Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Blogs

 

1 Pound Away From First Goal

I am down to 210 this morning! That means I've lost 49 pounds since the beginning of my pre op diet which started November 11th. I am sooooo happy!! I am going to buy myself a pandora bracelet along with two charms. I want to buy myself a charm for every 20 pounds lost. I bought myself a couple pairs of jeans. Not only were they on clearance (only 14 bucks for 2 pairs of jeans!!) but one was even a size 14!! I cannot remember the last time I was in a size 14!! So exciting! As my last post stated, I just received my second fill last week. So far so great!! I know I'm most likely still swollen, but I have great restriction right now as well as little to no hunger. Next week will be the deciding factor on whether I'm in the green zone or not. Happy V Day everyone!

legnarevocrednu

legnarevocrednu

 

Finally Seeing Results

I was banded on 3/9/10 and got down to 222lb before being diagnosed with breast cancer on 1/17/11, Spent 90% of 2011 going through surgery, recovery and chemo and ended back at 243lb. Joined Weight Watchers on 10/20/11, Joined the "Y" on 1/3/12 and started the FitLinx program along with 30 minutes a day of cardio. Just hit my first WW goal of 10% of my weight lost - down to 218!   NSV 1 - Although I'd heard all the talk about how exercise helps you have more energy, sleep better and relieve stress, I always was "too busy". Well, I'm still "too busy", but realized that there are things that can wait, like housework and catering to my hubs needs. Putting my health first needs to be a priority especially if I want to be around for the long haul.   NSV 2- Last band adjustment was Nov '11 - any further adjustments were understandably nixed by my WLS until after I finished treatment and got the okay from my oncologist. I got that okay back in October, but haven't felt the need to go back. My restriction is good but more importantly, I've learned to realize what true hunger is and what's emotional eating.   NSV 3- Kudos from my trainer: Jill - Congratulations you've reached a milestone with your Strength training lifting 100 000 lbs! It is your commitment to regular strength training that got you here. Great job! Adrian   2012 May just be the year I finally reach my goal!       <a href="http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/waosz4T/"> <img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/waosz4T/weight

RavenClaw779

RavenClaw779

 

A Very Good Weekend

This weekend wasn't so bad food-wise. On Friday all I had was the omlette from breakfast, some coffee for lunch and some General Tso's Shrimp for dinner. Saturday the dbf and I just pretty much vegged out at home. I made a taco pie for dinner, he wanted chips and salsa with it, so I got those and I have to say I was proud of myself I only had three chips with salsa on it (the salsa was so good, I ended up taking a spoon and eating it, screw the chip!)   So today is Monday back to the grind, going to the gym elliptical 30 minutes. Had my chobani this AM, cannot wait to start doctoring up plain chobani next week!   Have a good Monday keep on smiling

shues138

shues138

 

Alcohol Issues

Hi everyone!   Im 23 years old and ive been banded since november.... I hadnt really drank since then but as I am in college I had a few nights over the last few weeks out... I notice myself not been able to handle to much alcohol anymore and had a weird experience the last nite... I had barely drank and then had a black spell where my friends said it was like I was out of it on drugs... I dont take drugs and I was in a friends house so wasnt spiked... I find this stressing as I used to be able to drink all night and never ever have a black spell that I couldnt remember.       Has anyone elde had bad experiences with drink after been banded?   Thanks   Stacey

shadowstacey

shadowstacey

 

Dateing

So How does dating work after WLS? I mean I was told today that I was a bautiful personality,and a voluptuous body.absoutely gorgeous eyes, !!! now when do i tell him I will no longer have a vovoluptuous body?? lol.. of corse I find someone who loves BBW after I have WLS??? just my luck!

Nicole76

Nicole76

 

Must Defeat Grazing. Suggestions...?

Background: I ate "dinner" at 6 o clock (fish and yogurt). went to church. now i'm up to bat again at the plate-the dinner plate hahaha! not good. and now that it's night and i'm feeling blue i eat another even bigger dinner.   I grew up as a grazer. I would eat a little here. Go Play. eat a little there. do my homework. eat some more. And it was all okay. I was a tiny kid/young adult that was healthy and hopeful. As I have gotten older this mode of eating has been slowly waging a war against my waistline. A little bit here and there has turned into a big problem. I guess now the major differance now is that my grazing portions have really increased...eat a lot here. eat a lot there. eat....eat....eat... Now for me grazing provides an opportunity to avoid responsibility for my food and my life. Grazing whenever I feel sad or upset helps me to avoid the problems in my life. Grazing also allows me to trump the food journal system. If I can't remember (or choose not to remember) what i ate because it was a bite here and there, then I can't write it down and feel bad about it. Food journalling makes me feel depressed. So I figure if I'm eating in weird patterns and ways I can somehow avoid the pain of accountability. I really don't know what else to say, other than I need help. Are there any other hardcore grazers out there? how did u face up to what you were actually eating. what rules or strategies did you use?

Hopeful to be full

Hopeful to be full

 

On My Weigh.....again!

I was banded on 7th Jan 2008 and due to pressures from pursuing two degrees at once and a pregnancy I was unable to use my tool successfully. Fortunately, I have restriction now. Few months back my surgeon discovered that due to the lower and upper part of my stomach touching during the pregnancy I developed an ulcer that allow food to find another route into the lower part of my stomach. It seemed to have been treated as I no longer have to take antacids everynight in order to sleep.   Initially I had lost 31lbs before pregnancy, then I gained all back plus 3! I didn't have to deal with gestational diabetes with this pregnancy as with the previous ones, so score one for the band. Over two years post-pregnancy and I did manage to lose it all again plus 15, so my band is still working ever so slightly in the background. So if ur good at math (I'm not!!!) that would mean I'm starting over 15lbs less than my original starting weight.   Since the 3rd Feb. 2012 I've been on all liquids. I definiitely have restriction cause I've not been able to do this ever before, not even right after surgery!! Plus I've decided that I'm taking time out for me now. Pregnancy over and degrees acquired, I'm more relaxed now so I have time to pause in a stressful situation and determine whether or not I'm really hungry.   I have set myself a personal challenge of losing 35lbs by the end of my first month of starting over. So far I'm down 15lbs which would make me 30lbs below my original starting weight. I've vowed not to put another morsel of food in my mouth until I'm at 300 or below. I can actually feel restriction when I'm drinking and I'm not able to drink more than 4oz at a time... so I know the restriction is waiting right there for me when I resume solids.     This time I know I can make it... (Toast) Here's to another 20lbs by 3/3/2012. Cheers! (with my protein shake ).

ovahkummer

ovahkummer

 

2 Days To Surgery

So Wed. is my surgery and today I woke up in a full panic about the surgery. Really?? As hard as I have worked to get to this point, why am I now freaking out about it? I have had surgery before and I honestly do not recall very much about it. I had my tubes tied and to my memory,it was a cakewalk after. I guess I need to calm my nerves and try to settle down. I have so many things to do at work to get them ready for me to be out. I also cleaned my house from top to bottom today and grocery shopped for the family. I also told my kids today and I really need to tell my mother. I am just not sure how she will respond. My hubby and kids are very supportive. I am packing my bag today to ensure I don't forget anything. Did anyone else have a case of nerves before going in?

sweetsoutherngirl

sweetsoutherngirl

 

Pre-Op - Anxiously Awaiting Surgery

Hello! I'm a single mom of 2 girls, ages 9 and 13. I have several friends and family that have been banded and are successful. I attempted to do this surgery 3 years ago and before surgery had to have my gallbladder taken out, so I got discouraged and put off the lapband. I tried a year later and my mom got really sick, she passed away in May 2010. By January 2011, I promised myself I would make some changes in my life. Being a single mom, I've always put my kids first. I decided that I needed to start thinking about myself too. I started making small changes in my diet and exercising when I found time. I just wanted to convince myself I could make the changes. I started my 6 mo supervised diet In August 2011 and completed it in January 2012. I lost 30 lbs! My insurance approved the surgery and my surgery is scheduled for February 14, 2012...Valentine's Day...what a great present to myself!! I'm so excited! I've been doing the pre-op diet of clear liquid and protein shakes since Tuesday and have lost 7 lbs. I've had some hungry spells, but overall this is easier than I expected it to be. I am working tomorrow, and then surgery is on Tuesday...I'm off work then till the following Tuesday (21st). Hoping all goes well and I'm anxious to begin this new chapter of my life.

Heather1976

Heather1976

 

Pre-Op Prep

VSG scheduled 03/09/12 with Dr Almanza in TJ   Flights and hotels are booked   Read books, blogs, multiple diet recommendations for pre-op and post-op eating   Starting the kitchen cleanse in stealth mode so daughter doesn't notice an abrupt change in pantry items   Healthier meals started for family   Making a list of vitamins, supplements and OTC meds to have on hand for post-op needs   Food funerals over except Valentine's dinner when I will have wine and large meal/dessert for last ime before pre-op diet begins   Smart phone app installed for ease in tracking nutrients, activity, and weight - need to start using during pre-op diet so I can get used to using it   Need to deep clean house now so I will not feel urge to do so post-op and hurt myself   Much more to do but thrilled to be in action mode instead of state of indecision!

traceyleigh

traceyleigh

 

An Impossible Dichotomy...

In hindsight I find myself thinking about all the time - all of my adult life, all of my teenage years, most of my childhood, I have fought my fat. I have gone out and played harder, ate less, denied minding that I couldn't wear what some of the other kids were wearing (which would actually be true as I entered my high school years). I became strong and fit (for my size) as I also became a f@%k you kid with an attitude and patient yet short fuse... I had feelings but never felt them, I had friends and never cared.   I became a great artist. I am really good at alot of things. I have two degrees and I am on the dean's list going for my third. I am who people come to when something needs fixing - and no one had a clue how desperate I was to fix myself. Only in the last few years do I think my Hubby even knew. My sister knew, and tried to help - and finally understood she could nox fix me. Frustrating for her, horribly frustrating for me - I never wanted my Sister to ever have a bad day - especially if it were my doing.   I could go on and on but I think the main point is that I lived for over 30 years in a state of semi-misery, while being truly happy, successful, and able to extend myself to friends and hobbies and a healthy marriage. I watched my weight fluxuate and I tried harder and sometime not so hard. I avoided all the fad diets - I had educated myself too much and knew what it would do to my muscle mass. Yet I really wanted to try them - you want to believe anything you hear first-person. It's just so easy to say "so-n-so did it".   I can quilt because my Granny taught me - I can sew clothing because I was going to wear what I wanted to wear - so I learned to recreate what I saw in the mall windows. I never let anything get in my way - except I did - or did I?   That is the thing I think I need to come to grips with most - even as I lose the weight now, I am finding slips of thought finding it's way in. I will never know if I could have done it "myself". If I could have unraveled my own Gorgon Knot - but then I did, right? On hell-bent swipe of a sword and I am doing it. Dichotomy! Damn!   Damn...

Pookeyism

Pookeyism

 

Pre-Surgery

What a week at work, lots of student issues to deal with and little time for actual work. I did speak with my patient advocate Debra, from the surgeon’s office for the first time on Tues (maybe Wednesday). She will follow me through the procedure. After making my pre-op appointment we had a 45 minute conversation. Wow, what an inspiration and a positive mind set. She has been banded for 12 years I think she said. She had so many positive suggestions and recommendations, protein drinks, ways to decrease my "soda" and still feel like I am getting the "fizz" and so much more. She also had a list of "dos and don'ts." I can't wait to meet her. Dr. Fox uses the South Beach diet phase 1 for his pre-op, according to Debra he feels a "liquid" only diet is too restrictive and has a greater chance for failure. A good thing for me, I need to "chew" at least something during the day. I am instructed to get a copy of the South Beach Diet Supercharged which according to Debra will be my "Bible", and a journal to help me keep track of why I am doing this. A picture of me now, for the first page and on the inside cover, my breaking point, what finally made me decide to take this step. She said when she gets discouraged or thinks she is being denied something, she opens hers and sees how she was compared to how she is.   OH, I forgot to tell you, my surgery date has been moved back a week because the surgeon will be at an advanced training seminar. So pre-op appointment is Feb. 21st, pre-op diet starts the 29th and surgery is on March 9th. Surgery is on Friday and I originally thought I would go back to work Monday. While I lecture M-T all day I figured I could come up with in class activities and maybe come up with something creative to decrease my need to stand and move about the room. However; I am having my hiatal hernia repaired at the same time and Debra doubts I will be up to moving about and lecturing by Monday. So I will find someone to cover my classes for those two days and take a little longer to recover. W-F will be in my office doing administrative things and advising so it should be ok.   Tootles   D

DeesDiary

DeesDiary

 

Sleeve Surgery Tomorrow

Well tomorrow is the big day!!! I'm through all my pre-op visits and check up's and blood work and so on! This was a very fast journey! Only one month from my first visit until now! The weight loss journey however has been 21 years! I'm so ready to feel good again... Healthy, energetic, attractive! I'm going to have two of the four kids and my loving husband waiting for me in the hospital room and I know the other two kids would be here if distance and work wasn't a factor so I'm holding their thoughts dear to me too!!! Tomorrow will be a life changing day... And I'm ready!

teambrown4

teambrown4

 

Trying Not To Be Discouraged

Ok so my new goal was to be in onederland by VDay. well that's not going to happen. In this past week I got sick(on antibiotics) and TOM was here, hence I picked up a few pounds. Having TOM and being sick made my band super tight! ugh! on another note I bought a size 12 shirt yesterday and it fit nice. I'm sure it was due to the way it was made, but hey it was a 12 and i'll take that. I'm really trying not to be obsessed with the scale again and focus on my actual clothes. it seems if the scale is moving down then my clothes stay the same and vice versa. they just never move simutaneously..ugh! but still happy with my band. sometimes i think i need a slight unfill and then i think i'm fine. my band is so fickle! ugh! does anyone else deal with some days thinking your too tight and then thinking it's just perfect?

jennifer1

jennifer1

 

Perserverance Or Stubborn?

I have always loved the early morning hours of the day. The time before the sun comes up, the house is quiet, every one is still asleep. This is my time of the day to just ly quietly in bed and reflect about the day ahead and plan. This is also the time of day that I can relect on how blessed I have been in my life, thanking God for my wonderful family and friends and for giving me the strength to handle almost anything that falls in my path. Now.....back to the present! (For those of you who do not know me, I had surgery October 2010) I had a fill two weeks ago, my idea. I must admit the past 2 weeks have been pure HELL! I did my 48 hours of liquids like I was instructed but unlike every other fill I was not able to go right back to solids after the initial 48 hours. (Note: after my second fill in May of last year I was over filled and had to have an unfill. I was unable to drink liguids let alone eat.) I had to progress my self through full liguids, to soft and than to solids. I almost gave in several times and was tempted to go back and say, "Take some Damn fluid out I want to EAT." But I didn't, I drank my protein, which I do not love, every day I would take my breakfast, lunch and dinner, take a few bites push it away and drink a protein drink. I didn't have reflux, I didn't throw up, liquids passed without any difficulty and I had no desire to eat. I didn't feel hungry, Not sure I understand why but after my fill this time everything tastes different, things I loved before my fill, I don't like or want. The past 3 days have been good, I have been able to eat solids for lunch and dinner. Breakfast is still a little touchy, I do a couple of bites but than just decide to drink a protein drink. Sadly I have not even enjoyed my Starbucks! May weekday ritual is always a "Triple Tall, Skinny Carmel Machiatto" I have tried several different lattes this week and after about drinking a third i just toss it. Tossing a $5 cup of coffee is pretty expensive so I think I will give up on them for a while. They just don't seem to taste good! Sorry Starbucks, I will hold on to my Gold card but I guess you won't be getting rich of me for a while. My goal for the upcoming week is to increase my calories and find something that tastes really good and yummy. I have only be averaging about 600 cal a day for about 2 weeks, so I have been faithfully taking my vitamans and adding protein when ever I can to increase the calories and make sure my hair doesn't fall out. I have lost 10 lbs since my fill, the 4 lbs I had gained and 6 additional lbs. So this morning I way in at a "skinny 165" Hope everyone has a Great Sunday. Adding a new pic, of me and the family at Christmas.  

♥LovetheNewMe♥

♥LovetheNewMe♥

 

Day 5

Feeling better than yesterday. Yesterday, I felt pretty good when I woke up but as soon as I started drinking the pain came back. I never thought I would say this but I have to force myself to eat. The thought of consuming something is giving me anxiety.Last night I took out the pain pump. It was not painful at all but the water proof tape tugged a bit on one of my incisions. After I got it out, I took an hour long shower. I hadn’t been able to take a full shower is 4 days!!!! My hair was so nasty, I washed it 3 times. I finally felt human again.   This morning I woke up feeling great. I just feel a little sore. Still hurts to cough or sneeze. I am trying not to take the liquid pain meds as often because it’s running low.   One note to people who have not had surgery yet, DO NOT WEIGHT YOURSELF WHEN YOU GET HOME!!!! You are pumped up with so much fluid when you are in the hospital that you can be up to 15 lbs heavier and you will look really puffy. My hands looked like ballons. I was 13lbs heavier 4 days ago but today I am only 0.4 lbs heavier from the day before surgery.

E-girl

E-girl

 

Have I Mentioned I Need A Fill

Yes, I need a fill, I have an appointment, and am patiently waiting, but watching that demon scale sitting at 226 is making me want to football it out into the yard, I know i have said all this before, that is all I can think about at this point. I keep telling my self you have lost 30 pounds in 4 months, not a bad track record, I once lost 75 pounds in 5 months, by walking all day long, sigh, I do not have time to walk all day long anymore. Plus I was bigger then than I am now. I lead kind of a sit down lifestyle right now and I am trying to work some walking on the treadmill or other exercise into my life every day. I feel like I should be farther along in this journey than I am. My blood sugars are getting better. I am really kind of liking some of the dietary changes, I can not eat bread, I can not eat anything breaded. That helps keep me honest. I really need a fill, I look forward to just a little bit more restriction. I think this fill will do it for me, put me where I need to be. Has anyone else, just known that the next one will be the good one? It takes me about 3 weeks to really know how a fill is going to work out, I guess I swell each time. So that is where I am, come on the 21st lol.

Joyce Real

Joyce Real

 

10 Months Post Op~ Photos Included!

Today it has been 10 months since I started this journey to find my other butt! Ten months have gone by so fast, and so much has happened, I don't know where to begin. So I will try to be brief, and let a couple of photos speak the volumes that I have to say!   I am down more than 130 pounds, and I've honestly lost track of how many sizes. Let's see.. I'm wearing a size 28 waist jeans now.. not sure how that translates but I'm guessing it's a size 8, maybe 7. I only have 1 pair of jeans that fits perfectly right now, the rest get held up with a belt! I'm okay with that for awhile. I wear a size large shirt.. sometimes a medium, depending on style. The girls have begun to shrink. And I must say, on that note, to be careful what you wish for.. I now have pancake boobs... or darn close to pancakes anyway, and bra style is EVERYTHING!! hehe!   Most of my shoes are big on me now which is something that still surprises me ten months later, because I never thought of how fat my feet used to be. I may have mentioned in an earlier post how much my wardrobe has increased because I now have three closets to choose from instead of just one.. definitely a bonus!   I continue to be unrecognizable to lots of people. I still find it entertaining, and funny! When I look at old pictures of myself, I'm stunned, and can't believe the difference... so I completely understand how people who I don't see very often have no idea who I am!!   My life has changed in all of the ways you might have guessed, and in many ways that I never would have expected. I am understanding even more why lap-banders are required to go through a psychiatric evaluation before they can be approved for surgery. Such huge life-changing things happening inside of such a relatively small space in time could truly send a person spinning off into nutzoid land. I think I'm doing pretty well at keeping my distance from said nutzoid land most of the time, but others may disagree!   Here's a couple of photos taken this morning by my daughter-in-law who had me laughing hard the whole time! I have to say I still look at photos and think I look a little fat. I guess I'll always have issues. A friend of mine reminded me this morning that the camera adds ten pounds so maybe I should just go with that! I'm not done yet, but getting very close!   It's after 3am and I can't remember the other things I was going to write, so I'll just call this good! Thanks for stopping by! Oh.. and NO I didn't dye my hair red! The lighting kinda makes the natural red in my hair shine in these pics though huh?!   Looks like I could only add one photo for whatever reason.. you can see one more if you visit my blog at:   http://www.myotherbutt.blogspot.com

freelance frog

freelance frog

 

Being Human

So sue me... I'm human. I make mistakes... Lots of them. I love to eat not because I'm hungry or because I'm a super human crime fighter and I need extra sustanance but just because, well, food is yummy. I've known this all along but not so much as after I got banded. Two or three days after surgery I was walking through my kitchen on my way to the laundry room and found myself face to face with a plate full of my delicious lemon Garlic chicken smothered in olive oil. So what did I do in this period of clear liquid diet????? Naturally without thinking I picked up a half of boneless chicken breast and just "plopped" it in my mouth. Chewed it a couple of times... Calmly walked over to the trash and spit it all out. Then I brushed my teeth and rinsed with Listerine... Looked in the mirror and forgave myself. What else can I do? I'm human. We're all human. So when you haVe a whoopsie moment. Don't beat yourself up... Forgive yourself and start fresh. You deserve it. Thanks for reading. Thanks to my family... Thank God and Dr Sal.

sandymax

sandymax

 

Feb 12, 2012 12:10 Am

Well here I am. Another Saturday night and I haven't even gotten dressed today. Not sick, just lazy. Couldn't figure out a reason to bother getting dressed. Have not made an entry in a month. Not much has happened except I did get to see my sister for the first time in about 3 years and I know it may be at least that long before I see her again. She lives in China, you see. Doing what I'm not quite sure, but she seems happy. The way my life goes, who knows if I will ever see her again. Also stayed at son's house for the first time in 4 years and the visit went well. DIL got a little snockered, but at least everything was cool. Hubby is the same. Still complaining about his hernias, but even more so. I still hear it so often, I find myself tuning him out. I know the time is nearing when he will have to give in and have the surgery. I dread that day. He is a pain when he is sick and I know that the surgery is going to be difficult. So the recovery is going to be long and difficult, Double difficult cause he is such a drama king. And he has not given up the cigarettes, so I know that will be a problem. As long as he remembers that I have committed to doing two wedding cakes in March. As far as the diet goes, I have not been good. I have been cheating with M&M's. A lot of M&M's. They are like an addiction. Like crack. I'm sneaking around eating them so hubby won't find out. I sneak bags in in my purse to refill the bag on the shelf so he won't know. Have not been good at my Curves attendance either. Am having a hard time getting motivated to even leave the house. Gotta get my mind back in order. I know that my going to Curves not only makes me exercise, it gets me away from him for a while. That should be enough motivation right there. Well, that's enough for now. Will update later.

MsAnn6550

MsAnn6550

 

Truckin'

Apologies to anyone who is (like me) old enough to see that post title and now has the Grateful Dead stuck in their head. At least be comforted that I am in the same boat.   It is appropriate, though. I am truckin' along here 10 days post-surgery. I'm really enjoying my mushies over last week's liquids, but I am trying to keep an eye on my calories and getting as close to my minimum protein goals as I can. On that score, I can't wait until I can actually eat meat again. It has sooo much more protein than the softer eggs and beans and cheeses I'm most comfortable with at the moment. Honestly, I'm so comfortable and having such an easy time of it, that I'm guessing I could probably handle soft solids if not solids already, but after pushing for early mushies, I'm trying not to rock the boat too much more. And honestly, I'm not really having hunger issues yet, either. I mean, I get hungry, but it pretty much corresponds to mealtimes and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food keeps me satisfied for hours. I still worry, though. I'm a bit paranoid about whether I'm inadvertently stretching my pouch, but I think my volumes are small enough to be safe. Fingers crossed.   Some soreness around my largest incision still, a bit worse today after I overdid it a little yesterday on the bending at stretching, but nothing liquid Tylenol isn't dealing with. First fill should be in 18 days, and I'm marking the time off with eager anticipation!

morelgirl

morelgirl

 

Feel Like Crap !!!

why today i felt like i could and just about ate the house .. i feel like this is not gonna work,what did i do to myself i had a greek yogurt fer breakfast,then half can of lentil soup and some ham salad fer lunch.the rest of the soup fer dinner and a small amount of cheesburger soup,then i had 8 shrimp. a small green apple with a laughing cow cheese wedge, a skinny cow ice cream sandwich and now a bowl of cream of wheat wth have i done i hate that i was able to eat that much.......mind u i just got my band 11 days ago i hate myself right now !!!!!

PatchAid Vitamin Patches

×