sunshineinbama

Wow! What a difference a week makes! I had my first fill last Wednesday, the 15th. According to my home scales, I've lost 5 lbs this week! Wow!
 
Before that appointment last week, I was so worried that I had made a big mistake and this wasn't going to work the way I thought. I was a little depressed (even though I had lost weight...geez I'm an idiot sometimes). I thank God for whoever created this forum. Reading the testimonies of others, recognizing issues others had already worked through, connecting with people currently experiencing what I am....it helped so much to get me out of my pity party and back in to the wonderful expectation of this gift!
 
I'm inspired, already, to challenge myself in a couple of things: a) I joined a weight loss challenge at my fitness center (hey...cash prizes are a great motivator!) and signing up for a 5k in April at my son's school. I walked a 5k in November BEFORE i had any weight loss. I figure I can do it again with a little more ease by the time April rolls around.
 
If you're reading this, and you're in a mud-hole like I was...just hang in there! Its worth it! Remember, the band is just a tool. We still have choices to make in order for this tool to be successful. You can do it! Just take it one step and one day at a time.
 
May God give you all strength, endurance, patience and peace in the coming days of this journey. I'll be praying for you!
 
Blessings,
Chrissylu

I have heard the same harsh comments as many people have...just cut back, exercise, diet, drink more water, eat more veggies...you name it, and I have probably heard it.
 
I didn't choose to be overweight, it just seemed to creep up on me slowly and before I knew it, I weighed 300 pounds...from having kids, from not being active, from being a good cook, from marrying into an Italian family.
 
I had WLS after my husband said to me that he was concerned about me and my health, and that he wanted me to be around so we could enjoy retirement together. He didn't want me to sleep all day and not be able to go for a walk, and mostly he could see how I was depressed from my weight. He is my biggest supporter, and he didn't care how much it would cost, just "get it done".
 
So, after years of yoyo dieting, trying every fad diet in the land, I was banded and I have to say it is the best money I have ever spent. I do not regret it for one moment because you see, I am a food-aholic...just like an alcoholic, but with food. I was not able to help myself.
 
Now, I have learned healthy eating habits and choose the foods that appeal to me. I no longer crave the chips, chocolates, ice cream, cake, cookies, popcorn that used to rule my life. Now when I get a hankering for something to eat, my thoughts turn to protein, veggies and fruit. But I know this would not have been possible without my band. My band is a reminder to me each and every day of the new me, and I am going to be on this wonderful journey forever.
 
So, when someone gives you a bunch of grief because you have decided or did have WLS, tell them to walk a mile in your shoes, and tell them to be sure to climb those stairs 2 or 3 times a day, and then tell them it is not a crime to want something better for yourself, to want to be around to see your kids or grand kids get married, to see them graduate. My bi-weekly trips to my dr's office are fantastic. I get excited to get on the scale and see that it has moved backwards, closer to a new me. The dr is proud of me too, and I can tell you, that goes a long way in my book of "good feelings".
 
So if you are contemplating WLS, I say B-R-A-V-O. YOU GO AN 'GET'ER DONE'. You will probably find the road a little bumpy at times, but so worth it.
 
 
I LOVE MY BAND
 
Zil
Banded 8/19/2011, starting weight, 299, weight loss to date 76#s, and another 65 to go...hoping to make it by 11/1/2012. Oh, BTW, it did take me 5 months to get into the green zone and that was with fills every 2 weeks.

Now I'm confused .....What is the difference in having the lap-band and having plication i know they both control the amount of intake in foods, and the lap-band is covered by insurance and the plication isnt ...can someone please help me to understand ? Thanks

Well I'm totally committed (or my husband would say I need to BE committed!) to exercising. I know that the scale staying at 18lbs lost for a week was because I needed to get up and shake what my momma gave me! I am doing Zumba on Tuesdays/Thursdays, but I was searching for something I could do at home. Low and behold, I bought the Just Dance 3 for the Wii. HIGHLY recommend! Everynight when my hubby goes to bed I get my controller strapped on to my wrist and I go to town. I'm sure if anyone was videotaping me I would go viral instantly because I'm sure that is a funny site to see! It actually lets you keep track of your week and your "sweat points". Not sure really what that means, but I'll take it!
 
NSV of the week:
Going back to work and having two boxes of Krispy Kreme GLAZED donuts on the table and not even having a desire to eat one!

I ran accross this dessert recipe that i'd like to try on special ocassion and like to share with you all...
 
Serving size: ½ cup Recipe makes: 20
Ingredients
 
1 sugar-free angel food cake
2 packages sugar-free banana instant pudding mix
3 ½ cups skim or 1% milk
15 ounces low-fat ricotta cheese
1 ½ cups sliced strawberries, divided
1 medium banana, sliced thinly
1 (8 ounce) can pineapple tidbits, drained
8 ounces sugar-free whipped topping, thawed
1 Tablespoon sugar-free chocolate syrup

Directions
 
1.) Using your hands, tear a part half of the angel food cake into bite-sized chunks and place in the bottom of a trifle bowl (a 9x13 inch glass pan would also work!) Set aside.
2.) In a medium bowl, beat together pudding mixes and milk until mixture is thick and pudding-like. Add ricotta cheese and continue beating until evenly mixed. Layer half of the pudding mixture on top of the angel food cake chunks.
3.) Now you will simply be building layers: take 1 cup of the sliced strawberries and layer them on top of the pudding mixture. Then, add a thin layer of the whipped topping onto the strawberries. Next, make a full layer using all of the banana slices. The next layer will be the second half of angel food cake. Tear into bite-sized chunks and layer on top of the banana slices. Smooth down the rest of the pudding, and lay all of the pineapple tidbits on top.
4.) Finally, cover the pineapple tidbits with the rest of the whipped topping. Put the last ½ cup of slice strawberries on top in whatever decorative fashion you desire (or, none at all!) Drizzle on the sugar-free chocolate syrup, and you have a masterpiece!

Today was post op appointment after the banding ......i stepped up on the scale.......i have dropped 25 pounds since my weigh in before pre-op and surgery....and also got the ok from dr to go back to the gym....i'm so ecited i havent been in a couple months, so tonight i can get back in the pool again .....

I contemplated writing an entry for the day of surgery. I even started one, but as I read it back to myself I fell asleep. This may have been because I still had general anesthesia in my system (I did) or because it was really boring (it was). So, suffice it to say that surgery day went well. The only hitch in the system was that the nurses attacked my fingernails and toenails to remove my brand new manipedi. The anesthesiologist said clear polish was fine! C'est la vie.
 
I went in at 8:30, came out at 10:45ish, and was discharged just after 10 that night. And glad to be going home. With an absolutely giant bouquet of flowers that my lovely friend C - a bandster - got for me. It's a beautiful bouquet with lilies and roses and orchids and tulips. But it is ridiculously big. Like altar piece big. I swear, the florists in this country are all designing bouquets for weddings and funerals. I've never seen such large bouquets of flowers. My poor friend P looked so funny carrying it into my flat; it's bigger than he is! But C was so wonderful to think of me so I don't want to sound unappreciative.
 
As I'm sure you have surmised, the cold wasn't a cold - and a good thing, too! I can't imagine what I'd be coughing up in addition to the I've had a tube down my throat ublech. My new best friend and I are getting along nicely. All day yesterday I felt like I had been sucker punched in my gut, but today I am good. I only have incision site pain when I try to get up from whatever position I was in, so I wrap my arms around myself and that helps. I have a gap-toothed smiling cyclops of bandages on my torso and, as predicted, the one for the port is the most noticeable with regard to pain.
 
And I'm not hungry. I wasn't hungry yesterday after the surgery and I'm not hungry today. I'm still eating a bit of broth here and there and pushing water to try to get my minimum 2 liters in. But I'm not hungry. And this I find amazing. We're talking about the girl who has been ravenous her whole life. Who would turn into an absolute B because of hypoglycemia. Who would have double and triple helpings to be sated. And I'm not hungry. Astounding.