koolkel

Well if one week is getting you this upset, you may be in for a rude awakening! Unfortunately, plateaus happen. It's just crazy! I do not post on here much, but when I read you may be losing motivation; I felt I would like to respond.
I am one week past my one year anniversary of being banded and so far I have lost almost 130lbs. I am exercising my butt off, and this weekend, I will be running my first half marathon (13.1) race in San Diego, with my personal goal of finishing the race within 3 hours. By the way, in January I just turned 50 years old.
Currently, I am 20 pounds away from my goal weight and I lose about 1 pound every 2 to 3 weeks. So, I know how frustrating it is to step on that scale, hoping for a loss number to show up, only sees the same number as last time, or even a higher number. This can and will be very emotional, especially if you are doing everything like you are supposed to do.
I just want you to know that there are a lot of people just like us who go through this numerous times on their way to their goal. I had a plateau that lasted three and a half weeks. Believe me I know how frustrating this can be and it only made me want to step on that scale even more often, which I did daily. I believe that this caused me more stress and the more stress I put on myself, he more I didn't lose. No matter what the scale shows now, I only weigh myself once a week, that's it.
As for motivation, just keep focusing on the positives, (I know that is very hard to do) and just keep staying upbeat! Follow the doctor’s orders, and programs, and this will work out for you, just as it has for thousands of other people!
Also, you can't see my weight loss in my pic as it is a before photo and I’m currently at work, but in the next couple of days, I will post a new "after" photo of me. There should be an "In Process" photo slot on this site as well. LOL!
Good luck to you and please stay motivated!!
Pete

Congratulations!!!

I agree with Holly, if you're already measuring and counting calories, you're going to great with your band. You're already way ahead of most at this stage!!

if you are already measuring and logging I am sure you will do fine!

Thanks for responding Holly Dolly. I guess I knew that but I'm becoming fearful that I won't feel a restriction for many months and hence eat poorly. Just knowing that I CAN makes me so tempted to eat something. My cravings are for healthy foods like salad and grilled chicken( okay, and feta cheese! Lol)

Best of luck and congratulations!!

Hi everyone! I've enjoyed reading this thread and you are all so supportive!
I was banded on 2/19. I had no pre-op diet except for Clear Liquids the day before. My surgery went smoothly and I had very little gas pain. I still some slight discomfort at the port incision site, and it's quite bruised.
My surgeon had me shower with Dial anti-bacterial soap for the two weeks prior to surgery( to decrease risk of infection.) I went a step further( because getting a hospital-born infection is my BIGGEST fear) and used Hibclens wash. My surgeon used no bandages at all and sealed my wounds with glue, and then covered them with glue as well. That's another way to decrease risk of infection. I spent one night in hospital( I walked all night!) and came home the next morning. I've been tired, and in the first few days I was STARVING! I even wanted lobster( thanks to a Red lobster commercial) and I don't even LIKE lobster! It gets easier everyday!
I'm not sure how much I have lost because I didn't own a scale until after my banding, but I was 263 when I started and on my home scale today I am 246. I don't see a weight loss myself. My stomach looks bigger but it's probably still swollen.(?)
When I am tempted to eat, I remind myself of the people who need feeding tubes. They can never eat again. We will be able to eat soon and we will have trained ourselves to exist on much smaller portions.
Good luck to all! It's ALL worth it!

I simply LOVE when I go to a cookout and sit in one of those resin/plastic chairs and then get up to do something and the whole chair gets up with me and I need help removing it from my butt. Yeah-- good times!

Omg! I've been reading all the posts,and I'm laughing my butt off, it happens to everyone, I haven't broken anything, but one night I woke up in the middle of the night rolled over, didn't see my husband I started calling out for him, then I hear his voice it was kinda squishy he says " you're laying on my face" lol I will never forget that I'm cracking up just typing this comment up.

My biggest surprise so far is that I feel absolutely NO restriction at all! I am over on my fluids everyday... I can still drink large mouthfuls and do so quickly with no problem. On the advice of the folks on this site, I am consciously trying to sip so that I'm used to it. Yesterday I had a few twinges of pain where my port is, and the swelling has subsided enough for me to feel the port through my skin( a little freaky!)
Otherwise, all is GOOD!

I was banded on 2/19 and I'm on full fluids until 3/12( three weeks!) I'm spooning guacamole and pureeing it in my mouth I am so desperate for TASTE!!

Fail at what??? Nothing has changed yet....other than you have had this device installed....but it has NOT BEEN "TURNED ON" it's just sitting there...idle.....
Like a new car sitting in your driveway, and you're sitting in your house upset it is not speeding down the interstate the way the advertisements said it would.....
Well, MAYBE you have to put gas in it first, then MAYBE you have to "Turn the Key" , start the engine and put it in "Drive"
And above all, this is your first car...MAYBE, like all of us, you have to learn "How to Drive" before you can speed down the interstate....
After my surgery, it took me 4-5 months to get this thing up to speed.....THEN it took me another 1-2 months to learn how to drive it all those crazy high speeds.....LOTS of accidents along the way...but I did not back down.....my friends are skinny and so will I be......
But learn I did...now, like driving a car...I don't even think about what I am doing anymore....even though I'm doing 85mh, it seems "easy and natural......"
And yet, I cannot be careless.....OR ELSE! I'm not totally stupid.....
The 15th...you don't even have your "Learners Permit" yet.......Please, calm down...it's a learning process, learn the basic rules, practice, and eventually you'll be cruising down the interstate with the top down, radio blasting and one hand on the wheel...without a care in the world....Trust me...I'm speaking from EXPERIENCE..not what I have been told or read somewhere....

Slowly drinking a Protein shake helps, as well as making your own delicious chicken Soup and straining it for the broth. My dietitians advice was if you think you are hungry, eat 3-4oz of sugar free Jello and wait 20 minutes.

Hi everyone! I've enjoyed reading this thread and you are all so supportive!
I was banded on 2/19. I had no pre-op diet except for Clear Liquids the day before. My surgery went smoothly and I had very little gas pain. I still some slight discomfort at the port incision site, and it's quite bruised.
My surgeon had me shower with Dial anti-bacterial soap for the two weeks prior to surgery( to decrease risk of infection.) I went a step further( because getting a hospital-born infection is my BIGGEST fear) and used Hibclens wash. My surgeon used no bandages at all and sealed my wounds with glue, and then covered them with glue as well. That's another way to decrease risk of infection. I spent one night in hospital( I walked all night!) and came home the next morning. I've been tired, and in the first few days I was STARVING! I even wanted lobster( thanks to a Red lobster commercial) and I don't even LIKE lobster! It gets easier everyday!
I'm not sure how much I have lost because I didn't own a scale until after my banding, but I was 263 when I started and on my home scale today I am 246. I don't see a weight loss myself. My stomach looks bigger but it's probably still swollen.(?)
When I am tempted to eat, I remind myself of the people who need feeding tubes. They can never eat again. We will be able to eat soon and we will have trained ourselves to exist on much smaller portions.
Good luck to all! It's ALL worth it!

The Peanut Butter I got is PB2 & I bought it at Kroger (grocery) in the health food area. It was on sale for $3.99. I mix it in with my chocolate shakes & it tastes like peanut butter cups.

Congratulations on your banding, and thanks for your ideas on making Protein shakes interesting. I know that going by the package directions will get boring fast. I bought a can of the powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury Vanilla and Unjury Classic chocolate. Right now, they are tolerable. I will try nutmeg at noon...one of my favorites.

I haven't had any problems taking large sips either. My nurse told me to take 1 oz every 15 minutes, but I found I could drink more and more quickly. But I do find I take longer with full liquids than Clear Liquids. As far as Soup goes, my dietician said to get Soups and strain out the pieces for more tasty and more variety of broth.< /p>

I've only had 3 bms so far and they have been loose but that's not unusual for me. Plus liquid in liquid out.

gulping Water while insides are still swollen as it hurts so dont do it...sip and sip and then sip some more.....and yes, your incisions will be sore and each day that passes, it will get better..my advice is to take it easy, rest and allow your body to heal and just develop patience. congrats on your new life

I never had that initial problem with drinking before my band was filled as some others had. They still want you to sip because you don't know when the big gulp is going to be too big of a gulp and you might have to get it up which with a newly stitched band can cause slippage. Yes when I go back for fills now and drink broth it runs straight trough (sorry for the gross visual). Good luck. Remember you might feel that you can go fast now but trust me its better to learn slow habits now and have better results than stay in bad habits. Remember its a learning tool. This is your first few lessons. Don't ignore the teachers. (The DOCS AND NURSES that is not us!) ))

Congrats to all! I was banded on 2/19 and I'm really loving my shakes. I've been experimenting so I'll share some ideas with you. It gets boring quick!
I use the EAS 100% whey Protein Powder.< /p>
I mix it with Blue Diamond brand, unsweetened almond and coconut milk( it is found in the dairy section and it is DELISH!)
I make a vanilla one and add a few tablespoons of frozen orange juice mix to make a creamsicle.
I make a chocolate one and add two teaspoons of sugar-free Jello pudding powder( cheesecake flavor or white chocolate.)
I also make one with a cold cup of Decaf coffee, one scoop of vanilla powder and one scoop of chocolate.
I always grind some fresh nutmeg( from the actual nut) into all of my shakes.
Also, adding some banana extract or any flavor pure extract helps!
I bought one of those "blender cups" that has a round, whisk-like ball in it so I rarely use my blender.
Good Luck and Happy Banding!

My before and after pictures. Yes, that is me wearing my HS Lettermans jacket from 1984.

Hi Everyone! I have been trying to join this group since sometime in Jan. Here is how I finally got it to let me in: I "right" clicked on the "join" button. A menu appeared and I clicked on " open." Now I am finally here and I can't remember all of the questions I had! LOL