LisaFromCali

Thanks for the review of the DVD--I LOVE The Biggest Loser and I have Jillian's book--it is also really wonderful and super challenging. I know I am not physically ready for her book (the book I have is the one that is geared for people wanting to lose 10-20 pounds, it says so right on the cover), but I love her so much on the show, I had to get it and just give it a try. The workouts are very intense, but a lot of fun, especially when doing them with a partner. I only go as far as I can and it is still a great workout! I'm checking out the DVD you posted about, it sounds great! Thanks, again!

Hey bandsister - My surgery was Nov. 14th and I had my fill last week, it was totally uneventful and I was soooo relieved! I was very nervous before the fill, too. My surgeon felt for my port, put some local, filled me and I felt just a litttle pressure and no pain. My friend is getting her fill any day now (we were both banded the same day) and she is going to get her fill under some kind of x-ray thing, because she's a bit heavier than I and she has a significant amount of her weight on her abdominal area, which makes feeling for the port difficult for the surgeon. So, if it's not easy to fill you just by feeling, maybe your doctor can offer to do it under that x-ray thing? Just some ideas! Good luck--you should be juuuuuust fine!!!

I am 32 years old and I have been on high blood pressure meds for about 3 years. I am about 2 months post-op, I've lost about 17 pounds total pre and post. I had to stop my hbp meds after surgery because it got really low beginning the day of surgery. I had to get back on them about a week after surgery. My doctor says he predicts a 50/50 chance of getting rid of my hbp, because of the strong genetic factor I have, but he is the one who recommended the band, because even thouhg my lifestyle was the same my hpb kept creeping up, getting higher. I am hoping to get off of the hbp meds. My doctor said to basically pay very close attention to my body and it will give me the signs when and if it is time to adjust or stop using hbp meds as I start to lose more weight. I hope we ALL get off these meds!!! Good luck to us all!!!

I'm also about 5 weeks post op and I we are doing a lot of the same things in terms of working out and I too am not losing weight. I have a STROOOONG suspicion it is due to all the calories I am taking in...I am eating what I know to be "normal"....I have no restriction, I can eat anything I like and in quantities that I used to consume before the band...I think we may have to do what our bandsister shared, start calorie counting until we start seeing some weight loss. But, I was never very efficient with that, soooooo I am hoping that the fill I am getting in about 4 days will help me not take in as many calories as I have been used to taking in----when you do get your first fill????

Rotisserie chicken is difficult for me to eat, too, and I am a month and a half post-op... I have to chew, chew, chew.....chew, chew, and chew some more with that one. I haven't had food get stuck for very long, the most has been about a minute or so, but I have noticed a pattern....I tend to get stuck with things that are supposed to be eaten hot. Because I have to chew sooooo much, by the time I take my next bite, the hot food is now cooled off significantly, and by the time I take my third or fourth bite, the food is pretty much cool to cold. So, I have just had to reconcile with that---I would rather eat food a little cold and be healthily losing weight, than not. And, yes, it was kinda uppity of you bandsister, but if it helps, I've been called MUCH worse. Good luck----chew, chew, chew, 'til you can chew NO MORE.

Hi Teachlady---I would love to have a bike like this because my bottom can only take so much time on a regular bike, even beach cruisors. But, how many calories does this bike burn in relation to the other regular bikes? Is it nearly as much, more than, or significantly less?

I KNEW I WOULD FIND A THREAD LIKE THIS, I JUST KNEW IT!!! I thought there is no way I could be the only one, because even though the band helps us lose weight significantly slower than other weight loss surgeries, the boobs have to droop if I was once at a healthy weight, then gained A LOT of weight, and now I'm losing the weight to go BACK to my healthy weight.... The breast tissue has stretched and there is no going back... EVER... again...ever :tongue2: So, I spoke to my hunny today about opening a breast account and he is supportive, he wasn't as excited as I thought he'd be, I think he's an organic kind of boob guy. But, our band sister said it right when she added to this thread by saying she went from a D to a SCARY C. I see my breast heading in the same direction. SOUTH. I was really hoping to avoid a breast augmentation, but I used to be a full B at my healthy weight and I am now a DD. I've lost 17 pounds, I am a month post-op, and just with those 17 pounds, I can tell the difference in my breast. So, I don't think I have a choice, unless I can use them as shoulder pads. Good luck ladies!!!

I had horrible gas pain, I COULD NOT PASS GAS the entire time I was in the hospital after surgery! I struggled with passing gas the whole week I was off of work after surgery---THE DAY I WENT BACK TO WORK (I'm a teacher) ALL OF MY GAS DISAPPEARED!!! It was WONDERFUL!!! So, everytime the hospital staff and my doctor would tell me to walk, walk, walk in order to alleviate gas, I always thought they meant a little walk here and there...but, at least for me, it took being on my feet for almost 5 hours at work in order to get rid of the gas. My surgeon gave me liquid pain meds for home after surgery.... I took half the recommended dosage and I felt waaaay to sleepy, out of it, dizzy, almost too scared to fall asleep, I thought I was going to get too relaxed to breath, so be careful with those really strong pain meds.... I tried half a dosage first and I'm glad I did that... Good luck to you and your husband!

My prep for surgery, my actual surgery, and my recovery time in the hospital after my surgery overall went very well..... EXCEPT for one thing.... During my preping for surgery that morning in the hospital a nurse put a combination of two drugs in my IV, I forgot their names, I believe one of them was supposed to help empty my stomach and the other one, I think was an anti-nausea med, but that is all I remember (I know, I should have been paying better attention)... Anywho, after she put it in my IV I became SO ANXIOUS, it was HOOOOOOORIBLE!!! These were some of the symptoms I had right after the meds were put in my IV (somewhat in order): --Urgency to get up and move around --Aggitated --Anxiety --Irritable --Feelings of fear or doubt about the surgery (I know that one sounds weird, but it's the best way I can describe it, because before these meds I didn't have the faintest apprehension about the surgery) --Extreme sleepiness SOOOO, after surgery when I was recovering, my RN told me she was going to put some anti-nausea med in my IV and I asked her if the med was going to be like the one I was given before surgery and she said yes, she would be putting in one of those meds in my IV and I told her NOOOOOO, PLEASE, NOT EITHER ONE OF THOSE MEDS!!! And she gave me another anti-nausea med instead and I felt fine with that. She told me that she has heard of many patients that complain of the side effects of those medicines. Therefore, if you are yet to have surgery, ask about the side effects of the meds they put in your IV and if they sound like the side effects I listed above, you may want to consider asking for an alternative med. Just an idea!!! Good luck all!!!

I am basically the same ladies. I am four weeks post-op and I have no restriction. I can eat whatever I want and I do. I try to eat right and exercise at least 3 times a week, but I am not doing so great. I haven't weighed myself. My clothes is starting to fit a little tighter now, like the way they did pre-op. I get my first fill in three more weeks. I'm trying to not gain too much, because a friend of mine, we have the same surgeon group, had her first fill and she said he couldn't find her port after stabbing her about 5 times, then he called in another surgeon to try and find the port, no luck either. So he scheduled her to get her first fill in an x-ray lab. So, after that horrible doctor visit, she is now waiting to heal from all the poking (she had a bunch of bruises) and then she is going in for her first fill with x-ray. She told me the surgeon told her it is very difficult to find the port in her, because she had a lot of abdominal fat! So, girls----I DO NOT want my first fill to be like that, I am hitting the gym and stopping the comfort food after I get home from work (that is my most difficult time with food). I don't know if that inspired anybody, but I know it helped me typing it out...it reminded me of how not following doc's orders can cause pain and trouble later. Good luck to us all!!!

I'm in California, times being what they are, I can't afford going to the other side of the country---THOUGH I WOULD LOVE TO BECAUSE THE CONFERENCE SOUNDS AWESOME!!! But I hope another conference will be scheduled mid-country, maybe Texas, or maybe Las Vegas...I know Vegas isn't really mid way but doesn't that sound like SO MUCH FUN?!!! Good luck with the conference I know it is going to be totally wonderful!

Hi all, I was banded Nov. 14th and I have no real significant restriction, but my doctor told me that would be the case. He told me I could basically eat anything I want (as long as I chew well and take small bites), but encouraged me to follow my dieticians recommendations. I have the REALIZE band and my doctor said that REALIZE bandsters tend to lose slower than LAPBANDsters, so I have basically embraced the idea that I am going to lose slowly. Yes, we will be overweight longer, BUT we risk less problems with overfillings, saggy skin, malnutrition, hair loss, PB's, etc., and any other problems that come along with being either banded too tight or being banded too tight too quickly where new bandster habits haven't been solidly formed. Just enjoy the slow progression of success...And you are succeeding, because you have lost weight since the band. As for me, I don't know how to update my little ticker thing, but I have only list 5 pounds after surgery and I have not gained. I am chewing, chewing, chewing, and taking smaller bites, so I get satisfied A LOT faster than before the band. I'm really glad I got my band, because I am sooooo hopeful. I know that I am losing slow and I know that I will CONTINUE to lose. Good luck to us all!!!

I was banded Nov. 14th and I had all of the post op gas and swelling reactions people have described and on day 7 post op I went back to work, I'm a teacher, I was on my feet basically all day. THAT DAY, I had NO MORE gas or swelling pain. I think that the advise everybody inclusing our doctors give us regarding walking is KEY. I thought I was walking a great deal post surgery, but I guess not enough. Maybe try pushing yourself on the walking as far as you comfortably can. I know that really helped me. I would sit down and relax a few minutes when I felt tired, but I would get back on my feet when I felt better. I haven't had a problem with those pains since that first day back at work. I hope this helps!

I am 8 days post-op and I noticed little red spots that itch under my arms, close to my arm pits. They itch once in a while. It's weird. I have an appointment with my surgeon in a couple of days and I am going to show him. I will post here if he tells me anything that may be helpful.

I am 8 days post-op and I was starting to have problems with nausea on post-op day 6. Nausea from the Protein shakes, soups, protein suppliments (protein bullets, etc.) For some reason, I would just get sooooo grossed out with all that stuff. I was so unhappy when it was time to eat. Luckily, I was able to start mushies on Day 7 and my mom made these fantastic Beans with tomatoes, onions, green bell peppers, yuuumm. And ever since then, I haven't done any protein suppliment stuff, I try to get all my protein from food sources, like beans, cottage cheese, cheese, fish, tofu, etc. and I take my multi-Vitamin, Calcium and extra Fiber suppliment when I need it, which has been everyday, because I often am too full to eat my greens after finishing my protein. I am going to set up a meeting with my nutriotionist and I have an appointment with my surgeon on Tuesday, and I am going to ask both of them if what I am doing is ok. I will try and post the results of those two meetings here just in case it may end up being helpful to someone.

Sorry everybody. Now I'm being rude. How is that any better, right? Dispensa...

Isuza needs to seriously get laid.

WHAT UP Nov. 17-21 bandsters!!!! November is FINALLY here!!! My name's Lisa and I'm getting banded Nov. 18th!!! I am soooo excited!!! I have a 2 week pre-op diet, which is ALL Slimfast Optima or ALL Atkins shakes. My surgeon is adament about doing ALL one kind of one kind of shake or the other and that's it. Nothing else, except Water. I think he was a little upset when he sent that memo out to his patients, because I have a sneaky suspicion he went into surgery and found a lot of fatty livers...a lot of people maybe...cheating on their pre-op diet??? I don't know....well, it's freakin hard---I don't blame my big brothers and sisters out there...but we have to maintain people, we have to remain focused...we can do it...it is only 2 weeks....we aren't going to let 2 weeks stand in our way of freedom and health!!! Good luck to everybody! Great thread! PEACE

I did it this way: --Click on anyone's ticker --Click on Home on that site --Create a ticker --Right clicked on the clicker I created --Saved it on my desktop --Went to Edit Profile --Edit Signature --At the very bottom, I Browsed --Clicked on my saved ticker --Uploaded --Saved it as my signature Hope this helps! --

I start my liquid diet next week, so this week I am on the 2 shakes and 1 real meal a day, and girl...I am dreaming of buffets, pizza, donuts...it's a NIGHTMARE, because I can TASTE the food in my dream...it's super weird...I asked some co-workers the other day if they have ever dreamt about food and they said no...I said...um...me neither.

HEATHER! I HEAR YOU SISTER!!! I am getting banded Nov. 18th, I'm on the 1 shake for breakfast, 1 shake for dinner, and 1 real meal for lunch and my ALL liquids diet begins next week, FOR TWO WEEKS. I am having SOOOO much trouble just with 2 shakes and 1 meal, I CAN'T even IMAGINE how I'm going to handle ALL liquids---I know it is going to be SUPER hard, because this right now is super hard. I'm cheating ALL the time. BUT, HEATHER, I want you to pretend we are on a soap opera and we are at a point where we are getting hysterical and someone walks into the scene, slaps us, grabs our shoulders and yells, "Get a hold of yourself, man!" We did NOT work our way here to give up this opportunity that's only a week away for you and three weeks away for me. We need to remember that this is only temporary, after surgery the band is going to help us not overeat or eat crap that is bad for us. Stick with it girl, brace yourself and pray for daylight, because WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT. We don't have a choice, we can't stay at this weight and continue to see our health decline. Let's sacrifice now, just don't go near any post offices with a semi-automatic. Stay with it, BANDSTERS-STICK TOGETHER, we can do it, we deserve this chance, don't give up!!!

Ok Aubrie thank you for being subtle about how fat we all are. Haha!!! Just kidding---I love that raw honesty in your post---keep it real girl, just keeping it real...

I think it has to do with not enough water, not eating enough healthy carbs and being on a high protein diet. I'm getting banded Nov. 18th, so I am on the 1 shake for breakfast, 1 shake for dinner and 1 solid food lunch. Ever since I started that routine, my flower started to have a distrinct odor, which I never had before. It wasn't/isn't a yeast infection. I have always been a big water drinker, I carry my bottle around with me everywhere, so I know it wasn't strictly my water intake. And the odor began when I started this routine, so I'm pretty sure it may have something to do with the shakes. After reading everyones posts I think I will try to drink more liquids and incorporate some healthy carbs, instead of just having a high protein diet. Thanks girls!!! Good luck all!!!

I get banded Nov. 18th and this thread is not good news, but I'm glad we are talking about it...In the past, I read someone posting about the port moving as time goes by and weight is lost. Many people posted how their port was in one place after surgery and then as time went by and they lost weight their port moved, sometimes further down, etc. So, maybe, as you keep losing weight the port will move in such a way that will cause less distraction when you're getting busy and on your way to singing a solo? Besf of luck!

Thanks for these lists...my nutriotinist was not as specific...I would have appreciated it.