TakingBackChrissy

I had the LapBand done in August of 2012 and it's been nothing but a nightmare! The surgeon and surgery itself went fine, but had I known I'd forever have food "stuck" and be miserable I'd have opted for a different surgery. I was over 500lbs when I decided to have it put in and lost to 460lbs the day of surgery. I only ever dropped to 403lbs - And NONE of it was the healthy way. I was ALWAYS hungry and I said all the time, the stuff that I SHOULD eat gets stuck, but the things I shoudn't eat sits just fine. For a long time, I blamed myself for this issue, but find it's a pretty common occurrence for Banders I hear now. I would NEVER recommend this surgery for anyone...If it was the Band or nothing, I'd have chose nothing!
So, years later I ballooned back over 500lbs. I went to a fitness camp for 6mo and with their help and all the knowledge I took home, I'm down to 389lbs as of today. I am scheduled to have my band removed next month and have the sleeve done at the same time. I have plans down the road to have the sleeve then revised into the DS, which is basically the sleeve with the added malabsorption part included. Because my BMI still sits so high and the possible complications from band removal, my surgeon refused to do the full DS at one time - But felt confident the sleeve and band removal could be done simultaneously.
For me, the band made me feel like a total failure and that I'd forever be doomed to be over 500lbs. Through thorough nutrition and exercise education, I finally feel like I'm going to be able to get my life back! The sleeve is just one step on my journey there.
Best of luck to you and whatever your surgeon suggests, I'd follow those recommendations if you trust him! (But always do your research and stick to your guns on what's right for you!)

I tried Spironolactone, but because my blood pressure was always really good I couldn't get the dose high enough to be effective for hair growth without dropping my BP waaaay too low. Metformin never helped, just gave me (TMI warning) terrible diarrhea.

I’m feeling VERY discouraged! I bad lapband to sleeve revision surgery September 13th and in the first month or so dropped about 25lbs. However, but the end of the 4th week or so and up until now I’ve been at a CRAWLING weight loss pace...I don’t weigh every day, but it feels like I’m just bouncing between 355-358. How am I stalling this early on? I’m not eating nearly as much as I used to, of course and doing my damndest to get in all of my Protein. (It’s really hard since Protein Shakes are now making me gag just because I’ve been doing them basically non-stop for the last 2-3months in my pre and post-surgery diets.) I’ve tried exercise, but I’m so quick to get weak and tired...I think it’s my lack of calories. 😩 I’m wondering if this plateau has something to do with being on such a restricted diet for so long. I lost about 125 with diet and exercise prior to surgery, I was eating about 1400 cal/day and exercised pretty heavy as well. It’s so frustrating with this lack of stamina and eating so little while not seeing numbers change. I’ve decided to cut out ALL POSSIBLE carbs from my diet now that I’m off liquids and go straight to low-fat protein options...only because I can get just a few bites of anything in without feeling queasy still and straight protein doesn’t seem to give me that effect as bad. (Anything creamy, heavy or even mildly “rich” makes my stomach churn minutes after eating.) I’ve added protein to my coffee drinks in the morning, trying to get at least one shake in and nibble on chicken, tuna or whatever protein feels like it’ll sit right.
Anyway, long story short...I’m trying but not seeing the scale move hardly at all. How much were you guys still losing a month or two out? I’m terrified this stall means trouble on the horizon and I’m failing this sleeve thing! Please help!! 😭😭

Gahhh! Ladies!! When will we ever have a GOOD solution to this *seemingly* simple problem?? I think I'm gonna look more into the laser solution...I think with laser I guess it's about managing the expectations. I don't need it to be perfectly smooth, I just need to stop having 5 o'clock shadow, lol!

I tried Spironolactone, but because my blood pressure was always really good I couldn't get the dose high enough to be effective for hair growth without dropping my BP waaaay too low. Metformin never helped, just gave me (TMI warning) terrible diarrhea.

So, I have a random question for any of you ladies out there that have suffered with PCOS or facial hair prior to surgery. I've tried EVERYTHING for this stupid facial Hair growth. I'm now just back to plucking every other day. Doctors aren't sure if it's ACTUALLY PCOS (I have an upcoming appointment with a specialist.) or if it's just a hormonal imbalance due to the extreme obesity. Either way, even after losing my first 125lbs naturally, I've not seen much change...Although I'm still incredibly overweight, my cycle is finally getting some sort of regularity and ultrasounds have never actually showed any cysts on the ovaries. I have the sleeve done next month, yay!
I tell you all of that to see if any ladies struggled with facial hair prior to weight loss and have you seen any improvement once you lost weight? My doctors are hopeful this will be the case, but meanwhile I'm still stuck here in front of the mirror every other day trying to keep the 5 o'clock shadow at bay!

So, I have a random question for any of you ladies out there that have suffered with PCOS or facial hair prior to surgery. I've tried EVERYTHING for this stupid facial Hair growth. I'm now just back to plucking every other day. Doctors aren't sure if it's ACTUALLY PCOS (I have an upcoming appointment with a specialist.) or if it's just a hormonal imbalance due to the extreme obesity. Either way, even after losing my first 125lbs naturally, I've not seen much change...Although I'm still incredibly overweight, my cycle is finally getting some sort of regularity and ultrasounds have never actually showed any cysts on the ovaries. I have the sleeve done next month, yay!
I tell you all of that to see if any ladies struggled with facial hair prior to weight loss and have you seen any improvement once you lost weight? My doctors are hopeful this will be the case, but meanwhile I'm still stuck here in front of the mirror every other day trying to keep the 5 o'clock shadow at bay!

Sometimes we feed the emotions, sometimes the feeding (and subsequent weight gain) leads to emotions. Your best tool to combat both scenarios is simply learning to separate food from emotions...which is way easier said than done. Sometimes I’ll down countless calories before I even realize I did it and usually just because I was bored or anxious. Personally, I’m working on mediation techniques and making a habit of planning and counting everything that goes into my mouth. If it’s not on my plan, what reason am I eating it? meal plans are best made when you’ve got your best self in mind - Let the thoughtful, self-loving side of you decide what to eat...That way when you’re feeling impulsive and reaching for a snack it’s the perfect red flag. Then you can stop and evaluate - Am I in the right state of mind make this food decision?Am I hungry or am I (insert emotion here)? Is this food serving my goals? If you can answer those honestly and favorably, eat away! If not, delve a little deeper...But sometimes I'm way too caught up that I just have to walk away and do something else for a bit. I can revisit it later. Sometimes I have literal arguments with myself in my head over what to eat...it’s amazing the excuses I come up with, lol! Just take it one day, one meal, one bite at a time! You got this!

Sometimes we feed the emotions, sometimes the feeding (and subsequent weight gain) leads to emotions. Your best tool to combat both scenarios is simply learning to separate food from emotions...which is way easier said than done. Sometimes I’ll down countless calories before I even realize I did it and usually just because I was bored or anxious. Personally, I’m working on mediation techniques and making a habit of planning and counting everything that goes into my mouth. If it’s not on my plan, what reason am I eating it? meal plans are best made when you’ve got your best self in mind - Let the thoughtful, self-loving side of you decide what to eat...That way when you’re feeling impulsive and reaching for a snack it’s the perfect red flag. Then you can stop and evaluate - Am I in the right state of mind make this food decision?Am I hungry or am I (insert emotion here)? Is this food serving my goals? If you can answer those honestly and favorably, eat away! If not, delve a little deeper...But sometimes I'm way too caught up that I just have to walk away and do something else for a bit. I can revisit it later. Sometimes I have literal arguments with myself in my head over what to eat...it’s amazing the excuses I come up with, lol! Just take it one day, one meal, one bite at a time! You got this!

I had the LapBand done in August of 2012 and it's been nothing but a nightmare! The surgeon and surgery itself went fine, but had I known I'd forever have food "stuck" and be miserable I'd have opted for a different surgery. I was over 500lbs when I decided to have it put in and lost to 460lbs the day of surgery. I only ever dropped to 403lbs - And NONE of it was the healthy way. I was ALWAYS hungry and I said all the time, the stuff that I SHOULD eat gets stuck, but the things I shoudn't eat sits just fine. For a long time, I blamed myself for this issue, but find it's a pretty common occurrence for Banders I hear now. I would NEVER recommend this surgery for anyone...If it was the Band or nothing, I'd have chose nothing!
So, years later I ballooned back over 500lbs. I went to a fitness camp for 6mo and with their help and all the knowledge I took home, I'm down to 389lbs as of today. I am scheduled to have my band removed next month and have the sleeve done at the same time. I have plans down the road to have the sleeve then revised into the DS, which is basically the sleeve with the added malabsorption part included. Because my BMI still sits so high and the possible complications from band removal, my surgeon refused to do the full DS at one time - But felt confident the sleeve and band removal could be done simultaneously.
For me, the band made me feel like a total failure and that I'd forever be doomed to be over 500lbs. Through thorough nutrition and exercise education, I finally feel like I'm going to be able to get my life back! The sleeve is just one step on my journey there.
Best of luck to you and whatever your surgeon suggests, I'd follow those recommendations if you trust him! (But always do your research and stick to your guns on what's right for you!)