Lolo~t

I'd seriously consider taking a long hard look at my relationship if I were in your shoes. To me, it sounds as if you two could use a long talk and some couples counseling.

What if you had been in a serious car accident that required reconstructive surgery? What if you had appendicitis or a tumor that required surgery? What if you needed a stint or a transplant? Would he find you unattractive for any of those reasons?

My husband loves me fat, thin, with scars, without, hairy legs, overgrown eyebrows, roots showing, gassy, greasy haired, in sweats, with zits.... He's in for the long haul. If something came up cosmetically that he changed his mind, I am fairly certain the change of heart would be more than skin deep.

Lose the weight, find a new husband.

I'm one month post and have a small coffee every morning. Sometimes I don't even drink it all, but it is very therapeutic for me to fix it and start my day off with one:)

Hey all! I haven't posted since the very early days out...I was sleeved on 10/2/13 at 273 pounds. I reached goal in 9.5 months which was 159 pounds which would put me at a normal bmi. At about 8 months post op I started running. That was a game changer! I have since completed a triathlon, a 5k, 2 10ks, 4 half marathons, and on January 25th, 2015 I became a marathoner! I went on to lose and additional 20 pounds and I've been maintaining 20 pounds below goal ever since. From a size 22/24 to a size 2/4. I eat clean and train hard! I am really living my best life now!

. This is INSANEEEE guys! Can u tell???

Hey, @@Joey Jackson. Here's the stuff I wish someone had told me:
That it hurts like hell when you first wake up! But the improvement starts almost immediately and after 2 weeks you'll feel pretty decent. That the first few trips around the floor are really hard, but after that walking actually starts to feel pretty good. That they would transition me from IV pain meds to pills during the night in the hospital. And yes, you can swallow a small pill. That the pain meds are only needed for 3 or 4 days. That Water is even more important than Protein during the first week or two. That if you don't get enough fluids, the Constipation is gonna really suck! That you should have some kind of laxative or stool softener ready. (Miralax is pretty good.) That food and drink are going to get stuck at various points in your esophagus at various times in the first few weeks, and make weird noises going down. This is normal, and due to swelling, and it improves pretty quickly. That tons of fluids (eventually) are the best way to keep your skin elastic, which might help down the road. That tons of Protein (eventually) plus Biotin is the best way to try and keep your hair. That Vitamin B-12 is a happy pill. (I prefer timed-release to sub-lingual.) That around week 3 after surgery, all weight loss may stop for 2-3 weeks! This is completely normal and here's why. good article That if I follow ALL the rules about what and when to eat and drink, never eat starches or sweets (or drink alcohol), and get regular exercise, I could lose 111 pounds and reach my goal weight in 7 1/2 months. And.... that if I did all of that, I would actually enjoy the journey... and I have! Good luck! I wish you all the success in the world!!!

I was in and out within 6 hours so I didn't need to bring anything with me. I wish I had known how painful the gas pains would be when I woke up. My left shoulder and neck were killing me! Also, I wish I had taken two weeks off work instead of just one. Lastly, the drainage tube is sooo annoying but it didn't hurt a bit when they removed it. Good luck!

I had sleeve surgery on 12/12 and have been doing well losing weight. I started at 232 lbs so not super large but definitely overweight at 5'6". Since I've been back to work nobody has asked about my weight loss, partially I think it's because I work in an office with quite a few caddy women so god for bid they'd pay anyone a compliment. Anyways, one of our managers came in town yesterday and he looked at me and stumbled a bit, he said "Whit I don't mean to be rude but have you lost a little I mean a lot of weight"? I wanted to kiss him lol finally someone besides my parents said something...it's taken losing 36 pounds but definitely well worth it!!!

Today is the day I've been waiting for, for a very, very long time. And it's finally here. Officially, this morning I've lost 100 POUNDS!!! Please friends, there is no need in sending out a search party. There is absolutely no reward in their return. In fact, I've got 34 more to lose to hit my goal. DON'T look for them, don't find them. They are no good, bad news!! Today is a blessed day. <3

I had my surgery yesterday and everything went well. Thank God. I did feel very gassy I took the pain medicine and I slept great.

And that's what it is all about!!!
Now you have to explore better foods, better ways to ensure your Protein...It's all about developing a new lifestyle!!
Since I eat so little, so less often, I try to make the best of what I eat...I have become a very picky eater...sure, you may try to have a slice of pizza (I can't BTW) but then you soon realize you're going to blow the portion the band will allow on something not very essential.
I look at Burger and pizza commercials on tv, and ask myself.... WHY! For what good reason..!(?)
This is why one of the "Rules" is to start with the Protein first before moving on to the rest on the plate...because you might not even get through the protein!!
My last fill was 3-1/2 years ago...and I feel just as great today as I did after my last fill...and I am still exploring newer, healthier foods, little tricks here and there......and lots of exercise...
From your description, wouldn't you say this is easy?? Sure, getting there was tough, but then finally...
A New Life!!! A New way of Living!!! (never have to diet again!)
Congratulations!!

I got my third fill on Tuesday and as soon as I took the sip of Water, I could FEEL it! Restriction - glorious restriction! I had not felt that before unless I ate something starchy/bread. After fill, was not hungry the rest of the day. Yesterday, ate a small amount for Breakfast, not hungry until dinner and then very satisfied with a small amount. This morning, the scale finally MOVED down - 5 lbs from where I was the previous weigh (and i admit that's been several weeks as feeling down that I was so hungry after all of the surgery costs and discomfort, etc).
Now I feel I am IN THE GAME and I am so excited to know THIS is what it is supposed to feel like! I don't feel hungry! I feel full after a few small bites of Protein dense food. I am not ravenous and dreaming about junk food anymore. I AM HAPPY!!!!!
I wanted to share this with the rest of the community. I haven't been posting - I felt like I might be one of the folks for which this tool just doesn't change the underlying, overwhelming appetite issues I have had all of my life. But it IS changing that and I feel so hopeful - it's been so long since I've felt this way.
:-)))))))))))
Mary

I was successfully sleeved Wednesday! Surgery went well, no complications, but I'm in a fair amount of pain. No worries though, a TBSP of pain meds and I'm all good again. They sent me home the next day, and I'm sipping Water. I think I have gas pain, which I have heard about in these forums.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to a lifetime of looking and felling better. At 59, I didn't want to enter the golden years with weight complications

Lolo-T - in my research I've learned that a fill can take up to 2 weeks to settle in and "take". Just thought I'd throw that into the conversation!

Just weighed myself and I am 199 with a starting weight of 287. My lap band surgery was completed on January 15, 2014. I feel (and look-/LOL) amazing! I have energy and am accomplishing so many great things in my life. The lap band gave me a new lease on life. I'm loving ONE-derland. By the way I haven't even officially started exercising yet. Just moderate walking and so forth. I'm so proud. I'm 5'11 and 199 now so slowly getting out of that overweight stage lol

I'm 5 weeks post op and been in a stall since week 3. How long did yours last???

During my follow up visit, they explained it as your body catching up. Every 3 weeks or so, I've noticed that the scale stopped moving, but the inches kept going. I figured this was a logical explanation. She also said that that's the reason why most cosmetic surgeons won't operate on a WLS patient until they've stopped losing for at least 6 months to give the body a chance to catch up to the weight loss be it losing inches or skin tightening.

It has been 10 months since my lap band surgery and I am down 73 pounds! I feel incredible. I work out regularly, my feet and hips no longer ache at night. I would do it again without hesitation. Having lap band surgery was the best decision I have ever made. The attached pic shows where I started, where I was at 6 months and where I was last week.

hi Lolo, I have not personally experienced that, but I have read on here frequently that feeling restriction can kick in a week or so later. That is awesome if you are feeling some restriction after your first fill. I gained a couple of pounds between my first and second. :-)

Now I can breath because I'm scare of needles. LOL . you guys are great letting me know about your experience. Thank you

I like that B-52! It is something to put in my back pocket and remember along the way. I haven't started the full journey yet, but getting close. Thanks for your insight!
This was just what I needed to hear/see this morning.
I'm going to love these forums- soooooo much support :-)

Right after surgery, everybody looses weight...lap band or no, we are on a strict post-op diet starting with Clear liquids and slowly progressing. Who wouldn't loose weight? And yet people give credit to the band.
At this stage, the Lap Band is doing nothing, IMO....it was installed and nothing more.(there are a FEW EXCEPTIONS...very few)
And let's face it...people who have much to loose, will loose more than the next person not quite so heavy.
So when someone says "I Lost 50 lbs, blah blah blah, the next person should not feel bad only loosing 10lbs.
I know people who could loose 50lbs if they skipped dinner! (only joking)
There are people here who start at 400lbs and loose over 200, and people who start at 225 and only loose 75....so which is more difficult?
So don't let the #'s intimidate you...it's all relative.
I had my first fill 4 weeks after surgery, and it was 4cc's....after that, I began to gain weight because it also the time I came off the post-op diet and began eating normal food again. DUH!
That first fill did absolutely nothing.
Had my second fill of 2cc's, 4 weeks after that, = 8 weeks from surgery.
The band began to do something....I didn't loose weight, but I did not gain either.
All this time I was being told and reminded to count calories, measure portions, stay away from certain foods/drink, etc...ALL the things I could have done (and have done) without surgery, the time and anxiety put into preparing for this, not to mention the $$.
Talk about Frustration!! I felt it was a big Rip Off!
Came back 4 weeks after that, = 12 weeks from surgery for my 3rd, (and final) fill. THAT one put me over the top.Pushed me off the edge!
Could not keep anything down. Feared I was going to be malnourished, etc. I was free falling!
Many people would have gone back to get it taken out, get back within their comfort zone......but my Dr. (who knows ME and not YOU) talked me into sticking it out, talked me into slowing down my eating, choice of foods, all those thing etc, etc.
Also said if I did get that last (small) fill removed, it would put me back to where I was after my 2nd fill...did I want that?
I'm glad he did...it took weeks - months for things to start to find that groove, but it did all start to fall in line.
That elusive "Fine balance - Harmony" where the band performs splendidly. The true "Green Zone"
I quess my point is, this thing DOES WORK, but it is not going to work immediately...it is adjustable and it takes time, sometimes with trial and error, to get it right.
And it is not just the band that gets adjusted along the way...we too have to get adjusted to the Lap Band. And that is key to success.
Lap Band Surgery will "Change Your Life" but you have to ready and willing for change. And that can be very frustrating and take some time. Even though my last needed fill was 12 weeks from surgery, and the weight began to steadily and consistently come off, a year later I was still learning lessons, Life changing lessons...most times the hard and unpleasant way. Did not mean the band is at fault.
I'm 4 years out, and I can do something right now, this moment, that would cause a very negative reaction with my band. Does not mean my band is at fault...it means I just did something I should never do...simple, yet it did take time to learn the difference.
If people told me 4 years ago what and how little I would be eating today, and still be healthy and full of energy, I would have said they were blowing smoke up my you know what.
And yet here I am at that place, and to tell new people this, would be accepted the same as I would have 4 years ago.
This is the internet, and 1000's of people come and go here all the time. And I have read people's posts about frustration and feelings of failure (many of which are way pre-mature...give it a chance) when in fact I sense they are not willing to accept change. (still talking about pizza and cheese burgers, etc? Really?)
Not all, but some. There are people who legitimately have problems, complications. But we, strangers on the internet can ever tell what is going on.
They can't understand why they keep getting stuck...There's something wrong with their band...maybe there is, and maybe it's not the band....no one on the internet can tell for sure.
That is why it is best, IMO, it's best for people to simply share their own experiences, AT ALL LEVELS, good and bad, positive and negative...
Ok, it's 4am on a Sunday, I'm rambling on with my morning coffee before heading to the gym at 6...nothing more, just rambling..and pehaps ranting.

Good post, as usual.

My full liquids was for six weeks post op. That is longer than most here. But it's my surgeon's protocol and it did greatly jump start my weight loss. I lost fifty pounds before my first fill.
Full liquids included:
Soup
Jello
pudding
Yogurt
Anything I ran through the blender (I got creative)
Soup
Protein shakes
Did I mention soup?
I lived on soup.
I was never so happy to chew food as I was at six weeks.

I am sure there have been several threads in the past and in different locations regarding depression and our band process, but this is about me so I am starting a thread.
February has not my friend. My oldest son's birthday is the day before Valentine's and that so far has been the highlight. My husband and I actually have a very strong relationship, but it seems, without fail, that we always end of fighting on Valentine's. I think I officially hate it. I'll save my romance for a non-commercialized day, thankyouverymuch.
There have been 4 bad-food events in just these 2 and a half weeks. And I know food choice should be up to me and that it is possible to make good choices even when someone else is serving nothing but junk, but my head has been in such a bad place that I have definitely turned to old habits for coping. I am actually surprised that I haven't gained any weight, though it has fluctuated a few days.
I can't always tell the difference between stressful situation-depression and real depression. My husband is looking for a new job, I don't work and home school my oldest. We want to move (in a better neighborhood at the least, out of state if that is where work takes us). Neither of us have family in TX as we are not from here, and I guess I just don't feel like I have a lot of support right now.
Right now I am leaning toward both - situational and real. I already take a mood stabilizer and am thinking of adding back an antidepressant. But right now this is really affecting my eating. I only eat about 2 meals and a snack (sometimes 2) a day but I know I am eating too much. And eating slider foods.
Has anyone else fought depression while going through this whole banded process? I know people have. I would love to have some advice because I am feeling particularly alone at the moment. How do you stay strong when you feel like sh!t???