TexasDianne

Well, hopefully this will be the first of many appointments in Richardson and we'll be able to get together after one of them!

at home at last! feeling good aside being sore! walking as much as i can. still loopy but doing ok...i found out i had a hiatal hernia and that was fixed too.will chat later getting some rest and thank everyone for their support

Hey there, my fellow pre-bandsters!
My final nutritionist appointment is tomorrow...I've been trying to lose what I can beforehand and am still considering whether lap band or other bariatric surgery is the answer for me, but I came upon this motivation tool and it really inspires me and helps me - so I wanted to pass it on to everyone else. Motivation is a key no matter where we are in the surgery process!
I went to the craft store and made myself some "Motivation Marbles" yesterday. LOL. Yes, I realize it sounds like I've lost my marbles...but look here and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about:
Princess Dianne's Motivation Marbles
Having these around has really helped me get my focus together. I see them first thing in the morning, they remind me of my goal as soon as I see them (and they make me smile because they're pretty!). And I love, love, love when I get to take a few out and drop 'em in the next jar.
If this sounds like it would work for you and help keep you motivated and focus post-band, maybe get the supplies you need from the craft store now so that you have it all at home while you're recovering! Anyway, for what it's worth...I hope it works for ya. It was a fun little craft project and I love mine!

Sounds like there is more than food as an issue here. Does your doctor's practice offer counseling?

Hello,
I wondered about these two procedures also. I ended up getting banded back in February of 2011. For me I realized I could lose weight well enough with the band and I liked that I needed to check in more often with the doctor to get fills, etc.
Being held accountable to someone whomever it is, for me is important, so having to check in with my doctor helps me.
I've lost over 80 pounds so far and hope to lose 20 more by my 1 year anniversary, Feb. 7th.
Banding has worked well for me, I've had no problems and I have been able to lose a lot of weight with the band. I also had a sweet tooth before banding and was told banding might not work as well because of that, but it has worked wonderfully for me.
People lose a lot of weight with the band. For me, I consider my band my best friend because it helps me know what foods are good for me and which foods aren't so good for me. My band helps me make better food choices, healthier food choices and helps me not overeat. All the things I always wished I could do on my own, but never could. I no longer have high blood pressure, I can keep up with others better, I am more active, I am less self conscious, I feel normal in my every day life. I can buckle seat belts and fit into booths easily. I no longer worry about being able to fit into seats. My joints don't hurt much at all unless I walk for hours and hours, then I might feel a pinch, I don't have to take any Advil and before banding I was taking 8 Advil a day and taking more to sleep. I have had many health improvements so far and I will continue to feel better as I keep losing more weight. I can walk up a flight of stairs now without heavy breathing.
With the band, I lead a normal life with food. I no longer obsess and I don't feel cheated or deprived beause I feel my band protects me from food dangers. I didn't use to be able to control any of my overeating, but now with the help of my band, checking in often with my doctors, being accountable to others, I manage my food rather well. I'm proud of myself for getting banded because it was a huge decision for me. It's definitely not the easy way out.
For me, banding was the best decision I ever made. I have no regrets.
Thanks.

I started at 381 lbs. I'm at 374 now, just having given up sugar & diet soda...not even on any pre-op diet or anything yet.
I'm interested to see what Protein Drinks others recommend, as I want to "try on" all aspects of the pre and post op phases before I actually have my surgery.
So glad to have found these forums!

You, my friend, are a genius
that's a great idea. I think I might just do the same thing.

Thank you for the support. I talked with my sister today and laid down the facts and she decided that she's going to be in it with me from now until finish. She's taking me to all my appointments. I think with the support of this website and my sister I'll be fine. I also think that once my parents see how I feel once I start losing weight they'll be on my side. Again thank you all

Jason...2012 is going to be our year! Let's go, 2012 Bandsters!!!

I was very surprised that some of the people I chose to tell weren't supportive. My best friend believes that I can do it with diet and exercise; I asked her how long she'd known me and when she answered, I asked her how long I'd been dieting and exercising. There was a long pause - and then she said that if was going to be a tool for me and was going to help some of my health problems, that was what was important.
I guess what I'm saying is that you can't let other people influence your decisions. You have to do what is right for you, and if you've researched this, discussed it with your doctor, and feel that its right - then DO IT. You will have lots of support here -all you have to do is ask.

I agree that you are too tight and that you need some taken out so that you can eat a wider variety of foods.As you can see being too tight doesn't work, you don't lose. You are probably consuming more calories than you realise as calories are easy to drink.
Have a small unfill, start eating a wider variety of healthy foods and see what happens.

Hi everyone!
I'm in my 6 month insurance waiting period, which will be over on January 24th. I don't have a surgery scheduled yet but I expect it to be in February.
Anyway, I'm trying to give myself every head start I can possibly give myself in order to ensure that I'm successful. I have just over 200 lbs to lose. So...11 days ago, I gave up sugar.
8-)
When I say sugar, I mean candy...cookies...cake....baked crap. Any of my sugary vices that give me a cheap thrill...that's what I mean. I do not mean that I've suddenly become a "sugar nazi" and won't eat a certain healthy food because it's got a little sugar in it.
My mother in law had sent me a ton of butter toffee & petit fours for Christmas and I made myself so sick eating them that I threw my hands in the air and said "That's it...I QUIT!" I took what was left and threw it in the trash. That was 11 days ago.
I'm surprised I've been able to do this during the holidays. I work in an office and people kept leaving me goodies for Christmas and I would pick them right up and walk them over to our community kitchen and leave them for others to eat. I had no major issues with any of this...until 2 days ago.
Mother Nature stopped by and I spent Christmas in the Happy Land of Cramps & Bloating. Ugh. The sugar/crap cravings came on hard. I was in such a horrible mood on Saturday. I know I was a challenge for my husband to be around.
It's made me realize that I'm going to need to be ready with healthy behaviors so that I can replace my naughtiness with something good...so I spent yesterday dusting off my needlework supplies & projects. It's extremely difficult to eat and do needlework...because you have to keep your hands totally clean. I do counted cross stitch mostly...which requires focus & counting...so I plan on using that to steal focus away from my cravings and onto something positive.
I'm also lucky to have a hubby who's completely supportive and understanding. We were watching the food network last night, which was totally fine because it was about BBQ and I don't like BBQ (please don't tell...I can get kicked outta Texas for saying that! LOL). The programming switched to one about cake and I said "Okay, time to watch something else babe..." He immediately changed the channel. :-) Thank God for the hubby being so agreeable.
This has really hit home for me and I am a little afraid of what I'm going to be like after surgery when these moods/cravings hit me. I am really glad I chose to take these steps before surgery...because I think I'll have dealt with the no sugar thing enough by the time I have my surgery, which will make me ready to deal with the restriction phase (armed with my hobbies & new determination to focus).
I've got myself down to 1 diet dr pepper a day as well...so this is the week I wean myself off of it completely.
I definitely see the benefit to grabbing the reigns before surgery in order to multiply the chances of success. I can begin to imagine how much more difficult this would be if I'd waited to tackle this stuff after being banded.
Yikes!

Good morning everyone!
I've seen several posters mention having horrible nausea after surgery and wanted to mention this...
My first major surgery was having 60% of my thyroid taken out. The anesthesiologist never mentioned to me that morphine & other drugs they use to make you go to sleep will make you nauseous. Here's the kicker: they can prevent it from happening, but only if they administer the anti-nausea meds BEFORE you go under.
Personally, I don't know why every anesthesiologist doesn't just do that for patients who've never had major surgery. The result was me waking up and throwing up repeatedly...right after THROAT SURGERY. Yowch!
So if you've never had surgery, talk to your anesthesiologist before he puts you under and ask about anti-nausea meds. Who wants to throw up after abdominal surgery? I realize our tummies are empty, but still...not fun!

try to remember how important YOU are. they are just parties and it is just food. they life you will have "after" you decide to eat better is sooooo much more fun!
I had my surgery 10/28/11. I lost 30 lbs by the time of surgery. the nutritionist asked me to try and stay at 1200 calories each day. I am so glad I did. Everything we change is hard in the beginning but, when the clothes start to feel too big on you WOW that is such a reward.
check out a lot of the posts on this forum. there are so many good ideas. you CAN do this.
ONE DAY AT A TIME. Believe it!

Trust me, the Holidays are messing with those of us post-ops, too! I know I CANNOT eat all that now even if I tried - the pain would NOT be worth it. You only over-do it a couple times post-op before you realize the pain does NOT make eating the food worthwhile. I call it my little gatekeeper! We all have to find other ways to deal with our emotional eating after the band - some use counseling, some use meds, some (like me) just count on family and my inner voice telling me I CAN DO IT!! I wish you all the luck in the world!! I keep telling myself NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS THIN WILL FEEL. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Please stay on the forums/boards and talk to everyone as much as you need to. We are all in this one together!!

I started this journey at 371lbs, 5'9". I could barely walk around the block. I started everyday just adding an extra 5 minutes before you know it I was able to do more. Look into getting a trainer for a while that was the thing that pushed me to do things that I never thought would be possible. If you can swing it it would be totally worth it. Just get moving everyday and push yourself. Do you have a friend that you can work out with or just take a walk with? In the beginning I hated it but I knew I had to keep at it if i wanted to be successful. Now it is hard to believe but I actually like it and feel guilty if i miss a day! Who would've have thought? Only 9 months ago my exercise was walking to my car... You can do it!! You are young and strong! BTW, I can't stand the sight of Leslie Sansone either. I don't know what it is but I can't take her for one minute!! Good luck to you!!