JuneAct2

Are you drinking enough Water? Are you walking? Both of these things will help with digestion, AND weight loss. And, I agree with the others on both points, you are not getting enough calories and MOM is a lifesaver! You are still healing. Please, be patient with your body. The weight loss will come.

Hugs to you!!! Don't fret about Thanksgiving. Just be mindful of what you put on your plate. I don't count calories at a holiday meal, but I limit myself to ONE holiday meal! Like someone else said, it's a holiDAY, not a holiWEEK. First of all, call around and find a fill doctor/fill center. Find out how much it will cost for a new previously banded patient. It may not be as much as you think. Then I'd ask for money for Christmas and put it toward the fill! And, while you're on the phone, chat up the receptionist and see if she can give you some written diet material. You can also google diet plans and get some ideas. You already know that eating out is not the best plan, but sometimes it's the only option. I get that. My daughters are on the $1 menu diet, as well! It's just part of college! If you're eating in the car, that means fast food. And, working with that, take a few minutes to figure out which fast food is healthiest. Then make sure you eat only the healthiest thing on the menu. For instance, Taco Bell has a nutrition calculator on their website. A grilled chicken fresco taco is only 170 calories, 4 grams fat, and 12 grams Protein. Not bad for junk food! Order 1 or even 2, and that's all! No sides or extras, and NO soft drinks. It will take some research, but you can work out a plan that works for you. Write it down. Make a list of "acceptable" fast foods and keep it in the car. Know ahead of time what you can order!! Go to one of the food tracking websites and track your intake. You have to know where you are before you can figure out where you're going. I use www.livestrong.com You can figure out how many calories to eat, and track your Water intake and exercise, too. Now, you've moved to sunny Florida! Yay!!! That means the weather is much better than Wisconsin, so get outside! Walk everywhere you can walk. You have done great so far! I am excited for you. You have taken the right steps to get healthier, and you've come a LONG way! You can do this! I wish you all the best!

I have flown several times since being banded, and I have yet to set off any alarms. I don't think the scanners can see through your body, just through your clothes. I think I'll ask next time, if they can see my band. That would be cool to see!

Ask your PS if he thinks you should. Mine told me not to worry about it. I was concerned about nausea from the anesthesia, but they said they would give me two meds before I woke up and I had zero nausea. But, they also told me that I wouldn't be hungry after my tummy tuck and boy were they right!! I lost 8 pounds in the first 2 weeks after surgery. Our bodies burn lots of calories trying to heal, so use the time to your advantage!! However, with that said, most people swell from the TT, so don't get discouraged if you don't see a loss. Stick with your program, and you will see a difference! I'm loving my tummytuck!!!

Set up a "2 week Challenge" at home or here on LBT! The challenge could be to lose "X" pounds, or simply to NOT gain for 2 weeks. A challenge will help keep you focused. You won't be the only one struggling through the holiday. I had an unfill 2 months ago, just before I had surgery. I lost weight right after surgery, but without Fluid in the band, I've gained 10 pounds. (My WL ticker shows my lowest weight after surgery, not what I regained.) Fortunately, I am getting a fill today!!! I HAVE to get back on track! Good luck!

I can feel mine, but even now, 8 weeks post tummy tuck, I can't see it. And, that was the second thing I looked at when I took off the bandages! I have a low profile port, and it's placed just to my left of center just above my belly button (which is SOOO cute now).

You will know it pretty quick. And, it's NOT pleasant. I agree with Kim, that it feels something like a pill going down wrong. That is why you need to eat slowly, and chew your food well. Put your fork down between bites and wait a few seconds before taking another bite. You don't want to be stuck and piling more food on top of it. It won't take many episodes of being stuck to teach you to slow down!

I lost 8 pounds the first month after my TT. Unfortunately, I had to have an unfill 2 weeks before my surgery, due to being OVER filled a month earlier, and now I've gained back 7 of those 8 pounds. My PS told me I would not be hungry for the first couple of weeks and he was right. So, my advice would be at your "sweet spot" or close to it at surgery time, and use the lack of hunger to your advantage!

I agree with Kim! Give your body time to heal! It's p!ssed off right now because you changed the rules...and by golly it wants its junk food back! Keep eating right and exercising, and you will see results. And, after a few fills, you won't feel like you're starving between meals. It DOES get better!

Hi Sonja! I am 48 yo and 7 weeks post-op from my tummy tuck. I am AMAZED at how great I look already! I feel sexier and more confident than I have in years! I just passed my 2 year bandiversary, and I'm still 10-15 pounds from my goal weight. But there wasn't anymore belly fat to lose, so I went for it. One thing I'm excited about is my low-profile port doesn't even show and I have FLAT abs now! I WILL be wearing a bikini next Summer!!!! My advice to you would be to make an appointment with more than one PS, and ask them what result you can expect. Some of them will even do a complimentary consultation. But, even if they don't, it's worth it to find the right surgeon...and you will know which is right! Good luck to you.

Here are just a few ideas... First of all, be sure you're drinking plenty of Water. Stay busy...and OUT of the kitchen. Clean out closets and sort clothes. You'll be getting rid of your "too big" clothes soon anyway. It's good to know which ones are worth keeping and altering as you lose weight. If you have to prepare food for the family, get it done and get out of the kitchen. Take a walk while they are eating. It will get you away from the sights and smells, and you get the bonus of being healthier at surgery day and beyond. Remind yourself that this is TEMPORARY! The pre-op diet is only a couple of weeks! And, it prepares you for the post-op diet. My pre-op diet was 6 Protein shakes per day, plus all the water I wanted. I spaced them out every 3 hours EXACTLY. That way I knew I never had to go more than 3 hours without something to eat/drink. Hang in there! You CAN make it through this, and you will be SO glad you did!

If you would normally take Tylenol for a headache, then taking the liquid is okay. It doesn't have to be childrens. Tylenol now makes an adult liquid. I don't know what you take for migraines, but check with your doctor about crushing the pills if you need them. I crush mine and mix them with either honey or chocolate syrup. And since I don't get migraines every day, I don't worry about the calories in the syrup. If you are in doubt, check with your doctor or pharmacist before crushing pills. Best of luck to you.

I am coming up on my 2 year bandiversary (Nov. 6th). I still have about 10 pounds to lose, but if I don't then I'm still excited about where I am. For the first time in my life, my life is not ruled by food! I've had a few minor setbacks, but I'm happier and healthier than I have been in 20 years! Go me! I am 6 weeks out from having a tummy tuck (a big thank you to my DH). I go back to the doctor tomorrow and hopefully will get released to start more exercise! Can't wait for swimsuit season to roll around again! On my way home, I am stopping by to sign up for the gym near my house! I work from home, so the gym is also a social outlet for me. I hope we hear from some of my Notorious Novembers bandsters!

Congratulation! Hold on to that positive attitude! Make good food choices and get some exercise and you WILL be a success story!

Be patient! Give your body time to heal. And, STAY OFF THE SCALE!!!! Too many people get discouraged because they're not losing right away. Your body needs time to get over the major surgery you're putting it through. Wishing you all the best!

Hang in there! You're doing great! Try to stay OUT of the kitchen if possible. And, keep busy! Good luck!

Last year when I bought a new swimsuit, I LOVED the way it fit and I felt great in it. I put it on this week, and I'm not loving it so much. I had a small muffin top even though I am exactly the same weight this year as last. So, I got out my shorts out to try on. They were all a little looser than last year, especially in the legs. WTH?! Then it hit me!!! Last year I was swimming 3 days a week to get ready for our vacation...!!! Eureeeeeekaaaa!!! I found the KEY!!!! SWIMMING!!! Since I stopped swimming regularly, my abs have lost muscle tone, and I have gained inches! I am so excited! And, I'm headed to sign up at my old gym for swimming! So, if you're wanting to slim your midsection...give swimming a try. Have a great day everyone!

May I suggest using an abdominal binder when you're having coughing spells to help support your healing abdomen. It's not a permanent solution, but maybe it will help some. Good luck to you.

Go back to basics! Start over, as if you were newly banded. Log your food, water, and exercise. Measure your portions like you did in the beginning. And set a specific goal...say measuring your food every meal for 3 weeks, or making sure you drink all your water, etc. Specific goals make it feel more attainable. Good luck!

Keeping the "fat" outfit is a great idea. Get a tape measure for the weeks when you don't lose. It will help keep you from getting discouraged. I haven't lost any weight in a while, but I am still losing inches. Good luck to you.

You really should get that unfill. But, in the meantime, drink warm liquids. They seem to go down better. Also, stay hydrated. Dehydration can make the band feel tighter. It's better to lose slowly than risk losing your band OR your health. Good luck to you.

My surgeon told me it was a 1 in million chance of having clots/bleeding issues, but he didn't want ME to be the 1! He asked me to stop using my estrogen for one week BEFORE and 3 weeks AFTER my surgery. Other than a few minor hot flashes (surgery was in November), I didn't have any problems. Good luck.

While I understand what you're telling OP, you need to also understand the importance of following the pre-op diet to the letter. Restless Monkey can tell you about it. The pre-op diet is to shrink your liver. If you don't follow the diet, and your liver is too big, then you stand the chance of not getting the band! You're a self-pay, so that's alot of money to throw away. I cannot stress enough, the importance of following your doctor's orders. Yes, some have cheated and still got their band, but is it worth the risk?!

I DO allow myself treats! Ice cream is the biggie for me, too. I like B&J's and Marble Slab. Fortunately, we don't have a MS close by, so my "deal" with myself is that when I go into the city, if I want ice cream, I have it. I get the smallest size they will sell, eat what I want of it, and throw out the rest. In 10 months, I've only really pigged out a couple of times. Just, be aware that you CAN eat ALOT of ice cream, even with the band. Don't keep it in the house, or you WILL eat it! Also, figure the ice cream into your daily calorie intake. Don't eat it in addition to your daily calories! This will help keep you on track! Good luck!

My pre-op diet was "up to 6 protein shakes per day" plus alot of water. I used Atkins Advantage Shakes, and spaced them out every 3 hours all day. I lost 11 lbs in the first 8 days. Good luck to you.