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I'm in Wylie. Surgery is 8/19 with Dr. Nicholson.

I am a 32 DDD and a size 8/10 on the bottom. I just got two bathing suits from Victoria's Secret. The key for me was to get a top that is completely adjustable around so that the cups would be big enough but the around part could be as tight as needed. I also got a crop top bikini top which doesn't have underwire (has soft cups) but still feels very supportive and is comfortable. I can try and find the links if you're interested.

I'm about 19 days post-op and I'm surprised by the amount of food I can eat. I did the "cottage cheese test" (from "Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients" by Colleen Cook) and according to the test, my stomach can comfortably hold 10 ounces (3/4 cup), which shocked me. I thought it would be half that. I plan to ask my surgeon more about this on my next visit, but is this unusual? I lost quite a bit of weight before surgery on the liquid diet (one week), but loss has been slower than I expected after that. I've decided to weigh weekly instead of every day, so I don't get discouraged by the inevitable up-and-down of daily weights. I know the surgery isn't a magic bullet and it's up to me to make this work, but the sluggish weight loss is a little discouraging. I'm still learning how much I can and should eat, and I'm tracking my intake on myfitnesspal to make sure my calorie counts are reasonable. I'm taking in between 800-1,000 calories on most days, sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less.

I haven't been on here for a LONG time. I'm 3 years out from surgery and I got down to my goal of 150 (actually 145) but now I'm fluctuating between 156 and 160. I know that isn't a lot of gain but, for me, it's a slippery slope. 10 pounds can quickly become 20 then 50 and that leads to "screw it - I give up". I started off in therapy about 6 months prior to surgery and continued on for a year after. I only stopped because my therapist move out of the country (and I hate having to find someone new that I click with - she was amazing). BUT i'm realizing that I need to go back to therapy and probably the nutritionist as well. I can really eat anything I want now and I do (that's the problem!) So I need to go back to basics, make sure I'm focusing on Protein and veggies/fruit and stop putting the junk in my mouth. For me, therapy was the key to getting and staying (close to) goal for so long. I absolutely know that I would have gain back most if not all of the weight if I hadn't worked on WHY I was eating (using food as a drug to numb my feelings). I can feel myself slipping back into old behaviors and mindset. The old me would have just ignored these warning signs, deny there is anything wrong while continuing to overdose on my "drug" of choice. At lease I've become more aware - I can truly see the issues I have now and I know that food won't fix them.

Hello everyone, I had the gastric sleeve done on March 25, 2019. I'm post op day 18 and having a really hard time adjusting. I am at the stage where I can eat mushies and that has been going slightly well. Still very thirsty though. I'm following my diet plan but my mind and heart are really struggling with this new lifestyle. I can't help but think about pizza and sodas. I don't feel much hunger.. just mostly cravings if that makes sense. It came to a point where I cried really hard to my support system which they have been nothing but outstanding. Everyone knew that I was absolutely in love with my body. I loved every inch of my body. However, the harm I was causing myself really scared me and lead me doing the surgery. Now, seeing the weight leave my face and back really hit me hard. I just want to know.. does it get easier? Will I be allowed to eat anything with sugar? I appreciate all the answers. Thanks. SW:241 CW:217 GW:160

Hey all I still haven't gotten banded but here is the problem after my last post I changed docs and had to start over again. Never change docs if your in the kaiser program no matter how bad your doctor is. Well I am back on the trail and now kaiser wants to do the gastric bypass sleeve. Saying the lap band will only lose 10-20% of your weight. LIES!! I know for a fact that's not true I got a few friends who have been banded and lost 200lbs. The problem is my weight loss has slowed and now I am starting to have problems with health from being overweight. Thus causing a major problem. I am really thinking of saying screw it and go to Mexico. But I am scared if I do that kaiser will not honor what they did in Mexico. I also just found out I haven't met with my surgeon. The guy I was in contact with isn't even the surgeon he's just a N.P. Any help on getting kaiser to work would help or should I just go to Mexico and do it?

Wow, you have lost 10 lbs per month! That's great! Here is a little reality check, people are more interested in themselves and seldom pay attention to what others are doing. And if they are paying attention and criticizing you, then kick um to the curb and move on because they are not a loving part of your life. You will lose more weight and have less loose skin to boot! It will happen, just give it time. Now it may be time you start eating adult food though. Like lean meats and lots of other Protein based foods. Try to avoid sugars and carbs for a while. You should be at a stage where you can eat regular food now. I eat a lot of chicken, fish, pork and beef. I will then eat a little bit of veggies if i have room. The baby food you have been eating may have too much sugar and is also processed. I try to stay away from processed foods as much as possible. Hope this helps.

I felt the exact same way since I was so successful at losing during the Options classes. And I feel this is exactly why Kaiser patients are so well prepared by the time they have surgery. It's so great that you're thinking long and hard about this and you have the opportunity to "weigh" (ha ha) all your "options" ha ha (I crack myself up). I can offer you this: with all my thorough thinking and even though I knew I was so sure about going through with it, the moment I woke up from surgery I said "why didn't someone talk me out of this?" (But I was just a miserable whiney surgery patient). But now? I love it. Every day I feel like I have a secret weapon that has finally broken the pattern. I finally feel normal and have such comfort knowing the weight is off for good. I have zero regrets. Zero. I can still eat whatever I want. I'm not deprived. Wish I had it done 10 years ago. Keep thinking and good luck on your decision!

I am no doctor but it sounds to me what my doctor and books I have read call "referred pain". Basically, your shoulder hurts like heck but it's normal and relates to gas. For me, the pain was the worst of all pain associated with the surgery. If they had not forewarned me, I would have been completely freaking out!! The pain lasted about a week and a half for me. Call your doc anyway. They probably should have set better expectations for you. Basically, they told me my shoulder was going to really hurt and around 10 days out I would be completely hungry and that I should make my Protein drinks thicker during that time.

Great ideas! Love the 3 10 min. walk idea and photos of food eaten in a day! Thanks for posting. linkoop

I am in your boat! Our stats are similar! Pre-op:260 SW:244 Current weight:219 Surgery date 1/10/13. 3 months out. I was losing steadily and when I finally get in this groove of more workouts and a higher pace, nothing!! I can't break past 219. The scale goes between 219-222. Gimme a break!! But I send feel smaller and more fit. I just hope in a month I see a big difference. Today I are at Baja Fresh and ordered the skinny wahoo fish bowl (no rice sub more Beans though next time I think I will sun more veggies). It is 3 pieces of grilled mahi 2oz each and a bowl w cabbage, black beans and this really good mango salsa. It's so good. With out the rice it came to 459 calories and it lasted me three meals (lunch, snack and dinner). It's gonna be my new go-to if I have to eat out. Hope my body recognizes the effort I'm making!! Please keep me posted on your weight loss!!

Oh yea, I just looked at your stats, 10 lbs plus a month, you are rockin. I loose 10 lbs a month, here I am 8 mo post op & 15 lbs preop weight loss & I have lost 101. I believe for 10 lbs each month & it happens. (I lost 16 the 1st mo. Post op.) How much r u able to eat per meal? By 4/7 you will drop more weight.

I have surgery on Monday, Oct 1st and I'm down 14 lbs in 10 days on the liquid diet. My weight loss stalled on days 6&7 and I'm not sure why. I stuck to the routine, except I ate a diet yogart with 50 cals. both nights, which is limited to shakes, broth, Water, sf Jello & sf popsicles. I try to walk 2-3 miles every other day and I did this on the 5th day. Is this unusual or do most people stall on their liquid diet? Also, I have a desk job and I took the week off from work, will this be enouugh time? Thanks!

I started the liquid diet today. So far I'm doing really well. I had a premiere protein shake(caramel) I added 1 scoop of genepro and topped it off with some coffee. That took me up until a little after 10 a.m. I started at 8:30 a.m. I'm not hungry but I have some Gatorade2 lime that I've been sipping on. I have some jello for lunch. I'm not supposed to start the diet until next Wednesday on the 22nd. However, I want to start early so that I can get the most out of my sleeve. Surgery is on March 1st. Pray for me Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Im brand new to this page but felt it would be great to get some support from those sharing the experience. Ive been overweight most of my adult life but its been in the past few years that things have gotten bad. Ive tried every diet there is 3 times over with little success. Ive been hypnotised, had diets prepared based on my blood type, seen dietians, seen psycologists and nothing works long term. Ive come to my own conclusion that I need to be physically stopped eating. And this seems like my best option. Im booked for my sleeve surgery on the 26th of July. Until today Ive felt nervous, unsure and a bit scared. But Ive started on Optislim today and I now feel like my journey has final started and Im ready to get this done! Having said that, today has sucked! I was fine this morning but once I got past lunch time, I started to feel heady and yuck. My worst time to eat is night time when my kids and husband are in bed, so Im nervous about how Im going to go tonight. Im also a bit fearful of those first few weeks post surgery. And I spend a lot of time wondering what the long term impacts of this surgery will be - like 10 years +. My surgeon said there isn't much scientific data beyond 5 years so I do wonder what the impact could be on my 30 years from now. Having said that, I realise that if I continue to put on weight there is a good chance I wont be here in 30 years! Anyway, thanks for reading my first post. Ill look forward to any thoughts/suggestions/tips anyone may like to share!

I am 18 days post-op and these are my orders: Day 1-2 (in hospital) clear fluids Days 3-9: full liquids Days 10-16: puréed foods Days 17-30 soft foods Day 31 solid foods. When I went for my post op appointment at day 16, my doctor said I can pretty much eat anything, starting off with softer foods, take very small bites at first. Especially smaller bites for meat, and chew, chew, chew, chew. He did say to stay away from hard to digest foods a little while longer, like asparagus, celery, and nuts. I am going slowly, one new food at a time.

I just had an endoscopy today. Thought it would be a breeze (like the ones I've had before) but they did biopsies and I was in tons of pain and sick most of the day. I remember he said there was some scaring. Then, went for upper GI. I go back to the doc on Monday afternoon. I'm a little nervous. I was supposed to have a fill on Thursday but he sounded like that wasn't going to happen. All sorts of scenarios are going through my head. Especially since the office said that he normally doesn't see people for 7-10 days after the procedure. He definitely wanted to see me next week. Oh well, need to stop thinking about it because worrying will make more stomach acid and that's the last thing I need.

I was banded 9-6-06 and was doing wonderful. Until november. I only lost 4 pounds. Dec caught a stomach virus and had to let all fill out for three weeks. Had the fill put back and lost 10 pounds. I am still at a stand still. I have lost 50 pounds in 6 months. I lost the majority during the first two months and only 15 since. I too was wearing a 20-22 but can now wear a 12 in pants and 16 in a top. I want to get back to losing at least 2lbs per week and I can't seem to do it. I would love some insight as well. I don't want to get another fill. Twice I have been filled too much and it is horrible. I am at 1.2cc. My veryfirst fill, they put me at 1.8 and I couldn't even hold down water 4 hours later. I am going to try and choose different food items and change up my workout routine. I will let you know how it goes. Hang in there. We will get to our goal.

Well, didn't make it to the gym over the weekend, but I did get plenty of exercise working the special olympics.....I was so tired - but I had a great time. Back on the plan today Menu Bfast - the inside of a sausage roll - no break Lunch 1 bag of cashews - 1/2 container of yogurt (yes I know, eating on the run) Dinner 2 oz of roast salad - 1 cup Exercise - 10 am - 15 min on Elliptical Evening exercise - upper body workout - 30 min on elliptical Wt - didn't weigh today

A few days shy of 10 weeks post op, down 38 pounds (which I think are badass numbers for a low BMIer!), being a perfect newbie sleever going by the book, zero nausea, perfect experience...then last night... Went looking at houses - literally - all day. Brought my Quest bar to snack on and propel to sip. Underestimated how long I'd be looking & by the end of the day I felt soooo irritable, weak and upset that I started second guessing my entire life. Extreme thoughts began to manifest: maybe I was an idiot to break up with my ex (who screamed at me & treated me horribly), I should just quit my job...who needs the hassle for money when I don't need that much to eat anymore, I'll never find a house to buy, maybe I'll be alone forever....and so on. Then I ate dinner. Way. Too. Fast. Then my perfect streak of zero vom sessions became 1. At a fancy restaurant. Thank goodness I made it to the bathroom. Then I went on a coffee date with a hot guy and realized that I was perfectly happy, love my job, will absolutely find a house, and should remember that POST-OP HUNGER FEELS DIFFERENT THAN PRE-OP!! My world-is-over inner monologue was merely a reminder that I needed to eat! And, I will be better prepared for all day trips so I never reach that horrible place again. Thanks for letting me vent! How does hunger feel differently to you post-op? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Greetings from Bandlandia! Well, I went in for surgery yesterday at 10:00am, and I came home today at 12:00noon!! I guess my surgery was a textbook perfect case...or so said my surgeon:) I ended up with five incisions instead of six. It is something new they are trying. The only negative here is that the line of incisions are across my waistline. I am very short-waisted and there wasn't anywhere else to go with them:( I have to be very careful with my pants and stuff like that. It will also be a challenge when I go back to work, as the tables I use all day are right at that height. I am pretty sure I have no restriction at all, my stomache is growling quite a bit. But I'm not sure if I feel hungry, I do feel kind-of bloated. Maybe that is still the gas lingering?? I had a bowl of chicken broth (home-made..yum) and I felt like after thanksgiving dinner, so hopefully that is a good sign. It will really be a challenge getting to recognize when I am full, truly full. All in all, I am so happy I had this done, I am now in that waiting for my first fill stage, and I think it will seem like a very long time. Yippee...I'm banded!! Sheryl

I am so excited I can't wait for my surgery. I am freaking out because two weeks before I had to start the pre-op diet we went on vacation...I gained 8 pounds.....I have lost 10 since...but am afraid I won't lose enough before my surgery....I have my pre-op visit for labs this Tuesday....I am exercising and am on 2-3 protein shakes and one meal no more than 350 calories....I am stressing......

My workout regimen goes as such: 20 minutes cardio on the elliptical at an 8 mile minute pace CHEST AND TRICEPS: incline dumbell press 4 x 10-12 flat bench dumbell press 4 x 10-12 flat fly 4 x 10-12 push ups regular, military,diamond 3 x 25 tri press with rope Handel 4 x 8-10 " " with Z bar 4 x 8-10 overhead tri press 4 x 10 SHOULDERS, BACK, AND BICEPS: Overhead dumbell shoulder press 4 x 10-12 front/lateral raise 4 x 10-12 Lat pull downs 4 x 8-10 LAT rows 4x 8-10 single arm dumbell rows 4 x 10 each arm upright rows with Z bar 4 x 10 shoulder shrugs 4 x 10-12 dumbell curls 4 x 10 per arm hammer curls 4 x 10 per arm Z bar preacher curls 4 x 10 LEGS: squat jumps with medicine ball 4 x 15 Leg press 4 x 10 quad extensions 4 x 10 hamstring curls 4 x 10 lunges with weight 4 x 15 per leg calf raises 4 x 15 all exercises 30 second rest between sets. I do one section per session on a 3 day split. So chest and tri on Monday, back big and shoulders on Wednesday, and legs on Friday. On my days off I still walk about 3 miles a day. On workout days I still also walk 3 miles on top of my cardio.

I was scheduled for 10:00 A.M. surgery but got there at 8 A.M. as requested. My doctor was ahead of schedule so I was immediately called in to get prepped, I.V. etc. I wasn't too nervous once the IV was in place. I detest IV insertions. :faint: More worried about that than the actual surgery. I have had numerous surgeries since 9 months of age. I was told by anesthesiologist that he would give me something to relax me and the next thing I know I'm being wheeled to my hospital room. I saw my husband waiting there and was very happy. I stayed one night. My sister gave me a bear that said BELIEVE on his paws and on the ribbon around his neck. I keep him close to remind me to believe in myself. I can do this. Shortly after returning from surgery my husband and I called family members to let them know all went well. I was very eager to walk because I heard about the pain from C02 gas used to inflate stomach for lap. surgery. I wasn't going to have any of that pain if I could prevent it. The walking worked, no shoulder/chest pain. Just soreness from surgical site. I tried to drink lots of water but guess I overdid it and started to get nauseated. Almost vomited but eventually only burped. :help: That's what I get for talking on the phone and drinking water. :hungry: Clear liquid diet of broth, SF Jello, SF popsicle. WATER!! Hardly slept because other patient in my room came in and she was in pain from her surgery (not lap-band). Nurses in and out constantly. I took naps the next morning. I was out. Then my doctor came to see me and I woke up. A woman from church came and gave me communion and I totally forgot I wasn't supposed to have solids. So after a few minutes I was relieved that I did'nt have any problems. I guess I didn't think of receiving communion as eating. Day 3,4 & 5 I was extremely hungry. I was back on pre-op diet of protien drinks, 3/day. They had kept me pretty full during pre-op but post op I was so hungry, it hurt. I even took Tums to try and stop the hunger pangs. I just keep telling myself it will be worth it. This is temporary. That thought gets me through the day. I actually went up a little immediately post op probably due to water retention. I'm starting to lose weight once again. Hooray!:clap2: My sister and family members said "I thought you weren't supposed to get hungry with Lap-band.'' I explained again about the fills and that I won't be getting first fill for 4 weeks. I think everyone is starting to understand how this will work. They keep forgetting I'm not supposed to eat solid food so they'll ask if I want a burger or a peach. I gotta love them though because I know they mean well. So this doesn't bother me one bit. This has been a big change for them as well.:scared::hug:

That does not surprise me in the least. I found a picture of me from 10 years ago. There are not very many pictures of me at my highest weight. I am so glad I had WLS and even more glad that I had the band removed and got the sleeve!