope everyone gets the same results.

You can do it. Trust me. I seen my Dr and when I seen him in December he told me I had gained 15lbs since I last see him last year well He gave me till Janurey 3rd to lose 5 to 10 pounds and I didn't think I could because of Christmas and New Year's it felt impossible so after Christmas I cut out soda to start and store eating sweets when I went to see him I lost 10lbs and since I started my liquid diet 10 days ago I have lost an additional 15 lbs and I am completely shocked. Anything is possible if you put your mind to it. I have my Surgery Tuesday and I am beyond excited to see how much I have lost. Sent from my SM-N950U using BariatricPal mobile app

We spend so many eager, anxious moments planning for surgery. We trudge through dozens of obligatory pre-op tests, evaluations, and diets. We research and ask questions until our heads could burst. Surgery day comes closer, but at the infuriatingly slow speed of cold molasses going uphill on a snowy winter day. Then suddenly the big day looms. It’s tomorrow! Are you ready? Do you even have a list of last-minute things to do before you leave for the hospital or surgery center? Have you packed your bag yet? Your surgery is tomorrow! Are you ready? Do you have a list of last-minute things to do before you leave for the hospital or surgery center? Have you packed your bag yet? What to Take to the Hospital or Surgery Center This isn't like packing for a two-week vacation. Most hospitals prefer that you bring a minimum of belongings with you and don't want to be responsible for keeping track of them. You'll need less than you'd think. The hospital will want you to wear their gown instead of your own nightgown or pajamas, and you can wear an extra hospital gown backwards to use as a robe so you won't moon anyone when you're roaming the hallways. If you're allowed to shower while you're there (you may not be), they'll provide soap and shampoo. If your feet get cold, the nurses will give you very attractive one-size-fits-few socks with non-slip soles. Here's what I suggest you bring: Insurance ID card Photo ID A copy of your advance health care directive CPAP machine (if you use one) A list of your medications (you may be instructed to bring the actual meds with you) Lip gloss (your mouth & lips will be very dry) Toothbrush, toothpaste and essential toiletries Cosmetics (if you must) IPod or MP3 player Laptop computer (if you must) Something to read (magazines, books, Bible) Loose-fitting clothing (elastic waist) A change of underwear Slip-on shoes or sandals Pillow(s) for the ride home A water bottle for the ride home Bring your cell phone if you like, but some hospitals don't allow use of cell phones on the premises because of possible interference with patient monitoring equipment. Do not bring cash or valuables. The medical staff is there to take care of you, not your engagement ring. Last Minute Things to Do 1. Have someone take Before photos of you (front, back, and side views). 2. Take your body measurements (neck, bust, waist, abdomen, thighs, calves, ankles, upper arms, wrists). 3. Set aside a pre-op outfit of fat clothes to preserve for posterity. 4. Put clean sheets on your bed. 5. Do laundry. 6. Clean your house. 7. Arrange for transportation to and from the hospital. 8. Arrange for child care. 9. Arrange for pet care. 10. Pay your bills. 11. Fill your prescriptions (your usual meds, plus pain-killers, anti-nausea meds and/or blood thinners for after surgery if your surgeon’s willing to prescribe them in advance). 12. Pack your bag for the hospital. 13. Complete & submit any forms your employer requires for your time off from work. 14. Pick up books to read and videos to watch while you recover. 15. Make sure there's easy-to-prepare food in the house for your family to eat. 16. Do your bowel prep if required (laxatives or enema). 17. Check your supplies: § The liquids you'll be allowed to drink in the first week § A blender or Magic Bullet® § Liquid Tylenol § Thermometer § Gas-X® § A heating pad § An ice pack (or a bag of frozen vegetables) § Witch hazel or anti-itch gel (to put on the skin around your itchy incisions, but not directly on the incisions) § Reading material, puzzles, games 18. Remove nail polish (if you wear it) from fingers and toes. 19. Remove all jewelry (including piercings) and put it in a safe place[1]. 20. Bathe with Hibiclens (or other antibacterial cleanser) as instructed by your surgeon. Almost without exception, bandsters’ response to this is that every item on the list is a good idea except items 1 and 2. Some also whine about items 17 and 18, but I’m not interested in hearing what dreadful thing will happen to you if you must undergo surgery while completely unconscious and denuded of your nose stud and blue fingernail polish. Save it for the pre-op nursing staff. I just want to reinforce items 1, 2 and 3. You may hate the camera and the measuring tape with a passion, but some day you’re going to be glad you have those pre-op photos and measurements. Similarly, you may plan to burn that fat outfit in a celebratory bonfire soon, but one day you’ll be glad you saved it. When your bathroom scale is stuck at on a number you hate, comparing your “now” photos, measurements, and clothing to those awful “befores” will remind you of just how far you’ve come, and give you a little push forward on the bandwagon trail. [1] This is not negotiable. I once had my wedding ring cut off by a nurse before she would transport me to the operating room.

old habits died a hard hard death tonight. i've been banded 4 months and tonight was my first PB.. we went for pizza. i wasnt too hungry, but i had some bread. just a tad bit of tightness in my chest. i was fine... waited about 10 mins for the pizza. first piece, no problem. i commented to DH that i get sooo hungry later in the evening that i am just going to eat 1 more piece. less than half way thru that piece, i get more of a tightness... hmmm ... better slow down a bit. i take a nice big gulp of tea (i normally do not drink with my meals but since i worked out right before dinner i was SO thirsty).. major tightness ... MAJOR tightness. i put my arms up (read that somewhere)... still tight in the chest. burp a little bit. rush to the bathroom, cannot even think about even closing the door and or locking it ... it wasnt THAT bad but i dont want it to happen again ... so now what? am i on liquids for a day or so??

I have started the process of getting a sleeve. I have 6 months of physician monitored weight loss, and since I'm a teacher, I'll probably wait until Christmas break to get this done- so I have a bit of time to go. I have a lot of questions, but they are questions my doctor at least treated quite superficially. (I'm going to meet other surgeons because of what seemed to be a very short-term mindset). Here are my big important questions. I'd love to hear what others who are further along in their journey and hopefully some people who are 2 or more years out from surgery. Big Important Question 1: I feel like surgery is the most extreme and kind of like a last chance at taking care of my weight problem. There really isn't anything else to try if I can't make a weight loss stick with surgery. I've lost weight before (sometimes a lot of weight) but it ALWAYS comes back with extra. I'm 28 and maintaining for life is a serious commitment- I've been lucky in the past if I can maintain a weight loss for more than 6 months. Can the sleeve help me when it comes to maintenance? For those of you who have had long-term success with any weight loss surgery, what was it that worked to help you stay healthy long-term? Big Important Question 2: I don't only eat when I'm hungry. I eat sometimes out of habit (when watching tv or because its 'dinner time'). I also eat when I get stressed out or emotional (especially when I'm disappointed or frustrated). With those kinds of triggers for eating, will having surgery still be able to help me? Is that something that I have to stop completely before I would be likely to have a good long-term outcome? Does the process leading up to surgery or the surgery itself help you to really change so that you will still have the weight off 2 or 5 or 10 years down the road? Please share what you felt like going into surgery and what you've learned along the way. Thank you!

I have been seriously trying to be more aware of what I eat, when I eat and the amount I eat at any given time. I have been trying to practice things like chewing foods to mush and sipping beverages slower. I always start off well and can manage pretty well with the fruit and yogurt that I take to work, but by the middle of the day, I feel like I am starving for anything that is either hot or has more substance. You know...FOOD. Although I am still a long way from getting surgery I am trying to create different habits and get my mind right because I know I cant wait until post-op to do it. Funny thing is, I guess because my mind is trying to wrap around these notions, I am noticing different things. I have been drinking alot of water and the last couple of times I tried to drink anything but water (e.g Ocean Spray White Cranberry juice which is my absolute favorite) it tasted incredibly sweet. Today I foolishly went to McDonalds. Although I bought a kids meal instead of quarter pounder, I guiltily ate 2 chicken nuggets, about 10 fries and drank a quarter of the orange drink (if that stuff came out of my faucets I would never leave my house). By the time I arrived home, I had what I like to call a "MC-attack" and found myself in the bathroom wondering what the hell was wrong with me eating that crap because I felt like I had eaten a pound of prunes. Guess like the sweetness of the juice my body is trying to tell me now, what to stay away from. Its probably totally mental but it also kinda worked. You know what pisses me off...when someone who is having the same eating struggles as I am suddenly becomes a expert and offers their opinion on what I should or shouldn't eat. While I lamented over what to have for lunch (I ended up with turkey & swiss on wheat) because I was starving, a co-worker who is in the process of getting gastric, decided to chastise me for saying I wanted "real food" This was after I watched her down a huge bagel slathered with cream cheese for breakfast and then turned around an hour after her lecture to me and attacked the candy dish (its full of the stuff I dont eat) I have for co-workers. I felt like she of all people should understand the struggle. But whatever..:smile2: On a really good note..I was able to get my referral for my appt on Monday with the surgeon and nutrionist before my doctor's office closed for the holiday weekend. I looked it over when I got in my truck and noticed they used the code for "morbidly obese" and although it stung a little, I accepted it is my reality and will hopefully assist with getting approved by my insurance company. :thumbup: Tomorrow is another day..and I will try again to be better towards my goal of eating with a different mindset.

I posted this in the forums, too: Ladies, Wow. Did I get a left turn on my surgery recovery! I was doing fine all up to and through last Saturday. I was even taking a few laps through Sams Club. Then Sunday I started going backwards. I couldn't sit up or even stay awake for very long. And the pain in my upper belly was very bad. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the worst it was a -- 10! Finally, Monday evening, my husband took me to the emergency room. I was in severe distress. My STOMACH had filled with gas and bloated to almost 3 times its size! YIKES! And the "anti-nausea" medicine I was taking was giving me an adverse reaction, too, making me MORE nauseous instead of FIXING the nausea! They switched my anti-nausea from phenegren to fortran (?) I think. Anyway, with a few days worth of morphine dosing, some more bariatric tests to be sure everything was okay, then some meds to help break down the stomach gas, I'm doing much better. The stomach is still bloated, but it's tolerable and seems to be improving. I finally got home this afternoon. Apparently I have what the doctors referred to as "diabetic stomach," which they either a) made up to tell me something, or really exists and is a SONuvaBEECH! Apparently diabetics can sometimes have "nerve damage" in their stomachs that prevents them from creating the movement that moves gas up and out. Then add the lap band on top of that and holy cow. Ouchies! So they gave me some meds to break it up and move it out the other way. (toot toot!) I must say, I'm feeling more human today and looking very forward to the rest of this healing! All I gotta say now is, pheeeeeeeeeewwwweeeeeee.

:crying:Wednesday, June 10, 2009 Goodbye, food Last night I said goodbye to food--forever. Well, not quite. But I did have to start on a low-carb, liquid diet in preparation for lap band surgery, which, the Lord willing, will happen next Thursday. Its been a long journey. I began the official process a year ago, when I'd had enough with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, borderline diabetes and constant pain from osteo-arthritis. I jumped through a lot of insurance hoops and tests to get to this point. I prayed for healing from my food cravings and I still do. Everyday is a battle with the desire to eat and eat and eat. Over time, the food has won. And I battle with what I think other people will think. How they, especially Christians, will judge me. I've only told a few people about the surgery. Now I'm letting the world know. I believe its important for my recovery that I not hide this in a corner. Whether anyone reads this or not isn't important. My food cravings won't go away just because I can't eat much. Journaling has always helped me cope during tough times. I'm hoping it will help now, and that maybe it will help others. A verse came to me in church last Sunday that confirmed my decision. Jesus said it in Matthew 5:29. "If your eye offends you, pluck it out." Its better to go without the eye or the hand that causes you to sin, than to keep it and endure hell (my interpretation). Hence the name of my blog: If Your Stomach Offends You, Tie It Off. It's better to go through life without much of a stomach than to live in the despair and physical destruction caused by food addiction.

hi everyone, here i am almost done with my two week week recovery time, and getting ready to return to work early next week. updates: i took the steri-strips off my small incisions and they look ok. i am leaving the big one for my doctor... today i decided that i NEEDED to eat something other than a liquid, and made myself some soft cooked scrambled egg beaters with a little melted cheese. i ate very slowly (it must have taken me 10 minutes to eat the tiny amount i cooked) and chewed about 12 gazillion times before swallowing. one word. :tt1:YUM. after endless liquids it was like a feast. so tasty. fullness: i am pleased to report that i did indeed become quite full. after putting down the plate, i plopped down on my back on my bed with a big smile and took a nap. OH! I'm no longer too sore to sleep in my normal position so that has been quite lovely. all for now. amh

Friday, June 19, 2009 Sugery's Done, New Life's Begun Surgery went well. The Dr. fixed a hiatal hernia (common with overweight people) which should fix my GERD (gastroesophogeal reflux). That'll be one less pill right there. However, with laparoscopic surgery air gets put into the abdominal cavity. Every time I take a sip of liquid and I swallow some air goes into my stomach which pushes on the air outside the stomach which presses some nerve in the diaphram that sends referred pain to the shoulders. I should absorb that air in a few days. My stomach's a little sore, but so far, there are very few repercussions to me physically. I'm only allowed to drink clear liquids for the first 5-7 days, and believe me, that's all I can handle. I can't garden for a few weeks or take a bath or go swimming. There's a port under the skin that the Dr. will use to adjust my lap band (think inflatable doughnut.) He'll put a needle through that port to blow up the ring as my stomach shrinks and the band loosens. If I have complications, the band can be removed. I am quite mobile, I can walk as much as I want, I just can't do anything strenuous that might move the band out of place. I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. I was very at peace before the surgery that I was doing the right thing and that God was with me. I'm excited and scared about this new life but I know God is walking with me through it all.

I got banded on thurs am, and after I was VERY groggy and sore across my torso. I got home yesterday and was still very sore. Today I feel much better. Whenever I got to the restroom, I try to walk around for 10 minues and then sit for 30. I think that is helping. Going from layig down to sitting is the most sore. Good luck!

Thanks for posting this thread as we all need the motivation. I have a theme this month: March is a Verb. In otherwise, time to get marching! I am working out 80 minutes 4-5 times a week and really need to make sure I am doing something every single day, or even doubling up some on the days when I have a workout. So, my goals: 1) Get back down to the basement for sporadic 10-20 minutes on the treadmill even on days when I've already worked out 2) Any day that is not too cold call a friend to walk at the lake. 3) Check out the pool at parents' retirement facility. No one uses it and getting a little swimming in would be a great thing. Can start slowly. 4) Do PT exercises with my husband -- they are great for me, too (working with weights). 5) Keeping drinking lots of my drink (32 ounce glass bottle filled 3/4 way with Water, then cranberry juice unsweetened, aloe vera and magnesium). Get in 2-3 of these a day.

Two things have about trashed my month of July - as well as my fragile lap-band routine. At the risk of sounding like making excuses, we've hosted three teenage grandsons for the last three weeks - nice kids, but very hard to manage everything with house guests. Eating out a lot, no down time, no organization time. This was not a good event, starting just days after my first fill. Also, have been working early and late on a big project (many 12-14 hour days). In combination with above, did not do a good job of bringing healthy lunches / dinners. That being said, have managed to manage my weight - about 235 (down 32 total since starting program in Nov 08). But so disappointed, wanted to have made more progress by now, almost 2 months post-surgery. Also, am just plain overwhelmed. Made a list of all the things I'm stress over, and it is very long. DH isn't a worrier, and can't figure out why I worry about things I can't control. We have a strict policy: I worry about everything, he worries about nothing. No wonder I tend to overeat. Visited the "Struggling" section tonight. I'm not feeling like a failure, but I can see one could fall off the grid very quickly - especially after the tremendously long build-up to surgery. I think my other problem is I need a fill. I have 3 ccs in a 10 cc band. Virtually no restriction. Was going to wait until Sep, but will call and go asap in Aug - why wait. Got to jump restart. Hope FitDay is fixed by now on this site, need to drink the water religiously, get back to walking more. Well, signing off for now. Be back tomorrow, I know that helps a lot, too.

I mentioned how desperate I was right…. Well, yesterday I drank two cups of a laxative tea called Smooth Move (one in the morning and one on my way home from work). My husband, bless his soul, also went to the store and bought me a drink called Simply Apple (amazing what an apple can do!). Now I don’t know which one did it or if it was a combo of the two but things got moving! Now I am all better. I knew there would be some difficulty going since I wasn’t putting all that much in my system to begin with, especially the weekend after my surgery. I knew I was slightly dehydrated and that would slow things down. But the bloating and pressure was getting way too uncomfortable. 10 days is a VERY long time to go without having a BM. Now I can get back to my diet plan and hopefully stay moving. I’m thinking of adding some Activia yogurt to my daily diet plan to stop this from happening again. But a little fiber in my protein shake every morning sounds like a plan too and cheaper I’m sure. I can’t tell you all how much I love this place. Everyone is so wonderful and helpful. And yes, for sure we are all a family! I wish I would have found this site sooner… Thanks to all! You guys rock! P.S. I don’t know if I’d ever recommend the above combo to anyone for relief. Even though I feel much better now, it was a desperate measure and it was painful. For me it was worth it as I finally feel normal. Plus now I can feel that I lost weight - NO MORE BLOATED TUMMY! I’m going to be sure to add something to my daily diet so that I never have to go through that again! XOXO -D :sneaky:

Wednesday, July 29, 2009 Saboteur-Perfectionism Perfectionism can sabotage compulsive overeaters very quickly. As I read the posts of other bandsters I can see people sabotaging themselves, beating themselves up, setting themselves up for failure, because they were less than perfect in their adherance to a food protocol. Many bandsters are able to relax with their bands and trust the bands. But not those going through band or bandster hell--that time when their bands have not yet been filled enough to create the restriction they need, and they're trying desperately to maintain the food protocol and lose weight using all the tricks that never worked for them in the past--at least not for long. I've been losing weight while I wait for my first fill on August 11, but it's slowed way down. I told myself that it was good enough not to gain during this time. I've also given myself the accountability of writing in this blog every night and I think that really helps. I'm very aware of the trap of perfectionism and am trying to avoid it. There are some posts from people in bandster hell that are almost despairing. They were so excited by the weight loss they experienced while on the liquid portion of the food protocol and are now utterly dismayed that as their eating returned to normal their weight loss has stopped. I particularly feel sorry for those who've had several fills and are not yet experiencing restriction. I also see the addiction to weighing every day on the scale and how a normal variation in weight that causes a temporary small gain can sabotage them. Most times its just water weight from PMS or traveling in a car, but it sends them into a tizzy. One bandster unexpectedly reached goal when her Dr. looked at her and told her to not pay attention to the BMI guidelines. She hadn't lost in a couple of months and was despairing of reaching a healthy BMI. Fortunately her Dr. looked at her and not at the charts. The woman is 175 lbs but wears a size 8 or 10. She has to be a beanpole and very tall or very muscular to weigh that much and wear that small a size. Or maybe she has thick legs. But she went from a size 26 to a size 8 and she was beating herself up for not being able to lose the last 7 or 8 lbs to reach a "normal" BMI. Various people were posting about their BMI's (Body Mass Index) and whether they wanted to go for the "normal" BMI or the BMI Weight Watchers has said is the "healthiest." Thank God my Dr. never mentioned my BMI. He just eyeballed me and said, "Based on your age and your height you probably ought to go for about 170 lbs." I was so relieved. That'll put me in a size 14 or 12 which I am perfectly happy to wear. I feel great at that weight and look fine. I have no desire to be skinny. Trying to look perfect was what got me started dieting when I wasn't even fat and led to the cycle of binge/purge(diet) that screwed up my metabolism and got me fat in the first place. Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt. There was only ever one human being that did life perfectly and I'm not he. I'm me. And I'm loved for the Cheri I've been, the Cheri I'm becoming, and the Cheri I will be when all my warts and peccadillos and struggles aren't eliminated, but are transformed into something beautiful when he comes for me. None of this nonsense about food and weight and being perfect is going to amount to a hill of beans when he gathers me up in his arms and holds me and calls me his precious child.

Are you measuring and logging your food? If not, you might find it helpful to start. There's no way to know for sure where (or if) you're off track unless you can look back at a week and analyze it. If you are already a logger, how many calories and carb grams are you eating per day typically? And are you certain you are continuing to drink the recommended 64 oz. of Water per day? I'm 10 months out as well and I find myself getting lax in that department. But it is really important.

Mandy, My story is very much like yours. Here is a post i made almost 2 years ago now. Please stay with it. Kelley and Walter Lindstrom are so helpful. I am 21 months post surgery now and slightly below my goal weight. Search for my posts to see my frustrations while going through the approval process. I picked this one as it made me very happy Posted August 4, 2011 - 3:10 PM Congratulations to everyone that was approved. I have Aetna and was denied. the denial was upheld in the first and second level appeal by Aetna. It was so stressful. The final appeal is an independent external review process. This is where the decision goes out to an independent doctor not associated with the insurance company who will decide based upon the information provided if the patient meets the standards published by NIH and other medical groups. Mine did and the decision by Aetna was overturned. The entire process took almost 10 months and was SO stressful. All of my appeals were done with the help of http://www.obesitylaw.com It cost me nothing and Kelley is the BEST !! She called me 2 days before I was going to Disney to tell me the good news. She even offered to give me passes to Disneyland that they use to take out the employees in the office each year. Unfortunately I was going to Disney World in FL so I couldn't use the passes. She was so nice I decided I would tell everyone who was having issues with approval about them. They provide an awesome service to people who could really use help. I believe her husband Walter had both Gastric bypass and a Lapband revision later on. Good Luck to anyone having to deal with Aetna. 1st Lap band seminar: 12/14/2009 Highest weight: 253 Pre-op diet starting weight: 247 Banded: 12/28/2010 : 236 1st fill: 2/8/11 (4.5cc) 2nd fill: 3/15/11 (7cc total) 3rd fill: 4/25/11 (8cc total) 4th fill: 9/30/11 (8.5cc total) 18 months post-op: 175