notateechanow

WELCOME, Viv!! While there are definitely times when we've all questioned our own ability to succeed, I think your commitment to having this done will encourage you more than you can ever expect. This isn't the easy way out. The band won't do the work for you---however, it WILL provide you some control that you likely haven't been able to sustain for long periods of time in the past. The first few months after surgery are undoubtedly the hardest. You will know the band has been implanted, but it doesn't seem to "do" anything initially. Be forewarned that it may take a few fills before you experience any restriction. With the help and support of those who have been banded, I have been able to finally lose weight AND keep it off. While family, friends, and even the staff of the program can be helpful, no one can truly know the frustration of living with this weight and the agony of feeling the sense of failure again....when it doesn't happen instantaneously. This website, along with the actual support group meetings have been the key to my success. Whenever I felt like giving up, there has always been someone to pick me up and drag me along---but someone who has been through the same experience. Know that your "marathon" won't be easy, but I expect it will be worth the effort. We're here for you and wish you the best of luck! Keep us posted!! :thumbup: Paige

Jessica Rae, I admire your willingness to come back and explain yourself. Remember you're "young" in this process. I did everything I was told to do, then 10 times more. I ate only 800 or fewer calories a day for the first 3 months. I worked out at least 5 times a week, sometimes 6 or 7 days for at least an hour to an hour and a half a day. I'm not talking about waddling on the treadmill. I was a scholarship athlete in college. I know what it is to work....and after three months? YES, I lost 25 pounds post surgery. Yep, that was it. I was beyond frustrated, but at that point, I was never happier with my decision not to tell people. Many people don't understand this surgery. They expect you to lose weight instantly, as with Gastric Bypass. They ask questions like, "Should you be eating that?!" It's bothersome. People police you, whether intentionally or not. I didn't want any of that in my life. Aside from that, my primary care physician told me she didn't think I'd lose the kind of weight I needed to lose with this surgery. She was worried that I would lose the 40-60% of my excess body weight after surgery and still be over 230. She thought that having surgery wasn't worth that. I'm 16 months out and have lost over 100 pounds---However, it wasn't steady and it wasn't fast. I lost 40 of those pounds in 2 months after moving and leaving my live-in boyfriend of 3 years. HE was the only person who knew about my surgery at that point..... So.....while I admire your willingness to share, I will assure you as you go through this process, there will be times when you will wish that you didn't tell people. I, on the other hand, had times when I wished there were people I could confide in. My process was tremendously lonely. I did it all by myself. You're so lucky to not have to go through that, but now....I'm there. I'm still about 30 pounds heavier than I'd like to be, but after suffering my entire life with more than 60+pounds to lose (even at my lowest....) it's amazing that I'm finally this close. I'll get there, one pound and one day at a time. I would be lost if not for my support group. Good luck with your journey.

I'm dying to know how you arrived at your "goal weight". Dr. Robinson has never before given me one....I'm finally going to see him this month. I made an appointment because I can not only EAT a ton, but I AM eating a ton. I have felt for a few months, but appreciated having the ability to eat anything I wanted, but kept it in check. I'm no longer keeping it in check. thankfully, I've been running a lot, so I haven't gained weight. However, I'm only down about 7 pounds since January. I also finally accounted for an entire day's eating and figure out that I'm eating far less than I thought.....who knew?! Jay, so glad to see you're back. I'm sorry you're having a tough month. How's the weightloss going? I thought of you today when I had a piece of sicilian pizza---or I should say, 4 bites of a slice. Yeah, it's doughy and I decided that I didn't really need it, so I stopped at 4 bites. I should have planned better and brought something healthy, but in the past, I would have had a few pieces instead of my 4 bites. Hope you're all doing well. What is the date of May's meeting?? I'm hoping to go. Anyone find out when the Plastic Surgeon is coming in June???

Catherine, You have to consider the source. First, she's 26 years old. Maybe she doesn't have much life or worldly experience. We were all pretty narrow minded in our own way at that age. More importantly, she was banded less than 10 days ago. For her to believe that this band is anything other than a simple tool is because of her lack of experience. I hope the original poster will re-read this thread in say----OH, another hundred pounds---and see how she feels about the weight loss not being due to hard work and nutritional changes. I've had my band for 16 months. I assure you that if my overweight friends restricted their caloric intake to merely 800-1000 calories a day AND exercised for over an hour a day at the intensity I do, they, too, could lose a hundred pounds. The band is not the reason I've lost the weight.....it was simply a tool that enabled me to stop compulsive behaviors and focus properly on what needed to be done. You can't be offended by what someone says when she comes ill equipped to judge....

I chose not to tell anyone for a variety of reasons. First, my mother claims to have had her own weight struggles. Being 20-25 pounds overweight to me does not constitute a struggle....Growing up, my father had two nicknames for me--thunder thighs and fat sh*t. My uncle called me Buddha. Ironically, I went to a division one college on a full athletic scholarship. I have had success other plans and have lost 75+ pounds several times. Unfortunately, with each new stress in life, I managed to gain it back at one time or another. I knew my family would not understand my very personal struggle with my weight. The hardest part has been realizing that my brave outward face has been a well received facade that people prefer to see because they would not want to know the real pain I faced. My primary care doctor called me after giving me a referral initially. She had done some more research and decided I would be more successful with the Gastric Bypass and that I would never lose the amount of weight I want to lose with the band. I am now down 100 pounds. I surpassed her expectations and my own. I had enough self-doubt and didn't need any detractors. After about 14 months, I told my best friend. I knew she would support me unconditionally, but I also knew that another friend of hers might benefit from my experience. I told my mom and dad a few weeks ago because my mom voiced concerns that I might be bulimic. They were supportive, but only because they have seen the success I have experienced. They haven't been privy to my struggles. They don't know how hard this has been. I would have liked to have a support system, but when you're the person others lean on for support, you can't do that. I don't have room to be the needy one in my life. I have to be the provider....so with this in mind, I have gone to my support group meeting religiously. I have made some fantastic friends who support me unconditionally there. I did what I needed to for my own reasons---yes, some shame, but mostly because I have never voiced the pain I've lived and I don't think people could understand this journey.....

Ladies, the benefit of the Faulkner is the single rooms---NO roommates! Good luck! Enjoy the meeting. :smile:

Thanks Singing. I just want/need to warn you--I'm not looking forward to wearing a bathing suit either. Down 100 doesn't reinstate self confidence when things hang where you'd rather they didn't. It's still just as hard to buy clothes, if not more frustrating. At least before I always knew to just grab the largest size and move on.... OH, and I found the worst store in the history of the world to shop at when you're feeling less than confident.....Frugal Fannie's. Thought I'd stop in to pick up a few things, but at 300 pounds I never tried stuff on....so I didn't know about the OPEN fitting rooms. Yeah, not a good day to wear bad underwear. WHO thought that an open fitting room would be a good plan? Oh, the heathen......Didn't realize I wore a thong----probably because I forget I'm wearing it. I think I nearly gave the old geezer beside me a heart attack. With the right shirt, you can't tell I'm wearing it from behind. While I didn't look as bad as the lumpy broad beside me, that old lady nearly died. Finally annoyed by her staring, I suggested she invest in some thongs--told her that her lover might appreciate them. :crying:

OMG am I STUCK! I now get it. I've been lying on the bathroom floor for like 30 minutes, waiting for this to pass....NEVER had it this bad before and now truly understand why it's called "sliming". So even though I had issues with being tight before, I've never had this happen. I wish I had a great story, as Jay would, but I don't. I was simply watching tv with my goldfish and not paying attention to how much I was eating when I suddenly felt this pressure in my abdomen. So, it wasn't something I didn't chew well enough---just too much, I assume. Now I see why people worry they're going to choke and die. It definitely feels like it affects your breathing, though I know logically it doesn't. Usually I just take a good drink of something and wash it back out, but that's not working this time....SO I'm nearly a year and a half out and finally, I get it..... No meeting for me tomorrow night. I'm hoping to go out. Have fun if you do go, and find out which meeting the Plastic Surgeon is attending in June, please? Thanks. 70s on Friday, 80's on Saturday. Bring on the warm weather...

Fanny, I'm down just about 100 pounds. I still have at least 30-40 pounds to get to where I want to be, but I may re-evaluate that when I lose another 20. I haven't lost but a pound or two since January. I have good restriction and run at least 20 miles a week. I'm training for a 5K. I'm consuming around 80 grams of protein a day and still struggle. I'm now finally ok with losing slowly. Like Christasha, I felt really slow initially, but I'm getting where I want to go....just slower. We will get there!! Keep up the great work!!!

OH, I'm with you. I started to use the kitchen sink, though, because often when I use the toilet I get splashed. GROSS! I had a piece of pizza for lunch---YES, Jay, just ONE. (And, while I think of it, Jay...you're definitely still in need of restriction. Keep at it. You'll get there. I have a tough time getting down one small piece.....) No issues, no problems. Went to dinner with my best friend and couldn't get down chicken, which is never a problem. Even the peanut butter icecream pie came back at me afterwards. Not a good eating night....but ate only a piece of pizza all day long.....go figure. Just when I thought it was getting better, tonight sucked. :rolleyes2: Oh, tomorrow is a new day. Maybe I just need get in a run. :crying:

Pearley, You've come to the right place! I'm sorry to read of your struggles and while I can't pretend to understand your frustration, I can certainly empathize. I have had issues with being too tight/too loose and back and forth several times. Is it possible that you're just feeling restriction again for the first time in a very long time and need to re-adjust to your new fill level? My dr. only checks to see that water can pass through and I'm on liquids for 2 days after a fill. Take it slowly and reflect on all of those rules you were told way back when you were banded. It's been a while. Go easy on it. The great news is that you KNOW you're capable of losing those 34 pounds. You need to do so slowly and carefully. You'll get there. Give it time. If you're like the rest of us, your battle against the weight has been life-long. A few months set back may be frustrating, but it won't kill you. You have the tools, but now you have to use them carefully and appropriately. You CAN do this. You've done it before. Good luck and stay on here for the support you need. We're here to help..... :rolleyes2: Paige

Glad to hear you're feeling better, Tiny! I had the most gut wrenching pains today---felt like I was being gutted with a dull spoon. I don't know if it was gastric stuff or female related, though I'm not PMS'ing...all I know is it went on for a few hours and I thought I was gonna die. (It was definitely lower than my band....somewhere between my hip bones) I don't know if it's band related. I had soup for lunch then moved on to a protein shake after working out. Haven't felt much like eating, but have done a lot of lying around. No vomiting today, though! I think I'm probably due for a fill 2 pounds in 3 months is killing me, but I'm ok with that for now. I'm hoping that after running the 5K and going back to walking instead of running, I'll drop another 10-15 pounds.....UGH.....

K8, Whatever you do, DON'T diet before your initial consult appointment! He is going to tell you that you'll need to lose a certain amount of weight before surgery if you're approved....and the weight that will determine EVERYTHING will be from that first appointment! If I had known that, I would have eaten a little more before hand, just so the 30 pounds I had to lose pre-surgery weren't so hard to lose!!

I looked at your link---just a heads up that it's only 6 grams of protein. That might be enough for now, but that's the same amount as in 6oz of fat free yogurt. The unjury has 20 grams of protein and is only 80 calories. I will say that the unflavored is strange. I tried mixing it into mashed potatoes and it turned them to liquid, though they weren't hot!! 6 grams doesn't seem like much protein if you're going to buy a protein powder.....Designer Whey protein has 18 per scoop, though I've only tried it flavored. It's nice because it mixes with Water. Good luck with your surgery! May it be quick and as painless as possible. :drool: Paige

You know, Cathy, I laughed REALLY hard when I read that. I remember so clearly when I was given the green light to have "food" again. It was as if I had lived on an island without food for 3 years! It's all psychological! I actually have a tough time with stuff like mashed potatoes now....I don't know if it's because I stuff them down too fast or eat too much, but I fare much better with food I have to consciously chew!!

OH, ok..Me again! :laugh: I'm back to say that some months are definitely better than others. I've had a problem keeping ANY food down for nearly 4 or 5 days now. I'm hoping today is easier. My last fill was back after Thanksgiving, so it's not as if I'm suddenly over-filled, though that can happen.... Just wanted to let you know that even a year and a half after banding, I still struggle with the same things! :drool:

Hope you had a great walk, Brian. Keep moving! I'm fairly confident that you should only be on Clear Liquids for the first two weeks or so....but you really should check anything printed they gave you at the hospital. So broth based Soups that are strained are ok, but tomato isn't ok........Sugar free jell-o, broth, crystal light, and Protein Shakes is all I had for my first 2 weeks..... Good luck! 3 days down, not too many to go! :laugh: Paige

I hope your 10K goes well! I, too, am doing about 20 miles a week. I'm only doing a 5K in May....but hoping to "run" the entire way. I started a 10 week training program 8 weeks ago and I have another 4 before the actual 5K....I can do at least 1.5 miles now without stopping and gasping for air, but now I'd like to finish in less than 35 minutes. Congrats on the size! You must feel fantastic. I have to be honest, though, and admit that once this freaking 5K is over, I'll switch to walking and give up the jogging for good. I would rather walk 5-7 miles than jog 3. I HATE jogging!! I'm still not happy buying clothes. I can't find anything that will accommodate my huge shoulders/arms/ample chest but that doesn't hang off of my ribs and stomach, making it all look maternity. I'm going away in the end of May and just went through my clothes. I have to buy a bathing suit this weekend. No more excuses. I'm desperate. Target here I come!! Keep us posted on how your 10 K goes. May it be a wonderful experience. :drool: Paige

Depending on what else you're consuming, you might want to go with the low sodium in the event you're sensitive to that....but I'm pretty sure they fed me broth in the hospital before I went home! (I remember so clearly getting home and wondering what the heck they told me when I was being discharged---I was in another world and didn't remember ANY of it!) Hope you're feeling ok. Good luck! :drool:

Sandy, Let's face it...we all fear failure. We deal with it differently. I had my surgery less than 6 weeks after going to the info session. I knew NOTHING about this. I had never been on this site, never read any of the information they gave me and didn't want to know what could go wrong. I barely listened when they released me from the hospital. Bottom line? I didn't want to know about issues. I figured if I didn't know, it wouldn't matter. I was afraid that if I knew what was going on, I'd back out and I simply couldn't afford to be a failure at one more attempt. This was my last ditch effort. I think I single-handedly supported the campaign with Fergie with Weight Watchers--by paying and never going. I know I helped put many kids through college by frequenting all of the area take out restaurants! I needed a way out---to give myself control of this and I finally have it. I'm still not where I want to be. I workout completely out of fear---fear that if I don't, I'll fail at this, too. I think it's that fear that keeps me motivated. If the fear is paralyzing, then maybe you should listen to it. If it's just the nervousness type, it's all healthy. You have to do what's right for you, and when the time comes, you'll make the decision! Good luck! :tt2: Paige

It's really common to feel more restriction when you're menstruating. In fact, I'm on nearly all liquids for a day or two before and at least the first day or two of....but it gets better after that. Once you have more restriction, it will become more obvious. I find that I'm also more restricted when I'm stressed out or bloated. I've found exercising to help immensely. In fact, whenever I'm tight, a good 30 minute walk helps. Hope that helps. I've been banded for a little under a year and a half and still have some issues with tightness. It gets easier, though not necessarily predictable. :smile: Paige

Sorry for jumping in on your forum, but I've been struggling with getting in enough protein and am resorting to adding with shakes. I bought 2 canisters of the unflavored Unjury, thinking it would be more versatile and haven't had any luck. The smell is repulsive! I found Designer Whey protein (vanilla) and add it to a shake. Many of these are good if you make them with other things, in a blender. I'd hate to get rid of an entire container of something I didn't like....so I played around. Use the extracts from the baking aisle and add flavor without many calories. I use some pineapple (packed in WATER) ice, vanilla powder, and coconut extract. It's a nuisance to clean up a blender every time, but it sure is more pleasant than trying any other way. Be creative. Add fruit (when you're allowed to have them!) and extracts. It's a good way to get in fruit and protein! Good luck! :thumbdown: Paige

I felt the same way for a really long time. But, I found out I had problems they referred to as "user error"..... in other words, I didn't follow directions as carefully as I should have. I ate too fast, drank while eating, chewed sparingly, and ate all of the wrong things. There has to be a happy medium in terms of having a fill and not having any fill---even a slight fill? I also ran into problems because I wasn't eating enough, so I stopped losing weight. If you carefully journal what you're eating, you can track how many calories work for your body. We're all different. What works for me may not/will not work for you. When you're ready to focus on yourself (unusual for a woman, I know....) you'll figure it all out. Good luck!! :thumbdown:

You really kill me, Jay. I'm so glad you checked in to give me my daily laugh. THANK YOU. As I've said before, but will remind you, I didn't really start to lose weight until about 2 1/2 to 3 months in---after 3 fills...so sit tight, my friend. You may be in for a long ride. I am going to the Faulkner a week from tomorrow night--it's the 2nd Monday of the month, which I think figures to be the 13th. If I'm wrong, I'll let you know. Otherwise, assume I'm right. If you've never been, it's right up in the suite where they have appointments, in the waiting room. It's far smaller than the one at the Brigham...but I can't go to our usual Tuesday group this month. (Truth be told, I might be able to, but it's my birthday and I expect to make plans...though, being single, not sure what or with whom...I just know I'll do something!) I may be a little late as I have class from 4-7 in South Boston. I'm obviously leaving class early, but would at least like to go from 4-5 to make my appearance...but then again, I may bag out entirely. Who knows... PUT DOWN THE PIZZA. Buy A slice if you must, but seriously, you have to make the mental changes. If you rely on the band to do this for you, you're going to be disappointed. It's time to face it....you have to make changes!! You don't have to give up everything you love, but you do have to make concessions. Buy only one slice and be sure to get it to go. Leave the restaurant. Don't sit there and look at more or you'll want more. If you're out, be social. (Not a stretch for you...) Let everyone else chow while you're talking. If you do what you've always done, you're going to get what you've always gotten....eating the same and trying to exercise won't help you either. It will make you healthier, but your diet has got to change. Stick with it, Jay...you'll get there. It isn't easy, but if you wanted easy, you wouldn't have had this thing surgically implanted in your body. You would have stayed fat. Move on and make a full commitment. Do it for yourself!! Hope to see you a week from Monday. :thumbup: Paige

Ok..so here's my initial impression about Unflavored Unjury....it has a very fluffy appearance, much lighter than others I've seen. It doesn't have a strong smell..The container says to mix it in any beverage, so I tried OJ. It just says not to put it into hot beverages. It mixed in well, but definitely thickened the oj. It was all absorbed, unlike the benefiber I typically mix in my OJ. It smelled kinda funky, though, and I can't even describe it.....it's very......unique. It didn't taste bad, but something about it made me gag. :thumbup: Again, it may have been the smell because while it dulled the taste of the OJ, it didn't change it really.... So....next time I'm thinking I'll try mixing it in food, which is why I got the unflavored. I wanted more versatility. I didn't do it in the blender yet, either, which usually makes everything more palatable. It came with a packet of information that suggests that you use 3-5 scoops PER DAY! Not what my good doc would want me to do, no doubt. He wants me to obtain protein predominantly from the foods I'm eating. Not to mention, it reminds me of telling you to wash your hair twice when shampooing. You're just using more of a product and not necessarily reaping any benefits from that. Stay tuned.....this could get interesting. :scared2: