Maddy1

Update here! I haven't written much in the last month because I am still recovering from my broken arm. I am much improved, 4 weeks out. I start physical therapy on Monday but have been doing a little on my own. I definitely have more movement. I am not back to walking yet because the walking tends to make my shoulder area ache more near the fracture. But here's the thing, I am still losing weight, slowly, and I guess I am surprised. I was just hoping to avoid gaining any weight since I am not getting the exercise. At my age, I don't think there is much weight loss without movement, hence the surprise. I have been thinking about what has changed about me in this new "start over". Why was I less successful the first time in the year after I had this surgery? Well I've already talked about some of it, the stress of my job. But I think there is something else. I seem to have made some peace with portion size and recognizing those things that don't go down well or are hard to chew. I also noticed that when I get a full plate (say when we go out for a meal), I feel overwhelmed at how much food is sitting in front of me. I have developed an aversion to anything fried as I began to recognize it didn't feel so good when I ate it, yet before I loved it. I can tell right away what foods I won't be able to chew well. I also used to have this feeling that to avoid going back for seconds, I really needed to fill my plate to be sure I had enough. Wow, now I can pretty much judge by sight what is the right portion size and I have confidence it will be enough for me. I have to tell you, these are pretty big changes for me! And because I eat slowly, I find myself waiting for the "soft stop" cue (I got that term from Jean) to tell me when I have had enough. "Enough" is becoming my new "full"! So I am happy with this. Of course the weight loss is slow right now (5 lbs since I first broke my arm 4 weeks ago) but I am satisfied with this progress for me. I am feeling confident going forward with controlling my weight loss!

This morning I noticed blogs were up and running, so here I am! My October was eventful. I retired at the end of June but stayed on with my company per diem. Didn't realize how busy I might be and that was one of my big problems with weight loss when I worked full time, no time for taking care of me. I had a request to fill in for a manager in a facility that had lost its leadership rather abruptly. It looked like the time could go on indefinitely, so this time I made a boundary limit, 4 weeks. I found I could walk at lunchtime which gave me a head start on getting in my exercise. I also had a new tool, Emily's Bites. This is a great web site for people on the go. Emily shows how to make very tasty meals in a muffin cup. I made up several recipes from her website before I started this position and froze them in batches. In the morning, I just pulled out a breakfast and a lunch perfectly proportioned to about one cup. By the time I was ready to eat, they just needed a little warm up in the microwave. This helped me to stick to my eating plan. Everything was going well the first week. The facility knew I had prescheduled my vacation this year the second week and they agreed to that. My husband and I went off to New England and had a great several days. We walked together every day. No fast food. It worked better than I thought. Then by Friday night, we made it to Brooklyn to spend our last few days with our daughter. We had a great dinner that evening and were walking home to her apartment when I tripped on uneven sidewalk and fell and broke my left arm in two places. Probably the most painful experience I have had. So walking went on hold for awhile and I couldn't cook so we bought frozen meals with appropriate calories. A few weeks have passed and I am finally starting to feel better. Really wished I had had a recliner in my home, but I have made do with lots of pillows. The best news of all for me today was that I haven't gained ANY weight! I didn't lose any the last few weeks, but as I am just sitting around all day, and I am older (62) with a slower metabolism, I am just so happy I didn't get further behind in my goals! My arm is going to take a long time to heal (per my ortho doc) but I am hoping to start walking this week and gradually building my stamina back up. My sling keeps my arm from bouncing around too much and, although I may not get back to 2 miles for awhile, just getting back to myself and starting the process again is exciting. I will be till Christmas before I am healed and my therapy is complete, but it is such a relief to be feeling somewhat better and know I can avoid using this as an opportunity to gain weight again!

So things have been going pretty well. I am getting one or two 30 min walks in every day and sticking to the diet. I was down to 229 lbs. this morning, the first time I have been under 230 for months. I was feeling very positive. I headed for Walmart for a few groceries. As I was entering the store, sitting on a bench in the entry area was a 30 something woman who appeared to be having trouble breathing. She was extremely obese, likely over 450 lbs (I can reasonable make that guess because I had an aunt who weighed that much and was about the same size). As a nurse, I was concerned for her and I asked her if she was ok. Through her difficult breaths, she indicated she would be ok and she said "I'm waiting for an electric cart. I just walked in from my car." I was stunned and felt a fear I hadn't experienced before....I could be experiencing those same symptoms if I don't take care of myself. Funny how I don't think I was ever afraid of being overweight before. It didn't interfere much with the things I do, but did I only do the things I was able to do, not everything I could do? That is a thought I am going to give much attention to as I go through this journey.

Feel so good about yesterday and hopeful for today! One day at a time. I can do this. I can control what goes in my mouth. Phrases I keep saying to feel strong. I made it through yesterday and did well. I had a second 30 minute walk with my husband in the evening. My feet and legs were hurting from the intensity of my walk in the morning but I kept telling myself I could push through the stiffness and 10 minutes into the walk I felt much better! I woke up to more weight loss this morning, now 230.5. I was pretty happy about that. I am thinking about what it is that stopped the positive thinking in the past. Clearly that positive thinking leads me to success but why is it so hard to sustain? I want to make it past that point, just like I did with the walk last night. When it gets challenging, I want to keep myself moving forward until the feeling passes. Would anyone share with me what you might have done to get through these moments?

My mom used that phrase, "honesty is the best policy" and I decided to start this blog with that thought. I have mostly failed at keeping up with my lap band program. I was banded in January of 2012 and lost 43 lbs in the first 4 months. I was very happy with the results, bought new clothes 2 sizes smaller and loved the positive comments from people who noticed the change. There was no support group in my area but thought I would make out ok. After all, I am a nurse and thought I knew it all. I guess what I didn't know was how many negatives in my life were supporting my bad habits. Not an excuse, but I had a 24/7 management job and it was killing me. So many hours, often 12 hrs a day and over weekends. I was emotionally and physically exhausted, lost my time to exercise and ate whenever and whatever I could and didn't take the time to plan it out. As the stress increased, I slowly began to gain weight back, a total of 20 lbs. I knew before the first year post LB that I couldn't keep up working like this and ever be successful with the LB. I just hadn't realized before how much work was affecting my life. At age 62, I decided to retire and I did. It has taken me nearly 3 months to "get myself back". I am no longer constantly fatigued and I have the time to take care of myself. Over the last several weeks, I am back to losing weight, 9 of the 20 lbs so far. I am trying to walk at least 30 minutes most days. I am also trying to find a stable spot with my blood sugars and how much of my oral medication I should take so I don't become hypoglycemic. I would like to use this blog to keep myself focused and gain support. I mostly see posts about success but not too many about someone who fails the first time around but comes back and meets that original goal. I want to be that person. I welcome any comments or advice you have. This morning I walked 30 minutes at a brisk pace. I weighed myself at 231 lbs. I had a nutrition packed shake (almond milk, protein powder, kale, blueberries and pear. 287 calories. I had one cup of beef stew loaded with veges for lunch that I made myself, little fat and low on salt. Wish me luck I can finish this day with a band friendly dinner and another 30 minute walk afterwards!

I am 61 and had the band for 6 months. I feel so much better with the weight I have lost. Anyone try a Zumba class and not be able to keep up with a 20 year old instructor?? I am settling for a bike, walking and some weight training.

My doctor told me the possibiity was there but that it rarely happened in their practice. They were careful about who they chose to do outpatient,

Rockfish, stripped bass, haddock, flounder, tilapia, grouper. There are lots in my local grocery store. There are also scallops, crab and shrimp.

I paid for everything. My insurance didn't cover it. $10,000 which included all pre op appts (dietician, etc) and one year's worth of fills and visits.

I have had my band for 5 months and lost 40 lbs. I am at 6 cc in a 10cc realize band. I read here often about how everyone gets restriction at different amounts of saline in their band. My question is this, does a very tight band lead to erosion or other problems? Is it safer to keep it at some mild restriction but not so tight you can barely eat? Because some people here say they like a very tight band but doesn't sound like there is much they can eat. I am not as worried about how much I can eat as I am about long term complications as a result. After my last fill to 6 cc, almost 3 months ago, I seemed to have only occasional restriction for a couple of weeks, and then didn't seem to have much feeling at all when eating. Then over the last week or so, I am feeling restriction, often after a few bites of food (not soft foods) and much more in the mornings. Usually at lunch and sometimes at dinner. But other times, especially at dinner, I don't feel any restriction "clues". I just don't understand the variability. I don't have any other problems, no feeling of reflex or any of that. Does this sound normal? I have considered getting another 1/2 cc just to get more consistency but don't know if there is more risk involved with that? Any thoughts you can share would be appreciated.

I am a nurse. You have an infection and may need antibiotics. Keep an eye on your temp. Wounds that are gaping open do not close up easily. The edges need to be together. Until your infection and drainage are under control and there is no more pus, you will need the antibiotics to clear all that up. Then the edges can be dealt with or it may have to heal from the inside out. The things you are describing are not "normal". Hope this is helpful.

It will really depend on your own body's response to the surgery. I had off 3 weeks and I can tell you the first two I was not ready to go back. I had a lot of pain and struggled to get up out of bed by myself or up out of a chair. I only had tylenol with codiene for pain so not sure if it just wasn't enough for me or what. The last week was good to have as I transitioned to mushy food and it gave me a chance to practice that. Also, I am 61 so I am sure that had something to do with it.

You already have been successful!! Just do what your body tells you is working for you. I can eat those things too, not every day and not every time, but once in a while in a small portion should not be a problem. Your exercise has probably set your calorie requirements higher and it has helped you lose the weight and eat what seems normal. My doctor doesn't go by all of that, they just advise small quantities, keep the weight loss going and exercise. You are doing terrific. I hope I am as successful as you.

1/2 cup low fat ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup prego spaghetti sauce, 2T parmesan cheese grated, 1/4 cup shredded low fat mozarella cheese. Microwave till cheese melts. Sometimes I also add a couple turkey meatballs. Who needs noodles?

Don't see where you did anything wrong!

Everything you all have said is true....its just the experience varies for all of us. I just had a long talk with my doctor because I was confused as to how I should feel. I read comments on here and look for the same experience and wonder whats wrong if I am not feeling that way. I think you have to focus on the comments about eating a small amount (one cup or less) and feeling full for at least 3 hours. I also think the idea of 4 meals a day but still keeping your calories between 1,000 to 1,200 and the 60-80 grams of protein is good. Focusing on those big things you should do well. Exercise really has to be a part of it. If you think you walk alot during the day, try one of those step gadgets which tell you how many steps you actualy walked. Also journaling your food intake. Honestly, those things have helped me the most. If I lose weight doing that and feel comfortable, I think I must be doing ok. Hope this helps.

You are so right that doctors have so many different opinions. I asked my doctor the same questions and she said they DO NOT want you to be so tight you cannot eat certain foods, just in small quantities because those white foods elevate your blood surgars (high in starch and calories). I stick to green veges with chicken or seafood mostly for dinner but I did have a few ounces of beef pot roast with less than 1/2 cup roasted potatoes and carrots once night for dinner. The meat was so tender and moist from the crock pot that it wasn't a problem, I just couldn't eat very much of it and that was fine. My last fill took me to 6 cc in a 10 cc band and my appetite seems pretty well satisfied on small amounts of food. I think you just have to experiment and figure out what works for you. I questioned so many things about why I wasn't more uncomfortable or pbing or other things I hear here. Again, I think it is a difference of approach but I have lost 11 lbs each of the last 3 months so I guess I am there!

Hi, I am an RN in Delaware. I had my surgery on January 9th and I have lost 35 lbs. Very slowly is seems to me but my doctor thinks I am doing great. I currently have 6 cc in a 10 cc band and for now I think I am doing just fine with restriction, not too tight but definitely limits how much I can eat. Hope you have great success!

I would say yes, but it requires being brutally honest with yourself. That means keeping track of every bite of food. Calories have a way of creeping up and a couple hundred extra every day can stall your weight loss plan. It means learning to incorporate exercise regularly into your life. I believe that once you start to lose some weight and see how much better you can move, it really motivates you to continue. Hardest, I personally think, is handling those moments where something triggers you to eat things that are no longer part of your plan. Ever have that moment? The smell of something cooking that reminds you more of the pleasure of the first bite rather than how uncomfortable you feel after you have eaten the whole thing. Being able to look honestly at what things you do that sabatage your life, analyze them and make better choices requires a bravery that not everyone is able to muster. Good luck as you go. Lots of people are successful and most articles you read about success are actually based on older data. Work with a Center of Excellence and use all their services to help you be successful.

Actually, not having an appointment until Wednesday doesn't really mean anything these days. Sometimes doctor's just don't address these issues immediately as long as you are breathing ok, heart is beating, etc. And I am a nurse plus have personal experience.

Thanks so much for sharing this information.

Jacqui, as someone who would consider the same surgery, what is involved? What areas are cut? If you don't mind, how much does this kind of surgery cost (if you don't want to say I would understand). How long is your recovery? Are you in a lot of pain?

I am a week away from 3 months post LB surgery. I have lost 32 lbs in that time. Sounds good but truthfully 25 was lost the first 6 weeks and it has been slow going since then. I knew I had to be patient until I had some fills. I had my third fill about a week ago and am now 5.5 in a 10 cc band. I know there is some sense of restriction. At least until the evening, its not really difficult to stay focused on smaller meals. I had one episode a couple days ago where I went too long between meals, was really hungry and brought home a rotisserie chicken for dinner. While I was setting things up, I took a bite of the chicken wing and I know I didn't chew it well enough and I had my first stuck episode and up came the chicken. So obviously there is some restriction. However, as I read other people's posts here, I see people saying things like restriction is being afraid to swallow food, or they can only eat one egg or other very small amounts. One person told me they can only eat 4 tablespoons of food, the 5th will cause them to vomit. My doctor tells me I should be able to eat about a cup of food 4 times a day. Can you see the differences in stories I am seeing. I basically can eat anything if I chew it well enough. Bread doesn't bother me, but I couldn't eat a whole sandwich and I don't have more than the occasionaly half an english muffin. I am wondering if I need just a little more fill to be as restricted as I hear some people talking about or should I just keep going. I am not complaining, only trying to understand what I should be shooting for. Thanks for any advice or experience you are willing to share.

I had a somewhat similar situation. I did, however, in the third month lose 5 lbs but I didn't have any restriction and was always hungry. I just had my fourth fill and am at 5.5 in a 10 cc band and I do have some restriction now. As a matter of fact in one week post this last fill I am down about 4 lbs. Here's what else I did. I googled lap band diet on line and easily found someone who shared their regular food diet (the one past all the liquids and mushies). Although I had very specific diet and instructions on the first two months of eating, I didn't have that for the period where you live with the band daily. When I read this article, I found I was way off on portion sizes, etc. An example....on my diabetic diet, one bread or starch exchange was half an english muffin. On the lap band diet, it was actually half of that, so two bread/starch exchanges should have been 1/4th of an english muffin. So, with the new fill, I also changed my diet and voila, the weight started to come off again, I am not overly hungry and take in about 1000 to 1200 calories per day. I keep it low carb as well. So hang in there, and search for new solutions and keep yourself focused on being patient and working around the problem and you will get there. I think we all think this should work faster but it just doesn't. You have to find what works for you! Good luck.

Thanks to everyone for your support!