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Hi, I am also beginning my journey to a new me. I have struggled all my life with obesity. My mom taught weight watchers for most of my childhood and I know all the rules, tips, and tricks. Didn't matter. I have poor self esteem and low confidence. Bullied heavily in school. Now I just turned 32 last week and I'm 336lbs. I can't play with my 9 and 6 yo boys. Hubby is disabled veteran that is 380lbs. Life is rough for us and traditional diets are not working. I am scheduled for my first class where I get my binder. I may be able to skip the dieting wait period due to my sleep apnea. I'm just waiting to get my sleep study record from 2012. Hubby isn't totally on board so I need support. Found you guys! More to come as I progress! Sent from my SM-T377V using BariatricPal mobile app

I also find the support groups invaluable. Nothing beats being able to talk to others that have had the same experience. You probably learn a lot more from them than you would from your Dr.But if you can't get to one then you have to look at other options. This process does get easier.They say that it takes 12 weeks to form a new habit so the longer you do it for the more natural it becomes.Before you get restriction you may still get hungry but as Cathy has already said if you are hungry eat a healthy snack. I think that what you eat is more important than how much. Rather eat a bit more of something healthy than a little bit of junk. And 17lb in 17 weeks is great. The average is 1 - 2lb per week so you are losing what you should be.You didn't put the weight on overnight so you can't expect to lose it that way either. Remember slow and steady wins the race!

I'm 6 months out and 21 pounds from my goal of 130. I've noticed the last month or so it seems I lose more or faster when I eat more carbs. I usually try to eat one heavy carb a day like, rice, potatos, tortilla and the rest of the day low carb.. I eat about 1/3 a cup when I eat. My sleeve is just as small now as the day I got sleeved.. I don't drink sugar and rarely drink drinks with any other sweetner.. Yesterday, DH's birthday... I ate BBQ, potato salad, baked Beans heavy on the bbq sauce and cake without frosting and a smoothie from smoothie king.. No extra exercise... I lost a pound and a half.. I weigh myself twice a day every day and my weight does not flucuate I usually weight myself before i eat and at night at least 2 hours after I eat.. This is not the first or the second time this happened to me.. In the past I haven't eaten anything this extreme though. I'm starting to think my body is in starvation mode... What do you all think?

I was definitely a little tired on my pre-op diet; I think an extremely low calorie diet tends to do that, at least until the body gets used to it. However, the nausea is worrisome. Call your surgeon, bariatric nurse, clinical weight loss coordinator, nutritionist, WHOEVER, and tell them about it. My concern is that you might be reacting to the Protein powder, particularly if it's whey-based. Good luck!

Lindsay - I'm going to be frank with you and say that your message had alot of excuses in it. Believe me, I know what it's like to be dead tired after work and not want to go anywhere but home. But we recently started a support group of bandsters in our area that meet once a month and it is extremely helpful like Junbug says. It keeps you focused and motivated to stay on track and make positive changes. And hopefully if your screwing up and making excuses somebody will have the decency to call you out on it (in a supportive way). I really believe the first few months are the hardest because you still remember your old eating habits and have to develop new ones and new ways to cope with the reasons you were over eating in the first place. Forums are great to have a chance to message with those having similar experiences but the face-to-face support groups can be a great help to keep you on the right track. You need to find what works for you. Force yourself to take time to exercise, only bring foods in the house that are healthy foods for you to eat and stay away from slider foods. It is normal to feel a little depressed at times after surgery. If you're not at the correct restriction yet, alot of the weight loss is of your own doing and not really the band helping you. So continue to get your fills if you're not at the proper restriction. I sincerely want you to do well. It is quite easy to fall back into old patterns and behaviors. You need to find some new routines that will make a positive impact and keep you progressing. Please don't get discouraged and think this is all a bad decision on your part. You need to give it a sincere effort (both mentally, physically) and follow the proper bandster rules to see if this is going to work for you. Otherwise you are just kidding yourself if you expect the band to do it all for you. As they say, they banded your stomach - not your brain. I wish you the very best.

We all KNOW that we DID diet and did not get ANY results--and then we dieted over and over again, and over and over again we had no results! You hang in there because before you know it, it will be week six, then week seven, etc. and you will forget all the trials and tribulations you had in the beginning--especially when those pounds just come off--slowly, but your weight will actually go DOWN! You know you've made the right decision--it's just tough times now. Michelle is totally correct when she said, "This too shall pass!"

Miss K fom the Land Down Under, All I can say is make sure you use some form of birth control. Most overweight women including myself have had so many GYN problems. From what I have learned WLS can make you VERY fertile. Which is good if your goal is to have a baby. I have been having hot flashes at 34, so I am on the other end of the spectrum (but I take my pills everday). I'm no doc, and I only speak from my experience. My cycle was crazy after the surgery, due to the sudden weight loss. As my weight loss is more stable, so is my cycle. Call your GYN if it doesn't get better and have them check your hormone levels and buy pads in bulk...lol

In my case I could not show a gain at all from one month to the next, actually, one NUT visit to the next. If I gained a pound I would have been denied.

I don't think you can choose where you lose, most of us who are obese have big tummies and a lot of people seem to lose from top to bottom, that is, their face and neck look slim before the rest of them does. Our bodies are all different, I am really a pear not an apple. I had my surgery on Halloween and have lost 12 pounds since my highest weight. I can already see that my tummy looks smaller, it doesn't "lap over" like it did before. Not knowing you body shape or starting weight this is a tough question to answer.

Hi everyone, Well I've never joined a group like this before, but when I live in a small community where there is not a support group I guess I need to take other measures. I had the lap band put in on Nov 2010 and I've lost 35 lbs. I went in to see the doctor for a fill today and he said no fill was needed. Not really the news I was expecting to eat. Todays appt was more like a reminder that now is my time to work with my tool and quite choosing the wrong foods to eat. I guess I'm here to get that support from others who might be going through what I am and I would like to know I'm not the only one out there. Have a great weekend everyone and please try to enjoy our accomplishments we have gained.

Vanessa and Longhorn so glad to hear that you both are back at work and doing great!! That is such a positive sign for those of us left to undergo the banding. I am so ready, this working while on clear liquids is so hard I had no idea how hard...LOL I am doing great though. I know I am losing lots of weight I just don;t know how much cause I am not letting myself get on the scale until Friday. I find out tomorrow what time the surgery will be on Friday and I will be back here to post when I can. Keep smiling and loving the band ladies!! I think you both are doing awesome.

Tina, HI! I'm sort of new to all of this, seeing as how my DW was just banded yesterday, Dec 28th. As I was reading your post I was thinking to myself that as long as the scale is going down, why worry about how FAST it is going down. Live your life as you please, eat what you please (mostly) and worry about it when the scale starts going up. As I've told MsJoy, it took you 30 years to put on the extra weight, give yourself some time to lose it.

Five week's already post, It's gone v.quick, considering I was counting down the day's till I went ahead with everything. All the biuld up to surgery and now I've had my first fill which resulted in almost chucking on the nurse:eek: and comming home to drag the blender back out for soup, soup, soup. For some reason and this is being v.honest I thought the weight loss would of been a bit quicker, so far 10kg and a holiday in 12 weeks where swimming is a must , no hiding allowed. Feel calmer about that though as I know I'm not just rushing this for the bather's it's forever, but I will still be huge and I can't where a sign saying "But I have lost weight":redface: The food thing is ok, although today I really wanted bread, a great big slice, toasted with butter and nutella and a diet coke..... That's another thing no d.coke for 5 week's now, this comming from someone who could easily drink a carton a day and never left the house without one no matter how quick the trip was. I can devide my little world into two groups now, those who think you weight loss cheater and those who think I'm never hungry, physically no I guess I'm not, but mentally.... where's the toaster:tongue: Freindships are changing and that's why I find myself here tapping away to the world I guess. A couple of friends have been on all the same mad diets and binges with me, now I have had this lap thing put in and zap I no longer have any issues to contend with and realise they are not going to accept this. Other's are dying to take me to the skinny shop for a makeover (not allowed in before-2fat). I 'm beginning to realise that these 2 groups never really mixed with each other either. B is trying to be supportive and is doing his best I will give him that, but can't really grasp how anyone could do this to themselves, I mean give up steak, are you kidding me? I 'll admit I could really just about lick a cow right now but ..... Anyway it's not all a downer that just all came out from who know's where. I feel very detoxed and have no food hangover's to deal with every morning and retrainning myself in everyday things, like going to the beach for a ride and a play with the kids is that. Not how quick can I get them off the swings and into the fish and chip shop or the icecream place for waffle's and a take home pack not to share . The dog's are losing wieght too. Anyway I think I 'm going to have to lick a cow now or at least chase it around the paddock Cheers:tt2:

This is my first post to the forum. I just got banded on Novemeber 27, 2007 and I'm at home recovering nicely. My doctor told me I went through surgery wonderfully and so far my post-operative pain is mild. I was kind of bummed to see that I gained weight between the time I got into surgery and when I got out. But I assume thats due to Fluid swelling and distended stomach. I've already lost 7 lbs since I got home yesterday so I'm not too worried about it. I am excited and nervous about my weight loss journey. I know I have a lot of mental work to do in order to make this surgery successful in the long term. I think I am on the right track though. In the year prior to my lap-band surgery I lost 80lbs on my own so I've already been working hard on my food habits. Even though it seems like I lost a lot of weight before my surgery its not nearly enough. I started at 364 and I weighed 282 at surgery. Needless to say I still have many pounds to lose. Here's hoping this tool will not ony help me lose the weight it will help me KEEP it off too!

Five week's already post, It's gone v.quick, considering I was counting down the day's till I went ahead with everything. All the biuld up to surgery and now I've had my first fill which resulted in almost chucking on the nurse:eek: and comming home to drag the blender back out for soup, soup, soup. For some reason and this is being v.honest I thought the weight loss would of been a bit quicker, so far 10kg and a holiday in 12 weeks where swimming is a must , no hiding allowed. Feel calmer about that though as I know I'm not just rushing this for the bather's it's forever, but I will still be huge and I can't where a sign saying "But I have lost weight":redface: The food thing is ok, although today I really wanted bread, a great big slice, toasted with butter and nutella and a diet coke..... That's another thing no d.coke for 5 week's now, this comming from someone who could easily drink a carton a day and never left the house without one no matter how quick the trip was. I can devide my little world into two groups now, those who think you weight loss cheater and those who think I'm never hungry, physically no I guess I'm not, but mentally.... where's the toaster:tongue: Freindships are changing and that's why I find myself here tapping away to the world I guess. A couple of friends have been on all the same mad diets and binges with me, now I have had this lap thing put in and zap I no longer have any issues to contend with and realise they are not going to accept this. Other's are dying to take me to the skinny shop for a makeover (not allowed in before-2fat). I 'm beginning to realise that these 2 groups never really mixed with each other either. B is trying to be supportive and is doing his best I will give him that, but can't really grasp how anyone could do this to themselves, I mean give up steak, are you kidding me? I 'll admit I could really just about lick a cow right now but ..... Anyway it's not all a downer that just all came out from who know's where. I feel very detoxed and have no food hangover's to deal with every morning and retrainning myself in everyday things, like going to the beach for a ride and a play with the kids is that. Not how quick can I get them off the swings and into the fish and chip shop or the icecream place for waffle's and a take home pack not to share . The dog's are losing wieght too. Anyway I think I 'm going to have to lick a cow now or at least chase it around the paddock Cheers:tt2:

I'm so happy, I just had to give an update. I am 5 weeks post op as of tomorrow and up until Saturday I was really starting to question whether or not this surgery was a good thing for me. I can now happily say it is. I woke up on Saturday feeling great! The pains, the nausea, the overall YUK feeling seemed to of vanished overnight. I was feeling so bad the week prior that I went in to see my doctor and they rushed me in for a CT scan. Turns out everything was good with the sleeve, I was taking longer to heal and that last stitch, the big one they talk about was giving me all the pain. Every time I moved, stretched, sat, stood or did anything it hurt like hell. It would literally stop me in my tracks. Turns out I also had a kidney infection so a round of antibiotics knocked that out. I kept reading peoples posts here about having patience and that everyone is different and most were feeling great by week 3. I was confused, I just seemed to be feeling worse as the weeks went on. Well I can say now, just listen to your own body! I have felt great these past 3 days, no pain, full of energy, able to get all my pills, potions and liquids in and I am starting to lose weight again. I was so happy I jumped on the scale this morning and I am down 53.5lbs from the start of my journey. I am also so happy to be off the Clear Liquids. i did that for 3 weeks pre surgery and for 4 weeks post surgery. i have completely indulged in creamy Soups, yogurt and Jello this week! Just remember if you hit a wall, slow down, listen to your own body and just be patient ...... this is a great thing we are all doing.

Thanks Michelle, my doctor and nutritionist have a completely different take on the shakes. To get the weight off shakes are part of the plan, on the Slimfast, there are two on the market, one has 10g and the other has 20g, the 20g is a low carb and only 190 calories and is a good substitution for the Chike for when I am at work and can't mix my shake. I don't do any snacks even though 2% string cheese is approved if you need one. Since I have no hunger, I have not needed the snacks. I guess what it comes down to is what works for you and so far this is working. Thanks for your comment and this should show to most LB that there are many thoughts on the nutrition and please follow your doctors direction, or make conscious decisions that work for you. Read all you can and make it work for you, in a good way.

I am still on track and doing great. I have stayed the course and not even thought about cheating. I am still walking two miles everyday and working in the yard. I am still sleeping better than ever and while I don't have tons of energy I feel good for the most part. I am getting between 700-900 calories a day, but after speaking to the nutritionist after feeling weak on day, I may need to boost it to around 1000 calories a day. Weight has slowed down as far as coming off, but did I really expect to continue losing 5 pounds per week, well maybe hoping. Still eating the same thing, food no longer seems to b the issue in my life. I will be glad in a year when I can blog that I have lost my weight.

I am still on track and doing great. I have stayed the course and not even thought about cheating. I am still walking two miles everyday and working in the yard. I am still sleeping better than ever and while I don't have tons of energy I feel good for the most part. I am getting between 700-900 calories a day, but after speaking to the nutritionist after feeling weak on day, I may need to boost it to around 1000 calories a day. Weight has slowed down as far as coming off, but did I really expect to continue losing 5 pounds per week, well maybe hoping. Still eating the same thing, food no longer seems to b the issue in my life. I will be glad in a year when I can blog that I have lost my weight.

Two weeks ago today I had my LB. Now I am treating my scars with Mederma and pretty much life has returned to normal other than I am still off work, won't go back till the 13th, (I have great benes). Today I begin to incorporate LB into my life, I bought a container for my counter to put my protein shake mix in, yes my doctor is a fan of the shakes past recovery. I made room in my spice cabinet for my supplements and made room for my scale. The interesting thing is I still have no desire for food. Two weeks ago that was all I thought of. Tomorrow I see the doctor for the first post-op check-up. I will update after that visit. If you are thinking about this surgery, stop thinking and do it. I believe I am down about 30 pounds, but will give the official weight tomorrow.

I was asked in my last post what I eat daily. Mind you, I know I am way below calorie count and protein intake than what I should be. I'm working on it, but any suggestions or recommendations are welcome!! So far today: ==6oz of Banana Strawberry Greek Yogurt for breakfast 14oz protein 160 calories ==in between meals I was naughty and got a Dunkaccino at Dunkin Donuts. I typically stick with a strict no calories by liquid rule but sometimes a girl needs her chocolate coffee goodness. I had a small which is 230 calories and 2g of protein. ==Lunch a half of a roast beef sandwich on homemade artisan bread with balsamic onion, lettuce, and an aeoli sauce. I peeled off one of the pieces of bread. (No I didn't make this, we were out and stopped at a cafe rather than a fast food restaurant.) A rough estimate is that this was 212 calories and 17g protein. That's it so far today. Yesterday's meal was a little higher than normal because I typically dont have protein shakes in the morning and being in class all weekend, they provided lunch. Breakfast= Bolthouse Coffee Protein Shake (if you havent tried these, they are SOOO good!!! They are located with the organic fruit juices in the produce section) 420 calories (2 servings in a bottle and I was in class all day so I did drink the whole thing eventually). and 32 G Protein Lunch- Subway Turkey and ham 6" sandwich which shows at 280 calories and 18G protein, but I did remove half of the bread like I normally do but I don't change calorie count for that. and a half a mini box of Raisins 70 calories Snack: chobani greek yogurt 14oz protein, 160 calories Dinner: 1/2 cup of pasta with ground beef, sharp cheddar, and mixed veggies all mixed in. This is a homemade recipe that was a total of 281cal 17g protein. TOTAL 1201 calories and 70g protein. I actually did well yesterday! Saturday: Breakfast: Greek yogurt 14oz protein 160 cal Snack: 4 apple slices and pretzels (1oz) 120 cal and 3 grams protein Lunch: Leftover chicken breast 3oz 93 cal and 17g protein Snack: Dinner: chicken breast pieces 95 calories 5g protein, and half a slice of pizza toppings, no bread. (Yes I pick my pizza apart, bread just is uncomfortable to eat) I have no idea calorie count for pizza toppings... According to my app that tracks my food I was at 515calories for the day and 39g protein. But figure in sayyy another 100 calories for the pizza stuff and I'm still way below my requirements. I know what I should have, snacks of cottage cheese, cheeses, protein shakes, protein bars, boiled eggs, all protein for meals, etc.. It''s hard!!! And I get tired of the same old same old. Recently I did try edamame beans and I am in love!!So you can see my intake requirements are all over the place!! I just can't seem to get over this plateau either but I know what is necessary to get my weight loss moving again.. Just gotta correct my eating a bit...

I have lost around 50 pounds and several inches off my waist. I too, still see that fat girl, even though I am 2 dress sizes down. I can see changes in pictures. I guess it must be a mental thing. It may take a while before our brains catch up with weight losses.

I see no difference in my weight loss either, I've lost 40-45lbs so far. People around me tell me they see the difference!

We don't have a lot of choice for meal replacement. Plenty of Protein powders, but they don't have a good nutritional profile as a stand alone meal replacement. It's only one more week before I can have real food, even if it's puréed. Just need to put on my big girl panties and push through. I'm just really over sweet drinks. Was salivating at the kids potato and gravy - but NUT says no Pasta, rice or potato for 9 months minimum. I suspect she's trying to achieve a prolonged state of ketosis to maximise weight loss in the first year. I'm down with that.

May 28, 2015 was my RNY surgery date and I am utterly ashamed of myself!! All the reading, downright studying, changes I made to prepare for the surgery...all blown to heck! Even though my brain knows what to do, I am still far from planning my meals and I have regained 40 of the 60 lbs I lost! I know what, when and how much to eat/drink and exercise but somewhere between knowing what to and putting it in practice it gets lost. I have done the 5 day pouch reset 3 times and yes it works great until I start trying to make habits I can stick with. I am certain I have stretched my pouch and stoma...ANY IDEAS ON HOW I CAN RESET MY POUCH like I just had the surgery and give me a second chance to use my weight loss tool right???