Maranda

I got my approval letter in the end of August and had my surgery on Sept 30. It was the start of my new life. I went in very scared not of the procedure but making it thru. I figured after I made it thru the rest I can handle. I have had many hills to climb in my life. Waking from surgery I was so excited. I was alone. Had no support with me. My spouse dropped me off at the hospital and bolted. Not that I wanted him there but if the shoe was on the other foot. I would of been there. I refused pain meds while in post op. My b/p was low so I ended up being in the hospital for 8hrs. Went home and started my life. I am 6months and 2 days out. I have lost almost 40lbs and I am thrilled. I have my days when I have just not been my full potential. But I know this is one journey I am enjoying. I use to be a shopper. Since my surgery I purchased 1 dress and jacket to wear to 3 different occassions. I refuse to buy anything. I am taking handme downs. I have no shame. Why pay good money for clothes I will not get to wear maybe longer than 6months or less. Not worth it. Must be frugal. I do feel the way I eat and what little I eat I should be a bird by now. But I am ok. I actually found my legs to start to look kinda sexy from the knees down. I have athletic legs and always thought even though toned they are big for a lady. Now looking pretty good. I will never be a Heidi Klum, Lloyds of London will not ensure them. But I will ensure I will be rocking the shorts this summer. I have found I enjoy taking my picture now. I am not worried too much about angles and only get me from the neck up shot. I have found I am much more vocal about my feelings. I am not longer the door mat. I can say no to people and not feel guilty or be made to feel guilty. I have found new found strength in me. I have always been extremely independently. I don't rely on anyone for anything. I can do it or will do it on my own. That way I don't owe anyone anything. My marriage has sufferred. Perhaps from my new found confidnece. Perhaps it was in misery alot longer than before this which is true and I had hope then. I know whatever decisions I make reguarding me, my happiness my weight, my life I will be in control. I hold the keys. I am driving my life to where I have wanted to be for a very very long time. This is my confession.

I too am in the same boat. I do have a fear pairs of pants/jeans that were hand me downs. Perhaps your clothes fit you better now. I too think I am shrinking up top and it is all going down to waist and butt. Which is good. I had no butt before. Had more like a frog hiney it a frog stood up and put jeans on. Our day will come. Patience is a virtue.. supposedly!

I got my approval letter in the end of August and had my surgery on Sept 30. It was the start of my new life. I went in very scared not of the procedure but making it thru. I figured after I made it thru the rest I can handle. I have had many hills to climb in my life. Waking from surgery I was so excited. I was alone. Had no support with me. My spouse dropped me off at the hospital and bolted. Not that I wanted him there but if the shoe was on the other foot. I would of been there. I refused pain meds while in post op. My b/p was low so I ended up being in the hospital for 8hrs. Went home and started my life. I am 6months and 2 days out. I have lost almost 40lbs and I am thrilled. I have my days when I have just not been my full potential. But I know this is one journey I am enjoying. I use to be a shopper. Since my surgery I purchased 1 dress and jacket to wear to 3 different occassions. I refuse to buy anything. I am taking handme downs. I have no shame. Why pay good money for clothes I will not get to wear maybe longer than 6months or less. Not worth it. Must be frugal. I do feel the way I eat and what little I eat I should be a bird by now. But I am ok. I actually found my legs to start to look kinda sexy from the knees down. I have athletic legs and always thought even though toned they are big for a lady. Now looking pretty good. I will never be a Heidi Klum, Lloyds of London will not ensure them. But I will ensure I will be rocking the shorts this summer. I have found I enjoy taking my picture now. I am not worried too much about angles and only get me from the neck up shot. I have found I am much more vocal about my feelings. I am not longer the door mat. I can say no to people and not feel guilty or be made to feel guilty. I have found new found strength in me. I have always been extremely independently. I don't rely on anyone for anything. I can do it or will do it on my own. That way I don't owe anyone anything. My marriage has sufferred. Perhaps from my new found confidnece. Perhaps it was in misery alot longer than before this which is true and I had hope then. I know whatever decisions I make reguarding me, my happiness my weight, my life I will be in control. I hold the keys. I am driving my life to where I have wanted to be for a very very long time. This is my confession.

I love love love nectar latte cappicino. I do it both cold and hot. I highly recommend the shaker container weather you go high end and spend 8-9.00 or go to walmart and buy the fortress bottle for 2.50 it has made all the difference in taste/clotting/clumps. Good luck.

I too like many others was/is in your shoes. I had my surgery on 9/30. I got my 1st fill in Nov. This month was the first month (March) that i finally feel restriction. I can still eat more than 1/2 cup which i think. BUt I get satisfied, and I dont get hungry or cravings. Since my fill which was march ? I have lost over 5lbs in less than 4wks. I canceled my appt today. Don't need a fill want to see how I do. Am I pulling high numbers like some people. No but I know my wieght will come off during my time. I will get MY numbers in my time. I am down almost 40lbs. Its taken awhile.. and you know what.. I am enjoying the ride. Hang in there. I am so often more than not in your frame of mind. Good luck. Maranda

try finding a bariatric wt loss group and donate it or sell them to someone in the group. I go to group when i can we meet on sundays everyone in the group has either been banded or had the bypass going to or family. a great place to network, get recipes .. try that.

I am wondering if anyone else or how typical it is that after you get a fill you don't notice restriction immediately it is more like 2-3 weeks later? I am in this boat. I mentioned this to my dr yesterday and he said that I am a perfect example of why he is so conservative with his fills because if you don't notice restriction immediately and then get another fill and get restrictions week later it can be too much. So anyone else in this boat? Or am I paddling alone? Maranda

Hi all. I am actually in week 2 of training for the MORE marathon in NYC last Sunday of April. Today I did (with a group) a little over 4 miles in 1 hour. That was walking, Outide at 8am in 11-14 degrees. This is a very exciting time for us. This will be my first 1/2 marathon. Good luck to everyone one. :thumbup:.. remember Put one step in front of the other. That way you are always a step ahead of yourself! Go Banders! Good luck & Best Wishes Maranda

I recently found a warehouse outlet nectar Cappiccino for 19.99 (in most stores starting at 35.00) thought what the hell I will try it. OMG I love this. It taste like an international coffee. I do half Water and half fat free milk. I heat it up. It is hot coffee. I LOVE it so much I bought all they had. Finally a Protein drink I love that I cannot taste the protein or whey whatever it is that I can taste that is not appealing to me. This flavor does not have that taste to me. Give it whirl. I could drink this all day long. Likely because it is hot. Who knows. Good luck in your endeavour finding the "one" that works for you. :thumbup: Maranda

Prior to my surgery I was going to the gym faithfully about 5-6 times a week average 1-1/2hrs a visit. Since my surgery my time at the gym is pathetic. I seem to have no energy, no get up and go Like I use to. I am not sure if this is laziness that has kicked in or what. I am for lack of better words.. pooped. I know I need to go to the gym. I can squeeze it in my schedule like today I am off. I should be at the gym instead of home in front of the computer. I just seem to have no drive. And believe me, reading peoples post about #'s they are losing and I don't recall what number I started at but know I am not down as much as the average from my surgical date (9/30) I wonder if anyone has felt this. Or (BE HONEST HERE) from what you have read.. am i Just being lazy?

bad things.. hmm I now have this amazing ability to have the longest deepest burps I never could do. And they sneak up on you. I also tend to get a runny nose after I eat which seems to be pecular to me. Everyone is right it doesn't stop the other issues that may have lead you to why you ended up having the surgery. Fills: I am incredibly ticklish (beyond normal) and each fill I have had (all 3 of them) I get light headed when the dr finds my port with his finger then inserts the needle in. I don't feel the fill, I barely feel the needle. Afterwards I have not noticed anything until about 2wks out. I have had the vomitting, the spitting.. I have had very little gas pain if any. I have gotten stuck I have resisted the urge to drink I do not eat the things I am not suppose to as I know me and I know I will go right back to doing what I should not be doing. Sorry if my post lacked the gross factor. Good luck. REGRETS:... wish i had done this yrs ago.

Ok so I am not one to feel the need to be the center of attention. I enjoy making people laugh and smile but I don't have to be the focus. So the family gathered at my sisters house which is 3hrs away. I had my surgery Sept 30th. I had seen my parents about 1 week after my surgery (my parents only live about 25miles from me) since then I have been in suclusion so to speak. I worked Thanksgiving so I missed that gathering. So Christmas day I was excited could not wait for everyone to see me. Mom, Dad, my sisters the whole family. When everyone arrived NOT ONE person looked at me and said "wow, you look good" you loook great" NOTHING. NOTHING WAS MENTIONED. Short of me almost in tears I mentioned it to my family I said Do you all not see I look different. Yeah we see.. but otherwise nothing. I really felt let down so to speak. I was not expecting a grand entrance but a little something from my family. A double take, a pat on the back.. I know this seems shallow but I was really hoping they would see changes that my coworkers see and tell me. Maybe this is one of the many reasons I got to the size I did. Being the middle child and looking for validation that I never seem to get. Nope that is not it.. I just ate to much. Maybe next year I'll get that moment I was wanting/wishing/waiting hoping for. Thanks for listening. Maranda:blush:

Thank you Brad for the insight. I don't know if it makes them uneasy or what is the case. I also know it is so much easier said than done about finding validation within myself. That just seems to me being self centered and concited. But then again hoping for validation and compliments is also self-centered and concieted. I just want my famly to be proud of me. Yes I did this to get healthy and for me only. I guess I have issues I should look into more. Like 1. Why do I feel I need the validation?... hmm things to ponder. Maranda

Thank you to all who have replied. I guess this is just another hurdle I have to accept and quit looking for validation from people. I need to remind myself I did this for me. Its a hard pill to swallow. I was really disappointed. Maybe I put my expectations too high. Just let it go... just let it go... just let it go.. my mantra this year.