carymom

Congratulations on your upcoming surgery! I know you are excited. If you don't want plastic surgery, then the more excercise the better. I am partial to Water aerobics and water walking. You burn the calories and it's easy on the joints when you first start exercising. Hold your stomach in the entire time (easier said than done for me, but I am getting better at it). Buy some water gloves so that when you're in the water and you are working your legs, you can move your arms back and forth (or up and down) and get more resistance so you're working on your arms. Once you're down some, and you think your joints are ready, do more walking, and exercising up in the gym instead of the water. If you're like me, though, you will love the water. I go to water aerobics and /or water walking 4 nights a week. Also,make sure that you keep a journal of what you eat. I use Fat Secret - but a lot of folks use My FItness Pal. Both are SmartPhone compatible. You will be surpised how few calories you take in once banded and how many calories you expend. Be sure to eat Protein first, then veggies, then carbs. Small bites. (I am sure you have heard all of this before.) Best of luck!

I am so glad that you asked this question! My problem is not being tired, but the result is the same. When we are at home and eat, usually it is in front of the TV, and I am working on my laptop. Recipe for disaster! I have NOT been good about cutting my food up into really small bites, but I am going to make the effort to do that. ALSO, I drink Water when I am eating - another no, no. If I don't concentrate on eating, then I get myself in trouble with food hanging up and eventually throwing up. I like what you said about drinking a Protein drink and wait to eat. What I need to do is stop working on the computer (I am not surfing, I do contract work from home), and SIT AT THE TABLE TO EAT! Okay, I am going to see how this works. Keep use posted on how your idea works for you. You're right - it is a new eating paradigm.

What a wonderful support system you have in your parents. And you, Dusti, acolades to you for having the strength to go through what you have. We all have our stories; thanks for sharing yours.

Yes, please let us all know. It probably does have to do with the intubation, but I am sure your doctor can tell you exactly what it is. We're all waiting

Me! I felt guilty last night AND this morning. My son, who was in town, wanted to cook dinner for his dad and me. He fixed a wonderful dinner of enchilada and black Beans. I ate the whole enchilada AND the black beans. That enchilada was so good, and after dinner I found out why - he used Heavy Cream in it along with cheese, chicken, etc. He also had a dessert for us - I ate one bite and told him I was full. I was - but it was partly because I had seen that heavy cream in the refrigerator. I SHOULD have cut it in half, but I did not. I ATE it all, and the band did not stop me from eating! I did not feel full because of the band. HELP!!!! Then, this morning, as I was getting ready to leave for work, my husband reminded me that I had eaten the whole enchilada last night. RIGHT back to feeling guilty! I did go to range of motion and Water walking exercise tonight, but it does not aleviate my guilt. AND, WHY didn't the band stop me from eating that much???

The "rules" will become second nature. We are all excited for you.

I have not noticed thinning yet, but that doesn't mean it won't happen. My doctor recommends that all of his patients take Bariatric Fusion - which is a multi-vitamin. I will start with flax seed oil though, too - just to be on the safe side. Good luck, and keep us all posted.

Hi Sabrina, Your letter broke my heart. I tried things a little differently than you (probably because I am MUCH older and know better how I needed to deal with my family/friends). I would strongly encourage you to have the surgery - if you feel you need it. It is NOT your friends or anyone elses body - it is YOURS. The three select friends that I did tell (after surgery) were very supportive and remain so. I have not told many people anything. Again, because it is my body and not theirs. Even my mother does not know. The first couple of weeks, with just drinking Protein and eating really soft foods are not bad at all. And I commend you for going to a nutritionist and continuing to work through those means to eventually have the surgery. By a month out of surgery, I was eating anything I wanted - but I have never been a big chips or sweets eater. I have thrown up a couple of times - but in those instances, I knew what I had done wrong and try very hard not to do it again - like eat things that are too dry (some meats) , too fiberous - like eating steamed broccoli (at the beginning of the experimentation of eating solids). Have you picked a doctor? Best of luck with your decision and you have a strong support group here. Edie

This sounds silly, but if the gas pains are in your abdomen, lay down on your stomach, get up on your knees with your head still down and put your butt in the air. Gas is lighter than air, and so it will get out of there. Works for babies, and it works for adults, too. We just look at lot sillier The pain will do away in a few days, and remember that walking will help, too.

I agree with all of you, until someone has walked in your shoes... I have told only select people in my life that I had the surgery. Congratulations LeeLee on your recent surgery, and glad you're feeling better. I am almost two months in and feel great. I have not last as much as I had hoped by this time, but but am back in water aerobics, and water walking and I know my clothes fit much differently. I am told that I look like I have lost a "ton" of weight even though I have lost only about 15. I think it has to do with the exercise - which is building muscle. SO, as long as the scaled keep from going up, I am happy. Keep up the good work, LeeLee

I have a feeling that everyone that has had a band or is getting a band is smilling broadly right now. Congratulations to you on your 3rd Bandiversary.!

Congratulations on that commitment. I enjoy water aerobics and water walking where I go. Looks like you're well on your way with your weight loss. Remember, too, that you're weight loss may decrease once you join the gym because you are building muscle. I haven't lost weight for three weeks now, but everyone I see tells me how I look like I have lost so much. My size is changing, I can tell it with my clothes, so don't get discouraged with the scale :rolleyes:

Because you are only 8 days out of surgery, you probably still have a lot of gases in your body from when they inflated your abdomen to put in the lap band. Remember, gas rises, so for it to go up and cause discomforte makes sense to me (but what do I know, I am not a doctor, I just know what I remember from my recuperation) I had a hernia removed, too. Try to slow down with your Protein drinks - yes, the do go down easily, but put it in a glass and sip on it - try to make it go down slowly. It's good practice for the food you will be eating. Congrats on all you have lost - that is impressive. I did not go on a pre -op diet first (just was asked to drink liquids the day before), so I have not lost nearly what you should.

When I went in for my first "fill" the PA put me on all liquid or chewable medicine. I had been told to do this right after surgery, but then was told I could swallow pills as long as they were no larger than an M&M, so I went with that. But the as I said, the PA put me back on chewables or liquids. Since I have done that, I have had less of a problem with food getting "hung" and the pain in my chest. Evidently some folks have an esphogus that requires the TLC of liquid meds so that they don't irritate. Talk to your doctor about liquid meds and see if that will help. Good luck.