I feel like I have a lot going for me. I'm 23 years old, a nurse, have my own apartment, car, pay my own bills. I have lost 50+ lbs since my surgery and have more confidence now than I have ever had in my life. I do get more attention from guys, but they all seem to be douchebags or at least 20 years older than me (No, really, the majority of attention I get is from older guys and I don't really know why that is). I have been told by so many people to not go looking for boyfriend material in a bar, but I don't know where else to go! I just feel really lonely and feel like I am at a good place in my life and want to share all these new experiences I am having with somebody. So does anyone have any advice as to where I can meet a good, decent guy?
I found this article and it made a lot of sense. I thought I would share with my fellow pre-bands and it could also be a useful tool for the banded that have slipped a bit. Please feel free to read and follow the link!
food, he measures his food, and when he needs to get an adjustment, he comes in. Recently Bill had a bit of pouch dilation so we had to remove Fluid for a few weeks and rehabilitate his band (he had been eating a bit too fast over the last months and started to notice heart burn.). During the band rehabilitation Bill gained 2 pounds.
X-rays of successful patients
Take a piece of food, like meat, and put some x-ray material on it (kinda ruins the taste) and have a successful patient eat it. How fast do you think it goes from above the band to below the band? Pretty quickly- usually less than a minute, but for most about 30 seconds.
We use to think that food stayed above the band and slowly dripped down – like coffee through Mr. Coffee filters. But it doesn’t. Food, in successful patients- goes through quickly.
What about patients who are not successful and talk to us about wanting the band tighter and more “restricted.” Their food stays above the band longer. They have more episodes of “productive burps” more trouble with meats and vegetables. But if you ask the unsuccessful patient they will tell you, “I know my band, and this is how I lost weight before.” It probably wasn’t- but now they think the answer is to make the band tighter and tighter.
Drinking and eating
Successful patients eat and drink at the same time. We use to think this wasn’t a good idea, and some patients from those days don’t eat and drink at the same time- and tell us it makes a difference.
Exercise
Did you know that 77% of our successful patients exercise. Lots do weight training, some cardio, but they work out and do it a lot and enjoy it. A very small per cent did that before the band. Exercise isn’t how they stay thin- but if you ask them, “When I exercise, I don’t want to waste calories on something stupid and give up all I did.”
Unsuccessful patients tell us they didn’t exercise last month (the month before they came to the office).
Measure everything
They don’t “eyeball it,” they measure it. And in fact, they often don’t trust their own eyes because when they don’t measure for a few days and then test themselves they are shocked at how much they start to eat. Jacquie weighed 260 pounds when she started with us. One year later she weighed 130 pounds. What was her secret — she measured everything, “Everything I ate I put in those little cups.” Oh, after a year she got her first fill (her band was a bit lose).
Unsuccessful patients tell us “I eat less than I ever did, and I just don’t understand.” Do they measure? No- they eyeball. Test this right now – get a measuring cup out and cut up the meat you would think is your portion for dinner.< /p>
Successful patients know that they eat less for the first year or 18 months, then they increase the amount. Unsuccessful patients increase the amount.
Never hungry, never full
“I just live by never being hungry, but I never want to get full either,” said one of our patients. She ate every four hours, but never much, and she had gone from 220 to 125 in a year.
Patients who are not successful tell us that they “can eat more than I should.” The answer is, they always could eat more – the band does not physically prevent them. But when you eat to feeling “full” you will eat more than you should. When you know how much you need to eat to avoid getting hungry, and not go over that, the answer is weight loss.
Accountability
Everyone has setbacks. But successful patients get up, come back in, and get adjusted. Sometimes it is their head, sometimes it is there band.
Unsuccessful patients blame everything but themselves: be it drugs they are taking, a lack of exercise, or stress. The successful patient learns from the mistakes they made, know their trigger and figure it out. We had one patient get upset because she was on prednisone, had thyroid issues, had orthopedic issues, and just thought we were not nice because we didn’t accept that as an excuse (we would have the first time, maybe the second time, but a year of excuses to not lose weight with the band).
Food restrictions
Successful patients will tell you that they eat differently now than before surgery. Unsuccessful patients tell us that their diet can’t change because they are picky eaters, and their diets have not changed. In spite of signing the consent form, which on page 2 says they are willing to change lifestyle- these patients don’t change the most fundamental issue- what they eat, and where they eat it. Bad food, and too much of it, is bad food.
Visits
Successful patients see us about 6-11 times the first year, and 4-6 the second. Unsuccessful patients see us either much less – or a few see us more.
Want to change?
Consider this- there is nothing that is difficult if you are willing to change. Let the lapband be the tool. Our 90 day challenge is meant for those who either need to re-focus, get rid of things, and then begin again. Never stay down- always come back.
So as most of you know, cigna has required a 6 month supervised diet for awhile now. I consisently hear how much trouble people have with insurance companies approving lapband. Why in the world would cigna go and make it easier?! beats me but i LOVE it!!!
I went for my 3rd visit today and the woman at the desk informed me i had a change in insurance and wondered if i was aware. well no i definately was not aware. She had me thinking it was something bad and finally she said.. "today is your last visit! Cigna now only requires a 3 month supervised diet". holy crap that excites the poo outta me! now it looks as if ill be getting banded in june rather than september/november! i think this is the best news i've heard all year
Yes everyone is different. I have only lost 7 pounds and my fiancé lost 17 and we had surgery together. Yes you are healing right now so don't worry if no pounds come off. You actually start when u are on solids again. Good luck
So exciting! I was really worried about the pre-op diet but it was way easier than I expected and it went by faster than I thought it would. I think it's easier knowing that you HAVE to stick to the pre-op diet, otherwise they might decide not to do it if your liver hasn't shrunk enough. The fear from that alone definitely kept me on track. haha. What does your pre-op diet entail? I've heard different things.
Thank you! Congrats to you too! It's so soon, feels kinda surreal, right?
The day of surgery I actually felt pretty good afterwards, but thats because I was still super loopy and doped up from the anesthesia. Make sure you don't overdo it and just constantly keep hydrated. Definitely buy some sugar free popsicles - so yummy. Walk a lot, even if it's just up and down the halls in your house while the tv is on. Make sure you're sleeping enough and don't bend down or stretch too far (ask for help, i'm a stubborn ass and pushed it a little too far a couple times). Definitely use your ice pack. Ummm...I'l let you know if I think of more. And don't worry, you can message me as soon as your surgery is done if that!
How is your preop diet going?
goldielocks<3 got a reaction from ☠carolinagirl☠ in Banded On 5/10/12 :)
goldielocks<3 got a reaction from nela mariposa in Banded On 5/10/12 :)