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Congrats on your terrific weight loss How are you feeling? And what are you able to eat/drink?

Im hungry. I do a shake and an hour and half later I'm starving. My blood sugar is also getting really low which makes me hungry. I believe I'm going to have to back off the diabetes meds now. I meet with the surgeon tomorrow to sign consents...and I BET I haven't lost any weight. I feel bloated and TMI I'm PMSing. Not a good time to get on the scale. Maybe he won't be too upset. I'm not having surgery til June so that gives me some time to loose some weight. They said to shoot for 10lbs. Just enough to get my liver in shape apparently. I would, however, like to loose more pre-op. Rant over Hi! May I suggest some strategies for this PreOP step? First of all, you are trying to shrink your liver. Dr told me not to worry about losing at this point, just get 60-80g Protein in each day and to avoid carbs and sugars, but drink lots of Water. I use Propel, and Powerade Zero to fill in between my bottled water, and am getting about 64-70 oz in daily. I have lost some weight without trying. I started at 223, 218 when I got my PreOP diet, and am now at 215. I suppose I will be about 210 at surgery. I would make sf Jello, put your nonfat cot cheese in it--tastes great with lime, cherry, orange, etc. I also got sf popsicles, and also eat lean fish and chicken. I did eat a burger patty tonite and blotted all the fats away from it. I put some plain horseradish on it. I use pepper to flavor with. My protein supplements are Premier and Muscle Milk light that I got at costco. Those taste very good. You mix with water the Muscle Milk. I got Premier premixed shakes to carry with me when I am out on errands, etc. I try to vary what I eat as much as I can to break the monotony of the diet. As is, the diet is cut and dry. Mine is revision surgery, so am being extra careful with this and the whole phase of my journey. If you are low in sugars, do not take any more pills or insulin as that would just make you drop dangerously low. Also, make sure you take your vitamins--a multi, Calcium, B12 sublinguals, vit D3(this absorbs the calcium). My thinking is you may not be getting enough liquid in your diet. I hope this helps! Good luck!

I am having surgery on April 2nd at the Florence/Oasis of Hope, with Dr. Fernando Garcia. I am 44 and have battled with my weight all my adult life, I swear I can hear my moms voice saying you better not eat chocolate cake and chocolate milk for Breakfast it will catch up with you... all the while being a size 6.... fast forward 10 years and it caught up with me and then started multiplying. I now am battling degenerative arthritis and a torn meniscus, 7 years I have been told nothing is wrong with me all the while it getting worse and my ability to keep active dimensioning. I am now so out of shape and in so much pain that I have been taking anti depressants just because the pain finally got to my normal up beat attitude. After 8 months with this orthopedic doctor he was able to do an MRI and he was able to diagnose me!! I thought yeah now they will fix it and I can get moving and lose some weight, the next thing he said is if you want replacement surgery you will need to lose weight.... I lost MY MIND!! WHY would you not have discussed this during all the shots the draining and the pain I am enduring to now tell me that I will have to continue to fight a fight that I already struggle with when healthy and who knows how long it will take me to lose enough weight... That was last month... I have now made the decision to go forward with the weight loss surgery, I had been pre approved before but switched jobs and states before I was able to jump through all the hoops to get it done, I have had psych test and nutrition classes so I do believe that I am prepared that way. Mentally I can't WAIT!! I am getting married Sept 16, 2016 and I WILL dance at my wedding!! I have a wonderful supportive man that loves me how I am and only wants me healthy and happy. Please let me know your experience and if you have any regrets. I will be returning to work ASAP but it is an office job so from what I have read I think I will be ok...

I have never blogged anywhere before so I apologize if I get it wrong. I was banded on Jan 15, 2009. My weight was 230 the day of surgery and is now 213, 6 weeks out. Only 4 of my friends/family know that I've been banded. I have had 3 fills so far, my last one 2 days ago. I don't feel restricted enough, but I do eat a lot less. I had a difficult time not drinking during or right after meals, but I think I have it under control now. I'm getting used to eating slower and chewing well, it hurts when I don't, but not for long. My biggest challenge right now is not eating between meals. I eat small amounts, but I can eat often. I am getting a little frustrated with waiting for my sweet spot to be found and can't wait until I get that feeling of satiety. I am really tight in the mornings and long to have that feeling all day.

Slow and steady does win the race if we are doing everything right it will click and it will come off. For me I have been overweight for 28 years I figure it's gonna take longer than a day to lose this excess weight so I just make the best choices I can. As far as the wise 10 yr old I guess he gets it from ur parenting skills. Kids learn what we teach them kids don't see the differences and brutally honest

It IS kinda like torture sometimes but I try looking at the big picture...I can't eat what I want to eat because I chose to have this surgery and change my old eating habits so I would lose weight. I still want the things that my husband eats and every time I'm tempted I remind myself that I didn't go through this surgery just to go back to the way I was. (sometimes that helps!) As for the "I'd rather not eat blues", If I don't get enough calories I don't lose any weight so I try to choose healthy foods (most of the time) with good calorie & Protein counts in them. Hope this helps!

Those of you successfully losing, can you give me specifics of what your waking hours are in terms of food/drink/exercise? And if you give me feedback, tell me why I shouldn't believe that my NUTs tell me. LOL I have been a slow loser in this process. I am currently 204, been here about 3+ weeks. I was 296 Dec 5, and 256 on my surgery date March 11. Basically 90 pounds in less than 10 months which is awesome, but the scale just moves so slow for doing everything right. Its beginning to really upset me. I have gone from a 24 to a comfortable 18, 3x to XL/L which is awesome. My NUT at my surgeons office says don't count calories, count protein of which I am getting over 80 grams a day via chicken, greek yogurt, cottage cheese and a GNC protein powder in my water 30 mins before working out. I round that out with various fruits and veggies - lots of variety here and no starches. I get 64+ ounces of water daily. And working out - I walk 2.5-3 miles at lunch in about 45min to an hour. And I do weights every other day via machines in a gym in the evening. Sometimes, I do additional treadmill or elliptical cardio in the evening for 45 minutes to an hour. I don't track my food because its so similar everyday and when I was doing MFP I was getting about 800-900 calories a day. I am becoming OCD about what I eat. I won't dare cheat and saboage this but its becoming emotionally exhausting because I am blaming myself that I must be doing something wrong and I know stress is horrible for weight loss. I am doing exactly what I was told to do and its not working. It's $74 for 30 minutes to go back to the NUT. I can't afford that right now :-)

Down 34 lbs from my highest weight of 261! 47 lbs from my goal weight of 180...I am hoping to be under 200 by the end of July. I am set to return to work 7/16 and can't wait to show off the new me! The last time I was 227 was in 2009. doc gave me the green light to exercise, so it should get better from here. I am having problems with my protein. I have been doing oh yeah but getting tired of the taste....any recommendations?

Just wanted to say hello! I am 14 months post-op and new to this forum. After being overweight most of my adult life, I decided to have weight loss surgery. It was the best decision ever! On the day of surgery, I weighed 258 pounds. I currently weigh 138 pounds, which is 2 pounds below my final goal weight! I feel happy and healthy where I'm at, and I am trying to maintain my weight. I am pretty disciplined about eating properly and going to the gym, but have been struggling lately with slacking and snacking! Planning on doing a 5 day pouch test to help get back on track! Looking forward to sharing our successes and struggles! Glad to be here!

I was wondering what complications, if any, you had after surgery? I started having bad pain and nausea in my lower left abdomen, and they found it was diverticulitis. They think it is due to all of the protein shakes and after surgery diet/ pain meds causing constipation. I finally went back to work after being out for 2 weeks, and I started vomiting white foam, and I am back to feeling super nauseous and dizzy. Anyone else having these problems? Unfortunately with feeling so sick, I am not getting many calories and my dr said my body is in starvation mode, which is stalling the weight loss. I have to force myself to get up to 800 calories a day. Not fun...

Hi, my name is Gaye. I have been overweight all my life, I have 4 sisters that are all skinny and have never had a weight problem! I was always depressed, didn't want to go out much, but when u weigh 334 lbs there is not many places to go and feel comfortable. I knew that I had to do something about my weight, so I dieted and lost 30 and gained 40, lost 50 and gained 75 and so on and so on! Then in August of 2011 my husbands niece died of a massive heart attack on her 40th birthday! It scared me so bad cause I was way bigger than she was and I was 46 yrs old. So I started looking into WLS, we had a lady who attended a meeting at our church and I didn't know her, or I thought I didn't, I knew her before she lost almost 100 lbs and it was just like The Lord hit me over the head and said "here's your way out". Fast forward to June 18, 2012, I went into surgery weighing 314 lbs (334 before starting pre op diet) and its been downhill from there, 4 1/2 months post op and I'm down 90 lbs as of this morning! I almost wanna cry every day at my reflection in the mirror, I'm so amazed at how the sleeve works!

Hi, nice to meet you. You and I have a lot in common, I was diagnosed Hypothyroid 15 years ago. In 4 months I gained 60 pounds. I was put on medication and started working out and I was able to get it off. Prior to that I was at a good weight. I always wanted to get 10-15 pounds off, but I was a healthy weight. I got pregnant with my 3rd child, never gained more than 28 pounds with all three pregnancies. Well when you are pregnant and on thyroid they have to increase the dose. After the baby is born they are supposed to test you and lower you back down to pre-pregnancy. I learned this after the fact, my Doctor didn't do that. I was so sick! I felt like I was dying and they couldn't figure out why. TWO years of this!!! I changed insurance, got a new team of doctors and the Endocrinologist said I was taking more than double the meds. i was supposed to be. I blew out my thyroid completely! It put me into Hashimotoes Disease, It's when your antibodies are constantly attacking your thyroid. This has gone on for 10 years now!!! I have gained 80 pounds in 10 years. They can't regulate my meds so I have gained 3-6 pounds every 3 months off and on over the 10 years. So, I know how you feel!! It's been such a battle!! 10 months getting ready going through all the proper requirements to have the surgery. Finally!!! Sleeve is November 28th. I'm so ready!! Best of luck to you. Sorry so long but I know how hard it is...

I once lost my bikini bottoms on a water tube on the Illinois River (this was of course when i was about 19 and thin). As for any malfunctions while heavy... here is my story.... laugh if you will: I had just had my son about 2 months prior. I was only 21 and my best friend suggested I finally go and "celebrate" turning 21. So I thought, well heck, I will or I will regret not doing it. So off I went to find a good outfit to wear. I wanted to look "hot" even though I was married and not trying to find anyone. Needless to say I was heavy as I had gained 65 lbs pregnant. My friend suggested a girdle. I was hesitant but who would know right? So off I went to the downtown to whooop it up for the night with my friend. The first nightclub was good but we wanted to go up the street a bit to another more happening place. So I did a quick potty trip to the bathroom and off we went to walk about 2 blocks up to the next nightclub. This "strip" of clubs is very packed on the sidewalks with people walking to/from places. Soooo, anyways... I started noticing people looking at me and even turning their heads as I walked by. Mannnnn, I must be HOTTTT! I felt GREAT! I started to "strut" I think too. I felt like the queen of the hotties! I even turned and flirted a bit. This all came to screachinggggggg halt when my friend noticed that my after going potty at the last club I had left my cute little skirt tucked up in my big ol' granny girdle and was walking down the main downtown street with my big ol' booty (properly scrunching all my fat butt in with a little coming out the sides) for the whole town to see! I was MORTIFIED! I went home crying and vowed to put my "party" days behind me. Once at home, eyes puffy, tired from sobbing, I looked in on my angel sleeping and remember thinking..... he was worth it. So there you have it... my wardrobe malfunction.

Hi everyone. I'm new here. Well, I found out on Monday, 3/11 that I was denied for my surgery by Aetna because about 2 years ago I lost over 100 pounds through diet and exercise. I kept the weight off for about a month if that long. I have since gained all the weight that I lost back and then some. I've struggled with my weight all my life. My doctor is doing something called a peer to peer review to see if she can get the denial overturned. Waiting for an answer is torture.

Hi - I am wandering about trying to figure out this sight. My surgery is scheduled for June 15th, so I am right behind you. I am trying to add protein shakes instead of full meals now - to a) loose the required weight before surgery and :thumbup: to get ready for the reality of the surgery. I weight 282 so we are close in the process and the goal. Frankly, I am not sure how ever to get back to you but perhaps I'll learn. I sincerely really truly wish you well. I look at so many success stories and say - I can, I know I can I must. My personal email is bsayble@gmail.com - So far, I know of no other way to maintain strands of connections. Have you had surgery or just doing the prep? Here we go - I wonder what a year from now will look like? Barbara

Thank you Janie - I certainly find writing down how I'm feeling helpful, I find it helps sort stuff out in my head a bit. Hi Leatha - I live in Scotland, UK so our health service is slightly different than in the states. I agree that it is imperative that we arrange for a support network prior to surgery. I did that before I had my surgery and am in contact with a surgeon closer to home who I can contact with any queries/worries/further treatment, although I do have the option to return to Lyon which is only a couple of hours away from the UK. I'm approaching my first bandiversary and so far I haven't had any band problems, but it is something that I am very aware of. I agree whole heartedly that anyone contemplating surgery make sure that they have the aftercare in place pre surgery. Although we all focus on our surgery date, it is actually the work we do afterwards that is the most important as regards achieving optimum health and weight loss. I also believe that it is important that we address the psychological aspect of our obesity if we are to maintain permanent weight loss. I think potential band problems such as slippage, band erosion is something that most bandsters dread. If I was unable to have another band placed or have the problem fixed surgically I just don't know what I would do. The band would still be my surgery of choice, and if that option was out of the equation I would find it virtually impossible to come to terms with the thought of undergoing an alternative surgery. My long term goal is to have worked through my issues with food/the psychological issues enough that I could at least maintain my weight without any surgical intervention. I'm a long, long way off being anywhere near that stage currently but I recognise that it isn't a total impossibility and as long as I am able to form independent thought and make my own choices it is in the realms of possibility. I strongly believe that the only limitations we have are the ones we place on ourselves. It has taken me a long time and a lot of work to acknowledge that I need to take responsibililty for myself and my actions but I think that I will only truly achieve a level of contentment within myself and my weight when I have done so. It is a long, hard slog and I am still fairly early on in thep process, but I think it is worth pursing. The journey I have chosen to embark on is constantly evolving and sometimes it may feel like the goalposts are forever moving, but if I don't work at it the alternatives are a lot more frightening and frustrating. This is truly work in progress ..... Sending you all positive thoughts.

Hello all, I am new to blogging so please bear with me as I learn. I was banded on 9/29/08 and have had two fills so far. I am losing weight but..... My doctor doesn't use and x-ray or anything like that when doing a fill, he inserts the saline as I am drinking water, but I don't know yet, when to say stop. There are times when I feel like my band is full enough, there are times when it feels too full and there I times when I know that if I let myself, I could eat to my heart's content. It has all been very frustrating. Is this normal? Does it get better? And is it normal to be hungry about every 3 hours. Please let me know some of your experiences. Unfortunately I haven't been able to make it to my doctor's evening support group meetings, so I am hoping chatting with you guys will help.

Hi - I have had many times of discouragement in the almost 8 months since my surgery. (Mine was October 2007) I am a very slow loser, and there have been several meltdowns where I just cried, convinced I was a total failure at this. But, all things considered, I am going in the right direction and that is what really matters. I could not get the number on the scale to go down before surgery no matter what I did, and here I am down almost 40 pounds. And my doctor assures me that my weight loss is quite normal - I average 5 pounds a month and that is within normal range. As was said before, just keep doing what you know you need to do and you will continue to lose. Don't get too discouraged and go crazy (I can have a tendency to get depressed and start eating the wrong things out of frustration) and eventually the weight will start dropping again.

If you have any of the number of things that a lot of us in this situation needing to lose weight have or close to having, losing weight makes a lot of those easier to handle and may even eliminate them and any doctor knows that. Every doctor I went to for whatever reason, arrhythmia, sleep apnea, etc., kept saying "If only you could lose weight." I think as long as you have tried to lose the weight on your own and have fallen short you would have a convincing argument for the sleeve. Good luck. Hopefully your doctor knows about it or you have some information to share. I am surprised by how many do not know so much about it, but they are learning.

Hi there! I am pretty new to this since I was recently banded, but I have "the rules" fresh in my head, so maybe I can help you. As far as your weight loss stall, have you had a fill at all? If so, how many CC's and how much food are you able to eat? What my doctor wants from me once I start to have fills is to be able to eat 4 ounces of food and be comfortable for 3-4 hours, are you able to do this? Also, do you work out? If you do, maybe it is time to change up your exercises. They say that you should change it up every 8 weeks, so you keep burning as many calories as possible. Hopefully this helps you in some way, let me know how it goes.

As weird as this sounds. I finally figured out "my acid reflux" was / is due to me not eating enough. It took almost 4 weeks of looking at foods and times I was eating, it finally stumbled onto the fact it was not the time or any " normal" factors for me it was a calorie "quantity". If I get below 1400- I have horrid reflux- so I have to watch that now. I am not trying to loose more weight, but their are days that my band "seizes up and Soup is it" due to cycle and moon beams or jupiter or whatever. I have to make sure I eat more or get it in somehow or I pay for it! I hope the post nasal drip is your cause- cause the lack of sleep can drive you insane!

thanks for the response! I'm having my surgery at Swedish Medical Center. Dr. McMahon is the surgeon. He has lots of experience and comes highly recommended. My consult went well today. I saw the dietician, the ARNP and the surgeon. Got a lot of good info and I'm nervous but excited! I had blood work done today as well. I guess the next step is the endoscopy. And then the psych eval. My insurance requires 3 months medically supervised weight loss so I won't be able to have the surgery for a while. It feels like an awful lot of stuff but I'm glad they're being so thorough.

I agree - I don't think we should need to use any diet pills after surgery, especially if you are following the rules for success. It may speed up weight loss by taking them, but I'd imagine that would cause even saggier skin! I did take a few different types of diet pills before surgery - but I don't think it's a good idea now.. plus they made me feel horrible!

Also, for slippage, make sure to not be overfilled. The doctor said that was probably the cause of my slippage - being too tight for too long. While it may seem like a good idea at the time (ie, the tighter you are the less you eat therefor you lose more weight), it will catch up with you in the long run in a bad way.

Have lost 50 since 04/22/10...50 more to go. But, I'll admit it's been real slow losing for me. On medical scooter...so can't exercise much. Since my 3rd fill...have .5cc in 10cc band, have had terrible reflux. Been sleeping upright position in my recliner every night...which doesn't rest your body & back as well as my bed. I'm also diabetic (on 2 insulines) but have cut doses in half...and off half my maintenance meds was on before. I like my band most days...I feel & look alot better....but it's been a huge learning curve for me. What's bothering me so bad right now is the GERD. On Nexium & have tried Prilosec, Pepcid AC & Rantidine. I have gastroparesis (nerve damage in stomach) due to 25+ yrs diabetes...so that slows down the food digestion alot. Nurse thinks I should get an unfill...but soooo afraid of gaining weight back...since it's come off so slow anyway. What do ya'll think? :sneaky: I see the doc again in 2 weeks.