sp1587

Very good to hear! The number just sounds to scary hah! And hey, my first 5k was last December, so keep at it!!! (And can I just say how insane it is to hear the word "athlete" describe you after being overweight for so long!)

I hope all went well! Honestly, I was terrified too (well, parts of me) but mostly excited to finally be able to move forward. I'll probably start crying while I'm at work right now if I get too into it- but I cannot possibly tell you the multitude of ways my life has become infinitely better since May 2012 when I had my surgery. I hike, I run, I run reasonably well haha, I swim, I bike, I do aerial yoga and aerial silks (I can FLY!- which sounds over dramatic but I promise its not, its really that awesome), I get to wear a halloween costume from Fredericks (no shame), I've done countless obstacle course races and am going for more, and completed my first triathlon (I came in 4th in my age division!) last month. Your world is going to be a wonderful place, and while all of it will be hard, and a lot of it will be terrifying, it will 150% all be worth it.

So, just an honest opinion here from experience- I used to smoke constantly, and smoked even a few days after surgery. I had found that I didn't like how hungry it made me feel and I felt a little out of control- of course, that is all personal experience. I used to have the munchies before being banded, but how it made me feel after being banded was different. I started smoking regularly again after losing about 70lbs from May-November and I saw a serious slowing of progress. This summer I cut it out again, besides occasional (maybe once a month?) indulgence because I found when swimming and running I could feel it in my lungs (I also quit smoking cigarettes) and I was training for a triathlon and saw no sense in waking up at 5am every day and working out all the time and measuring food if I was going to keep smoking. I don't drink because I won't do the carbonation, the fruit juice mixers, and I have no desire in being the drunk girl after too many shots or whiskeys- though I have had a drink here and there. Its not the end of the world, but everyone here is right that your priorities may change once you've gone through getting banded and making healthier life choices. Now I spend my weekends hiking and biking instead of Netflix and weed, though, it happens rarely- and do yourself a favor and use a vaporizer if you're going to smoke (banded or not). Your lungs will thank you, and so will your wallet (no carcinogens from the smoke, only pure THC vapors = weed will last you longer and so will your lungs)

So, I know this varies from person to person, for obvious reasons... But I started seeing a trainer to work on losing the last of this weight and improve my triathlon times for next season, and he had me up my calories to 1000-1200 a day (all clean eating, and broken into portions no more than 8oz throughout the day) but going from eating about 800-900 when my band in the earlier stages (Im only a year and half out, but it feels like forever now ha) to 1200 feels like a LOT. I had some fluid removed a while ago and and having a fill next week and hoping with the small portions and food choices I can still get in the calories needed with some restriction (now I'm basically going entirely by weighing everything, which I have to do for training anyways). I guess I'm just wondering if anyone else has had the same concerns (eating too many calories) as they increase their fitness levels- turns out you can't eat 800 calories and workout 2x a day haha

When I had my TT they moved it from the belly button area up towards essentially my abs- I'm worried now it will stick out as I continue cutting fat and those abs peak out- is there somewhere else it can be relocated to, or would that just be a swap for a low profile port?

My port used to be lower, closer to the side of my belly button, but when I had my TT in March they relocated it higher up to essentially my ab area. As I cut fat and my abs start peaking out I'm becoming increasingly concerned about it sticking out a lot- has anyone had this experience, did you learn to live with it, or did you have it moved? and if so, to where? thanks in advance!

I do all of the things you've mentioned and only have shoulder pain from preexisting issues. I have experienced the same shoulder pain in relation to eating or being hungry, and once when I was running up Mt. Kilington at a recent Spartan Championship- but it soon went away with some water and stretching. Learning some stretches to help is good, but sometimes it is nerve pain from your stomach appearing in your shoulder.

I had surgery May 2012 and have not found any exercise I can't do, nor have I been told I shouldn't. Sometimes when I do body rolls for aerial silks class I can feel when I roll over my port now, but besides that I don't even know its there!

Monday was two weeks- I have both drains out finally, and feel MUCH better. Back to work next week, took an extra week off as I go to law school at night. I've returned to school this week, so easing back into things. Thanks for all of the helpful tips- will post photos soon!

I used Dr. Haag from PVSA, and have had a WONDERFUL experience. Now, if you want a super personal experience, they are a high volume practice, so it might not be for you. I had also been at the Weight Management Program from Baystate Hospital before going over to PVSA for surgery.

Surgery on Monday! I got everything ready, and even have an electric recliner coming tomorrow since it was pretty cheap and seemed worth having if need be. Excited and nervous!

Ah so exciting! Congratulations! Mine is Monday and I'm starting to get nervous (also doing breast lift and some lipo). Glad it went well!

Thanks- Good luck to you as well!

Thank you-- I heard some people wear sweatpants with pockets for the drains? Did you try that at all? I'm also debating renting a lift recliner as my bed is very tall. The other option is sleeping in a lower twin in the guest room. My mom will be staying with me for the first 3 days to help. I'm assuming no showering until after the drains come out? Better prepare her! lol

I should also mention that I will have drains for a few days. How long did people have to wear compression garments?

I know a few threads have gone up about this in the past, but I'm hoping to get suggestions of things to pick up to be prepared for surgery and recovery time. I'll be doing a tummy tuck with breast lift and some lipo. Any tips or thoughts on what to expect are also much appreciated!

Thank you!

Thank you everyone!

Does anyone have one they love?

My last fill was just before the holidays, and I've noticed my left shoulder hurts sometimes, and it seems to be if I've forgotten to eat in a bit. Does this happen to anyone else? I freaked out a little bit because my "handbook" from the surgeon said shoulder and chest pains can be signs of slippage? Is it weird to have them do an x-ray or something and check on it? After surgery I had similar pain in my shoulder, but MUCH MUCH worse, which I found out was just pain that comes from your diaphragm. Not sure if its the same idea here.

Thanks for the feedback! I decided being close to my doctor was important to me following surgery, and have booked with someone here in Massachusetts.

Absolutely, I just wonder how much of a deficit is a good thing each day, I guess?

I have been getting the recommended caloric intake, usually between 8-1200 depending on the day (i know recommendations vary here). However, some workouts I do burn between 6-900 calories, which concerns me as I have long days and am feeling fairly fatigued. Has anyone adjusted their intake based on work outs? I'm using Protein shakes with fruit for recovery shakes (replacing protein and simple sugars as you should), and hitting recommended goals for all other food groups in the day. Hoping to talk to my nutritionist soon, but wanted to see what you all experienced...

Again, hard to tell depending on if you've been banded, etc. That being said, I had awful GERD for almost 10 years with daily meds and yearly endoscopies and a few months after being banded I was able to stop the meds. I know for some people the band causes reflux, depending on foods, and I certainly still avoid many of the acidic foods that bothered me before, but you may see relief when you lose weight. I would recommend seeing a gastroenterologist to narrow it down either way. Also, if you have GERD, rather than simple heart burn, you'll want to monitor it as some get scarring in their esophagus.

While having your father's support is ideal, I'm sure, do you need it to move forward? Being 25 when I had it done, I was living on my own but my parents and I are very close. I had told them about this and my decision, and it took them some time to come around. For some of my friends and roommates, I had them come to a support group meeting to see what it involved, and that was helpful. Do what you feel is right, and be sure its an informed decision. I find that generally in life, even if people disagree with your choices, they can respect them--that might be the best bet here.