LadyDreadHead

Anyone else get super excited with small progress?
For example:
I started at 279... I got so happy when I hit the 260s.. Again and the 250s.. And now that I hit the 240s... I'm like dancing around the house..
I personally feel that there's no progress that's too small.. But there's so many threads here where people are complaining that they only lost 30lbs..
30lbs is the same weight as a 2 year old!!!

I was banded on 2/19. I lost 20 lbs prior to surgery (ten of that on the pre-op) and have lost 2 lbs since for a total of 22 lbs. Like you, I got very hungry yesterday and had felt weak for the past few days. So, I blended a cream of mushroom soup with chicken broth and ate that for lunch and again for dinner. It was filling and I felt I had more energy.

Hey Everyone, I've searched high and low to find the BEST tasting Protein Shake recipes for us! I just purchased the new NutriBullet Nutrition System and am having fun looking for healthy Protein shakes. I am going to start incorporating fresh veggies and will post as I go along. Many of these recipes I have already tried and LOVE!
These Protein shake recipes can be 'doctored' taylored to your liking, don't be afraid to experiment (that's what I do)! *some recipes you may add ice or not* this is entirely up to you the way you like your shake...
Hope you all enjoy!

Protein Shake Recipes






Chunky Monkey
8 oz. skim or almond milk
1 Scoop chocolate Protein powder
1/8 cup Walnuts
½ of a small banana

strawberry & banana smoothie

8 oz. skim or almond milk
1 Scoop of vanilla Protein Powder
½ small Banana
3 Strawberries (fresh or frozen)

Banana Split

8 oz. skim or almond milk
1 Scoop of Vanilla Protein Powder
½ small Banana
1/8cup of chopped Pineapples
2 Strawberries (fresh or frozen)

Blueberry Smoothie

8 oz. Skim or Almond Milk
1 Scoop of Vanilla Protein Powder
½ Cup of Fresh or Frozen Blueberries

Chocolate Covered Cherries

8 oz. Skim or Almond Milk
1 Scoop of Chocolate Protein Powder
10 Fresh or Frozen Cherries
1 tsp. of cherry flavored extract or sugar free Torani Syrup (optional)


pumpkin Pie

8 oz. Skim or Almond Milk
1 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder
1 tbs. Sugar Free Vanilla pudding Mix
½ cup canned Pumpkin
½ tsp. pumpkin Spice

Mochachinno

8 oz. cold coffee
1 scoop Chocolate Protein Powder
3 ice cubes

Pina Colada

8 oz. Skim or Almond Milk
1 Scoop of Vanilla Protein Powder
¼ cup of Pineapples (fresh or frozen)
1 tbs. of Coconut extract or Torani syrup

Butterfinger

8 oz. Skim or Almond Milk
1 Scoop of Chocolate Protein Powder
1tbs. Peanut Butter or PB2 Powder
1 tbs. Sugar Free Butterscotch Pudding Mix
3 ice cubes

Cherry Vanilla

8 oz. Skim or Almond milk
1 Scoop of Vanilla Protein Powder
6 Maraschino Cherries
1 tbs. French Vanilla Torani Syrup or Vanilla extract

Caramel Chocolate

8 oz. Skim or Almond Milk
1 Scoop of Chocolate Protein Powder
1 tbs. Caramel Torani Syrup (sugar free)
3 ice cubes

Lemmon Meringue Pie

8 oz. Skim or Almond Milk
1 Scoop of Vanilla Protein Powder
1 tbs. of Sugar Free Lemon Pudding mix
½ tsp. Lemon extract (optional)
3 ice cubes

Pistachio Cake

8 oz. Skim or Almond Milk
1 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder
1 tbs. Sugar Free Pistachio Pudding Mix
1/8 cup of Pistachios (optional)
3 ice cubes

Strawberry Cheesecake

8 oz. skim or almond milk
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
1 tbs. of sugar free cheesecake pudding mix
4 fresh or frozen strawberries
3 ice cubes

Mango Madness

8 oz. skim or almond milk
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1/2 cup fresh or frozen mangos
3 ice cubes

Carrot Cake

8 oz. skim or almond milk
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1/2 cup fresh or frozen sliced carrots
1 Tablespoon low fat Cream cheese
½ tsp. Cinnamon
½ tsp. Nutmeg

Peach Cobbler

8 oz. skim or almond milk
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
¼ cup frozen or fresh peaches
½ tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. nutmeg

Red Velvet

8 oz. skim or almond milk
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
1 small beet

Mudslide

8 oz. skim or almond milk
1 scoop of chocolate protein powder
1 tbs. chocolate sugar free pudding mix
1 tbs. sugar free Kahlua syrup
3 ice cubes

Almond Joy

8 oz. skim or almond milk
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
1 tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder
½ tsp. coconut extract
1/8 cup raw almonds (optional)
3 ice cubes

def need to be drinking (alot) or as much as you can...need to stay hydrated so please try.....and this nonsense about not wanting to see the doctor...woman please??? did your doctor know what you weighed at surgery? did he put a lap band in you? if he did, then he knows who you are and what you look like....he will be your best ally is this whole thing...keep him on your side.
now if the scale is not moving to your satisfaction, it DOES not mean this whole thing is not working...are your clothes looser? are they too big?? do you feel better (physically)? if you said yes, then that right there is a success in my book regardless of what the scale does or does not say
to fail means to give up. are you giving up?
if you answer no, then you are NOT a failure.

I was banded on 2/19. I lost 20 lbs prior to surgery (ten of that on the pre-op) and have lost 2 lbs since for a total of 22 lbs. Like you, I got very hungry yesterday and had felt weak for the past few days. So, I blended a cream of mushroom soup with chicken broth and ate that for lunch and again for dinner. It was filling and I felt I had more energy.

It's hard to believe, I've done it. There were moments of panic in the last couple weeks, but I wasn't giving up. Now, getting through the recovery period. Last night was rough but today is better.

I met with the surgeon yesterday for the last time.
We talked and he checked me out, so I said, "Hey I'm sexy and I know it!"
I'm exactly a week away, my surgery is at 11:00 Am on the 6th.
Oh and all that bitching about liquid diet paid off -- lost 15 lbs in 4 days.
Did have some random cramping issues even though I'm very well hydrated.
he told me to eat a couple bananas and call him in the morning if there is still an issue.
I'm okay now but if it comes back I need to have some blood drawn for electrolytes check.
Getting close folks -- it's almost there.

Hey all! Today I am one week post op and have lost a total of 23.1 lbs, with only about 3.1 being after surgery. I felt like superwoman up until last night because I literally felt no hunger. I had to force myself to drink my Protein shakes! Then all of a sudden I was so incredibly hungry so I had some Soup and drank some Water and it got a little better.
Thanks to all the veterans on here I have managed not to panic that I haven't lost weight like I did during the pre op diet, but it seems I've been a little over eager and optimistic about returning to the gym, etc. I am just worn out! I was wondering if anyone had any good tips on getting through these first few weeks without a fill. When did you start going to the gym post op?

I had surgery on November 6th and as of this morning:
1. I have lost 51.5 pounds including the 15 pounds I lost during my pre-op.
2. I am now in the 180s at 189.8!
3. I am wearing a pair of lined black pants today from Ann Taylor that I haven't wore in over 8 years!
I have a feeling....today's gonna be a good day!!
Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

There are several couples in the local Bariatric Support group that I attend. Most of the couples are one who has had wls with their spouse going to the groups to support them. Maybe attending a local support group with you might help your spouse to better understand your weight loss journey.

There are several couples in the local Bariatric Support group that I attend. Most of the couples are one who has had wls with their spouse going to the groups to support them. Maybe attending a local support group with you might help your spouse to better understand your weight loss journey.

The studies show divorce rate of 70 percent for wls patients. Its on the net and I've been told by my married, banded psychologist at the clinic the same thing. He said its not the surgery that ups the rate, there is already an underlying issue with either spouse or as a couple (insecurities; unfaithfulness; ect) that when the weightloss happens, it tips the scales. Which is sad really. My marriage has actually improved thus far from after surgery. Sex is better and has doubled and I'm only a month post op tomorrow. Wls might safe my marriage.

My wife isn't very supportive I think she's tied alot of her identity to being the physically active one in our relationship.
I think she's also afraid that if I'm physically attractive (since I'm already have such a captivating mind and irascible charm dwarfed only by my modesty) I won't be able to resist the waves of women she imagines throwing themselves at me.

Thank you for the encouragement. My doctor's office called about the psych eval and the only reason it is taking so long is because the person who has to sign off on it is out of town until Friday. I can get approval as early as the 6th now and at most it should be by the 12th. Since I am already on the pre-op diet, I don't have to wait 2 weeks from approval to surgery, so that is a relief. The earliest I would likely have surgery is 2 weeks from today, but with my husbands schedule, it may be 4 weeks out. I am just anxious and ready.
As far as the GERD surgery, this is the second person that confirmed it is outpatient and only adds around 15 minutes to the surgery. Most medical websites say it is a 1-3 day stay, but I trust my doctor. The irony is that it is cheaper for me to be kept overnight though.

I went from several days of diarrhea to Constipation. However, I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome. So, I expected some problems. I probably need to begin taking Benefiber. But, I'm concerned that it will trigger the diarrhea again.

I was banded in September 2008. My starting weight was 433 lbs. Even at 5' 9", my BMI was over 60. I was wearing size 34-36 clothes, and they were tight. If I gained any more weight I would have to wear mumus! Before my decision to get the lap band, I thought I would never be able to lose the weight and I would die morbidly obese. When my sister-in-law was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and I thought of her children growing up without a mom, it made me realize that my children could easily face the same fate. So I vowed to do something about it.
I chose the lap band because it is reversible and adjustable. I knew that I am young enough that if a better bariatric technique comes along I want to be able to take advantage of that. Whereas if I had a gastric bypass I might not be able to do so, since part of my stomach and/or intestines would be cut away. I had to wait 6 months from the time I made the decision to the surgery date. Waiting was hard, but it gave me time to prepare and get other health issues (undiagnosed Type II diabetes, high blood pressure) under control with medications.
My lap band surgery went smoothly, and recovery was not difficult. Afterwards, sticking with the liquid diet for several weeks afterwards was a challenge. And waiting four weeks for the first fill, and two weeks in between fills, and four fills before I got to my sweet spot was a BIG challenge. I was so anxious to get the weight loss going, that it was hard to wait so long to get this tool in my hands after I had made the decision to do it.
The nutritionist I met with before my surgery told me that the lap band is not a panacea, it doesn't do the work for you, but it gives you a great tool for you to use. It's like I had been trying all my life to dig a hole with a teaspoon. I got frustrated and gave up, who wouldn't? Getting the lap band is like trading in your teaspoon for a backhoe. I still have to do the work, but now I have a great tool for the job. I found this analogy to be extremely true in my case. Once I got to my fourth fill, and the lap band really started working for me, then the weight really came off. Although the rate fluctuated, over time my weight loss was a pretty consistent 2 pounds per week.
Basically, I lost 200 pounds in the first two years. Those were two years of amazing changes in my life. I did a lot of work on the inside as well as the outside to get to know myself better and learn to love myself and accept myself, faults and all, even as I strive to make myself a better version of me. I did a lot of exploration, pushed a lot of personal boundaries, and even changed careers. I do believe that this internal work is a critical part of the weight loss journey for anyone, in order to be successful in the long run.
Backing up a little bit, I had a pretty severe pannus even before I started losing weight. Once my weight loss got going, all my health issues got better (Type II diabetes and blood pressure came under control without medication) but the rashes under my pannus got worse! As I lost weight my pannus kept dropping lower and lower! Finally I sought out a plastic surgeon and we got insurance to cover a panniculectomy. He cut off 14 pounds of skin and fat! I had lost about 80 pounds by this point, so we knew that the band was working for me. The recovery from the panniculectomy was initially easy, but later I developed some pretty severe seromas, that required my surgeon to go in and pull Fluid out several times a week. But after the first month I was very glad I had the panniculectomy. No more rashes, clothes fit me better, and it was a lot easier to exercise!
I have to admit, though, that I did not exercise regularly at first. I'm not proud to admit it, but most of that 200 pounds lost was through diet rather than exercise. After losing 200 pounds my weight loss stalled. I spent about a year and a half between 220-230 lbs, wearing a size 18-20W. At this point my life was already transformed, I had already achieved and exceeded the goals that my doctor and I set out for myself (my initial goal was to get into the "low 200s" which I later defined as 249 lbs.) and I thought that was all the weight loss there was for me. I was satisfied, but I still longed to go lower, to get out of plus sizes, and to be eligible to have a full set of plastic surgery procedures to transform me into the beautiful woman that I felt myself to be inside. I set a new goal, 199 pounds.
So a little over a year ago I finally decided to get serious about losing the extra weight. First of all, I went in to have my band tightened. I discovered that my band wasn't holding a fill very well. After a series of tests, my doctor discovered that I had a leaky port, and I went in for port replacement surgery. That surgery was a piece of cake, and after I got my port and tubing (it was actually leaky tubing) replaced my band worked as good as new. So getting a properly working, properly adjusted band was the first step towards getting back on track.
The other thing I had to do was get serious about exercise. All my life I had hated exercise, and had only ever done it out of obligation or guilt. But some friends were raving about a small yoga class, including one friend who also struggles with weight and body image issues, and I thought going to yoga with friends would be more fun and make it easier to stick with it.
I struggled mightily with voices of self-doubt at first, but eventually I really started getting into yoga. At first I was going only once a week, then twice a week, and now I am going five days a week M-F. Now I love yoga! I have learned so much about myself as well as greatly increased my strength and flexibility through yoga. I can't recommend yoga highly enough. I only wish I had gotten into it sooner.
Oh, and weight loss! In the last year I have lost another 50 pounds or so. As of this writing (2/25/2013) my weight is 185 (size 14-16), making my total weight loss 248 pounds. My current goal is to get down to 180, then have plastic surgery. I figure that will take me down into the 160s.
Currently I am consulting with plastic surgeons in my local area (San Jose, CA) as well a few in Los Angeles, CA and Tijuana, Mexico. I am looking to have a lower body lift (probably with fleur-de-lis/anchor incision), liposuction, breast lift with implants, brachioplasty, and medial thigh lift. I still working out how I will pay for all of this, as well as find the time for these multiple surgeries and the recoveries from each. But it is a priority for me!
I have been more than thrilled with my weight loss journey. The lap band has been an incredible tool for me to help me achieve my goals. I wish everyone similar success in their weight loss journeys.
Before lap band:
After lap band (I've actually lost more weight since this picture was taken. I'm not HOLDING my old jeans, I'm WEARING them!):

I understand your frustration. I started the pre-op even though I wasn't approved at that time. It was three days before surgery when I received the approval. I was anxious and feeling like I had wasted money using the Protein Shakes too early. Of course, stress made me wonder if I was going to backslide on the diet. Hang in there! Even if you are not approved as soon as you'd like, the pre-op dieting is helping you to prepare for surgery and the post-op diet.

i think you have better control of yourself then you think...i was also a binger..heck i even planned mine and herded my family to leave so i could binge..i tell myself, if i come to a red light and its red, am i gonna run it or stop and wait til it turns green?
same thing with (binge eating or eating more than my allotted amount). i make the choice to do the right thing....so if you are hungry at night drink and see if that helps...if not, eat something. eat something with Protein (to help you feel full) and enjoy it..(my hub/son loves Snacks goodies too. just because those items are there, they do not have that power over me that i must eat them... so what if they are there. i dont believe in will power... its my want power that stops me from eating that entire bag of lays while watching rupaul drag race).

Sometimes I wonder what the heck am I dong coming to this website......
Most of the people who I looked to for inspiration no longer come around here at all any more...and there were many....and I can now understand why they moved on........

You have the surgery, pre-op, post-op.....You go through the weight loss and lifestyle changes, learning all the way, some slower, some faster than others.......
and eventually you return to that place where, after all the weight has come off, your life returns to normal.....no longer worrying about loosing weight and diets.....
If I did not come here on this website, I could go days without thinking I ever had the surgery....just living life from day to day......doing things because they are now ingrained in me.
There are no lists of rules I must follow.....I don't have to remind myself how and what to eat, when and why to exercise to keep the excess calories and fat burned off......
I often think about it in terms of someone who has had a total knee replacement.....pre-op, post-op, very painful.....then comes the long rehab process of learning how to walk all over again, with something artificial. and eventually one does, returns to society doing the day to day routines, not thinking, yet knowing, they had the surgery....
I have a 70 year old friend who had 2 total knees done, and is back to running marathons.....took 2 years but the journey is complete.....

The overwhelmingly majority of people here on this website are either just starting out, or have had the surgery and are still loosing weight with many lessons yet to learn that they cannot even conceive because they are focused on the here and now...
It is frustrating because many think they know all the answers, (they're on my ignore list) simply because they lost some weight, and it is frustrating because others are not sure who to believe.....and it is frustrating because people also come here because they have had problems - failures and need support.....
I know a large group of people on a different site who are all refugees from here....they left and started their own group because they could not take it anymore.....and invited a few veterans for support....
Then there are people like me who are finished, really don't need to go through all this....sit back and witness it all and wonder...... what am I doing here here??? Is there anything here for me? Something to encourage and give me support? Not really! There is, but it is hard to find and comes from the weirdest source..almost a double negative equaling a positive......
The answer to that is because everyone has a success story to tell, there are always 2 sides to the story, and people need to hear it...... not just opinions from others still new to this journey....I left for a while, and consider leaving again.....but then I think of those new people looking for someone who has actually completed this process, and need to hear all sides to the story...If I did not come here to tell my story, then people would not know there are people out there like me.....they need to see the entire Forrest in and not just the individual trees....
And yet, it is all extremely frustrating
So much for my morning rant...it's 5am....off to the gym!

On the left you have me on thanksgiving 2012, and the right is day before yesterday.

You are exactly right Lady.. Our bodies will hold on to Water or weight if we are not providing enough. That is one thing I have learned over the many years of research about nutrition. Once we can eat regularly, and it doesn't have to be alot, our bodies will start burning fat. Yeah!!!
I don't care what anyone tells me from this point on, I'm doing this for me, I will give it my all, and what happens will happen. I'm doing the very best I can and that's all I can ask of myself.

Today is day 6 post-op for me. I haven't weighed since Friday. However, there wasn't a change in my weight at that time. I decided to weigh weekly and not rely on what the scale tells me. I feel better. My clothes feel looser. So, in my mind, it's all good. For those of us that are still in the liquid stage, our bodies are healing and we are on very limited calories. According to fitness pal.com, my body is in starvation mode, meaning that it is fighting to hold on to my current weight. I know that when I increase my calories per my surgeon's instructions, the weight will come off. Meanwhile, I'm enjoying how it feels to have looser clothing.
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Today I put my underwear backwards and have been walking around all day and not even realized it till my third time peeing this afternoon I looked down and saw the writing inside the underwear was on the wrong side of my body. When I was 270 lbs and wore a size 11 underwear there was no way I was pulling up my pants and walking around all day like that because my legs would have been cut off..my butt would never have been covered...and the back would have been so much larger then the front...Not today! Just thought I'd share!

Today is day 6 post-op for me. I haven't weighed since Friday. However, there wasn't a change in my weight at that time. I decided to weigh weekly and not rely on what the scale tells me. I feel better. My clothes feel looser. So, in my mind, it's all good. For those of us that are still in the liquid stage, our bodies are healing and we are on very limited calories. According to fitness pal.com, my body is in starvation mode, meaning that it is fighting to hold on to my current weight. I know that when I increase my calories per my surgeon's instructions, the weight will come off. Meanwhile, I'm enjoying how it feels to have looser clothing.
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Banded 12/21. Stepped on the scale this morning to find that pesky 1/2 lb gone so I made it to the big 50lbs lost goal. Next goal is 54lbs and that will mean I'm half way there with 54 more to go. Went from a size 20/22 pant and 3XL top and 44D bra to a comfortable 16 pant, 1X top and back to my usual 38C bra (why do they suddenly look so small? :-))
I'm a happy camper. Got the clearance this past Thursday for weight lifting and crunched so I can start to tone up those jiggly parts!