BandedBrunette481

They only had me use medicine cups to help measure my portions for meals when I first had surgery. They just told me to sip liquids. I found it hard to stay hydrated at first because I just didn't feel like drinking really. I ended up sipping a lot of warm tea during the day and that seemed to help, but they never told me to do it out of the medicine cups only every half hour....that does seem a little bizarre. I would double check that that's what they meant lol

Sorry to hear about your port flipping!! Glad you were able to get it fixed. I was banded in February, not April, but I'm not too far off and I'm doing great! I'm down 40 pounds so far and I feel so much better, not to mention my health is getting back on track! I chronicle my progress in my blog, so there are pictures and stuff if you're interested in reading more about my story. The link is below in my signature. Best of luck to you in your journey

Thanks for the tip!! That's what I really need, is just some guidance on the right workout routine. I suppose a personal trainer wouldn't be out of the question either, but I think I'll start with the good old trusty internet haha

My sister has done insanity and T25, she likes it, esp for a quick workout. You can also go to bodybuilding.com and find workout plans that are built for woman and you can pick them based on you goals (gaining muscle, toning, etc). They usually give you a 4-12 week workout plan and some of them come with meal plans, like Jamie Eason's LiveFit Trainer, which i've done before in the past.

I'm finding that out of all of it I've tried, I really enjoy cycling. I've always hated the shape of my calves, thighs and butt, but I gotta say they are perking up.

Congrats!!! This is just the start of an awesome life ahead with your band! Wishing you a speedy recovery and the best of luck with everything
Also, I slept in a recliner for like 2 weeks after surgery haha it's totally normal because the pressure laying down puts on your insides is just way too uncomfortable for a while.

Sorry to hear about your port flipping!! Glad you were able to get it fixed. I was banded in February, not April, but I'm not too far off and I'm doing great! I'm down 40 pounds so far and I feel so much better, not to mention my health is getting back on track! I chronicle my progress in my blog, so there are pictures and stuff if you're interested in reading more about my story. The link is below in my signature. Best of luck to you in your journey

It's pretty typical to wait 6-8 weeks after surgery for a fill so since it was your one month appointment it definitely seems normal that they said to wait. When I went in for my first and second fill my surgeon said he does look at weight loss as a factor, but he said just because I'm losing steadily doesn't mean the band is at the right fill yet. He said it can just mean I'm doing a good job restricting my calories if I'm losing steadily but can still eat more than what is expected. Just be very honest with your surgeon about what you can and can't eat and they will help you decide when the best time for a fill is. Chances are you will get one at your next visit. Good luck with everything

I'm one of those people who had WLS but only weighed 235 when I started the pre-op diet. My BMI was 40, I have high blood pressure, am borderline diabetic, and suffer from back and joint pain. I'm only 23! Even my surgeon said I was too young to have all those medical problems. I chose to get LapBand surgery because of all the health problems I was facing, not so much the number on the scale. I have been struggling with my weight my entire life and it was just time to take control of it.
Only you can decide if WLS is right for you, but it's worth considering if you feel like you truly cannot make the lifestyle change on your own. Don't even worry about the number on the scale in comparison to others because it's about your level of health, not pounds! I wish you and your husband the best of luck

I eat cereal from time to time! I really like Special K's Protein cereal. It has 10 grams of Protein per serving and is only 120 calories for 3/4 cup. It tastes kind of like Wheaties, but sweeter
Here's a link if you want to see what the box looks like:
http://blissfullybanded.wordpress.com/2014/03/16/food-finds/wpid-20140316_121247-jpg/

It sounds like your band was never adjusted properly if you could never eat real food after surgery. If you were throwing up a lot it means the band was too tight and your doctor should have known that. I'm willing to bet that's why your stomach got stretched out as well. If you haven't gotten any Fluid taken out of your band I highly suggest looking in to that. The reason you're gaining the weight back is because you can't eat solid food, so you're sticking with soft foods and liquids. Those types of foods go right through the band and don't keep you full so you end up overeating. That's probably why your doctor was upset you couldn't eat solids but I'm confused as to why he didn't do anything about it....?
Anyways. It's never too late to try and do something about it. You don't have to settle for unhappiness. You can try and find a better LapBand doctor, get your band adjusted properly, and get back on track with your eating habits. Yes, it is going to be very tough at first because you'll have to have the willpower to stop eating after your small portions of food. even though you're still hungry. But if you don't build those good habits, the band won't work for you. It's just a tool. It can't choose the right foods for you and it will only limit your intake of solid foods.
I wish you the best of luck and I hope you can find what works for you!

I decided last night to start my list of clothing to take on my cruise next month and when I was done, it was pretty long. I looked at it again but thought I would use most everything on it and didn't know what to remove. So I decided to see what would fit and what wouldn't in my suitcase. Well guess what? Everything fit. At first I couldn't figure out why because I recall clearly in years past that packing was often a challenge in terms of being able to fit everything and then it hit me... Everything fit because my clothes are so much smaller now.
I've been aware of this on some level for a while now especially when I put my bathing suit into the spin dryer at the Y. It used to be so difficult to get the suit in there without some of it getting caught and maybe tearing. These days, I can fit two of my suits in that little space because there's so much more room now.
So...as I sat there looking at my full, but easily closed suitcase, I decided I'm going to bring everything and I'll wear it all....even if I have to change outfits two or three times in a day to do it...

Thanks I really appreciate the support! It's not easy that's for sure! I've got a lot on my plate in addition to trying to get my life and health on track! My 9 year old is special needs and is my full-time job aside from being a stay at home mom! I have a very active 3 year old boy who's into everything! Somedays it's difficult to find time to sit down and eat slowly and be mindful of drinking restriction before and after meals! Hoping now that school is out I can get a little more help from my 23&17 year old daughters!! It definitely felt good to lose them first twenty pounds and I'm looking forward to dropping more!!

My surgery was only 3 days before yours and I'm at that point where it's getting tougher to lose the weight now too! It's very easy to fall back into old habits but you're doing the right thing by realizing you're slipping and trying to get back on track.
A lot of people do the liquid diet thing as a reset for themselves. That could be a good place to start if you feel like it will help. What I've been doing is starting things slow again. Getting back into an exercise routine of walking 2 miles a day, every day is my first step. Even just walking is better than sitting! As far as food goes, I've gone back to counting calories and just being more diligent about what I'm eating.
If you try and think about why you got the surgery and imagine what you want your future to be like, you'll start to get your motivation back! I wish you the best of luck. You can do this

My surgery was only 3 days before yours and I'm at that point where it's getting tougher to lose the weight now too! It's very easy to fall back into old habits but you're doing the right thing by realizing you're slipping and trying to get back on track.
A lot of people do the liquid diet thing as a reset for themselves. That could be a good place to start if you feel like it will help. What I've been doing is starting things slow again. Getting back into an exercise routine of walking 2 miles a day, every day is my first step. Even just walking is better than sitting! As far as food goes, I've gone back to counting calories and just being more diligent about what I'm eating.
If you try and think about why you got the surgery and imagine what you want your future to be like, you'll start to get your motivation back! I wish you the best of luck. You can do this

I'm at that point in my weight loss when people are really starting to notice and for whatever reason, they often feel the need to mention it. Most people stick with a simple, "you look great!", but every now and then I get an awkward comment that's supposed to be a compliment. I think people want to say something positive but they don't always know how to phrase it. The result is often hilarious! I know a lot of people get offended by others talking about their weight loss, but honestly, sometimes you just have to laugh about it!! It feels better when you do, trust me.
So I want to know what's the craziest weight loss compliment you've ever received?
Here's mine. Last week a coworker pulled me aside and had a very long-winded conversation with me about my weight loss and surgery. She told me that she was so happy for me because I was a beautiful girl and now I don't have to go through life with "such a burden" (meaning my excess weight). But the real kicker was when she motioned to the striped shirt I had on and said "You just look fabulous! You can wear stripes now and all kinds of other things!" Hahaha! I walked away from the exchange cracking up because sometimes I just can't believe people say the things they do!
So let's hear your stories!

Congrats on all of your success!! I love my LapBand as well
I just realized today that I am less than 10 pounds away from being halfway to my goal weight. I have my LapBand to thank for that! I hope one day I can be as successful as you have been with your maintenance!

Congrats on all of your success!! I love my LapBand as well
I just realized today that I am less than 10 pounds away from being halfway to my goal weight. I have my LapBand to thank for that! I hope one day I can be as successful as you have been with your maintenance!

Congrats on all of your success!! I love my LapBand as well
I just realized today that I am less than 10 pounds away from being halfway to my goal weight. I have my LapBand to thank for that! I hope one day I can be as successful as you have been with your maintenance!

All of my shoulder pain was from the gas they pump into your abdomen for the surgery (it helps them see inside better). They take as much back out as they can but some stays in there. The pain has something to do with the gas pushing on a nerve near your diaphragm and the nerve pain is felt in your shoulder. But I experienced this the second I woke up from surgery all the way until a week post op. It concerns me that your pain developed suddenly after 5 days. I would consult your doctor! I called mine a few days post op and the nurse I spoke to was very helpful. I'm sure your doctor or a nurse there can give you some better advice. Good luck!

I am only 4 months out and I've only lost 30 pounds so far but people are already commenting on my weight loss and I agree with you, it's bizarre! I don't get annoyed when people I haven't seen in a while say things like "you look great", because I know they're just trying to give me a compliment. But when the same people feel the need to talk about my weight loss to me all the time, it bothers me. It always makes me feel like I'm under a microscope. I find it strange that people are paying such close attention to me to notice I've lost weight. And when they repeatedly tell me how great I look it's like they're really saying "I notice you now that you're less fat. You look good less fat!"
I deal with it much like ChasingaDream mentioned -- a smile and move on to the next topic quickly. People don't get what it's like and don't get that it's weird for us to talk about our weight, even when we're slimming down. Most of us have had trouble with our weight and self esteem for most of our lives so talking about it doesn't come naturally. I just try to realize that other people don't know that and I try not hold it against them that they don't know. I just let it go and keep going

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The 1st one...those pants were too tight 4 weeks ago! 2. My hair is getting so long from the healthy life style! !! 3. What I look like today 4. What I looked like 4 weeks ago

I hit the weight goal my doctor suggested back in March. So at this point, I just weigh myself on the first day of each month. It's part of my transition to maintenance. No more myfitnesspal and no more weighing daily or weekly. I'm really trying to do this without the crutches of tracking everything I eat or every ounce I gain/lose.
I looked down at the scale and saw it said 139.6 and was dumbfounded. I haven't been in the 130's since I was a very young woman. Even when I dropped alot of weight in the early 90's, I never got below 150 lbs.
I felt like I was walking on air today just running around doing my errands, going to the Y, just regular stuff. I swear, even with the back pain, and the other crap going on, I am happier than I've been in years. Thank you lap band.

I'm following, darlingniki12

alright.. well now i'm following both of you.. thesweatybetty