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Hi Mattie . . . you would be surprised how much better you start feeling as soon as the weight starts dropping. I have to admit I don't know about your condition . . . but would you be able to do Water aerobics? I've got a bad hip and back and I've tried "land based exercise" but always end up aching after that - so now I'm sticking to the water .. . and that can be quite a work out too! Also just walking at first is a good start - even if its just 5 or 10 minutes to start with! You can do this in some way I'm sure! Best of luck to you - keep us posted! Chris

fun4mat.. yes thats what I am sayin cali.. I was in portland,(kid) tillamook,(teen) then ashland (adult) and now albany (old lady)lol everyone.. THANKS for appreciating this I did finish thinking and now I will ppost what I wrote to myself on word... The rest of the story I exspected a 20 yr goal like kicking food addiction/obsession/inability to eat and exersize to the point of being not morbidly obese........ to be something I fininshed off like a thesis and came to a conclusion and saw the efforts pay off right then and there..... It wasnt like that, so thats how I missed it...and had to do all this dang thinking... But as I realize these things just happen eventually and sometimes you never know exactly what did it, BUT you did it and all those years have finally paid off. (THUS THE CREDIT) I can see how it happened. I can see it totally possible. I can see how it snuck up on me when I wasnt even thinking about it and NOW I will revel in its glory.. in the future my freedom from food story will not start with how it just happened like magic, went loonly, got thinkinhg and found my credit..and then tell how and why.. I will start at the how and why (well I will start with the band) The band did NOT do it... my tight fill gave me a chance to feel and see and look at food and the concept... with out the Fix running through me, clouding my mind, making me lie, burried in food aka slow death.....and in that chance I was able to do all the things I ALREADY had been thinking and doing deeper inside. All the time I thought things... the things that would lead a person away from foods grasp.. .. and finally I had convinved myself. WOW. Never thought it possible. These are the things I think and have for a long time all the time that show I lead my self to the freedom from food. Random typing (lazy too) can skim this..part in red we are a bunch of hogs, makes me sick, why do we let this happen, we are so much smarter, i mean nothing is healhy, whats healthy anyway, you gotta go through all this crap to find healthy these days... we are americans and we are all fat cows and dont care.. as 400,000 of us die a year... we dont care.. we think we aretn worth help cus it was food that made us fat.. food, food, food... its like evil. Why do I let it control me.. its JUST food.. I can do anything but I cant NOT eat a stupid food item? I would kill anything that could control me like that, I am above this shit, I am smarter than this, americans think they are so smart.. IDIOTS, ruining our bodies.. thats the ultimate sin and here we go and do it like its the good life. I want to be a vegitarian, I hope I am someday. Its just wrong to eat all this shit, eat animals?? I am above that arent I? Someday when I am normal sized and dieted. I never want to eat dairy products ... ever and soy is good and I am choosing taste of YUM over my decently and morals..??? I ignore my core for a taste of food.. FUCK THAT.. goooooood... 3 weeks no milk and I quit.....shameful trash. How can you even claim to are about the animals and the cause? I admit, I dont really care about the chickens.. I just dont?? BUT DRINKNING MILK IS the worst and I KNOW IT! I hate me... I am nothing but selfish and low life human trash.. That 'super size me movie' really hit home, I beleive in that stuff.. I am so glad he made the movie.. NO ONE SHOULD GO TO mcdonalds or BK... its sick what they call food.. the food can be worth a shit, but no one cares to make it even close.. I know its MY choice to eat it, but why even exist at such levels.. YOU know that can taster the same with like 10 grams less fat.... we shuffle through like cattle... pay our dollar, make em all rich, ... I never fall for those healthy items they pretend to carry to fool us and I wanna wring their neck... APPLE and carmel slices for kids NOT healthier. Salads a joke. Low carb stuff not even low card.. grrrrr.. money money is all they care aboiut.. at whos exspense.. we grew up like this is normal.. its gross.. brainwashing I love fruit.. how come I dont eat it? I love all kinds and dont have it... WHY? No way a corn dog is yummier that fresh pineapple or a cold orange. If I buy it it rots.. am I affraid of healthy foods or what? I want an orange!! now.. and watermellon too.. and somehow its not as good as I thnk it is, my taste buds are shot on all this processed food.. I mean I really think the bbq steak tv dinner is steak? I slurp that nasty gristle and cheap sauce up like Its alllll that. I like peas too.. no peas.?? One month I spent all my food money on foods I liked but never ate and STILL didnt eat them. pudding, aplesauce, mixed fruit, veggie melody, peas and carots.etc.... sat forever as I asked 'what is there?' But keepiing me from oranges is an outrage! Everyone I see.. kids, adults, skinny, chubby, normal.. all eat crap.. go to 7-11 and fast food and pizza and on and on..... I see like a health nut one out of a hundred and I dont even know whats in their cart.. how hard can it be to learn? Look it up.. simple! Go Organic? Do it for the kids for christ sakes.. OH MY.. the vending machinnes at school give out fruitsensations (?) and its not EVEN JUICE! oh why why do schools let kids eat all this crap? My school lunches as a kid included a roll and a dish of cream butter with every meal... who is gonna helpo the kids? The parents dont care, all these fats kids, why why why.. skinny moms, dont think they do a thing to help them..ruining thier kids lives..stupid bithces... I wanna slap them. Here I am most obese mom of all... my kids arent fat and THERES a reason for that! I MAKE SURE! I know its true even when many are skeptible.. I knew from my second childs birth what I was doing and I have done it everyday, their entire lives... couldnt done better, coulda easily not made it, cuz I went with the flow.. almost bare minimum I think, it was hard.. Still do it.. NO one can possibly fathom how many moments are about my doing some thing haivng to do with their weight. No one ever will.. Cuz its crazy, but I know.. I know had I not done and do not do these things... my kids woulda easily been fatties for sure..I am proud of that, but wish it was healthy too.... I am sick sick sick of not knowing what to do, being judged, fought at every corner over its issues... it all so unfair how it gets some and not others... I wanting help so bad for my kids sake and yet cant do it for my kids sake and and sick of feeling less human and sick and tired of being sick and tired and wanting a real life and health and mobility shouldnt be too much to ask if I have prooved myself.. ITS A DISEASE, no one can tell me its not. IT IS. I have it. I blame mom. I blame her mom too. I dont know her moms mom, all I know is I am not who I am.. I am not me. I am a lie. I am not a human being..as its meant.. and if this shit is OK, human beings destroying bodies than I dont care for humans... Human to me is HUMAN.. MOST powerfull, The highest power..... and this is our chosen life? HELL with it all.. Moving on SoooooooooooooooooooooI been itching to kick foods ass and leaves its no good home and move on to freedom knowing it cant touch me no more. Ready to stop bitching and being a hypricrite and doing something about this obese existance thats destroying my body, like I have some sence and smarts. Proove to the world that I am not lazy, unmotivated and menatlly ill but trapped in disease and can find a way out..no cure. And pissed at america for being hogs and refuse to join in the minless destruction like the rest. I am not a sheep. Move to canada. I wanna make pain, hold those accountable, cuss em out and destroy their worlds... but dont know how or who to blame. I wanna get my morals back and keep them near and treat them as all I have in life that makes me who I am thats good. I want to diss it, diss it, diss it, I cant even think of how to do so. AND having a tight fill where I couldnt eat but liquids for a month....and thus soon out of any food coma.. It was the last thing I needed before it all dawned on me and became (kinda ) clear. I wasnt goona let food fluck with me ever again.

Hey Jane! I haven't been nervous at all yet. I"m sure I will be on the ride there. My pre-op diet has been good. I've lost 10 pounds. Today I went and visited some family and they were cooking out; it was hard to be there because im hungry from being on liquid diet for 10 days now. If you would like feel free to contact me on aim - alabamahsports , yahoo - mobileracergirl. Would love to trade tricks, diets and just have someone there that also had their surgery on the same day. In 36 hours I will be at the hospital. Thanks for the welcome y'all. This place is amazing.

Hi Y'all, Ok so my doc says that w/ the band and the right restriction you should be loosing 2-4 lbs a week. I'm 8 1/2 months post op and have lost 70lbs but, i'm not loosing any where near that amount of weight a week. I don't think I need another fill.....I don't eat much and when I do i'm in big trouble...slimming, major hicups etc. My question to y'all is does that amount of weight loss seem a bit extreme and am I the only one who has experienced a slow down in weight loss over time? The first 40lbs or so just fell off but, now I gotta work at it a little harder then I did in the beginning. Just curious to see what y'all thoughts were. I always like, and listen to the advice of fellow bandsters. 1/24/07......252 lbs pant size 20/22 10/11/07.....182 lbs pant size 10

It's been ten days after surgery I'm feeling alot better lost 17lbs THE NURSE SAID. My sugar's are testing good feeling real good about that

Don't be embarassed! I also had my surgery in January & I am only down 30 lbs. & 10 of that was in this last month. I too am a sugar/chocolate addict. I think one of the things that has made a difference in this last 10 lbs is that I discovered Well's Blue Bunnies fat free, sugar free, white chocolate & almond icecream bars. They are so good & don't really taste diet! Keep your chin up! I think the weight loss is just a little slower for some of us. I look at it this way - At least I'm losing!! Keep up the good work!

I am currently off of work so I will be home all day. I'm definetely going to need a lot of distractions! Did the liquid diet make you weak or not want to do anything physically? We have a mini beach getaway planned and I love to go in the water and waves I wonder if that's too much for the supervised starvation ill be on 🤣🤣 the premiere protein cake batter shake definetely takes care of my sweet tooth! I want to be under 300 for my surgery and I have 10 pounds to go I hope I can do it!

Hi Lauren!Congrats! you are doing great I was banded in May 2011 and had my first fill in June 2012. My surgeon had put 1.5 cc into my band during surgery, because he says, patients need to feel their band from the start. I lost more than 100 lbs during that first year. My surgeon insisted on adding another 1.5 cc because, he says,when one loses weight, they lose also the fat around their stomach and the band becomes loose, like a belt. During the second year I gained 10 lbs. Now I neither gain nor lose weight. I'd like to resume my journey, but I'm no loger so motivated as I was at the beginning. Maybe with the help of all of you I'll manage to arrive at the normal range..Who knows?

Hello everyone, It has been a long while since I have been here and things have changed alot. I got my band in July 2009 and I did lose 60 lbs in the beginning. However for the past ohh 4 yrs I want to say I have absolutly come to a stand still.. NOT gaining or losing.. This really stinks. I actually joined a gym about 14 months ago and I do go today 4-5 days a week. I love going to the gym but other then making me stronger and building my muscles I have not lost any inches nor weight!! I have had so many test done, thyroid is fine. I have gone through menopause, I have been on and off of hormone replacement, I do not sleep well and my life is full of major stress, I do eat very good and healthy, i cook my own food from mostly organics/fresh foods. I very REARLY do I eat out.. I even keep track of my food..I take suppliments and I am very very healthy ..I am not perfect with all this even after all these years but I do not get out of line much.. This NON weight loss is killing me..I work hard at the gym and I eat right but yet nothing is happening.. I am right now as I type having a very bad time dealing with all this. Something has to give here because all this along with these lingering symptoms of menopaus which by the way has been going on about 10 yrs now, well it is just about two much for me to bear emotionally.. Well if any of you have input that might help get me jump started,, Thanks alot for taking the time to read this and help out if you can.. Michele

I was going to VA diet program. Was losing but not fast. Started at 305. In October I got referral for CRDAMC. Did requirement and met goals for surgery. Was going on 2 month trip to the Philippines. Asked to wait until I got back. Left at 262 and while losing a lot came home 260. 2 May was 252 for pre-op nutrition. 10 May for surgery 243. 31 May support group 227.6. Last night weighed at 223. Used to thin of my goal as 195-200. Now have changed it to 175-180. Maybe it will change again but just working on it. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had surgery on 1-21-2013! First day I couldn't even finish one bottle of Water. But I remember people saying it gets easier everyday. And it's true everyday it gets easier . Ate 2 oz of Greek yogurt no problem and had some water too. And to top it off I am down 19 lbs since my 7 day preop diet. Everyday when I weight myself I say to my self "I will never weight this much again" Couldn't be happier! Even cooked my family 3 meals! Pork tenderloin, coffee crumb cake and turkey meet balls for lunch!!!

Hello all you VSGers! I am 1 week post-op, and I learned a very important lesson the hard way today. It was my first day back at work, and I was drinking fat-free chicken broth with unflavored protein powder (delicious). I must have not been paying attention, and drank too quickly. Suddenly I had excruciating pain in my abdomen, chest, and left shoulder. All I could do was put my head in my hand and whimper. My poor co-workers were standing over me wondering what to do. The worst of it passed in about 10 minutes, and now about 1 1/2 hours later it's still painful but bearable. I came home and took pain meds. I realize how very important it is to pay attention when I'm eating or drinking! I can't do the mindless thing anymore. I hope I can save someone here from going through this.

HI ! Any one from the PNW ? I am located in Bremerton and had my surgery on 4-19-2017 looking for some support, I am having a hard time coping mentally. thank you !

10 days out, I'm 4 days out and feeling that way too! Very excited but wow! I feel like I need to be surrounded by it right now but don't know anyone. Besides Water and Protein shakes, I don't really have anything else for post-op. Was told to know what I like but to get very little since we don't know what my body will handle. How are you preparing for post op first two weeks?

WARNING: might be TMI for some...read at your own risk. So, in an effort to gage how my abscess is healing, I made my fiance' while changing my packing, stick the q-tip down as far as it would go....ok, so I knew that the CT scan showed that it was like 3.5" deep. (ok, lemme take a step back and breathe a sec) So its been 10 days since the drainage. The q-tip went in half way!!!! I almost started crying!! I was thinking it should be so much further on in the healing process! All this packing, this open gash...its just so ughhhhhhhhh!!!! OK, sorry for the mini meltdown, I'm feeling better but this is keeping me from exercising, from doing anything really strenuous...gah! And I'm scared of getting an infection (yeah, I'm a germ-a-phobe at times) So, I sit and wait....tick tock tick tock...till my body heals....talk about a lesson in patience!!! :thumbup:

19 members, 90% to go. If you are not a part of this group, it works just like forum, but it is just us June Bugs. Please go and participate.:Dancing_biggrin:

No offense taken at all. I know my path is not the one most people choose, nor should they, I am more self indulgent than most people so I knew that if I gave up good food before I absolutely had to I'd regret it. As far as a lifestyle change, I absolutely do view this as that, I'll never again be able to sit down and eat a whole Five Guys bacon cheeseburger, or a 22oz bone in ribeye, or have a full plate of seafood portofino w/calamari appetizer ...... This is all a good thing, as that is exactly what brought me to where I was 2weeks ago. I'm only 10 days out and I already am seeing huge improvements. I can walk now, without being in pain, my feet are sore from all the walking I've been doing, but they aren't swelling up like they did before. I'm even looking forward to getting back on a dirt bike and playing in the mud(I haven't done that in 20yrs). I'm not saying the path I chose is right fore anybody but me, I'm saying that is what I did & I have no regrets You do what is right for you. I'm behind you 100%.

Hi All: I was banded in Mexico by Dr. Rumbaut on September 28th, 2006, so tomorrow will be my 10-month anniversary. I am happy to report that I have lost 110 pounds thus far and am looking forward to losing more. I have had two fills in my 9.75 band and they total 2.5 cc's. For me right now, that seems to be plenty. I have a hard time getting anything down in the morning and sometimes at lunch. When dinner time rolls around, I am ready to eat, but can only do 1/2 cup to 1 cup of food. I stay away from most starches and certain meats, but I try to get in whatever Protein and veggies and fruits that I can. I also do Soups and Protein shakes so I can get the nutrition that I need. I also work out at least four times a week. The band has been a great tool for me, but I have to remind myself daily that it is only a tool. I still have "head" issues with food that I am working on by going to a support group meeting once a month as well as a weekly group therapy session meant for weight loss surgery patients. It has been a long time coming, but I am very, very happy with my decision and at this point in my life, I cannot think of a better way to lose weight for me. It has truly been the answer to all of my prayers my whole life, since that is how long I've been heavy. I wish everyone the best of luck and I wish you all the greatest success and I hope to be on this forum fairly frequently now. I find the best help to be the support one gets from others.

Thanks everyone for responding. I went to try on dresses and picked an amazing one!! The first time I tried it on a 14 didn't zip all the way. The next time I went, two weeks later, the 14 zipped all the way and fit perfect. After talking with the head seamstress about my WLS she suggested that I buy a 10. That made me crazy nervous because in my mind I was thinking there is no way a 10 will ever fit me never the less in 3 months. So I bought a 12 and figured they could size it down. I went back this past weekend (3 weeks later) to pick it up and the 12 fit tight but zipped all the way. I am two months from my wedding. I go back for alterations in a month. It is crazy that the 10 might end up working…. I will post pictures after the wedding. What a crazy journey this has been. Never in a million years would I have though I would be buying a size 12 wedding dress and sizing down. I love my sleeve

Congratulations! 110 pounds in 10 months - great results and proof again that the band is a tool that properly used can enable someone to achieve life changing weight loss. I hope I do as well once I get banded. Down 17 lbs so far on a pre-op diet. Thanks for sharing your achievement and letting us all see the light at the end of the tunnel. Eric

Hi everyone... I need some help.. am i doing something wrong.. A quick background... I was sleeved on December 13, 2011. Actually i had my vertical band removed that i had gotten 4 years earlier. I originally lost about 60 pounds with the band but then stopped losing within the first year of the band and gained 10-15 pounds back. Long story short....it wasnt working and causing problems and was advised to get sleeved by my doc. Once insurance approved the date was set. I have to say that the first week or so after getting sleeved i did question my decision, it was painful in the begining and exhausting. I went back to work 3 weeks after surgery, which was a mistake, but i made it through all that and have been feeling great and back to normal with energy after week 4. I did not have to do a pre-op diet and i moved quickly from liquid to mushy to regular food after surgery. I dont know if it was becuase i knew what to expect becuase of my previous sugery, but i have had no problems at all with any foods. I started at 227 pounds on December 13th, today i weighed in at 210 pounds.. i thought it would be more by now and i feel like 17 pounds in not the right amount of weight loss for 7 weeks... am i doing something wrong. i lost 2 pounds this last week, but for the prevoious 3 weeks i hadnt lost anything.... i think it should be more.... i know my body was already used to eating small amounts. I just need some adivce on how or what others eat throughout the day.. a menu of sorts. I dont think i get enough protien in, but would like to make changes to generate some faster weight loss.... can anyone help. I seriously could go a whole day without eating as i dont feel hungry. example for today... half a hard boilded egg and half an english muffin, cut up italian chicken with salad, and grilled steak and salad for dinner... amounts were small and i have been walking about a mile and a half everyday on the treadmill. I am very happy with the sleeve though compared to the vertical band.. i feel so much better without it! I know there are some fantastic and experienced people on this site and i would love to chat with you... please help a fellow sleever out if you can

Delicious Mexican Fish Baja Tacos. A Easy Mexican Recipe for your next party. Share them with your friends and family they will thank you.. ENJOY! Makes 4 servings Active Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 25 minutes 382 Calories Per Serving (382 for 2 tacos) Note: Recipe serving size is two tacos per person. CHECK OUT MY BLOG FOR MORE INFO ON THIS RECIPE AND SO MANY MORE:thumbup: http://life-after-lap-band.blogspot.com/

Wow your lucky. My surgeon makes you do 10 days full liquids before surgery. 5 days clear liquids after surgery, plus 10 additional days full liquids after that. I get to move onto blended food next Wednesday although I have been cheating with a scrambled egg here and there. My last day to eat before the 10 day pre-liquid diet my husband and I were going to the Olive Garden to use a gift card and the wait time to be seated was 2 hours and we had to catch a movie so I never got my meal and boy did I feel jipped. Enjoy the chicken. Sounds delicous! Good luck on your surgery. I am sure you will do great.

I had losses, gains, and stalls but I averaged my weight loss by the formula...pounds lost divided by days out of surgery. Almost a pound a day at first then it went down to .3 pounds a day, then .1 pounds a day. But the thing is..on the average it still was going down. It got real slow right around my goal weight. Now I am 8-10 pounds under goal weight. I concentrated much more on exercise than I did on weight loss, turned myself into a lifelong athlete. I have quit working out now, my daily work with my nephew in the dock building business is far beyond workouts. I seldom weigh myself but I notice that my saggy skin appears to be tightening up a bit. My muscles are rock hard.

Recipe Summary Cook Time: 1 hour Yield: 8 to 10 servings 1 3/4 cups sugar 1 tablespoon flour 4 eggs 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened 1 cup buttermilk 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg Pie Crust, recipe follows Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In metal bowl, combine sugar and flour. In another bowl, lightly beat the eggs and add them to the sugar mixture, combining well. Blend the butter into the mixture using the back of a spoon. Add the buttermilk and blend with a whisk. If the butter has not incorporated by this step set the bowl over a pan of simmering Water to help soften the butter. Add the lime juice, vanilla and nutmeg. Blend well. Slowly pour the custard filling into the pie crust. Set the pie on a baking sheet and place it in the oven for 1 hour. Remove pie and let it cool before cutting. Pie Crust: 1 cup unsalted butter 1 cup solid vegetable shortening 4 cups cake flour 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup sugar 3 teaspoons Kosher salt Combine the butter, shortening, 2 cups of the cake flour, and 1 cup of the all-purpose flour. Blend together. Stop mixer, scrape the sides and add remaining 2 cups of cake flour and remaining 1 cup of all-purpose flour. Blend to combine completely. Mix sugar and salt into 1/4 cup of the water and add it to the flour mixture. Blend briefly and add the remaining water if needed. The dough should not be overworked and should make a solid piece when held in your hand. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured smooth surface and knead it several times. Divide the dough into portions and flatten it. Wrap unused dough in plastic. Roll out the dough to fit a 9-inch pie pan. Reserve any unused dough in the freezer for another use. Preheat oven to 475 degrees F. Prick bottom and sides of pastry with fork. Bake 12 minutes or until light brown. Cool on wire rack. Does this sound like your recipe?????