jen_1381

Nice to "meet" you Megan! I was just banded May 18th. I turn 29 in a few months and refuse to enter my 30s obese. So far I'm loving everything about this process. It's taught me SO much. Good luck on your journey!!

I just considered my past failures at dieting and knew that I needed help. Before surgery, especially through the pre-op diet, I found that reading a book or listening to my iPod helped keep my mind busy and off the nervous thoughts. If it helps at all, I was pretty on-the-fence, almost cancelled the day before, but decided to go through afterall and so far I feel like it's the best decision I ever made.

I really thought I would go crazy, having my "Last Meal". I ended up having Panda Express the night before I saw the surgeon, thinking that I would go all out the night of the appointment and indulge in the Five Guys burger and fries and top it off with a Blizzard....but I had a change of heart after seeing the surgeon and decided to start the pre-op diet that night and had a salad. I really am an all-or-nothing girl, and I couldn't see comitting myself to the band if I still felt like I HAD to have those foods. Do I regret not going all out? Some days Especially today eating my puree green beans!

At two weeks post-op you really can't eat whatever you want. Your stomach is still healing and putting solid food in it right now....well, I'm about 13 days post-op and the thought of it sends panic through me. This is the "white-knuckle" phase where you have to work through it. Exercise. Read a book. Drink water. Find something to block those thoughts. Most people take multiple fills to feel restriction. At this stage it really is "mind over matter" and you are putting yourself at risk by eating whatever you want. Sorry I don't have better advice for you Just tell yourself you ARE strong and you CAN do this. Keep your goal in mind....

Jannaboo - I think it really boils down to surgeon preference. My surgeon strongly stuck to full liquids after surgery because your stomach needs time to heal without having to "work" to break down food. I started the puree only one day before the two week transition point, but I also saw him in the office for my post-op visit that day.

Don't be jealous!! I started measuring from when I met the surgeon, which was 11 days before surgery. He didn't put me on a Pre-Op Diet per se, just said to eat responsibly until the day before than clear liquids. I've only lost 5 lbs since surgery, but considering I put back on 4 the few days after surgery, I'm happy with losing what I gained plus a few!

I was banded 5/18 and hit 25 lbs lost this morning! The first week after surgery I never felt hungry. I started pureed food Wednesday and find that I am starting to get the hunger feelings every now and then. I was worried that when I started pureed that I may gain since I was finally eating food, but I've started losing faster. Good luck in your journey!!

Mine was pretty random actually. I am the same height as my sister (5'8") and she weighs around 145 lbs. To me, she looks too thin for our build. Last year I got down to 180 and felt great...so 165 seemed like a happy medium as well as a realistic goal. When I met with my surgeon he said that was the ballpark range he thought would be best for me, between 155-165. I am so bad at buying the right size (even at 180, I was a 12 in some stuff and would still shop in plus size) so I can't shoot for a particular size. I think I'll just lose until I'm comfortable in my skin...or at least until my stash of Victoria Secret underwear fit!!

Hey all! I'm new to the Summer Challenge. I was just banded on 5/18 and so far feel fantastic. Here's my info: Name, real or screen~ Jen, or jen_1381 Goal weight for June 30th~ 210 lbs Weight on June 1st ~ 220.6 lbs Age~ 28 Dietary goal for June~ Transition into the regular eating plan (I'm on mushies now!) Exercise goal for June~ Do something active every day, rain or shine. Personal goal for June~ Get my husband eating healthier too! Date banded~ 5/18/12 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 22 lbs What is your favorite summer activity~ Jogging along the Columbia River.

I LOVE the Insanity workout. Well, it's a love/hate. I hate getting ready to do it, kind of hate doing it, then LOVE it after I'm done. I picked Insanity over P90X because I didn't need to buy any other equipment (chin-up bar, etc). I did Insanity all the way through last year, now I just do a workout or two casually. It's an excellent full body routine.

Okay Kristy, it's mind over matter time. YOU CAN DO THIS! Sometimes drinking water will help me overcome the hunger feeling. Can you go for a jog or get active somehow? That may help take your mind off of it. Think of your goal....and remember that everything you put in your body directly impacts your weight, positive or negative.

I won't wish you luck because you'll be in the hands of very skilled doctors and nurses. The morning of surgery, I was a little scared, so I just told myself "I'm going to do this, I'm going to be absolutely fine, and I'm going to feel GREAT". I woke up in recovery and when they asked how I felt, I responded with "fantastic". I've kept that attitude rolling, and I've never been happier!

Well, I use my dog as my picture, just because she's so dang cute! If you're not comfortable with it then maybe just take the pics and put them on a file on your computer? That's what I did. As far as it being "safe", unless some of your family are really THAT suspicious and nosy they would troll around a support group to find you, I say do what you're comfortable with. Really though, everyone I've encountered on here has been nothing but supportive. It's an amazing group of people!

I had my two week post-op appointment with the surgeon this morning and he was delighted. He said I'm doing well beyond his expectations for two weeks post-op, that it's not uncommon at all to have people come in 2 weeks out and weigh the same as pre-op. After surgery, your body goes into a whirlwind and you retain water, pack on the lbs without doing anything. He also cleared me to start pureed food. Hummus, here I come!! I told him about the pain I get after I drink and am sitting. It's under my left shoulder blade and is like a constant cramp. He said that this far out it's probably not air, it's most likely that the band has irritated the diaphragm, which has nerves that connect to the left shoulder and base of your neck. We'll watch it for a few weeks, see if it gets better, if not we'll make a plan. What that plan entails, I have no idea. The pain isn't intolerable, just annoying. In other news, I finally got my next tattoo design locked down and am getting it inked into place on Friday. Every life changing event I like to commemerate with a tattoo, and this one is perfect for my next journey.

I understand, but you also need to give yourself credit for making such an amazing decision. My family was pretty critical of me getting the band, they didn't think I was "big enough" (I started at 243 lbs). While I'm not worried about people finding out, I do find that I'm hesitant to say "I had lap band" when they ask how I'm losing weight, because so many people don't understand. Lap Band surgery is NOT a cop-out. It is NOT the easy way out. It requires a ton of hard work and dedication to be successful. It was a very personal decision, one that I made on my own with my husbands input (which, by the way, he was against surgery at first too). Everyone deserves privacy, and you can give them the honest truth - "I've changed my diet and started exercising" or "I made some lifestyle changes". They don't need to know the details.

I agree with NWgirl - ask your surgeon or dietician. My team strongly suggested 20 minutes before meals and 30 after, to ensure the food gets to digest and not just washed down leaving you more hungry.

If you feel that you have a true food addiction, I highly recommend seeing a psychologist or counselor. It was a pre-op requirement for me, and I ended up seeing a counselor for a few more visits after my initial consult. My overeating was directly related to how I was (or actually, wasn't) dealing with a childhood trauma. I always felt like I had to be busy, so if I wasn't fidgiting with something I was eating. Really, I was just super stressed 24/7 and had to learn how to relax. Since you still have the band, if you want to lose weight I would start over. See a psychologist, get back in touch with your surgeon and nutritionist, and try again.

I was banded on 5/19 and am still on the full liquid phase. I'm sticking exactly to the plan my doctor gave me. Part of his full liquid plan includes greek yogurt and non-fat pudding. Whenever I eat either of those I feel full for quite some time, BUT the last time I ate "real" food was May 13th. Are you at the "mushies" stage yet? And if so, are you following a meal guideline? The menu/food list is developed the meet the nutritional requirements your body needs, so if you're following that then you shouldn't be eating too much. Also - right after surgery you would have had some swelling that may have provided restriction, but until you get the fills and get to the green zone, you probably won't feel any restriction from what I've read/heard. My surgeon said to not plan on feeling like you're banded (besides the post-op discomfort) for the first few months, and in that time it's when your head needs to take control.

My reasons are both deep and superficial (I'll admit it!) - to fit into all the cute Victoria Secret underwear I have. - to be comfortable in my own skin. - to not be bigger than my husband. - to be able to look at myself in the mirror and not cringe. - to get rid of my high blood pressure and prevent diabetes. - to look on the outside how fabulous I am starting to feel in the inside. - more than anything I want my doctor to remove the "morbidly obese" diagnosis from my chart.

I'm only about 10 days post op but I don't think I've ever been so sure of something in my life, besides marrying my husband! I did tons of research prior though, and everyone stressed along the way that the band is a helpful tool. It was not a magical thing that will just melt the lbs off. I needed a life change. Im sorry if you feel deceived. It sounds like you did amazing at first. Maybe start over? Get an unfill and meet with a nutritionist?

I'm one week out from surgery and honestly, I feel great. I thought I would have a tougher time not eating - I can't eat mushies until June 1st - but I'm really not feeling that hungry. Every now and then I get that stomach growl but I've been following the diet exactly, so I know that I'm getting adequate nutrition. I've been a little discouraged the past few days, before surgery I lost 21 lbs and since surgery I've gained back 3. I don't quite understand why - I'm living off liquids for goodness sakes! - but I know my body is just adjusting to everything and the losing will start once I'm healed. I weigh myself every morning, always have, but I think I need to give myself a break. I look at the scale, see that I've gained a pound or didn't lose any after my great eating the days before, and get a little angry. I follow up with the surgeon on the 30th, I think I'll just put the scale away until then. I know I'm doing everything right, so it will change...just have to be patient I guess!

My dietician recommended adding a splash of sugar free coffee syrup (like the Toranni) to the shakes if they get boring. I drink the Body Fortress and they're actually pretty good with skim milk. Vanilla with a splash of sugar free Carmel syrup will be dinner tonight

Diane, you are amazing. Thank you for the positive note. I was just banded on May 18th and I know I have a long road ahead, but I've fully embraced the accountability and responsibility that goes with the band. You have such a great attitude, and I wish you all the best!

I have concluded that the pain is residual air from the surgery. I checked with my surgeons assistant yesterday, reviewed everything I've done and how I'm doing it, and she said that I'm absolutely on track, it's just air pain trapped. I find that lying flat gets rid of it. Honk - I agree every surgeon seems to have a different post-op diet. I was directed to do the first two days of either Water or Protein shake, then advance to the full liquid diet for two weeks. The only non-liquid food the surgeon has on his plan is the non-fat greek yogurt, but it can't have seeds or chunks. The fat free greek yogurt seems to be pretty thin also - nearly the consistancy of the tomato soup. I feel better knowing that it's not pain from eating at all. I'm post op 6 days now and feel amazing. I actually felt hungry last night...but that could have just been smelling the chicken my husband was cooking Thank you all for your input and support!

Thank you all for the reassurance. I guess I just got that old panic feeling back like I used to when I would get on a good roll with a diet then stop losing. Maybe because I feel so much better already post-op, I just figure that my body is healed too. I kind of forget that my organs went through some trauma with the band and hernia repair I'll just continue to practice my patience and see how it turns out after a few more weeks.