Maddysgram

Sharon, There will surely be many stars in your crown, when we get to the other side.You are an angel walking around here on earth. May your day be blessed with good things!

Good luck, adding to Carolinagirl, walk, walk, walk

I too, had it after surgery. I was oked to take Imodium chewables. Check with your Dr.

Thoughts & prayers for a quick recovery and great success. Keep us posted.

Congratulations to you also!

Welcome to the forum. You will find everything you described wanting, right here. The good, the bad and the beautiful. I spent 6mths here before being banded. I read numerous books and attended support groups. I learned more here than anywhere else. I owe my current success to my banded friends here. I don't do instagram, so I hope you will post your successes here also. Good luck on your journey!

It's always good to have a plan.Sounds like you've given it great thought. You might find out that after awhile you will not have cravings as usual. I have had no problem being with ppl eating fattening food and craving some. My adult children kept saying" sorry mom" and I told them, it was not a problem, eat and enjoy. Hoping you will be there soon.

I had to face the "what ifs" b/c if I didn't, there was no "what ifs" about it, I was going to die way to young. What if this surgery works and I live a lot longer, enjoying my life, my grandkids, my future. I'm so happy I faced my what ifs. My life has changed so much in 7mths. The journey has not always been easy, but it has been doable. Its not about willpower, its about want power! So happy you're facing your "what if's"

Blogs can be open to all, or private just for friends. If someone is getting bad responses, or someone judging by the star judging and the blogger isn't sure whose doing it, they might switch their blog to just friends. Try not to take it personal, might be they don't know you and some else is giving them trouble and they're just protecting their feelings. You could PM them and tell them how you feel and they might add you back in as a friend.

I think everyone on this site and anyone having LBS, has felt exactly the same way. Even after surgery, that same thought keeps going through our heads, "I've failed everything before, am I going to fail this too". The answer is, you fail when you give up. Refuse to give up. My advice to you or anyone looking into LBS, don't rush it, learn all you can before hand. You will get great insight into this surgery right here. You'll learn from the ppl rocking this and also from those making mistakes. There's always something to learn. This whole journey is a learning experience, for everyone. Good Luck on your journey!

Pre-op appt at hospital weighed me. That was 5 days before surgery. I guess it depends where you're having surgery. Try to stay as discipled as possible. I truly believe I had an easier time post op b/c of not introducing sugar and bad carbs into my diet. Others were crying how hungry they were and I thought it was nothing I couldn't handle. Good Luck!

I would definitly try to work more protein into your diet. You can add FF Plain Greek yogurt into soups for a real boost. Lowfat flavored yogurt will help also. This is the part of the surgery Drs don't talk a lot about " Bandster Hell", the time between surgery and restriction, when you want to chew your arm off. Hang in there, it does get easier and better. I remember feeling really pretty well ths first week post op, but the second week brought on great fatigue. Good thing, it didn't last long. Your body has suffered a shock, it needs time to regroup. Don't push it. Good Luck

You can pretty much puree anything. I enjoyed making Taco soup and pureeing that, add some fat free greek yogurt and you have a blast of protein. FF Ricotta cheese heated with marinara & spinach. Hormel Chili with beans with ff greek yogurt, yummy.

Congratulations! It is a wonderful feeling and I agree, fireworks, cheers something. I just did some cartwheels for you, in my mind.lol

I laughed, I cried, I know exactly what you mean. Glad your band has forgiven you. Its not fun being stuck, but its nice to know our band is there, doing its job. Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend!

You standing tall makes me look up to you, with pride and admiration.

Its very good and I eat it a lot.

mmmmmm, sounds good.lol I'm pass this stage, but aren't you doing Protein shakes with this? Not much protein here and thats whats going to keep you somewhat satisfied. I use to add FF Greek yogurt to my tomato soup, also and egg white to my oatmeal for added protein. Even at this stage of my journey, I still add the extra protein. Yogurt in chili is really good. Good luck!

Wishing you the best. Have a wonderful trip.

Amazing!Congratulations!

Can't feel the band, but definitly the port.

I feel exactly the same way as the above posters. The band is a great tool to assist you in weight loss. The band works, if you work the band. I truly believe it is not about willpower, but about wantpower. You want it bad enough, you will use your tool correctly and achieve great things. The more research you do before banding, the better off you will be. You're already doing it right.lol I love and respect my band and would do it again in a heart beat. Best wishes on whatever you choose to do.

Hi Donna, I agree with Catfish. My weight loss has also slowed way down, but as long as the scale is headed in the right direction, I'm good. After all, it took me 40yrs to get to severe obesity, so I'll be patient on the loss. I too, have forgot what I'm doing sometimes and have got stuck. Once on a Protein bar, while driving. sheesh That's one of the lessons, be very aware what we're doing while eating. Even the pro's have made that mistake.lol You're doing great. Keep it up.

Sounds like what you're doing is about right. Everyone's insurance and surgeons require different things, so it all depends if you meet their requirements. For instance, my insurance required a 6mths supervised diet and I didn't have to do the pre-op diet, but most do. Your Dr most likely has dealt with your ins. co before, so they are the best one to inform you about how long it takes. Thats an insurance by insurance thing also. I have Aetna and it did take only 7days for approval, but by law the insurance company has 30days to decide. Waiting is one of the hardest parts. Stick around here and learn all the ins and outs of LBS, I promise there is a lot to learn from everyone here. Good luck on your journey to improved health.

Do you log what you're eating? How many calories are you eating and what kind of calories? Lots of solid Protein, or slider foods? Sometimes a fill causes swelling for awhile. So are you able to tolerate liquids? Are you taking really small bites, chewing really well and waiting 1min between bites? As you can tell from my questions, there's a lot of variables if you're too tight or not, or if you're eating right to lose weight. If you are not doing it, I would measure and log all you are eating and take it to a nutritionist and see where changes could be made. As far as being tight, if eating correctly and still tight,maybe you do need a slight unfill. Good luck!