allheart

Thank you everyone for your thoughts. I spent most of yesterday in tears but feel much better today. I've gone back to the mushy food stage which is working. The good news is that I've lost 5 pounds....not exactly the way I wanted but maybe this Devine intervention to give me a jump start and get me back in the game. Looking forward to seeing the doctor to determine next steps. Thanks again and enjoy your Memorial Day. :-)

I called the doctor today and he said it sounded like it slipped. He said is the pain worsened to go to the emergency room and if it stays the same to come in on Tuesday.

I should have gone back when I started gaining but I felt it was my fault so I figured there want anything they could do. I just hope this can be resolved easily and I can start fresh.

Hi everyone. I haven't posted anything on this forum in a couple of years. I was banded in 2007 and did pretty well at first and lost about 80 pounds. Over the years, I have gained back about 2/3 of it and was too embarrased to go to my surgeon so I haven't been for an appointment in probably 4 years. Last night I experienced what I believe is a band slip so I'm forced to go back. I keep telling myself it will be okay but I'm really worried....I feel like a total failure and am scared I will have to go through another surgery. Is it possible that this won't result in another surgery and that I can have a fresh start with my band?

How do I set up my UserCP so that I receive an email to my email address when someone posts a message and/or response on a specific thread? I'm specifically looking for a way to receive notificiation when someone posts/responds to something on the "Weight Watchers & Lap-Band" group. Thanks

Thanks for the great ideas. :teeth_smile:

Hi everyone. Looking for a mentor/accountability partner(s) for support through my journey. I am a 47 year old Christian woman with over 100 pounds to lose. I was banded in 12/07 and have lost 16 pounds since then and about 41 including pre-op diet. Looking forward to hearing form you...

Have a blessed day.

Hi all. I'm trying to think of ways to make some kind of solid Protein sweet but am stumped - any ideas? Anyone have a recipe for canided almonds using splenda?

Thanks for your feedback. Have a blessed day.

Thank you Stephanie for the encouragement and validation. Congratulations on your weight loss. I can't imagine what it must feel like to approach goal weight - being obese since age 7, I know I will probably need counseling when I get past 1/2 way there.

As far as my food, the weeks I struggle are the weeks I don't record my food - no brainer, I know. I didn't realize it but I do eat a lot of soft Proteins like cheese and deli turkey - partly because I know they go down easy and partly because I hate to cook. Sometimes I eat frozen meals like Lean Cuisine but even they are soft. I've read a lot on this web site about eating around the band but never make the connection. Guess it's time to break out my George Forman Grill.

As far as exercise, I'm working up to 4 days/week at Curves and have the bariatric weight loss surgery exercise video for the days I have too much pain in my knees for the machines. I really like the idea about the mentor - I'll give it a try.

Thanks so much for all your insight and feedback!! Have a blessed day.

Hi everyone. I was banded on 12/21 and have lost about 16 pounds with the band (plus about 40 on the pre-op liquid diet). I keep going up and down stuggling with my food/exercise. I have 9 cc's in a 10 cc band and haven't reached my sweet spot yet. Last week I was so disgusted with myself I decided to do the 5 day pouch diet this week for a fresh start. I'm on my second day of liquids and needed some encouragement so I looked through the threads and found this one. I can't tell you how much strength I have gained from all your postings. :biggrin:

I need to stop looking at others' expectations and be patient with myself - I only told a couple of people about the band but I feel like they have an expectation that the weight is going to come off quickly/steadily. These lifestyle changes are a killer. I'm amazed at those who lose quickly but need to learn to be okay with following my own path. I try to keep reminding myself that slow changes mean = lasting changes.

Thanks again for this thread. It's nice to know I'm not alone in this learning curve.

Have a blessed day!!

PS: I also read a great book, "The Beck Diet Solution" by Judith Beck - the book is about retraining your brain by taking your relationship with food out of the emotional and putting it into the cognitive. I liked it so much I ordered the workbook.

Hi everyone. I haven't posted in a long while but am working with my tool one day at a time. My question is....how do I know the difference between needing a fill and needing to control my eating? I am at @9cc's in a 10 cc band and can still eat a 10" veggie sub without any problem if I let myself. I keep feeling like I shouldn't have to still fight this hard to control my eating with the band. Any thoughts? Thanks for your feedback.

Thank you everyone for your feedback. I'm going to continue curves every other day and skip machines that irritate my knee - hopefully as I build up my thigh muscles, it will help my knees. I've been avoiding going to an orthopedic surgeon because when I went a couple of years ago, that particular doctor told me my knees were too fat to tell what was going on. I have the name of another one that several people at work are pleased with - one thing at a time.

Thanks again for your thoughts!!

Hi everyone. I've been doing light walking since my surgery on 12/21/07 and went back to Curves today. Everything I do causes pain in my knees. I tried the treadmill, swimming, etc. Anyone else deal with this? Any suggestions?

Hi citygirl. Thanks for asking this. I was banded on 12/21 and lost 20 pounds. The scale also stopped for me when I introduced mushies. I even emailed my nutritionist to make sure I wasn't taking in too many carbs but he said as long as I keep them under 100 gr per day, I will be fine. Some of the things I have made are egg salad with one egg and low fat mayo, ricotta cheese with 2 tbs Tomato sauce in the microwave, and mushy chili with no Beans. I'm counting on experience of others that the scale will start moving after I start getting fills. My doc won't do fills either until 6 wks after surgery.

Stay on the forums - there's a lot of encouragement here.

I was banded on 12/21 and won't get my first fill until 2/14 - my six week point. I am struggling some on mushies - I've been hungry all day. Hope I make it until the fill.

Hi jpayton. Thanks so much for the info - that really helps.

I guess it's a good thing that we are concerned with pouch stretching - it will keep us cautious and aware.

Hi michiwhite. Dr. Irgau at CHRIAS in Newark, Delaware did my surgery. I used him because several people at work went to him and were very happy. He is absolutely wonderful as are the other surgeons in his office. I'm not sure why I had to do 4 weeks of full liquids but it helped me get off 20 pounds since surgery so I'm grateful. I'm a little nervous that the weight loss will slow down with introducing food. I hate to exercise but I need to get off my butt and get on my treadmill. How are you doing with exercise?

Hi livn4jesus. Welcome aboard.

Where are you both from in Maryland?

Thanks. I think I'm going to start making a list of the foods that make me feel hungry or think that I'm hungry so I can steer clear of them. What a learning process this is.

Hi everyone. I started mushies this past Saturday. My family took my mother out yesterday to Steak and Ale for her birthday. I had one beet from the salad bar, about 4 tbs of french onion Soup (just the broth) and a 1/2 of a small baked potato - I mashed all food up with my fork. We went back to my sister's for dessert and I had a paper thin piece of cake and about 8 cheese doodles. Last night, I had the other 1/2 of the baked potato. In between I drank, drank, drank. Not a great day but nothing like it would have been pre-band.

My question is...what are the signs that your pouch is stretching?

Hi michiwhite. I am also from Maryland and was banded on 12/21. That's too funny. :wink2: How are you doing with your post-op diet? I had to do 4 weeks of full liquids so this past Saturday was my first day of mushies. The thing I'm finding the hardest is not drinking until at least 1/2 after eating. I've lost 20 pounds so far and have about 120 to go. Glad you joined the forum - it's a great help and support.

I was banded on 12/21 and am off for 5 weeks. I also had a hernia repair when they did the banding do this may make a difference. I lifted my school bag last week and was in pain for 2 days so the doc said not to go back until 1/28. I know this is longer that most people but I'm thankful for the time - I'm reading as much as I can get my hands on about life after banding and processing/putting in place the lifestyle changes that I need to make this successful.

Thanks - I think I'm a little worried about managing this at work when I return on 1/22. Have a great day!!

Thank you so much everyone for your feedback and encouragement. I think I'm going to put my scale away for a while and just concentrate on making a successful transition from full liquids to mushies and being consistent with my exercise. Since I have one more week before I return to work, I'm going to check out the Y next week and try walking in the pool. I also signed up for swim classes in Feb.

Thanks again - you are all wonderful!!!

I've been reading a lot of posting where some of you have lost close to 20 pounds in the first 2 weeks after surgery. I'm 3 weeks post-op and have only lost about 8 - 10 pounds and I'm strictly following the full liquid diet. Anyone else experiencing this?

Hi everyone. I'm getting ready to transition from full liquids to mushy's and have been playing around with a menu plan. How in the world do you get in all the liquids when you can't drink for a half hour before you eat and at least a half hour after?