phatkatblue

i had my first fill this morning under fluro...it took all of 15 minutes and i was a nervous wreck prior...it proved to be all for nothing. the worst part was having to have all my piercings taken out prior to the procedure! here's what went down...
 
i laid on a table and had a pic taken of my belly that showed up on a small screen beside my bed
 
i saw my port and the how it was attached to my abdominal wall with hooks (that was weird)
 
i saw my band which is nowhere near the port and in between all sorts of other inside stuffs!
 
i was given a shot of lidocaine to the numb the area-it burned a little like the heparin shots
 
the NP stuck a needle in my port area and felt for the pockets on the band (which i did not feel but could seen on the screen) the needle was attached to some tubing but i could not see what was in the end of it...
 
the bed was placed in a standing position and i was given a cup of contrast that i watched flow freely down my esophagus
 
she injected some saline i think about 1 cc and i drank some more contrast...the flow was a littler slower
 
she injected another cc and i drank some more contrast...the flow was slower still...
 
she injected another cc and i drank some more contrast...i felt like it was going to come up...
 
she removed a 1/2 cc and i drank some more contrast...i felt like i had to burp...
 
she removed another 1/2 cc and i drank some more contrast and then some water...and i felt ok...
 
so i got a 2 cc fill today on top of the one from surgery...so 3 total in my 10cc band
 
i felt like a had a lump in my throat for the first hour afterward, but i feel better now...
 
i am now back to mushies for two days...she said it appears i am tighter in the morning and i should try to drink a shake or yogurt in the mornings...
 
that's it:) now the fun begins...i must remember to chew...

I am really really glad I found a post to share my lap-band surgery experience. I thought about creating a personal blog, but felt it would lack the support from other lap-band patients. So here goes everything:
I had my surgery on 10/31/2011. Halloween. Barely had time to grab halloween costumes for my boys-who have been super supportive of mommies post surgery needs-as supportive as 7 and 9 years olds can be:) Surgery went great, post 3-4 days was as painful as abdominal surgery is expcted to be and by day 6-7, I was feeling much much better. I took a three week leave from work which was great to get rest, adjust to the eating routine and just be stress-free to truly focus on recovering.
I hated being on the liquid diet for what...4 weeks? That was hard as hell. But by my 3 week appt I had dropped 11 pounds.
 
I started at 256lbs. Im currently at 239 which is a little frustrating for me. But I defintely notice what many weightloss surgery folks notice....my clothes are all big. I was wearing an 18-20 pre surgery and purchased my first size 14 pants a couple of weeks ago. All of my old pants, whether jeans or dress pants, are big on me. I'm wearing my old bra's and buying size large sweats versus extra large. So I'm not too concerned about the scale, but it's frustrating and that's maybe because 256 and even at 239, it's the heaviest I have ever been.
 
I've had one fill and can't recall how many cc's I received, but I have another fill coming on 4/25/2012-which will be 4 months after my last fill.
 
I can certainly feel the restriction. But I do get hungry in between. Now I have a hard time eating the following foods (which is not a bad thing): rice, bread, eggs, pasta, and grilled chicken unless it's extremely tender. Can't eat fast even if I want too! It will come right back up and keeps me in constant control of how I eat which is fantastic. I buy less groceries, I order less when I go out. If I do eat too fast, the pain is a good reminder to not do it again.
 
I was advised during my last nutrion visit to not count calories. They want to know how I do and how I feel just by eating and go about my daily routine. So that's what I've been doing. One constant that I still deal with? Finding time to exercise! The size of my stomach changed (the little band anyway), but my normal every day schedule has not!
 
I'm determined to make this work for me and again, I can physically see that results are possible so I'm not giving up my fight to use this tool I've been given. Especially since the post surgery pain is still fresh in my mind:)

So it has been two weeks since my surgery. I feel like things are going great. I am down a total of 32lbs. I even lost weight on my trip, which is a new experience. My only complaint is that I am hungry. I can't wait to get my first fill, as this should help. I am trying to stick to my 2oz/1/4c. I find that I have to eat more often with this. I got back Monday night and was able to start up my Zumba again. Man, I love Zumba. I just do it on the WII, but it is soooo much fun. Plus, 36 mins burns me 637 calories. I can't wait to be able to lift weights again. I had a personal trainer prior to surgery. We parted ways when I started liquids due to lack of energy. She now does group training on Tues and Thurs and I would love to join the group. Hopefully here in the next few weeks, I can start again. On my list of to dos, I also want to do a 5K. Never done one before and I would like to start small so I can work up to a half marathon. I am going to start walk/jogging next week on my treadmill and then move it outside once I build up some stamina and work on my shin splints.

Ok, so im four months post op....and at first i was getting depressed because after surgery I immediately lost 17-18 pounds.then nothing for weeks! But then i began to notice that my clothes were getting bigger ...BUT no change on the scale (weird) ...anyway at the start of surgery I was a tight 14/16 ...now Im a 12/14 comfortable.....When I went to the store to get a few new things to wear because everything was just too baggy, I was so excited to get into something cute.
 
 
 
I have a 10cc band and have a little over 5cc in it now......All I can say is protein protein protein ! It makes you want to keep up the good work when you see results

the numbers...
 
lets start there because that's what matters here right!!! when i went into surgery i weighed 233# and today i am 221. i have been down on myself for these numbers mostly because it is easy to get into a comparison game with other wls folks and this is absolutely silly. i have lost 12# in a month and this is indeed spectacular! if i continued to lose at this pace i would be at my goal weight in six months! however, i know this may not be a realistic goal as my weight loss has been extremely slow over the past two weeks...according to my surgeon a 1-2# weight loss a week is what is expected with the lapband and any more than that is phenomenal. i have not been as diligent in tracking my measurements which will be key for me because let's face it, we all need some way to measure success, and if the scale is not moving it can quickly become...well, depressing. i picked up some new vocab while perusing this site and found that NSV's are also a cause for celebration! this may seem like a no-brainer, but i have never thought of doing this the past 800 billion other times i have tried to lose weight. so here are a few of
 
my NSV's...
 
doing some type of physical activity---> daily!
sticking to allotted food items--->daily!
logging my food, mood, and exercise-->daily!
testing my blood sugars-->daily!
 
trying to be encouraging and supportive to at least one other person on this journey--->daily
fitting into a pair of jeans that are one size smaller!
needing to wear a belt with all of my other pants!
improving my time and distance when walking outside
finding ways to celebrate that do not include alcohol and food
 
my pain...
 
my pain is virtually non-existent and i can pretty much do everything i was doing before surgery. i still have some discomfort and pain in the area of my largest incision at times. i am still not able to sleep/lay on my stomach and i still have some swelling in this area...(anyone else have this 4 weeks out)? also, i seem to have developed a slight headache issue...this happens at least once daily and i am not sure of this is due to my sugars dropping too low, a sign that i'm not drinking enough, or that i'm letting too much time go by between meals...i'm keeping an eye on it.
 
a lump...
 
i have had what feels like a lump in my throat for the past 3-4 days...i'm also trying not to read to much into this as i have had this feeling before pre-band and it has been attributed to anxiety...anxiety! what anxiety?! i have been off work for almost a month, completed school a week ago, have been eating better for almost two months and have been exercising daily for the past month...what gives? being on this forum i have come to understand that this is sign of other things, like being stuck, being too tight, reflux, gas, and on and on...i have not had a fill yet and i am able to get down liquids and foods just fine...i'm going to see my primary care physician this friday who is also banded and i will discuss this with her.
 
burping...
 
ok...so i am finding that burping has become...weird! about half of the time when i burp instead of going out they go in and then i spend the rest of the night expelling this gas from various places or burping outwards all that i burped in several hours later...does this make sense? anyone else experience this? burping outwards is grand!
 
support...
 
my biggest supporter in this journey, my husband, was banded yesterday! i am so happy for him and happy to have him take this journey with me! he has decided to name his band "wife #2"!!! i am thankful for this site and other social media that i use and for all that have commented on anything or reached out in any way! i am on fitbit, mfp, and youtube as phatkatblue please add me if you use any of those outlets...the more support and encouragement the better:) i have also found that getting on these sites encouraging others and reading their stories has been good for me as well...
 
till next week in weight loss and beyond...

Two months later I'm still going strong. My ticker is one third of the way to goal so I can't believe I'm only two months back on track. My children broke my scale this week and I can't even begin to explain how over-joyed I was to walk into the store and buy a 'normal digital scale'. Two month's ago I probably woulld have had to fork out more money to get the ones that can weigh more than 330 lbs. Just to encourage anyone who is struggling after having the band for a number of years... after 4 years mine was still there... just get the right adjustment and your head in the game and you will be able to do this.
 
My stats for March 2012
 
2nd March - 319
9th March - 315
16th March - 310
23rd march - 308
30th March- 306
3rd April - 301
 
Total - 18 lbs 2nd month!
34 lbs in 2 months
51 lbs since being banded
 
My goal for 3rd May is 286 or 15lbs lost.
 
 
I continue on my weigh dowm.....

today makes 7 weeks banded for me...what a journey already!
 
THE NUMBERS & NSVs
jan 23-241-before pre-op diet
feb 15-233 surgery day
apr 4-212
 
i completed 30 minutes on the elliptical yesterday!!! it was my first time on that evil machine! it works the hell outta you! my pants are really baggy especially in the crouch and thigh areas:) tightly wearing a stretchy cotton XL shirt!
 
THE SCALE-so i decided that i'd weigh in weekly because i was driving myself crazy with the scale. i was banded on a wednesday so my weigh in days are wednesdays. i joined the april weight loss challenge and the weigh in days are sundays so twice a week it is for april! this has been difficult for me because i was weighing multiple times daily! pure torture!
 
FILL-i had my first fill last Friday and i am not sure how i feel about it (see previous post for details on the fill). there are times when i feel hungrier (real hunger) than i did before my fill...weird. i don't think i really needed a fill to begin with as i was not really feeling hungry and was still losing weight. i could only take an additional 2 cc's on top of the one that was added at surgery. i think i was expecting the fill to be some magical thing that would take over my body and create some type of change...and maybe that's what it's supposed to do, not sure yet. and maybe that's what it did, also not sure yet! i do know that the fill has made me think more about the way i am eating and i have been slowed down at least three times by my body telling me "you are eating too fast" and "that's enough". so the fill is working...i just don't understand why i feel physical hunger more now...any ideas? going to see my surgeon next week for my 2 month check-up...i'll see what he has to say about this...
 
FOOD-i have been super consumed with thoughts of food ever since i was given the green light to be on step 4...which is basically the step where you can eat like a normal person...but i feel that i can't really because i don't know what that is. i talked with a fellow band mate that was banded a year ago and she suggested that i go back to eating the way i did before the band as she had. you know, eat regular like we all did before the band!!! NOW WAY! my eating habits pre-band were horrible and there is no way i'm doing that again i don't care how little i can eat...there will be no fried anything, no pizza, no chips, no sweets, and no "bad carbs"...these are all my downfall...as an overweight person i KNOW what to eat, but as an overweight person in recovery i feel lost. i crave the flavor that is crammed into all the bad stuff and i am not much of cook so this has been difficult. i am also one of those folks that eats rather simply, meaning i eat the same stuff over and over and don't do much to expand my menus:/ this is a major goal for me...MAJOR...
 
YUM-i went to starbucks for the first time since january and ordered a skinny decaf vanilla latte--120 cals...can't become a habit, but it was good:)
 
PUPPY-hubby and i were walking with our 2 year old black lab miles and a family was moving and asked us of we wanted another lab...we were like "noooo". they said they couldn't take her to their new place and were going to take her to the pound...they said she was current on her shots and was house broken...so we looked at her and the next thing i know we are walking home with two dogs! she is six months and we named her daisy!!
 
happy spring all...until next week...in weight loss and beyond

Nothing much to report this week... bit depressed sometimes... don't know why. Slowly but surely coming along... another 2lbs gone this week! A grand total of 46lbs so far...
People are really starting to notice the weightloss now, even sitting in my car I receive compliments.lol Earlier this week a friend of mine who saw me about two weeks ago excitedly asked "Where did the rest of you go?". lol And of course the inevitable question of "How are you doing it?!!!" came. I matter-of-factly replied "Eat less and move more"!
I continue on my weigh down....

Went yesterday for first fill and I admit I was nervous and scared. It took three attempts to locate port. The first attempt did not hurt, 2nd attempt was worst than the first. Wow the needle is so long. After the second attempt I went to xray to locate exactly where the port is and my goosh she got it. I had 5.2 cc in my band and she added 1.0 cc now I'm at 6.2 cc in my 10cc band. Passed the swallowing test without a problem. I was on liquids yesterday, will have soft foods today and regular diet tomorrow. My tummy is a little sore around the port area. I marked my port area, so they can get it the first time next time. Overall I feel great woke up not hungry. Yesterday had a half of protein shake and a 1/2 cup cream of wheat and a sugar free pudding and I was full. Let's see how long this last lol. Today I have only had a 1/2 cup of coffee so far gonna try and get a protein shake in. Gonna start setting goals for myself and see how it goes from there. Good luck to all.
 
Total weight loss to date 30 lbs.

On thursday last, I went to the doctor to weigh in and get a fill. Last appointment weight was 232. NOW I'M DOWN 5 LBS! (227). Let me say it feels so good to be in the 220's. I haven't been this thin in two whole years! I'm down a total of about 30 lbs in 4 months since my pre-op diet. I no longer look like I'm 6 months pregnant or hiding a watermelon under my shirt. lol. I feel like I can get dressed without feeling like it's a chore to find something to hide my form; that is such a weight off my shoulders (literally). And, I feel like I can look strangers in the eye now instead of praying i'm invisisble to the world.
 
In other news, my doctor decided to only give me .5 cc's as a fill because I am getting stuck on certain things. (This brings me to a total of 3.5 cc's in my 14 cc band. I'm getting stuck on certain things, yet I feel like I am still way in the yellow zone. I don't make a practice of eating too much, but sometimes it doesn't feel like the band is cutting the quantity of food as much as it could be. I know some people on the forums/blogs that get full after a couple of bits, and that's definitely not my personal experience. I think the band helps me to eat less a little, but most of it's me choosing to eat less; either way i'm not getting full until i have a cup of food. I hope my doctor will give me a fill next time too. 3.5 cc's does not seem like a lot of fluid and I think maybe a bigger fill would help with speeding up the weight loss; just a thought.
 
To make all this possible I have been working out like crazy; i spend about 2 hrs at the gym everyday. Now that I'm lighter I can exercise even more than I was before and push myself harder. For me weight loss isn't possible without exercise because I haven't conquered all my bad eating habits yet; i need to burn upwards of 1,000 cal at the gym or I wouldn't make progress. Here's to sticking it out and doing my best everyday! Good luck to everyone else on their journey and "may the odds be ever in your favor" as they say in the Hunger Games.

i had my first fill this morning under fluro...it took all of 15 minutes and i was a nervous wreck prior...it proved to be all for nothing. the worst part was having to have all my piercings taken out prior to the procedure! here's what went down...
 
i laid on a table and had a pic taken of my belly that showed up on a small screen beside my bed
 
i saw my port and the how it was attached to my abdominal wall with hooks (that was weird)
 
i saw my band which is nowhere near the port and in between all sorts of other inside stuffs!
 
i was given a shot of lidocaine to the numb the area-it burned a little like the heparin shots
 
the NP stuck a needle in my port area and felt for the pockets on the band (which i did not feel but could seen on the screen) the needle was attached to some tubing but i could not see what was in the end of it...
 
the bed was placed in a standing position and i was given a cup of contrast that i watched flow freely down my esophagus
 
she injected some saline i think about 1 cc and i drank some more contrast...the flow was a littler slower
 
she injected another cc and i drank some more contrast...the flow was slower still...
 
she injected another cc and i drank some more contrast...i felt like it was going to come up...
 
she removed a 1/2 cc and i drank some more contrast...i felt like i had to burp...
 
she removed another 1/2 cc and i drank some more contrast and then some water...and i felt ok...
 
so i got a 2 cc fill today on top of the one from surgery...so 3 total in my 10cc band
 
i felt like a had a lump in my throat for the first hour afterward, but i feel better now...
 
i am now back to mushies for two days...she said it appears i am tighter in the morning and i should try to drink a shake or yogurt in the mornings...
 
that's it:) now the fun begins...i must remember to chew...

i had my first fill this morning under fluro...it took all of 15 minutes and i was a nervous wreck prior...it proved to be all for nothing. the worst part was having to have all my piercings taken out prior to the procedure! here's what went down...
 
i laid on a table and had a pic taken of my belly that showed up on a small screen beside my bed
 
i saw my port and the how it was attached to my abdominal wall with hooks (that was weird)
 
i saw my band which is nowhere near the port and in between all sorts of other inside stuffs!
 
i was given a shot of lidocaine to the numb the area-it burned a little like the heparin shots
 
the NP stuck a needle in my port area and felt for the pockets on the band (which i did not feel but could seen on the screen) the needle was attached to some tubing but i could not see what was in the end of it...
 
the bed was placed in a standing position and i was given a cup of contrast that i watched flow freely down my esophagus
 
she injected some saline i think about 1 cc and i drank some more contrast...the flow was a littler slower
 
she injected another cc and i drank some more contrast...the flow was slower still...
 
she injected another cc and i drank some more contrast...i felt like it was going to come up...
 
she removed a 1/2 cc and i drank some more contrast...i felt like i had to burp...
 
she removed another 1/2 cc and i drank some more contrast and then some water...and i felt ok...
 
so i got a 2 cc fill today on top of the one from surgery...so 3 total in my 10cc band
 
i felt like a had a lump in my throat for the first hour afterward, but i feel better now...
 
i am now back to mushies for two days...she said it appears i am tighter in the morning and i should try to drink a shake or yogurt in the mornings...
 
that's it:) now the fun begins...i must remember to chew...

i had my first fill this morning under fluro...it took all of 15 minutes and i was a nervous wreck prior...it proved to be all for nothing. the worst part was having to have all my piercings taken out prior to the procedure! here's what went down...
 
i laid on a table and had a pic taken of my belly that showed up on a small screen beside my bed
 
i saw my port and the how it was attached to my abdominal wall with hooks (that was weird)
 
i saw my band which is nowhere near the port and in between all sorts of other inside stuffs!
 
i was given a shot of lidocaine to the numb the area-it burned a little like the heparin shots
 
the NP stuck a needle in my port area and felt for the pockets on the band (which i did not feel but could seen on the screen) the needle was attached to some tubing but i could not see what was in the end of it...
 
the bed was placed in a standing position and i was given a cup of contrast that i watched flow freely down my esophagus
 
she injected some saline i think about 1 cc and i drank some more contrast...the flow was a littler slower
 
she injected another cc and i drank some more contrast...the flow was slower still...
 
she injected another cc and i drank some more contrast...i felt like it was going to come up...
 
she removed a 1/2 cc and i drank some more contrast...i felt like i had to burp...
 
she removed another 1/2 cc and i drank some more contrast and then some water...and i felt ok...
 
so i got a 2 cc fill today on top of the one from surgery...so 3 total in my 10cc band
 
i felt like a had a lump in my throat for the first hour afterward, but i feel better now...
 
i am now back to mushies for two days...she said it appears i am tighter in the morning and i should try to drink a shake or yogurt in the mornings...
 
that's it:) now the fun begins...i must remember to chew...

i had my first fill this morning under fluro...it took all of 15 minutes and i was a nervous wreck prior...it proved to be all for nothing. the worst part was having to have all my piercings taken out prior to the procedure! here's what went down...
 
i laid on a table and had a pic taken of my belly that showed up on a small screen beside my bed
 
i saw my port and the how it was attached to my abdominal wall with hooks (that was weird)
 
i saw my band which is nowhere near the port and in between all sorts of other inside stuffs!
 
i was given a shot of lidocaine to the numb the area-it burned a little like the heparin shots
 
the NP stuck a needle in my port area and felt for the pockets on the band (which i did not feel but could seen on the screen) the needle was attached to some tubing but i could not see what was in the end of it...
 
the bed was placed in a standing position and i was given a cup of contrast that i watched flow freely down my esophagus
 
she injected some saline i think about 1 cc and i drank some more contrast...the flow was a littler slower
 
she injected another cc and i drank some more contrast...the flow was slower still...
 
she injected another cc and i drank some more contrast...i felt like it was going to come up...
 
she removed a 1/2 cc and i drank some more contrast...i felt like i had to burp...
 
she removed another 1/2 cc and i drank some more contrast and then some water...and i felt ok...
 
so i got a 2 cc fill today on top of the one from surgery...so 3 total in my 10cc band
 
i felt like a had a lump in my throat for the first hour afterward, but i feel better now...
 
i am now back to mushies for two days...she said it appears i am tighter in the morning and i should try to drink a shake or yogurt in the mornings...
 
that's it:) now the fun begins...i must remember to chew...

Ok i'm probably gonna be late for work but who cares. I FINALLY HIT ONEDERLAND!! i thought i did yesterday but wanted to make sure today and yep 199!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it was a long haul, but now i'm here. i believe i can make my goal in1.5 months!!!!! thanks for all the encourgement guys...ok gotta get to work!

I finally went to Lane Bryant to get fitted for bra's. I"m so sad that the girls are disappearing! UGH! one effect i didnt want. well anyway she helped my find my right size and she asked how i was losing weight and i gladly shared with her about my lap band. She thought it was great. She asked me what size i wore now and i said 12's/ she told me you are too small for anything in our store! I COULD HAVE KISSED HER! never in a million years would i ever think someone would say this to me. And normally i woiuld reward myself with food, but this totally motivated me to hit the gym as soon as i left the store! WOW that felt sooo good!!!

Okay, so I had my first fill last Thursday, 3/22, under fluoro. It was super quick and painless; I did have a little needle stick when Dr. G. put in the lidocaine, but when he injected my port, it was painless. By the way, my port is just above my belly button.
 
It was really cool to see my band on the X-ray....I kind of had that "seeing is believing" experience...especially since prior to being filled, I felt like I could eat anything.
 
I had liquids for 24 hours after the fill followed by 24 hours of mushies and then back to a regular diet. I can definitely feel the restriction (even with only 2 cc in my band).
 
Can't wait to see what this week brings...
 
 
Deana

Thinking back on this year I remember most wondering how far I'd be when the first year was up. Never did I imagine that I would have exceeded my goal and be at the bottom end of all of the weight I had to lose.
 
Today it's been 11 months, and I weigh around 130 pounds. A little less some days, a little more others. I haven't counted the inches lately, but it's a lot. I bought a new pair of capri jeans last week and they were a size 1/2. ONE/TWO!! What??? Those jeans are Maurices brand, and I'm pretty sure the sizes run big. They have to. Just a month ago I was wearing a size 28 waist. I was thinking that was around a size 7/8 I know I'm a little smaller than that now, but a size 1/2 seems ridiculously small. I tried on a size 26 waist and they were snug.. so I don't know. I'm thinking my true size might more accurately be about a 4 right now. My boyfriend looked at those pants and asked me if they were for a kid! Haha, very funny mister boyfriend! I continue to drop inches in a mad fashion, and I believe it's because I've been working out. A lot. I do the express circuit three times a week, walk/run on the treadmill at least twice a week and play racquet ball. I'm no good at racquet ball as far as the "rules" go. But it's such an amazing workout getting in there and pounding that ball around. And it's fun!! The guys from the free-weight room watch and laugh sometimes.. I'm sure I look like a complete dork in there (along with my daughter - in- law) running around, sometimes missing the ball, sometimes slamming it, and I always have my i-pod on with good move tunes playing, so I'm in my own little world so to speak... marching to the beat of my own life. Laugh mister weight lifters.. see if I care!!
 
I haven't had a fill in over 2 months. I don't need one at all. I have tons of restriction still, and I'm really happy with where I am. I don't eat much at all, and it amazes me that I don't need to. That's huge for me. My life once revolved around when my next meal was.. what I was going to eat, how much I was eating, etc. etc. Now I forget to eat sometimes. Weird. I remember thinking that people who "forgot to eat" must be insane. Who forgets to eat? But trust me, it does get to that point. The other thing I tend to forget (believe it or not) is that I don't wear a size 2XL or XL even anymore. I bought a couple of those little spaghetti strap tank top thingies at Walmart a few days ago (you know the ones that are like $4) and automatically bought a size XL. Oops! Not so much. I need a medium now. Some old habits die hard I guess.
 
I have bony parts of my body. Weird. I still freeze easily.. no fat to insulate. I'm looking forward to warmer weather and have really been enjoying the unseasonably warm spring like days we've been having lately.
 
I'm up and moving so much more than I ever did before now. I feel like it, for starters. But I think it's mostly because I can! Not that I couldn't before, well... okay I couldn't do a lot. But now I have energy, and ability, and suddenly a desire to not let too much grass grow under my feet. Don't get me wrong, I can still laze around with the best of them for awhile, and still enjoy snuggling up and watching a movie sometimes, but when it's time to move, it's time to move! I ran (literally) to my car last week for something and my oldest son said "Now you're just showing off" I said "What? Why?" He said "I've never seen you run for ANYTHING.... EVER" Hahaha! Silly boy! I didn't even realize I did it!
 
My boobs have shrunk! Seriously. It's like someone stuck a needle in them and let all the air out! Booooo! Remember when I couldn't wait for them to shrink? I thought that somehow they would just shrink a little, just be a smaller version of what they were.. but no. We're talking tube-sock with an orange in it pretty much. Ahh well. The photo you see here doesn't really show the whole tube sock concept...but bras these days are basically smoke and mirrors my friends! Unfortunately what you see isn't really what you get. Yeah, yeah, a little false advertising.
 
11 months ago I figured it would be 2 years before I wrote a blog like this one. At least 2 years. I have had a very short journey filled with amazing losses and amazing gains. I found my other butt in far less time than I dreamed possible (even though it really, really needs some firm and tone work, but looks awesome in jeans). I found my energy. I found my mojo. I found my life. I'm so grateful for the things this year has given and taken away. I will be back in another month with my one year pictures, and anything new to share. Thanks for your support and words of encouragement along the way!
 
 
Follow me at http://www.myotherbutt.blogspot.com

well today makes five weeks for me and i still can't believe that i am on this journey:) i guess it became really real for me when i went back to work this week for the first time since having surgery and everyone seemed to notice my weight loss...i was very shocked by this and a little uncomfortable i must say. when i look in the mirror it all looks the same and i really think it is. i started this journey wanting to lose 80 pounds and i am only down 27 pounds---14 pounds since surgery...not a real huge difference...but they noticed...
 
i am happy this week because i am finally in the 2teens which was the first goal i set for myself! i am 219, but a 2teen none-the-less:) i have been alternating my eating with the pre-op diet this week because i felt that i was stuck, meaning that i hadn't lost weight in two weeks...so M-W-F of this week are pre-op diet type days for me...my next goal is to be in the single digit 2's and then under 200 of course! i don't have dates set to meet these goals...so no pressure...right?!
 
i have still been eating soft meats, cooked veggies, and soft fruits and don't feel any restriction. i actually heard my stomach growling today, but i didn't feel ravished with hunger. i am still focusing on the difference between head and physical hunger...i have caught myself eating when i'm not really hungry and feel horribly guilty...i did this yesterday and was really upset with myself for finishing a whole salad when i was full after eating half:/ overeating a salad...wow! my first fill will be coming up next friday and i am nervous and ready!
 
i am still managing some type of cardio exercise daily and my weight regimen every other day...i have been alternating walking on the treadmill and taking the dog for a walk. there have been quite a few times before i went back to work t hat i would do both. i walk at least 3 miles a day and my best day i walked a little over 8!!! that included a slow walk with the hubby, a walk with the dog, and getting on the treadmill...this weekend i began a mission to buy bikes for me and the hubby and have been on craigslist like crazy...well we hit the jackpot today and got brand new beach cruiser type bikes for a steal. they were in perfect condition and we went riding this evening for 45 minutes and i truly felt like a kid again! it has been over 18 years since i have been on a bike and while i was a little wobbly in the beginning it all came back to me and i was soaring through my neighborhood zipping and zooming down streets that Miles (my dog) and i normally walk! i am so proud of myself (pat-pat) because last summer i barely left the house...
 
life is getting greater and i am feeling fine!!
 
btw way hubby is 8 days post-op and doing wonderful! he walked three miles today and rode bikes with me for 45 minutes:)

well today makes five weeks for me and i still can't believe that i am on this journey:) i guess it became really real for me when i went back to work this week for the first time since having surgery and everyone seemed to notice my weight loss...i was very shocked by this and a little uncomfortable i must say. when i look in the mirror it all looks the same and i really think it is. i started this journey wanting to lose 80 pounds and i am only down 27 pounds---14 pounds since surgery...not a real huge difference...but they noticed...
 
i am happy this week because i am finally in the 2teens which was the first goal i set for myself! i am 219, but a 2teen none-the-less:) i have been alternating my eating with the pre-op diet this week because i felt that i was stuck, meaning that i hadn't lost weight in two weeks...so M-W-F of this week are pre-op diet type days for me...my next goal is to be in the single digit 2's and then under 200 of course! i don't have dates set to meet these goals...so no pressure...right?!
 
i have still been eating soft meats, cooked veggies, and soft fruits and don't feel any restriction. i actually heard my stomach growling today, but i didn't feel ravished with hunger. i am still focusing on the difference between head and physical hunger...i have caught myself eating when i'm not really hungry and feel horribly guilty...i did this yesterday and was really upset with myself for finishing a whole salad when i was full after eating half:/ overeating a salad...wow! my first fill will be coming up next friday and i am nervous and ready!
 
i am still managing some type of cardio exercise daily and my weight regimen every other day...i have been alternating walking on the treadmill and taking the dog for a walk. there have been quite a few times before i went back to work t hat i would do both. i walk at least 3 miles a day and my best day i walked a little over 8!!! that included a slow walk with the hubby, a walk with the dog, and getting on the treadmill...this weekend i began a mission to buy bikes for me and the hubby and have been on craigslist like crazy...well we hit the jackpot today and got brand new beach cruiser type bikes for a steal. they were in perfect condition and we went riding this evening for 45 minutes and i truly felt like a kid again! it has been over 18 years since i have been on a bike and while i was a little wobbly in the beginning it all came back to me and i was soaring through my neighborhood zipping and zooming down streets that Miles (my dog) and i normally walk! i am so proud of myself (pat-pat) because last summer i barely left the house...
 
life is getting greater and i am feeling fine!!
 
btw way hubby is 8 days post-op and doing wonderful! he walked three miles today and rode bikes with me for 45 minutes:)

well today makes five weeks for me and i still can't believe that i am on this journey:) i guess it became really real for me when i went back to work this week for the first time since having surgery and everyone seemed to notice my weight loss...i was very shocked by this and a little uncomfortable i must say. when i look in the mirror it all looks the same and i really think it is. i started this journey wanting to lose 80 pounds and i am only down 27 pounds---14 pounds since surgery...not a real huge difference...but they noticed...
 
i am happy this week because i am finally in the 2teens which was the first goal i set for myself! i am 219, but a 2teen none-the-less:) i have been alternating my eating with the pre-op diet this week because i felt that i was stuck, meaning that i hadn't lost weight in two weeks...so M-W-F of this week are pre-op diet type days for me...my next goal is to be in the single digit 2's and then under 200 of course! i don't have dates set to meet these goals...so no pressure...right?!
 
i have still been eating soft meats, cooked veggies, and soft fruits and don't feel any restriction. i actually heard my stomach growling today, but i didn't feel ravished with hunger. i am still focusing on the difference between head and physical hunger...i have caught myself eating when i'm not really hungry and feel horribly guilty...i did this yesterday and was really upset with myself for finishing a whole salad when i was full after eating half:/ overeating a salad...wow! my first fill will be coming up next friday and i am nervous and ready!
 
i am still managing some type of cardio exercise daily and my weight regimen every other day...i have been alternating walking on the treadmill and taking the dog for a walk. there have been quite a few times before i went back to work t hat i would do both. i walk at least 3 miles a day and my best day i walked a little over 8!!! that included a slow walk with the hubby, a walk with the dog, and getting on the treadmill...this weekend i began a mission to buy bikes for me and the hubby and have been on craigslist like crazy...well we hit the jackpot today and got brand new beach cruiser type bikes for a steal. they were in perfect condition and we went riding this evening for 45 minutes and i truly felt like a kid again! it has been over 18 years since i have been on a bike and while i was a little wobbly in the beginning it all came back to me and i was soaring through my neighborhood zipping and zooming down streets that Miles (my dog) and i normally walk! i am so proud of myself (pat-pat) because last summer i barely left the house...
 
life is getting greater and i am feeling fine!!
 
btw way hubby is 8 days post-op and doing wonderful! he walked three miles today and rode bikes with me for 45 minutes:)

I have to say, I am simply amazed by this journey thus far! I wanted to post my story (in a condensed version) for those of you who are thinking about getting this procedure or have just begun your journey.
I have been overweight for as long as I can remember. I just ate what I wanted, and enjoyed it very much. I had little to no concern about my health. I remember in middle school, I would sit in my bedroom closet just eating a can of icing. How disturbing is that?! I finally started thinking about WLS about a year ago. My highest weight was 259 LBS. Although I didn't have any health issues, I had began to miss my monthly visitor (sorry for the TMI). This really concerned me because I desperately want children in my future and I knew that the direction I was going in would make that difficult. I went to meet with a surgeon, and got the ball rolling! My insurance required that I meet with a nutrionist for 6 months before surgery. Those 6 months just FLEW by! However, I had not originally planned on getting the Lapband. My heart was set on getting the Vertical Sleeve. A week before surgery, my Insurance Cordinator gave me a call saying that my insurance will not cover that surgery as I needed to have a BMI of 50. I was really far off. However, I COULD get the Lapband. So after crying my eyes out all day, I decided that this is how it was supposed to be and I agreed to get the Lapband. It was the best decision of my life!
I stayed one night in the hospital. It was my first surgery ever, and was relatively easy. The only difficult part was that I felt more comfortable resting in a chair than I did in the bed. I did not sleep much that night. Also, the first time they got me up to walk, I thought I was going to throw up and/or pass out. It got better.
Today, it is exactly 4 months since my surgery, which I got on November 21st 2011. Today, I am exactly 60 pounds lighter. Today, I am FINALLY in Onderland (199 pounds)!! It has been simply amazing!
I have had 2 fills. My doctor decided to hold off on another one due to the amount of weight I have lost. My weight loss has slowed down a bit, but I am still losing about 2 pounds a week. I will probably ask for another fill when I see him next month.
I know everyone says this, but the band really is a tool that YOU have to use. I believe you have to want to put some effort into this before even getting the surgery or it won't work for you. Your mind has to be in the right spot. You have to WANT to change. You have to be willing to give up some of the foods you love or at least only have them on a very rare occasion. You have to be willing to work out. I guess its possible to lose weight without working out, but you will lose more slowly and you may end up looking disproportionate. Thanks to the band, better choices, and the gym, I have lost 60 pounds. I never thought I would be here. I love to work out as it makes me feel so much better and I have so much more energy. I also do the Couch to 5K Program. I strongly suggest this program to anyone and everyone! Although I am only in the 4th week (9 weeks total) I am seeing an improvement. My thighs are smaller, I have lost inches, and I am more fit! Since my surgery, I have also lost 2 inches on my neck, 7 inches on my waist, and 6 inches on my hips. Oh, I also use myfitnesspal like a fanatic! Feel free to add me on there. My username is legnarevocrednu. Also, feel free to message me on here if you have any questions. Good luck to all of you on your journey! I still have about 54 pounds to lose, but I'm glad that I could finally post my story as a success!!

Today, March 19, 2012 is the start of a new life not just for me but my family as well. Today marks the beginning of a life for health, fitness and well being. When I started this journey on February 17th, I never thought that I would be here based on all the things I have heard and seen. Hearing my husband stating he would have to wait six months and reading his information, who would have thought that a month later I am starting my PreOp Diet. However, when I think back over my life, in 2002 I started Hydroxcut and lost 60 pounds and gained it all back with the birth of my son in 2003. In 2009 for one solid year, I took Adipex and lost 30 pounds and gained it all back. In 2011, I was a contestant in the Genghis Grill Health Kwest and lost 13 pounds and gained. So for almost 10 years, I have been trying to get this weight off and nothing work. I have decided to put my fears aside with this being a major surgery and starting to concentrate on what God has prepared for me ahead. This will be a huge milestone, but I am so happy I have the support from my husband and mom which means the world to me. To the wonderful support system on LapBand Talk, you are the absolute best anyone can ask for.
Yes, the next two weeks will be hard but I will make it even with me being sick right now. What I realize this morning is that it will be better for me to prepare everything for me to eat during the day to avoid eating the junk foods at work. But I am going to enjoy my soup and salad tonight like no other!
 

I haven't blogged in so long! I am currently almost 4 weeks post op and am getting ready for my first fill on Thursday morning. I have to be at the surgery center at 7:00 for my fill at 7:30....having it done under fluoroscopy. It should take about 5 minutes and I am SO ready for it!
I am hungry!!!!! I am trying very hard to follow the rules and so far have been able to do so.
 
Let's see what I've discovered so far in my journey:
*my stomach growls a lot
*even without fluid, I can't eat as much as before
*I need my water
*Remembering to take my vitamins is hard to do
*my incisions look incredible...i only have 2...one is a tiny one below my breastbone and the other at my belly button
*I've been very selective in choosing the people with whom I've shared about having surgery...those people have all been incredibly supportive
*I am steadily losing weight...with my home scale showing about 21 pounds as of this morning
*I feel incredible and have a lot more energy than I did 21 pounds ago
*choosing food at a restaurant is tricky
*finding time for exercise is sometimes a challenge while raising 2 boys and teaching
*my portion of my hospital bill so far is about $2200.00 (I'm not sure how many more bills need to be processed by BCBS)
*the things that I write here on this site have inspired others and that means the world to me
 
And finally....I've learned that for me, this has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. I don't regret it at all and pray that my positive experience continues.
 
Sending positive vibes to everyone on this journey!!!!
 
Deana

This has officially become easy... yes I said easy! I raise my heart rate for a few minutes and lose weight! My appetite is virtually non-existent, my growlies in my stomach tell me when to eat and now it doesn't take much to satisfy them! Even water does the trick when I'm out of calories for the day. I can eat what I want in 1/2 cup portions. Still try to use my calories wisely though. I drink at least 40 oz of water a day and eat an average of 800 calories. I did PB eating a piece of chicken wing the other night and I can tell you I used to do it like almost every day before I got my head in the game, and it was never as near painful! Even have to allow water to take its time going down right now. So right now I'm on cruise- control and my 15k investment is finally allowing me to do what I should have been doing years ago.....
 
 
Hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...... I exhale....
 
I am no longer worried that the weightloss is going to stop. I weigh myself everyday just to get the rush when I see it go down. If it goes up (cause there are days it does go up!) It doesn't phase me cause I know I need to eat 3500 calories to gain 1 lb of fat and there' s no way I'm eating any way near that amount, so it has to be water or something else. After doing some research on the basal metabolic rate(bmr), I think that many of us are being advised wrongly by using the calculators. The calculator told me I needed over 3000 cals for my bmr, having a somewhat sedentary lifestyle. But the body weight analyzer scale advised that I only needed 2200! So now I don't have unrealistic expectations about losing tremendous amounts of weight when I only need 2200 cals to maintain my current weight. I now realize that even if I starved myself and didn't do any exercise whatsoever, I would only manage to lose 4lbs per week! Also I find myself questioning the starvation mode theory. Afterall bypass patients have to eat way less than 1200 cals and they still lose weight. So if I can get in enough of my important nutrients such as protein in under 1000 cals, that's what I'll do. I find the scale sticks for long times whenever I try to go over 1000. Below 1000 works for me, it might not for you.
 
I am no longer worried that my loose cothes will start to get back tight! I wore a 22 jeans today and the legs have space!
 
My greatest joy comes from hearing my sons' and husband's remarks about how much they enjoy watching me shrink! lol
 
I have more energy now to actually get out of bed and make them lunch and they are thoroughy enjoying the healthier meals the're now getting, plus I'm getting in exercise by being out of bed an hour earlier. Win-win!
 
To my weightloss.... This morning, beginning of my 7 week, I weighed in at 310 lbs. That's 25lbs in the 6 weeks, 5lbs this week and 42 lbs down from my pre-op weight.
 
 
I am estatic! My BMI is exactly 50! So I know by next week it will be below 50. ESTATIC! Till next week......