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Definitely sign up for a race! That's what really moved me from running a bit to lose weight into becoming a runner. My first was 4K, then I did a 7.5 six months later, then a 10, then a 14. I mainly stick with 10's now, that tends to be "my" distance, if I run more than that regularly I tend to get niggling injuries. 10's enough to keep anyone fit! But definitely having the goal gives you the motivation to get out and push every week. If you're anything like me I did NOT want to walk during the race! If you're more of a walker, that's fine, enter the race and set a time goal for that and gradually work towards time/distance. I think athletic goals are really really helpful, and there's NOTHING like the self esteem you get from winning a physical challenge - to me it beats actual weight loss hands down.

Just try and tell a waiter or waitress that you want NOTHING to drink. 9 times out of 10 they will bring you a glass of water anyway. I don't drink while eating but have sure noticed this. Kinda funny. Becky

You have moved me to tears, DeeDee. I have had the same yearning my entire life!! Right now, I have no husband. It was my conviction that my kids would 2 loving parents like I had. I was adopted 57 yrs ago. For 20 yrs I was raised alone, and then when I was a freshman in college, my mom reconnected to my birthmother and siblings. The rest is history!! I have 2 moms, had 2 dads, now I am auntie to 10 and great auntie to 33!! Life is grand!! BUT, I have not given up hope of having the dreams of a loving marriage, this time grandparenting some kids, and just feeling very healthy and "complete". Adoption is a worthy endeavor with special meaning. Keep us posted on the little one's arrival.

Im in the same situation Ive been waiting since d 19 of Nov. Im going crazy this is the worst part I dont know what to do or think. I feel like there taking forever and there just gonna say no at the end. What type of insurance do u have. Wish u d best of luke.

I laughed when I read you were going crazy without a scale while on vacation. I can so relate!! We spent a week at the beach this summer and I was going nuts. I finally made my husband go with me to a Walmart one evening (it was close by but I would never shop at a Walmart!) because I knew they would have some scales and I could weigh myself. I surprised myself and lost weight while we were at the beach. Hope you have a great time! Frankie VSG 3/22/10

It was a urinary tract infection due to being dehydrated. Spent 10 days on a nasty liquid antibiotic, but otherwise have had no problems since.

Hey everyone.....well here's the dilemma. I got my first fill yesterday because I was feeling like I could eat way more than I should! So I thought, I'll get a fill and then I'll feel some restriction and won't be able to get in as much. Not the case today. I went out to lunch with my husband and ate a good sized piece of salmon (maybe 5 oz) along with about 1/2 a cup of steamed broccoli and a small portion (maybe like 10) sweet potato fries. And I stopped myself because I figured I was eating way too much. I wasn't full at all. Now I'm feeling really guilty and wondering how I am supposed to know how much to eat?? :sneaky: I'm just not sure??

I was banded on 3/11/10 and I know exactly what u mean. All I can think of is that old habits die hard and this will be a difficult one for me to break because I have realized that I never just ate for hunger alone. The way I see it though....I stopped smoking 25 years ago and remember reading something at that time that said after the first two weeks of stopping a habit (including nicotine) it's only the psychological addiction that could hamper progress. If this is true (and I am tending to believe it), then I need to focus on what my stomach is really saying. That is what I've been trying to do....concentrate on real "stomach/need" not "taste/desire." It hasn't been easy, but the refocusing needs to be done and as with anything else continually reinforced. Hope this helps!

Thanks guys for your input. I was hoping that he would take out just the .5 and yes I do have a 10 cc band. The low profile one. When I lost all that weight you could see my port sticking out and it was gross!! I didn't think I could get too skinny but you can. Funny thing is that 125 was my original goal weight until got down to it and I saw how gross I looked. I am comfortable where I am at now which I am at 141 but wouldn't about 5 lbs less. I just don't want to get any bigger. Thanks everyone for your responses they made me feel a lot better. I was actually starting to get bummed. But now I am not!:thumbup:

I'd strongly suggest you talk to them honestly and find out what their firm expectations are. My program is also very strict on this issue and they said they cancel approximately 10% of their surgeries each month for this reason. So you are not alone at all. I did the same thing for a window of time and now that I'm on the other side, I actually know it was something I needed to do. I'm sorry they (program) didn't understand it. And on the date of surgery I was where they wanted me to be. But the gain, then loss that happened in the mean time was actually my way of getting ready. They were angry about it but I now know I needed that process. And on the day of the surgery I shocked myself by going in with no fear and no reservations. I was ready. And prior to that date, I wasn't even sure I would be brave enough to show up at the hospital. A side note. My program demanded you give up carbonated drinks from the day you enroll in the program. It was the only thing I did not do. I've said before that one of the most important things about this whole process is knowing yourself and being truthful....at least inside your own head. I was drinking caffeine free diet coke. I'd quit drinking it before and knew it would be no issue when it was time. So I drank it up to the day I started my pre-op fast. Again, the way my mind works, that meant there were no regrets. I didn't look back on months of denial of something I didn't really need to be denying myself. I did not have a carbonated beverage for months after the surgery and, ironically, about 3 weeks after my first one I went to a support meeting where they announced they no longer required complete permanent abstinance from carbonation -- only from the start of pre-op to 90 days. Same rules they have for caffeine. So it sort of validated my method. I would have actually been angry if I had given up the diet coke I love for no benefit or reason. As it turned out, I went into surgery down weight wise down the approximate 10% they required and the surgeon was thrilled with my flat as a pancake liver. I was not the ideal pre-op patient until I knew I had to do it. I was perfect from the day they handed me the liquid stuff and others who were in my group later told me they were not. So my advice: get the rules, understand what you are actually required to do and then be honest with yourself as to whether you need to take a bit more time before you actually roll into the OR. Just because you are "death row eating" right now, it does not mean you can't do this. It just means you need to make sure YOU know you are ready and then meet the rules they tell you. My program said they get mad because people are not honest and do not believe that if they are insurance approved (or have self paid) that they will cancel and they do. They actually do.

I don't think you're alone. I've been reading a few posts by people who have been gaining weight pre-op. My surgeon requires that I loose 10 lbs pre op or he'll reschedule and it's been hell. Nothing like having a gun to your head, so to speak, to motivate you to lose. If it weren't for his requirement I'm sure I'd be gaining too though.

Kim, it is the best decision you have ever made for yourself. I was banded 10/26/07 and I would do it again, not that I need to but it was the best thing I have ever done. Good Luck and God Bless You.

I've got much farther to go, BMI about 55. I have lost 19lbs on the supervised diet so far. My insurance BCBS MN covers almost everything, but requires 6 mo supervised diet. It seems a bit longer than is really needed. But it has given me time to learn, adjust and realize that the Chinese Buffet is not ever a good choice, and something I CAN live without long-term. I have had to go through Pysch, Gastro, sleep, and PCP clearance, and finally Cardiac. It has not been too bad, but you really have to want it. I have seen more Drs in the past 5 months then in the previous 10 years.

I was banded today. This morning at approximately 10:30 and it's 11 p.m. central time and I feel great! I was in some discomfort when I got home but I kept drinking Water, took liquid Extra Strength Tylenol, napped and then walked around for a bit around the house. I've been moving around quite well all evening. I took the prescribed liquid pain medication around 8 p.m. (my husband had to get it filled today) but it didn't make me groggy. It just took the edge off. I was worried about getting constipated from taking it but I figure I'm only on Clear liquids today. How constipated can I get with so much liquid?! LOL! Just wanted to send out a shout out to those of you who have been so kind to respond to me in the past as I worked toward this goal of getting banded. Thanks!

I've got a small band at 5ft 10, although my BMI was 36 when I was banded, I considered myself a big build - built like a brick shithouse as the saying goes. As it turns out, I'm rather fine boned and naturally meant to be slender, and I have never had tight restriction even with the small band. I have had good enough restriction to lose all my weight and I have really enjoyed my lapband journey, it hasnt hindered me but I can eat bread - well an entire sandwich - with 3cc in my 4cc band - just about unheard of - becuase it simply isnt tight on me. It hasnt mattered, I've had good enough restriction to lose weight but likely I'll always be looser than the next person at a given Fluid level. The doc said after my surgery he'd put on the small band because my organs werent that big. Its suprised me somewhat just how small my build really is, I've never been this size as an adult and at a BMI of 23, I could still lose quite a bit of weight without becoming scrawny or skinny. So you may weigh in big now, but you may find you're not as "big boned" as you think you are. Your organs may not be that large at all either.

I've waited 20 years for this, I don't know if I can wait another 2 weeks or not! In 1985, I was the first woman promoted to the position of Senior Vice President with my former Wall Street employer. For 10 years, I had worked an average of 60 hours per week and no less than 6 days per week for this promotion. I moved when the company asked me to, so I moved four times in less than 6 years. I dedicated my life to my career, and it paid off. At this time I was a size 14-16 and continually fighting with my weight. Each and every day I woke up with my constant companion, self-loathing. Why couldn't I stay on a diet. Why couldn't I shake those 20 pounds. Why did weight keep creeping on. I second guessed myself all of the time. At the same time, I was buried in work, eating at my desk, skipping meals if work called and foregoing any type of exercise. To my surprise in 1986, I met a nice young man after being essentially dateless for years. We married about 1 year after meeting. Fast forward to 1987. Now, I've gained weight. My boss at the time, "suggested" that I lose weight - my weight was negatively effecting my career. Not the 60 hours and 6 days a week, but my weight. I spent a small fortune and traveled to Hilton Head, South Carolina, and spent almost 3 weeks at the Hilton Head Health Institute. I was taught portion control, how to pick wise foods, and exercised just about every waking moment. I had no complaints about the HHHI and I would enjoy returning. Six months later, I had lost 50 lbs, but I was not thin - Now I was a size 16. Slowly my weight crept back. Then I got a new boss. For the first time in my adult career, I did not get along with my boss. That's never good for a subordinate - even at the Executive level. Try as I might, this man disparaged everything I did. Nothing was ever good enough. At year end, I was only 117% of my sales goal, and that was not good enough. He isolated me from others in the company, and soon, I was excluded from meetings and projects. In April, 1988 I was "demoted." Stripped of my responsibilities as a Senior VP and made an office manager. The demotion was very public and at the time of our annual corporate meeting. My boss stated that I lost my job because I was overweight. No other reason, just because I was over weight. I was replaced by a fat man. By 1995, my marriage was over (my husband blamed me for being fat for losing my job - not that he worked, but it was still my fault my more than six-figure income shrank) and I never emotionally recovered from the very public demotion and humiliation I suffered. I stopped working, took all the money out of my 401K account, sued my former employer for sex-discrimination (won) and went to law school. I graduated from law school in 1999 and then passed the Nevada Bar Exam. Law school was very sedentary. I used phen-fen to lose weight and now suffer with a heart valve problem. My weight fluxiated as I tried assorted dietary aids, but never I was never able to keep the weight off. After law school, I married a wonderful man who loves me, even pudgie, and who would do anything for me. My weight kept creeping up. Now, I am simply fat. Although I am an attorney, my husband and I are no means rich. Recently, we started our own practice and that drained any money we had. It’s expensive to buy the books, computers, copiers and other infrastructure needed to support a law firm. Advertising is our biggest monthly expense, after employee payroll. There are times w e don’t pay ourselves to guarantee that our employees are paid. We believe in our office and my skills as a litigator. Eventually, we’ll have a cash reserve, but things now are tight. We even sold our house and moved into a mobile home so that we could use our home’s equity to pay bills and to help finance our office. I thank God that I am married to a man who will be a partner in building a law firm and I am grateful for my husband because I could not do all of this work on our own. We’ll succeed, but now, money is tight. About a year ago, I noticed that my heart was racing. I visited a local cardiologist who wanted to preform over $3,000.00 in tests. With a $1,000.00 deductible in our insurance, I did not immediately have the money for the tests. I did by the end of the year. I have a leaking heart valve, cardiac arrhythmia and an enlarged heart. After all the tests, my cardiologist agreed that my heart problems were directly related to my weight. He stated that I would be an excellent candidate for a lap band, but he does not endorse gastric bypass surgery, believing that it is too invasive. I started on a search for a surgeon to perform lap band surgery, and at the time, I did not even know what a lap band was. I attended a local seminar in Las Vegas and learned the differences in weight loss surgery. I obtained surgeon references from my CCP and cardiologist. My insurance company, of course, refused to consider weight loss surgery unless I spent 2 years under the care of a physician trying to lose weight. I am 55 years old. I don’t have 2 more years of diet failure and self-loathing in me and I opted to self-pay for lap band surgery. After reading an article about surgery and medical care provided for Americans in India, Europe and Thailand, I started an internet search for weight loss surgery outside of the U.S.. Perhaps I could save a few dollars and have a competent surgeon help me outside of the U.S.. I searched the web, researched and researched. Law school was very good at teaching me research skills. I kept researching physicians and hospitals and came upon Dr. Ariel Ortiz in Tijuana, Mexico. I never read a bad thing about him. My husband was skeptical about going to Tijuana for surgery. So was I. Tijuana? I continued to investigate Dr. Ortiz. I called physicians who provided testimonials on his web page. I researched those doctors to make sure they were legitimate physicians, not witch-doctors. I called Innamed, who makes the FDA approved U.S. lap band, and talked to them about Dr. Ortiz. I reviewed Dr. Ortiz’ CV. I traveled to Tijuana to meet Dr. Ortiz and upon meeting Dr. Ortiz, I knew my search for a surgeon, who could competently and economically help me with lap band surgery was over. I believe that I am blessed to have met Dr. Ortiz. Never in my life, have I been allowed an open invitation to question a physician about a surgical process. Dr. Ortiz offered me as much time as I needed to discuss my concerns, the surgery, his career and skills. I also learned that Dr. Ortiz proctored the prominent Las Vegas surgeon who performs lap band surgery and he proctored the surgical staff at my home town hospital in Newport Beach, CA.. I stopped searching and scheduled my surgery the very day I met Dr. Ortiz. Originally, I was going to wait until year end, 2006, to have my surgery. After my meeting with Dr. Ortiz, I scheduled Friday, October 13th, 2006, for surgery. I don’t have to be superstitious about the date. I believe I have the premier surgeon performing my lap band surgery. Now, Friday the 13th, cannot come fast enough for me. I worry that I will not pass the pre-op physical, or something else will go wrong and I won’t be able to have the surgery, so I haven’t told too many people about my surgery. I am going to burst with excitement and cannot wait to wake up after the surgery and know that I am turning the corner on my new life. I truly am very lucky. I have a husband who adores me, a successful business and a premier surgeon. I don’t need anything else. My goal: lose 150 lbs. Realistic? I don’t know. My cardiologist believes I will lose at least 100 lbs. I keep reading about people who are my size (24/26) and now they are size 12/14. Is that really possible? Or is this a dream that I’ll wake up from. I just don’t want to live the rest of my life fat. I don’t want to take the elevator at the court because I’m packing an additional 100 lbs and can’t use the stairs. When I argue with another attorney, I don’t want the adjective "fat" used to describe me. I want to walk into a store and buy "normal" size clothes. I don’t want to wear a bikini, I don’t want to be in Playboy. I just want a life freed of fat. I don’t want to be defined by fat.

Did you doc give you a prescription for a proton pump inhibitor? Some mornings I will wake up with a burning feeling in my tummy that I confused with hunger in the beginning. I found if I take an acid reducer, I felt better and that feeling went away. As for feeling full...You are still very early out, you may not be able to tell "full" yet, I couldn't and wasn't able to do for a few weeks. If you stop before the ache you're probably doing OK. My signals for full can vary - my nose might run, or a I do a hiccup/burp thing, or I feel a jab in my stomach. At 10 weeks out, I try not to eat to that point of being full. I try to eat to the point of getting rid of my hunger, rather than feeling full.

many of us "gain" weight from the IV fluids they pump into us at the hospital. Some people have reported "gaining" up to 10 lbs from the fluids. However, it's not a true gain - it's just water (and water with sodium in it, I might add, which makes some people retain it for awhile). It takes a few days for it to work its way out of your system. I'd stay off the scale until your first post-op appt (most of us have our first post-op at two or three weeks out). Your weight should be on a downward trend by then.

Thanks for your replies. I feel as if I have turned a corner an am now just really tired! 10 hours sleep a night seems to be helping.

Hey everyone. I had bypass surgery on 7/28 and am almost 3 weeks post-op. Lost 30 pounds from surgery date to first appointment afterwards, only 10 days! Handled clear and full liquids pretty well, finding it challenging to get enough fluids, however, just not that thirsty. Anyone having trouble with cravings? I'm not hungry, so it's clearly in my head. Any tips on keeping it off my brain? I have no problem during the 60+ hours away at work, it's just at home. Thanks!!

I would call your doctor and let him know that you have been throwing up. I was not able to have Protein drinks until my 10 th day post op. I was strictly on Clear liquids for a good 14 days post op. My doctor would not release me if Iwas even feeling like I was going to throw up. Every doctor is different but to ease your mind I would call the doctor. To me this does not seem normal. Michelle

Hi my friend, I do get it. I am 5'7" and weighed in at 204 this morning. Compared to 334 pounds last year, I see an incredible improvement and I don't really see a fat person when I look in the mirror anymore. Everyone around me says I look so good and even my doctor said I look "skinny". I almost laughed outloud when he said that, but I recovered and told him thank you. I certainly wouldn't go that far and say I look skinny, but it was a nice compliment, especially coming from him. So, I am in a size 14 bottoms and a 10 or medium top. But like you said, when I see that 200+ mark on the scale my head tells me that I am still fat. 200 to me still sounds fat, and I might still be considered obese. So these days the number on the scale bothers me more than what I see in the mirror. I have been told by my NUT and others that I carry my weight well and they are all surprised that I am not below 200 pounds. Funny stuff.

I just realized I didn't read your whole post... I understand chronic pain VERY well! ESPECIALLY nerve pain! I have TN (Trigeminal Neuralgia) and had brain surgery 3 years ago in an attempt to relieve myself of the agony even if it would likely be temporary (there isn't a cure for TN the surgery just stops the pain for a few years). I have atypical trigeminal neuralgia. It's on both sides and I had both type 1 and 2 pains on the left side and only type 2 on the right. I can handle the type 2 pains, but the type 1 pains... there is nothing comparable to it. It's the worst sort of agony imaginable. NOTHING has ever equaled or surpassed it. The best description for it I can give is most times it felt like I had a scalding hot poker jab into my face where it would twist and twist and twist and twist before pulling out only to repeat itself endlessly. I had the surgery (Microvascular Decompression) on the left side of my brain to get rid of the type 1 pain and it amazingly got rid of the flare ups and I had no pain for 2 amazing years. Around the time I started my weight loss journey last year I started having type 2 pains again on the left side. I couldn't stop CRYING! I was paranoid and panicking and CONVINCED that the type 1 pain was going to return. If my surgery hadn't worked to get rid of the type 1 pain I wouldn't be here. TN is called suicides disease for a REASON. It's recognized as one the most painfully excruciating conditions know to mankind. I was in absolute agony with my TN with a flare that lasted for 10 MONTHS before I had my surgery. I was barely sleeping because it was worse at night. Everything set it off. I was in a never ending world of absolute AGONY and I only held out for my family. I had overdosed on my meds on at least 3 occasions... 1 particular one I was incredibly lucky that I didn't end up in a coma because I'd taken 600mg over my dose (900mg was my dose and overdose for me was 1000mg, I'd taken 1500mg). If the surgery hadn't worked... I wouldn't be here. I was BARELY holding out for my family. I thought I was losing my mind from lack of sleep and pain and I wanted to cry all the damn time but I didn't have the energy or the tears because I'd cried myself dry months before. EVERYTHING set it off. Sleeping, eating, bathing, talking, touching my face, brushing my hair or my teeth. The happiest day of my life was my surgery day. I woke up with the worse headache of my LIFE and at that point the worst nausea I'd had in my life (only beaten by dumping syndrome), but it was 100% WORTH IT! When my TN came back in the form of the type 2 pain I felt like my life was over. I had been so strong and held out to make it to my surgery, but I just didn't know if I could have that kind of strength again. I didn't think I'd survive a repeat. So I fell into a very deep depression. My doctor put me on anti-depression and anxiety meds and when I saw the psyche doc at the bariatric clinic I told her my TN coming back to how it was before my surgery was my absolute worst fear. I honestly don't know how I even passed my psyche eval because I was a MESS! While I was going through that I read a lot. It DID help to take my mind off it a bit, even if it was still there lurking in the back of my head. I also watched quite a bit of anime to distract myself lol. I'm 33 and yes, I watch anime. It's an outlet and very easy for me to turn my brain off when reading doesn't work. Also like watching home renovation shows and anything that'll make me laugh and let me turn my brain off. I ended up getting a really bad rash due to the anti-depression and anxiety meds and had to get off them, but by that time my mind was in a much better place. I made the determination that the very SECOND I get the type 1 pains back I'm calling up my neurosurgeon and scheduling another surgery lol. I won't wait it out. I won't let it EVER get that bad again! And if for some reason he recommends me to do the Gamma Knife instead, I'll do that (my surgery was really difficult as I had a lot of tissue damage and my 3 hour surgery turned into a 6 hour surgery. I had a lot of brain swelling and there was talk of putting a stint in, but I didn't end up having to have one. I did end up with meningitus though... so I just have the feeling he'd probably want me to do Gamma Knife instead). I'm so incredibly sorry that you're going through chronic pain issues. I don't wish that kind of pain on ANYONE! It feels impossible and makes you feel so helpless. I felt so very, very, very alone. Like nobody understood it. Understood me or what I was going through... So that's the reason I told you about my own experience. I just want you to know that you are NOT alone in living with chronic pain. I really hope that the pain clinic gets back to you soon. My mom has fibromyalgia and they gave her Gabapentin for it (it also helps her neuropathy too and helps her sleep). I don't know what meds they'll start you off with, but I hope the first one they give you works for you!

I'm a bit shy of 6 years out, with my lowest weight being 2 years after surgery. I've gotten pretty lax about eating right if I'm being honest so there's been regain for sure, but it fluctuates between +10 and +30lbs and has never come close to my max weight. Usually when I sense I'm slipping too far, I just try to keep more aware of what/how much I'm eating, weigh in more. I definitely don't have the same kind of limited stomach capacity as I did years ago, but I still don't get hungry the same way and it feels like the weight comes off easier than pre-surgery. All in all, I still consider the surgery to be the best decision I've ever made for myself.