ginny two

Hey, you guys! You know what's fun and I think is much more satisfying than counting pounds lost??? Figuring out the percentage of weight you have lost toward your goal. Example: My goal is to lose 116 pounds from my starting weight of 266. I have lost 28 pounds. By my rough estimate that's 24%! (Please don't correct me if I'm wrong. It makes me happy.) I love to think I've lost 24% of the weight that I want to lose!!! It sounds much better to me than 28 pounds out of 116. What do you think?

DAGNABBIT, PAT!!! Why do you have to be so dang smart about this whole thing???? Thanks for being the voice of reason. Phew. I was just freakin' out last night, wanting something solid sooooo badly. :smile2: I feel better this morning. After investing so much time and emotion, not to mention my bodies structure, I think I can wait another seven days. I just need to get more creative and pray, pray, pray! I might also call my nutritionist today and see if she has any suggestions. :wink2: Thanks again!

So, Pat, does that mean you get to move on with your diet now???:wink2: Cause I'm gonna do whatever you do, girl! Unless, it's liquids for another week.

I'm so glad this topic popped up. I was just about to ask the same question and/or call my nurse about it. She didn't discuss it at discharge time, which seems weird to me. Does she think fat people don't have sex????? G-D IT!! I'm going to call her tomorrow and give her heck!!!! Why I oughtta......... Okay, wait a minute. This might be what my daughter refers to as my "overimagination" when it comes to fat discrimination. Okay, so my nurse looks like Barbie, it's not her fault. I guess. The only reason I wanted to get the lapband in the first place was so that I could see my honey's face while using the missionary position. (He might have a bit of a belly, too.) No, seriously, it's one of my motivations when resistance is low. There are lots of things to look forward to.........:smile2:

Ugh, I know what you mean about the shakes. I've been sticking to just a few flavors that I like and now I'm losing it. Every doctor is so different with these diets! I am on full liquids for the first two weeks. Starting on the 10th, I'll be able to go to soft foods! :cool2: I'm so freaking excited! I didn't even realize it until yesterday. I hadn't bothered to look at the menu, because I assumed it would be baby food type stuff. Chicken! :cursing: I'll be able to have chicken!!! :sad::rose::tt2::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose: LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL! :tt2: :rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose::rose:

OMG, Liz! I'm horrified that you have had to deal with this! I hope that you do get some kind of legal compensation. I have to tell you that I TOTALLY believe that we get back what we put out there in life. So this doctor is screwed in the karma department. I'm not sure if that will be any comfort to you. Please keep us informed of your condition. I'll say some prayers for you tonight.

Congratulations on your banding and to everyone who has been banded recently! Rhonda, I love what you said. Food is my Frienemy! I am my new best friend. Someone on the board, forgive me for not remembering their name, has a siggie that says, "If hunger is not the problem, then food is not the answer." So true, so true. In AA they say, "if you drink over a problem, you now have TWO problems." So I'm going to use both of those thoughts when I'm tempted to do some emotional eating. I also like, "Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels." I have to say healthy instead of thin, because I'm not that motivated to become thin. I don't want to go down the diabetes road, like my brothers and my best friend. My blood sugar has been close enough to scare me. I also want to be able to go to the beach without having to stop every 15 feet, catch my breath and wait for the pain in my hips and knees to subside so I can go on. I hate that my twelve year old daughter has had to deal with this. When we go somewhere that takes physical effort, we have to stop once in a while for me to recuperate. So here's to a happy, healthy, future!!! YAY!! We can do it.

I was banded this past Monday, YAY! I tell you that night I was wondering if I had done the right thing. Not so much because of the pain, but from grieving the food. I wasn't in a ton of pain. They kept me on painkillers throughout the evening. I was just sleeping a lot. (My doctor keeps bandsters in the hospital over night.) I wasn't craving food before, but now that I have my band, I'm looking on food more fondly. I had a dream that I fixed myself a big sandwich, potato chips and a big bowl of ice cream. Then I realized, OMG!, I can't eat this! I have this little fear that I will forget that I can't eat certain things. LOL! My brother (father figure) suggested that I think of one particular thing to think of each time that I am tempted to break da rules. At least that one thing, then others if need be. I keep thinking of this adorable picture that I took of my daughter on her first day of kindergarten. She had a full entourage. Mom, Dad, Grandma, from her Dad's side, and Uncle Brian (the videographer). It makes me so sad that both of my parents have missed out on her growing up. They died way too young from not taking care of themselves. I could have really used my Mom there a few times. In fact, I still need her advice and comfort. Whenever Katie has a "great" moment in her life, I wish my folks were with us to Celebrate. I believe they are there, but Katie and I can't see them and really share it with them. I don't want my daughter to have to go without her Mom for a second more than she has to. Even though I'm a PIA for this twelve year old girl!!! hehehe. I've had plenty of time with food in my life. Much more than my fair share. It comforted me and I thought it was my friend for a long time. Now it has turned into a monster in my life. I believe farther down the road I can still take bites of this or that, it's just not the same. Time to face the feelings!!!! I can't keep running away from them for the next 45 years!

Thanks, Ladies. This is all good to know. He's ALREADY driving me crazy and I haven't even had the surgery, yet. LOL! He's still sick as a dog and my surgery is in 34 hours. I don't want to stay at his house and get sick! Ain't gonna happen! He's very sweet for wanting to pamper me, but we both agreed tonight that I would probably end up taking care of him. I have a girlfriend that is going to stay at my house to take care of my dog and all the other living beings under my roof. The worst case scenario would be that I stay at my house with her, we watch Gerard Butler movies all day and crack each other up. Sounds horrible. Question..........how long before you were able to drive? It sounds like it's easy to get back on the road right away. :cool2:

I'm glad to hear that you are doing well, Cappy. I'm sorry that the pain is bad for others. :cool2: I'm a big baby when it comes to pain, so I selfishly hope it's not too bad for me. :cool2: I'm supposed to stay at my fiance's house for several days after the surgery. He is really sick right now with a bad cold, maybe the flu. :smile2: So, I haven't been able to be around him. I hate to admit that I am a little irritated that he is sick. He gets sick a lot and then he stays sick for a long time. I think it's because he doesn't take care of himself. Sorry, I feel so mean and selfish saying that! I would love to stay with him and his daughter because I love them and they are fun. (My daughter will be at her Dad's.) BUT, I also prefer to be at home where all my stuff is close by. Okay, I'm annoying even myself now with all this whining. I hope that those of you that are dealing with pain feel instantly better when you read this next word........*POOF*

BTW, Sorry that last post was so long!

Pat, funny you should mention alcoholism. I've been sober for 19 years. Addicted to food and shopping, but not using alcohol anymore. I have been comparing this in my mind to alcoholism and recovery. The lapband is my antibuse. Right now I am in detox. After my banding I will be in rehab. Once I can eat solids, I will be out of rehab and into the scary real world. Thank God for my antibuse, because if I use my "drug" I'll get really sick! If I start eating around my band it means I stopped taking my antibuse so that I could fall off the wagon intentionally. This board is my meeting. You guys are my support group. Jaime, I'm glad you shared what you did. I wasn't thinking it would be so hard right away. I'm still on the pre-op. It's not being hungry that bothers me. That passes. It's the emptiness. I feel empty. When I feel stuffed then I am a little numbed. I remember telling a co-worker a long time ago, "I don't care what happens during the day. As long as I can go home, sit in my chair and eat my Oreos and Diet Coke, I'll be happy." I had a very stressful job, but I got through the day by thinking of the moment that I would sit in my comfy chair, all alone, with my stack of cookies and my huge Diet Coke. That would make everything all right. Is there a section on this board that deals specifically with sharing these kinds of issues?

WOW! Thanks for sharing so much. My surgery is also on the 24th. I'm having a very hard time tonight with my all liquid pre-op diet, so it helps to hear that it is the hardest part. (I feel like killing something or smashing expensive vases against a brick wall.) Anyway, I'm sorry that you had to dip into your retirement money. I totally believe that it will be worth it. Financially, you will save a lot of money on health costs and food in the future. The most important thing is that your daughter needs you. (I'm a single mom of a 12 year old girl.) I have a hard time facing the damage that I have done to our lives by spending SO much money on food. (I guess I shouldn't assume that you have, too.) It's horrible. I've been evicted and lost other homes due to spending money on food instead of rent.:cursing: Ummm, I could go on and on, but maybe I should do that in my journal. I'm going to have to face the emotional aspect of my food issues if I am going to succeed with the band. Keep posting. I really want to know how you are doing! :eek:

I actually wore make-up to GNC and K-mart today. LOL! I haven't had surgery yet, but..... I FEEL PRETTY!!!!!

Ouch! Ouch! I'm in pain! I'm on the second day of my pre-op and I'm in sugar withdrawal. Major migraine goin' on here. I know it will be better tomorrow, though. I saw this show on the Discovery channel the other day about brain structure and personality. They said that if you repeat positive "self talk", you can change the anatomy of your brain so that you will automatically think positive and actually be happier and more successful at your endeavors. I need to do that. I've been such a Debbie Downer all my life! Everything I read about this surgery says that a positive attitude makes all the difference. Maybe I'll start tomorrow after this blasted headache goes away. (They didn't say anything about procrastination.)

Good Luck to everyone having there surgeries today and this week! I started my pre-op liquid diet today. The only problem is that I have not been a milk drinker since I was five years old. I just can't stand the taste. Unfortunately, my nutritionist wants me to drink two cups a day. :smile2: Does anyone know of another way that I can get at least 8g of protein and 12g of carbs???? That would be without adding calories. I've tried adding sugar free chocolate syrup to it, but that was pretty disgusting. I just held my nose and drank it all down like medicine. I can and will drink it if I have to, but I sure would appreciate a substitute. I just sent my nutritionist an e-mail asking her about it. She already knows that I don't like milk. "Yuh hafta drinkit", is what she said. Barf. :thumbup::ack2::crying::ack2:

Hey, Everybody! I hope everyone is feeling great, no matter how many hunger and/or gas pains they are experiencing. I'll be banded on the 24th and I'm wondering what shape I may be in three days later on Thanksgiving. (I know everyone is different.) I can deal with not going anywhere that day, but on Friday night there is a service at my church that I really don't want to miss! I guess if I can manage to ride home from the hospital, I can handle riding to church. From what people say, I don't think it will be too bad. I'm planning on doing lots of walking since it sounds like that is the ticket to reducing the gas pains as much as possible.

You're an inspiration to me! I have to be on a 7 day, liquids only pre-op diet. I have been envying the people that get to have a lean cuisine one time a day. BUT, they have to do it for two weeks. I figured it was a trade off. Knowing that there is someone else out there that is doing the liquids only thing pre-op and having the strength to do it for a longer period of time, will really help me. Sorry. Me, me, me, it's all about me. I'm really surprised that your doctor is doing it this way. Isn't it weird the difference in surgeons protocol? P.S. xtightend, you crack me up!!!!

Well, it turns out that my ex knows a lot about the subject. He watches a lot of the Discovery channel, LOL! Either that, or his wife has been researching it. Anyway, I'm sure that went a long way in his attitude toward it. I've kept the surgery thing just to my closest friends, too. My brother and his wife freaked out last year when I first started the journey, so I just shut up about it. This is funny, but my ex's mother has known all year. She's one of my best friends! :thumbup: I guess it's Jerry Springer time! She watches our daughter for me a lot and knew I was going to the hospital at least once a month. She has too much class to ask why, so I told her. I know she can keep a secret and I didn't want her to worry about me.

Just wanted to share that I told my ex-husband about the surgery last night. I had to, because I want him to take our daughter for the week. I could have told him it was none of his business when he asked what kind of surgery, but I knew he'd ask my DD and didn't want her to be stuck in the middle. I expected him to criticize me for taking a risk with surgery for my "weight problem". (We have a VERY strained relationship at the moment.) Instead, he was so happy. He's always been worried about me dying young due to obesity. He said that he is thrilled that I'm taking this step, because he wants our daughter to have her Mom around for as long as possible. He wants me. JUST KIDDING! LOL! Speaking of my DD, I better go make her lunch before she has to leave for school.

Hang in there, Vangirl! Sometimes the scale won't move for a few days and then like magic it will go down a few pounds. Maybe you are retaining water for nature's own reasons. Can you call your nutritionist for advice? Will 5.5 pounds really make that big of a difference to your surgeon? Are you able to get some exercise, like walking or swimming? I'm sorry that you are so hungry all the time.:thumbup: Drinking a lot of water helps me, even better is some nice, hot, herbal tea. (Decaf.) I just ordered some hypnosis CD's in hopes that they will help me with the hunger and my attitude. I'll let everyone know if it works for me. LOL! I'll try anything! Good luck! Even if your date does get pushed back (horrors) at least it will happen, right? Don't give up hope!!! We're here for you!!!

Congratulations! You and I will be one day apart on everything. I start the pre-op on the 17th and have surgery on the 24th. We can check in on each other!

Congratulations, Heather!!! Yikes! They cut it so close, how come you weren't going crazy? Or were you? LOL!

Thanks! I just started panicking, because I only have four and a half days before my pre-op diet starts. I've been eating low refined carbs and having a lot of protein drinks as replacement meals, just to ease myself into it. But, now I feel like eating everything in sight! I feel like having a Diet Coke, too! ARRRRGGGHHH!!!!

I'VE BEEN APPROVED!!!!! :eek: