phatgirl 2011

My mom told me at Thanksgiving that I was at a good stage of my weight loss and did not need to lose any more....I then had to inform her that I (at that time) was still in the 200's. She could not believe it. I do not know if it is because my weight has been coming off quickly or I just haven't weighed under 215 pounds in many many years, but I know I definitely need to lose more! Congrats on your weight loss!!

I hear those comments all the time mostly from relatives."Eat" is what comes in their mouth the moment they see me.It is a habit.But the most weird comment was the one i heard last week from a new collegue.She was saying how desperately she needs to lose 10 pounds.Then she looks at me and she says.."well you obviously know nothing about diets,but i really need to lose weight".It was a shock for me and to tell you the truth subconsciously i thought she was mocking me.Killing the fat kid inside you is not so easy..

OK I am about 7 months out and 70 pounds down, I have been pretty happy with my weightloss, of course I wouldve loved to have lost more... anywho, Im def. not the perfect bandster, but I try to follow the rules, one rule that I have never followed was the "no drinking while eating". frankly, i thought it was stupid and couldnt imagine eating food without drinking. Im one of those people who sip after every bite so I didnt even want to try and stop. Oddly enough I never realized why this rule was set in place, so i did my research a little over a month ago. When you drink while eating the liquids push the foods through the band and you upper pouch, making it harder for the band to do it's job and allowing you to eat more food. While researching I found an article (ill try to find for you) that said one of the main reasons Lap Band patients are unable to use to tool in its entirety is bc of drinking while eating. I decided to try and stop and Lord have mercy I feel like slapping myself! I get full so quick now and although its a little weird not drinking, Im getting used to it. Ive dropped a whopping EIGHT pounds in one week since I started doing this. im truly amazed and I feel that If i wouldve done this sooner Id already have lost 100 pounds. The thing is, the band will still help you if you drink with your meals, you will still get fuller quicker than you did preband, but I personally can say it has made the world of a difference for me! Ive only had two small fills so far and I go in for another next week, but atleast just try not the no drinking rule. I learned a tip from someone on here to fix a glass of ice when Im eating and allow myself to drink whatever has melted throughout my meal, which isnt alot but it helps to trick my mind lol

I dont know if mine counts or not, but I am down 126lbs in 16 months, plus I had a baby 4 months ago. You cant really count those 9 months, can you? And yep I got preg 4 months after being banded.
So in 7 months I lost 126lbs, plus 30lbs of baby weight.

@ Jerseygirl and NJgirl
These are the reasons I only told my immediate and close family members and about 3 or 4 friends and that was only because about 2 of em had the surgery themselves and the other 2 are thinking about the surgery. I don't want people looking and watching what i eat and whether secretly or openly judging my food and weight loss. It's my business and it's still going to be a battle. I'm fightig it now. I've gained 12 of the 30lbs. i lost! being on solid food of course. smh. But it's a struggle. I'm hoping for my first fill tomorrow. But keeping something like this close to your heart is a better idea.

I onytold my husband and the woman I work with...and I am SO glad! I have only lost 6 pounds since surgery (almost a month ago). I can tell the woman I work with looks at my lunch so I am glad no one else knows. I guess I wouldn't mind as much if I had a good weight loss, but that's no the case yet. I don't need the food police around me-I have enough stress! I look at it this way...it's my journey and I own it. I guess sometimes it would be nice to talk to others about it-someday, just not yet!

I thought the same thing about my band. Wondering if it was there. But then I had my first stuck episode and I knew it was.

Don't worry slm2007. Prior to getting my Wii in 2009, the last game console I had was the NES (original nintendo). When I was like 8 or something. Personally I like my Wii, but I've never played on the others so I'm biased. I haven't played on it in a while, but I love just dance 2 and Michael Jackson the experience

I regret telling my neighbor, my 18 yr old son, my husband and my mom. But, it really doesn't matter cause I would of had to tell my husband no matter what and my husband's gonna tell anyone who asks him how am I losing so much weight. Even if I tell him not to, he just can't keep his mouth shut about things like that, unless it was him. My mom was okay with the idea for a second til my 18 protested and talked to her. My husband says I can lose it exercising, yet he is 100 lbs overweight. After my mom tells everyone in my family, I'm sure I am really gonna regret telling her. Now she says I should just work out more and change my eating habits too, and not get the surgery. She is my worst critic though, and somehow deep down, I think she doesn't want me to be smaller than her. I've been bigger than her for years, and she rags on me all the time. Calls me big drawers, says my behind is huge, embarrasses me in front of people about my weight and brags about me being to big to fit her clothes. I'm African-American and this type of surgery (any kind of surgery that isn't needed out of emergency for that matter) is not looked upon favorably. I've even had my son, who is mixed say that is surgery white people get. Can you believe it. They see it like its some sort of plastic surgery.

Who have I told?
Hubby, child, Mom, Dad, mom in law, dad in law, brother, sister in law, Manager at work (because I had to give dr note) and best friend.
Who I wish I would have told?
Hubby, child and best friend. They are the only ones who don't constantly ask "so how much have you lost" all the freaking time. AHHHHH I know the others mean well. BUT this is a slow process and it really annoys me.
Now I just tell them "I don't know and I won't know until my next dr appointment"
~Kris

I don't really have a lot of encouraging words for you per se because I haven't actually had the surgery yet, but I will say this...I am also on the larger side of what most posters here seem to be. The good news is you will be encouraged by your liquid diet because you will most likely (if you can stick to it) be under 600 by the time your surgery rolls around. Also, the larger you are, the more weight you will probably lose during the first year, so keep that in mind.
I have an insane amount (to me) of weight to lose, over 200 pounds, but I know that unlike the bypass or the sleeve, the lap band is going to be a longer process....If i can lose 100 pounds in this first year, I will consider that a success....if that is all i ever lose, i will still consider it a success.
. best of luck to you in your surgery, please keep us posted on your progress.

Hello, I had my surgery on Monday May 23rd 2011 I think I'm doing pretty well. I'm still sore. 14 days of liquids is kinds tough, I can't wait to eat real food even one bite sounds good to me. it sucks because of the holiday weekend and I keep thinking about how much fun everyone is having eating all that potato salad and cheeseburgers hehehe.

:DOn December 21st of 2010, my Grandmother passed away, 2 days before my 30th birthday. She was 85, so she was no spring chicken, but I cant help but feel like she didnt have to die. She had struggled with weight her entire life. She would be a size 0, then a size 24, then a size 2, then a size 20 again. She did all of the fad diets back when they were new, like the Atkins, and she took dozens of diet pills, but the weight always came back. In her later years she started having joint problems. First the shoulders, then the knees, then finally the hips, having them all replaced. Because at this time she had been in pain for a while, she had become very sedentary, and lost almost all of her muscle mass, so the hip joints never really took, because there was nothing for them to "hold on to" So she sat in her wheel chair and got bigger, and bigger and bigger. For the last FIFTEEN years she had been completly wheelchair bound. In spite of all this, it didnt slow her down. She had a wheel chair accessable van, so she was pretty self sufficient. She grocery shopped on her own, and still volunteered at her church. (It was an electric wheel chair, because her shoulders were artifical too, and coulnt support the range of motion for a manual wheel chair). For about the last two years, she kept getting chronic bladder infections. Thats what happens when you are sedentary, and obese, your bladder stops emptying all of the way, and the little urine that stays, gradually gets infected. Not only is it miserable to have an infection, but after a while they started to affect her mind. Thats how we knew when she was getting sick, because most of the time she was so lucic and accurate, but when the infections would start, she would stop eating, and start to tell stories of how she had had a good conversation with a dead relative. Finally, last October, I stopped by her house and found her sitting in her closet talking to no one, so we took her to the ER and she was admitted (again) for a bad bladder infection. When it came time to discharge her from the hospital, they sent her to a rehab to get her strength back, so she could go back home, and it was there that she contracted pheumonia, and 3 weeks after that, she died. Because she was so sedentary, her lungs were weak, and they couldnt fight it. When we decided to turn the Oxygen off, she lived for another 12 hours, because her heart was so strong, it just wouldnt give up.
So, lesson learned.........I dont give a flying rats happy furry ass what other people think about my choice to have this surgery. I need the help. I know I do. I have similar desires like everyone else ( I want to be a sexy goddess for the husband who is the love of my life) and I want to set a good example for my children. But most of all, I dont want to die like that. I dont want to be the strong woman who raises a great family, only to have the end game be that I have to have my diapers changed because I cant care for myself, or that to go to eat, I have to be lifted by a crane, because im so big that even the big men in the complex cant help lift me. I REFUSE to be that person.
Next week I go to get banded! HOORAY!! I havent shouted out to the world that I am having surgery, but not because I dont want to hear the nay sayers, but because this is a personal journey for me. I understand my reasons more than anyone else in the world possibly could, and to the super skinny girl who thinks this is the easy choice, or to the body builder who thinks im lazy, I feel sorry for their closed mindedness. Thinking that what is right for you is right for everyone is a disease, thats what is wrong with the world today.
Wow! That was a HUGE rant! Thanks for letting me let it go! You guys rock!

<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" width="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">It sounds as if your friend is still not being honest with you. Her lame cover-up excuses have more holes than swiss cheese.
Reading between the lines, (and lies), this is what I think she meant to say:
Dear Amy,
I can't tell you how much I am hurt that you had WLS. I mean, I am the skinny one! I am the center of attention! And now I hate you for taking that away from me! I could try to stay skinnier than you, so I can keep up my rep, but NO FAIR! You had WLS, and I have to do it on my own! WWHHHHAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You were my wounded bird. You made me feel good about myself, especially when you and I were in public together.
The boys always looked at me... now I have competition? I hate you for that. I am going to take a break from you because I can't handle the emotional stress this has caused me. In the meantime, i am going to try to find another fat friend that can boost my confidence once again.
Thanks for being my 'friend', but your purpose has now dissolved.
Sincerely,
Best Friend w/ Major Self Issues
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For long time, too long, I allowed fear to dictate my life. In my 20s and 30s there were many things I didn't do because I was afraid --including driving 3 hours by myself to visit my mom in the hospital, going to the pool to swim, going places with my husband like car races. My fears were real to me --might have an accident, might get lost, might be laughed at, might not be able to sit in the bleachers that long, etc, etc. One day I woke up --really. I had a chance to SCUBA dive --I'd done that in college--but that was 20 years ago --I needed new certification --ooooh, pretty scary --but I thought I'd check it out --I'd been a crackerjack diver in college --so maybe --I found out that EVERYONE in the class was my age or older and in not so perfect shape. I took the class, passed, and took my brand new C card to a topical island --and BY MYSELF--found a dive boat and went diving. At that time and now, those boats are mostly men (older --it's an expensive sport) and a few women MY AGE and MOST divers were, well, heavy people --no skinny minnies.
And I had FUN!
After that, I started doing more "scary things." I'd sit myself down and say, 'What's the worse that could happen and how would you deal with it." I got AAA incase of car problems and now drive all over the US by myself, with my hubs, and with daughters and half the time I'm pulling a huge trailer!
And then there was this weight thing --like everyone here, I'd tried it all, lost it a ton of times (I was 100 pounds overweight) , and was heavier than ever when I found an ad for lapband. Selling point to me was that it could be taken out if . . .well, not sure what the if was. Step by step I did the process. Now the day of the surgery, I said to my hubs, I'm scared --he pointed out that I had a greater chance of dying on the way to the hospital than in surgery. And, you know, at the weight I was, I really didn't want to live --I didn't tell people that, but I was gaining more weight each year ---I'd be over 600 pounds by the time I retired at the rate I was going. And I KNEW what life was like for overweight people in retirement centers. I'd rather die.
But I didn't. And now nearing retirement, I'm 5'10", 150 pounds, with dyed blonde hair and a wardrobe that has a lot of sequins and black leather in it.
Remember courage is doing something when you ARE scared. Keep thinking -- This is your chance --grab it and fly with it. It's kind of like getting on a plane --you have to ,at some point, trust the pilot will get you safely to your destination. If you can't make that step, then you can never fly.
So anyway, that's my 2 cents worth.

Cathy... I weighed over 400 pounds!!! I was pre-hyper tension, pre- diabetic, had high colesterol and was just totally out of control with my weight. I was very scared to do this but I knew I had to try something. It has worked so well for me, I can't express how happy I am with my decision. My blood pressure, blood sugars and colestorol are all normal, I feel 10 years younger and I honestly have not had a problem with the process or with changing my habits. I eat the wrong thing every now and then but I stick pretty close to the guidelines. I exercise at least 5 times a week, which I think is a huge contributing factor to my success so far. I was just telling some body last night that the first time I got on the eliptical machine at the gym I went 6 minutes and seriously thought I was going to die!!! So I just kept walking on the tread mill for the next couple of months. Now I trade off between the treadmill and the eliptical machine (which may I say I can do 30 minutes no problem now!!!) I can't belive the things in life that are already easier like tying my shoes, cutting my toe nails, I sleep like a baby!!!!! ( did not have sleep apnea) I just feel so great, and I never thought I felt that bad, now I just can't believe how good I feel and I have a very long way to go yet! My Dr. asked me the other day "Are you happier" I just looked at her for a minute and then I said "WOW" " I' am happier and I'm a very happy person normally" It's just crazy already the changes in my life for the better. I am 3 pounds away from 100 pounds lost and I have lost pretty steady for 9 months, had a 3 week plateau but that wasn't too bad. Can't wait to loose the next 100. Get educated, exercise and drink your Water, that would be my best advice and the things I find the most important in my weightloss success so far. Good Luck to you on your Lap-Band Journey!

My Goals would have to be similar to all of you.
I want to shop with all of my friends and complain because something is too big
Get a tramp stamp
I want to go on rides and not have someone have to push down the bar to get the ride to close (most humiliating moment of my life)
I want to go up to my ex's and say look what you missed out on
I want to one day have kids and get married and look awesome at the same time
I want to go back to europe and not be the fat girl on my Contiki and not worry about going up stairs or white Water rafting or worry about how bad I look in the photos
Mostly out of everything I want to be comfortable in my body that is what I want more than anything

I am sorry you are having such a difficult time with your band. Doctors are so different about when to eat mushies, when to eat solids. My doc had me on solids in less than 3 weeks. I did fine. But, I have to say that I don't think it was because my doc had such a "great post op food plan" (he is a general surgeon, not one that specializes in lapband), but because I just happened to be able to tolerate food at that stage. That said, perhaps, because your stomach seems to be more sensitve you might consider the more conservative path mentioned by "honk". It may not seem like much fun, but it could save you a lot of grief and aggravation -- and pain -- in the long run. Be sure to get all the nutrients you need and stay hydrated. Many a bandster has found herself in the emergency room because she is dehydrated.
As for your eating "just to feel good", I totally understand. I too, am an emotional eater. It is a complex problem because it is much harder to put a "band" around our heads, in fact, it is impossible. LOL But, for me, seeing a therapist that specializes in obesity has been extremely helpful. Because of my "head hunger" and the need to continue eating after my hunger is gone (a life long habit), my weight loss has not been "speedy", to put it mildly, but I have lost weight. I have lost because my therapist has given me tools to use when the "head hunger" hits. Also, I have learned so much about myself since being banded. And, I have changed in ways that has baffled and surprised family and friends -- and myself. I hate exercise, but I get up every morning and power walk at the park. I am up to 2 1/2 miles. I don't eat fast food anymore, I don't want it and I don't like it -- not anymore. I am not perfect with my food. But I am kind to myself when I am not. Beating myself up only leads to self sabotage. Emotional eating is one thing that the band cannot stop, but I have learned to use "self talk" which helps me to make better choices.
Remember, we have to be kind to ourselves both mentally AND physically. Do what you need to do to heal your stomach from the trauma you recently experienced (i.e., explosively rejecting the Protein, stomach spasms, etc.). And gently remind yourself that eating "just to feel good" doesn't feel so good when you get on the scale.
I truly hope that your troubles with your band are a thing of the past. Hang in there ... you are not alone.

Not too bad an experience. The worst part was the first 10 minutes waking up from the anesthesia after that I felt ok. However, I will not it feels like I got run over by a freight train in my upper gut sleeping was too bad either I sleep on my side and was able to sleep on just the right side and occasionally my back. How long does this soreness last? Does anyone think I can drive a car a short distance today I sort of need to. How bout your diet the first day after, broth Jello etc correct. I know they've told me a hundred times but I'm that person that looks at you and doesn't hear you

I think I understand . . .only for me, "feeling normal" was "being big" --big child, big teenager, big momma, then fat momma! Five years ago I got banded and without any of the complications here, lost about 5-10 pounds a month (1-2 pounds a year) and one day I was 100 pounds less --242 to 142 --I'm 5'9. There were some psychological changes too --I called my doctor's nurse (I only saw him for the six fills and one unfill --then he died) --because I was worried I'd starve to death --she said that fear was normal, about the time you start feeling bones under your skin, you start worrying about "what if I can't stop" --but "we're here" she said and assured me I wouldn't starve to death.
One day in the mall, I saw an attractive woman and thought how I had a similar shirt --only it WAS me in a mirror! ME! and I thought I was attractive!!! Until then, I avoided looking at my reflection . . .
And size by size I went down. And down. And down.
When I hit the weight I wanted, I got a face lift, dyed my hair platinum blonde and got rid of EVERY stitch of clothing I owned "before" I sold every sinlge thing on ebay or gave to Good will ---then I bought underware at Victoria's Secret, clothes from ebay and Goodwill --but with labels from Gap and TAlbots --as high end as I could afford and find and I bought NEW SHOES (my feet shrank too) with HIGH HEELS.
I wear makeup every day!!
Do I feel normal? Heck NO! I feel great!!!
:-)

It's a great adjustment! Though I'm only down a total of about 70 pounds (after regaining 30 and then losing 43), it's kind of sad how differently people treat you. There is definite discrimination out there against larger people. More people talk to me and men are hysterical. I was even asked if my wedding ring was a decoy ring!!! I looked at him, in WaWa by the way, and said what is a decoy ring? He explained some women wear rings because they get hit on a lot. I just laughed and said, I'm very happily married. My husband got a kick out of it when I told him! Of course, he then was a wee bit jealous and said if he knows that and you're trying to avoid being hit on, why would he even ask? I just laughed and told him he was very cute being jealous.
What's really great is being able to fit comfortably in airplane seats, baggy clothes that were once tight, fitting easily in a regular bathroom stall, and the look my husband gets in his eyes when he catches a glimpse of me in something new or sexy! I still have a ways to go but I'm feeling good about myself and know you will feel great about yourself soon.
All the luck in the world to you as you begin your journey!