crzytchr

Jeez, I eat 1200-1500 everyday. I consistently lost weight on that until 3 months ago. Now, I need to start moving to lose again, but I don't want to drop the calorie intake lower than 1200. You must have really good restriction to be satisfied with that. I am not willing to be tighter than I am, I will just have to move to lose, dangit.:thumbdown:

This is my favorite also. I am one year out and I STILL love my ff refried Beans, low fat cheddar with ff sour cream. I eat it at least twice a week!! I also would put many things we cooked in the food processor. Ex: taco Soup and chili..both topped with the cheddar and sour cream. Also, steak and gravy and stew. As long as you blend the heck out of it, you should be able to have it. Just make sure you add extra liquid while blending to get it the correct consistency. I used broth usually.

This is exactly what happened to me. A coworker 2 years ago was losing weight and she would just grin and say she was exercising more and eating less. I would compliment her on her loss and tell her how great she looked and I felt even more like a failure each time, even though I was genuinely happy for her success. Later, right before I decided to get my surgery, I found out she had been banded. I felt betrayed, actually. If she would have shared that information, I would have had someone else to talk to and maybe would have had my surgery sooner. THAT is why I tell everyone. If by telling I can help anyone else, it is worth it. Also, I don't want others who are struggling to think I feel superior in my accomplishments with losing. They know, because I tell them, it is the band that helps me to keep it off. This does not mean, however, that I think everyone should tell if they aren't comfortable with it. It just was the right thing for me to do. I just can't NOT tell.

They are going to notice. If not the weight loss so far, then you not eating, and then eating soft foods only. If you want to continue to not tell, then drink Protein drinks during your post op and tell them you are jump starting a healthy eating plan. I, however, just tell everybody. I personally didn't care what anyone thought about it. What in the world would make them think I hadn't already tried dieting and exercising?! Heck, I have gained and lost a couple of sumo wrestlers in the past 20 years. In this past year, however, I have lost the most weight I have ever lost at once, and even though I have only lost a few lbs in the last 3 months, I am doing great and feel even better! Good luck with your journey and with returning to work.

Honestly, actually being able to go was the only thing that helped. A glycerin suppository will make it easier to go without you having to take anything orally. Even if he isn't in until Monday, there should be someone who can take a call from you. I hate feeling like that. Later, after you aren't on the post op diet, using Miralax occasionally helps. You can't take it during post op, though, it requires too much Water and I just wouldn't recommend it.

It would probably be ok to use a suppository, but only your surgeon can answer you for sure. I definitely wouldn't take anything orally without asking first. I always have problems after surgery and childbirth.

Congratulations! That is amazing. I REALLY wish I would've measured before I had surgery, but I avoided all cameras and tape measures. Keep up the great work.

It happens. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and most of all, forgive yourself and move on. I know when I dwell on stuff it just makes me want to eat more. I hope you have a great day tomorrow!!!

Doctors vary on the type and length of preop diets. I wasn't required to have any preop diet at all. Just nothing after 7pm the night before surgery. If you are really concerned ask about it at your preop visit. You will be doing yourself a huge favor if you concentrate on the things that are hardest for some bandsters to adjust to: taking small bites, chewing well and NOT drinking with meals. Good luck!

Check with your surgeon, but you may have a problem. I know I couldn't lift anything over either 10 or 15lbs (can't remember which) for 4 weeks. You have to let the stitches around the port and band heal. If you are pushing and pulling on people, it may be too much. Call today and see what the restrictions are and for how long. Good luck!

I haven't had a protein shake since I started mushies over a year ago! I hated them, so I don't incorporate them into my daily eating. If you like them, use them if you need the extra protein, if not, once you are off of liquids post op, kiss them goodbye! Good luck tomorrow!

I am serious when I say, "they may not leave!" My previous post said my actual breasts are the same size. My band size went down from the weight loss, but the cup size went up. Started at a 44DDD went to 42DDD, 40F(still had spill over) and two weeks ago, a 40G. I have lost 80 lbs and they haven't shrunk yet. I will be looking into a reduction/lift when I begin looking into tummy tucks next year.

I have BCBS LA, but it really depends more on your employer/group plan than the actual insurance company. Mine required weight history and some co-morbities and that was it. I think approval from them took 1 day. It also helps if you have an experienced person in the surgeon's office working your file.

If you aren't required to do anything physical, you will probably be fine. Many people return to work within a few days. I wouldn't have been ready for at least a week. If you normally recover easily, then you should be good to go, again, as long as you don't do anything physically that you arent' supposed to do.

From my first phone call to the surgeon to set up my consultation until the day of surgery was about 3 weeks. It was really quick and luckily, my surgeon didn't require me to do a preop diet. Actually, they could've done my surgery on July 3rd instead of the 14th, but I coudn't do my preop for it, because I was teaching summer school. It seems it all depends on your insurance, really. If you don't have to jump through hoops, and have a short or no preop diet, then it can be really quick. Good luck!

What is the name of the book? I would like to read it.

Oh, and I hate when the fat gene is combined with the heart disease and arthritis gene, like we have. And THAT is why I got my band. I want to be able to give my body the CHANCE to walk. It just isn't fair to expect my poor knees, ankles, and feet to support 300lb. That must have really sucked for them. I am happy to say that I haven't woke up in pain in almost 9 months. Prior to losing this weight, I woke up, every single day, in so much pain I was almost in tears. I just couldn't do that anymore. Thankfully, now, I don't have to.:juggle:

My understanding is that it causes swelling and can cause you too be too tight. Also, there is a chance of nausea which is bad when you are banded. From experience, I had a hysterectomy in December. I was told I DIDN'T need an unfill, because the surgeon wouldn't really be near my band. I WISH I wouldn't have listened. I was too tight for a month after the surgery and didn't want to get an unfill, because I had 4 new incisions and one is near my port. It is best to get unfilled for the surgery and just get a fill as soon as you are allowed. It can help prevent a lot of problems. Also, is your plastic surgeon going to move your port or will he/she be able to work around it? Oh, and I have seen your progress pics and you look amazing. I need to get off my lazy butt and exercise!

Congratulations on you amazing results!!!

My mom has a bad cholesterol gene also. Hers has been over 600 before! She is now in the upper 200s due to being on years of meds. Her family doesn't live long... her dad died at 36, mom at 57 and younger sister at 42, all from heart attacks. I, luckily, did not apparently inherit that from her, but instead health-wise took after my dad. Unfortunately, I also inherited his family's ugly legs and aching joints too! I'm serious, those two people should have never procreated. The running morbid joke between my brothers and I is, if we live long enough to turn 60, we won't be able to walk! :biggrin:

Congratulations! It sounds like you are doing well. I didn't have to do the swallow thing, either. Thankfully, because I can assure you, the one I had to do for preop tests really did me in. I was the biggest baby and kept gagging. Jeez. For the next few days, walk around as much as you can to try to get the gas to move out of your body. Luckily, I didn't have any real problems at all with this, but I hear many people say it is the worst part.

Wow, I can eat a slice of thin crust pizza, with no problem. Only now, I eat 1 slice from a medium instead of 3 or 4. Weirdly enough, though, I also can NOT do scrambled eggs very often. I really don't understand that at all. The amounts of food I eat now amaze me. I really was in denial prior to banding. I didn't think I ate way too much, I guess because those around me eat just as much, but they have higher metabolisms. Ex: we ate at IHOP last weekend and I had 1 pancake and half of a egg and cheese omelet. A year ago I would have devoured an entire order of 3eggs/3pancakes with a side of toast. The next day we went to Cracker Barrel and I ate 1 biscuit, 1 egg and about 1/4 c of mashed potatoes. Before I would have eaten at least 3 of the biscuits BEFORE my meal even arrived. My weight loss is almost non-existent for now, and will continue to stall, I am sure, until I begin exercising. That is no one's fault but my own. I guess when I am ready to get off my lazy butt and move, I will begin losing again. I also need to begin journaling my food again. I haven't done it in about 3 weeks and I am very disappointed in myself for it. It is one of the reasons I was able to lose the 80+ lbs I have so far. On that note, I will leave and go login to my fitday account. Time to get back to doing what worked for me. Goodnight, butterflies

Do you journal your food intake daily? Sometimes people don't eat enough calories, especially if they exercise. If you are near or below 1000 per day, try adding a few hundred calories at least twice a week (maybe daily intake of 1300-1500 total) to see if that stimulates your weight loss again.

Well, I am a little past my 1 year mark and have lost 81 lbs. I wanted to be at 100lbs lost, but I am happy with what I have accomplished. I hope to begin exercising so I will begin to lose again. I haven't lost anything in a while, but I don't need a fill, I just need to get the lead out of my A--!:thumbup:

Alyssa, good luck with the fill and nutritionist visit. Starting over can be rough, but if you keep visiting your doctor you should be able to make your band work for you again.:thumbup: