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new chapter in life

LAP-BAND Patients

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Blog Entries posted by new chapter in life

  1. I am 3 1/2 months post op & had my 3rd fill this past week. I also had the "pleasure" of getting weighed (bleh). I seemed to have hit a plateau, no weight gain tho & only 1/2 lb loss in over a month.
    So, reviewing what has been going on & fearing the worse--that this surgery was in vain--I came up with this: 1) I stopped working out almost all of February
    2) I was eating cheese (yay! a protein!) w/crackers (duh a carb)
    3) Since I dont drink tea, coffee, crystal lite etc---I added fruit juice (hello sugars!)
    4) Come on! a few pieces of chocolate arent that bad! right???
     
    So after the weigh in, there was a class in the Dr's office. And I do believe the nurse was speaking directly to me!! The reminders of sticking to the diet, exercising etc. But what really hit home--she said to go back to the beginning & just do the 2 shakes a day & the protein.
    Soooooo.....I weighed myself today---down 3 lbs!!!
    Sometimes its the simplest, easy things you need to do. Keep it simple! Exercise & the diet plan--it really does work!
    I feel better than I have felt in a long time---I think also giving up diet coke made a huge difference in my stomach problems. Kinda funny how when I use whitening strips now, my teeth are getting whiter!! You just dont realize all that stuff you're putting in your body till you give it up & see a difference.
    I also believe Im having a mid life crisis---wanting to do all the things I felt self conscious of doing or couldnt because of my weight. So I made up list & a have so much going on & so much planned!! And a shout out to Groupon for some of the things I would never have found or thought to do!
    2012 is awesome so far!!
  2. So here I am--almost 3 months post op. Ive had 2 fills & Im just not feeling it 100%! Everyday I ask myself is it me? What is it about me that I dont feel it? I started off at a great momentum losing weight, but I havent lost a pound since January.
    So, today & tonite Ive been thinking really hard on it & trying to be totally honest with myself. Have I exercised enough? No
    Have I eaten something I shouldnt have? Yes--but not like I did before the surgery!
    On the plus side---Ive stayed away from diet coke. Ive avoided what I call the useless foods---chips, candy, bread, carbs, starches.
    I think we all must go thru this at some point---for me part of the problem is this time of the year. The weather keeping me indoors, and then the dreariness really sucks!! And Im so tired after work, I dont have the energy to go work out.
    Ive not lost the faith & committment to this lifestyle change, just slowed down a little!
     
     
    I need to recapture my excitement & momentum that carried me thru to the end of January. ugh
     
    OOHH!!! there goes my excitement & momentum running up the stairs--better go catch it now!
  3. Well--my pants are getting pretty loose now, but I refuse to buy new ones cause I have so much more weight to lose.
    So---at least for my work pants-which are work issued ugly pants--I decided I had to break down & get a belt. So since I need a plain black leather belt, I just went to JCP & the mens dept. Well when I found the right belt size, I realized that its length was almost as tall as me!!! YIKES!! I AM NOT BUYING THAT!! My waist is almost as round as I am tall???? DENY DENY DENY!!
    I hastily changed that plan & decided that I will risk a walk down a camera monitored hallway & have my pants fall to the ground to the amusement of everyone!!
    Americas Funniest Home Videos here I come!! lol
  4. Well yesterday was 1 month since my surgery! And my first fill was on Jan 4th--I got 4cc's.
    I kind of panicked at first cause when I ate I didnt get that full feeling I thought I was supposed to. But Im measuring my food & sticking to the program. Ill just wait till my next visit in 6 weeks & see what happens.
    Ive been doing my workouts (not weights yet)---treadmill & elliptical & working w/bands---I feel great! Im down 25 lbs since my pre-op diet started on turkey day. Just losing that 25 lbs has made me feel like a new person. My clothes are loose--even my shoes are!!
    The only thing that has thrown me off is going back to work---I was able to be off almost a whole month--using vaca, holiday, sick & then my disability time (thank you God!)---so I go back to work & its like all my insecurities came flooding back!! I felt like my clothes werent loose enough--that I had gained back alot of the weight!! I just have to get over how I feel when Im at that place--and how my co-workers make me feel. 2 days back at work & I felt like this LARGE insignificant, invisible, useless person again. Hate that!!!
    So, to go along w/my physical transformation, Im working on my emotional & mental too---I have such low self-esteem & low self-worth its crazy. To do that, Im forcing myself to get out of my comfort zone!! Im not sitting idle on the couch,watching tv for one. Im signing up for water aerobics & ready to try archery again!! All the things Ive wanted to do---Im doing them!! Archery, fencing, horseback riding----Im all in!!
    This surgery is my ticket to places!! And Im taking over the workplace!! lol
  5. Today is my 2 week anniversary post op. Since I started my pre-op diet on Thanksgiving day, I have lost 21 lbs! Not too bad for the amount of time. When I break it down, I've lost about 11 lbs since surgery (I think?!).
    Ive been doing really well w/the pureed foods---I cheated yesterday & today w/some soft proteins--just some low calorie, yummy lunch meat. It was nice to chew again!
    The best thing I've been doing for myself is going daily to the fitness center & walking on the treadmill---I do a little over 2 miles at a nice even pace & get that heart beating--even break a sweat. And then I take the dog on about 2 walks a day. You cant overestimate the importance of exercise---I have a sedentary job & after 26 years of sitting on my increasingly fatter a**, I really need to work on getting my metabolism going again.
    Ive never had high blood pressure, but my regular Dr told me today that its at an even better level---Im looking forward to my next cholesterol test too! Get off those expensive pills...sheesh!
     
    The band--the experience--its all that I make of it. I refuse to contemplate the idea of going thru all of this and then failing!! Not even an option.
    Good Luck to us all!
  6. Well the ugly staples are gone---I think I had 9 or 10? I think its healing pretty good cause its starting to itch!! Im so afraid of scratching them while Im sleeping, so my husband slathers them in neosporin for me. I couldnt have done this without him--he has been so wonderful!! He is trying to lose weight on his own--which of course he always has been able to do....grrrr
    I have my 1st fill scheduled for Jan 4th--and the office has a meeting for all the newly banded people that day too. Im looking forward to meeting people in the same current situation as me.
    The office gave me a card today to present to restaurants---it has the Dr's office name on it & on the flip side it id's me as a weight loss surgical patient & asks that I be allowed to purchase a smaller portion at a reduced price or to order off the kids menu!! That is such a great idea! Then I wont be tempted by left-overs!!
    Everyday is a new step in the right direction!!
  7. Well, in about 1 hour I am due to check in at the hospital. My surgery is set for 8:15. I havent really allowed myself to get nervous---up till now! Yesterday I was in a cleaning frenzy & it kept the thoughts at bay. I did tell my husband the following: I will be telling the anesthiologist that he cant let my face start on fire, cant let me wake up during surgery. If I contract some weird bacterial illness, I will not wake up in 6 mos w/out any limbs & be happy that Im alive!! (I obviously read too many weird stories & obsess on strange things!! LOL) I also told him that if something went wrong, he was not allowed to date for at least 2 years & couldnt even think of re-marrying before 5 years. He has to focus on the cats & the dog!! LOL
    Im not really worried about those things--they just kinda make me laugh & maybe not focus on the things that I could worry about. I do worry about what if even this type of extreme weight loss attempt Im not successful at? I've not done well at the other attempts, and I have heard of some who arent. But then I tell myself if I follow the diet & do the exercise, it'll take care of itself.
    Im looking forward to horseback riding, having my picture taken w/out thinking twice about it, exercising at a higher level than now, wearing summer clothes, going shopping for clothes in a normal store/normal section, riding a roller coaster, fitting in an airplane seat----the list goes on & on for me!
    And not to be too TMI, but a better sex life!! lol
    Im looking forward to the improved me!!
    Good Luck to all my fellow December Bandsters!
  8. I actually did it!! I voluntarily bought a new scale today...wow!! thats a big change right there. According to my new "friend", I am down 12 lbs since I started my pre-op diet on turkey day & had my surgery 12/6. Im pretty pleased with that!
    I made it to the gym--only did 30 mins on the treadmill, but it really makes a difference in how I feel.
    Started my pureed food diet----I did chicken w/mayo & seasonings--turned out like a pate---not too bad!! 3 tblsp each meal---I can do this!
    I have a long journey ahead of me---but when I look back to when I started this past April, this time seemed like it would never come. At times I feel slightly loser-ish that I had to have surgery just to lose weight----but I couldnt stick to a diet & I didnt want to continue down this path.
    So for now, Im just telling people that I had hernia repair surgery (which I did!) & its none of their business.
  9. I have my Dr's visit on wednesday & will get all my stuff for the pre-op and then next Monday I have a mandatory lap band class. Has anyone else had to do this? Or is it just unique to my surgeons office---they said if I didnt attend, I couldnt have the surgery.
    In the meantime--I am counting down the last days at work. I told my co-workers I am having surgery & they asked why, but I am NOT telling them. I just dont want to deal with the "how are you doing?" "how much weight have you lost?" or my worse case scenario--I fail & have to live with the fact I had surgery & still couldnt lose weight. Too much pressure!!
    I know that this surgery wont make me prettier, younger etc--but what I will get is even better! I cant wait to buy/wear fashionable clothes. I can go horseback riding again!!! I can pursue all the athletic activities Ive missed.
    and thats why this is a new chapter in my life!
  10. Im on day 3 of my pre-op diet. Its not been too hard--hardest part is the giving up diet coke!! I am wondering if anyone else has these side effects of being cold & so so tired!! I am almost never cold & I am just chilled all the time right now!! And I cant stop yawning---Im even taking naps.
    9 days to go!
  11. Today I started my pre-op diet! It wasnt the best scenario to start on Turkey Day, but I made it work. I had to work, so I drank my shakes & by the time for dinner I was ready!! I am thankful that I had some yummy protein for dinner!
    The shake is not the most flavorful---but I held my breath & drank it down---tried not to smell it either eeewww.
    The hardest part I think so far has been giving up diet coke. My last one was yesterday & the caffeine withdrawal headache kicked in bad!! ow
    I met w/the Dr yesterday & got my bag of goodies--shake mix, shaker cup, supplements (which I was told I will be taking for life) exercise band (subtle hint), heart rate monitor (not so subtle hint) & a cd of the instruction manual for my new life. I have the pre-op class on Monday & will be learning about what to expect in the future!!.
    I am fortunate that I have always been an active person & have really kicked up my workouts over the last 6 months--I think that will help my metabolism kick in & help my recovery.
    I really like this Dr---he did assure me I would be staying overnite after surgery to make sure there are no problems & they can make any necessary adjustments.
    Cant wait to see what tomorrow brings!
    Happy Thanksgiving All!!

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