4sweeties

Did you try on smaller clothes? I thought I was still fitting into my clothes. They were baggy but not falling down. But then my husband was shopping and picked up new jeans for me 2 sizes smaller. I thought oh good, these will motivate me to keep losing. I put them on just so I would be able to compare, thinking I wont get them over my hips or be able to zip them- and they fit!!!! I didn't realize I was ready to go down sizes until I actually tried on a tighter size.

Did you try on smaller clothes? I thought I was still fitting into my clothes. They were baggy but not falling down. But then my husband was shopping and picked up new jeans for me 2 sizes smaller. I thought oh good, these will motivate me to keep losing. I put them on just so I would be able to compare, thinking I wont get them over my hips or be able to zip them- and they fit!!!! I didn't realize I was ready to go down sizes until I actually tried on a tighter size.

Did you try on smaller clothes? I thought I was still fitting into my clothes. They were baggy but not falling down. But then my husband was shopping and picked up new jeans for me 2 sizes smaller. I thought oh good, these will motivate me to keep losing. I put them on just so I would be able to compare, thinking I wont get them over my hips or be able to zip them- and they fit!!!! I didn't realize I was ready to go down sizes until I actually tried on a tighter size.

I have lots of nice pants- jeans, khakis, black work pants. Mostly from Macy's, Kohl's Lane Bryant. Excellent condition. $5 a pair plus shipping (I get a discount on shipping so it won't be much).

When things go wrong it's easy to feel down. But not telling your doctor will make you feel worse. I get shy around drs, but then I remind myself it's my health, and a dr can only do their best work if you inform them of what's going on. The sooner you tell your dr the easier it will be to get on track.

When things go wrong it's easy to feel down. But not telling your doctor will make you feel worse. I get shy around drs, but then I remind myself it's my health, and a dr can only do their best work if you inform them of what's going on. The sooner you tell your dr the easier it will be to get on track.

You look soooo great!!!!

You look soooo great!!!!

I buy them and eat them as a snack on my drive home if Im hungry at 4 and don't want to be starving by my late dinner time (or cranky). It works out well. It takes a while to chew one almond, and with almonds I notice soft full sign and will stop before I finish my handful or if I feel soft time. I usually take about 12 from a huge bag (and don't go in for more) I keep in the car but I just made up that number, and always wonder how many is a good portion size, or the max portion size. Not oz wise, but amount of almonds. What do you think?

It's a hard habit to break, but you can do it. At first it is so hard, but it gets easier. I used to drink diet soda daily, now the only time I crave it is at a restaurant and I am easily able to pass it up. I drank soda up until my pre op diet. It was too hard to give up until the reality of damaging the band came true.
I agree with the above poster about the coffee add ins. There are so many that are ok to have. I try to stay sugar free. I also count my blessings and look at the bright side and say at least I can still drink coffee.
Good luck. You can do it.

I actually just started buying the Blue Diamond honey roasted almonds and love them! Sometimes I just need a few. 40 calories isn't too bad for 7. I usually bag them up in servings of 14 nuts.

I joined you today in that catagory! It IS wonderful, and another milestone met. I came on to make the same post, but adding on to yours is even better

Here's a picture of me at my best friends bachelorette party last April and me getting ready for my date with the hubs tonight.

I was banded on February 7, 2012 my starting weigh was 250 pounds, I wore a size 22 and my BMI was 37.

Today I weigh 171 (lost 79 pounds), I wear a size 10 and my BMI is normal at 25!
stacy.bmp

Hmmm had I have been asked that question prebanding the only answer I would have given was to loose weight and get healthier.
I researched for a whole year and spoke to the only person I know that was banded in that time. Also before I plucked up the courage to make my initial appointment I went on a few diets to see if I could give it one last shot to be able to do it on my own. Of course I did well for a month or so then failure, then regained the weight and again repeated the process a few more times in that year. This yoyo dieting had to stop because I truly believe it only made me fatter and fatter as the years rolled by.
I knew what to expect after banding with all the research I had done and also I was given Professor Obriens book to read, I read that book over and over to help prepare myself for this new journey I was about to face. I was so nervous and so excited at the same time because finally I was going to get a tool to help with my weightloss battle.
Fast forward seven months and my way of thinking is so different with what the lapband could do for me. You actually have to experience each day with the band to truly understand life with it. Not only has the yoyo dieting stopped, not only has it allowed me to loose weight but it has helped me get control back when it comes to food, it has taken away the constant hunger, it has taken away the daily obsession I had with food, it has given me back confidence, it has taken away my depression ( mainly because I was so overweight and so unhappy), it has helped me develop a healthier relationship with food, it has taught me how to eat like a healthy person, it has reminded me how good it is to be more active. Most importantly to me the band has made me feel like a normal person again not this freak that lived every day to see how much food I could shovel into my mouth. I now eat to live and be healthier not live to eat all day long and be an overweight mess.
Did I think the band would have such an impact on my mental and emotional health way before being banded? The answer is no, now that I have this amazing tool it surprises me everyday how its changed me both mentally and emotionally.
I no longer need to diet, I've learnt how to eat well, I no longer have to calorie count, I've learnt how to Portion Control, I no longer feel deprived, that's how dieting made me feel hence the dieting failures, I've learnt I can still from time to time still have a teeny bit of the unhealthy stuff if I so desire and not put myself on a guilt trip.
What do I want from my fills? Answer is simple, to keep me in the greenzone that way my band is working for me as it should be and I can easily do my part.
My band and I are a partnership that respect each other, if I disrespect my band it shows me authority and makes me tow the line.
My tool is my life saver, I've researched, I've gone through surgery, I've made major changes, I've accepted my band, I've gone through weeks of hunger and survived, going through it all has been so worthwhile and would do it all again in a heartbeat. The band for me has so far done what it was supposed to do and what I expected it to do and a bit extra. Fingers crossed I don't develop any issues but if I do I have my wonderful aftercare team to sort things out.
At 50 years of age I can finally say I have developed the lifestyle I was supposed to follow all my life. Thank you lapband.

I don't know if they are good for bandsters as I have not got mine yet, however my son has type 1 diabetes and need to eat good carbs and Proteins and eats the Protein One a lot contains good amount of Protein and healthy carbs

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.

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.

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!!!

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.

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.

I have seen the dreaded 'Bandster Hell' since I have been on this forum and I alway assumed it was either TE person dealing with head hunger or just the fact you are hungry in general. I never imagined it was you can be hungry and you CAN still eat. I assumed once again, the pouch would be formed and you automatically began to limit your intake as the band itself (even with no fill) is there. Kinda like cutting off your circulation if something is too tight around your finger. I even asked my hubby if he thought I was in a placebo group. LOL

Yes I did. I was on a 2 week liquid pre op diet (not personalized for me my dr puts all patients on a 2 week pre diet) I followed it very well. However, 3 days before surgery I went off it, by having the healthiest food I could find at a pre-Christmas party. I enjoyed every bite (and it wasn't many bites). Next meal, i was back to my liquid diet.< /p>
I do not beat myself up about it. I was happy I made healthy choices the one time I went off course. It did not mean I would be a lap band failure or a cheater post op. I lost 13 pounds on pre op and my liver was healthy for surgery.
My first 2 weeks post op were right through Christmas and New Years and I did not have the urge to cheat once. I am now on solids and followed the doctors post op diet to a t. I feel successful.
I am not saying go out and cheat. (And if you strayed a lot tell your doctor so they are informed and know what's best for you)
What I am saying forgive yourself and go back to the diet if you do. The pre op diet does not predict your post op diet success, but it does shrink your liver, get you used to eating less, drinking Protein Shakes and it sheds pounds. Good luck!