Fallbride

See you all there!

Honestly, I attribute my success so far to a few things... Following my surgeons advice/rules (I hit a wall for three weeks and realized that I wasn't following some of the rules). As soon as I began to follow them more closely, I started losing again. I will not do anything that I think contributed to me getting to 426lbs. If eating in the car did that, then I don't. If going to a party thinking I'll find something healthy, I prepare. Excellent support from others on sites like this one and on youtube. There is no greater expert than someone who has been there through all of it before you. Try not to make excuses. If I gain it's because I didn't do what I was supposed to. If I'm honest with myself I can figure out what I did wrong and not blame the scale. my period. the universe, etc.

Hi, everyone! Just checking in.. banded on 10/12/12 and down a total of 98lbs since I first saw the surgeon in July so 53lbs since the surgery. Doing well and due for my third fill later in January,. Hope everyone else is losing and grooving!

I've always been a fast loser but thanks for the kind thoughts! It's not about how fast but whether I can keep it up and keep it off if you know what I mean. Started exercising for the first time since the banding and I am getting up at 5:30am to go to the gym pool. I do 40 minutes of laps and then go to work. People ask me all the time how I have lost so much so quickly and the truth is, I follow the doctor's orders pretty carefully. I really have it in my head that this is my new life and anything I did before including the negative thinking got me to be 426lbs at 40 years old. I am changing everything including my internal thoughts. It's hard but its working! I also see a mental health counselor to help me work through my feelings. I'm finding myself telling people what I really think (because I am not stuffing my feelings down with food). It's very new for me and I sometimes get amotional about it. It's like I am breaking up with a long time love and it you have to relearn how to live differently.

Just wanted to stop in and say hello to my fellow October bandsters. I was banded 10/12/12 and I'm down 84 pounds (20 from when I saw the surgeon in July to the pre-op diet and 25 on the pre-op diet). Feeling pretty good and looking forward to my second fill on Dec 20th. I still get hungry between meals so hoping the second one does the trick!

If you are only two days post op, you will need to practically have the cup in your hand all day. This is because the swelling from your surgery is preventing the liquid from going down. This happend to me for about four days and it began to ease as the swelling went down and I was able to drink more at a time. Just keep trying and it will happen!

The nutritionist at my center said it isn't unusual for people to gain a bit before the first fill. Just keep watching your diet that they prescribed to you.

Hello everyone, I was banded on 10/12 and I am down 66 pounds so far. 20 were on my own between my first visit with the surgeon in July to the beginning of the pre-surg diet and 25 were from the pre-surg diet so I'm down 21lbs in the month since my surgery. Feeling terrific and was given permission to start exercising and swimming. Normally I'd have my first fill after 6 weeks but it falls on Thanksgiving. The surg said I could have it one week early. So happy about this since I am really starving each day but sticking to my soft food diet. Even did well with no power for 8 days due to Hurricane Sandy. Power's back and I'm feeling great! I did have my first "got stuck feeling" this morning. I was eating scrambled eggs and working on the computer. I was not paying attention to how fast I was eating and all of a sudden I got this tight feeling in my chest.. not fun! Not eager for that to happen again so I know I need to be more careful.

Good Luck today!

Saw some friends last night who have not seen me in a while and they all oohed and ahhed over my weight loss. I was excited since those that see me every day have been asking me if I got a haircut or telling me that I look rested. Scars are really starting to heal and I can finally sleep comfortably on my stomach so I am sleeping better! YAY! Hope you all have a good day!

The first night was the toughest for me but don't be afraid to ask for more pain meds. Sleep is so healing so if you can get comfortable, do it. I will keep you in my prayers tonight.

I don't know that anyone does not take surgery seriously. I just beleive that some people have completly mentally prepared for a full and permanent lifestyle change. Others think they have and the struggle. Did they do all the research, are they willing to be uncomfortable? Do they have the support system in place? I don't know if I will be successful because I can't see the future. All I know is that I tried to make every possible preparation I can to make sure that I am successful. I have been seeing a mental health counselor for three years, I have a wellness coach online, I have spoken to four friends who have had the surgery, I have prepared my family for what is to come (as best as I know) how, I've cleaned out the house of bad food, purchased the food I know I need, watched videos of other bandsters for hours, and on and on. I may fail but it won't be for lack of trying. And if I stumble, I will pick myself up and try again. I can't ever say that I've had this particular mindset about losing weight ever before. It's kind of like a Weight Watchers meeting. Everyone comes in all gung ho but after a while you see people start to cheat. They start talking about how they were able to eat their daily points in brownies and still lost that week. They game the system for a while and you know what, they drop out soon after. How do I know this? I was one of them. The alternative to doing what I need to do to shed this weight is death. Sorry to be so dramatic but that's how I truly feel. I remember a man on Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition saying that the next step after 518lbs (his highest weight) was death and I totally understand what he means. I want life and I want to LIVE it not just exist or survive. This is a radical change from where I've been but I need radical change!

' Fallon, I can TOTALLY relate to this. I find it difficult to listen when people talk about how the doctor told them to do A but they are going to do B because they don't like A. I just want to follow doctor's orders. Why? Because every single successful bandster I know in person and online has said they followed doctor's orders. I want to be the poster child for my surgeon's next powerpoint presentation to newbies! I also think that some people (YouTube is full of them) did not take the time to really think about how this decision would change their life. I had a friend recently try to convince me not to have the surgery because her band 'didn't' work. Through our conversation, it turns out that she went on a cruise and convinced her surgeon to take all the Fluid out of her band so she could "enjoy' her vacation. After gaining 10 pounds back over the week, she felt embarrassed about going back and continued to regain her weight. That isn't the BAND not working! She was so negative about banding that I couldn't continue to talk to her. I think you need to do what's best for you and put your needs first. You are not here to support anyone but yourself. And if you are having a particularly good day and can help someone else. awesome! Each person's journey is their own. Opinions are like noses, everyone has one and I'd like to surround myself with those who are trying to stay positive and work toward a wonderful goal together. Glad to be your bandster sista!

I was banded on Friday, started feeling the gas./shoulder pain on Sunday and it didn't fully dissipate until Thursday. Walking and heating pads helped.

I had trouble the first few days too but it got easier and easier as the swelling goes down.

I find unjury to be pretty tasty especially compared to the Optifast I was on years ago!

Hi! I didn't need anything beyond my protein (Unjury) shakes for the first week. I could also have sugar free jello and sugar free ice pops. My doc asked me to get three shakes a day in along with 64oz of water. Maybe check to see what doc wants you to be eating?

Wow! Kudos to those who went home same day or worked so soon after surgery. I was in no shape to work so soon after surgery. In fact, I was banded on Friday and returned to work on Wed and had to go home early because I was so tired! When I asked about beginning to walk and swim, Doc told me not to do any strenuous exercise for at least four weeks. I can stroll but nothing more. Might be because they repaired a hiatal hernia too?