chrissy10

I can feel mine without having to push down very far at all. Remember that everyone's body composition is different. Just because you are siblings doesn't mean that you have the same amount of fat in the same places.
Don't freak out.

I just wanted to check in with y'all and say I'm still SO happy to have found this group and I'm still fired up to finally be in control of my life instead of letting my life be ruled by my eating. I'm consistently eating less than 1100 calories a day-- I don't even want to THINK about how many calories in a day I was REALLY taking in before my revelation. *shudder*
Anyways.. I'm still doing well, I'm excited to have this tool to use... And thanking GOD that I already have it!!

I hope everyone is doing well. I want to report that I am doing well since posting my return on Sunday. I am down 3 pounds as of this morning. I feel if I post my results more often than once a week, it motivates me to keep doing the right thing. I am very visual so to see my ticker moving in the right direction is an awesome feeling.
I have not totally restricted my diet. I have increased the Protein and cut out as many carbs as possible. I'm eating smaller portions and consciously stop eating when I am full. I usually snack all day on the most unhealthy food items. Rather than eating candy all day, I've allowed myself 2-3 pieces in the evening. I don't think I can cut candy out completely. This way I will not crash and burn. In the past, I would go a few days without a treat, but before the week would end, I would come from the store with candy, Cookies and ice cream and binge on it all. It was an endless cycle.
How do you all handle the cravings?

Had my pre op class today and found out my band with the plication was approved! One more week!!!

I can feel my port without having to push down much. I just have gotten use to it. My doctor hasn't mentioned anything about it, so I never thought to much into it. Good luck with your journey.

This Morning I weighed 197, lost 1 pound.
8/4-198
8/11-197

Well today was the day. Onederland is what they call it. I call it goal day. Today I reached my goal of 200 pounds. fifteen months ago I started on a journey that has profoundly changed my life. I am now fit. I am now happy with my career. And I am so happy in love with my wife. This one change, changed everything for me. For those of you reading this and need some encouragement, know that it can be done. I have left my prison behind me and now am living life again. Thank you all for your encouragement along the way.

"A total of 274 patients between the ages of 45 – 64 were studied, with the researchers finding a direct correlation between the presence of hypertension – also known as high blood pressure – and impaired hearing. On a positive note, the researcher’s found that by bringing a patient’s blood pressure under control an additional loss of hearing could be prevented."
Whoa !!! Holy cow. I just discovered my latest NSV. Thanks for the link!!!!!

I rode my daughter's bike yesterday! The knee pain was less than it was a few months ago. I can do this! I'm so excited. I'll be borrowing her bike this fall when she goes back to college soon. Woo hoo!
As an added pick-me-up yesterday, MyFitnessPal said if every day was like today, in five weeks I would weigh 198 pounds. Onederland is coming! Have I mentioned that I love my band?

My husband LOVES Giordano's. I guess it's a Chicago thing. Me? I actually like Papa John's. But now, that will be too doughy.
I guess it hit me simply because I'm still on the liquid post-op diet, the guys had frozen pizzas for dinner tonight, and we are ordering pizzas for my son's adoption finalization party this Saturday. (My husband is adopting my son tomorrow. It's very exciting for all of us)

Funny topic, I went away for two weeks on vacation and brought my skinny shorts I owned. well bringing up the bags to our room my shorts ended down by my ankles. I have never needed a belt so now all my shorts fall off. I now have to shop for new shorts this week.

I had a pair of professional fitted slacks I have not worn in five years. No elastic whatsoever. They were tight even when I bought them. I tried them on a month ago and they were still tight at the waist. Today I tried them on and they are baggy!!!!! I'm wearing them but they kinda look like clown pants. Moral of the story is don't miss your clothing size window! Dig through that closet frequently. This made me very happy today. *clownish grin to go with my clown pants*

Mine lasted about 4 to 5 days. Everyone is different though. Try to walk as much as possible and you will get through it. Good luck!

Hi JLM, congratulations on your surgery. I think most of us here are very sensitive about people giving advice that could be counter to some one's physician's instructions -- we all try to be very mindful of that. It's definitely confusing that protocols can differ so greatly for pre-op as well as post-op and for fills, but just stick with your plan and you will do very well. Also know that this will all be behind you soon -- the early days are not easy. The big buildup of the surgery is over and now there's this healing period. Just keep telling yourself how proud you are of this significant step in your future. I am so happy and excited to have my band. Here's to a healthy future!

I use myfitnesspal and I consume like 1300 calories on average. I just measured myself today and took some scary photos lol! For any newbie, I would def track everything. I have good days and bad days. There are days I don't track, and I will admit I still don't give 100% to this lifestyle change but I am eating less then I ever would. I think once the summer fun dies down (I tend to drink a lot with my friends) the weight will come off even quicker. I don't eat bread or Pasta. If I have 1/3 of a cup of pasta I feel so stuffed. Like today at my deli job, I cut three slices of ham, provolone and salami... Put some lettuce Tomato and onion in it.. Rolled it up.. And dunked it on oil and vinegar. Normally I would have had a "12 inch hero and a whopping side of like potato salad..I miss bread. But I have learned to substitute what I used to love without those carbs! Thanks for the love everyone!

Martha since you haven't had surgery yet you might not realize how we eat. I have been banded 18 months and you should be able to eat a normal size meal (not huge) if you eat slowly and chew well. It's important that you eat Protein first. If you don't eat enough you will lose important nutrients. Once you have had your surgery you will learn how to use your tool .

Never did I think going on vacation for two weeks, and loss weight. Well for those who are wondering, it can happen. As I stated earlier I am back on track after a rough 3 years of not knowing what I was doing with the lap-band. I went away to California, and to Vegas, for 15 days. I made a goal to exercise 45 min every day, and watch what I ate. I did have a couple of sweets , small bites, and a little carbs (hot roll). I never weighed myself when i was away. I wanted the news to come to me in the doctors office where i weigh-in once a week. I LOST 10 Pounds... I did it, not afraid of trips anymore. This is a big point in my weight loss, i am 17 pounds away from my lowest weight with this lap-band back in 2010. thank you all for this, i read a lot of people stories and it makes me feel like a family cheering me on. Good Luck to all of Us...

I track everything, based on twelve years of yo yo dieting.... when I track calories and food, I always lose weight. With the lap band, I lose weight when I track, and when I don't i simply hold my weight. Before surgery, I'd lose in the summer, pack it back on in the winter.The lap band keeps me on course, the tracking ensures I am doing what I need to do keep shedding pounds. I place more value on the Protein intake than anything else, while trying to keep under 1200 calories a day. WLS is a tool, and online tracking programs are another aid if you find yourself gaining or not losing weight.

So today I had a meeting with my surgeon Dr. Lusco. He was so motivating and excellent at helping me sort through my concerns. I am now going to be on a 6 month waiting period that is required by my employer before insurance is allowed to cover my procedure. I am now going to go through 6 months of meeting with a dietitian and a nurse to allow them to decide if I'm ready or not. I have spent the last 2 years researching the Lap Band. I know I'm ready, and now I just have to get through this road block set in my way. I will do this.

Hi Candace,
I weighed 354lbs on September 4, 2013 when I went for my pre-op appointment. I had surgery on September 11, 2013. I weighed last week and was at 197lbs. I am not, apparently, the normal lap band patient. My surgeon and my nutritionist remind me of this at every appointment. However, I have done exactly what my doctor asked me to do. If he said no coffee, I had no coffee. If he said eat fruit, I ate fruit. If he said jump, I asked how high. I no longer have high blood pressure. I no longer need strong meds for my arthritis pain. I exercise 3-4 times a week at a boxing gym. I ride my bike. I walk when my knees and feet will allow. So, I don't think of myself as special. I am just me. If I can do this....anyone can. Good luck to you!

At my initial consultation I weighted in at 289lbs. After the 2 week pre-op diet I was down to 278lbs. Today I'm almost 15 months post-op and have lost a total of 154lbs putting my weight at 135lbs. Just like SillyAuntDi I follow my doctors instructions to the T. I ate the recommended portions and made nutritious choices. I made the choice going into this surgery that I was going to eliminate foods from my diet that were trigger foods for me or didn't carry any nutritional value such as Pasta, potatoes, rice etc. nt because I can't eat them I just choose not to because they don't fill me up and make me crave them more. If you have any additional questions I will be more than happy to try and answer those for you. Good luck on your journey.

Hi Candace. My high weight was 267. Because I'm only a little over five feet tall, this meant I had a BMI of more than 50. Morbidly obese is what I was. I got the lapband in January of 2013 and pre-op I lost 17 lbs. The day of surgery, I was 250 lbs. and today I'm 128. I'm in the normal BMI range but these are just numbers.
The important thing is that I lost the weight I needed to and got the hip replacements I had to have. I went from constant, debilitating pain to almost no pain and being able to move around like a normal person again. I've gone from simply existing to living again. I've said it many times on this forum....I have truly been reborn. I have a life again and it's all good.
Don't let a high starting weight deter you. Don't let the past failures deter you. If you do as your doctor tells you, you will succeed. As my signature says, 'Compliant bandsters are successful bandsters'. Many of those who responded to you are just as successful as I have been so here's to your future success. Wishing you all the best.

I don't have to diet. It does help me feel satisfied with less food and less hungry.
No WLS restricts eating. Some may restrict how much you can eat but there are ways to eat around any WLS.
No WLS can stop the eating demons in your mind. If you insist on eating M&Ms, ice cream, chips/dips you can do so with any WLS.
There is no perfect pill to make us eat less, eat right and think right.

Had to go back to liquids the last few days. Still feels tight in my chest. Going to stay on liquids a few more days. I am feeling better though.

I was also banded in March this year. In June my hair started coming out. I got the Nioxin Shampoo and am taking Biotin and that seems to be helping. You will get through this and you are doing awesome!