mrsto

Jim, you've done a phenomenal job! I agree with Sojourner; try & set a more realistic goal, and take some of the pressure off. It's true that exercise needs to become part of our daily routine. Easier said than done, I know! If it weren't for my dog giving me "the face" every morning, I'd probably plop down at my desk, and not surface for hours. I used to take her to the park; play catch, then sit my butt down on a bench while she plays. Now, I take her out for a good 40-45 minute walk through the hills about 4-5 times a week, which has made a huge difference in my progress. I know I "should" (hate that word) do more, but for now, this seems to be "enough". You're doing great, Jim.... Keep it realistic, and try not to get down on yourself for not living up to your own expectations. As my father always says, just do the best you can :-)

WOW, A-mazing transformation! You look positively fantastic!! Lying, really? Why on earth would someone lie about that?? Geez.....

Yep, I'd have to say that the toxic person in my life is me as well. I'm my own worst enemy!

Donna - I'm 58 (as of next week), but I'm going to comment, anyway :-) I have lost and gained so much weight over the years, I never stopped to think about surgery. This last round of weight (over 90 pound gain), really threw me. This time, being post menopausal, it seemed impossible to eat the small amount necessary to drop some weight. So, I continued to gain. I was on blood pressure meds, had high cholesterol, my knees were ready to give out, along with various other obesity related issues and pain. It wasn't until my next door neighbor told me that she had a bypass, that I even considered surgery. After months of turmoil on what to do, I settled on the lap band with plication. I'm 4 months out, 37 pounds lighter, off the blood pressure meds, knees rarely hurt, and I'm half way to my goal (I set a reasonable goal of 150). Do I wish I did it sooner? So far, I haven't felt that way. I'm just glad that I DID it, and my weight is going in the other direction. Good luck! You came to the right place, and will get lots of good info and support on this site.

Arlene - Mazel Tov on your great success! Yes, I said GREAT success. As you said, everyone is very different with their overall program, and it's so important not compare yourself to anyone else. Just focus on your own achievements; for which you've had many. Happy Bandiversary :-)

Kime - being able to maintain the same weight for a period of time, is success as well! Seems with this affliction, we're either going up or down. Staying the same for more than a week, hasn't really been in our repertoire. Finding comfort while coasting on calm waters, is (what I believe) the long term key to success. You are doing GREAT!!

I do the same thing......eat the crunch around the roll, and dig out the doughy/bready part.

I am familiar with PCOS. It is true that there are more challenges with weight loss, but not for all women. It's also true that women, band or no band, are able to lose weight with diet and lifestyle change, WITH PCOS. I'm not trying to minimize how difficult it is for YOU. But it can be very easy to fall into old behaviors, while totally blaming it on a health issue. Your original post said that you were hungry all the time, and finding food on every corner. I believe that some of the posters were responding to that. PCOS doesn't force anyone to make poor food choices. Even pregnant women choose yogurt over a Big Mac & fries. Again, I'm not saying that's what YOU were eating at every food venue on every corner. But you were eating enough to gain a substantial amount of weight, which typically equates to too much food, and poor choices. If a good portion of your issues are in fact PCOS, then maybe posting in an online PCOS forum is a better option.

This is my own opinion too, but I think that everyone needs some carbs. As Mis said, only good carbs, but.....carbs! Protein has always been the most of what I eat, but I do add a small amount of quinoa, 100% whole grain bread, yams, beans, etc. Beanie - you're lucky that exercise isn't a chore for you. Given how much you do, I imagine that with the dietary adjustments, the weight is going to start melting off. PS: The nutritionist at my doctor's office ALSO (appears to) never have had an extra pound on her. Same with the nurse who I do some of my follow ups with. Sometimes, when I talk with the nurse about different issues, I don't think that she understands quite the way someone who's been through it would. Just my feeling.... But as long as she knows what she's doing, I'm good :-)

SO well written! A very sad commentary on our society indeed! It's no wonder why 12 year old girls dress like porn stars, and at 16, already looking to plastic surgery. Pathetic.......so unbelievably sick. And it just seems to get worse.

YES - I second that......Karma IS good! I strongly believe in it.

I'm so sorry that you had to deal with that BS. The old "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me", isn't really true, is it? I agree with everyone above..... That guy is a bottom dweller, and either he will continue his life as an ignorant low life, or someday he will "find religion" (metaphorically speaking). Either way, those types will continue to walk the earth, and it's most important that you find strength within yourself, and cultivate a strong sense of self worth. Jules, just try & focus on what you are doing for YOU. Stay strong within yourself, and keep your eye on the big picture. You are moving toward a healthier life, and with every pound lost, you will gain a pound of self esteem. PS: LOVE what your friend said. It was perfect :-)

It's 7:15am here in SoCal. You're probably in the midst of your procedure. I'm thinking about you....and I'm EXCITED for you! Please let us know how you're doing, when you're up to it. This is the first day of the REST of your life :-) You've done a really good thing for yourself.....

I will.... I have to schedule a follow up appointment with him soon. I was supposed to go on 6/28, but they cancelled the appt.....he's going out of town. What do you do at the hospital?

Lovely..... I had no idea. I'll ask him when I have my next appointment.....just out of curiosity. I had kidney surgery years ago, and know catheters all too well. Never occurred to me that they would use one during surgery. Then again, other then what they tell me going in, I have know idea what happens when "the lights go out" :-)

Beanie - your doctor uses catheters on lap band patients? Thankfully, I didn't have one. My doc only uses them on his bypass patients (not sure about the sleeve patients).

As much as I couldn't wait for real food, I was also scared about having an episode; like the ones we read about. Because of that, I ate SO slow, and my bites were extra tiny. I paid close attention to how each bite felt, and little by little, I found my comfort zone. Certain things didn't feel good. They didn't make me sick, but I just didn't like the way they felt; made me a bit nauseous. So I excluded those things, and stuck to what felt comfortable. All the ground meats worked very well. Eggs, sort of hit & miss. Sometimes (even three months out), if I eat them in the morning, I'll taste them for hours. Not sick, just grossed out. Just a suggestion..... On the fruits & veggies, make sure the veggies are cooked until they're very soft. Fruit and vegetables have been tricky for me. Some cause immediate discomfort as soon as they hit my stomach. You'll be fine! It's okay to be a little scared, because that will help keep you focused on what you need to do. In the beginning, all of the teeny tiny slow eating helped me to retrain myself. If I'm preoccupied while eating, I may forget, but only momentarily. Good luck!

Yeah.....I'm with elcee on this one. My weight didn't come on from the drive thru. For the most part, I ate healthy. But the snacking in between meals; especially after dinner, coupled with the lack of exercise = weight gain. I love fries, but only ate them on occasion. When restaurants starting putting the calorie content on the menu, it was a VERY rude awakening! That salad I love is 800 calories. Add the bread & butter, and a few cookies after dinner, I'm already calorically into the next hemisphere! That doesn't take into account the other two meals of the day. Yep, not everyone eats fast food and bags of chips. But Bayougirl, I totally agree that SO many people who post, are in complete and utter denial!!

PS: From your post, it sounds like you didn't mention the behavior in your pre-op appointments? Does your surgeon know what you're dealing with?

EXCELLENT! It takes a long time to deal with those issues. I was in an in-patient eating disorders program 26 years ago. It certainly didn't cure me, but it altered the destructive path I was on. But it continued to rear its ugly face at various times since then. It's a curse; one that we're never really cured of. We can only do the continuous work to keep it in check. Beanie - I'm glad you're in therapy dealing with this. It will go a long way toward your success; not only with the band, but in your life as well. As I'm sure you're learning, the problem isn't compulsive eating/binging. It's all of the underlying emotional issues that fuel the behavior. Bravo to you for taking care of YOU!

Sounds like you're off to a good start. I've been banded since 3/25/13, and it is difficult at times. Unfortunately (you've probably read this several times), the band goes around our stomach, not our brain. Food addiction is something we'll have to deal with our entire life; band or no band. The most important thing my doctor and his staff drummed into our brains (and continue to do so), is that the band is a tool, NOT a cure. Your desire to binge will not go away. Just be prepared, and lean on the support at your doctor's office, and on this site. There is a lot of help to be had here; you came to the right place! The very best of luck to you!!

I love this!!!!

Amen!!! Thanks for posting this.

Stephanie - you are in the most difficult part of the journey. The only way I can describe that part (for me), was a roller coaster ride, unlike any other. But I have to tell you.....now 11 weeks out, and back to most foods, it totally changes. No, the weight doesn't fall off (yeah, I wish it would, too), but it's coming off consistently, and now I look back on the last 11 weeks, and I'm 26 pounds lighter. Would this have happened without the band? NO - it wouldn't have! When the negative ego rears its ugly face, try & remove yourself from it; listen to its unreasonable voice, but stay neutral. You can't really stop it from talking to you.....it's been with you forEVER. The "real you" knows what's best for Stephanie, and that is the voice that needs to intervene between all "head conversations". I refer to these as "the committee". The real you is the one in control. I love the analogy of the baseball game! Hold on to that..... THAT Stephanie is the captain of the ship. You can and you WILL do this!! It was a good decision, and I believe that you will know that clearly in the weeks to come :-)