ronzo80

Surgery date 9/27/11
after pic taken 4/24/13
170lbs off
I'd love to share my story and journey..

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Just have to tell. I made it. I made it!! I'm at my goal weight!
It took 2 and 7 months to lose 178 lbs.
I'm not skinny by anyone's standard. I'm normal. Normal! HOORAY!!
I can shop in the front of the store, I can walk great distances.
I can leap tall buildings with a single bound.. oh wait. Can't do that just yet.
But give me a couple of months! Haha!
You guys helped me all along the way. Thank you so much for all the support.

for the newbies reading this:
any wls has risks
complications can happen with any surgery
if you have a great doctor, they normally go over all of this
for the most success, patients must change what they eat and exercise
wls is not a miracle and shouldnt be seen as such. ...it takes work
it wont stop people from eating...(unless those who keep their bands sooo tight they cant swallow spit)....what a horrible way to live...
i wont throw .00000% or 1 in 200 or % of whatever fancy smancy
or post stuff you find on the world wide web
i am a simple country girl with common sense
but what i will say,
do your best and get whatever surgery you want and make your life better
any questions of complications or removal...ASK YOUR DOCTOR
you will find many opinions on this forum
and my opinion is my band saved my life
and that is all i care about
and unc basketball

I actually had that happened to me, started in 2011, but when I got the date for surgery, I became pregnant, so left it on hold. I didnt mind because we wanted a child, but had had no luck. I had my baby, and decided to check again. They had told me ask after I had her. I checked around and saw that two months seemed like it was an ok time in general to do the surgery, I asked my OB he said ok, asked the surgeon he said no problem, so they scheduled me. I just had it in april, 2 months after having my baby. I just had to retake their one day class and not the nutritionist. I think it may had been because the one year after my previously scheduled one had not passed. If I had to go through everything again I would do it. I thought of my health and my kids, and I was tired of always being with pain in my back and knees. And short of breath. Couldnt do many activities with my son. Now i am working towards it.

I actually had that happened to me, started in 2011, but when I got the date for surgery, I became pregnant, so left it on hold. I didnt mind because we wanted a child, but had had no luck. I had my baby, and decided to check again. They had told me ask after I had her. I checked around and saw that two months seemed like it was an ok time in general to do the surgery, I asked my OB he said ok, asked the surgeon he said no problem, so they scheduled me. I just had it in april, 2 months after having my baby. I just had to retake their one day class and not the nutritionist. I think it may had been because the one year after my previously scheduled one had not passed. If I had to go through everything again I would do it. I thought of my health and my kids, and I was tired of always being with pain in my back and knees. And short of breath. Couldnt do many activities with my son. Now i am working towards it.

December 21, 2012 345, January 15 Preop app 337, jan 21 surgery 326, today 299
Under 300 makes me very happy!

Today I have accomplished a huge place in my journey. I finally am below the 300's and I am never going back! Surgery was 1-4-13 and I am down 40 pounds. It's slow, but I am learning more everyday.

I'm sooooo close to goal I can feel it!!!! This weight loss journey has been so worth it and I can not wait to hit goal.

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I cannot believe its been a year already! I have been emotional all day thinking about it. I had my 1 year check up today where they took a new photo of me, and gave me a before and after comparison. I was literally in shock when I saw it.
To Celebrate, I bought myself a bike (have not ridden one in over 10 years). I also went to the DMV and got a new drivers license, with a new photo and my REAL weight on it - LOL!
Today has been a great day. Can't wait to see what's next.

I actually had that happened to me, started in 2011, but when I got the date for surgery, I became pregnant, so left it on hold. I didnt mind because we wanted a child, but had had no luck. I had my baby, and decided to check again. They had told me ask after I had her. I checked around and saw that two months seemed like it was an ok time in general to do the surgery, I asked my OB he said ok, asked the surgeon he said no problem, so they scheduled me. I just had it in april, 2 months after having my baby. I just had to retake their one day class and not the nutritionist. I think it may had been because the one year after my previously scheduled one had not passed. If I had to go through everything again I would do it. I thought of my health and my kids, and I was tired of always being with pain in my back and knees. And short of breath. Couldnt do many activities with my son. Now i am working towards it.

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 had my surgery on February 10. The first few days were pretty rough due to the gas pains and the fact that I had a bad sinus/lung cold. Let me just say that coughing/blowing your nose after lap band surgery is NOT fun... After that, things have leveled out as far as surgical pain. Have a UTI, but it isn't too bad.
Anyways, I weighed myself again today and so far, in the last 23 days. I have lost 45 pounds total! I am excited about that. And not only am I having victories on the scales, but I have also had a few small NSV's so far. Such as clothes fitting better or being too loose, being able to see my ankles, and being able to walk around wal-mart. Usually when I go into wally world I am in a riding cart, due to health factors in addition to weight. Last night when me and my boyfriend went in, I walked around the store most of the time. He followed me in a rider just in case, and I had to use it once or twice, but I got back up and walked more. It felt great!
I'm loving life with the band. So glad I had it!

Banded 4/24. I am on a two week clear liquid diet, and pretty hungry too. Make sure you are not eating anything thst is not on your diet. The reason why we cant eat is because the scar is forming around the band that will keep it in place in the future. You eat, your stomach muscles work, and the scar is disturbed. Those sugar free ice pops are supposed to be a life saver, although I havent had one yet. sugar free Jello and broth too. I try to space out my eating as much as I can, and it worked until a couple of days ago when the stomach was no longer inflamated. Like my doc said, I am going to be hungrier for the next few days until my fill on Wed.
Good luck and be patient.

Very interesting board message

You covered it completely. Most of us here have already gone through all the steps but a "refresher course" now and then is good for all of us. Also attending weight reduction meetings post surgery has been helpful to me as well. We discuss eating habits, new vitamins/minerals, snack foods are usually brought in to try from out dietitian. To hear others talk about there issues sometimes resolves your personal issues. We meet once a month in a meeting room in our local hospital. These are all optional and you are not forced to attend.
Best wishes

Thanks for the advice,I'm being banded Friday!

So, I was banded 6 days ago. I have lost 10lbs up until yesterday, but thanks to my monthly visitor, I now have gained a pound...a pound. All this work, and I gain a pound. Jeez. There goes the next few days.
Anyways, I thought I would share some of my tips. They may not work for you, but they did for me. And if you have some, please do share. I am always lookinf for info. So let me start with medicines. I was told to take a multi Vitamin, acid reducer, and Calcium. Went to Walmart, got store brand Equate Acid Reducer ($5 cheaper than Pepcid, $10 for large bottle - may change to ); Viactiv calcium chews with vitamind D ($10); Active Kids Complete with Iron multi Vitamins ($6 for 120 tablets, with one daily tablet needed only, that is three months. Kids only need half, so one will do for you).
Now, my doctor said ok to Kellogs shakes, and there is 10oz in a bottle, so I get 5 servings each. I found this baby formula container, which is perfect size to measure my 2 ounzes. I bought the multipack, so I saved $2 bucks on the shakes ($10 for 8). For my diet I am using Maggies and Campbells Soups, Water, sometimes 1/4 cup of apple juice and the 6oz of shakes. I do get hungry sometimes, but I have learned to extend my eatings until a little past my hunger. And I take the pills like food. So instead of taking them with the shake or Soup, I take them, and wait a while to take either of those. It is like a mini snack. I am not doing enough with the Water, but I cant drink a lot, just sip and sometimes I forget. So far it was working, until the monthly came to visit. I think 10lbs in 5 days was pretty decent.
I am also walking, very slow, half hour. Do not overdo it the first days. I did on my third day, and was told to take it easy by the doctor.
Last thing, applications. I use four. This application for inspiration and questions. MyFitnessPal, which logs your water, food, medicine (the viactic has 20 calories so you better count it and your Vitamins will show in application totals, telling you you have taken 100% of needed supplements). The app is not used to people eating so little calories, so ignore the daily message of completion telling you that you have not eaten enough.
I also use runtastic, a pedometer that syncs with myfitnesspal, and something that has the word ticker in it. It creates that little ruler you see in message boards showing your weight loss journey.
Go online and find more info on message boards, forums and youtube. You will also find ideas for foods to eat. I will post some later on in this thread and a couple of youtube videos.
And remember, no solids during this phase. liquids only. Your stomach is healing and a scar is forming around your band, which will help keep in place. Do not put yourself up for future complications, by eating solids now. It is not worth it, even if you feel fine afterwards. You made your stomach work.
That is it for now. Just remember, it maybe painful, and hard at first, but you will fet the hanf of it soon. And the results, the energy, getting rid of medical problems and why not, the clothes, are a great reward. Good luck and God bless your journey.

So, I was banded 6 days ago. I have lost 10lbs up until yesterday, but thanks to my monthly visitor, I now have gained a pound...a pound. All this work, and I gain a pound. Jeez. There goes the next few days.
Anyways, I thought I would share some of my tips. They may not work for you, but they did for me. And if you have some, please do share. I am always lookinf for info. So let me start with medicines. I was told to take a multi Vitamin, acid reducer, and Calcium. Went to Walmart, got store brand Equate Acid Reducer ($5 cheaper than Pepcid, $10 for large bottle - may change to ); Viactiv calcium chews with vitamind D ($10); Active Kids Complete with Iron multi Vitamins ($6 for 120 tablets, with one daily tablet needed only, that is three months. Kids only need half, so one will do for you).
Now, my doctor said ok to Kellogs shakes, and there is 10oz in a bottle, so I get 5 servings each. I found this baby formula container, which is perfect size to measure my 2 ounzes. I bought the multipack, so I saved $2 bucks on the shakes ($10 for 8). For my diet I am using Maggies and Campbells Soups, Water, sometimes 1/4 cup of apple juice and the 6oz of shakes. I do get hungry sometimes, but I have learned to extend my eatings until a little past my hunger. And I take the pills like food. So instead of taking them with the shake or Soup, I take them, and wait a while to take either of those. It is like a mini snack. I am not doing enough with the Water, but I cant drink a lot, just sip and sometimes I forget. So far it was working, until the monthly came to visit. I think 10lbs in 5 days was pretty decent.
I am also walking, very slow, half hour. Do not overdo it the first days. I did on my third day, and was told to take it easy by the doctor.
Last thing, applications. I use four. This application for inspiration and questions. MyFitnessPal, which logs your water, food, medicine (the viactic has 20 calories so you better count it and your Vitamins will show in application totals, telling you you have taken 100% of needed supplements). The app is not used to people eating so little calories, so ignore the daily message of completion telling you that you have not eaten enough.
I also use runtastic, a pedometer that syncs with myfitnesspal, and something that has the word ticker in it. It creates that little ruler you see in message boards showing your weight loss journey.
Go online and find more info on message boards, forums and youtube. You will also find ideas for foods to eat. I will post some later on in this thread and a couple of youtube videos.
And remember, no solids during this phase. liquids only. Your stomach is healing and a scar is forming around your band, which will help keep in place. Do not put yourself up for future complications, by eating solids now. It is not worth it, even if you feel fine afterwards. You made your stomach work.
That is it for now. Just remember, it maybe painful, and hard at first, but you will fet the hanf of it soon. And the results, the energy, getting rid of medical problems and why not, the clothes, are a great reward. Good luck and God bless your journey.

I am finally banded. I have been working on this for about two years now, but last year, right before surgery date I became pregnant, something we both had wanted. I just had the baby in February, and scheduled my band as soon as OB and surgery doctor said it was ok. Hoping that it will work for me as good as it has for so many others. I did freak out when in the room, and wanted to leave, but I just prayed for a while and then everything was easier for me.
Wow, this is a little harder than expected. The pain is there, specially when I move, but my biggest problem is the pressure in the chest. That is hard. Hopefully it will go soon.
So, I am a female, 5.7 1/2 (according to doctors - according to me is 5.8). 241lb day of surgery, although originally it was 261lb. Problems with my breathing, back, knees and left foot, due to weight.

I am finally banded. I have been working on this for about two years now, but last year, right before surgery date I became pregnant, something we both had wanted. I just had the baby in February, and scheduled my band as soon as OB and surgery doctor said it was ok. Hoping that it will work for me as good as it has for so many others. I did freak out when in the room, and wanted to leave, but I just prayed for a while and then everything was easier for me.
Wow, this is a little harder than expected. The pain is there, specially when I move, but my biggest problem is the pressure in the chest. That is hard. Hopefully it will go soon.
So, I am a female, 5.7 1/2 (according to doctors - according to me is 5.8). 241lb day of surgery, although originally it was 261lb. Problems with my breathing, back, knees and left foot, due to weight.

Thank yo Pretty! Yeah, she is going to keep me pretty busy. I have also a 6 year old boy, and he is already making plans for when mami is skinny, lol. I used to liked rollerskating, and he is already asking we buy new skates. This is very exciting for us.

I am finally banded. I have been working on this for about two years now, but last year, right before surgery date I became pregnant, something we both had wanted. I just had the baby in February, and scheduled my band as soon as OB and surgery doctor said it was ok. Hoping that it will work for me as good as it has for so many others. I did freak out when in the room, and wanted to leave, but I just prayed for a while and then everything was easier for me.
Wow, this is a little harder than expected. The pain is there, specially when I move, but my biggest problem is the pressure in the chest. That is hard. Hopefully it will go soon.
So, I am a female, 5.7 1/2 (according to doctors - according to me is 5.8). 241lb day of surgery, although originally it was 261lb. Problems with my breathing, back, knees and left foot, due to weight.