Sojourner

There is really no way to get around the stretching of skin while one is obese; many of the same things happen with pregnancy. And I also believe that genetics and age have some influence over the resiliency of skin. Once it is stretched, it is what it is. In the grand scheme of things, health is most important. If after you loose the weight if you are unhappy with your appearance, there are plastic surgery options you can consider having. It would be a great benefit to you for your husband to be supportive of your decision regarding the surgery...but ultimately it is your body and your choice. I hope he is mature and insightful enough to understand that. Try to include him in all of the education and information consults so he has a better understanding about the procedure and the reasons this is so important to you.

Be certain that you are getting enough calories and Protein. If you short yourself on either of these areas, it can actually slow your rate of weight loss!

We all heal at a different rate post op...and it's not unusual for you to be hungry with the initial swelling going down. I had some medical complications, and had to wait 14 weeks for my first fill. I manage my hunger by drinking the free fluids I'm supposed to have everyday. It has helped me enormously to increase my fluids by structuring my time to make certain that before Breakfast I have 12oz, then by lunchtime, I need to have 16 more oz...it helps to stay on track. Until I did that, I had a difficult time remembering to drink anything. I know how difficult it can be to cope with the hunger, but water and getting distracted with work, a project, or exercise all seem to help me. Best wishes on your journey...

My surgeon required a total liquid diet for an entire 4 weeks...2 weeks pre op, and another 2 weeks post op. It was not the easiest to remain compliant with, but you get through taking a day at a time and staying busy!

Really sorry you had that experience...what happened? Did you get distracted? I hope it only a one time event, and that you are doing better now!

I also experienced cramps in my feet and lower legs when my magnesium levels were too low.

Many people have issues with their body image, and frequently the "head" does not keep up with the body...and often the thoughts about our self image become distorted and inaccurate. Our society places such a high priority on slender and sexy bodies, and for the majority of the population, especially women, it creates an unrealistic expectation for how society tells us we should look. Think about the realities...back in her day, Marilyn Monroe was considered to be the epitome of everything the ideal woman should be with her appearance and size...and she wore a size 12. Today, you "should" be a 6, maybe an 8...according to "society". As we age, we do tend to weigh more. If I were to return to my weight when I was married (118 pounds), I know that I would look gaunt and unhealthy. For my age and frame size, 134 is my "ideal" weight, and I believe that is unrealistic for me. It's important to feel good about how you look, and also to be realistic about the genetics involved. The aging process is also a factor in this equation. Try to accept your husband's feedback; he is telling you he is accepting of you the way that you are. What greater gift is there in a marriage...unconditional positive regard. If you are not alright with modifying the way your feel about your appearance, there is always plastic surgery to look into. You have options...best wishes to you as you continue your journey.

Prior to your surgery, if you have been mostly sedentary, you are most likely building some muscle, even while loosing some weight, which the scale would not reflect. Muscle weighs more than fat, and also requires more calories to maintain. It's a trade-off. The scale will move; you may even be at a weight loss plateau, which may take a few days to a few weeks to get beyond. Other important information to know is that not eating enough calories tends to slow metabolism down, as the body may realize that the previous amount of energy it had to run on is not available, and it goes into a hibernation mode, and burns less calories. Weight loss can also be slowed if you are not getting enough Protein. This can be frustrating, but remaining compliant with the diet, increasing your exercise, if that is possible will all help to get the scale moving eventually. I have had to develop patience on this journey...and only take a day at a time! Best wishes...

Thank you so much for the clarification!!

Yes, very interesting...I'm still pleased that I opted for the band! Thanks for sharing this!

Karen, From what you have written that you are experiencing depression, and it would be helpful for you to speak with a therapist about what is going on in your life. Depression does not always resolve on it's own without proper interventions. I would like to share that one of my sons is an endodontist, and he has told me that there are a number of oral surgeries which they will refuse to do on a patient who is a smoker. Smoking definitely does slow the healing processes of the body down, because it is putting toxins into the tissues. You may feel better about stopping smoking if you had some emotional support from a therapist, and could address smoking cessation issues along with your depression. Best wishes, and I hope you feel better soon. I can't help but feel that you will get better faster in both physical and psychological areas if you empower yourself to take some positive actions to help yourself!

It is never a good idea to "starve" yourself; your body will go into sort of a "hibernation" mode and will slow the metabolism to burn fewer calories. The body realizes that the sources for energy it previously had have changed, and then it tends to adjust to hold on to as much energy as it can, thus slowing down your metabolism. It can actually slow your weight loss down to have too few calories or to not have enough protein in your diet every day. You should have been given an number of grams for your daily protein goal range. Know what that number is and strive to meet it every day. Best wishes...

Periodically, we do reach plateaus in the weight loss journey. Very frustrating to say the least...you remain compliant and the scale does not move... There are many reasons for this, and the suggestions have to continue with diet compliance, and try to "shake up" your exercise routines by doing something a little different; alter the pace, the amount of time you are exercising, even the type of exercises you are doing. This journey has taught me a virtue which had eluded me for years...patience. This is a journey and not an event. Stay the course and keep your "eyes on the prize" of a healthier you! Best wishes as you continue...

I have found that the only way to be certain to drink enough fluids a day is to structure my day/evening so that I keep a pace with drinking my Water. I know that before Breakfast, I need to have 12 oz, after waiting the required hour and prior to lunch, drink another 16 oz. And so on for the rest of the day/evening. I also have not heard of any exact measurement of fluids per hour before. Though I do admit that where ever I go, so goes at least one bottle of water!

Did the article give specifics about the type of "drinking problem" the study was referring to? I would be very interested to know, if it referred to simply drinking fluids, or were they were referring to developing tendencies towards abusing alcoholic beverages. I'd find it difficult to believe that bariatric surgery of any type would be a contributing factor to substance abuse...though other behavioral issues might be more understandable. If an individual has an addiction, such as to food, without the proper treatment with a therapist or psychologist, it is fairly common to substitute one addiction for another.

If you have prescriptions that need to be filled for post op pain medication, or if your maintenance medications needed to be changed ( I had to have several changed to liquid form, 1 chewable), do that ahead of time. Also, I relied mostly on liquid Tylenol for post op pain management...so it would be helpful to have that as well. Some doctors want you to have a Fiber supplement along with your liquid diet, if so, purchase them ahead of time. Best wishes...

I've found that it takes some time for your tissues to heal, and any swelling to go down. That may be the reason you are having difficulties with drinking like you did before your surgery. The same thing happened to me for a few days following my first fill. With that said, it will cause discomfort if you drink fluids too fast...but if you pace yourself, you will find that it will be easier to get your needed fluids in. I recall that immediately post op, I could not even come close to drinking the minimum of 60 oz a day; now the minimum for me is 80 with no trouble. I feel like a baby; I never go anywhere without my bottle!

My surgeon is strict with meals...each meal consists of 3 oz of lean Protein and 2 oz of a Fiber carb, measured by volume after cooking. I was advised to make good food choices, and not count calories. Each surgeon seems to have a variation on the "rules", so it is best to check with the doctor's office to know what you should be doing for your meals. I agree with others, consulting with a dietitian (nutritionist) would be very beneficial for you. Best wishes...

Watching your fat and sugar grams is essential for success. What made the positive difference for me was the amount of exercise I was able to do. I only had basic foods; salads with lean Protein, 1% milk, an egg in the morning. I stopped eating bread, and most everything else with carbs added into it. I needed to loose 6 pounds to be at the weight the surgeon wanted me at to complete the surgery. I lost 12 pounds in 6 weeks, and was 6 pounds under what he required, just in case his scale varied significantly from mine at home! I agree with others who have posted. Journal everything you put in your mouth, reduce the portions and number of calories you have daily, and get out there and exercise! If others have done this, you can do it too! Best wishes...

I stayed in one of our recliners for the first night, and after that had no trouble sleeping in bed. It's extremely important for you to not allow yourself to become sedentary. I was advised to take a short walk around the house every hour that I was awake. I also had a series of foot and lower leg exercises to do every hour to help avoid the development of blood clots. Also, walking is the best way to get your "insides" working again...the sooner that happens, the sooner the gas will be gone.

I had salt cravings also...you should be permitted to have clear broth on your liquid diet. It tasted heavenly! Yes, the liquid diet is difficult...especially if you are around the rest of your family who are still eating their normal foods. I remember the day before my surgery hosting a luncheon for my club (a commitment made months before I had a surgery date)...and while they all enjoyed their lunch, I sipped on ice Water... It can be difficult to give up carbs like you may have been used to having...you can feel listless and have no energy as your body looks for an alternative source of energy to burn. And you are detoxing...food addictions are not just a myth. I kept focused on why I was doing the diet...to help me regain some of the health which my weight was taking from me. We are all unique, and have our individual reasons for opting for the band. Get back in touch with those reasons, and keep them in the front of your thoughts. You can do this, if you choose to. This forum is an excellent place to come for emotional support and encouragement...come back anytime!

It reads like you are doing most of the correct things...I have encountered the same issues. Exercise is the only thing which helps me at this point, and I manage my hunger with drinking Water. I had to wait 14 weeks for my first fill due to complications, and hunger was with me constantly. I usually have 80 -90 oz of water a day. Try to make it difficult, if not impossible for you to get the foods you know you should not be having. This surgery requires us to develop a healthier relationship with food, and food is not your friend. Beating yourself up with guilt feelings is not going to help you get through this impasse. Good luck...

I guess I traveled very light...all I took with me was a bottle of Water, which I left in the car, and only brought my Chap-stick into the hospital with me. My husband had my ID and insurance card. Best wishes to you as you begin your journey!

I'm so sorry to be reading this...and I agree with NWgirl. It does seem way too early to be on mushies. I had to continue my liquid diet for an entire 2 weeks post op. Initially I found it impossible to get all of the fluids I was supposed to have every day, but do your best. Your diet seems high on carbs... Nausea is also a common symptom of dehydration, which can be very serious. So serious that I ended up being sent to the ER by my surgeon to have IV fluids to replenish what I had lost during an illness. I would not wait, but get in touch with the surgeon asap. In the mean time, I would begin to try to sip as much water as I could tolerate, and back off of the food. As I gradually regained proper hydration, my nausea resolved. When the system is upset, it is best to make certain to have fluids, and maybe focus on protein shakes. As for the constipation, TMI...when little goes in, little comes out (sorry to be so graphic). But being constipated is no fun. I take a stool softener, and milk of magnesia when necessary. You are going through both healing and major adjustments now...but get in touch with the surgeon or go to the ER... I pray you will feel better fast...keep us posted on how you are.

Absolutely follow your doctor's instructions...and the longer you read posts on this forum, you will see how the instructions differ between doctors. I only shared information that I found to be helpful to me, and only suggested that you read the labels and become aware of the fat and sugar grams. One truism that I will always subscribe to is reading labels...we need to be educated consumers. It helps if you shop only the periphery of the grocery store; and if the bakery is located there, I avoid it... Your mileage may vary...good luck.