Cindy C

I put a list in the thread What works for you. I really do all those things...and then some. Another thing that I really think contributed to my success was my timing. I had my surgery a week after my youngest child graduated from high school. He left for college shortly after I was back on solid food. I had nobody around to feed or cook for. I had no reason to have food in the house that I couldn't or shouldn't eat. I was able to focus 100% on my own journey. I was working afternoons at the time. I would get up and go to the gym, come home and do some house work, shower and go to work. Essentially, I was moving nonstop from 8am-11pm. I was completely dedicated (ok, maybe obsessed) to losing the weight that I had carried around for my entire life. (I've been overweight since I was about 3 years old. I now weigh less than I did when I graduated 33 years ago.) Everybody is different and our journeys are all our own. What works for one may not work for another. All I can do is relate what worked for me. You're doing great, especially considering you still have a family to raise. Keep doing what you're doing and set a good example for your kids so they follow in your new footsteps and don't have to suffer what you have.

I love how you put away laundry and silverware. I think I'm gonna do that too! Thanks!

I didn't tell my mother in advance, but I called her and told her as soon as I got home from the hospital. She's elderly and in poor health and I didn't want her worrying. I also didn't want her at the hospital. Other than that, I told absolutely everyone! I got mixed responses but most were positive. I did have one friend (a twig) who said I shouldn't do it I should just diet and exercise, blah blah blah..... I remember telling her, "Go gain 150 pounds, carry it around for a couple decades and come back and see me. Your opinion might count then!" Of course I said it in the nicest possible way! (LOL) I never really saw any point in trying to keep it a secret. Enough people were going to know that it would have made its around anyway. Besides, if you put everything out there, they won't have any reason to gossip about you!

Go on liquids til then and maybe try taking some ibuprofen to help reduce the swelling.

Try drinking some cranberry juice.

Holy Cow! 150 pounds in less than a year?! That's awesome. How's your wife doing?

I had my initial visit 5/15/08 and my surgery 6/10/08. In between I had psych eval and had to get a letter from my PCP.

3 Musketeers is a good choice. Very low in fat! Have you tried the dark chocolate mint ones?

THANK YOU, ALEX!!

Don't be so hard on yourself. Some doctors don't even require a pre op diet. Mine didn't. It was a holiday weekend and I think you did pretty darn good considering. Relax, go have your surgery and try to follow the process. I think your doctor will be pleased that you lost 11 pounds! And....ignore the naysayers! People who haven't been through this process don't have a clue what they're talking about! Good luck. I'm sure you'll do fine!

I'm sure they all stitch them in place.

That's great, Tabby!!!! I bet you do great with it!!

Your body is still healing from surgery and you really should stick to the liquids. While the tuna for breakfast is probably ok, the 2 am chicken leg was a mistake. I'm assuming you went to bed soon after eating it. It's never a good idea to eat solid food, especially something as dense as chicken, and then lie down. You need to let gravity do its job. I never eat anything heavy within 2 hours of bedtime.

You probably ate something you shouldn't have or took too big a bite etc... causing some swelling. When the swelling goes down your restriction will probably return to where it was which sounds like you were in the green zone.

DARK CHOCOLATE!!!!!----In the beginning I would keep a bag of Special Dark Hershey Kisses in the freezer for those days when the urge was overwhelming. My rule was I could only have one and I had to suck it....no chewing allowed!! That way it stayed on my taste buds longer and cured the craving. (Plus they only have 20 calories each!) Now that I've been banded for 3 years and am within 20 pounds of my goal weight, I have much more self control and eat it whenever I want, which isn't often. I don't really consider it cheating. You cheat on diets. This is a lifestyle change. I think it's important to not let yourself feel deprived, at least not ALL of the time!

At this point, water is more important than nutrition. You don't want to become dehydrated. (I did after surgery and it wasn't pretty!) Drink your protein shakes and broth as much as you can tolerate, but don't try to hit a magic number...at least until you are healed.

Welcome, Anassa. I suggest you read through the forums. There is alot of good information here. You will find answers to the questions you have and even answers to questions you didn't know you had. Feel free to ask us anything. We are all here to help each other.

How disgusting!!

I wish i had started working out sooner but I was too embarrassed to drag my fat tush into the gym!

That initial fifteen was probably water weight. That always comes off quickly. After that two pounds a week is good.

Right now you just need to heal from surgery. Every doctor is different. Mine won't do the first full til eight weeks. Just be patient and follow your doctors instructions. Fight through the hunger, both physical and mental. Restriction will come in time.

My doctor allowed yogurt during the clear liquid stage as long as it didn't have any chunks.

No, you aren't in the green zone...your in the red zone. You need to go get some fluid removed before you cause any damage. I would venture to guess that part of your weight loss is due to dehydration.

If you are making good food choices, are not hungry between meals and losing weight, you are in the green zone. In the yellow zone you are hungry between meals, eating too much and not losing and most likely need a fill. If you are in the red zone you need an unfill. You are making poor choices, eating sliders etc and probably not losing. ____________________________________________ I get that feeling around my port if I eat too much.

After being on a 2 year plateau (I lost 21 pounds in 22 months) I quit my horribly high stress job April 5th. That day I weighed 188. This morning I was 177. 11 pounds in 3 months!!! That's what I'm talkin' about!!!