Search the Community

Sleeved on 1/8. Lost 14 pds the first week. and only 3 pds since then... so frustrated! I'm getting all of my water and protein in, keeping calories and carbs low. -- not hard considering the little amount we can consume. Tell me this is happening to others too, and that it will end!

I agree that is will come in time but I'm in the same situation. I run a 5k 3-5 times a week and I have thighs, hips and booty for days. My boobs on the other hand have shrank tremendously!

My surgery was last Friday in Hurst with Dr. Marsden and everything went great except I did get the dreaded shoulder pain. But I am a week out now and my abdomen is feeling much better and my stomach doesnt feel so swollen. I am back to almost normal even my shoulder is just sore not that stabbing pain like a few days ago. I HAVE LOST 13 LBS!!!! Wow, I am so proud!!! But it is so funny how our brains work, this morning when I got up I didnt lose any weight and I was disappointed. Isnt that silly. I have lost 13 lbs in less than a week and I was bummed this morning. I am going to have to change so much about my thinking. Anyway, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT! I have posted some on this board and have always received great feedback but more than that just being able to come here and read and read and read about everyone elses journey has meant the world to me!!! Love, Teresa 295,282,175 Banded 8/11/06 Dr. Marsden

Hello, Tomorrow is my 6th month appointment with my nutritionist for my supervised diet. This is an insurance requirement for my UHC insurance. I have been meeting with my nutritionist once per month since July. My supervised diet consists of no carbs. Each meal should consist of 3 ounces of Protein one cup of fruit and one cup of vegetables. I have been following the diet to the letter and I have not lost during these 6 months. Each month I go in and she tells me something different to do. I thought finally I was down but then nothing changed in my diet/lifestyle and I gained it all back. I'm so frustrated. Obviously diets don't work for me and that's why I am wanting to do the surgery. I'm 5'8 and 317lbs. My highest was 323 and that was 3 months ago. Like I stated my weight has been up and down during these last 6 months and I just don't know what to do. I don't think its an insurance requirement to lose weight during the 6 months, but just to have a supervised diet. My nutritionist told me at my last appointment that she would like to see me down 10-15 pounds during the 6 months. I have a feeling tomorrow she will tell me that she wants to monitor me for one additional month. I don't see what the difference will be. I know your questions will be, well how about excercise. Right now its non exisitent. We are on mandatory overtime at work and I'm putting in over 65 hours a week. I sit all day! I take the stairs and walk as much as I can. I can't help that I don't have time to work out. I'm also a full time student so I have no free time! I have eliminated all caffine per the nutritionist and with all this overtime I am dying! I can't tell you how much I would like a cup of coffee! Have any one you had trouble with the low carb diet? Like I said, I was finally down last week but I think I found the answer to why i gained it back. I lost 7 pounds during the week of my period. I was not taking my birth control pill. As of Sunday when I started taking my pill again, I gained 4 pounds back. ...... And I'm not getting off my birth control.... This supervised diet is also my pre-op diet. My surgeons don't put the patients on a liquid only diet. The low carb diet is to shrink the liver. I can't tell you how small my liver must be right now after doing 6 months of this but it's crazy that I haven't lost any weight! Has anybody else out there had trouble losing on the low carb diet?!?!?!? Will see what my nutritionist says tomorrow. I hope she still sends my info to insurance for approval without making me wait one more month. I'm so worried about other health factors now such as high cholesterol ect. I never used to eat this much meat and fat. ---------Kara

I am so afraid that I am going to stretch out my stomach I do not think I am eating enough. So I am seeking advise on how much at once should I be worried about eating before this would happen. At this point in my journey I just this week advanced to soft foods. Fortunately, my surgery went well and I've not had any complications. Everly thing I've read said 2 to 3 oz at a time so up until today It has been work to just get in 300 calories a day. I am only drinking 1/2 Protein drink like twice a day. Yesterday I ate 1/2 hot dog ( because am so hungry and it made my stomach sing like a canary) I eat 1/2 of a potato as large as kiwi and it takes me about 15 minutes to get it down. Today I ate it a bit to fast. Today I was so hungry I managed to get a 6 oz glass of milk drank in 10 minutes but it did not make me sick, just very full. I do not want to develop a eating disorder, so any advise is greatly appreciated.

I meant to post back in March but been busy with life. I hope all of you are doing well and staying safe. For those who got sick with the virus or lost loved ones, I offer my deepest thoughts and sympathies. I was part of the group who got the by-pass done just before everything went on lockdown last year. It's been quite the journey. I've been fortunate to have been able to work from home all of this time, although I do expect to return to the office sometime later this year. To date, I have lost 92 lbs. since the start of my bariatric journey and 104 lbs. from my highest weight. I had the surgery at 62 years of age and I was pre-diabetic, with high blood pressure and a BMI of over 44 and Stage 2 kidney disease. My highest dress size was 24 and I had severe acid reflux, back, knee and feet problems. At present, I can likely get into a size 18 and my bust size has gone from DDD to DD. I absolutely have no regrets getting the surgery -- it likely saved my life in many ways. Pre surgery I did a lot of reading on here as I wanted to know as much as I could about what to expect and I appreciated those who were 6-12 months out from surgery coming back to talk about their experiences, so I wanted to pay it forward. I will begin by breaking this into 4 sections: How I feel, What I think about myself, What I appreciate about myself now, and My work in progress. How I Feel: Physically I feel great and I consider that a blessing. I still have problems with my feet but that is mainly due my falling arches more than anything (although I did strain my ankle a few weeks ago attempting to do HIIT exercises -- don't ask). I've been most frustrated not being able to go to the gym to workout so my main exercise is walking long distances and doing online sculpturing classes. I do plan to return to the gym soon to step up the weight training. Walking up a flight of stairs without gasping for air is just simply divine! Having blood pressure that avg. 117/75? Lovely! I do still have to sleep somewhat elevated as I do have occasional bouts of reflux but nothing like before the surgery and I can't sleep on my right side for too long. But I can now sleep on my back without having severe back pain (the draw back is that my mouth is always open when I do). My blood work for the most part shows most areas in the normal ranges and my kidneys are functioning well. What I think about myself: When I was still in my 20s, I managed to lose 80 pounds and I gained it all back and then some. What is different about me now vs. then is that I still saw myself as fat, even though at that time, I was 16 pounds away from my goal weight. When I look at the pictures of me then, I couldn't see what I see of myself now. Even if I never lose another pound, I am so very cool with me being at this size right now. We are all different, especially us women, but yet we compare our bodies to an image that is not necessarily natural or realistic for most of us. Now I look in the mirror and I 'see' skinny and that's only because I'm tall and can carry more weight without 'looking' fat. That's also why the bottom line for me will always be the numbers on the scale, the volume of food I eat and the calories I ingest because the numbers don't lie. But poor body imagery can screw your mind up every time. What I appreciate about myself now: I think that it's so important to note the things that most folk who are thinner often take for granted. I try to keep a mental list of the things I can do now vs. before: Crossing my legs! I so love doing this! I can cross my legs without needing to hold my leg in place with my hand. I can keep my legs crossed for long periods of time without leg cramps; I can get a 4.5 mile walk in within 1 hr, 15 min vs. the 1 hr. 45 mins. in the past. I was able to work up to 10 miles in one session last year; Love having a resting heart rate in the 50s-60s; I can actually go to Costcos and buy some clothes! I haven't yet done so, but I will be able to start shopping for clothes in the non plus size section (that will still feel weird though); I like the fact that it can take me 2-3 days to finish a meal that I would normally eat in one meal. Volume control is a major game changer for me. I can't believe that I don't miss ice cream! My Work in Progress: The weight loss is slooooooooooooooooooooow now. I'm so close to that major milestone of onederland that I can taste it! Drinking enough water is still a struggle; Yes, sometimes I do overeat (and yeah, I pay for that!) Some foods that I like I can't really eat that much of anymore. I have to remind myself to make sure I get in enough protein. The protein drinks really helps even now. I still feel somewhat guilty when I have to throw food away because I'm full. I still snack a lot and I will on occasion, have that one sweet item that I want. I don't crave sweets and I'm so very grateful about that. Interesting that I want more savory things now. Being consistent is what I have to constantly work on. So ask me anything and I will check in from time to time to answer your questions. I would love to hear from others who had the surgery just prior to the great shutdown of 2020. Whatever you do, stay true and focus on your journey. It doesn't matter when you get there, only that you do in your time.

I haven't been on a pre-op diet which I think is really weird. The only instructions I've been given is clear liquids the day before surgery and nothing after midnight. My appointment went really well! The bariatric nurse went through everything in detail, she was really funny and reassuring. I definitely agree, it's a whirlwind! How's your liquid diet going? I've never been on one but that'll be my reality next week!

Hi there, I had my surgery on August 31,2012 and I did really good on the pre-op diet and and the post-op diet up until the 4th post-op week when I could eat solid foods. To be real honest I had a free-for-all and ate pretty much anything I wanted and then I would feel miserable because I was so full. I did notice that I got full a little quicker than normal but I still ate a pretty large amount. In my warped mind I thought I would (excuse my graphicness) vomit if I over ate but I never did. Everyone that I knew that had the surgery told me that if I overate my body bascially wouldn't let me, which evidently is not the case for me. I haven't had my first fill-thats not till next week but now I'm hearing that I've basically ruined my lap-band surgery because I stretched out the new stomach? Is this true? Its been a week since I fell off the wagon but I'm devasted....I've now starting weighing my food and eating right but ever since I had the surgery theres never really been a time when I felt full even when I was doing the right things....I'm always thinking of food and my stomach growls, maybe its mental but I'm really struggling here. I just hope I haven't ruined everything because of my week binge.

Ok guys some ideas on the pureed food please!!! Maybe I just chose the worst thing to try for the first attempt at food. Normally I love refried beans!!! This is actually making nauseated I really was looking forward to this! lol

It took me about 3 weeks before I could sleep on my stomach. Even now I mostly sleep on back or side.

I'm 13 weeks post op and I am still struggling with protein and water amounts. I can not find protein supplements that taste good for more than 5 seconds....lol

WOW - i read that and thought you must be going to the same one i am here in MO. I called my insurance at the beginning of last week and they said I was approved and have sent two letters to dr stating that- but girl at the office says they havn't gotten anything and can not schedule my surgery till she gets the papers- OMGoodness! I am going crazy- My insurance says they have sent it twice now- very frustrating to know that the only thing that is keeping you from having surgery is some one who does not know how to do their job- plus- like you the office I go to most ly does lap band- and even tho on everything I wrote I wanted the sleeve done- she turned it in to insurance over a month ago- but come to find out- for the BAND not the sleeve- so she had to resubmit everything the beginning of March and now I am approved but can't get her to schedule the surgery - and to think if she actually knew how to do her job I could have been sleeved over a month ago!! - UGH!!!! I so understand your frustration!

I'm from NJ... I have Aetna and should have a date last week in August or early Sept..good luck to you all

You should never wait for sex!! Lol!! My doc said a couple of weeks and take it easy till your incisions heal... No hanging from the chandelier till after 6 weeks

Do a search for week three stall. Super common and there are scientific reasons for it.

Had my final visit with my surgeon on Tuesday and set surgery date for December 12th. Got a call from the office today that we have received insurance approval.....YAY!! Will be starting my two week pre-op liquid phase right after Thanksgiving, then move to pureed Proteins after surgery. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

Hello BandLand!!! First I wanna say I hope everyone is doing great and I am glad we have this forum because everyone has the opportunity to inspire someone else throughout there journey. I am getting a lil discouraged though... Today makes 1month post-op for me and I am only down 20lbs... For the 2wks the scale is just not moving. I am staying around 1000-1400 calories but on most days I am at 1200cals. I am starting to feel very hungry again. I will be getting my first fill this Friday the 18th. Currently i have no Fluid in my 14cc band. I just wanna know how has everyone's journey been? Any regrets? Anyone doing any vigorous exercise right away? Also for those out there who understand carbs... I need help!!! On a daily basis, I am trying to stay at 1200cals, 60-80g Protein, & under 100g carbs... I just dont understand how people say they stay under 30g of carbs when there are carbs in just about everything we eat including high protein foods also. If I eat yogurt for Breakfast, thats 20g carbs just from my a.m. snack... Can someone please explain carbs to me? I have been avoiding Pasta & rice and minimal bread but I do have a bagel thin or english muffin once or twice a week. Any help or advice would be great!!! Thanks Everyone... Below are some additional questions. Any help is appreciated!!! Thanks... HDC 1. (Women only question) What do you do for cravings and appetite when it's that time of the month? Does your weight fluctuate during this time as well? 2. Because there are carbs in almost everything we eat, how do you determine what is a good amount of carbs per day? My fitnesspal says 249g is a go number. 3. What kind of exercise do you all do and how much and for how long? 4. Any ideas on things I can do as a truck-driver that works nights? I will be going back to work in a couple weeks and snacking is how I use to make it on the road. I need ideas or even some healthy snack choices to get me through my nights at work driving down that lonely highway. 5. Are sunflower seeds bad? 6. So far I have been eating 1200 calories of less per day, along with 80g of protein and trying to keep my carbs under 100g. Is this ok??? I'm really unsure… Just still so confused and need some words of wisdom on certain things. Bandsters please share any advise or tips to help me through my journey. I appreciate all comments and I accept all the supportand encouragement I can get. Thanks a lot lbt…

I've got the book, blah, too many rules. To much weirdo Protein drinking, I just used the book to give me some ideas about what to do with the dumbells I have at home, and then never did them anyway, lol. I just cant be bothered living on such a strict diet where you have to drink this at that time, etc etc etc. And I'm sure all the pictures are NOT the results people achieved in 12 weeks!

I did BFL a few years ago and lost 30 pounds in 12 weeks. The workouts were hard; I kept a little journal of all of my weights and reps so I could see how far I've come (I'm making a new little journal for myself now.) Bill Phillips endorses EAS (whatever the brand) shakes because it's his brand. That's why there's so much emphasis on drinking those Protein shakes and eating the protein bars: He makes more money when you buy them. I think some of those people had to do BFL multiple cycles before they attained their results. I agree - some of those pictures are a little too hard to believe, but I do think the pictures are authentic, and those people did change their bodies through exercise. I could see my muscles getting "cut" even through my 270 pound bodyflab. :biggrin1: The program is awesome but takes a lot of time and dedication. It's much easier to follow if you have a partner. I would love to get back on that program once I lost some weight. The results will be even greater, I believe. But for now I want to concentrate on my cardio. Nathalie

I did BFL many times over the past few years. I did manage to lose about 20 lbs. I am going to back to using the recipes from Eating for Life. They are so good and eay to make! I think I will do a challenge in the few weeks. I would love to see how far i can go now that I am banded!!! Maybe we should start a BFL challenge ourselves and enter?????

Well it has only been 3 weeks. Give it some time. The minimum amount of protein you should be having is 60 grams. I noticed that 2 of the last 3 days you were under that. If you do not get enough protein it will stall your weight loss. Are you drinking 64 OZ of water everyday? I also see where you said you were not exercising yet. Is there a reason for that? You should not lift weights for 6 weeks but getting on the treadmill or eliptical is something that will definitely increase your metabolism and boost your weight loss. It will work if you put effort into your weight loss. I am at the gym 5-6 days a week for 1-2 hrs. I hate it but I know if I don't do it I will stop losing weight. Just keep your eye on the ball of why you had this surgery in the first place. It does not matter if your calories are low like that. Your body does not think it is starving as long as you are giving it the protein it needs. Be patient. It did not go on overnight and will not come off overnight. I know I am in the same boat, you want that scale to move everyday but that is just not practical.

Once you get on to regular foods your calorie intake will increase. I am 11 weeks out and keep my calories at 900. The scale will move. Just do not get obsessed by it. Just stay in the action and you will get the results. Are you getting in all your protein? Sometimes in this stage you still need to supplement with protein drinks to get enough in. Be proud of your efforts so far. It is not easy and you should applaud yourself. Keep up the good work.

Mine was 5 160 calorie shakes per day for two weeks prior. Liquid the week after, then a week of mushiness, then a week if soft foods, then solids.

My surgeon had a 3 hour seminar we were required to attend. I am so glad I did because I learned so very much. He actually gave the seminar himself. I would look into that, and attend both if applicable and see from there. I kind of feel like you. I have had my consultation and am in my 3 month 'pre surgery insurance stuff' to lose some weight and get in better shape for surgery. I am about to start trying Protein shakes and see which ones and what recipes I really like. That is something you can start doing. I am also slowly weening off of cokes. Well, I havent had a coke in a week so I guess I have weened off of those. I plan to have surgery in early December and about early November I will start weening off of all caffeine altogether, as that is a requirement from my doctor. I will also really limit my sugar intake. I do not want to be any more miserable than necessary when I do the 2 week pre op diet. Also, find out what both of their pre and post op diets and requirements are, like a sleep study and an endoscopy. Good luck!!

You look great. Did you gain a few pounds before reaching your goal? Just two weeks ago I was 4 lbs away from my goal of 140...being in the house because of the cold weather I am now 13 lbs away....I'm 7 months out...my personal goal is to maintain between 135-140...but you do look good. No I haven't gain anything I'm basically trying to tone right now so I might gain a few pounds back but it'll be okay Congrats to u too