CTJohn

I had surgery on 01-21-2013 I had lost 100lbs. But have gained back 15lbs. since I began weight training, I work out 4 days a week and I'm pretty darn good at it. Took recent pics and I was pretty proud thought I would share. Yay me!

@@CTJohn that's a lot of shirts....and closet space!
I have next pants to fit into waiting in my closet -- a pair of purple linen and a pair of red linen. Want to get into them by summer.
To remind myself of my new body and how far I've come, I like to fondle my collarbones. It is amazing to me how good that feels to have them there again. On the scale I always note now that I'm able to look right down -- my big fat belly is not obscuring the view. Whatever the number might be, that NSV is a beautiful thing. Oh, and I can look in the mirror and see that I have a waist. A waist!
Thanks for the encouragement -- love this thread. Now to go do my walk at the lake!

I took 56 really nice shirts to Goodwill last week. I kinda hope theres some fat guys who can wear 4x and 3x shirts!!

I took 56 really nice shirts to Goodwill last week. I kinda hope theres some fat guys who can wear 4x and 3x shirts!!

I have reflux during the night sometimes I don't eat least 5 hours before going to bed.
Asked PA last visit, and he suggested stop drinking any fluids an hour or two before bed. That seems to have worked for me.

Not necessarily here to stay! I rarely get gas problems, only if I eat the "wrong" things, like anyone, banded or not. Our digestive systems are unchanged.
But in th post-op phase, I had lots of gas. It passes! Literally! Just keep taking the meds and keep moving.

I'm a Bander, so I cannot talk about other surgeries, and that is why I'm posting this under the lap band section...
A lot of people talk about the fear of overeating by going with too much "Slider Food" The theory is, at least the way I understand it, is that no matter how much restriction you have, these type of foods will pass right through easily, thereby cheating the band, and eating around the benefits of having the surgery in the first place.
Yes, I get it...makes perfect sense to me....but there is something people fail to mention, and I remembered it the other day when I sat down in front of the TV with a pint of Ben and Jerry's "Cherry Garcia" Ice cream....
Over time, we loose all the weight, loose all the belly fat, exercise and get those rock hard ab muscles back, and in the process, from eating so little food for so long, our actual stomachs shrink in size!!!
So sitting there with the pint of ice cream, I would have polished off the entire pint, but I couldn't....just as the band prohibits me from overeating regular solid food, the fact that my stomach has gotten so small makes it impossible to overeat slider foods that get past the band with no problem.......
1/3rd of the way in, and I started to get a good old fashioned "belly ache!" I HAD TO STOP! As a matter of fact I felt a little miserable for a hour or two afterward....
And just like lessons learned with the band, I've learned another lesson, and unless I like like pain and feeling miserable, I won't attempt that anytime soon....behavior modification!!
I've noticed this with a few other things also, like beer....,Yes, I drink beer, my Dr knows it, I know how to do it, and I AM NOT saying you should do so either...follow your Dr.'s directions!!!! (you also can't do it if you're tight)
Anyway, back in the day I could drink beer all day...and I had the stomach size to prove it! Now, one beer and I'm finished....just don't have the stomach for it anymore.......
So it's a Win-Win situation....the band will help you (force you) to adapt a new lifestyle, and in return with that new lifestyle, many other benefits will follow. Things will develop into a NEW NORMAL.....no more eating like a pig....first because the band won't let you, and then, if you attempt to cheat and eat around the band, your improved smaller stomach won't let you!!!!
It does not get any better than this!!!! I love my band!!
And I quess I should say, if you are just starting out, it will take some time of eating very little food before your stomach shrinks....and you get that additional safety net.

@@coachk11233 the thing about Lapband is followup with the surgeon's office for fills -- I really liked that accountability (for me 11 visits in the first year, two in second). Insurance companies and hospital admin are not exactly excited about that level of patient contact. A surgeon can do a whole sleeve in the morning it takes to follow up with lapband patients, right? Follow the money. I really wanted a band, I just knew it. My whole stomach is intact and this method works beautifully for me. Good luck to you!

I cannot tell you to go for it, that is a decision that has to be made within and with your doctor. For one, you have to see if your a candidate and two, it's a life changing experience. For me, it was the best move I could have ever made. I am half way through with my Weightloss and off all my pressure, cholesterol and Water pill meds.
It was the best move I could have ever made.

@@lisacaron HEY IM i thinking about getting the lap band

I'm actively dating but have not 'clicked' with anyone yet. So I think of myself as still window shopping and checking out the merchandise. I've been talking with one man in particular and we've made a connection over the phone. We plan to meet later this coming week. He's told me a couple of times that he's not exactly fit. I can tell that he is concerned because I'm slim and he's not. I have no intention of letting him know I'm banded...not at this early stage. But I wanted him to know that excess pounds are not an issue for me. So I told him I wasn't always as thin as I am now and extra pounds is no concern for me. Problem is...it feels like a sin of omission.
I tried to let him know that attraction for me is all about making a connection...feeling comfortable talking, having things in common, similar interests, laughing at the same things, etc. I don't like to lie but I also don't feel that everything should be out there right away. I wouldn't tell a woman friend I had just met that I was banded so why tell a man who I may be interested in such a personal piece of info either. The question for me is when do I tell him?
Some men I went out with did eventually know of my WLS and it had nothing to do with becoming physical. It just seemed like the right time to bring it up based on the discussions we were having. I have no idea if any of these relationships were potentially impacted because of this or not. I don't think so...but who knows. Besides...if being banded is a problem for some men, better I should know sooner than later.
I just find it hard to know when to talk about it. Or maybe I should just do what I've been doing. Tell when it seems the right time to do so...or keep it to myself because I don't think it's the right time. I'm just concerned about this particular man...because it's obvious he's worried about what I will think of his body and since men are so much more visual than women, he doesn't realize that it's a non-issue for me.
Amazing that I can be cool, calm and collected in all facets of my life except in the dating world. When it comes to men, I revert back to a scared 16 year old again even if it's in a 56 year old somewhat scarred and wrinkled body.

If he's been supportive UP TO THIS POINT, I can practically GUARANTEE that he is just nervous, worried, and scared. It just comes out differently in husbands! You are (more than likely, anyway) going to throw a lot of crap at him afterwards, and he is going to need to "gird up his loins" to handle it! Plus, there is always the risk of complications, so he is worried about that (just like you are), as well. Is this his first experience with your having surgery? I would almost bet that it is. Go to him, comfort him, and remember, you are not the only one going through this! He is, too. Bless you both....and good luck with your surgery...BTW, MY poor husband has been through 13 surgeries with me...he is a PRO!

I am not married, but if I had to guess, he may be experiencing some fear and anxiety as the date gets closer.
Best of luck with your surgery. You do deserve to be healthy.

It's as much if not more about keeping it off rather than taking it off. I'm only two years post WLS and only maintaining for a few months so even I don't know what the future holds. But my hope is that this tool helps me to keep it off.
I lost alot of weight about 20 years ago and said I'd never get fat again. Guess what? I not only gained it all back, I added another 40 lbs. more and destroyed my knees and hips in the process. I now have metal hips and 150 fewer pounds on my frame. I can move and walk around like a normal person. This alone is miraculous to me.
I have a ten year old granddaughter who knew me fat and now knows me thin. I hope she forgets what fat grandma looked like. I have a grandson only days away from coming into the world. I hope he never knows anything other than grandma as she looks right this minute.
If this band helps me to achieve that, I couldn't give a rat's ass what anyone else thinks. (By the way, I've had nothing but positive feedback so don't presume you won't have the same)
Good luck!

So here is a funny thing that happened to me. This past Monday morning at 4 am I awoke from a sound sleep with pain in my chest centered just over my heart. At first I thought something that will just past perhaps, but it didn't. So to make a long story short, me and the wife headed to the ER. Now I will spare you several details like how many time they missed my veins etc.
now the first ER nurse I had asks me about my history and she sees my medic alert necklace and asks about it and I of course say i had WLS on December 16th etc. SO she says, "Oh i had a gastric bypass in October." So we hit it off talking about all things WLS etc. Just a weird coincidence right. So onward, I gt scheduled for a nuclear stress test. and the nurse in the stress testing room says" oh you had the sleeve done, my sister and my mother both had it done a year ago." then a nursing student who is there watching the whole thing says" my mother had it a year ago as well." Now I'm like huh, this is a very very big coincidence. However it gets worse. Before I was discharged I was discussing my symptoms etc with a very thin nurse practitioner who says" i had my gastric sleeve done 1.5 years ago at the same hospital you did by the same doctor."
WHAT ARE THE ODDS HERE PEOPLE?
Seriously, out of like the 6 nurses and staff i had almost all had either had wls or had a direct family member who had. I know WLS is more popular etc. But lets face it, i did not expect any of this. It certainly made this experience easier, and i certainly did bond with these people a lot more than any other nurse etc. My when the last nurse practitioner said she had had WLS with the same surgeon i did and the same hospital, ( which is not close to us at all, so its very weird) My wife looked at me dumbfounded.
Now just as an FYI, It turns out i have an inflamed area of my rib cage muscles centered just over my heart, due to stress and exertion ( all that spring cleaning and lifting bags of old clothes and tubs of books etc, plus i had stepped up my workouts a bit kinda pushed it too hard evidently.)
What a weird set of coincidences.
How many people have you met, outside of here or weight loss places that have had WLS? any of them surprise you?

I've had my band a little over a year. I went and got a fill yesterday cause I was clearly eating to much. It's tight now and I have to chew really really good. I hope it isn't to tight. I hope I just need to chew better. When I chew really well it goes ok. My chest is kinda sore from me throwing up cause I didn't chew good enough. But I just got it yesterday and I can fill the tightness. Anyone else feel that?
Well here is my photos from a year!

I thought that getting WLS was going to be hard. Turns out, it was pretty easy. I had great insurance and got approval and had surgery six months after starting my process.
I thought losing the first 100 pounds was going to be hard. Turns out, with my LapBand, it was pretty easy. My body cooperated with my band and when I ate right, the weight came off.
I thought leaving my emotionally abusive husband was going to be hard. Turns out, once I took control of my food and my body and got out of my food coma, leaving him was pretty easy. Logistically tricky, but with reliance on friends and family and a good lawyer, leaving was only temporarily difficult.
I thought the divorce process would be hard. Turns out, it is stressful and emotional, but the actual tasks put in front of me, although tedious and time consuming, are just tasks. I am blessed with a good job and resources that many women don't have. The slowness of it is harder than the tasks in front of me.
I thought walking for exercise was going to be hard. Turns out, it is the one exercise I love and have not grown tired of. I can walk for miles with ease.
I thought asking for help was going to be hard. Turns out, like exercising a muscle, the more I do it, the easier it gets.
I thought being kind to myself was going to be easy. I was wrong.
Oh, was I wrong.
Oh, I've learned it's okay and necessary to treat myself to little things, like a manicure, or a foot massage, or a movie. But then there's the other things.
And I can't help wondering if these other things have a lot to do with why I overeat and stayed obese for so long.
Like saying no to people. I say no. But then I go into "shoulda woulda coulda" and feel guilty about it.
Like reaching for comfort food or wine once in awhile. And then I start the tape in my head that says I'm bad, I'm lazy, I'm never going to get to my goal weight because I don't deserve to.
Like going out with friends and holding my head up high because I feel pretty for the first time in years. And when a musician in a band notices and makes a sweet comment about the "beautiful women in the room tonight" and points directly at me, I find the next opportunity to gather my things and call it an early evening, because to flirt would be bad, and I don't deserve that kind of attention.
Like getting a strong lawyer who is fighting for my financial rights and future, but crying at night because this divorce would go so much faster if I just didn't fight for the college money for my girls or maintenance for myself; because if I wanted out so bad, shouldn't I just cut my losses and end this?
Like not losing any weight for the last six months even though I have fifty left to goal, and telling myself it will never happen because I've never followed through on a goal weight before and what makes me think this time is any different?
Like standing up to my mom's criticisms in person, but in private wondering if she is right about me -- that I'm making a big mistake doing this or that or the other thing, and remembering how judged I felt my whole childhood and adolescence and wondering if she was right about me all along?
This is what is hard. Calling bulls!# on these thoughts and patterns and habits.
My higher self knows it. But it's so DAMN HARD to stop the negative thought cycle, that shi##y committee in my head.
Attitude is everything. I just turned 54 over the weekend and birthdays make me reflective. I have what may prove to be my best year ever ahead of me. God willing, I may see divorce papers signed in 2015. Maybe. I'm 100 pounds lighter than I was a year ago and healthier than I have been in decades. I may be moving into a new home by the end of the year. There is every reason to be hopeful.
So why does my sick brain still gravitate toward self blame and misery? Why, why don't I believe I deserve happiness?
I may never know why.
I'm a practical person. I believe in results. So what I'm planning to do about this is purely practical. It may or may not have any basis in psychology, but it seems reasonable to me.
I plan to abort those thoughts the second I sense them in my head. Literally catch myself and interrupt it with the opposite thought.
I do deserve joy. I do choose healthy food and I will meet my weight loss goal. That person that said I was beautiful was telling the truth. I choose to believe my older daughter who just told me I am strong and a role model. I believe my younger daughter who just told me I've always got her back. I am deserving of financial security and what is rightfully mine. I am deserving of a slim body and to feel pretty. Accepting attention is not shameful. I make good decisions. I take care of my loved ones and I am a good mother. I am smart and strong and pretty and nobody's fool. I am precious in God's eyes and I will live my best life.
This is the hard part. This is the only hard part. The head is always the hardest part to change.

blashlee,
It’s tough – it really is. And it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel a few weeks after surgery. You’re at one of the hardest points for some people – when surgery is no longer brand-new and when you’ve been unable to eat real food for weeks now, but at the same time, when you still have a lot of weight to lose.
Try to see the positive side of things, even though it’s hard. Think about how hard you’ve worked – not everyone is able to go through with surgery and follow the diet properly. Think about what you said about not even wanting junk food. That’s huge! Think about the progress you’re making every day.
As for your boyfriend and Easter dinner (and other things he eats that bother you), make sure he understands how you’re feeling. Ask him for a reasonable compromise, like maybe he eats certain junk foods outside the house and away from you. If he doesn’t compromise after you explain it to him, you may just have to accept it and remind yourself that this journey is for you. No matter what he eats, the only thing that affects your body is what you eat.
Finally, give yourself permission to “wallow” a little. Wallow a lot. Complain as much as you want. Just stick to the diet!
Good luck.

I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow after having all Fluid drained from my band last October. I'm hoping the results of my upper GI yesterday say that I can have Fluid added back! I've gained 40 pounds after a successful 137 pound weightloss previously.
Prayers needed, please!

Hi there, the links in my signature below are sources that helped me as I was trying to "learn my band." I'm sorry you haven't felt well. Every one reacts differently to surgery and to medication. Both can leave a person feeling very fatigued. Are you able to get out walking at all? Even across the parking lot or down the hallway and a little further each time can make a really big difference. You want to kick your body into healing mode.
As far as what to eat, early on I enjoyed steaming up a cauliflower and then using a stick blender to mix in stock until I got a pudding-like consistency. I had difficulty (and still do sometimes) with super cold beverages, the smoothie world, etc. Those were difficult to swallow and I'd feel unwell. That was just me. I drank a lot of tea and savory broths. I loved the potato leek Soup that comes in a carton in the health food section of the regular grocery store. That was perfect for me. Teas, etc. Keep experimenting and keep practicing the listening in to your body. That is what it's all about.
Best wishes to you! Remember whatever you're going through is temporary -- you chose this surgery because you want to change your health profile for the future and even if it seems like it's slow, it's still happening.

You are doing everything right. Unfortunately there are a lot of Mr. Wrongs and only a few Mr. Rights. It may take some time, but its important that you find someone that is supportive of the decision you made and will be a positive part of your life. Don't settle for anything less.

My first initial visit with Dr. Michael Orris and the WLIA staff was very professional and thorough. The staff took their time to go over all my questions and explain how the process is for my procedure with the lapband. They made me feel very comfortable and made sure I knew exactly what was involved. I feel really good about my first interaction with them and plan to move forward with the next step in my journey.

@JustWatchMe @Julie norton @B-52 @KateP @@gail10 Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement, I calle my Doctor because I went a long time without eating and when I did eat I got dizzy, I didn't know if it was stress or band, he said to drink more, and DO NOT stress and worry about calorie intake right now to just get through this and take care of myself. Here is a link to my Dads obituary feel free to use the e-card (it's free) or write me a message. http://www.mckinneybrown.com/home/index.cfm/public:obituaries/view/fh_id/13791/id/3022057

It is a very slow process. My Wife is also banded and she lost just under 30lbs in the first year. They are bringing her along much slower then I Keep in mind I was pushing 450lbs and generally the more you weigh the faster it goes especially in the beginning. Key is to stick with it and push through those frustrating times.
@CTJohn I have a lot of loose skin and as a matter of fact I just went to information seminar this past Tuesday. I have serious wrinkles every where and it is not pretty. I did what I could at the gym but given my age and amount of stretched skin all the workouts in the world couldn't help.
I am going to be making a consult with plastic surgeon but a lot is going to depend on whether or not insurance will cover anything. Right now none of it is bothering me health-wise. No rashes or irritations of such.
April 16 will be my 3rd year anniversary.

@@CTJohn way to go! Nice to hear from you -- 100 will be quite a milestone.