Kitt3000

Very impressive Jim!

Someone on the board mentioned brilliantly freezing her Protein Shakes for post op in one of those ice pop makers. Has anyone had success doing this? Thinking it's a good way to get Protein and have something soothing.

Hi RiskyGirl,
Rest assured it can be done. It does take time and you will encounter some frustrating times and maybe even self doubt along the way but the most important thing is not to get too hung up in that and make sure you keep pressing onward.

When I first had weight loss surgery (band) and couldn't eat, my husband (then alive and has since died)felt so guilty that he didn't want to eat in front of me. I appreciated his thoughtfulness, but he didn't have to diet, I did, and I told him that it was fine, that I understood but he didn't have to do that. I had this surgery for myself, to live longer and to be with him. The down side he died within 1 1/2 years after that surgery. I will always be gratful for his feelings and the fact that I didn't lose sight why I had to have this surgery and why I wanted this surgery. I took responsibility for my decision, owned up to it, and never held him accountable. If he seen me today with the bypass, and how much more weight I have lost, I know how proud he would be. I am sure he is giving me a high five from above, right now, and if he could he would be telling me how beautiful I am. Life is short, even if you live to 100. Always be gratful for the seconds you have with a loved one.

I'm going in for my consult next week and hope for surgery before Thanksgiving (self pay so no insurance hoops) and leaning towards not telling anyone except for my husband. And when I do tell him I'm going for it, I'm going to keep it low key and not make it a "thing". My reason for doing this is I don't want this to define me. I want everyone to just see me when I'm 70 lbs lighter (my goal weight), not as the girl who got sleeved.

I haven't told anyone either. I wanted to surprise my family when I see them at Christmas. I had surgery on 9/17 and I am down 42 lbs. Hope to be down 60 by time Christmas gets here. Oh my hubby knows uh cause he lives with me ha ha plus he is 200% supportive

I told my parents I was having a procedure done on my back, just so in case something went wrong they wouldn't be blindsided. They live 2000 miles away. I told nobody else I was even going to be in the hospital. Nobody's business.

My wife and I were banded on September 7, 2007. The band has literally saved my life. No more mess for diabetes and no CPAP Machine. No back or knee pain.

I feel so in sync with my body -- that feeling of wholeness and connection was something I had lost over the years. Very happy to have it back. There were years when I felt betrayed by my body. I couldn't lose weight no matter what I tried and it was so frustrating. I'd be "good" but it never lasted. Now I feel like everything is working in concert. My brain chatter has diminished greatly and I love having that appetite monster off of my back. I am not on a diet.

The first best thing I ever did for myself was to quit smoking almost 20 years ago... the second best thing was deciding to have WLS, and following through with it. Still on the CPAP machine, but I am down over 80 lbs and feel a lot better. My cholesterol dropped from over 250 total to 153, and now my HDL is higher than my LDL numbers. I'm not near my goal, but I am positive the band is giving me a new lease on life.

I love my band too!
In December it will be 3 yrs for me started at 260 and down to 195 clothes sizes went from size 22- size 14 some size 12s. Still 40lbs from my goal and for the most part I'm enjoying the journey!

Add me to the 6 years out post surgery and I absolutely would not be where I am now without my band. I'd do it all over again for sure. I come here for encouragement for myself and to help others.

All the negativity really bugs me. I know there can be complications with the Band, I worked hard to research it and chose it with full knowledge of the risks because to me the results for other WLS was unacceptable to me. While I am sorry people do suffer complications and I hope it never happens to me, I don't need it shoving down my throat. What I need is support and the knowledge from those who live with the band on how to live with it, how to treat it right.
I am only 9 days post op, I am already on solid food per my surgeon and I have lost 18lbs. More than that, my excess Fluid is GONE, I am off Lasix and my blood pressure meds have been cut in half and that has never happened before even when I lost 90lbs. I have more energy for housework and when I return to work next Tuesday expect it to be much easier.
I have had to deal with two bouts of stress that would have normally caused me to use emotional eating, I would have reached for chocolate. Also, I used to have the habit of buying a caramel magnum at Walgreens. So here I am getting out of the car at Walgreens and considering buying one, just for a moment. Then all that chocolate.. yes.. I considered it again knowing chocolate would go through the band without a problem. Then a little voice popped up I have never heard before and it said.. really? You had actual surgery and you are really considering eating that stuff? I didn't buy anything and I faced and dealt with my emotions instead of eating.
Before surgery I would have gone ahead and eaten several bars of chocolate and decided I would get back to tracking the next day, or the next, or the next week or whatever. I am thrilled with my decision because for the first time in years I have hope I will get to goal and maintain.

I am only three weeks out from surgery, but so far my band is a huge success. I have no desire to overeat. I have very minimal hunger. I am comfortably and happily eating around 800-1000 calories a day of solid healthy foods that I enjoy.
During this time I have been to parties, I have been out to restaurants, and I have enjoyed my life. That was a very important factor to me that I could continue to lead a "normal" life. I've been grocery shopping twice and haven't even been tempted to buy foods that are not healthy. I haven't even had a fill yet but if I could stay like this forever, I would be happy.
Also I've lost 15 pounds so far which doesn't sound like a lot, but it's 13% of the total amount of weight that I need to lose.
Right now, at least, I am one happy customer

Apparently I am I went to my Surgeons office today , did the barium and We decided since I was still losing no fill and I walked and rode the bus there and back there and to home.

Hi, I would like to thank everyone in this thread for being honest about their weight loss life after surgery. All your post have really reassured me and calmed me down on seeing some posts about people's negative effects after the surgery. What has really helped me is the posts telling about their weight loss success of over 100 pounds or close to 100 pounds because I need to lose over 200 pounds.

Oh goodness. Thank you for such a nice compliment Julie.

@go walking. You have a gift for writing. A budding journalist. Keep it up. It truly inspires us Even after all these years I need a good inspirational story!!

Congrats!!!!!!!!

This was so encouraging. I have been heavy for so long, sometimes the thought of being smaller seems unbelievable. I was banded July 15th and hit 40# lost this am! So excited. Goal is to hit 50 by Thanksgiving! Thank you for sharing!

LOL! I am small. I can see it in pics with my family. My granddaughter is 10 and she will be taller than me in another year probably. I was banded in January of 2013...so it took about 21 months. My PCP wanted me to hit the 150 mark so I made that my goal and I met it back in March. So for these last seven months, I've just continued doing what I've been doing and know that once my body has given up all the fat it has, I'll stop losing weight. At this point, it's pretty stable and I can't imagine it getting much lower than where it is now.

Amazing. How long did it take? I hope to be able to post a success story some day, but would be beyond thrilled with 150. I haven't seen the 120s for over 20 years!! You are teeny!

I strive not to let numbers dictate my life, but I get giddy thinking about that fact I am under 200lbs.
Awesome job, friend Enjoy every moment of it!