daisychains7

Wow, crazy .2 made such a difference with your band. I like that so many doctors are going slow with fills though, so that we can adjust to the new way of eating each time. I only have 1cc in my band and am pretty sure I'm in the green zone. That's what my doctor tells me anyway. It took 1 fill. lol. My doctor put in 3ccs at the appt, I drank the Water and it was bubbling like crazy so she took 2ccs out. I am losing consistently, stay full for probably 4 hours (if I eat a quality, Protein heavy meal) and can never eat more than 1 cup. So far so good.

I have noticed I am tighter some days than others. I can eat the exact same thing two days in a row... one day I can eat 1 cup, the next day I am struggling to get in 1/2 that. I do find that unhealthier food goes through my band easier though. ironic.

Ouch! Were you banded recently? You are in my thoughts and please keep us posted.

5 weeks of liquids seems way over the top. I cannot believe any nutritionist or doctor would require that of a band patient... Wow. I'm so sorry. But if you can get through that, the recovery itself will be a breeze in comparison.

Yes, I've thought about it. I don't think I actually would go vegetarian, but eating certain types of meat is a pain in the butt now. I used to love beef before my surgery but now there's always gristle and it takes forever to chew down. I stick to chicken and fish.

"It hurts, it hurts, oh God, it hurts". Over and over again. Haha!

I am almost 4 months post op and am still scared to use my ab muscles too much. Which I know doesn't exactly help them get stronger. I am just so scared of pulling or doing something to my port. I still get discomfort near my largest incision if i do sit ups or twist wrong. Maybe I should look into alternative ab exercises.

I am so excited for you! Waiting is the hardest part, but you will know very soon

Welcome! I'm going to apologize in advance for my long winded answer. haha Every hospital is different. I'd recommend starting by going to an info session. At my info session they gave me a big packet where I filled in probably 10 forms about my medical history and mailed it back to the bariatric dept at the hospital. After review they set you up with an appointment to see a bariatrician, nutritionist, psychologist, get some basic labs and sleep study (this is all done within a couple hours). After all that I had to set up an appointment with my normal doctor because they require your doctor to sign off on you pursuing the surgery, and they wanted my doctor to do a physical. Next, I met with a nutritionist once a month for 6 months. My insurance required me to do that. Once completed they submitted my information to the insurance company for approval. Meeting with the actual surgeon is the very last step of the process, after you are approved. Sorry... I hope that makes sense. Start with an info session and they will get you started! Often the sessions are run by actual lapband surgeons at the hospital so you will get a chance to talk to them there.

Welcome and congrats to you! This is a great place to find support. The surgery will be over before you know it, and then the fun part begins

Love your attitude!! This is the best thing you could do for yourself and your family. It's not always easy but I would do the surgery all over again in a heartbeat.

That's a good question. I too get a soreness and pulling most of the time I lay on my left side. It scares me, so I only sleep on my stomach or right side. I am almost 4 months out so hope this discomfort goes away at some point.

I assume since you're only a week out you're still on liquids. I think my doctor had me on clear liquids for 10 days after surgery and yes, the entire time I was on liquids I felt pretty weak and low energy. It amazes me some people could exercise a few days after their surgery cuz the thought alone made me want to pass out. lol. Now is not the time to try and be superwoman... you need to take time to recover. Everything you're saying is legitimate considering you cannot get proper nutrition yet. Are you able to start taking vitamins again? Are you drinking enough water and protein? Don't hesitate to call your doctor for ideas.

"Yesterday you said tomorrow." - Nike ad "Unless you puke, faint, or die, keep going." - Jillian Michaels I am a big basketball fan and a lot of Michael Jordan quotes inspire me too.

OMG, I used to looove chipotle chicken burritos. Kind of crazy to think I used to eat an entire burrito plus chips and salsa, especially when you see nutrition facts. I have gotten the burrito bowl once since surgery and that was alright, but I have been craving that burrito for 2 weeks now. I am debating whether it's ok for me to go, but instead get the chicken tacos. Same taste but portioned out (since I could not eat more than 1 taco at this point anyway). Hmm

Shopping in regular stores, going on a roller coaster, too many to count. But most recently catching my reflection in the mirror during Zumba class and realizing how much smaller I looked since starting in January. I was no longer the heaviest person in the room... A surreal feeling.

Wow. So toxic. While the people in my family were not quite that extreme I do relate to what you're saying. I basically grew up in a single parent house with my mom and sister. My sister has always been petite, but would love and treat me the same if I was 90 or 900lbs. My mom on the other hand is very superficial. I was made to feel I wasn't good enough or attractive constantly. "you would be pretty... If you could just lose weight", "no one would be attracted to a heavy person.. You can't blame them"... "you could find a husband if you'd just lose weight". Unfortunately, the way she felt about me really became the way I felt about MYSELF. I still battle it DAILY, despite having lost a ton of weight. At 23 I'm trying to build my self esteem from scratch. It sounds like therapy may be a good idea. Don't let the weight hold you back like it did all those years. That's no way to live. If you are anything like me the relationship you have with your parents only makes emotional eating get worse. You need to create some healthy boundaries between yourself and your mother if this is going to work. You have the power now!! If you ever need support we are here for you.

I agree with what's been said. Also - flip flops so you don't have to bend over to take them off at security. Trust me that is the LAST thing you want to do a day after surgery!!

It's the worst, isn't it? If people could hear the conversations I have in my head every single day they would think i'm crazy. I may not give in to my cravings (don't think I am ready to indulge in moderation yet) but i am always aware of the yummy foods around me. I will stand in the grocery store aisle for 5 minutes holding an item that isn't healthy, debating whether or not to buy it. And going into a restaurant I used to love is like going into battle. LOL! I am grateful to have these boards where people understand what it's like to struggle with this.

Hi Laura! I am 3 months post op so new to the bandster lifestyle. Yes, there are bad days sometimes and there are sacrifices. I am still trying to work through some of the emotional stuff that comes with weight loss. Your relationship with food will change, and your relationship with your significant other might too. If you are not 100% sure, that's ok. Talk to your surgeon and bring a list of questions. You may want to go to a support group or therapist. Why not start making small changes now (regular exercise, portion controlled healthy meals) and see where your head is at in a month or two? Personally I have no regrets whatsoever because I feel healthier and better about myself than I ever have. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

That makes me so sad, Doreen. The guilt and depression over your percieved failures in the past all feeds into the bad habits. I know because I did that for years and it is SO hard to break that cycle mentally. Don't give up on yourself. The fact that you are here posting shows that you still want this. Is there a WLS support group in your area you can attend? Are you exercising? I know with your health issues you have pain, but how about walking or water aerobics? I am not sure based on your post what you are eating? Like others said... Start small. Get rid of all unhealthy or trigger foods in the house. Please reach out to your surgeon and nutritionist as they are best equipped to help you. Tell a family member about your appointment and have them pick you up for it so you cant skip out.

Try not to freak out. Things may be up and down for a while. Really 2 lbs is not much... Within a day it's normal to fluctuate between Water retention or eating too much sodium. What kind of foods are you eating? I gained 8 lbs when I went from post op liquids to mushy foods. I was NOT happy considering I had followed my doctors orders exactly. But things stabilized a few weeks after that. There's no point torturing yourself with the scale those first couple months.

For me, the pre op and post op liquids were the hardest part of this process by far! I was constantly irritated, anxious, hungry or crying. LOL. What you are going through is normal. You may want to stay away from people at meal time. Go for walks, look at skinny clothes online, journal. Remind yourself it's only temporary, and soon you will on the road to meeting all your goals. If you have the self control to do this, you can do anything!

OMG! You look awesome! I recently donated 4 trash bags worth of my "fat clothes"... It was kind of cleansing knowing I will never wear them again. I did keep my jeans from my heaviest weight and do the cheesy weight loss pose in the mirror. LOL