badonkadonkbutt

Gummiebear, you are not alone....I have no support system besides a few friends that I can vent to. As far as having my husbands support, all I hear is how he didn't realize this surgery was going to consume me like it has.....he has told me I am being selfish for taking time for myself to destress now that I don't have my 'food' to do it anymore. He says I am always tired now, I am disconnected from him and you know what, its true. I have been with him since I was 13 years old, I am 27 now. I have never forced myself to deal with issues we were having, instead I ate. Now I confront things head on and he hates it. I don't know where my marriage is going but it doesn't look good right now and frankly I don't care. I know that sounds awful but I deserve some down time, I deserve some support. If it isn't him that is going to give it to me I will find it elsewhere.

Try to find something else to take your mind off of it....I am a huge emotional eater too, it is tough to break. Take a bath, exercise, go to the store and wander around, read a book. If I absolutely have to eat something.....try hot chocolate or at least something lower calorie, they make a ton of sugar free candy's now, even sugar free reese cups. It is a hard cycle to break, but this is your chance! You can do it, hang in there!

Nya, if the scale is that far off from the clinic to the gym, I would definitely take my scale in and show them.....Also, I am not sure how you are built, but we started at about the same point and if you are in an 18, some 16's from a 24, I am sure you have lost more than 10lbs....and that is without even looking at you! I am down about 22 since surgery, started at a size 24/26 and am in a 20, 18's are a bit tight. Muscle does weigh more than fat and if you are at the gym religiously, I am sure you are losing inches and it just doesn't show in the number as quickly. Hang in there! It sounds like you are doing a fantastic job!

Thanks sunshine2, I will give that a try and see if it helps

I have been noticing over the past couple of weeks a lot of leg cramping.....I am thinking it is due to potassium as well. How many of you have experienced this and do you take a supplement for it or just eat more foods rich in potassium. I have been eating bananna's but it doesn't seem to be helping.

Denise822, can you help clarify what good carbs are....I think this may be some of my issue. I keep seeing talk about good and bad carbs but have yet to find anywhere anyone defines the difference or do you just avoid carbs in general?

Sorry, I am somewhat close about 2 hours from you just outside of Erie PA

I was banded 8-20 and am down 18lbs since surgery. If you average it out it works out to 2lbs per week but 15 of those pounds were in the first 3 weeks after surgery. I have been stuck pretty much since then. I do really good with my calories, I stay between 1000-1200 each day. My protein varies from day to day. Some days I am low, some days I am high, like today, I already have 82g in. I called the nutritionist and she told me to try to stay around 800 calories a day and 70g of protein. That should help to jump start things. I have tried to, but I need another fill (I have had 1 so far). Otherwise, I feel like I am starving when I do that. I go for another fill on Friday and I am keeping my fingers crossed that it helps me. I also know I need to step up my exercise a notch. I am not trying to make excuses but I have a crazy life. I work all day at a desk, go home to 3 kids under the age of 6 to chase after, have horses to take care of, and of course the regular house work....you would think all of that would burn enough calories to drop some but guess not. I have an elyptical and my intentions is to really push to do that at least 4 times a week.

Just wanted to subscribe to the thread. I seem to be trending so far as a slow loser and could use the group as support. I look forward to getting to know all of you!

Sometimes it is more than just the number on the scale too. Since surgery I have only dropped 18lbs. But I am down 2 clothing sizes already. Things are shifting around as the weight SLOWLY comes off. I am back into pants that haven't fit for years already and its only been 2 months since my surgery. So, the point.....the scales suck sometimes but look at the overall picture. Try not to focus on just that number.

Ok...just have to add what my freaking mother in law has said to me. She has never ever commented positively on my weight...mind you she is bigger than I am. Yesterday, I was cleaning my horse stalls and she walked into the barn and said "so how much have you lost now". I told her and she says nothing....NOTHING. That pissed me off so bad you have no clue. My husband even made a comment, something to the tune of 'ya, doesn't she look great' and she still said NOTHING! $(&$#()*)(#@*#_*@#@_ ok, I feel better now. Anyway, I just walked away. That is the kind of thing that ticks me off......her attitude since day one has been, 'well its about time you did something about your weight' and again I stress that SHE IS BIGGER THAN I AM.....grrrrrrr ok, thanks for letting me vent...lol

I agree with a lot of you here. Why bypass over the band? I have sat in many many support group meetings and heard people say they were going with the bypass because it offered instant results. Sure it does, but at a cost, at least to me that is what I saw and thats why I went with the band. I know people that have had the bypass and were able to make the changes and keep the weight off and I know someone that had it done and is on her way back up. Sure, I wanted instant results, who doesn't but I knew it wasn't the best choice in the long run. I wanted to deal with my weight issue head on once......I don't want to lose all the weight and then start gaining again. I feel that the band works and will continue to work as a constant reminder even after all my weight loss is done with.

Kacee can you describe what it feels like for you, how do you know you are at perfect restriction? I know it is different for everyone, but I am just trying to get a feel for what to expect. I have had 1 fill so far, I have some restriction, not much but enough that I wouldn't try to eat for example a tuna fish sandwich instead of just the tuna fish. I go for my second fill on Friday and am just wondering what to expect with the next fills.

Hi Everyone....hang in there! Especially you Alexandra, you are known around here for being strong! I have read a ton of your posts since I joined. I am going a bit crazy too. My weightloss stalled but I got back on track and it is starting to move slowly (stress the slow part) again. I called the Dr. office and they moved my 2nd fill up from 11-9 to this friday 10-26 so that will be a big help. I think I need it because I can still it a larger quantity than I should but am a little nervous because I can't eat some things right now with the restriction I have. I know this is somewhat normal I believe.....please tell me if I am wrong. For example, I wouldn't even try to eat my tuna fish on a piece of bread, I know it would get stuck. Hang in there everyone!

very cute shirt! I was checking out the link you posted for torrid....awesome store, I think I will be shopping here pretty soon!

LOL...I hear you there. Nope, not ripping out of your body. I get that pinching feeling too, it sucks and I am roughly 8 weeks out from surgery...it is starting to slowly get better though.

Welcome! This site rocks! If you have a question I guarentee it has been asked and you can find it here!

My port had to be placed higher than normal so I think I understand what you are feeling....I can feel exactly where it is and it is tender especially after sex. I asked the doctor about it and he said that I may always be able to feel it more so during sex because I am using those muscles (to pull my legs that high in the air) which pushes the port closer to the surface but the tenderness should go away. He told me for now just to stop if it hurts. He also told me there was very little that I could do to actually hurt that port; basically if it is going to flip it is going to flip. Hope this helps......

You will do fine! I was ready to back out too but I am glad I went through with it. Just take deep breaths!

Janet you rock! I don't know what you said that did it but I feel like I am back on a mission today! Thanks again! Without this forum I would be lost!

thanks again indiogirl.....I am pissed at myself for not doing the best I can with this tool so far....That is going to change as of today, I am back on track. Thanks for your bloody honesty...I needed that!

indiogirl you are right. Absolutely. It is extremely hard to change old habits, but it has to be done. I thank god that I have the band and I know it is going to work for me. Maybe I just needed someone to tell me like it is and to knock it off.....thanks for that! I think I am back on track....

Ya but keep in mind you are starting out at a really low weight, I think you are doing awesome....I would expect it to take you a bit longer to drop. It will come though and your right, it is much harder than I thought. I wasn't expecting an easy ride but so far I do compare myself with others and their loss so far and it is discouraging

I don't regret getting the band....I just got mine in August. I am down 16lbs so far. I just have my doubts right now and maybe someone can be bloody honest with me about this thing. Right now I feel like it helps me eat less but the quality of the food I eat is still as big of an issue as it was before the surgery. I have only had one fill so far and feel some restriction but not much. Does this change? I know this is a terrible excuse but I am a crazy busy person, on the go all the time. I try to log calories but fail at it. The band does not solve head hunger issues at all (at least in my experience). I am afraid that if I keep going at this pace I will lose weight but it is going to be very slow. I know that without the band I would be heavier now and would have never lost the 16lbs. So, has anyone else felt the way I do right now? Does it get better with more fills? Do you guys think my weight loss will pick up, what were your experiences?

It will be hard but it can be done....I have a 6, 4 and 3 year old at home not to mention horses, dogs, a cat and a husband that need constant attention. With working full time and my side business I was panicked about the surgery. It took me a good 3 days of sleeping and resting before I really felt like I could jump somewhat back into their routine. I would plan on at least that much time and then see if someone can come over and help. You won't want to be picking them up very much and you will be sleeping sitting somewhat up right for a few weeks so the floor is definitely out. The pain wasn't tremendous....I have had 3 c sections and the pain wasn't as bad as those (if you have had any to compare it to). The pain meds work great, the bad part is they make you tired. Some went right on tylenol after surgery and were fine....I used the pain meds because I wanted to sleep, it was a nice break for me to be in a fog for once.....hehehe.