Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!
$99 Yearly Supply Alert! 🌈 "1 per Day!" Bariatric Multivitamins

Blogs

Andy's Articles
 

Birthday Blog

So I am now at the age my father was when he passed away, it feels a little strange. He passed from Cancer, not complications of obesity. I mark events in my life like this. When I hit 30 if felt strange. It was the age that my youngest sister passed from Cancer. Cancer is too prevalent in my family (I think even if I wanted kids, I would adopt or use a sperm donor) I guess it is my NY personalty. If Goth existed when I was in high school, I probably would of been a goth kid. I received my list of pre-op testing appointments. Boy August 10 will be a busy day. Not too mention the liquid diet or their lean and Green diet will start that day. I am thinking the lean and green diet. I am currently following a counting calories mentality for losing weight. I had my "last supper" yesterday. It was more like a last pig out on my birthday. All temptation is going to be removed from the house. Later I am going grocery shopping to get my groups approved diet food. High protein, low carb. Good bye breads and fruits. Who knew fruits were so evil. I love my fruits(no gay pun intended ) . I need to do this, I need to get my addiction under control. I need to see 52 and 62 not just 42.
AMayo1

AMayo1

2
Ellen's Band Journey
 

8 Months Out and at a Stand Still...

I had my 7th fill on July 5th. Seems like alot but I am only up to 6 CCs in my band. While I am feeling some restriction it is no where it should be. I was so stoked about my appointment because I have been eating right and excercising. I was sure I had lost something. NEGATIVE!!! I didn't even lose an ounce... WHAT?!?! Wait a minute how can that be... Hold on let me get naked and get back on the scale lol. How is it that literally the first month I am really on top of my game I don't lose anything??? I walked out of my appointment so disappointed in myself and so confused as to why I stayed the same... I know that everyone hits roadblocks in their journey's but I didn't think mine would be less than a year out. I have become a scale fiend- weighing myself every chance i get to see if I lose even an ounce. So not healthy!!! I think once I get it out of my sustem that this is just a little speed bump I will be ok. I just neeed to continue eating right, excercising, and believing in myself and it will be ok
ellenmarie

ellenmarie

0
Daniella's Blog
 

4th day post op

This is my 4th day post-op. I have more questions today than I've had all four other days. I'm having these horrible uncomfortable feelings. I get this pressure in my breastbone. My husband says it is the gas. I can't burp or pass it. It is taking so long to get rid of it.   I want to make sure that I am eating right. I have yet to drink the 64 ounces of liquids. I barely have an appetite. I found a smoothie that is really good. My doctor put it on my list of acceptable protein shakes. I've been eating it with a spoon for the last couple of days.   Today I did a little shopping. I didn't drive, but it was good to get out of the house and do something relaxing. I cleaned my kitchen including sweeping and loading the dishwasher. I just feel like I am not doing enough. Am I wrong to feel this way? I hope someone can give me some help.
Daniella

Daniella

6
Blog 95458
 

It's a struggle....but the good news is....

I've not been on here in awhile. I've been struggling of late. I need to really buckle down and be a little more careful of how much I'm eating. I think that I'm eating a little more than a cup (or 8-9oz if I'm weighing food) too often. The lady that has done my fills at TrueResults, said it's okay to drink with my meals, so I do that. Although I don't feel like I'm really "over"eating, it helps me feel better. I've thought that I'm not eating more because I drink with meals, but I think I need to reconsider drinking with my meals. I've started trying to do better with that. Does drinking with food, really wash the food through the pouch? I'm more concerned with messing up the pouch, than I am about having too many calories.   I think for the most part, I eat pretty healthy. I do drink coffee drinks and sometimes treat myself to a shake, but I try to only do that, when I feel like I need to have more calories that day.   It sounds like I"m doing horrible! I'm pretty much lost very slowly for awhile. I know part of it's me, but also because of my Thyroid medication (I had mine removed a few years ago). Also in June, my grandmother passed away unexpectedly, so I was out of town for her funeral and then about 10 days later, I went back for my cousin's wedding and was gone for another week. I only lost 2 lbs last month.   The good news, is that I bought a bike online and my husband put it together for me when I was out of town on that last trip. I've been enjoying riding it on the nice trail in my neighborhood. It's so hot here in Texas and it surprises me that I'm out there exercising in the heat (I go either early in the morning or early evening), but you actually create a pretty good breeze when you're riding along. My normal ride totals about 5 1/2 miles and I'm going out most every day. I also am up to 30 minutes on the eliptical machine at work. I think both of these things combined, are going to really help.   ...and even though I've continued to lose very slowly, I'm still fitting in smaller clothes. I am now wearing some size 10's!!!!! My largest was a pair of size 20 jeans. Everyone is still telling me how good I'm looking and I'm starting to believe it, even though I think my legs still look like tree trunks.   I think I will try to be more regular about logging on to this site, so I can be inspired to do a better job with my weight loss. I'm totally not where I wanted to be at this point and I'm not at the anniversary of having been banded for 10 months. At least I have lost almost 60 lbs, which absolutely nothing to sneeze at. I had just hoped to have lost at least 70 lbs by now. Time to buckle down....
nomorejellybelly

nomorejellybelly

3
Adge's Blog
 

Ready, but not ready at the same time

I am ready for my weight to decrease, but am I really ready to change my habits? For months now I have woke up many mornings saying this is the day I start new, and by lunch I am back into my old habits. What continues to draw me there? Comfort. Change is hard and part of me feels that it should be easier. I was blessed with the short and "fluffy" gene can't I get a break!? The reality is no. If I want things to change I have to change my thoughts and actions. Easier said then done, but doable.   Tomorrow I embark on part 2 of my weight-loss journey. I have not stuck to eating how I am supposed to for months. Since I was recently told that I am insulin resistant I know how I am supposed to eat, but I am choosing not to. There goes that free will pride kicking in. But now I am tired. Tired of waking up sluggish, not being able to paint my toes, and being winded doing basic things. I want my life back and I am upset at myself that I allowed myself to go back to this place( 10 pounds away from what I was when I had surgery). It is not a good place and I need to get a grip. My wake up call came when I saw this picture.   All I could say was WOW! I knew I gained weight, but seeing ourselves everyday doesn't always show us the full picture. Seeing the picture hurt me. It was what I needed. A reality check. Time to get back to business and use this band the way it is intended to be. Some people take things a day at a time, but I am starting small and taking it an hour at a time. When those feelings of loneliness, boredom, and anxiousness kick in I have to do something else other than eat. Food has been my comfort ad we have had a VERY long relationship, but it is time that we break up! Here's to a new beginning!
Adge

Adge

3
dreamscancometrue's Blog
 

It's getting close and all is well

Well I am down to 4 days left. The liquid diet has been actually easy for me but we have been very busy at work. This has helped since I didnt really have time to take a lunch with anyone. The 4th of July potluck was hard but I just went for a walk while everyone ate. This worked. No one really knew I didnt eat since everyone was grazing and I got some exercise in to boot. My husband has tried to sabotage my liquid diet but I am amazed at the willpower I have been able to muster up. Knowing that it is only for 2 weeks helped tremendously. I have also realized the power of planning ahead. I had read someone's post about keeping a snack bag with you at all times and this was my saving grace. I always have one serving of my meal reaplacement in my purse at all times. When push comes to shove I stop and get a bottle of water, drink a little, and add the protein drink. Without that little tip I feel like I would have bombed miserably. I have also realized that just by reading the different forums and everyones experiences I am empowered. I am so very thankful I happened on this site and bookmarked it. I have found the strength and knowledge that has gotten me this far. The funniest thing that has happened is evertime I overcome food temptations I hear the Rocky theme in my head...lol.
kbowlin74

kbowlin74

4
KathyD49's Blog
 

Today is my Anniversary!!!

Wow, they day time flies when you are having fun! Well, I MUST be having fun, cause today is the 3 WEEK anniversary of my surgery! It seems like the 3 weeks have just flown by, and I have to say, I feel SO much better than I did three weeks ago today!!!   When I woke up from my surgery I was sore and hurting (mildly) in the area of the five ports (incisional areas). It hurt to cough or take a deep breath. I felt like I had a huge gas bubble in my stomach that I couldn't belch up, and I just wanted to sleep, but my doctor and nurses kept telling me to "get up and walk, walk, walk!" I was SO tired to boot.   But today I am three weeks out, I have lost a total of 44 pounds so far (20 lbs pre-op and 24 post op) and I feel so much better. Initially I had trouble with getting enough water in. And it is still a small battle. I sip most of my waking hours, trying to get my 64 oz of water in. Some days I come close, some days I don't do so well. But this morning, I woke up at 5:00 AM (!) and was thirsty, so got up and got a ProJoe out of the fridge and drank the whole thing in just about 15-20 minutes! (ProJoe is a coffee protein drink from www.mybariatricpantry.com ). I ordered a sample pack of 12 and they came yesterday. This is the first one I have tried, and I was amazed that it was so good, and I could drink all 9.5 oz in that short of time!!! It usually takes me an hour or two to get 9 oz down. I am sure that my swelling (internal swelling that is) must be going away, allowing me to drink more fluid at a time.   ProJoe also has 20 gms of protein in the 9.5 oz, which is great. I have been really struggeling with getting my protein in every day(usually without success!). I was a huge Starbucks drink fan prior to my surgery, so am looking to substitute ProJoe for Starbucks. The drink I had (Magnifico Mocha) had 110 calories in the 9.5 oz, which is about the same as a Small Starbucks Skinny Iced Carmel Macchiatio (my favorite Starbucks drink).   Also have to report that I am swimming daily with my roommate. Yesterday I got up to 22 laps in the pool. (We have a pool just 1/2 block from our front door). My roommate swam every day in June, while I was home on vacation, and is up to 60 laps. Wish I was able to do that much. But am happy that I can add two laps per day! Am hoping that the swimming will help firm up my upper arms and thighs! I really want to improve my stamina and get some cardio exercise in, and hope that swimming will do that for me too!   In my opening paragraph I said I feel so much better today. I neglected to say that the "Gas bubble" sensation has finally gone away. I am finally having some bowel movements (sorry if that is TMI!) without the aid of a stool softener or laxative, eating a little bit without feeling miserable; in general, everything seems to feel better "all of a sudden"! Now if I could just get my energy back (I am still tired a lot of the time) I will feel REALLY GREAT!   So all you newbie VGSers out there, take heart! It seems that time does heal most things! Have a great day and GREAT weekend. I am off work this weekend, and am anxious to do something fun!   Later.........
KathyD49

KathyD49

4
Jadaboo1's Blog
 

Starting Over at 50

I can hardly believe that I decided to pursue the lap band in late January of this year. I am so thankful that I'm living during a time when this option is available to me. I followed through with everything that was asked of me by my doctors. I was even skeptical when the doctor's office called to schedule my surgery date, as the doctor's office handled all my insurance issues. I was banded on 6/27/11. It seems like my life began again this year, even though I will be 50 years old in September. Looking forward to the rest of my journey and a new way of life.
gcmy

gcmy

0
Its Time for a Bite Out of Life!!
 

Is it time for life yet???

Hey eveyrone! I am 7 months out of surgery and I am still "tailoring" my thinking process. To bite or not to bite, that is ALWAYS the question. I think before I got this last fill I was more thinking enabled if that makes any sense. I was full and my thinking felt full. It was easy to walk away from that peice of cake. But now that I spit up everything I pretty much put in my mouth I eat an oreo or 3, 3 sounds more right!! Those stay down, heaven forbid I try to eat a salad or steak. Before this last fill I was able to eat and enjoyed pretty much all food, with the exception of pork. Oh no, me and the piggys dont get along so much anymore.   The one thing I dont like is my thinking is still in the past. Wondering what I will eat for the next meal, gatherings that revolve around food, all this. Its annoying really. I want my head to change and I keep having to remind myself. You would think after 7 months I would have thrown that monkey off my back.   I am ready!! I am ready to change my thought process, to change my body, to be the person I used to be the person I so despreatly want to be! I am ready to stop taking bites out of everything and start taking a big bite out of life!!
kristipalmer

kristipalmer

2
LeeLee76's Blog
 

To tell or not to tell?

Well, today I went for my pre-op testing and all is good to go. This is my first blog and I'm a little rusty. I'm scheduled to be banded on 7/26 and getting pretty excited. I just hope the insurance company doesn't hold it up for any reason. I have definitely been feeling stressed recently, not because of the surgery but more because of my family's reaction to the surgery. I expected them to be skeptical but my sister is being downright nasty and unsupportive and has basically told me never to bring it up again to her. So.... I wonder, do I tell anyone else or am I better off keeping it to myself? I'm afraid that if this is how my family is reacting how will my friends and co-workers act? I definitely need support but I don't want the added stress..
LeeLee76

LeeLee76

5
KayyyBeee's Blog
 

Sleep Study 101 - For My Low BMI Peeps

I had my sleep study done last night. I think I “passed” with flying colors.       If you know my story, you’ll know that I’ve been worried about not qualifying for surgery because my bmi is too low and I havent been able to put on the weight I need (20+ lbs) to get it at the 40 mark. I took some measures to get my weight up at my last appointment, but it still wasn’t enough to get my BMI up high enough so we were counting on my blood work to show something – high cholesterol, diabetes, anything….again, no success with that either. My NP let me know that my last option was to be diagnosed with sleep apnea. We scheduled the sleep study for last night, and I’d like to give you a quick rundown of how it went.     If you’ve never had a sleep study done, here’s a jist of what you can expect.     I arrived at the sleep center at 9:15 and registered. The center I went to emailed me a packet of information and forms that they asked me to bring with me on the night of my study. I had to answer one part when I arrived, and then I gave the packet back to the tech. She was very nice, showed me to my room, and gave me a quick tour of the floor – showers, pantry, her station, etc.     We chatted it up a bit as she asked me why I was having the study done. I told her that I was hoping to have VSG surgery and she mentioned that she was considering WLS herself . She instructed me to change into my night clothes in the bathroom (the cameras are in the room) and that she would be back in a few to wire me up. She came back in the room at about 9:45 and the wiring process began. She put little glops of this pasty adhesive stuff on my face and scalp (imagine super thick Vaseline with Elmers glue added to it). While she was wiring me she explained that the pasty stuff was for the leads to adhere and give better readings while attached to me. Long story short, she put wires in my scalp, chin, neck, chest, back, and legs. She put tape on a few of the wires, which felt like I was getting waxed when she had to remove them the next morn. She also wrapped some kind of belts around my torso, and taped an oxygen monitoring device to my left index finger. I kind of felt like Swamp thing when I stood up to get into the bed. The room was really cozy as I was able to adjust the temp to my liking. There was a nice tv mounted and I vaguely remember watching some of 30 Rock while she wired me, and then the 10 pm news was on by the time I laid down. The bed was comfy, but the pillows were super flat. I could have asked for a couple more pillows, but I wanted to use everything I could to get my snoring on so I dealt with the flat pillow and laid down on my back (I ALWAYS snore when I sleep on my back). Lights out, time to go to sleep.     At home I usually sleep on my stomach or my side, and I don’t snore much as per my hubby, but I definitely drool like a teething baby. My sleep study sleep was completely different...   I remember waking up a few times during the night because I was snoring so loudly. You know it’s bad when you wake your own self up with your snoring. At one point I felt like someone stuffed 100 pairs of tube socks in my mouth because it was so dry. I think I had a few episodes of apnea because I kept waking up from my own snoring. I did end up on my side eventually, and had to turn back over because the wires were making me uncomfortable. Next thing you know the tech is in the room (at 6 frickin 15 in the morn) chirpy and jipper as ever to wake me up. I sat up and felt like I had slept on a ton of bricks and had a bag of sandpaper in my throat. It took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust and focus, but I was coherent enough to remember where I was. I asked the tech if she got a good laugh outta my snoring, and she said “don’t worry honey, you’re gonna get your surgery”, and that made my day. She reminded me of where the showers were and I got myself ready to get outta there.     So all in all, it wasn’t bad at all. I wasn’t worried about actually doing the study, I was worried that I wouldn’t “pass”. Oh, did I mention that I had a nice large glass of wine with my dinner before about an hour before? I’m sure that helped. *wink*    
Sleevie WonderLand

Sleevie WonderLand

3
More2Love's Blog
 

The Food Blues & Why I'm Not Crying Over It

Well, I can honestly say that I've been much more irratible these last couple of months. No, I take that back. I was great for the first 3 weeks and then something changed in me that made me become the way that I am now. I think that the realization of the fact that I can't eat is getting to me. Oh, I can eat just fine (trust me) but I can't eat whenever and whatever I want to. I never realized just how much I truly crave food. And I'm not talking about that fuit nonsense. I'm talking about FOOD! Driving past a Chinese restaurant just about kills me. And then even looking at a Pizza Hut...well, you better start digging my grave now! Then again, before I had this surgery I had no self control. On my drive home on Saturday nights (about 12am) I would stop in at Pizza Hut, get a large stuffed crust pizza and eat *almost* the whole thing in one sitting. I used to go get chinese takeout almost every single day off that I had because it made me feel good... I had extremely poor eating habit before May 18, 2011. No wonder I was 316 lbs when I got this surgery done. And now (July 8, 2011) I can proudly say that I'm 262 lbs. I mean, for most people that's still a lot of weight. Sure, I know that. But I've got to remember where I started from. I started over 300 lbs and that was less than 2 months ago. And now I'm almost in the 50's. It still blows me away.   Sometimes, when I'm driving alone at night, I just want to pull over and eat. I've been feeling a bit depressed about it because I can't do that. I can't just pull into a McDonald's and have a large Reese's McFlurry (Extra Reese's of course!). Or my parents have a friend that loves to cook. Sometimes he comes over and makes the best smelling and tasting food you could ever imagine. Just staring at the rice and the curried chicken makes my mouth water right now. And I find it funny that my parents ask me what's wrong while they are eating dinner. Yes, my attitude changes, but mostly because I'm trying not to listen to them rave about how good their meal is while I'm eating boiled veggies.   But then there are days like today that I feel great. Honestly, I was so proud of myself when I stepped onto that scale this morning. I wasn't quite sure what it was going to read because I did splurge and have a little extra yesterday, but the scale stayed steady. So far, a lot of this work has been because of me. I've only had 1 fill so far and I didn't feel much of a difference. I'm hungry all the time and know that I can eat alot still. However, the band has given me something that I haven't ever had before: will power. The band is the only thing that makes me want to stay focused. Without it, I would have never gotten this far. I'm a size 18 - coming from a tight 22. This band is giving me the confidence that I never knew existed before.   So yes, sometimes being banded can feel like the heaviest burden a person can have. There are so many restrictions - and a lot of it revolves around the only thing that I know/ do best: eating. I can't eat when I'm sad. I can't eat when I'm angry. And that's usuallly when I want to eat the most!   But the true question is here: Do I regret my decision of getting it done? And my answer is a big, fat: NO! I will never regret that I got it done!! No matter how much I complain, and complain, and complain...this band had changed my life for the better. I'm walking out of the house and not looking at my shoes. I'm feeling better about myself as I'm walking through the mall. I'm shopping at places that I'd never even considered before. I'm feeling great when going to the gym. I'm the happiest that I've been in probably my whole life. I will BEAT this disease! I will be the one to bury it, not the other way around.   So here's my question to you::::: Do YOU regret having it done?
More2Love

More2Love

9
ammar's Blog
 

my operation

hi every one   i had my vsg done on 20 June 20011 in India at ruby hospital pune by dr shashank shah   my weight on 10 June was 153 kgs   on the day of operation 20 june was 148 kgs
amerpatni

amerpatni

0
KathyD49's Blog
 

Improved Allergies!

Well, I have now done Two work shifts this week, and my third is coming up tonight. Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, I was so tired, that I could hardly stay awake; last night wasn't quite as bad, and tonight will be my third shift, then four nights off. Can't wait for the four nights off! But I have to say, last night was busier than Tuesday night, but it was easier on me. Am counting on tonight being even easier!   Has anyone out there researched "exactly" what oral vitamins a VGSers needs to take? When I went back to work Tuesday night, I immediately had three co-workers who had been through weight loss surgery come up to me and start questioning me about what vitamins I was taking, and giving me their opinion on what I needed to be taking. My surgeon said to purchase "a good oral multivitamin" and take it twice a day for the rest of my life.   These gals at work gave me WHOLE LISTS of vitamins that I supposedly needed, including sublingual Vit B 12, Vit B complex, Vit D, and some others (that I paid no attention to!) Now am wondering if I NEED to get on some of these. The one gal instructed me to head to Vitamin World and talk with one of their sales people. (Now why would one of Vitamin World's sales people know more than my surgeon?)   I bought (and am taking twice a day) an adult chewable multi-vitamin. In addition, I am taking the Nexium (acid medicine) twice a day, like my surgeon prescribed, and some medication for my Restless Leg Syndrome. And nothing else. Do you want to know the STRANGEST THING? Before my VGS surgery, I was on an allergy pill every day for my allergies, used nasal spray AT LEAST once a day, used my asthma inhaler at least once a week, and used my Advair inhaler daily to prevent respiratory problems. Also was taking a Celebrex daily for my arthritis pain, and was taking Crestor for my elevated cholesterol, plus a daily baby aspirin.   I had to get off all that before the surgery (at my surgeon's request). And so far, my allergies have improved to the point that I am taking NOTHING for them, no inhaler, no allergy pill, no nasal spray, no Advair inhaler, nothing. My PCP also told me to stay off the Celebrex if I wanted and the Crestor. Haven't bothered to start the aspirin again (am going to have a tooth pulled on Monday and dentist doesn't want me on aspirin prior to that.) So I am taking ALMOST NO MEDICATION! And I FEEL GREAT!!!   I can not for the life of me understand WHY my allergies have improved with weight loss, BUT I think it is great! I am loving being off all these medications! And am hoping that I don't have to go back on any of them. My personal care physician said to wait 2-3 months after being off the Crestor, and get a cholesterol level run and see if my cholesterol had moved back up at all. (Before medication it ran around 275 to 300. With taking the Crestor, it went down to around 100, or just under. So am hoping it stays around 100 so I can stay off the medication!)   I have been taking Celebrex since the day it came on the market. When it was introduced, I was working for an orthopaedic surgeon. The drug rep brought in a huge amount of Celebrex samples, and my boss suggested I try it, as I had bad arthritis pain, and didn't tolerate a lot of other NSAIDs. So have been on Celebrex 12-13 years! Since I seem to feel great without it, I thought "why not give my liver and kidneys a break?" and decided not to re-start it.   I mean, I am SO happy to be off so many of my medications! Wow! I did this surgery to feel better. (Was having a LOT of joint pain in hips and knees. I had no idea I would feel SO good and be able to stop SO many of my meds!) WOO HOO! Another reason to CELEBRATE!!! Later............
KathyD49

KathyD49

1
LovetheNewMe's Blog
 

Checking In on Reality

Well hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July! I had the wonderful opportunity to spend the weekend with my three beautiful grandchildren and daughter. It was so great to have the energy to keep up with a 5, 7 and 12 year old. We spent the days in the pool and evenings playing in the yard. We had a cook out on the 4th and than went DT to watch the fireworks and get our faces painted. I don't think I could have asked for a better holiday weekend. Oh and I lost 2 lbs. Even with company here I managed to stay true to my new eating behaviors. I decided to cook what I could eat and daily went out and bought snacks for the kids so they were not sitting around the house. My husband did bring chips into the house for the kids on the 4th and I must say they have always been my weakness and still are and when they left on Tuesday I sent them packing out the door. I really can't trust myself because I knew I would eat them and why have the temptation so close at hand. I also sent all the mini cheese cakes and potato salad. My daughter brought her Pilate's bands and taught me some new strengthening exercise so I could do some more toning at home on my legs and arms. I know I will probably not be able to tighten up all the shrinkles but every little bit helps. I have managed to make it to Curves 4 days a week since starting but still have not got my exercise heart rate up to the 70% they want me to, but I can tell a difference in my energy level. Tonight I got on the WII to weigh myself and was surprised to have lost 2 lbs in the last 9 days. I have been trying hard to stick to 3 meals a day, writing down everything I eat and trying to not do the shakes and bars and eat real food for all my meals. Believe me making myself eat solids for all meals is hard, and requires a lot more planning. I got all of my labs back several weeks ago and my HDL was not high enough and my LDL was too high. So increase the exercise, increase the fiber(and this is very hard). When I got on the scales tonight I am not sure what I would have done if I would have stayed the same. I read and read and everything I read says I have lost above average but when you do everything right you want a reward and my reward has been that number dropping. Sometimes I feel I become fixated with the numbers and so need to refocus myself on the fact that this is a journey and everyday that I make a positive change in my life it is a change in the right direction. I think I have finally realized that the next 30-40lbs is going to be slow and steady. I am not the most patient person, and I really thrive on instant gratification, who of us doesn't? I spend time ever evening reading the blogs because it helps me stay focused, I read the success and the struggles.(I don't like to call them failures because I believe we are all trying to be successful and some do it quicker than others. I try not to compare myself with others because all of our bodies respond differently. Learning from others like us is our key to our success.   I had a friend at work who had the band several months ago and she was struggling with getting to her sweet spot and was struggling with not losing. She told me that she had to distance herself from me because it made her feel bad that she was not losing and I was. But she said what helped her most was staying in therapy with the psychologist and getting her head straight. I think sometimes that is something we all struggle with, we had the surgery, we try hard to eat right but we struggle with demons off and on whether we admit it or not. I went to one of the support group sessions a couple of weeks ago and it was sort of a b***h session for a lot. I heard a lot of people blaming the physician and the navigator for them not knowing or understanding something. I sat there and listened and finally thought, how can we hold others to blame for our inability to lose weight. My doctor made it very clear to me, no guarantees, this was a tool and only a tool and the work was up to me. Let's face it I am really good at lying to myself and talking myself into believing that just one bite won't hurt. ( Just like the fish sandwich and biggie Fry's I used to eat on the way home from work as my first dinner, it didn't count because me and the server were the only witness to my act) I work daily on holding myself accountable, it is my responsibility to listen to my body and inform my doctor if something isn't working but first it is my responsibility to follow the rules. (NONE of this is easy, if it was easy I could have done it without the help of lap band, RIGHT!)   When I got my lab work back, I was disappointed. I thought, I make healthy food choices what else do they want? The nutritionist said, add more fiber and vegetables. I said how in the H%$# am I suppose to do that when I can only eat so much at a meal and I need to focus on protein. She said, eat legumes, oatmeal, nuts, flaxseed. Oh, I said legumes are protein, duhhhh! And EXERCISE, oh that dreaded word. How many of us thought all we had to do was have the surgery and the band would do all the work. How did that work out for everyone, not that good huh! I think I said this in another blog but I had always thought weight loss surgery was a cop out but boy have I changed my mind. This has been one of the most life changing things that I have ever done. For me my lap band forces me to make healthy choices. I am not just paying a fee to WW to get weighed weekly, I altered my body, I had surgery, I put a limit on my choices of what to eat and eating now requires a lot of thought and planning. So lap band bloggers, yes losing weight is what we all hope to achieve but should that be our only focus? Maybe our focus should be on dealing with changing all the learned bad behaviors we have developed over the years and lap band surgery alone will not change those behaviors or those feelings. I constantly find myself checking in with myself because it is so easy to lose one bad behavior and pick up a new one. It is so hard to hold yourself accountable, so hard not to convince yourself to take just one bite, so hard not to slide back to bad habits with just ONE bite! I don't know how to cope unless I just cut them out of my life. But that seems so final and cold. Should we deprive ourselves of the things we love, until I learn control, for me that will be a yes and maybe will always be a yes. Does an alcoholic ever stop being an alcoholic, NO. Does a drug addict every find a time when they can have just one fix, NO. Will I ever be able to be alone in a room with a bag or bowl of chips. I doubt it! My journey will be full of peaks and valleys. I will have successes and I will have back slides. I will work daily to hold myself accountable for my actions and to be honest with myself. Because honestly I am the only person I ever lied to, everyone else could see what I had done to myself and now you know too.
♥LovetheNewMe♥

♥LovetheNewMe♥

3
EbonyDawn's Blog
 

First Fill

Today was my first fill.Hopefull this will jump start some weight loss. I only lost one pound since the lat time I was at my Doctors office, I go back in amonth and my goal is to be down at least 5 more. I know that I have been eating way too much. I have to stop eating as soon asI feel full. URGH.. I HAVE TO FOCUS ON MY GOALS!
EbonyDawn

EbonyDawn

0
Jen's Jabbers
 

24 Weeks Post-Op: Summertime and The Loves of My Life!

I weighed in at 187.4lbs today. Up .4 of a lb. I expected it given that I spent the weekend celebrating Canada Day with old friends camping on the river. That itself wouldn't have been too bad but the fact of the matter is that I fell in love. Deep dirty rough love... with marshmallow shots of Bailey's. Okay, I only had 3 over the weekend but let me tell you, it was bliss!!! I suggest you try it but make sure to share because if you get the fixings on your own, you will eat them all!     We had a great time! Most of my friends are all now married with children or children on the way. Despite many years of me assuming that they had changed and that they had lost all sense of the kids that we were 10 years ago, I discovered that they have not. They have changed and all for the best. They are responsible parents, hard workers and committed partners in thier relationships. I realized that when I do want to try out this parenting thing that I can still be allot of fun too! It made me proud to have been witness to them changing and growing up and enjoying a little taste of how much fun we had in the past and will continue to enjoy in the future. I don't long for the good old days of keg stands and late night donairs because I sure don't think I could handle that awesome crazy stuff now.   Getting ready to head to the river for a float!     I am a very lucky girl to have friends that love me for me. Friends that except my OCD tendencies, my control driven personality and my moodiness. People who know what my terms are and don't have expectations. They just know me well enough to know where I stand. I've never done well with expectations from people. It makes me pull away and distance myself. Months can go by without any contact and with a phone call it seems like only days. My outlandish outbursts of crazy, my need to clean and my "Jen knows best" suggestions are always expected and believably welcomed no matter how annoying! All of these people have impacted who I am today and I am thankful.   So on to the Bandland update - I've been exercising a little more than previous weeks but still not back up to where I was when I was losing 2 or 3 lbs a week. I am trying. I downloaded PODRUNNER's 5 weeks to 5 km. I started this before surgery and made it to week 3 before the snow came in the late fall. I enjoy it and the first 2 sessions gave me a killer sweat! It feels good to run. It's definitely allot easier 50lbs lighter!   I have another appointment with my surgeon Monday to attempt a fill and schedule the port revision surgery. I am ready for this and moving forward! Yesterday I bought myself a size 12 goal dress. I am still fitting 14-12 pants but the dress will not zip up all the way on the bust. A inch or so more to lose and it will be perfect! I told the mister that he better be prepared to take me somewhere nice to show it off when I get there. $10.00 for the sweetest little black dress ever and a little motivation is just about as much as I spent on my new fancy water bottles. So worth it!   Take care all!        
EdmontonGal

EdmontonGal

2
Jen's Jabbers
 

23 Weeks Post-Op: More Mountains and the Assumption of Lazy.

Weigh in day: 187lbs. The scale has not moved.   So I am back into the swing of things for 3 more days until I hit the road to go camping again this weekend. This weekend will be purely a social event without ANY work included or even thought about! The weekend in Jasper was Amazing! We met 50 New Canadians from all over the world and provided them with thier first camping experience. I truly have had a renewal of love for my job. I forget sometimes when I am stuck behind my desk under mountains of paperwork. The real ones are much much more amazing!       In bandland, things are at a steady pace. I have been lacking in my exercise routine with work being so busy. My food choices were terrible this weekend travelling in a van with 3 young adults for 800km. I was easily influenced and all to quickly made the foolish excuses in my mind that all of the junk that we packed was really for them. Pffft, I'm not kidding anyone! I got home later Sunday evening and had a grilled chicken breast with salad for dinner. Monday, grilled shrimp and pineapple skewers with some brown rice. Tonight, stuffed peppers and Turkey sausage. I also got back on the workout wagon lastnight too so I can't complain. I am course correcting! I learnt that at my fancy staff summit earlier this year.   Last week, Sparms bestie and I were talking about the dating world for people our age and people our weight. The matter of assumption about fat people being lazy came up in conversation and it pissed me off, so I thought I would share. Really, a person like me who has been active and healthy (besides being 250+ lbs)for most of their life is automatically pegged for being lazy. I am and have always been anything but LAZY. I personally, can't stand a lazy person. It is one of my pet peeves and maybe that's why this whole topic makes me angry. I am just curious about how many of you out there have been pigeon-holed into the bon bon eating, soap watching, couch surfing fat girl?     And what do I plan to do about it? Nothing! Continue to workout my frustrations!   Cheers all!      
EdmontonGal

EdmontonGal

0
Blog 80125
 

DOWN 100!!!

I am finanlly down 100...I am so happy...these last few pounds have been killer to get off...I still have a long way to go, but and so very happy
Theresa'sMom415

Theresa'sMom415

11
MV ROCKS' Blog
 

Checking in

I don't even know if I was able to post my last blog. Still haven't lost weight but that's ok. I started p 90x.  It's killer. But so far so good. Really going to five my all and kind of forget about the scale for awhile because really it doesn't matter and it drives me absolutely crazy anyway. I never like what it says. I have gained the stupid 5 pounds and lost them over and over and over again. It's disgusting.  Oh well so I'm on a mission and really who ares what that stupid scale says anyway If I can get into a size 3 I will be happy.  Scales should be outlawed. Ha ha. Anyway that's about all that is going on in my life. 
mmv671

mmv671

3
CAMMYD's Blog
 

1 wk Post Op Dr. Appt - Good News Yippee 7/6/11

Today I had my 1 wk post appt appointment with Dr. Tariq, my incisions he says are healing beautifuly, he is amazed that I had no naseau, no pain and no reflux!!!!! Thank Goodness , the big scales say I have lost a total of 27lbs Yippeee!!!!!! I get to add milk and greek yogurt to my diet , mmmm something new !!!! The metal taste in my mouth he says will go away as I build back up the nutrients in my system - Thank God, this taste is horrible !!!!!   He said I can exercise , low inpact so yes I went to Jazzercise tonight - yeah me , I LOVE LOVE LOVE Jazzercise!!!!!!!!   I am taking 5000gm of Biotin and using Carol's Daugter hair care products as well to try and prevent any lost of hair. Just trying to stay ahead of the game to be healthy , happy and whole!!!!!!!!! My next Dr. Appt with my Surgeon is Aug 3rd, wonder what changes I will have gone through by then???? Already my clothes are feeling loose and some are actually just fitting correctly :-)
CAMMYD

CAMMYD

4
jennifer1's Blog
 

set back!!!!ugh!!! i wanna scream!

Ok so I started back with my trainer last thursday and we did legs. i had the regular muscle soreness for the first 2 days, but then my left hip was hurting far more than i thought it should. Long story short I have a hip sprain! i'm soooooo upset. i was doing so good with working out consistently, now this! Also after my cycle left i have gained 5 pounds!!!! wth!!!! i called my doctor's office for another fill. right now the only thing that stops me from eating is myself. i know the band is not a cure all, but i only feel like i have one when i dont chew something well enough or drink a too large sip of water. I am trying not to get frustrated right now. I am almost 2 months out and i cant even get to a 20 pound weight loss!!!! i'm happy for others that are consistently losing, but i want to be one of them! ugh! i just needed to vent. thanks guys!
jennifer1

jennifer1

5
Musings of a Central Ohio Mom
 

One step forward, two steps back

Last night I went to the orientation with the surgeon I chose. Afterwards I felt good about him, what he had to say and my decision to be sleeved.   Today, I found out my insurance does not cover bariatric surgery. So, I guess I go to Plan B....self pay. Now on to research that.
5McK

5McK

0

PatchAid Vitamin Patches

Bariatric Forums

For Patients

Health Professionals

Search Surgeons

Bariatric Surgeons: Want to research a weight loss surgery surgeon? Enter their last name below to start!

×