enjoythetime

Oh yes ma'am unfortunately/fortunately it's completely normal!:-) It's gas pains. What helped me out ALOT was gas-x strips, my heating pad placed on the worst area and then walk, walk, walk, that gets that trapped air in your body moving around so that it can be released. When I say walk I mean walk around th living room walk down the hallway nothing too crazy but you need to get up and move around as much as possible so that the pain goes away. Congrats, on the start of your new life!!

Yay! You will do Great! Congrats on the start of a new and healthy life!!! Let us know how you're doing!

Now this is truth!! Great post!! Congrats on your hard work, it's paid off!

AMAZING story and AMAZING success! So happy for you!!!

Jim 1967- I couldn't agree with you more. The one thing I heard over and over again while I was researching this surgery and still do to this day and whole heartedly believe is "the band is a TOOL", not a magic wand, we have to be disciplined in our food choices and we have to be held accoutable to ourselves when we don't (the scale will do that for us). We still have the freedom to eat whatever we want, the band controls the quantity. We're the ones doing the hard work, we're the ones making a concious effort to make the right food choices and to live a healthy lifestyle. If we continue to tell ourselves the band did all the work, without giving OURSELVES any credit for our success, we're ultimately telling ourselves we did nothing to earn this accomplishment and for me I don’t want ANYTHING I didn’t earn and work hard for. For me recognizing my hard work and where it's brought me along with the bands help is what keeps me going, plus it’s positive fuel for the mind which is really what keeps us motivated.

Jim a HUGE congrats to you! !! How awesome is it that you exceeded your goal and set new a new one and are well on your way to achieving this one great job!! You hit the nail on the head when you say the scary thing is to thinking about history repeating itself.

TMF...you're too sweet. Yeah its a good thing I missed that memo from the "band deniers" I would've had to graciously put them in their place;) Thx for your words of encouragement and direction!! I think you're 100% correct on it being a mental thing, this whole process has been built around mental training and changing life long bad habits. You're doing so great and I know you're a valuable source on this forum so thx for taking the time to provide advice!!!

So, as I'm nearing my goal weight with 12lbs to go, I have a question for all of those who are in Maintenance. What does this look like? Do you continue to do the exact same thing you've been doing and then your wieght loss eventually tapers off? Do you increase your calories until you find a balance that stabalizes your weight, do you get Fluid taken out of your band and stay at the same caloric intake? Just wondering how this all works itself out. I would imagine if you're consuming 1200 calories per day and know from your history that this typically results in about a 2lb. weight loss each week that you would need to adjust your caloric intake until you can stay where you want to be right? I'm very exicted about being so close to my goal weight but also very nervous. Maintaining as we all know is the hardest part. I learned what my body needed to lose the weight but I have no vision of what maintenance part looks like. Any help/advice is greatly appreicated!!! Thanks!

It's totally normal to feel this way! I think everyone feels this way, or I know I did! Congrats on the start of your new healthy life. Just get it into your head that you can do this, precisely follow your doctor's instructions and you'll do great! Keep us updated on how you're doing after your surgery!

Great job to you! I'm sure you will meet if not exceed your goal once again! Congrats!!

Congratulations on your success and VERY WELL SAID!!!!

Awesome Post!!!!! Thank You!!

My doctor instructs me to stay on the mushie phase for 3 days, yogurt, soups, Protein shakes, refried Beans pureed etc. Basically he's told me just don't chew...LOL

I can totally identify! I'm trying not to be OCD about it, but it's so hard. I'm afraid if I don't control every little thing then it will get away from me again. I think it's great that you're letting go slowly, because you're absolutely right, thinking about food whether it's can I eat this, should I eat this or how much of this can I eat is exhausting, so kudos to you for taking those little steps! I think it's a necessity for long term success and your sanity! Great job on almost reaching goal!!!!

B-52, I totally get what you're saying about dieting and youre right about that, this is a lifestyle change. However, it is ME, US, doing the work, God is the reason for my success and the band is an awesome tool that helps my journey with portion control, but the tool is only as good as the operator. Im not looking at this as a diet but I do want to contol the effectiveness of my band by making the healthiest choices possible vs. Getting a fill so I can eat whatever I want just not as much. I know this brings much better overall health and success.

This is why this group is sooo valuable! Its so nice to know that you have a place to go to get advice and strength from those who know exactly what you're going through, who are walking in your shoes, and supports you through those "what if" times! I truly appreciate everyone's perspective and I feel much better just knowing were all in this together!!! Thanks everyone, I truly appreciate it!!!

Gowalking~ Thank you!! You're absolutely right! My big hangup has always been looking too far into the future at the BIG picture instead of taking things one day at a timd. I need to focus on today and enjoy and be thankful for how I feel. Thanks so much for putting it into perspective for me! We've worked too hard to look back now....we've got this;)

Ok, so I'm just wondering if anyone else has had or is having these feelings. I've been banded for 8 mo. now and LOVE my band. Lately I've been feeling worried and nervous about what's to come. I'm approx. 26lbs. From my goal weight and find myself worrying about gaining a pound, being able to maintain my loss and worried about not reaching my goal. I think its because I've been eating out a lot this month like every day. 90% of the time I make the healthiest choice possible, count my calories and always come in at or under 1200 cal. Per day as per Dr. Recommendations, my portions are staying the same etc. I look at carbs and sugars but dont track them. Are we suppose to only really watch our calories or should we track everything? Sorry for the long post just feeling a little nervous and overwhelmed about what lies ahead. Thanks!

Aasma, You'll do great! These feelings are completely normal! I'm the biggest baby there is when it comes to Dr.'s, pokes, surgeries etc., so if I can do it anyone can! :-) The rewards are so worth it! Just follow the instructions the Dr. gives you to the T, if you have any problems call them immediately. I didn't expierence alot of pain, just more discomfort than anything and that was caused from the gas pains. The incisions themselves didn't hurt me at all. The best thing to do (even though you aren't going to feel like it) is walk around as much as possible, walk around the living room in cirlcels, just anything to get that gas moving so you can get it out of your system, the more you sit the worse it will get. Make sure you have Gas-X Strips, sugar free Popsicles, Mylanta, lots of pillows, a heating pad (to place where the gas pains are) helped me alot, SF Jello was a life saver, Protein shakes, (I use Nectar chocolate Truffle), and just sip, sip, sip. You want to make sure you stay hydrated. Congrats to the new healthy you taking shape. YOU GOT THIS!!!

Hey all! Looking for some advice. I went to my lap band surgeon last month and talked with him about possibly wanting to have a tummy tuck procedure. He gave me a referal and told me this surgeon specialized in tummy tucks with patients that have the lap band and said that since I'm almost 20lbs from my goal weight that I should start setting up consultations. I went on-line with the pre-conceived notion of what I would see and much to my suprise it was nothing like I imagined. It looks alot more involved that I originally thought so I'm looking for some advice and pointers for those who have already gone done this path. My questions: How much additional weight inches came off with the surgery- I know everyone is different but just a range is all I'm looking for. What's the healing time? Did you have any complications with the surgery or with your band following the surgery? Did they have to remove all of the Fluid from your band before the surgery? Would you do it again? Is your incision only in the front or does it go all the way around? Any insight you may have or questions you recommend me asking to help identify the right surgeon would be extremely appreciated and helpful! Thanks everyone!!!

Wow! What a transformation! You look amazing! Congratulations!

YAY! That's so awesome! Great job! You've worked really hard and should be proud of your accomplishments!

No, you're not alone! I've always hated the cold but this winter has been especially unbearable for me. I'm freezing all the time! My hands and feet are like ice and at work I set at my computer all bundled up, my co-workers walk by and laugh, you'd think I was standing outside:-)

Glad you went in and got this taken care of ASAP! Hope you're already feeling better!

sugar free Popsicles were a LIFE SAVER for me:-) Good luck tomorrow, you will do great!