4sweeties

You are doing so great!!! I have more than you to loose and I lost half of what you lost since surgery date. I lost about 20 since surgery 7 weeks ago (I'll know when i go next week), and 13 on my pre op. I LOVE watching the scale go down and the clothes getting more roomy. It feels so good right? I added you on MFP.

I was in the emotional club. In the hospital I cried to my husband that I shouldn't have had it done and I didn't want the port in and he told the surgeon when he came to check on me!! I couldn't believe he did that. Then I was better, then the emotions came out again. I'm 7 weeks post op and I'd say it slowly gets better. Like an above poster says, after first stuck episode I got emotional again. I threw up recently and cried that night. But the good days when I am happy about the band are more often, and the dramatic moments are decreasing.

That is so hard. I have a full time job, kids and a husband who travels A LOT for work. I can't imagine 2 more jobs and school. It's so hard. Can you walk around campus between classes? Can you walk or jog with your 6 year old when you are home? Also with your child, playing in snow, tag etc. Your kid will love it and it's a good way to squeeze in fun quality family time while exercising. Also, in between home work assignments, spelling to math for example, do 20 jumping jacks together, increasing the amount. Wii and those games are fun. I challenge my daughter to just dance and wii cheer. We have lots of laughs. I have DVDs like tae bo, kick boxing and zumba. I'm not crazy about work ut dvds but when all else fails they are good to do. And if you skip the arms it's a lower intensity. When you wake up I read that 15 mins of stretching is great for the body. I used to do that and felt so good after. Maybe I'll start that routine again:) If you are really motivated you can follow up with crunches.

When I put my fork down, someone will ask me if I'm done eating. LOL maybe I'm putting it down dramatically, I'm not sure. Maybe I have an "I'm done " look, but I draw attention to myself. I don't care too much, I just say, I'm just taking a break. Or I hold my water glass (I don't drink) and I fid I'm not asked if I'm done. If I am eating a new food, or a food I'm scared to get stuck on, and I happen to see a digital clock, I'll wait a minute before the next bite. But it's really to get me into new habits until I naturally wait that amount of time.

I used to get upset by the pretty face comments but then realized people say things about everyone no matter what their weight. Like the Butter face comments...when someone has a hot body but her face is not pretty. I think that is even meaner and more insulting. I don't want my mother in law to know, and my husband has no privacy filter when it comes to his mother/family. So in the beginning, before I even went for a consult, I said DO NOT tell your parents or anyone. At first he was like don't worry I wont...I felt like he was embarassed to tell them I need WLS to lose weight. Now he is used to the idea and more educated on the topic, I feel like he sees how hard I am working and how worth it it was, and he's so proud of me, I'm scared he might slip and tell them and I keep saying, are you sure you didn't tell them? At least you know they know:) THere's always a bright side.

Husbands with good senses of humor are great! You have a supportive jokster- even better!

I agree if it something life or death, no time for a post.

Just to add some feedback/inisght on why people might post medical issues.. Possibly, people do call their doctors, are waiting to hear back, or heard what the dr said and want to see if someone online experienced something similar. Or they don't feel their condition is urgent. They are not coming online for a diagnosis but for support. Or to figure out some good questions to ask the doctor, that they might not have thought of on their own. I know when I got stuck for the first time, I posted I have an appointment with my surgeon tmmrw, but am interested in your opinions... I was not avoiding the dr, or taking online advice over my doctors. I truly wanted opinions from other lap banders who have been in similar situation. And by coming online with my medical problem, I asked my dr if I should follow up a painful stuck episode with liquids for a day (something I would not have thought to ask on my own). Or "Dr, what are your feelings on soda if there's a stuck problem and chest pain?" or "I didn't realize leg pain was so serious but after reading posts now I better call my doctor." However, in the end my doctor and I make decisions for my health, not an online community. I just find comfort in reading others experiences and it does not stop me from posting about it. In my post I wrote "I am seeing my doctor tomorrow and will discuss this" some replies were "check with your doctor" I understand some people post wasting time when they should be on the way to ER, but there are some medical posts asking opinions and I'm sure many of those people are also asking their surgeons. It's not ask online or ask the doctor. Often it's ask the doctor and trust their opinion but also curious to see what experience lap banders will say.

lol I was thinking public burp...

My weight watches friends only take the veggie bistro box. I was wondering if the Protein bistro boxes are good for bandsters, if a person tracks the calories in their daily intake. For those of you not familiar they are pre packaged (which I like to grab on hectic days), includes natural peanutbutter (80 calories), a hard boiled peeled egg, 2 triangles of cheese, grapes, apples and a small pita (I think whole wheat). I think 240 calories total. Maybe 340. I can check on myfitness pal or on the box the next time I see one. Here are the questions I was wondering others opinions... Are they high in sodium? Would once a week be too often to have one? How would you spread out the portion size as the most you would eat?(all in one meal, a meal and a snack, 2 meals) What is the worst thing about them? Would you chose a difft bistro box over this one? Why? ...If you are totally against Starbucks, that's different, I mean for people who are open to Starbucks.

I'm confused. Why did you put appointment off for two months when there was a school break late December? Did you have Martin Luther King Jr Day off? I did but the dr office was open. I understand having your own kids maybe December break and the 3 day weekend are harder to go. It's hard juggling health, work and family. I don't put work before my family or job, but I do try to balance everything. It's so hard. When you go to this appointment, can you take your school calendar with you? I open it up when I book appointments and try to make it on days off from work if possible. If you book the next 3 appointments well in advance, maybe you can get them on school closings.

I am only allowed to take off for a dr appointment if it can not be scheduled outside of the school day. It sounds like you can take off for a dr appointment, just it's frowned upon a few days a year, on the days you have professional development. I wouldn't want to miss professional development if it is for new curriculum, I see your principal's point, especially since she gave everyone a heads up in the fall. However, if you are having problems, and need to see your lapband dr and this is the only possible day and time, because rescheduling would have negative affects, then in that case, I would do what I had to do. In that case, I would apologize to the principal for bad timing, say it really is the only time you can see this doctor, and explain you will have your co workers take good notes and turn key train you, but you would rather be there in a heart beat if it were possible. Good luck

How are the December bandsters doing? What food phase are you on? Which was the hardest so far?

I started close to your starting weight and own the same dress!!!! I hope to be like you ans lose 100 pounds and look young and amazing in a black outfit just like you too!!!! Congrats on your weight loss. You really are so pretty.

I know how you feel about giving up things. I was not looking forward to giving u soda or beer, just like you with chocolate milk. And my co payments were adding up so quickly. The good news is: giving up the drinks wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. It wasn't easy but it wasn't torture. I'd wait and see on the chocolate milk. You might be so motivated post surgery it won't be an issue. Or you might be so full from drinking so much Water you won't crave it. Also, while food seems expensive now, there are also ways it gets cheaper. Like your Protein shakes were $50, but during your liquid diet (mine was 2 weeks about 4 shakes a day) you are not spending money on food for yourself, your $50 is a good deal:) I felt better on little sugar. Now that I'm on solids I find it easy to sneak back in. Those days I am hungrier. I don't want to be hungry, si I try to limit the sugar again. Take little steps and it won't seem so overwhelming to give up food you are used to. Food is comfort now but you will view it as fuel to live. Good luck with your journey.

Go for the consultation now. I think even self pay, you may need a few dr appointments to make sure you are healthy for surgery. Not as many (like no 6 month diet etc) but some. Then you will be more informed.

When I coughed up blood after my surgery, the dr said red blood is not good. Darker/deeper red is what I had, old blood. I was ok- but it was a few days after surgery. I would call back and stress it's fresh, bright blood and you want to hold on while they inform the doctor.

Take bites the size of an eraser on a pencil

My nerves got so bad 2 weeks leading to surgery and didn't end until a few days after. I was scared I'd be my surgeon's first patient to die from surgery and that I'd hate having a lap band and that my body would reject it. None of these things happened. As I get older, I get more nervous with each surgery. I just want to make the best decision. My surgeon told me to stop reading the negative stories online about lap band since they were scaring me and he would tell me the whole truth about success and failures. That's when he told me he never had a patient die and how it is reversible if that is what I want and how wonderful the follow up care is. He said a lot more. I knew logically I would be ok. It was just nerves. But nerves did not mean I was not ready for lap band. I was nervous as each due date with each of my children got closer. (I also read birthing stories gone wrong and had to stop), I was nervous before my sinus surgery, and other surgeries I had. Soon I am having my tonsils out and I'm nervous about that too. Having children was the best thing ever, and each surgery helped me in the long run. In the end each surgery I had helped me and I reminded myself of that. I knew in my heart lapband would help me too. I put my nervous energy into positive use since worrying didn't help. I kept busy, I cleaned a lot (and I'm not a fan of cleaning...lol) I organized closets, I prayed, and I smiled as I stepped on the scale during the pre op diet. SInce I knew that I was in a calm state of mind (nerve free) when I made the decision and said I wanted the lap band (after I researched the pros and cons), I decided to trust that decision. When I did go online for that 2 week pre op period, I would only read success stories to motivate me. As far as your husband, he loves you and wants the best for you. In reverse, you'd probably be a little nervous to if he was making a life changing decision. It was good he shared his feelings with you, and now you know they are honest feelings. Good luck!!!

Oh the robe is a perfect idea. And you are right about getting things dirty, I had some blood on my gown around my stomach area.

The gowns come in larger sizes on most bariatric floors so that helped me feel more comfortable. And you can ask for 2 (one on backwards and everything gets covered) I still had the IV on so I didn't do the pajamas over my head, arm, but I should have put underwear on. On no, I do not remember doing that. OOPS. I'm not sure when they pulled cathedar out but that was taped to my thigh. I would pack pjs and see how you feel. Always better to have.

spinach pasta

I think drs vary on the gym as much as they vary on diets and port placement:) My dr said walking from day 1 is great and encouraged. I had a 2 week post op, nothing abt exercise mentioned, so I continued walking. At 4 week post op, they said I could start cardio and eplitical at gym, things like that. I can ice skate since I fall on my butt not my port and I can bowl but if my stomach area hurts I have to stop. (I only asked about those 2 things bc my kids like me to join them in those activities) I go back at 8 weeks so that's probably when everything else can be added on (just a guess). I want to start zumba and the class starts feb.6. I'm thinking that counts as cardio, or does anyone think it will hurt my stomach area?

I was banded December 19, 2012. Tomorrow will be January 19, 2013. My new lapband is still surreal. I was always unhappy with my weight from when I was in 5th grade on. (I remember not wanting to wear shorts in 5th grade so I suffered and wore pants on hot days). I was always embarassed in a bathing suit. I was a a very healthy weight at the time, but tall. My scale number was much hugher than my short friends and I just didn't like the high numbers. I was always active and athletic. My family was a healthy family who exercised together a lot. My Dad ran the NYC marathon, and the whole family would practice jogging with him after dinner (he went much farther than us but we alle exercised together). I was on the swim team in the summers and track during the school year. I played tennis and already had a gym membership as a young teenager. In high school I hated my "athletic body" with high numbers on the scale, but low BMI. I always wanted to be skinny. My senior year of college I started gaining weight. I went to doctors, a really good nutritionist (who I still see cited in articles when I read nutrition websites) and had a personal trainer at the gym. I gained ten pounds a year, and worked hard to maintain weight. I tried weight watchers and wanted to lose 10 percent (20 pounds at the time) and I didn't. I never lost. By the time I had all my children, and my youngest was sick, I gave up on exercising. I still paid monthly membership, but resented how much I had to work out to maintain, not lose, and deal with a sick child, healthy children, a traveling husband and working full time. Then I gave up on eating healthy. Why should I if my weight was so high. I never got into treats, cakes, cookies or chips. I would go to a fast food restaurant and not care. I went in for 2nds and 3rds at dinner. Then I went more often to fast food, even when I was alone. Then my weight crept up higher than my 9 month pregnancy weights! I know a lot of people on here, were able to lose but not keep it off. I felt like a failure for not even being able to lose. I never had the chance to see if I could keep it off. I always wanted to fit to be a healthy weight. I am the only overweight person in my family, extended family, circle of friends. Even at work, most people are a healthy weight. It's very lonely. I had never heard of lap band. Then when someone came to show me how to use my SLeep Apena machine. it came up in conversation that she had a lap band. I didn't ask many questions, but when she left I googled it like crazy. I wanted to be able to bike ride with my kids. Now they ride their bikes faster than I can walk, and I don't want them going out of my sight. I grew up hiking and bike riding with my family and loved it. I was upset I had to say ride your bike with Daddy. I wanted to join them in the fun, but the thought of getting my butt on a bike was horrible. I knew I wanted a change. A healthy weight for the rest of my life. I found a nice surgeon, who said I seem like a great candidate for it. It will be a tool to help me with portion control. I went to all my clearance appointments and got nervous and excited. 4 months later, I had my surgery. 2 weeks before surgery I lost a pound a day on the liquid diet. I was so happy to see the numbers on the scale go down. I don't remember the last time I saw the scale go down into the next 10's category. Then the first week I continued to lose a pound a day. I couldn't believe it! My hard work was paying off. Week 2 I didn't lose much but that was ok. The weight loss picked up again on the mushy phase. The first 3 days after surgery was painful, and I read many posts of people feeling fantastic. I was hoping I made the right decision and wouldn't regret putting an object in my body. By day 4 I felt so much better. It was all uphill from there. I got stuck 3 times on dry tuna fish from a pouch, and now the fear of the unknown is gone. I know what it feels like to have slime and be stuck. Now I am on solids. I love that I have a lap band. I love that my pants are looser and I even can go to the pile that I stopped wearing because even though I could get them on, they were too tight on the waist when I sat down. Now they are roomy! I get compliments on my eye make up and highlights (i think those people can't put their finger on what's different about me or don't want to mention weight loss) and many people say I look like I'm losing weight. Pre lap band I HATED weight compliments. Now I am comfortable with them. I lost about 15 pounds this first month, plus I like to add on my 13 pre op. I've never in my life lost 28 pounds, and now I did in 6 weeks. I know you shed the most in the beginning, but this is the best beginning I ever had!!! And I have more energy already. I feel really confident now and can't wait to see where this journey will lead me.

Did they give you fluids through IV? The morning I went into surgery, I was dehydrated and they filled me up with 2 bags of fluid before they started surgery. They helped me the few days after, when it was hard to drink. It's really hard to stay hydrated the first week post op when you drop so low because of the tiny sips.