chasingadream

At first I was so scared! Then I just did it…and it was a success. We don't eat out all that often so when we do eat out…I ENJOY IT. I choose things I like and things I don't normally eat at home. I eat till satisfied and let my band and plication tell me the rest! I always pack up the rest of my meal and my hubby enjoys the leftovers…me too at times! I also picked "other" not a positive enough response for me to eating out!

Hi Martha... I had lap band with plication…..basically the plication is just like the sleeve without actually removing part of your stomach. They fold the stomach in on itself and suture it to look like a banana. In addition to having the band it makes your stomach smaller. Not all/many doctors do it that I have heard of. My doc was doing a study to see the long term results of having lap band with plication together. For me, from what i get from my follow up visits to the doctor, I don't have cravings like I used to, my hunger is under control right from day 1 of surgery, and I have not needed a fill yet. They cannot definitively tell me that this is from the plication but Im guessing it has something to do with it. I know of a couple of other people that also had plication with their lap band and their hunger returned right after surgery and they have needed fills to help them get to their green zone. So , with everything else, it is very different from person to person. Hope that helps!

I am a teacher too and that is exactly how I felt. It gets better…you are almost there…for me….probably around 10-14 days and I was feeling more like my old self….. Hang in there….teaching is tiring on a good day….you just had surgery…you are bound to be tired now! But, yes, it does get better! @@JustWatchMe ….hit it on the head! NOW….7 months down the lap band highway….I have energy galore! Take one day at a time….

Those suggestions for more sound good ONLY if they were approved by your doctor. Speak with your doctor/nutritionist about other food options before you do/eat something. The first 6 weeks, I was told, are all about healing and learning mechanics. Yup the food (or lack of) does stink but its only a limited time…and even you said you may be moved to mushies soon. Hang in there and speak to your doctors office. They are the best ones to tell you other food options…especially since everyones doctors and protocols are so different. Best of luck to you!

You look GREAT…so glad that it all went well and that you are feeling so great! I am about 2/3 through on my weight loss and will definitely be needing some "work done" especially with the belly/pouch. Thank you for sharing pics too…as nice as it is to hear/read the experience it is nice to see the final product too! Wishing you continued success in all you do!

Congrats and welcome to the banded side of things…..it is a WONDERFUL THING! Feel good and rest up!

After doing some initial research on my own about the various weight loss surgeries…I went to see my primary care physician who recommended the surgeon I used. Then, I called the surgeons office and they told me about an informational seminar about the procedure, which I went to, and I also made an appointment for the consultation with the surgeon…all in that one phone call. During the consult the doctor thought I would be a good candidate for lap band with plication. After the consult, his assistant went through the checklist of tests and such that were needed….and I began my journey! After all of my testing and insurance requirements were met I was given a surgery date! And here I am today…..7 months post surgery with lap band with plication…and I am 92 pounds lighter! Hope that helps you in some way! Good luck!

@@SpartanPrincess ……looking great! Keep up the great work!

@@bsellis ….you look amazing…beautiful smile on ALL of those pics! Thanks for sharing your AWESOME progress!

@@Kai-shek ……. You look wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

Hang in there! There will be good days and not so good days…and thats okay. Everyone is human and in my opinion, there is NO perfect! One day is not what the future will hold. In fact, it was a great learning lesson of what to do next time your schedule gets thrown off….make sure you find time to eat/drink a shake regardless of the time of day. As for beginning solids, I was there and understand the fear. Stay within the guidelines of what your doc/nutritionist has given you and listen to your band. I know, for me, after being on 2 weeks of liquids before and after surgery and then 2 weeks of mushies and finally onto solids, I thought all hell would break loose too with that first bite and it didn't. In fact, being off of all the crap food I was so used to eating for so long, changed my palate a bit and my desire for all that stuff. Your band will also tell you when it may be too much. That is a big learning curve…I am 7 months out and STILL learning that one! I know I need to stop eating when I am SATISFIED and NOT full…but when you've spent your entire life overeating that switch just doesn't turn off. But it can be done and like I said before there is a learning curve. I find myself weighing and portioning my meals…not to the point of craziness though…i don't want diet mentality….but i need to constantly remind myself what a REAL portion size looks like! Hang in there and let today go…it is already in the past!!!! Tomorrow will be a better day! Get ready for those solids and enjoy them….dont fear food….we need it to survive…and that is ALL we need it for!

Call your doc…they are the best ones to know what is going on and if they want to see you earlier than wed. Good luck…keep us posted!

WOW….What a success and you look marvelous and happy! Thanks for sharing your story!

Congratulations on the job and feeling good about yourself! This journey is a wonderful one filled so many emotions….but feeling good about yourself is such a wonderful thing. Wishing you much continued success in ALL areas of your life!

Hang in there…each day that passes is one day closer to your surgery day. You are doing great…moody or not…lol. I had a 14 day all liquid pre-op AND a 16 day all liquid post-op…so I understand but I felt so good when I made it through. And thats great that you can't use the number on the scale to see your loss so far because it is already showing you that there are so many other ways to see if your are losing weight (clothes fitting, energy levels etc). I tend to be a slave to the scale and am learning to let other avenues guide me on my weight loss journey as well…. Wishing you much success! Keep us posted!

Everyone is different so anything is possible. For me I eat 3 meals a day….sometimes a little snack between lunch and dinner if needed. I try and stick with solid foods. I don't used shakes at all. My exercise is walking. I have bad knees and back so that works for me. Hope that helps you in some way….good luck and much success to you!

It is a real fear especially when it has been a part of your entire life…as it was for me. I had lap band w/plication surgery and it was the most difficult decision I've ever made. Obviously the fear of losing my dear friend "crap food" and the risk of complications from the surgery. But I stuck by my decision and I have not regretted it once. I still eat ALL foods, just in lesser quantities. I choose not to eat so much bread anymore…and I don't crave it either. If there is something I want, even something "not so healthy" I have a bite or a little bit of whatever it is…enjoy it and move on…and try to move a little more too. I am no longer in deprivation mode which i was always in thru dieting. I no longer need the crap food i used to rely on so heavily. I am no longer controlled by food. I don't need to live to eat…I now eat to live. Am I perfect….absolutely NOT…am I living….absolutely YES….am I succeeding…absolutely YES…and am I happier and healthier than I have been in years….ABSOLUTELY YES! Wishing you much success on whatever decision you make!

Congrats and welcome….sounds like you are off to a great start! Having the band has been amazing for me…and I agree with @@Bandista its amazing to have my hunger under control and not have my life focused around food only. I have been lucky and my hunger was under control since my surgery and still is and i have yet to need a fill. I take it one day at a time…and just go from there! Wishing you continued success!

This is such a hard journey….I find as I get further out from my surgery that sometimes I get too relaxed…let old habits creep in that I thought I had control over…. ..and forget it if something really stressful happens….its like everything just "goes to the wind"….its so easy to fall back into old habits. And it is quite easy to "get around" the band if you really have the desire to. Focus, hard work and severe determination are a daily must, I find, if I am to remain successful….but it is just SO hard some days!

I like pure protein bars (at CVS/Waldbaums)….most have 20g protein and about 200 calories….not bad on carbs and pretty low in sugar.

It's so individual based on your doctors pre-op recommendations. After that its all about your metabolism, exercise, how you eat….etc, etc, etc, etc. Basically, so many factors….. In my opinion….try not to compare yourself and don't look at anyone else as a gage for what you could possibly lose. it could only set yourself up to be disappointed if you don't lose what you "think you should" be losing! You and I have a very similar starting weight….but that is the only comparison you can make…. my success may be very different than yours….just be yourself… take one day at a time and do the best you can do for YOU! Wishing you lots of luck and success!

You are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G friend!

Yeah...the day is here...you are going to do great! Let your mom take good care of you for those 1st days!! Let us know how it goes and message me if you need to chat!

Hello all! Glad to be working with Lisa and Liz! I live in Nassau county and work in Queens. I was also banded with plication by Dr.Geiss at Syosset hospital. I just had my 6 1/2 month visit with the doc and all is good! Woo hoo!! It was so nice to meet several "bandsters" at the first meet and greet and we look forward to meeting so many more at the next one!!!!

Congrats on your wedding....you looked so pretty...loved the color!!!!! Sounds like you had a great honeymoon too!