Kime-lou

I have used milk of mag and miralax. My doctor recommended the milk of mag. It's not fun at all. I am now on stool softeners daily (3) and that is help, but I still only go about every other day. But, it is starting to get better. This is apparently common with WLS patients.

I really thought I was going to have a horrible time with this, but I honestly haven't. I tried drinking a sip of my hubs Dt. Dew one day and I thought it would kill me. The carbonation made my mouth feel like it was burning and made my tummy hurt. To get flavor I use Crystal Light water powders and propel and there are several other really good ones.

Like many others I also drink up until I start eating and then stop. My PA said that the fluid goes right through the band so it doesn't effect it. The only rules I was given about drinking is..... not while eating, no carbonation (can bloat the pouch), no caffeinated drinks (caffeine can stimulate hunger), no liquid with empty calories or count them.

You have done so amazing. Such an inspiration. So glad you are on this site.

I started with the Crystal Light Peach Ice Tea. Now I have gone to Crystal Light Peach Mango Green Tea, it doesn't have the green tea taste (I don't really like green tea), but it is awesome!!!!! I absolutely love this stuff.

My hubs and I invested in an elliptical and a total gym. We LOVE them both. However, I can say that there are some days that I am still not motivated to hit the machines.

My nutritionist recommended that I wait 3 months before trying a salad, so that is what I did. I don't have issues with it now.

You look great!! Congrats on all the success!

I had the exact same problem last June when I was banded. I called my nutritionist and discussed the problems with her. She ok'd on day 5 for me to begin adding yogurt to my protein shakes or a banana in the blender to it. This helped a lot. She believed it was likley my surger levels.

I don't like the cold weather at all!!! I was born and raised in northern NC southern VA area, but could very easily be talked into moving to Bermuda!!

Here is my 2 cents worth..... Lapband "way of life", "diet" what ever term you want to put on it or Weight Watchers either one will work or it won't work totally dependent on the person's committment to the plan. If you commit to getting your Protein, Water, and keep your calories at your doctor/nutritionist limit then you are going to lose weight. If you commit and follow the WW diet plan you will lose weight. The person just has to find what is going to work best for them from this day forward, not just this month or the next 6 months. WW works for a lot of people, but they often gain the weight back because they stop attending meetings and eating the WW way. Weight loss is all about the committment and the "want" power to stick to it.

Ok- here is the pychologist in me..... Anger is a secondary emotion and in this case I think the anger mostly stems from fear of the unknown or jelously. Let me give you an example.... My BFF had gastric bypass in 2009 and lost 120 lbs in a year. After her weight loss she went to an orentation for a new job. (She is a nurse) The people in her group were discussing WLS patients. One of the guys in the group said "I can spot WLS patient a mile a way, they look horrible, all that hangin skin and sunk in eyes- I'd rather be fat". (the guy was obese) My friend ask, "well do you think anyone in this group has had WLS?" He said "no, everyone looks pretty normal" She smiled and said, "thanks, but I had WLS a year and half ago and have lost 120 lbs.". We figured this guy was just afraid of WLS, while he could benefit from it he was scared. To each his own, but I like you wish people would just respect another person's choice.

I was told that the only reason they say afford caffine is that it can increase your appatite. So try it and if you find you are hungyer then go back to decaf.

I have figured out that a lot of the reason I use to eat had nothing to do with hunger. see something- eat it. Smell something- eat it. Board- eat Worried- eat Meal time - eat I ate my way to almost 250 and I knew it had to stop. Now I am much more selective about what and when I eat. I now eat 3 meals a day and sometime one snack. I still eat things I love, but I eat less or them. Today I walked into the breakroom at work, there was a smorgasborg or treats: grapes, cheese, crackers, pimento cheese, rolls, celery. While these foods aren't bad foods, I didn't eat them, I wasn't hungry. In times past I would have fixed a nice rounded plate and gone back to my corner office and ate up. While my mouth and mind were saying yummy, just one bite, my tummy was saying, but hey yo I don't want any, not hungry please don't. My eyes, mouth and mind get me in a lot of trouble when it comes to food. My husband in blind, but very strong resourcful, brillant wonderful man; but he can't see the foods laying around. He never picks and taste at things, he doesn't graze. He eats his 3 meals and about 2 snacks a day and that is it. He isn't tempted by the stuff laying around because he can't see it. Now at meals he eats well, but that is a different story. But, I think I need to become more like him; blind to the food just laying around. When I make a concious effort not to indulge I am fine, but when I uncounsiously peck I will pay with weight gain. In my wieght loss journey I need to get my mind, mouth and tummy all on the same page.

That is a HUGE Victory!!! Making it through this time the way you are you are sure to be a HUGE success on this journey!!!!

Protein is very important. Try Protein shakes, soft tuna or other fish, shreadded chicken, ect to increase it and that might get you out of your plateau. I hit plateaus all the time, mine last anywhere from a week to a month to a month and a half then I start going again. My doc says this is normal just don't give up and stop following the plan.

Yes! While I am not diabetic (A1c was checked) I do have trouble getting lows. Before I realize that I am hungry I will get dizzy, nauseated and be "out of my head". I have to keep something in my bag to make sure this doesn't happen or when I feel it begin eat something until I can get my meal.

I agree with you. I know I could eat more than that cup of food, maybe even as much as I use to at times, but I don't because that isn't why I had this surgery. I may not get the totally full stuffed feeling from a cup, but it satisfys my hunger and keeps me from getting hungry for 4 hours and that is great. Some people just have false expectations of what the band does and can do.

For some people emotions won't set them back, but for me I believe the answer would be yes. I am on Paxil for an anxiety disorder. Before I started getting treated I felt like I had to be in control of everything or I was going to bust. I would eaisly get frustrated and irritated. I wasn't happy with that life. I spoke to my doctor about it and he suggested Paxil. I wasn't thrilled with taking meds, but I tried it because I was sick of living like that. My life has gotten so much better, I am happy and can let things roll off my back and I don't get so worked up over things. While yes, SSRI's can cause you to gain weight the reason is mostly because it increases your hunger. I haven't had much trouble with it, I have lost 50 lbs in 7 months. (starting at 244).

I have always dreamed of being the thin pretty girl that I have never been. Before I started school I was trim and cute, but then I started school and packed on the pounds. No idea what started this, but I am guessing emotional eating. My weight only balloned each year. I was always jealous of the pretty girls and just wished I could be like them. However, I am pretty happy with the woman I grew in to. I am compasionate, caring, loving, and pretty nonjudgemental. If I had been a skinny girl I may not be who I am now, but now that I am an adult I am ready to bring the outside up to par with the inside. I don't believe I am a told dog, but I am not Jennifer Aniston by any means. As I lose weight and develop curves, my dimples can be seen, I am losing the extra chins, I feel people can start to see the real me. I am less worried about how people preceive my outside and my inside more easily shine though. I am fairly certain I will never be a size 2, and honestly I don't want to me. I size 10/12 would be just fine for me. I want to live realisticly, I want to enjoy food, I want to enjoy activity, I don't want to be hindered by my weight any longer. For years I just ate whatever I wanted and over time I was able to eat more and more. Now I still want to eat yummy foods, but I am learning I can eat less and still be satisfied. I am learning that food doesn't need to be the center of my life. While I won't be Jennifer Aniston (looks) or Marian Jones (athlectic), I just want to be me in a healthy form. In a form that allow my inside to shine through so people can see the real me.

I had to talk to the insurance lady to get the exact price, which I had to request, but I wasn't self pay. Be sure to ask lots of question- anything you feel you need to know. The doctor is always the best person to get advice from. Make sure you get an overview of what to expect pre and post op- this way you know what you must have on hand. Some docs require a pre diet others don't. See if their is a question or help line/email. My doctor has an email address you can send questions to and he will respond in 24 hours- this has been a HUGE help to me. Good Luck- Congrats on the start of the wonderful journey.

I was always told I could eat normally before a fill, but after a fill liquids.

Many people have different experiences. Mine was great. I am in NC, and close to Duke Hospital so I choose to go there. I found a great doctor who I had full confidence in. I went to his seminar and decided at that point I was going for it. I think attending seminars are the best thing you can do. At most of them they discuss the different options. It gives you some good information. Some of the info you find online isn't exactly true. The seminar was able to answer a lot of mine and my husbands questions and then my 1st consult with the surgeon further answer my questions. Just be sure that before you go into this you are committed to doing what you must do to keep your band healthy and get you healthy. If you are not committed to making a life change then don't do it.

I do tend to look up menu's before going to a resturant. My hubs and I went to Ruby Tuesday's the other night- they have a menu that list items and their calorie counts. On this outing I got BBQ chicken breast and grilled zuchinni- it was yummy. The chicken was tender I ate only about 3/4 and half the zucchini, but it was very tasty. Some places have great fish options- grilled not fried. If we go Italian I always remember that cream sauces are loaded with calories so I avoid those. It is all about looking over the menu and making the best choice out of what you have. You don't have to eat all of it, you can always get a doggy bag.

I met my wonderful amazing husband 5 years ago and married him 3.5 years ago. He is my biggest fan and support. Once he went to the seminar on WLS he was fully supportive of me having the band. Over the next couple of months I hemed and hawed about would I be, could I be successful on this journey. He kept telling me that ofcourse I would, I just needed to commit to him as I did him. Soooo....... I am in a committed relationship with my band. My band is 100% behind me losing weight. While my band can't prevent me from eating more than I should or eating things that are unhealthy for me; it can help me stay satisfied longer on less, that is if I allow it to. When I think about my band from this perspective- I think about I would never cheat on my husband why would I want to cheat on my band. Ruining my marriage would be painful, but ruining my band and having to have another surgery wouldn't be a walk in the park either. Just like with a marriage you have to work at it, I have to work at my band life. Some days it will be easy and other days it won't, but I don't give up on my marriage just because of one road bump and I won't give up on my band either. Just like I want my marriage to last forever, I want my band life to last to. So with this being said.... ( I am calling my band George) I promise to love, honor, and cherish George forever!! Are you in a committed relationship with your band?