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Good luck Rick -- if you have the right mind set and it seems you do this will be a great tool for you to get going. I too amd 55 and was very tired of being tired and not feeling good about myself and wanted to make the most of my second half season, so got the band just about 10 days ago now -- feeling encouraged and staying the course with the eating plan - this definitely is a tool and you have to do the work - better food choices, portion control, balancing liquids, chewing and eating slowly, etc. This site is great to keep in touch and stary reminded of what it takes and some of the challenges along the way -- we may be older, but we CAN do it! Take care. Deb

FINALLY! SOMEONE AFTER MY OWN HEART!!!! Not weighing yourself every second! i used to do that too! Weigh only at the drs office. I had my surgery came home and tossed the scale out into the trash. . it was the best thing i ever did! At my 7th week i went to the doctor and had lost a whooping 53 lbs! I was so proud of myself it made it all worth while. Now at 10 1/2 months out and a loss of 140 lbs I'm really happy with myself. . . . YES pureed chicken and beef is just like paste no matter what you do to it. . .don't get upset with life at thanksgiving, you won't be able to eat much, only a bite here and there and you'll feel sorry for yourself. . . but you know what? It's ok! It's normal. . . we are so used to eating sooo much food all our lives and then suddenly overnight our tummy's are snatched away from us and we are EXPECTED to change our ways. . . It's really hard, but in time you will learn what to do. . I still have some problems at times in that I don't have time to eat properly and eat junk food. . .thank god for pork rinds though! I eat those alot. . . no carbs~!!!!! But you will do fine! Just wrap your head around the new you and take it easy. . .don't beat yourself up and keep on doing what you do! Have a blessed thanksgiving and give blessing to the ones around you and not on what you have lost. Good luck!

Hi Kiwi, Rolesville... about 10 miles north of Raleigh. I am sooo ready. Started researching this about 2 years ago but only did something about it in January.

I am at 10 months post-banding and wanted to share my NSVs with all of you. :clap2: In no particular order: 1. I have a noticable jawline & cheeckbones, and only 1 chin. 2. I can sit in any seat now and not be squished in by the sides. 3. I now shop in the misses section for my tops (size Large). 4. I weigh less now than I have for the last 18 years. 5. I can cross my legs! 6. I can sit in a booth in a resturant without my belly hitting the table. 7. My collarbones are visible again. 8. Hubby can reach all the way around me when he hugs me. 9. I am just over 1/2 way to my goal weight (mine, not doctors). 10. I can look down when standing and see my toes! At my first visit to the surgeon my weight was 329. I now am 249.6. My personal goal is 165 or so (doctor says 135). At 5', 3", that was a lot of weight to carry around. I work out 1 1/2 to 2 hrs 5 days a week at the gym and love it. I hope to be at goal weight at my 2 year bandaversary. Thanks for sharing with me.

Just weighed and I still cannot get over seeing the scale go continually DOWN! I keep checking just waiting for it to go up. It is just so counter to what I have experienced for the past 25 years and makes me a little teary eyed. Okay, so maybe I am a little emotional and potentially hormonal. Stats: Weight : 4/3/13 268.0 Surgery 4/7/13 253.2 -14.8 4/8/13 251.0 -17.0 4/10/13 249.4 -18.6 4/12/13 247.9 - 20.1 4/15/13 245.5 - 22.5 Heading out for a 2-3 mile walk.

Well, I said that I was going to do a happy dance when and if this happened. I am sitting in Starbucks right now, near two attractive, seemingly single women. I noticed them when I came in, I've been here for like 10 min. Well, one of them just looked my direction, look back at her friend and then her head snapped back to me and she checked me out!! *huge grin* I don't think I have ever had anyone do a double take for any reason other than my enormity. Woot! I'm pumped!!!

You're on clears - of course you feel hungry. It's pretty common, actually, and persists until you're on solid foods and chewing again. Four days out you still have ghrelin in your system, you're probably still making too much acid even if you're on a PPI (can take 10 days to really take full effect) and you're used to eating...but now you're on a clear diet. It's normal and will pass. And everyone is different. Some people immediately on solids could eat what I was still struggling to eat a year out. We're all different. ~Cheri

I am 10 Weeks out and take a colace at least once a day. I had helped so much with going to the bathroom.

thanks 10 miles a weeks is awesome how many calories are you eating? If you're exercising a lot maybe you need to up your calories. Message me

Wow! Soocalchic..you have done amazing!! Im a lil over 9 months out and stalled big time!! Im plateau right now at 237..Im doing zumba classes and trying to have a goal of walking 10 miles a week! I do have some health issues still...hypothyroidism and..type 2 diabetes..(off two meds;now only one med YAY) I would love to hear what worked for you so far....thanks a bunch.. I eat every 5 hours...

I was banded 10 days ago. Immediately following surgery, my port incision was a little puckered. Now it is actually bulging out and I can feel the port quite clearly under the skin. Has anyone else experienced this? Just want to get some more information before I call my doctor.

Wow! you're back already. I was sleeved on 4/10 and have my 1 week follow up visit tomorrow. also transitioning to soft foods. Can't wait to have something with texture - refried beans never sounded so good!

10 wks. 40 lbs. I'm not gonna lie, it's a big lifestyle change, but still happy I did it. My life just doesn't revolve around food anymore. I no longer live to eat. I eat to live! You'll do great!

I am starting to get depressed..I was banded on 10-22 and Ive only lost 25 Lbs..does anyone ha e any tips for quicker weight loss? Everyone that Ive seen banded close to the same date as me have lost alot more. HELP !

I am scheduled with Dr. Kuri for 10/16/09. I can let you know how it goes.

I know what you mean, those soldiers...we love 'em but they are a little hard core in the exercise department. I work with the military, all day, 60 hrs a week. I have gotten similar comments. "You can march with us tomrrow morning" or "we'll have you start with 20 situps and work your way up". I appreciate the motivation but I'm obese and I have 10 years on most of them. I can't do more than 1 situp now let alone 20. I guess the best advise I could give you is to arm yourself with some ammunition from your nutritionist and trainer. When he offers to do your food log say "Oh thank you but my nutritionist already has a log and specifically asked me to fill it out daily" or "My trainer wants we to start out slow so I don't cause injury" Let the professionals advise be the polite way to say "no thank you".

My surgery was at 8 a.m. and I was home by 2 p.m. My lift restrictions were 5 pounds the first week, 10 pounds by the end of the 2nd week. Then 'normal lifting' ok...until he found out that normal lifting for me was 50-75#. Then he revised it to no more than 15-20 pounds *max* for 4 weeks after surgery.

I had a great post op visit with my surgeon this morning. It was so nice to find out if everything I was feeling was normal! I was banded on 3/28 so this is day 10 post op! He told me the pain I have been having around my port is natural since they do sew it to the abdominal wall! They sew it to the muscle with sutures so as you heal and you are moving it takes time to heal but it does heal fine and it is sutured in tight enough not to flip or move now days! I was also worried about band slippage (the nurse practitioner also came in and answered some questions) she said that slippage usually occurs within 5 days post op and happens because the sutures the band is sewn in with become loose (usually 3 - 6 sutures) because of violent excessive vomiting or a traumatic event like a car accident. After 5 days the sutures are usually healed enough to anchor the band in place. Saying that she said it is still important to stay on full liquids for 14 days post op to ensure continued healing then slowly progress to soft diet. I can start the soft diet Monday and she told me to choose soft meats and instead of pureeing them I can cut them to the size of a pencil eraser, which I think I will try instead of pureed meat! Regarding hunger eat Protein first because that fills you up faster and try to eat/drink every two hours. I told them I was starting to get hungry! It is normal for most to get hungry after the swelling goes down. I will be getting my first fill in 4 weeks! (I think I might stick a tblsp. of Peanut Butter in my Protein shake which is ok) I can exercise, but only walk on treadmill or outside. I can resume normal activity after 6 weeks checkup, which is what all surgeons say! I feel so much better knowing that everything is ok! Hope this helps for all those waiting to see their surgeons, but this is just and FYI, letting you know what my surgeon says is not what all surgeons say!! Peace, Joleen

I had the surgery on 04/07/10 and since then have been having a stabbing pain in the middle of my stomach towards the left side. I passed all the tests before i left the hospital and was perscribed medication, but the pain will not go away. I am drinking fluids well and have not thrown up except for dry heaving right after surgery. I just want to know, is this normal or did i make a big mistake. Any assistance in this matter would be greatful.

Thank you for posting! My surgery is at 10:00 in the morning, so it's good to see that you are well enough to post!

Hi Mandy-Heres what I eat in a typical day. breakfast 1/2 cup either cottage cheese, scramble eggs, low fat sausage-lunch the same as dinner-1/2 cup total roasted turkey,chicken,meatball,gyro meat,fish with a small about of vegatable and somes times fruit.(this is part of my 1/2 cup lunch-dinner serving. 2 snaks sugar free jello-popsycles-pudding-yogart-hard boiled egg. I try to get in 48 to 64 oz of liguid. water, crystal light, caffeine free tea. I was banded on sep 11 th. Im down about 19 lbs. I hope this helps you. Hang in there

Went to the seminar today to get much needed info. The group we are going with has three surgeons who do these surgeries. I was interested in the sleeve but the doc leading the group today said he is not keen on the VSG only because of the track record of restrictive procedures. He made sure to point out that whatever the patient wants the patient gets but I think they push for the RNY. One of the other docs really likes the VSG so maybe he gets all those patients. Our appointment is Oct. 10. We have to get letters of approval from our primary doc and show past weigh-ins from office visits. Has anyone out there had trouble showing a history? I especially am concerned about showing my son's past weight issues. He goes to the docs far less than I. Any input will be appreciated.

I feel so terrible. Like I'm not myself at all. I woke up this morning feeling horrible. My tummy was making weird noises and tryin to get up was like a act of god. I don't know if it's stress that's taking a toll on my body or what (had VSG 4/10/12). I am a 25 y/o college student and finishing my finals this week. One class has me so stressed since I fell behind with surgery. I don't know if it is that now with stress I have to be super careful because of the surgery it could be more harmful? I'm just confused. I hate this feeling. Sent from my iPhone using VST

I can't tell you how many times I have read on the forum not to expect too much if you are over 50!! That is just nutty. My mantra is "Who's Universe is this?" IF I buy into someone else's Belief System [bS], then THAT is what I am stuck with. Hey--I was stuck in a rut before my WLS. Dr. Aceves told me before surgery in a 45 minute consulation about what to expect with the RESULTS from this surgery that HE would deliver 50% to me -- but the other 50% was up to ME. 10 words 20 letters IF IT IS TO BE -- IT IS UP TO ME No one is going to do this for you. NOW is the time to get into relationship with your body in a way that you never have done before. Learn how to be a Body Listener--not a Body Big Mouth. What do I mean? I was told to TEST one food at a time. NOW just because suzy-q on the Forum can eat something post-op, does not mean that I can eat the same thing. So testing means I try to eat something--and if--my body says NO...then it is a NO. Don't try to override in your HEAD what your BODY is communicating to you.I read about the number of people who are NOT losing, who have gained __# of pounds and are shocked, or they are throwing up all of the time. To those people I would say to use a little SALT: Stop-Action ... Listen-Think. IF IT IS TO BE -- IT IS UP TO ME Stop what HURTS, stop what makes you throw up, stop trying to be your old SELF, stop trying to be like someone else. Stop those Actions. LISTEN to your body. Obey your body. THINK about it. THINK about what is no longer working, TEST it for yourself, Test it again and again if you need proof, and then BELIEVE what your body is telling you. Are you using a food journal? IF so, this is a great place to post your discoveries. For example, here we are in the middle of the summer and there are lots of BBQ's going on. Body Big Mouth wanted a BBQ'd cheese burger with dill pickles. So I tested. I ate 2-3 bites and the food was so HEAVY that I did throw up, then I had to sleep for a couple of hours to feel better. But Body Big Mouth did not give up. I waited a week or two and I wanted what I wanted. Test it. SSDD Same Stuff Different Day I ate 2-3 bites and the meat was so HEAVY that I threw up, and then had to sleep for a couple of hours to feel better. Now Body Big Mouth still wanted what I wanted, waited a week or two and decided to test it again. I ate 2-3 bites, the meat was so heavy that my body hurt. SSDD Stop-Action ... Listen-Think IF IT IS TO BE -- IT IS UP TO ME After three tests, notes in my journal, I realized that I was not being a Body Listener ... I was being a Body Big Mouth--I wanted what I wanted when I wanted it--I did not want the results that I was getting--my Ego was louder than my Body-Talk and I was not listening. So back to being a Body Listener. Back to doing what works for my body. I have lost 45 pounds in 90 days by realizing that Dr. Aceves gave me the vehicle for a new body. Now I have to retrain my MIND and my MOUTH to be in relationship with my new vehicle. I need to know when to throw on the BREAKS and Stop-Action...Listen-Think. I have to understand that this is a journey of Self determination and my surgeon gave me the support that I need. He did all he could do--he did his part. Now I have to do my part. IF IT IS TO BE -- IT IS UP TO ME Be a Body Listener. Will you please post your thoughts on how you have become a body listener for yourself? Here are my Before - After pictures [so far] on YouTubes

After the Prilosec last PM I still had a wicked cough while trying to sleep BUT no heartburn at all today. I spoke w/ the NP at my lap band center and she suggested I take the Prilosec daily for 7-10 days and that I go to full liquids for a few days as well as avoid caffeine, spicy foods and alcohol. Joan