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2nd Fill, Goodbye Bandster Hell?

I had my 2nd fill on 1/25/10 - after some reschedules from the Physians Assistant. I have a 10cc band and they added 1cc. My band is now 3.5cc. They did the fill on the xray machine and had me drink Barium. Very cool. The PA said before the fill - it was pretty wide open, then she put the 1cc in and it really did go to a very narrow stream. I must have been swollen first couple of days because I could feel water going through - slight pressure in chest, like something getting stuck. But after 2 days of full liquids and 2 days of Blended diet, it was better.   I do have to be careful with how fast I eat now. It takes me much longer and I eat a lot less. This fill was great! I think I am out of Bandster hell!   I am also glad they did the xray because it showed my band did not move at all - even though I had 2 days of vomitting due to the flu! Phew! That was a big relief to me.   I have noticed that Bread is getting harder and harder to eat - so I will keep phasing it out of my diet. It just hurts too much to eat. Not worth it.   I have lost 31 pounds since Oct 22nd - 10 pounds a month is not bad. I have not started exercising yet, but plan to this week. That will help with toning up and dropping pants sizes faster.   I am not regretting getting the band at all. I love eating smaller amounts. But, bad habits are hard to break, like eating fast. I get reminded every time I eat. And eating smaller bites... it really is an adjustment. But I listen to my stomach closely and have kept up on the vitamins. Overall, I think I doing okay.   I hope everyone else is doing great!

aghealthy

aghealthy

 

Big Milestone!

Woooo Hoooo! I have dropped 70 pounds in under 7 months! Unbelievable......sometimes hard to wrap my mind around it......But I'll take it! 70 pounds! Whooo Hooo!

Humming Bird

Humming Bird

 

I'm watching Miss America

stupid bitches! haha they're so pretty. It's not even my style but I just love tan, blonde, tall beauty queens. Probably because my mother was one.   Here I am pale, short, chubby, and have dyed my blonde hair dark for 10 years.   I wonder if I will ever be a "babe".   I have always wanted to secretly be "mainstream attractive" but my heart just sort of gravitates to an alternative look. I think it stems from my attraction towards alternative ways of thinking. and now i have all these tattoos and piercings.   I dont look like a PUNK. At least I don't think so. You can tell I'm edgy.. but thats like how the kids are these days. haha! and I was such a weirdo in high school.   Oh... i got married today. It was sweet. At the waterfall by a witch and two witnesses. The real big wedding is in October, but we had to shot gun it for insurance reasons. I am happy to be a MRS. but I will not change my name until October since no one knows about it. SHHHH! I also get my wedding band then, too. It was special and sweet. I love my husband!!!

HiMow

HiMow

 

A Brand New Year, A Brand New Me

:thumbup:2010 is certainly a brand new year, and it is certainly a brand new me. I am so excited about this year. I am now 10 months post op, and WOW, what a journey. I am currently 62 pounds lighter than I was on 3/9/09 and I am so thrilled. It is a new life all aound. Does anyone just sometimes sit there and look at yourself and feel totally amazed? I do all the time. Funny things have been happening that I am totally not used to have happening. I got whistled at by 2 young guys. I'd say 19. Had to laugh. Then I was on a business trip this past week, and three movers (Self Storage Business) were moving a lady into our store and they told my managers I was HOT. I bet I turned 15 shades of red. Totally not used to these things. In this journey I am learning a lot about myself. Right now I am learning that my mental has to catch up with my physical. It's ok though, I am getting there. I just wanted to check in and wish you ALL a terrific new year. I hope it is a huge success for all of us. My goal is to lose 17 more pounds by 3/9/10, wish me luck:)

djzlady96

djzlady96

 

A Balanced Life and Reaching Goal

Saturday, January 30, 2010   A Balanced Life and Reaching Goal     I wanted to be a missionary Dr. when I was a kid. Or a writer. But I had this tendancy to round up all the kids (and sometimes their mothers) to play circus and kick-the-can and put on little shows (wrote plays), taught them songs to sing, played a little piano and had the mothers invite each other over for tea to watch our perfomances. Most of them closely resembled church services (without the sermons, thank God) or school programs (I went to Christian schools).   When I moved from my neighborhood after 5th grade, one of the other kid's mothers told me the other children didn't know what to do with themselves after I left. LOL.   In high school, other kids started asking me for help with their subjects. In college I gravitated towards English and history and because most woman from my background were encouraged to go into nursing or teaching (if they went to college.) I ended up teaching with some forays into public relations and fund-raising.   Although I'm certified to teach secondary English and history, I sort of fell into the tutoring field and teach supplementary math and reading from grades 1-8, at which I am very gifted. Just yesterday a mother told me her daughter always tells her, "I don't understand the math until Mrs. Flory explains it."   I think I'm a puzzle solver and I see children's learning problems as a puzzle to be solved. Where is the breakdown in understanding occuring? Is there an underlying learning disability? Are they ADHD? What method of instruction works for this child? Do they have better comprehension if they read out loud? If they wear noise-blocking headsets? How can I explain this and demonstrate it so they'll "see" it and remember it? How do I keep their attention and minimize their distractive behaviors so that they can learn? What materials would best suit this child? Is it a comprehension or a computational issue? Etc.   I really fly by the seat of my pants with a lot of this. I just get a sense of the child and leap to an intuitive understanding of what makes them tick and how best to break down the information for them. I think the fact that I love each child and establish a relationship with them also accounts for why they respond so well to my teaching.   Frankly, I'm a self-taught teacher in many ways. I've certainly never sat in a workshop or class that taught me to teach the way I teach. I do continuing ed. of course, but I like to take workshops and classes that give me practical tools that I can then modify to fit the needs of various children.   Lesson plans are guidelines that might or might not be followed. I really don't even write them anymore. I have an overall plan in my head of where I want to go and I modify it on the spot or abandon it totally if the need arises. Amazingly, it all seems to work and my kids make great progress.   I get my exercise in the mornings. I get to school early (7:15-7:30) and climb the stairs and walk the hallways and circle the gym for 30-45 minutes. I usually have a couple of kids already on the computers who are in before school care and I keep checking on them during my rounds. By 8 a.m. I'm already teaching kids who come before school and I teach an after school class till 4 and then private tutor a child till 4:35.   It's amazing how confidant I am when teaching children. I'm truly in my element. It is a stressful job, but mostly its good stress. But I do need to unwind when not teaching. At first, when I come home, after quickly cooking or putting together the meal my husband sets out, I tend to sit like a zombie in front of the TV, slowly eating my dinner. I only take in about half of what my husband says and tend to mostly grunt.   I start checking my Facebook, writing my blog, or go on lapband thread reading posts and responding, and looking up to watch TV when it interests me--and I pretty much do this till bedtime.   I do go out for choir practice one night a week and once a month I go to the school that is the vendor for my services and meet with other Discovery room teachers. We share teaching techniques and ideas as well as provide support for each other. One night a month I meet with the promotions committee for Roseland Christian School and generate ideas for raising money. I'll write some stories for them about some of the children we serve and their struggles and accomplishments.   On weekends I love walking-especially outdoors, gardening, playing with grandchildren, hot bubble baths with diet hot chocolate and a good mystery to read , singing in church, and maybe having a good long talk with one of my sisters or brothers (don't get to do that often, I should call them more.) I love to dance, did that last night a little. I need to do that more often.   Unfortunately, food has always been a big de-stresser that led to other forms of stress--like being fat and unhealthy and in pain. Living without it isn't easy. I still turn to it occasionally, but then the band gets in the way of it becoming a total foodfest.In fact, right now, I've been way into the carbs. Three colds in two months and no sun have really gotten to me. Hadn't gained but hadn't lost the last 3 lbs either. Getting a fill on Tuesday. That should kick me back into restriction.   But surprisingly, this morning when I got on the scale, I was 167 lbs. My goal. Now I did get up a few hrs later than usual and I danced last night so that might be a temporary aberration. I was surprised but I have been cutting back on the meals to make up for the carbs (read Candy).   I do know that if I keep eating candy, eventually I'll start eating more period and I'll gain the weight back. The new fill won't stop the candy. It'll slide right through. And it doesn't make me feel very good. But now that this cold is subsiding, I should do better. I've gone back to doubling my multi-vitamins and Calcium. As my weight loss slowed, and I had fewer prescription pills to take, I was only taking them at night and not in the morning. I think that's why I've gotten sick three times in a row.   But despite my set-backs, God is good. The weight is off. Surprisingly, that isn't the focus of my post. Having a relatively balanced life is the focus. Maybe the two are related. Ya think?   God is good all the time. All the time God is good.   :

ifyourstomachoffendsyou

ifyourstomachoffendsyou

 

Mulligan...

Its been an interesting journey for me. I went from getting banded and being a band rockstar losing like 70lbs in 4-5 months to losing all restriction for about 6 months and gaining 10lbs. Discovered my band had a leak due to a bad band. They replaced my band yesterday and I'm excited to get back on track. Lets see if this time around I can keep rocking the weight loss and meet my goal.   I'll post my surgery experience after I'm less drugged up.

MrRiceGuy

MrRiceGuy

 

2 Week Liquid Diet

I am 1 week away from my surgery due date and I am currently doing the 2 week pre-op liquid diet. I am having a horrible time with it. My head is always hurting from hunger and I have been tempted to cheat many times! How did some of you do on this part of your pre-op?

Mahogany

Mahogany

 

Week 37....Scale Moving...110lbs Gone

(Jan 30, 2010) Well, this past week was very uneventful. I did lose the water weight and two more pounds. So I have lost 110lbs now and only five more to goal!   I am a bit concerned about my band. Seems like I can't keep much down but I don't get sick off of everything.   I think I am just re-adjusting again. I use to be able to eat salmon earlier on in my process but now, it just sits there like a ball of coal. I'd like to eat more fish since it's good for me. Tomorrow I am going to try and make a Tuna Casserole.   I'm not so sure it's the food, maybe my eyes are bigger than my tummy again. I hate to waste! I am not a big person for left-overs. Thank goodness I got a hubby who usually eats everything I don't. I don't know why I hate re-heated food. I am OK with things like Veggie Soup and Chili, all the stuff seems to taste better the next day anyway but anything else....no thanks.   Also, I am having trouble getting all my water in each day. I am no where NEAR the intake I should be taking in.   Are there any good cookbooks for one or two people out there?   I got an email from my doctors office this past week. They have been going through files and picking out the most successful people and they are starting a photo board. They would like me to submit some photos! I was honored!   I turn 40 Feb. 23rd and so I planned a photo shoot on Feb. 19th! I am so excited about it too. I have been looking at new clothes and hairstyles and everything. It will be so much fun! I can't wait. I'll share of course.   Ok, so I have something funny. I have NO BUTT! I need some padding back there. We went out to eat and those darned seats were killing me. I was squirming in that chair. The things you did not know before you sure know after! HEE HEE!   Ok, I know you guys heard me say this before but I am not very happy about how my tummy is shaping up. It feels so weird. I am not sure it will firm up right. I am going to give it a good whole year of working and toning it as much as possible, but I don't think I will be able to really rule out a tummy tuck. I just really don't want more surgery. I've never been a surgery person and I've only had two in my life with the lapband being one. I'd love to hear from others who have something to say on this. If you've had surgery I want to hear from you and if you've not had surgery what did you do to firm it up.   So....just five more pounds people. I can do this!   Always....I am blessed!   Follow my progress: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/members/57955-albums3475.html   Starting Weight: 280lbs Surgery Date: May 21, 2010 Dr. M. Metz - St. Lukes - Denver, CO

Lapband LaLa

Lapband LaLa

 

The Deed is Done?Don?t Let the Villain Rise Again

So the deed is done, i have the band and this story will not end like most bad blockbuster movies with the heroes having triumphed and the villain has slithering away to return in the squeal do next summer. Screw That! After getting banded I have no interest in seeing the weight-loss sequel. I just want the pounds-I-have-to-lose villain dead. One of the things I loved about the movie “Taken” is the Liam Neeson’s character does not try to be to be heroic. He is simply on a mission to find his daughter and take her home. He systematically finds the next bad guy, beat the crap out of him for the information he needs, then kills them so they can’t come back to haunt him. In the final scene, he does not taunt and gloat over the villain giving them a chance to cleverly get away. He simply shoots the ultimate villain and takes his daughter home.     Now that I have the band, that is my plan for the pounds I have to lose and they are the villain. I plan on killing them cleanly and quickly with little fuss and no parades. Yes, my testosterone is talking, but I am a guy…deal with it. I am three days post op and went to the gym, did 30 minutes on the elliptical and I am hunting down those evil pounds like they have my daughter and I her want it back. My 26th anniversary is coming up and my wife asked me today if I wanted anything special. I told her no. My mission right now is to kill those villainous pounds and stay focused on the target. Those who have read some of my past blogs know I can be a bit over the top…and I am. However, that does not change my conviction and mission to make a great movie about losing weight , the villain will die at the end and there will be no sequel.

Cingulus

Cingulus

 

The cars fixed i'm soon to be :))

AFTER 4 HOURS AT THE MECHANIC, HE FIXED IT AND IT WAS AWESOME! NOW MY CAR HAS HEAT..WHOO WHOO!! RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT REPLACED   ON A LIGHTER NOTE, I'M GONNA GO GET MY "SUPPLIES" TOMORROW.   ANY LAST MINUTE THOUGHTS IDEAS?   PREOP IS IN 2 DAYS AFTER TODAY   I CAN DO THIS!!!   WHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

KatrinaD

KatrinaD

 

Giby97, POST OPERATIVE DIETARY GUIDELINES

Attention All who are planning to have the LAP-BAND Surgery and those who have had the surgery. The guidelines can be viewed at: www.longviewregional.com   Also note that in the blogs there are several recipe's posted--check them out, at least you can have a variety of meals to select from within the limits of the guidelines.   Ken Gibson:thumbup:

Giby97

Giby97

 

Yeah! Weight Loss again!

It's back on! I did need an adjustment on my last visit. Word to those who don't know..... do not wait 6 months for an adjustment even if you think everything is ok. I also had metabolic testing and found out that I have a very slow metabolism. Just knowing these answers has helped me see what else I need to do for my weightloss. Had an upper GI ( not for lap band reasons ) but they did say that I did not have any slippage or errosion! YEAH!!! Ready go get back to the gym on Monday. I am super excited because I started running. Never thought that I would be able to say that.

angelwingz1984

angelwingz1984

 

More Madness... year after surgery

Today is a milestone in my life... my new life! I woke up today and did my 1 hour work out! I did 30 min of hip hop abs and 30 min of incline training on the treadmill! I feel awesome!   I also took my one year bandaversary pic's but had a problem uploading I was totally bummed. I must admit I'm not loving the camera just yet but working on that.   I am going to a water park with my girls and their girl scout troop... Ya I'm a leader and it's time to wear a bathing suite! My feeling is are you kidding me I'm not into wearing bathing suites! Although the one I wore this summer fits a lot better. I guess I have to just suck it up and go and have fun... I feel great but not bathing suite great. That's a lot of skin showing lol. Oh and it's the middle of a Nasty winter here in the CHI (Chicago)!   So I am going to get it together and try and really get myself behind that camera more often! Maybe it will help me see the transformation of -60 lbs.   Oh I must tell you that shopping these days are a lot of fun especially finding good deals. Went to Express last night and was able to by size Medium and they had a big ole sale...$5.99 tops boy talk about a great feeling! I'm really starting to feel a lot more normal these days.   I love my Mono (band in Spanish) I don't ever want to be with out it!   Keep strong Keep focused and live the band life Peace!

CHI-Girl

CHI-Girl

 

post op

this is day 3 of my post op. I am doing full liquids. so far so good. the gas pain is the worse thing about this surgery. but i think mine is finally moving out. went to walmart today and got a couple of things then came home and did the dishes. am gonna go to the y on monday and start walking. also found that wearing the binder they gave me helps too.

lavenderlady

lavenderlady

 

Giby97 Before my Surgery Diet-No Diet

I have been reading about all or the pre surgery dieting, but in my case my doctor told me "No eating as of 12 midnight-the day prior to my surgery) I went to Outback that night, 7 pm and had a nice juicy steak with mashed potatoes. :thumbup: This was my last meal and my only ever trip to OUTBACK in Korea. What a fabulous place-very crowded. Now at 4 weeks from my surgery, I am eating solids, chicken, fish, mashed potatoes, pork and beans, pinto beans, 15 beans--anything with beans, tuna salad and crackers for lunch or chilibeans.:tt2: Lots of water in between and of course exercising. Last night I made it to 1 full hour on the stationary bike. This morning I am down one more kilogram-113.6 from 123.1. Next week I may go in for my 2nd FILL.:thumbup: I was expected to go yesterday (Sat) but I felt I was still loosing, so I am my wife decided to wait one more week. I travel 4 hours to the doc's and 4 hours back, to Seoul Korea from Kunsan Korea. :w00t: It's fun and relaxing on the Bus--no stress with driving the long distance and congestive traffic scene in Seoul. I am at the point in my surgery where I expect to be--still loosing. Yeah!!!:thumbup:

Giby97

Giby97

 

Awkward Social Situations and the Band....

So last night I joined a friend at her church's "Friday Night Live" - out of sheer coincidence her family and the church they fellowship with have done business with mine so I knew the majority of the Pastors, Apostles, etc...   As with most church "royalty" there's usually a dinner after service where everyone breaks bread and has their fellowship behind closed doors.   Although I'm a leader in my church I am not a minister or anything like that yet. I'm the administrator for my church. Taking direction only from my Pastor's and I direct the teams, ministers, praise, etc... basically I'm like the "manager".   Seeing this particular group of people was awkward because they had an issue with us over money. (How Christian like, right? lol)   Basically my Pastor agreed to bless them for 3 months of friday night services and after the 3 months he would charge his normal fee for speaking engagements. Seems like a fair deal. Evidently not so much, but I digress..   So they invite me to the dinner and I agree as graciously as I could. Although, if I remember right I said "I guess" and then a quick "thank you."   Awkward because 1.) I'm on a fast and 2.) they're supposed to be on a fast and 3.) The food being served was not fast friendly. And 4.) The above mentioned "disagreement" between our churches and 5.) they piled food on my plate like I was eating for 3 people. 6.) Again, aren't we on a fast?!?!?!   So I did my best trying to not be insulting to people, trying to finish what I could and stay as close as I could to staying on my fast...Not only that, but BAND FRIENDLY!   But as it turns out...Everything they had was NOT band friendly. I tried to eat just fruits and veggies...but they looked at me funny for not eating the fried rice, orange chicken and sweet and sour meatballs they had piled on my plate.   Oh and there's cake... oh and hmmm fruit punch, one sip. oh look it's carbonated. UGH.   I left out of there feeling like I was going to bust. The food was all things that would "expand" in my stomach and adding that sip of carbonated fruit punch fizz did NOT help!   The room was darkly lit light they were trying to set some sort of "romantic mood" the kind where you can see your plate, but if there was something wrong with your food, you wouldn't be able to see it. Yeah that dark.   I finished what I could and was SO thankful when they came around to take our plates. I was able to just throw my napkin over the top and act like I'd eaten the portions they'd given me. Even if I mostly just swirled them around on my plate.   Needless to say my band hurts today... not "hurts" but I can "feel" it today.. if I breathe deeply I swear I feel it.. Nothing but liquids today... this is NOT the business...   Next time I'll just say no, instead of "I guess" really who says that anyways???? "I guess" how rude of me... *sigh*

Yvette1026

Yvette1026

 

Gallstones it is. . .

I had a sinking feeling that my gallbladder was the culprit in all of this. I was hoping it was something simple like the Wellbutrin, but of course not, it requires that I have another surgery.   I went to the ER on Thursday night. Got a bag of fluids, 2 percocets, and a diagnosis of a UTI. The idiot doctor didn't even do an abdominal exam.   Anyways, on Friday, I called my bariatric nurse, and he got me in for a GB ultrasound, and abdominal CT. The u/s revealed a gallbladder full of stones. I was told that the surgeon would be informed, and hopefully they will get me in soon for surgery.   I left feeling pretty defeated. I'm back on a liquid diet, bland as it can be. Every sip, swallow, hurts.   My surgeon, bless his heart, called me this morning (Saturday) and told me to come in on Tuesday at 10am. He's hoping to get me on the OR roster sometime this week. As much as I don't want to endure another surgery, I can't handle hurting like this constantly. Not to mention the horrendous gas that has started since all of this.   Thank you all for your prayers and good thoughts.   I'll try to keep everyone posted.

Tiffykins

Tiffykins

 

New energy-----New agendas

2010 is just a few weeks old and yet things are off to a great start. I actually look forward to getting exercise and trying new forms of exercise. I can go into GNC now and not feel like a fish out of water. I am taking care of myself and striving to be the healthiest version of myself that I can be.   I have determined that this year I am going to complete projects that I had started long ago. I now have a renewed energy that kept me from seeing things through. I hate to admit it but I have neglected so many things because I was always tired or sluggish.   I am going to paint my kitchen, finish some quilting projects, maybe even plant a small garden(if winter ever decides to end) I find that I'm no longer content to sit down and just read all weekend. I want to see my goals achieved.   If I can repeat myself just one more time ..... I am so very happy with my decision to have this surgery and I am going to encourage others to do the same. It truly IS life-changing!!!!

salty1986

salty1986

 

Is This The Sweet Spot?

Current Mood: Iffy:blink:   How did you know if you hit your sweet spot?   I got my second fill on Wednesday and since I haven't been able to eat much at all. I stuck to liquids for the first day and pretty soft food the following day. But, everything I have eaten is causing the same feeling... almost a burning sensation at the bottom of my throat as soon as I swallow anything with texture. It's not getting stuck - I've done that recently so I know what that feels like.   I am feeling full for a long time after eating very little but, I still feel hunger if I wait too long to put something in my stomach -- say 6 hours. It's just that I don't want to eat because it is unpleasant so I put it off too long.   Could be swelling. Could be just right and I haven't worked it out properly yet. Could be too tight. Could be that I'm eating too much too fast (I ate an 8 oz steak in one sitting the day before the fill!). I just don't know yet. I am going to give it the weekend and do everything right. If I'm still having the issue on Monday I will call my doctor.   On the positive side, I think I dropped another 4 lbs since Wednesday!   Here are my fill stats: 12cc band - currently filled with 7.5ccs -3cc at insertion - 11/9/09 -3cc added at first fill - 12/3/09 -1.5cc added at 2nd fill - 1/27/10   What do you think?

BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

 

liquid diet starts in the am

ok so i am gettin so nervous i start my liquid diet in the am, 3 days of liquid diet then i have surgery! screammin and doin the hokey poke ! ah my heart is goin a mile a min and its not even surgery day! wow focus focus on something but what ahh breath breath deep calm relaxin breaths....aaahhhh scream what the heck my i am about to be reborn!

w99e04

w99e04

 

Can anything else go wrong

TODAY IS A STAY AT HOME DAY~LITERALLY. MY CAR IS NOT HOLDING ANTI~FREEZE.....I WAS DRIVING FROM WORK LAST NIGHT. I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR..AND I EVEN CALLED MY MECHANIC AFEW DAYS B4..SO NOW..I CAN'T DRIVE IT..AND HE'S IN THE CITY..AND I JUST NEED TO PRAY HE COMES OUT HERE OR IM SO SOL   IVE HAD LOTS OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK I'M DOING OK..STILL POSITIVE..STILL MOTIVATED.....JUST NEED A MIRACLE FROM GOD MAYBE ONE DAY I'LL BE THE ONE

KatrinaD

KatrinaD

 

Post-Surgery

Well I had my surgery on Dec.7th,2009 I spent one night in the hospital. I had lost 15lbs on my 4 week pre-surgery diet. So since I started that on November 9th until now I have lost 39.5 lbs, two dress sizes and I feel GREAT!! I have not had a fill yet, but I go back to see the doctor on Feb. 9th,2010. I hope that everyone is doing well.

lackey4

lackey4

PatchAid Vitamin Patches

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