Mizz_Megan

Please don't take this the wrong way...you were only banded about a month ago right?
You have a lot to learn about the reality of living with your band. Some of your points are valid, but you should not judge anyone or their journey...you haven't lived through any of the challenges of being banded yet so it's very unfair of you to tell others what they should or shouldn't do.
Exactly whose rules do you believe we should all follow? If you've been on LBT for long, you will see people tell variations of their pre-op diet, their post-op progression from liquids to regular food and the instructions they are given after a fill ( or even an unfill). The only rules that anyone should follow are the ones given by their own doctor.
Lastly, your point about cheating the people here on LBT is really challenging for me to understand. If I choose at this time in MY journey to eat something, I am not cheating anyone besides myself. I record everything that I eat, so should I now feel guilty because you wouldn't approve of my choice? Sorry, but at nearly three years out, I don't worry about too much about anyone's approval. Just saying all of this in my humble opinion.

One of the hardest lessons of my life was to stop worrying about other people and concentrate on my own actions. I am not being critical of what you said, only sharing what I have learned.
One thought for you is that most of us here are not the most emotionally stable people in the world as evidenced by our eating issues, so is it any wonder that that those issues don't go away when we are banded?

Today I hit -65 pounds!!! So excited!!! 5 months and 1 week was my surgery!!! STOKED . Hope to b at goal by July

According to my dr a full liquid diet includes any Soup or pudding that has been strained, yogurt with nothing added like granola or fruit, Protein Shakes etc. Clear liquids are things like broth and Jello anything u can see through.

Yes! But I'm right at the same stage as you. I saw my doc last week and he said its normal to be able to eat more pre first fill. He didn't seem too concerned...just reminded me that this is my chance to learn to eat right and to remember that my body is still healing.
I also talked to my nutritionist who said if I need to eat 2oz meat every 2hours then to do it. As long as I'm getting in the 60 grams of Protein...
Don't be too hard on yourself. I don't see this as failure, but part of the learning process.

One week post op I wasn't hungry at all most the time and lost 6lbs, the following week I had no restriction at all and gained 3lbs. I started drinking Protein Shakes again at breakfast, and sometimes for lunch (but not always) with a normal meal at dinner, and started walking. Did a lot of walking that week and I lost 9lbs in one week. I weigh myself weekly. So I make sure I get my walks in for the week because if I don't I feel like I'm gonna gain weight lol.. I don't eat what I'm suppose to either. Portion sizes I mean. But I do eat healthy. I am 3 weeks post op and definitely have no restriction, but I can go hours before feeling hungry again. Sometimes I'll eat dinner and in an hour my stomach starts growling, but I know I'm not hungry, so I don't eat, I just drink, drink and drink and it goes away. As long as you're eating healthy and getting exercise in, I'm sure you'll lose. That's what I'm doing. Everyone is different tho..but you should give it a try. I usually walk (fast paced) for 30-45 minutes a day..I had my post op appt on Friday and asked when I'll be getting a fill, and he told me 4-5 weeks, my mouth just dropped! Lol that's 7-8 weeks post op..but I think I'm doing ok without the fill, but as long as I get my walking in. I usually get satisfied/full with 1 1/2 to 2 cups of food, with the exception of a salad, I can eat a pretty big salad . You'll be ok, just stick to your Protein and veggies. Do you by any chance count your calories? I feel that has been a BIG part of my success so far, to be able to keep track of my caloric intake..

I only know that my doctor tells me the habit of Grazing is bad no matter what you eat.

I have gotten stuck on broccoli that was steamed just a bit. No other veggies have bothered me, but I tend to eat them cooked. I have found roasted veggies are delicious.

Hello donna.
First of all let me start by telling you this- You are a brave and wonderful woman. I have absolutely nothing but the utmost respect for you. Your opening up like this takes courage and guts that most people on the planet do not possess. DO NOT EVER DOUBT THAT YOU ARE A BRAVE AND AMAZING PERSON!!!!!
Life is exactly that. Life. It has its ups, and its downs. And right now you are in a down. God I want to just go give you a big hug right now. What you are going through is so hard. And you have more courage than most people I know.
And for sake of honesty I will share my story. I used to be a very happy person. But much like you I had things happen that totally put me in a not so great place. My wife came to me asking for me to help her parents by taking them in. Financially they were having issues. I fought it and fought it until I finally wore down and caved. So now I take in her parents, and it just starts going bad. They complain about everything. They fight me about everything. Its a disaster. I tried to explain to my wife the problems that would come with it but she didnt want to see it. Her sister soon starts having problems in her marriage. We come to find out that she has been stepping out on her husband. Not having affairs mind you, but going on line and setting up meeting spots with strangers. Husband found out and ofcourse it didnt end well. ( I want it known that I in no way judge her for any choices she made. She is her own person and has to answer to no one other than herself). So now they seperate. And where does she go to? Her family of course. So now I have her move in. Its an ugly seperation. But unfortunately it didnt last long. Two months into it she called me and said he didnt go to work or show up for his visit with his daughter. And I knew instantly. I told her to stay home, and i went to his house. I found his body that afternoon.
So now I have my sister in law and her beautiful daughter living with me as well. ( not to mention her dog and three cats that did not yet take to my dog and two cats or my mother in laws dog. Yep, Its a zoo) One week to the day my father in law passed. I felt horrible for my son. At the age of 10 he lost his favorite uncle and his POP POP. The grandfather. I will never forget the words coming out of his mouth. " Dad, why is everyone I know dying?" it was heart breaking. And having to discuss and explain suicide to a 10 year old is truly one of the hardest moments of my life. Now top this off with my mother. She has been sick for a few years with a mental illness. Which ended with her being committed after a few failed suicide attempts. My life really is a soap opera.
So I started failing on my diet as well. Stopped going to the doctor. Stopped watching what i was eating. And started to gain back weight. I was a miserable person. My marriage was taking hits left and right. And i realized I wasnt even living anymore. Just existing. I didnt want to go home. There were nights I'd just sit in my car, numb. I felt lost. And really just, well lost is a good way to describe it. I was not suicidal. I just wasnt really living.
I decided one day that I really needed to get my life together. I heard something that really struck me. CHANGE THE WAY YOU LOOK AT THINGS AND THE THINGS YOU LOOK AT CHANGE. I'm not sure why it struck me so hard, but it did. And I realized that it was only me holding myself back. That only I was responsible for myself. And that if I didnt fix my life nobody else would. And it is at that moment I started to live. I went back on my diet. I started to see and find joy in things. I felt better and started smiling more.
Things at home havent really changed much. Some nights its good, and some nights its bad. The way I see it if the better nights out number the worse, you're doing ok. I started to feel happy again.
I made a few new friends. And one in particular really impacted me. This person opened my eyes to just how happy life could be. How special life is, and how to live again. How to be accountable. How not to judge. How there are people out there that care about others and not just themselves. I will always be indebted to that person for helping me in a time of need.
Donna, you are not alone in this. I know you feel lost. But you must remember that you are not alone. There is a strong support staff here. Wonderful people that will always be there and support you. You MUST talk to your doctor about all of this. About everything. They are only there to help you. I also can not stress this enough. You need to see a doctor about your stress issues. Your personal problems. I have had to deal with five suicides in the last 2 years, as well as some failed attempts. Depression is a very real and very dangerous thing. I implore you to seek some professional help. Your eating issues are purely a mental coping mechanism. Please seek some help. It is a dangerous area to go into without the help of true trained professionals. I am not one. I am a police officer who has just seen this one too many times. I plead with you. Talk to your doctor.
Donna, thank you for having the courage to post your message. You will not be judged by us. EVER. And you are not alone. You can do this!!!!!!

I dont really have any problems with veggies but make sure you are focusing on your Protein first. Feel free to join my recipe group on Facebook by friending me at hely lb. I have a lot of snack ideas high protein that may help you. Best of luck.

Banded 4/5. Total lost- 46 lbs. seriously having a hard time adjusting to the lowered amount I should be eating- yet doing better with waiting 1 minute between each bite- and chewing food thoroughly. Overall, still eating so much less than I used to

My doctor initially recommends 18 months to his patients so there are no surprises post op. They want to make sure they get blood work far enough post op to see your Vitamin, Iron, and Protein levels and be sure you are getting the proper nutrition. Luckily, at my 6 month visit I was given the go ahead to start TTC anytime because everything looked great and I had already dropped more than 60% of my excess weight!

I'm hanging in....was banded 4/29. I had some cream of Tomato Soup for the first time yesterday and it was pure heaven!

My drs office sent in my information and about a week later they required more information which was just proof of my weight for the last 2 yrs from my primary dr. I was approved 2 weeks later! Don't give up that's not how u get what u want! It will all work out u just have to jump through some hoops first. Good luck

My drs office sent in my information and about a week later they required more information which was just proof of my weight for the last 2 yrs from my primary dr. I was approved 2 weeks later! Don't give up that's not how u get what u want! It will all work out u just have to jump through some hoops first. Good luck

I would deff call and ask them about the fever and tell them you would have liked a follow up call or something, My hospital recovery called a couple times the next day to make sure I was okay.

Skipping math? YES, a win win! LOL!! I hated math in school, and do accounting for a living. Go figure.....
I'm glad to hear that you're getting in sooner than later. Please let us know the outcome... I hope you feel better, soon.

Over the last three years I've had multilple fills and unfills. I've never had any of those problems after an unfill.
I've had more weight gain from being too tight than from having an unfill.
When you post a thread like this, you make an unfill sound like a death sentence to the band. This is not an accurate representation. Sorry the band didnt work out for you, but scaring newbies about having an unfill isn't playing fair.

I've had two unfills and never experienced any of those side effects.
As far as "rapid weight gain", that only happens if you start eating more than you should be. The band itself doesn't make you lose weight or gain weight. The band simply allows you to be satisfied on less food for longer periods of time. Whether you lose or gain weight depends entirely on how much you eat.

MIne is April 28th!!

I was banded 4/24 and I have to say I expected less pain. I also had to have my gallbladder out at the same time so maybe that's y? I don't know where my port is but one particular incision is giving me heck and not sure if that's where they had to dig the GB out of or what (GB had lots of scar tissue apparently). It hurts like heck when I bend or move on one side and the incision is constantly talking to me lol. Anyone else had their GB removed also or prior to banding?

Soo i am home now... just got settled in... the cat missed me... is all curled up on my shoulders and puurrin to his heart content. The stairs weren't that bad getting up so i think i am good here.. i am hurting a bit more today though but i think i might have slept on my stomach for a lil bit last night. Hope all is well.

If you keep that up, your band may slip and you may have no choice but to have a revision with sleeve done. Be careful and again, just remember why you did this. If the doctor has cleared you to eat, make better food choices, and eat foods that are high in Protein and low in carbs. Eat to live, don't live to eat. Good luck.

That's good for you... I have been doing the Protein shakes as well.. I woke up Sat and said I needed something a bit more then clear haven't had an issue since.. I have been able to take showers and such I even went to the store today .. got on one of those motorized carts... HAHA ..I enjoyed getting out but it took some out of me... I am going home tomorrow so I will let you know how I do with those stairs. I am in pain still so yours might be a bit of both.. mine is more at the port site and everything still "settling" I guess you could call it. Anna, goodluck on the flooding.. stay safe!

Hi group, I just want to encourage everyone to not compare your recovery to others. I have noticed that there are some that say they recovered quickly and others like myself that are still not feeling 100%. I am on day 5 of my recovery, and I am still popping pain killers like they're skittles. I am walking as much as I can, but also allowing myself the R&R my body needs to heal and recover. Don't push yourselves too much, do what you can and focus on just getting better. Everyone's recovery is, and will be different just like everyone's weight lost journey differs. It is good for those of us who are healing and recovering quickly, but it is also ok for those of us who are taking it easy and allowing our bodies to do what they were made to do naturally. Walking has helped me, but resting and relaxing has been good for my mind and body. I have also learned that depression may sneak in, but it is normal to feel a little down. Due to the fact, you have just made a huge life altering decision, and it is going to take sometime to adjust to a whole new lifestyle. For me, when I am down or not feeling well, I would turn to food for comfort. So what do you do when your body no longer allows you to do that? It's like detox, or going through withdraw. So feeling a little sad, or down is expected. This message is just to encourage those of us who may be asking ourselves, what the hell did I do to myself!? I know that this transition and healing process is only temporary, and we will survive, and succeed in the end. Hears to us! (holding up my Protein shake)