bulawookie

I was banded May 15, 2014 and everything has gone pretty good. I have lost a lot of weight and am only about 5 pounds from my goal. But during the holidays I got the flu really bad and threw up a lot. Now after the flu I can sometimes keep food down but other times everything I eat comes back up. I can not get in to see the doctor or nurse until late in Feb. I called and left a message with the office and they called me back and told me to go on liquids only for a whole week! It is soooooo hard for me to go on liquids but I am really scared. They messaged me that I probably have a dilation. What is a dilation? I am scared I have messed up my band and I do not know what they mean by saying I probably have a dilation. Can anyone out there help me????? Please write to me because I am really scared I have messed up my band. I do not know what they mean by me possibly having a dilation. Can anyone out there with experience help me understand what a dilation is???? Today I have only taken in liquids but I am scared I will not be able to make it a whole week on liquids and then another whole week on mushy food. I need your input so please write to me to help me understand what is going on with me. What do they mean that I may have a dilation? I stayed on liquids today but am scared I will not be able to make a whole week on liquids then another whole week on mushy food. I am sometimes able to eat and every thing stays down but other times everything I eat comes right back up. Today I stayed only on liquids but I am afraid I will not be able to make it a whole week on nothing but liquids and then another whole week on mushy foods. Someone out there PLEASE help me understand what is going on with my band. All comments are truly welcome and appreciated. Thanks for listening and please write to me to tell me what you think may be going on. Again, the office can not see me for another two to three weeks and I do not know If I can do what they tell me. Liquids for a week and then mushy food for a week. All comments are truly welcome. Thanks for listening.

I have been banded twice. The first time I was successful and lost all my weight. I maintained it for years. Then I got overly confident and had it taken out. Gained all my weight back. Went to the first doctor who said he wouldn't put a band back in because of scar tissue. Went to the next doctor who banded me again who had no issue with scar tissue. Now I am back down in weight and only 10 pounds from my goal weight. I wish you success. Again, I am banded for the second time and intend to keep my band forever!!

Hi friends!!

I am excited to be down 39 pounds since May 15th. I just went in for a small fill and am finally in the green zone. It took over 3 months and 6 fills to finally find this sweet spot. Along the way I have doubted myself thinking I have been eating too much but with the weight loss I can not deny that I am doing the right things. It is hard to get in enough Protein which I need to start making a better effort at. It feels so good to stay satisfied 4 hours after I eat. This is what it is all about!!! I am exercising by walking. Today I walked 50 minutesj even though we have record heat and humidity. I am proud of myself. I am also dating a little. It is scary and tough and I get really nervous. I am 50 years old so If I don't start taking some risks I will never find the right man. I hope to find one who doesn't think I am weal because I am banded. I stop eating about 6:60 every night which I think has really helped. I also don't eat until I am hungry. Recently went on vacation and maintained my weight. It was hard eating out so many meals. I did do a lot of hiking iin the redwoods and on the beaches of California. Anyway, I love my band. And I love that I am following the rules and making these great changes. Looking forward to hearing from you all!!!!

Explain to me why having no appetite is a problem? I am very curious. Almost all of us have to fight hunger every day which makes it harder to make good nutritious choices. If I had no hunger at all I would be happy and then I would eat only the most nutritious foods possible. No hunger means constant weight loss so I really do not understand why you are complaining about something that is the worst for the rest of us. Please explain.

Wow You have really done well. It is nice to hear stories like your when so many other posts are about people not following the rules and having subsequent problems. 67 pounds is just terrific for only 6 months. That is more than my doctor expects us to lose. Way to go and make it to your goal. Keep posting.

OOOOP's somehow I posted the pictures but it placed the pictures over what I wrote. I will soon rewrite what you can't see since the pictures are obstructing the lines. Anyway, meant to say I am confident I am going to get past this set back. Losing slow (from 187 to 154.5 in three months) is nothing to feel bad about. Many lose so fast but I am not but I am not going to let it get me down. I am going to succeed even if the weight comes off slow. I am happy with that. Gotta start exercising and eat a lot more Protein because I am not getting in as much Protein as I should. I haven't had any bad foods, no sliders, no ice cream and no fast food. But I do get lazy and eat a few crackers with cheese when I should be making better choices. Anuyway would love to hear from some of you out there on my subject!!! Also I started out May 15th at 187 and weigh 154.5 right now. I was hoping to be down 30 pounds by the third month. But I am clinging to the notion that weight loss slow is just as good as losing weight fast. It is just hard not comparing myself to all you out there that lose so fast!!!

Would love your input!!! By the way I think I am in the green zone.

     I am still at 154.5 so for the last two weeks I have been at a stall on my weight loss. I was banded May 15, so I am almost 3 months out from my lap band surgery. I have been very discouraged lately because the weight loss has stalled but I am confident I will get the weight loss going again real soon. I have not been exercising but plan to change that immediately. Going walking tomorrow morning. I have been eating really well. I have not cheated with carbs, sliders, sweets, candy or fast food. But I have noticed I am getting a little lazy. I am not getting in enough Protein. I am not eating enough vegetables. I am doing well not eating late at night and I drink non-calorie drinks all day long. My hunger goes away for 4 hours after I eat so I may be in the green zone. I think I am in the green zone because I am not hungry between meals. But I do skip meals and I am not eating my protein first, veggies next. I have been very discouraged because three months out I thought I should be 30 pounds down. I started at 187 and now I am 154.5. Gotta get out there and exercise because I am not eating too much food but without the exercise I am at a stall and not losing right now. I am battling the negative comments flooding my head. But I will be happy with the thought that weight loss that comes of slow is probably the best way for me to get the weight off. Slow steady win the race!!!!!!! Would love your input please. Jenn    

I am still at 154.5 so for the last two weeks I have been at a stall on my weight loss. I was banded May 15, so I am almost 3 months out from my lap band surgery. I have been very discouraged lately because the weight loss has stalled but I am confident I will get the weight loss going again real soon. I have not been exercising but plan to change that immediately. Going walking tomorrow morning. I have been eating really well. I have not cheated with carbs, sliders, sweets, candy or fast food. But I have noticed I am getting a little lazy. I am not getting in enough Protein. I am not eating enough vegetables. I am doing well not eating late at night and I drink non-calorie drinks all day long. My hunger goes away for 4 hours after I eat so I may be in the green zone. I think I am in the green zone because I am not hungry between meals. But I do skip meals and I am not eating my protein first, veggies next. I have been very discouraged because three months out I thought I should be 30 pounds down. I started at 187 and now I am 154.5. Gotta get out there and exercise because I am not eating too much food but without the exercise I am at a stall and not losing right now. I am battling the negative comments flooding my head. But I will be happy with the thought that weight loss that comes of slow is probably the best way for me to get the weight off. Slow and steady win the race!!!!!!! Would love your input please. Jenn 

I just found the most fantastic video's on Netflix that have two experts teaching those of us that are overweight how to deal with mental hunger. They teach what are good food choices. The doctor is an eating disordered specialist. Then JJ is an amazing expert nutritionist. the two of them take numerous cases of obese people and turn their lives around to eating healthy again. It is compelling programming. Everyone here should see these videos. I found them on Netflix. One is called Freaky eating and the second one is called Ruby, They are truly inspiring to all of us here on this site.

I learned so very much and I know you will learn a lot to by watching them. They also have one video on a 600 pound lady who gets WLS and succeeds. I think all of you out there will learn from them. Netflix is where I found them and they have taught me so many great avenues to loses weight. I hope you all can go to Netflix and see them yourselfs. So very much to learn from these documentaries. I hope my sharing them with you will help you on your journeys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

stick to foods on your list and aim for that feeling of satiety and then stop eating. You should not be hungry again for 4 hours and then make good food choices again, 4 hours later.....make more good food choices. That is how I got off the weight I have gotten off so far. It is not easy yet. My band is not in the green zone but I am limiting the amount of food I eat. I hardly drink wine but it is my treat every week or so. It helps me relax. You are doing fine. Just keep up with the rules which will keep you out of trouble. You Go Girl!!!! Proud of you!!

You look amazing. Keep it up. You are an inspiration to all of us!!

You have lost a lot of weight so your body has gone through a lot of changes. My hair is dreadfully thinner now. I tried a new haircut which helps. Also, up your Protein intake.

Yes. I was very bloated and very uncomfortable. Gas x worked for me and walking really did the trick. It won't last too much longer.

I had a Tummy Tuck many years ago and the results have been fantastic. Even after I gained weight I did not gain weight on my belly. I have a pretty flat tummy. You will have the same results!

Keep it up Shauntrel. It usually takes about 6 fills to find the right restriction. Once there your hunger will be curbed. Hang in there and we are all here backing you. Some don't lose weight in the first few months so according to my doctor you are doing well and ahead of the game. Keep working at it!!

Carrie,

You like like a model!! You are gorgeous!! You look like Courtney Cox. Beautiful smile and inspiring story you shared!!

My exercise has been lacking but today I got myself to our hiking biking trails. I walked 55 minutes which is about 3 mines. It was 96 degrees out and hot but I did it!!!! My lap band was put in May 15th and I have not consistently been exercising. Today was different. I knew I would feel good about myself for the rest of the day so I got to the trail and walked at a good brisk pace. I am so proud of myself. This morning my weight was up 3 pounds and I was not going to let that bring me down. Walking was the perfect thing to do to keep myself from feeling like I was starting to fail. I am so proud of myself. Just had to share!!

Wow what a great place to be. Done losing is a great place to be. Congratulations

The point of having the band is to get into the green zone where hunger it totally controlled. And binging loses its appeal.

Yes with withdrawal of the powerful drug of sugar our bodies are going to respond negatively. It won't last long I promise.

I like that you are aware of the mind body connection. You are listening to your body which is great. Some on here are years out of surgery and have not learned to listen to their bodies and begin associated one symptom to another behavior. Good for you. You will do well noticing your bodies signals when you are full. You will do well recognizing mind hunger from body hunger. Good for you!!

There you go girl.......Keep going forward. If your psych eval came out well like you said then carry that with you. Being banded is great so I am here for you. I agree about going to the next surgeon. I did not have to take any psych eval. Every doctor is different so you keep going until you find one that supports you. I was only 187 when I started and at my support groups other members have said mean things like, "what are you doing here?" I am here and had surgery because my BMI stated I needed it. We learn to ignore that mean comments and just knowing that her comment is really about 'her' projecting and having nothing to do with me or my situation. The band curbs hunger and it works. I am supporting you and encouraging you to keep trying different doctors until you find one that will do the surgery and one that has a good aftercare program for your support. When I was first banded I was discriminated against and went to about 5 doctors before I found one to do the surgery. I kept at it until I succeeded because living fat with a food addiction and missing out on life was a huge motivator for me to get a band which has proven over and over to work. I drove over three hours to Houston to get my first band. That is how important is was to me and how important it needs to be with you.

but that we just have to make sure we don't go back to our old ways of eating those things all the time. He says "that's why we have surgery-so we can eat what we like in smaller portions and within reason". I think what it boils down to is that it is important that we cut ourselves some slack

​I like what you are talking about here. From the beginning of writing you were in damnation role and as you kept writing you got real sensible and true about a vacation splurge. A test of so to speek. You are so close to goal that you may have to redefine where your motivation comes from. When we started we had vast amounts of negative reinforcement. Loads of negative thoughts and experiences that propelled us forward into losing weight. Now you have to ask yourself what motivates you for this last stretch? You have lost as much as some folks weigh so when your mind is set and motivators re-engaged you will lose this last little bit. On vacation slips.....if you hadn't splurged a little you would have come home feeling deprived. Our bodies also need little vacations from the new way of eating we have adapted. Just like our muscles get used to the same exercise routine so we have to change it up. Your little splurge was a good thing and now your body will go back into weight loss mode. You are great. Thanks for your post.

First go find something that weighs 50 pounds. Pick it up. Walk around with it. Tell me then how you feel. You are walking around every minute of every day with 50 pounds less on your joints, muscles and bones. You have done fantastic. Take a look at your photo's before losing the weight. Do like I do when I can't feel the impact of my loss. Go ahead and ask people if they notice your weight loss. Then thank them and tell them you have worked really hard to lose the weight. This last part solidifies in your mind that you have lost weight and that all the hard work has positive results. Write down the compliments people give you. When you are having a down day go back and re-read your compliment journal. Only journal compliments. You will begin to train your brain to remember the true compliments. Right now your brain hangs on to the negative experiences of being heavy. When you re-read the compliments your nervous system does not know the difference in a vividly imagined event and the real thing. So you relive those moments you got compliments. Your nervous system will hang on to those positive events. We are good at always vividly remembering negative comments and experiences yet we discard the positive. A compliment journal helps your nervous system relive those great moments. I have a compliment journal. I journal what the person said. I journal how it made me feel. When I have a bad day or feel discouraged I pick up my journal, flip through it and re-read and re-experience those positive feelings. Don't be afraid to ask others if they have noticed your weight loss. Other's don't always say it but if you help bring it out of them it is the same as an unsolicited compliment. Here for you. And Wow!! I bet you have a hard time lifting that 50 pounds up and walking around!!

Those last pounds will come off but they are the hardest to lose. Think of all the folks you know without the band who want desperately to lose 10 pounds. You will get it off but start thinking in terms of one pound at at time.

Anxiety is caused by the difference in how we want things to be and how they are right now. Practice mindfulness. Ground yourself by feeling your body and where it is now. Thinking too much about the future or the past causes anxiety because we don't have control over the past or future. But we do have control over the present moment. Focus on your present moment.

Grant me the serenity to accept the way things are

The courage to change the things i can

and the wisdom to know the difference