Search the Community

Eh, 10 lbs or so is nothing over the holidays for me. Unless you're so tight that you seldom feel hunger, this time of year can be difficult. Gear up for the New Year and look for those satiety signals. tmf

Sorry to barge in on your ladies . . . I notice the word AGAIN in the title, how about EVER, or FOR THE FIRST TIME? I was skinny as a youth, painfully so. Then as a young adult I was thin but had no muscle mass, just round sausage like arms and legs with no definition. It continued as I matured and got married and was pretty shapeless as a young married man, then started packing on the pounds and in a few years was a blimp. So I never HAVE felt sexy, till recently. I have a nice flat stomach with just a little sag in my abdomen and rear. I've started to work on my arms and they now have some swoops and curves in them rather than just straight lines. My legs also have some nice sculpture to them too and I at last feel at least somewhere past the Blah! level on the sexy-or-not scale. I know it's just my wife that gets the benefits but I am pleased that she finally has some "eye candy" to stare at too. I've had all the pleasure of visual stimulation all these past 30 years. One thing that "annoys" her is the fact that I look like 10-15 years younger now. I was pretty worn and haggard looking before, now I look a lot better. she is somewhat afraid that I will wander. I try and convince here that I'm hers and hers alone but she still has nagging doubts.

I got my lapband in Nov. 2008, in the first 6 months I lost 70 pounds, but then I got a neck injury and things changed, after it got better I then moved to Germany for work, so I never got back on track. The band seems to be in place and does limit my portions, but towards the end of my time in Europe 10 pounds crept on. Then I lost it since I've been back but it keeps creeping back on! So, now I am wondering if getting a refill again will help me, so that I can get rid of the remianing 50 pounds; I have really tried to get back into a better eating routine, although it is not making a difference-I stopped eating the foods and chocolate from Europe. When I had the surgery, afterwards I had no problem with following all nutritional guidelines and even had NO craving for sweets or carbs! Do you think that would happen again? I have an appointment with my lapband surgeon in a couple of weeks, I just hope it will make a difference.

My NUT/Surgeon will not give me calorie goals. I'm sitting at about 1200 calories a day at 9 months out and still losing. 10 pounds from goal so slowly upping my calorie intake. I've asked my NUT several times where my calories should be and she just told me to make good choices and it won't matter.

Ok, how long after surgery did you have a bowel movement. My surgery was 10/11 and nothing yet.

My doctor/nutritionist do not want me to ever eat any product that contains yeast. Not sure why yeast specifically, but I know they do not want me to have most breads and similar products. They also do not want me to have any rice and only limited portions of wheat pasta. I CAN however eat 6-10 whole wheat crackers, so I am using that as my "bread". I think I am going to just have to do my best to do a mostly keto"ish" diet. I also just ordered cheese crisps to substitute crackers and add a little protein in their place. Not sure how I will like those yet. Ordered a variety so maybe I can find something tasty. Pre-packaged food: I am going to do my best to avoid all processed pre-packaged food. It usually isn't very healthy for you. But, if I do need something quick and easy I am not opposed to using them occasionally. But instead of frozen meals, I will try to get some fresher versions from local delis. Haven't tried the bariatric site meals, but I did buy some bariatric soups for after surgery.

I have been doing water aerobics on and off for the last 10 years. When I hurt my knees before the surgery it was a life saver. Now I do it twice a week on the days where it is more carbo driven. I have now moved on to the elliptical which is now my favorite machine. I think that if you are happy with it, stick to it. It does help tone and the baggy skin will go away.

I would think you should be ok. I have a very physical job too. I am an LVT, and I am constantly picking up dogs and bending down etc. I avoided lifting any animals over 20lbs in the beginning. By week 3, I believe it was, I was back lifting over 60 lb animals and carrying them to the scale, into x-ray etc. with no problem. At my 10 day post op check I asked when it was ok to do weights and stuff, and they said 2 moreweeks, so I waited til then (well almost0. But I think you should be ok.

Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't responded. Just an update...I went back to my therapist on 10/30/18 and we're going to start sessions again. I used to see him pre-surgery and he specializes in eating disorders and OCD. I'm hopeful and will keep you posted. Thank you so much for all the feedback

All docs have different regimens, check with yours at your post op. My doc cleared me for cardio, and I took that as going hard on my 9 day post op visit. I didn't actually start til 2 weeks post op. He told me to wait I think 2-3 more weeks to start lifting. I started a little earlier than he said since, I had to for work, I had to get a critical about 50 lb dog to the back quickly for treatment. But oh well. After that I started back on the weight machines at the gym, with no problems. I understand the cabin fever, I took a week off work post op, and I was feeling pretty good by day 4 and I was getting so bored at home. Especially since I live alone with my dogs, so no real human interaction...LOL. I even dug my car out of a foot of snow to go back to work that monday, because I was so bored. (probably should not have done that and I never told my doc I did, but 10 months post op, no damage done.)

I think we all go through the dreaded 3 week stall. Stay with healthy foods and what you can eat comfortably. I myself wouldn't even try to eat junk food anymore. Why set myself up for those bad habits again? I'm not quite 3 months out. I was at a stall for what seemed like weeks, right after surgery. It was driving me batty! I even thought I did better on my own with the weight loss I had lost before surgery. I still only get in 400-800 calories a day. Then boom, the scale started moving. Looking at my tools on MyFitnessPal, I had lost 10 pounds in 20 days. That is on average a half a pound a day! You're going to have stalls. You're body is just rearranging it's self. While you stall, you lose inches. Once that is done, the scale starts moving again. You didn't gain all your weight overnight. You're not going to lose it over night.

Uh ok, I'll be the first to say it....After all, I have been married for 10 years. Renewed sex life. Fitting into airplane seats. Hugs from my daughter. Being able to run more than 50 feet. Rubbing it in my family docs face that I don't need her stupid medications that would probably make me feel worse anyway. Feet that are an entire size smaller. Finding old 'skinny clothes' in your closet that are actually to large now. Fitting in to restaurant booths. Burning old granny panties in the fireplace! Shopping in regular stores, knowing that the clothes will fit. Not worrying that they wouldn't have a wet suit large enough for me when I went to snorkle in Florida this sumer. Ohhh, the list goes on and on and on....what are some of your favorite things about your new you. And best of all, bending over to empty the dishwaher just to have your hubby come up behind you and say..."Wow!" and not out of sheer horror, for once. That was my personal cherry on top moment.

Yeah, I choose the interval program for 60 minutes. It alternates between two intensities with two minutes at each one. I enter my age and weight when I start. I get pretty sweaty by the end of it. I was just reading that inexperienced exercisers usually burn about 4-5 calories a minute while you can burn about 10-12 calories per minute when you're really in shape. If this is true, and I'm burning like 5 calories per minute, that would only be 300 calories for 60 minutes.:crying:

Hi, I know this may be insensitive talking about food because I know many of us are still only a few days post op, but I can't help it :thumbup:... I am 10 days post-op and I swear I can think of nothing else but this great falafel sandwich, or grilled cheese sanswich, or turkey sub that I would love to be eating right now.. Does this get better once I go into the soft food stage (only taking liquids).. Will this go away once I start to eat again? I find it hard to concentrate sometimes because I'm thinking about what I would like to eat... Maybe cuz I'm HUNGAAARY, and I'm sick of drinking? :thumbup: Advice?

Hi, I like the Optifast coffee milkshake. tastes just like iced coffee to me and easy to drink. I am two days post op - banded 6/10/07 and struggling with sips of water - so actually looking forward to a coffee milkshake!!! cheers Jude

Ok i have just gotten back from the hospital and although i knew which way it was gonna go (pushing me down gastric bypass route) i still held out some hope that i may be able to get banded. The surgeon was an absolute dickhead!!! Didnt listen to anything i had to say...was going on about the advantages of gastric bypass...(yeah right being on supplements for the rest of my life) i was sitting there thinking you fool!! I told him the whole story...blah blah, but he didnt really seem to want to listen. To top it all off, my appointment was for 16.15. But the hospital had a fire alarm...by the time i got back in he waiting room it was already 16:15 and there were three people before me, i didnt end up going to see him untill 5:30pm. The other ladies were in there between 30-50 mins. I was in and out of their in 10 minutes!! Throughout me sitting in the waiting room and through teh consultation the fire alarm was STILL going on. I swear i can still hear it ringing in my ears!! He then told me that i cant book and full assessment, until i go home and "think about it". Like i haven't been for the last four years!!!! What an EEEEDDDIOTTT!!!:thumbup::cursing: Bascially unless my bmi is the fourtys they are not going to do it, so the NHS can go F**K themselves (and to think, money is taken out of my pay packet every month and i cant even get a service what i have literally paid for) !!! As i have said before whether it be paid for by the NHS or by me i will get banded. I will self pay, i tell you there is no money to much i wont pay to get my health back into check. Ok so im a lil pissed off when i come out of the hospital, i really shouldn't of been as deep down i knew what they would say. I picked my mum up from the airport today and she has no idea about my surgery plans. When i get to my mums house, she asks where did i go. I was in two minds about telling her the truth, but i said to myself if she asks i will tell her. In my head im thinking here it goes....!! "where did you go" me: "i went to see an nhs consultant about weight loss surgery" Mum: "What? weight loss surgery" me: "yes" Mum: "NO, NO, NO,!!!! So they can cut your stomach?? Dont even think about it" Me: "No actually, they don't do it as open surgery!! Do you even know what kind of weight loss surgery i want? It called a gastric band, do you know what that is??" Mum: No! Me: " Well you shouldn't start shouting if you don't know what it is that im talking about!" At this point i just want to burst into tears, but i hold them back walk away and take some deep breathes. I just find it really sad that the one person that i would really like supporting me is totally against the idea. The only person who i know i have 100% from is my sister, she has really been my rock throughout this, and really don't know what i would do without her. I was able to vent to her and she made me feel so much better. I know it may sound wrong but that was another reason i wanted to tell as few people about the procedure as possible. I will be self paying and going to Belgium for the procedure and i will not be telling my mother that im going or having the procedure done. I really dont think that she understands the extent of how this excess weight is making me so unhappy. I'm normally and bright and happy person but i have felt so down today, i feel everyone is against me except my sister. I really do thank god for forums like this because is it of such support to me. Anwyays to cut a long story short i will be self paying and having surgery on sept 1st. I have always done everything for everybody else, its time i started thinking about myself for once. If people cant accept my decision then that is their problem NOT MINE!! Im doing this for ME and nobody else, for once in my life im doing something for ME. and as the loreal adverts say......"BECAUSE IM WORTH IT"!! Lapband here i come!!!

I think that some people get the bypass as the band is still relatively new. I think that in about 10 more years the rolls may be reversed as the complications are so much different. I know that the death rate is considerably lower also. For me, my cardio Dr. was happy to ok the band but a bypass,, He wouldnt recomend that one. Best wishes, your decision is one only you can make!

Ok Its official... I just had my first PB on a damn triscuit cracker. I don't get it. I have been eating trisquits and cheese every day this week for lunch and not one problem, today I ate a trisquit without chess and that did it. It felt like it was stuck and wanted to go down it was almost like having contractions in my throat. It would hurt for 5 -10 seconds then go away 30 seconds later it would hurt for 5-10 seconds , this went on for about 10 minutes, then the slime and the watering of the mouth. Once the piece came up my mouth started watering uncontrollably and my heart was pounding. It was actually quite scary. I'm still here recuperating from all that trauma. My band had been so fickle lately..two days ago I could of eaten a horse (but didn't) and since then I have been having so much tightness in my chest and where my band is placed with some strange discomfort not reflux or heartburn just tightness.( i know it's called restriction right?) So now I'm going to go on liquids for 2 days per my doctors instructions on a PB episode. I do not want this to happen again and I know if you PB you need to rest your tummy and esphogus right? When you go on liquids is it just Clear Liquids or anything that can go through a straw? Any input wouldbe appreciated. I feel so silly asking questions I really know the answers too but need some input since this is my first official PB Thanks

Getting banded July 21 and starting my 10 days of liquids. Have picked up some Atkins choc & strawberry shakes and the choc is tasty. Also have a gallon of water with me today. Any other shake suggestions would be appreciated.

Today was surgery day. I can't believe how at peace I feel with this decision. I know there will be days when I will wonder what in the heck I did this for but not today. Woke at 4:45 to shower and dress. Headed to the hospital at 5:30 for my 6am arrival time. Headed to surgery around 7:45. Not sure how long actual surgery took but I was coming to, trying to pry my eyes open around 9:00, I think. Immediately knew gas pain in my chest and left shoulder was going to be a reality for a while. Now I know what heart attack victims mean when they say it feels like "an elephant sitting on your chest". My elephant needs a lapband! Deep breathing helps the chest pain but then it feels like I have a knife twisting in my shoulder. However, writing this at 7 pm the pain is lessening and I know will go away in time. I will survive! Left hospital at noon and was back home by 1 pm. Have been drinking 2-4 ozs water every hour. This is not a problem so far. I actually want much more but am afraid I will be sick so am holding back. Food doesn't appeal to me right now. Had some SF jello earlier but it was so sweet I coldn't finish it. How strange after 10 days of no sugar that jello now seems too sweet. I like the feeling, however. I have been walking around the house every hour trying to hasten the gas departure and make sure no nasty blood clots come. I have been trying to read but about 3 pages in my eyelids become weighted with lead and I'm off to bed for another nap. I haven't taken any pain pills since leaving the hospital but probably will before night bedtime just to keep ahead of the game. I suspect tomorrow will be the most painful. Seems the second day is always worse than the first. I am also looking forward to eating "real food". Oatmeal, even very watered down, sounds heavenly right now. I'm not really hungry but want something with a flavor other than chocolate protein shake! I am so happy to be posting this blog. Some days I thought it would never happen but here I am and am SO EXCITED about what lies ahead. Good luck to everyone who is banded and those still waiting! I'm proud to now call myself a bandster!:blushing:

Wow, it's been a while since I've posted anything. I've been so busy with my new job and so much other crap it's been insane. I feel like I've been on a vacation (too long of one) from the site. Sorry to all (if any) loyal readers of my blog. Thanx heaps for your loyalty if there are any. So many things have happened since I posted last. Where do I start. Had a Birthday on the 26th of September, the big 29, had some issues with it. So I got a tattoo.....on the top of my foot. (see profile pic) The words say "Pa Norm" and "Pa Jim" for my grandpas. In my opinion memorial tattoos are super cool, if done properly. Two of only three men I'd ever think of getting their names tattooed anywhere on my body. Daddy being the other of course. Went to the races the weekend after my birthday. The NASCAR race at Kansas Speedway. Needed to narrow it down, saying I went to the races is like saying Kyle Busch got pissed off and spun someone into the wall. (happens a lot for you non race fans out there) Always a good time. Did really well. I was very proud of myself. Usually there's some pretty good tailgate fare at the track. None of it bandster friendly. Came out of it two pounds lighter than going in. HOT DAMN! :Banane25: In other news the new job is great. Loving it. It's refreshing to work for a company that cares about its employees. Been there a little over a month and can actually see myself retiring from there if they'll have me after I finally graduate from college. Hubby has finally come around about this. Took him long enough. lol He's noticed the huge (or maybe not so huge :huh2:) difference in me since surgery. I can wear stuff he's never seen me wear that's been laying around the house. He's been begging me to get rid of most of the stuff I can wear now. Why do we do that ladies? Keep clothes around that without a small miracle (LAP-BAND®®®®®® in our case) will never fit us again in a million lightyears? Any suggestions? Went back to get my third fill. Pretty much at my sweet spot I think. I lost 6 pounds last month so I'm getting there. Slow and steady wins the race people. I'm up to 40 total pounds lost. My goal is 100 so I'm 10 pounds from half way there. That's the huge goal to meet right now. Since I never thought I'd get here. Figured out I can't have ANY TYPE OF BREAD. Tortillas, cookies, cake, bread, anything that you can ball up and throw at someone basically. Forget it. Had a VERY bad experience with a half a biscuit a couple weeks ago. :puke:NOT MY IDEA OF A GOOD TIME! However, never once have I eaten too much and made myself sick. That was my biggest fear going into this. It's amazing how my quality of life has went up. I'm actually writing this after reading all of my previous blogs from starting my journey. Holy cow how far I've come. I do notice though that I never waivered on my choice to do this. Never will. I'd do it again, in a heartbeat. Still sticking to an Atkins based structure. Pretty much high protein all the way for me. A lot of people ask me how much I've lost. When I talk to or see people I don't spend much time with that's the first thing they ask me. As if that's the only way they see me. I've told them to stop asking. I appreciate their concern for my well being and progress, but it creates a stigma about me and my LAP-BAND®®®®®® brothers and sisters that I don't like. I'm the same Erika I've been all my life, just skinnier. In my opinion it creates a worse relationship with food than I had before. They're constantly watching what/how much I'm eating. Not for me. Makes me nervous. I don't want them making special menus or only going to restaurants that serve fish (my protein of choice) when I go out to dinner with them. No. That's not what this is about nor is it why I did it. I've become weirdly shy about certain things as I've gotten older.......Maybe shy isn't the right word. Adult. Conservative. Discreet. Whatever, I don't want to be the one that puts the wrench in everyone elses plans. If I can't eat where the majority of people want to go, I'll sip my ice tea in peace and enjoy the pleasure of everyone's company, then eat when I get home. I want them to see me as the Erika I've always been, only skinnier, as I said. This has changed my life. It's amazing the difference it's made. There are no words to describe it. This site has saved me from the brink a few times. You guys are awesome. Keep up your great losses everyone. Talk to you all later.

The Backstage Pass Radio Program is sponsored by BariatricPal.com! You can save 15% at store.bariatricpal.com by using the code DIVAT or POWERGIRL at checkout! WANT TO WIN SOME PRIZES TONIGHT? I got you covered! 7pm PST, keep this number handy: 347-857-2052! I am giving away 2 makeup kits, a turquoise necklace set, and a $10 Gift Card of your choice on tonight's show at 7pm! To win, you'll just need to call-in when prompted and give me the name of ONE of tonight's show sponsors (hint: you should say BARIATRICPAL.COM!!!) To listen to the show streaming on any device, simply click on this link: http://tobtr.com/9615387 Or, you can go directly to www.backstagepassradio.com. I'll also be doing a Facebook Live! from my personal page @divataunia and on the radio show page @backstagepassradio I have two big announcements at the top of the show that you don't want to miss! Thanks for sharing and spreading the word. Talk with you tonight at 7pm PST!!

Can you be more specific as to why it is tough? Im having surgery on 10/28/2017 and want to know as much as possible to try and prepare 51 year old woman VSG DATE: 10/28/17 5' 5" HW: 259 CW: 249 SW: --- GOAL: 135

I have a vg band which was put in Sept 07. A week ago, we realized it "slipped" and I need to go in for a revision surgery. My doc has taken out the 8cc's out of my 10 cc band. My new surgery date is Nov 5th. I am a little concerned that if my band slipped once, it may slip again? We think it was caused from a bout of vomitting (all night long), but doc says no one knows for sure. I have visited the gastric sleeve site, and it did intrigue me. But I don't have time to do all the research my doc is on vacation all week and my surgery is a week from tomorrow! :thumbup: So I would love to hear some success stories of people who are rebanded with the lapband! Bring it on!

I am trying not to stress right now but I have to come up with a 24 month weight history. The only thing I have is only 16 months old. I have tried hopitals and doctor offices but all there records are from 01-02 and my weight was not high enough then. I only got above 40 in about 05. The doctor office said I could write a letter about my past weight, but I don't know where to start. Does anyone hava sample letter or a letter they wrote? Iam just not a writer and don't know what to put or how to start. Any Advice??