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Welcome! My surgery is tomorrow. I'll be 37 in August. I'm married & have 2 daughters (12 & almost 8). I've been overweight since my first pregnancy. My highest weight was 310 in 2008. My highest recent weight was 279 two weeks ago when I started my pre-op diet. I lost 12.6 lbs. I haven't been able to get below 274 in the last 6 months, so it feels great to be at 267 now. My ultimate goal is around 150-160 lbs. I'm 5'8.5" Feel free to check out my blog (listed in my signature) and become my friend on MyFitnessPal if you use it - my name is mygastricsleevelife there. Welcome! Good luck on your journey! Happy Mother's Day!

Congrats Mommyof4 - I'm right there with you!! I had surgery a couple of days after you did. A size 8 has been my goal all along, not really a certain weight. I just bought an only slightly snug pair of white capris two days ago for next spring. I can't imagine that I'll be any smaller than an 8!! My size 10's are 'big' after a day and I need to wash them, but at age 51, I think the 8 is too tight.....ten years ago, I'd have worn them NOW!!! I am having so much fun buying clothes. I hated shopping before, it's been years since I enjoyed buying clothes for myself. I'm sure you feel the same!!! I've given away 7 trash bags full of clothes!! I can't wear anything from 'before'. It is so strange, but a good strange. It's still hard to get use to not going to the "womens" dept. Anyway.....have fun and again, congratulations on the itty bitty size!!!! :mad:

Wow, Mommyof4 that is great news you can fit in a size 8. You go girl. My Big Day 09/28/10 weight 240

Wow, your attitude is awesome. Congrats on losing so much weight already before surgery and getting your date. Welcome to the forum!

How well does everyone post op do with the drinking of alcohol? I know you can't drink it all the time because it inhibits weight loss but is once in a while okay? How does everyone feel when they do drink? Does it burn?

My nutritionist said that we should track our food for life. (I use My Fitness Pal) She says that tracking is essential to keeping the weight off long term. It does seem that it's easier to lose, than to maintain.

Hi there ... I was banded in 2008 and had my band removed on 18th April. I went from 242 down to 149 (5'9) and maintained with the band but it went crazy on me last December and it turns out it was adhered to my liver!! I am booked for 9th July as earlier in July is our school holiday period (Australia) and the surgeon doesn't operate :-( I had to gain to get my surgery due to my great bmi of 23 when the problems started which is frustrating and now my bmi is back to 28 and I feel yuck so bring on my surgery date!! Good luck with your surgery and I cant wait to hear how you are traveling ...............

I will be following your progress :) I think my revision will be in March tbd exact date. To be honest, I know I need to just relax, but I am terrified of gaining weight in between the removal and the revision.

I will have to self pay for my revision, but I know I need the tool to help me maintain weight loss. Good luck and keep us posted!

You can't expect to keep losing at a rate of almost a pound a day forever. It's going to slow way down at some point and probably stop entirely several times along the way. You just have to keep focused on your program. If you are doing everything right, you have nothing to worry about. The weight will come off.

I had the same thing happen actually. I thankfully realized I had gained 5 lbs when I went to see a different doctor. I was 285 at initial apt and 290 a couple weeks later. Unfortunately every insurance is different. My surgeons group had a specific person who dealt with my insurance company's rules for the pre-op diet so I called her to verify. When I did see the 290lb I did get sad for a couple days because my insurance won't let me gain any weight. I have to stay the same or lose so I started looking at what I was eating. I have a sweet tooth. I'm working with a therapist now to get mentally prepared for after surgery, no binges or overeating, and cut back on sweets. I was able to get down to 284 in a week that way. I follow high protein, high fiber, low fat, low carb. Sugar doesn't make you fat, fat makes you fat. I'm also vegan. Animal meat is much more fatty than tofu, tempeh, or seitan. Oh, and don't know if you know this, drinking alot of water will help with water retention during your period which will help with weight. I also lift weights or do leg lifts, stability ball etc while I'm watching TV. I can't do much as I have back problems and chronic pain. These are just a few things I do. I hope these help you! Good luck! You can do it! Sent from my SM-N920T using BariatricPal mobile app

This is my issue..... I switched doctors a year and a half ago.. the old clinic I used to go to, I would always 'opt out' of being weighed because I was so embarrassed about the skinny little nurse seeing my weight. So Im not sure if I can provide proof of being so heavy for so long :c(. I stopped letting them weigh me. Am I screwed? The woman in insurance coordination says that if Aetna denies me, they have a lawyer that for 1100$ will take the case and run with it. Has anyone with Aetna been denied and then had their appeal overturned? I want this so bad and will be devastated if I cant get banded because I had such low self esteem those years ago. :help:

Go for it.. I got it done on 10/28.. I'm very happy, satisfied and glad I did it.. I lost 32 lbs. I will be joining a gym on Monday. My highest weight was at 304. Today I weigh, 268.. (smile) Now, I must do the rest.. The LAP-BAND® gave me a jump start. Go for it honey!!! :biggrin:

I really think a lot of it depends upon your starting weight. I really needed 9 days to be back to regular activity. Day 6 was difficult for me as I had a horrible stomach flu and diahreah every 20 minutes. (that made my recovery longer). I found that prior to 9 days I was too uncomfortable to sit at my desk. -Leena

I had surgery on March 10, 2014. I have lost 17 pounds since I started this journey. Part of which was from the liquid diet before the surgery. I can feel restriction, so I don't think I'm overeating, but I've been at a the same weight for a month now. I am very discouraged. I walked two miles yesterday. i just don't get it. i have not got this figured out yet. i had this surgery so I would not have to worry about dieting any longer, yet here I am worrying again about food! I will take any advice offered. Thanks, Mississippi Girl

Congrats on the surgery and the weight loss. Just curious, when did you first notice you were able to eat a cup of food?

I had some stretchy pull on jeans that were tight a year ago, and became less so after I lost some weight pre-op- they were a size 4x. Since surgery they had become un-wearable, finally had to toss them because I noticed a hole in the butt. So I ordered some new ones in a size 2x (18-20), thinking I am probably closer to a 3x, but they are stretchy. If they are a little tight I could just deal and will shrink into them. I got them in the mail today, tried them on and they fit perfectly- NOT TIGHT! It's a lift I needed since I have been in a stall for over a week. Yay for NSVs!!!!! -Kendra

That is my birthday! I totally wish that was my surgery date. But my last supervised weight appointment is in June, so I know that won't happen. Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App

^^^This! Great post @allwet. It's super stressful, the "not knowing," and trying to navigate a new road. The surgical team tries as best they can to prepare us, but the reality is that it's like bringing home a new baby from the hospital. We will be anxious and fretful 1st time parents to our new babies. I was TERRIFIED of overeating and ruining the tool I was given. My new pouch wasn't giving me feedback to let me know when I was full. So I never knew how much latitude to give myself. So I actually did the opposite of you. I ate my scheduled 5-6 mini meals per day and got my protein in come hell or high water. But I ate very small quantities and calories for my stage in order not to stretch my pouch. Consequently, I never challenged it or felt full--so I thought my surgery was screwed up cuz I never got full. LOL. Then one day I let myself eat all I wanted. Low and behold, I was only about 2-3bites below the "OK, 'enough moron' stage." I got my vitamins in each day and got my 120oz of liquids! Every day. I ate on a schedule whether I was hungry or not, cuz it was the only way to get my protein in and make as much of it protein from food, rather than protein supplements. Retrospectively, I'm not sure if that was right or wrong. You know? I could have just had 2 Premier Proteins for 320cals and been done with it! Protein req satisfied, BOOM Chahkalaka! And I would have had 22oz of liquids toward my goal. I healed easily. Many don't. Many of you guys have a LOT of swelling to deal with. So it's an individual walk and what worked for me, won't work for you. You just have to carefully feel things out. Now, fast forward to 9 almost 10 weeks and my new tummy tells me when it's full and I know approximately how big a meal should be by volume and weight. I know when I can't possibly eat another meal--so I cut out the next meal. I try to still eat on a schedule, but sometimes I don't want my snacks. So I skip them. Eventually, I will be able to eat enough volume, that I can eat 3 meals + 1 snack a day. But I'm not there yet. And that's ok. My tummy will tell me when I am! Your's will too! At the end of the day, if I haven't eaten enough to satisfy my protein minimum for the day, I will add as much Premier Protein as I have to have in order to satisfy my minimum goal. I ALWAYS satisfy my liquid reqs and my vitamin reqs and the absolute minimum protein. But now I'm doing good to work toward the middle of the protein range, which should give me more oomph to do my workouts. Just take things slowly and try to listen to the very subtle cues from your body. They will become more and more pronounced as you learn its new language! Congrats on surgery!

I too am having the same problem. I did well all day and blew it big time tonight. I can not gain weight. I have gotten rid of all my big clothes and bought new ones. The undergarments were very pricey. I just crave all the junk. I try to get back on track and wham there I go eating again. If anyone finds a solution tell me.

I am fairly similar. I am a bit shorter then you, 5 feet even and I starting weight was 235. I was sleeved June 1st, so only a few weeks before you. I would love to help if you have any questions.

I'm about 6'3" 325lbs. my goal weight is to be between about 210 and 220. Im scheduled for a sleeve august 7. I might be putting the cart before the horse but I'm kinda concerned about being able to maintain my weight around 215ish. I still want to have a little meat on my bones. I weight train and everything like that but I'm just curious if it's somewhat easy to maintain your weight if you try to once your about a year or so in??

It's definitely 2-3 oz. by volume and not by weight. 2 oz = 1/4 cup, etc. There are guides online describing what servings look like. The general rule is: 3 oz of chicken or meat looks like a deck of cards, whereas 3 oz of fish looks like a checkbook. 1 oz of cheese is about a 1 inch square cube. If it's semi solid of course you just throw it in a measuring cup. The individual ones work best.

I keep 1 or 2 kinds of weight watchers snacks/desserts at home and at work. I use them when I crave a sweet snack. Low calorie and low in fat.. So many good ones..

I am 3 weeks post op and I been stuck in the same weight 187-188 for a week now. I know is still early but I was losing weight fast before when I was on the liquid diet Now that I started my mushies, I am not losing weight at all Is this normal? I am having my Protein shakes daily and eating my protein first before I try any mashed potatoes or something else. I can eat 2-3 tsp at once for each meal. I am not having Snacks Just my Protein Shakes as snacks and Water. I started going to the gym and just walking in the treadmill for now, I am taking it easy since I am only 3 weeks out. What I can do? I am getting frustrated and I am trying my best not to weight myself daily. PS I know many people asked these questions but I needed to vent