loopylou

I dont know whats going on. I have had my band but little has changed. I know I must have been expecting too much from my band but I am feeling really discouraged. (I wish I had found you guys months ago instead of a week before surgery). I am now 13days post-op and have just downed - 1 aero chocolate cup (LF), half a tin (400g tin) of mushie spag bolognase with melted LF cheese AND a LF chocolate custard cup and I only just feel some restriction. Its like every time I eat I feel compelled to reach the point of restriction - why cant I stop? I feel embarassed and guilt-ridden, and I think I am probably stretching my pouch :cry . I feel like such a failure. May be I made a mistake getting the band as I obviously am not caring for it properly, following 'the rules' or showing any signs of being motivated to change my eating habits. I am so hopeless, even the thought of damaging the band or myself doesn't make me stop. And now I am whinging and having a pity party about it and fishing for your support. I hate myself right now.

May Brockhouse of Loamsdown as a hobbit

Anie Seregon as an elf

pretty tame eh? but get my hubby's hobbit name....

Lotho Bracegirdle of Hardbottle !!!!

(sounds like a Lothario embracing my tummy with a hard ......bottle - which is about right too!!!) LMAO I always thought those hairy feet were sexy! lolol

I am allowed small amounts of skim milk in tea and coffee, but other than that milk and yoghurt are consider 'liquid calories' and cheese too high in fat, nothing was mentioned about low-fat cheese. I think they assume I would know to take a calcuim tablet but they never said so. Is Protein really so important? I have been vegan before and never had problem with my hair falling out - I would have thought that was lack of nutrients not lack of protein.

Hang in there Sandie!! I am 12days out and doing fine now. It does get better. Have you tried something for wind or acid? I really relied on de-gas and quick-eze in the first couple of days. You probably have some swelling too, give it a little time to settle and you will be fine *****big hugs*****

Thanks for your response Heather, but 800cals? Please tell me you are not serious!? I will not be having a fill for 3-6 months due to complications with surgery and atm I can eat almost anything, how can I possibly stick to 800? Especially when I couldn't stick to 2000 pre band??

Ok, here's the thing....

I was given the following advice on what to eat, and this only, : dont snack, no liquid calories, dont drink with meals, and a basic low fat eating guide (2-veg, 1-fruit, 3-carb, 1-protein, 0-dairy and 3-fat serves daily). I will have no help from a nutritionist unless I go and find one myself, which I probably can't do because their wont be one around here (I live in a very remote area of Australia).

What do you guys make of this? By your posts it seems that you have a much greater focus on getting your Protein and avoiding carbs. I would prefer to have a low sugar, low GI (carbs), moderate protein, low preservative and artifical sweetners, moderate healthy fats, some low fat/low sugar dairy, and fruit & veg juices sort of plan. I have a Protein Powder with aminos, basic multi-vit, silicea, and plan to also include some essential enzymes and Probiotics.

Does this sound reasonable? Anything you think I need to be aware of would be most helpful. Thankyou

Thanks Anne, I will take your advice and start a new thread.

Do you have 'Quick-eze' in the states? They are an antacid made from calcuim carbonate. I really find them helpful. If I get that burning heavy feeling I suck on one of these (like a lifesaver without the holes) and it really helps. I only know about them though cause my Grandpa used to take them.

Nancy, I have never met you before but I think you are my new hero - your attitude rocks!!

I had clear liquids the day of the op and then the next day was served pureed fruit, vitamised oatmeal and coffee for Breakfast, and pureed veggies, mash and low fat ice cream for lunch in hospital.

Actually the only other guidelines I have been given are - dont drink with meals, dont have 'liquid calories', dont snack and eat a balanced diet. Would anyone care to elaborate? Most of you seem to focus on a low carb, higher Protein type (...I hesitate to say diet...) "food plan". What sort of ratios? Atkins is going too far right? Do you eat sugar at all? Low-fat? Sort of a Southbeach thing? And why do you talk about eating your protein first? I thought I was supposed to eat my veggies first!? Oh dear I am rather messed up..... Its just that the word diet and all this thinking about food all the time makes me feel like crying

Thanks Teresa, I guess the problem is that I didn't get any food guidelines except - "If you can suck it though a thick straw you can have it" and "calories dont matter at this stage". But I love the way you made it sound as though I need to care for my tummy rather than lecturing me about what to eat (or not eat) - Thankyou.

I am only 11days out and I can eat almost anything! Does that mean something is wrong? I have had mashed potatoes, mushed up spaghetti (very soft) and meatballs, and chocolate. I do get full sooner than before and stay full longer, but I still seem able to eat lots.

I have been having the itches too. And after I woke up one morning nearly ripping into my stiches in my sleep I have kept them covered where I cant get at them and then slowly removed the dressings as the itching subsides. I had a few little sticky-uppy end bits of stich that were the worst - so I just cut them off and feel much more comfortable now. I only have one dressing left, over my port, and a band-aid on the top one where my bra keeps rubbing it.

Examples of my doubts: maybe i should go to therapy and uncover the reasons for my struggle and then maybe i can go it alone. maybe this is too drastic. i'm not that obese am i? what if something happens during surgery? I'm a nurse so you can imagine what else i think of like: what if the surgeon nics my liver. what if i throw a blood clot. my luck i'll be the one whose band slips, etc, etc, etc...

Hi Daniela, I had my band put in 11 days ago and one of the reasons that I did was because after over 10 years of therapy to lose weight I am bigger than when I started. It was actually my psychiatrist who suggested the band to me - he said something like "you are afraid of being skinny, you are medicating yourself with food - you will never overcome these things because you keep running from them, the band will force you to face your issues and deal with them." And I can tell you it is bloody scary - not the op, but the facing of the issues, but I can also tell you that I would never have begun to face them without the band. If you want to have therapy - have it, I certainly am, but you can have the band too! And as to you fears about blood clots, I did have them. I was in hospital for a week on anti-coagulant drugs - but I am fine now. All I would say about that is just be aware of your breathing - if you get a tightness in your lungs that just doesn't feel right contact your doctor - remember that the only problem with clots is if you dont know you have them! But good luck with thinking this through, I hope this ramble helps :cheeky

For 'at' in first sentence please read 'eat' :}

I think it would be great if you could at "normally" before having your band. But I also think that most of us don't know what eating normally is!! Otherwise we wouldn't be where we are. I have actually promised myself that I will never diet again. I just want to learn to eat like a skinny person - that is - eat when hungry and stop when full and eat whatever my body tells me it needs instead of the emotion-charged food I automatically reach for (eg. chips, chocolate etc.). But when my body says "feed me chocolate" I will do that because I choose to never deny my body what it needs, and to never feel guilt over food again. Having said that, I ate everything that wasn't nailed down pre-op. My doc didn't require any eating plan pre-op and I certainly didn't start one!! I was glad to stop binging though, I never really enjoy it and the only thing I really remember tasting was the sushi - does anyone know how nori and the band mix? It seems a little tough and chewy to me! I guess my advice would be to eat whatever you want in what amounts you want but to try to taste and enjoy the food, and I think its a good idea to go a bit slower than normal if you can. But whatever you do dont beat yourself up about it - we have all done enough of that.

I always used to tell people that I had anti-anorexia, that is - I look in the mirror and think I am thin and panic when I lose weight or get hungry. I think thats why I used to cry when I saw photos of myself - it was like "but thats not me!" I read a great book called "when women stop hating there bodies" and they advised getting to know exactly where you are at, size wise. So I did lots of looking in the mirror, looking at photos and getting my hubby to help me identify others who were about my size. For a while I would be shocked and get it wrong, one way or another, but now I am pretty good at seeing someone and saying "I am about that size". However, I can do that with my eyes but I still dont have that picture of myself in my head. When I weighed 80kgs I thought I was so fat and horrible, and now I am 120kgs I feel ok, and I can look back and see how lovely I was at 80kgs. I still have trouble imagining myself thin, I have never been in the healthy weight range (60-70kgs). The picture I have of myself is of someone who is 18, with perfect skin and really long hair like I used to have. I have trouble picturing myself as someone thin in their 30s, with some hangy skin, shorter hair and a few wrinkles. I dont want to set myself up for a fall, so I am trying to see that person rather than the 'perfect' image I used to have. I do have fun imagining the clothes I will wear though!!

Hi guys, I am back after my surgery on the 1st!! I had a few post-op problems (general surgery problems not band problems) but now I am home and safe and feeling great. My wounds are healing nicely and I am eating mushy food, I am a bit more tired than usual and a little tender on the abdomen but apart from that I am really well. Thanks for all your prayers and well wishes. Good luck to all who have yet to be banded!!

Vines, Just on the brown bathing suit photo.... I wonder if instead of fighting that image you could think about reframing it - metaphorically I mean. Instead of seeing the picture (in your head or in reality) and thinking 'yuck' or about how painful that whole experience was, could you perhaps look at the lovely young girl with complete compassion and understanding? Could you say to your younger self "Darling one, you have been hurt and feel so much pain, but I am here and I love you, you dont ever have to feel badly again!" So that when that picture comes up in your mind you look upon it with tenderness and as a reminder of your promise to care for yourself and treat yourself with kindness.

My mother was anorexic and denied me any kind of "naughty food", but my brother was allowed it. When I was old enough I spent every cent of my pocket money on food - all of it junk. Today ( 261 pounds, 10 days post-op and 31 yrs old) I still connect chocolate, lollies, fizzy drink, ice-cream, chips and cheesecake with love, freedom (independence) and acceptance. Sitting down to eat nothing but a salad or other kind of healthy meal makes me want to cry. The salads seems to look up at me and say "You are fat, you are worthless, everybody hates you and thats why you have to eat a yucky salad." Strangely, I love fruit and veg but will never eat them when I could eat something else, I may crave the watermelon but I will go for the chocolate everytime because of what it means. (You may also be interested to know that my brother who was allowed to eat whatever he wanted has never had a weight problem.)

Hi guys, I am back! Well what an eventful week!! I had my surgery on the 1st (last Monday) as planned and everything seemed to go well. I felt a bit sore and sorry for myself for a couple of days and my doc gave me permission to stay in Perth for 2 nights before flying home as I was so worried about the flight. But on Wednesday night I was having trouble breathing! I was re-admitted the next morning after a barrage of tests with the diagnosis of blood clots in the lungs!! So I spent the next 5 nights in hospital having daily blood tests and twice daily nasty injections Thankfully though I am now home, I still have to have blood tests every 2 days and I am now giving myself the injections once a day which I am getting used to (I find it better to do it myself!). The flight home was uncomfortable but I think that was due to wind pain - do you think that is likely a week post-op?? But my breathing is much better and didn't have any scares of that nature on the flight. So apart from frightening my DH and family the only other real problem is that my doc will not let me have a fill until I am off the anti-coagulant drugs in 3-6mths time!! I am a bit sad about that and worried that I will eat too much between now and then - I still seem to be able to eat a large amount, I am only 10 days post-op should I be able to eat 2 cups of mashed potato??

Hi again, thanks for your considered advice and thoughts I am off in 1hr to catch my flight. I am excited and nervous, I think I may wet my pants so I better go make sure I packed an extra set of knickers!! I will see you on the other side and let you know how it all went!!

ummm, The thing I dont understand is that if I could do all the things listed on that link (http://lapbandtransformation.com/Adjustments.htm,) then I wouldn't need the band in the first place!

Hi again, I realised that I posted this in 'introductions' and then didn't introduce myself!! Please call me Loulou, I am 31 weigh 261 and I'm 5'7. I live in Westen Australia with my DH and cat Freya. I have been overweight since I was 4 and I have an emotional attachment to food. All through my life people have tried to get me to lose weight; parents, friends, partners etc. I have rebelled from this by eating and eating and eating. And now that the world has finally accepted my right to eat, and accepted my unmissable bulk, I cant stop. I am going into the operation with hope, I keep telling myself that "I have chosen this", no one has forced it on me, and I own it and all the consequences good and bad. I want to be healthy, I want to be strong, I want to emerge from a trail of devastating failures to sparkling success and hope. Am I expecting too much from my band and not enough from myself??