tryingtolose24

That's amazing! Go girl! I would also love to know more about your journey.

Thank you both so much for your replies. I am going to try every suggestion I get until something works!!! I really really appreciate y'all's help .

Hello!! I know the insurance stuff is always a daunting process, so congrats on being approved. I am really happy for you. I was banded in April of 2011. If you have any questions I would be happy to help .

Hello all! I have been stuck in the worst kind of way for the last 4 hours. It is painful..throwing up doesn't even help (and yes, I know you aren't supposed to do that- but when your stuck, your stuck).! Does anybody have any home remedies that might help? I have tried papaya enzyme. Did nothing. I tried hot water with lemon. Nope. Have no meat tenderizer at home :/. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance

ME TOO! I'm not the only one. There are some good responses here. How are you doing with your start over so far?

I moved from NC to KS for grad school a year ago. All my friends knew about my banding in NC.. But now that I moved to KS I don't want to tell anyone bc I don't want them watching my every move (also, some ppl are rude about WLS). However, this is a problem whenever I eat with someone and I can only get 2 bites in the entire time they are eating. Then I have my entire dish left and they are done.. It is so awkward! PLEASE help.. Do you think I should just tell them or should I continue to let it be my little secret?

Hi all, I used to be on phentermine before surgery to curb my appetite, and I was wondering if anyone uses it after having the surgery? I still get sooooooo hungry constantly, and I really want to go back on it. Let me know those who have / haven't used it after getting the lap band. Thank you in advance! Sagan

Hey!!! That is so exciting that you have your surgery coming up!! I am still in the beginning stages as I got the surgery on April 15, but so far it honestly has made a difference in my thinking and realizing how eating foods I am not supposed to affects my body. I would love to keep in touch! Sagan

I decided to start this blog as a motivation tool. I figure that writing about how things are going, and maybe even getting a little feedback, can be helpful in this long, hard, and exciting new journey. I'll begin with a short introduction. My name is Sagan and I am 24. I currently live in Raleigh, NC, but will be moving to Lawrence, KS to go to grad school. I managed to make my way to having to have weight loss surgery by becoming addicted to food after I got my drivers license in high school. This led to me learning the greatness and addicting nature of processed fast food foods!!!!!!!!! Oh boy, did it go downhill from there. I soon learned that I had poly-cystic ovaries, and it would be extremely hard to lose any weight that I gain (by this time I had gained 40 lbs in a year- despite playing serious tennis every day). After I got to college, I continued being addicted to food, and made things worse by not exercising. I graduated college and had gained 100 lbs. Here I was, a year and half after graduating, and weighed 304 lbs. I was devestated, depressed, and out of control. The funny thing was, I had been going to weight loss doctore for 3 years, and still managed to gain weight! My parents were worried, and never failed to remind me of how big I had gotten. I started to look into the lap band. After getting denied by insurance, I decided to try one more time to get approval. I went to a weight doctor for 6 months, and was finally approved. YAY! I decided to get the lap band 3 weeks later on April 15! Here I am now, about 20 lbs lighter, and struggling every day to make the right decisions. My weight seems to have plateaued, probably because I have not been counting calories. I am starting to keep track of everything now with Myfitnesspal and hope to be successful on staying on a 800 calorie a day diet (lots of scrambled eggs!), get my 64 g of protein in, and drink my water (the hardest part for me!). Until later, happy banding!

P.s. I've never done one of the challenges before, how does this work? What is this I hear about a spreadsheet? -Sagan

Name, real or screen~ Sagan Age~ 24 Weight on May1st~ 285.6 Weight on May 8- 283.5 Goal Weight for May 29th~278.00 Exercise Goal for May~3 times a week Dietary Goal for May~ drink more water, AVOID FAST FOOD AND EATING OUT Personal Goal for May~ to feel more empowered about reaching this goal, to not lose hope and stay grounded. Date Banded~ 4/15/11 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~ 19.5 lbs

I definitely wouldn't be able to do that trip after having surgery that soon. Plus, the doc told me that you arent supposed to travel in a car for more than 20 minutes at a time without stopping to walk for a while because of the very serious risk of blood clots in your legs. I was like the others, i completely underestimated the seriousness of the surgery. Good luck on your surgery, and try not to push yourself too hard after you get it!

I feel the same way, right now im finding it harder and harder not to sneak food!!!! I got my lap band on April 15, and snuck 1 soft taco from taco bell yesterday. I feel awful about it, and im really upset with myself that is did this. Any tips on ways to make yourself less susceptible to giving in? I honestly feel like I have a food addiction also, and its comforting to see that someone has been successful in getting on their way to ridding themselves of this habit.

You have lost a lot of weight!!!! 67 lbs! Good job, girl!!! Congrats on getting off the meds!!! There is hope, afterall!

That sounds delicious! I will hit the store tonight and make that!

Thanks for the encouraging words. I have not been tracking my calories, I will start doing that today. Wow you have lost 27 lbs!? That's awesome!!!! I had been eating potato soup (that had been blended), egg drop soup, and sweet potato soup. I was eating 4 oz at a time, but probably more often than I should be. I'm just so so so so so so hungry!! And being around friends who can eat does not help! Thanks! Let me know if you have any other advice, or need some encouragement! Sage

Wow 22 lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thats awesome!!! Congrats!!! Thank goodness for the post above this, because now we know its nothing to worry about if we gain weight!!I Are you able to move on to pureed food today? Haha I am, and I'm eating some pureed beef, and i gotta tell you..it looks like dog food.

I've been going the Soup route, I probably have not been getting enough protein, I will definitely start doing more shakes. Thank you for letting me know that I don't need to think about losing right now. Haha it's hard to not think about it!

Hi all, My name is Sage and I was recently banded on April 15, 2011. So far, I have lost about 14 pounds. I am recovering pretty well, but it still hurts where (I'm guessing) the port is. One thing that is bothering me. Since I started drinking thicker liquids (my doctor had me on Clear Liquids the first week, thicker liquids the second week-which i am almost done with- and purees and so on the following weeks) I haven't been able to lose weight. In fact, I actually GAINED two pounds between yesterday and today! Has this happened to anyone else? Does anyone know of any thicker liquids or something that is still healthy that I will still lose? Or is there something else I can do? I'm not supposed to do heavy exercise yet. Thanks to anyone for any words of encouragement or tips they might have!!! I am 23 and live alone, also, so it's hard to really have some support. I also am moving from North Carolina to Kansas to go to Grad School (Go Jayhawks), so I know this will be a pretty hard and lonely journey to my goal of losing 150 lbs! Thanks again!