riley4183

Jees my BMI is 37.9!! That's well into the obese range again! Well, it was 46 when I started the Kaiser program, so that IS a lot of progress I guess. I think I'll go to the gym. I always feel better after I work out.

I was 6 lbs from goal. I guess I needed brain surgery along with a band! And you gained back with a sleeve, so I guess that's not a miracle cure. BIG SIGH. How can we get re-motivated?!? I read the posts that I used to make when I was losing, and I was totally motivated! This is so depressing!!

I have gained back more than half of the 124 lbs that I lost after being banded in early 2009 . . . first my dad's cancer diagnosis and the caretaking of him - when you're going through that, what you weigh seems of very little consequence. He passed 2 1/2 year ago and I'm still going up at the rate of about 10 lbs a year, even though I remain active, walk a lot, actually GO to my gym, and to weight watchers where I log everything and rarely go over my points . . . .aargh! What is WRONG with me? I did have most of the Fluid removed & have no restriction unless I eat dry chicken or fish, and I can't get anything added back in until I am 10 lbs lower than I was when I had the fluid out - which is 29 lbs away! I have Kaiser. I have worked with the nutritionist and gone back on the 1200 cal diet, and only managed to maintain.

Tamra!! Helloooooo! R U still on here? Jeez my old ticker was so good, how depressing!! I have gained so much weight, had my Fluid removed when I was up 50 :-( and have gained 20 more since then!! I am SO close to the weight I was on the morning of my surgery, it's SO depressing! WHAT DO IT DO!?!?! I have been in Weight Watchers and tracking and exercising since April 2013 when I had the fluid removed, and I have GAINED in that time - not as fast, but still gaining. I have really bad stomach cramping when I overeat, but don't feel any restriction - what is up with that??

Hi IrinaK! Welcome to Richmond Kaiser :-) I had orientation way back in November 2008 and surgery in February 2009, and that was considered very fast at the time! I understand that they are a lot faster now. Even if they don't make you lose 15% of your weight before surgery anymore, you should still strive for it as it is healthier, safer, and it just makes everything so much easier! We also had to see a nutritionist (yay Robin), a counselor (got to have your stuff together before surgery, because YOUR LIFE IS GONNA CHANGE!), and the head nurse (yay Liz!). You probably still have to do those things. We had to go to classes, too. I also took 16 weeks of classes at my local Kaiser, which were SOOO helpful, and I stillhang out with many of the people I met then! Good luck!

I was banded Feb 23, 2009 and lost 79 lbs post op (124 lbs total) by December of that year. Then I met a guy, fell in love, moved in with him, quit exercising, quit following all of the rules, and gained back almost 50 lbs! Yikes! Did I mention that he is a chef?? LOL I tell my story because it's easy to get discouraged when you see people losing so FAST and it feels like you are barely moving. But SLOWER weight loss is more permanent weight loss! I lost really fast - 124 lbs in a year - and promptly gained a bunch back. So take your time, learn to make the lifestyle changes, go slowly enough to really ingrain them into daily life, and you will make it! If you keep following the rules and exercising, you WILL lose :-)

Yes! I just started yesterday. Have you heard of the 5 day pouch test? It's not really a "test," it's designed to re-acquaint us with our tools . . . and it works!

I get it about the protein shakes - bleck! In my program we were actually not allowed to have them - only "real" food. So I learned how to make everything into a "soup" with my Bullett blender - reallly! Split pea with ham - pureed, of course - is excellent for protein. You can add tofu to anything to thicken it up, or milk (or soy milk) to thin it out. I have pureed denver omelettes, eggs and bacon, just about whatever I wanted to eat that had a high protein content. But I was on clear liquids for a week, full liquids for a couple of weeks, then purees, so I was pretty far out before I got all crazy. Advancing yourself too soon could well be interfering with your progress! If you can't go out with your friends while staying true to #1 - YOURSELF - then you should probably not go for a while. I went out with friends right away, but then I told everyone :-) It's a choice that only you can make! Best of luck

Hi Pammie, hi Nicole, everybody - I have to get back on track!!!! I have gained 50 lbs back :-(

Hi Jst, hi Reggie! I miss you girl! I have a band, and I did really, really well with it and lost 124 lbs in less than 2 years. I was 2 lbs from my goal weight, so they considered that I had lost 98% of my excess weight. I WORKED IT. I was in a size 10 and r e a l l y close to a size 8. Then I met my man, the chef, and stopped excercising and following my plan, and I have now gained almost 40 lbs back (!) and have to SQUEEZE into my 12s. I have lost some again, but it's a struggle and it always will be. So. should I have had the sleeve? (I did NOT want RNY, and if you tell them that they will respect you!) I wonder! If they had offered it at the time, I would have looked into it for sure. But I think I still would have gone with the band. It is adjustable even after you lose all your weight. With the band, as I have gained weight back it has gotten tighter and tighter, so I get to the point that I cannot gain any more - for the first time in my life!! If you want the band, request it. Most folks were RNY when I went through, and when I met Dr. Baggs I said simply, "I will only consider the band" and he said OK (and pulled one out of his pocket and handed it to me - funny guy!). Whichever you chose - IF YOU FOLLOW THE PROGRAM, IT WILL WORK! I had orientation early November and surgery late February - so it took 3 months for me. And surgery was a breeze - almost drive-thru! In at 8, home by noon. Back to work the next Monday. Good luck!!! :-)

I can only go if we leave early! I have to be back up here by 2. I think Chris may be off that day and come with us, I so want you all to meet him!! I think an Atkins-type program (I like South Beach) can work well with the band. It's not just meat; it's also eggs and cheese and vegetables. I also get frustrated (and starved!) when I can only eat 2 tblspoons of a dense protein! That used to fill me up when I was 4 months or 6 months out from surgery, but at 30 months out uhm - NO. But I can eat LOTS of veggies, and quite a bit of cheese, and eggs are better than fish. I know that I have to cut the carbs back out, but when the ulcer flares up like it is right now, protein alone just plain HURTS! I end up eating oatmeal oatmeal oatmeal. Oatmeal with butter (lol) and salt; oatmeal with cream, oatmeal with berries, etc. It fills me up without hurting, but then I crave carbs all day! I really did SO much better when I was off of the carbs. It really gets rid of cravings!! Back to work - let me know if we can meet early like 9 ish!!