solson8201

Super creative! Looks good, thanks for the share!

Looks delicious!

Had to share! I will be a month post op tomorrow. Had my first fill this past Wednesday and got on the scales this morning and finally made it over the 20 pound mark:))) down 21 pounds now!!!

I’ve had a few woo hoo moments already. Passing 300 and fitting in some smaller clothes but yesterday was one of those that I was really glad to see.
I have had the same PCP for almost 20 years and usually it was always the same story after each visit, you need to lose some weight, get your BP down and cut back on the salt and caffeine. He always seems to say, “I have a pill for that.”
I went the self pay route and didn’t need to go through a medically supervised diet drawn out over 6 months before surgery with him. Yesterday was my first checkup since starting this journey and I came prepared with all my progress charts. He was so thrilled with the progress that he felt he needed to cut my BP medication in half with another review in 3 months to take it even lower or start removing some all together. In 6 months after my physical we will review if the diabetes meds can also go away.
Interesting thing about the visit was I was reading Alex’s book while waiting in the lobby and was on the chapter of what to expect in your first year. There was a passage saying that after about 10-15 % loss you may see the need for some medications to be lowered. Alex’s was spot on with this claim.

Well you see most if us are humans and we make mistakes, learn from them and get back on track. Congrats to you for being a perfect robot who never makes a mistake.

I was banded on 4/19 and went today for my checkup with my primary care doctor. Before surgery, my A1C was down to 6.5 with diabetic medicines. Today, my A1C was 6.0!!!! Woo hoo! Able to go from 3 pills a day to 2....the doctor stated I will probably be off all meds in a few months! Two years ago, my A1C was over 8. I'm so excited...I wanted the lapband for mainly health reasons with the weight loss as a bonus. Can't wait for the future!!!!

Armonet that is funny, and I try to be a lady at all times I feel like omg this is a hot mess, its just hilarious to me, I told one of my friends that's just the beast in me trying to break free....hahaha

I do it too! My huge man burps, as I call them, are random. They might come directly after a meal, or 30-40 minutes later. I don't feel them coming. They come with no warning at all. I can't tell you the number of strange looks I have gotten in restaurants, stores, etc., probably because when it happens, my kids, bf and myself, laugh uncontrollably because I'm usually so 'ladylike'!

I'm on day one of my pre-op diet. Today hasn't been too bad, but I can see how two weeks of this will probably get really old really fast. My surgery date is July 26th, 2013. "Crystal Light and Better Than Bouillon is my Friend"

Also ask if you can have broth. You may need some sodium.

My mom just called me and too me she was proud of me for going through with the surgery. She's never told me she was proud of anything. Annnnndddddd......he's buying me a juicer!

I'm Irish so I never get sick from drinking I hadn't even thought of that potential downfall. Good point though. Lol.

Well...as many of you know, I have severe arthritis in my right knee. It was a co-morbidity and made it that much easier to get approved by the insurance company. I have alot of pain still even after losing more than 70 lbs. so I had an MRI done and was told that the damage is too severe for any additional shots or medicinal interventions. The doctor is recommending a knee replacement. That's the bad news.
The good news is that I've lost enough weight to have the surgery...which was the reason I did this to begin with. I was told nearly a year ago that at the weight I was, surgery would not be successful. I was banded in January with the hope that I could go ahead with the surgery in a year but I've done so well with the weight loss that I'm looking at surgery at the end of the summer or early fall. Not happy about having surgery but am so hopeful that the surgery will be successful and I'll be able to walk without pain again. .

So.....let me just start off by saying I HATE EXERCISE!!! I never stick with it long enough to "love" or "crave" it but I'm trying to become better. I recently have become unemployed and have been VERY stressed which has caused me to gain about 10 pounds. So, today I'm starting the 5-day pouch test in hopes for a reboot and just completed Week 1, Day 1 of the C25K program. Losing 50 pounds sure made a difference in that since the first time I tried it a few years ago. My chest didn't hurt when I did the jogging portions and I actually completed each interval. Later I plan to do my exercise ball exercises in attempt to strengthen my abs. So, for those of you that are runners.....I need tips on a good pair of running shoes and breathing method tips....it takes me almost the entire 90 second brisk walk portion to recover.

No. But I still get satisfied pretty quickly.

Today is my first day of mushy food. For dinner I fixed 1/2 cup of refried Beans and 1/2 cup of cottage cheese...and I couldn't finish it! Wow!!! I love this :-)

Checking in- I have been Mia:( had surgery on June 13 and had my first fill today. My band was placed empty and she put 1.4cc in it. I have lost 16.8 pounds. I was hoping for more altogether but am reminding myself that I could not have lost this much in a month by myself:)

I am very new, banded for only 2 1/2 weeks. One thing that has already happened is that I've learned the difference between satisfied and full. At the moment I have no restriction, but as I eat my cup of food for dinner (slowly) I am able to stop and listen to my body. For the first time in my life I am learning to realize when I am no longer hungry, and I'm actually leaving food on my plate.

I burp much more than I ever did banded. And it feels so good to burp now!

It's almost Thursday...a day i've been dreaming about for years in the abstract sense, and focusing on acutely for about 7 months. i just had a wave of nerves hit and as i have in the past - my mind went to what food might sooth me. (i should also say i have gone through brief moments of mourning the chance to really gorge on a turkey pot pie or entire plate of pasta)
today was different! rather than be sad about the quantities of food i'll no longer eat, or run to the fridge to see what would ease my worry - i recognized 1) food will not take away these nerves. if i ate something now i wouldn't actually feel any less nervous, and i'd end up feeling guilty for cheating on my pre op diet and i've done so well that just isn't worth it, and 2) i'm not actually sad about not being able to eat another entire pot pie again. instead i just realized how AMAZING it will feel to one day be able to have a few bits of a savory taste that i love and feel satisfied! i've never experienced that before. i've always felt like i'd be missing out on the next amazing bite if i didn't eat a huge portion - or that i'd eat and almost immediately feel hungry again. now i get to look forward to enjoying food without feeling beholden to it - and I CAN'T WAIT!!!

When my mom realized I was now wearing clothes 3 sizes smaller than she wears, her response was "oh great, now I'm the fattest one in the family"
Geesh!!

Today is a great day! Went for my pre op weigh in, down 14 lbs, came home and received a call from my insurance...surgery approved and 12 fills after surgery approved!!!!! I can now say I AM HAVING WLS on the 10th!!!!

Seems to be a very mixed camp among the healthcare providers with bands and the consumption of soft drinks. I went cold turkey on Diet Coke and other similar drinks when I started my pre-op. I am a software engineer by trade and one of the unwritten rules is we down lots of these drinks, with sugar or otherwise. I will admit to drinking 5 or 6 over the course of a day and that is not counting the occasional supersized drink from the convenience store once in a while. The first week I was sort of tired and didn't understand why. Now 5 weeks later it was suggested that I setup an appointment with my PCP to see about lowering some of my BP medications. I know I have been told in the past to cut back on the caffeine and sodium, but never had any guess it would add up to 30-40 points on my BP. Also seeing a sizable drop in blood sugar levels. Anyone else see drops like this? Getting off the medications is motivation enough to make me stay off of them. Not to mention the extra $$$ that I was literally xxxxxxx down the toilet.

I've been very fortunate w my healing process. Was banded 7/2 and only took pain meds twice to satisfy my partner. Gas was my main issue which i resolved by numerous trips to the mailbox. Have slowly increased distance but careful not to overdo and have followed diet to a T. Also doing breathing treatments in little tubbie thing. At work today and feel great. Funny side effect since surgery, everyone and i mean EVERYONE reaks of garlic. Strong garlic. Makes kissin the lil old (and young) ladies in church quite the experience. Go for first postop this Thursday. Hope to get on mushies. My kingdom for a tablespoon of pulverized tuna salad. Who knew, who knew!? scales pointing to a WL of 30lbs but Dr will have final word on that. Good luck everyone. Take it one step at a time.

When my daughter was 2 she had brain surgery which left her with a large scar on the back of her neck. We taught her to respond simply "knife fight" when someone asked about it. Bad parenting? Now she's 6 and has a cast on her arm...the new story? My husband likes "fell off the roof" I prefer "street fight with ninjas". We need therapy. Lol!