Big Momma is Shrinking

Fab...I suggest you be very cautious using reduced fat foods. Anytime they take fat out they add sugar (which means carbs) for flavor. It's as important to watch your carbs as it is fat because they are going to convert to sugar in your stomach. Good luck, try to be patient and stick with it, remember we are better off losing slowly.

Thanks so much....most of my weightloss was during the 6mnth pre-op period but I look at my ticker now and see that I'm only 55lbs from goal...that seems sooooo much more doable then the 90 I started with. As far as my scars they seam to be healing pretty well....the port scar is the ugliest but i'm using scar cream and hoping it will help. I'm gonna try to attach my scar pic, but if I can't get it u can ck my album. I hope you are doing well, don't worry to much about the scars they will get better...now if you have one that isn't healing then you should call the dr you might need to have it checked. Love to hear how you are doing please keep in touch!

Can't really say I'm haveing any cravings yet...I think I've been hanging strong, as a matter of fact we had two huge carrot cakes (my absolute favorite!!!) in the kitchen at work for th past two days....and i just walked by (but lets be honest, I stay away from the kitchen as much as possible!!!) Bernadette I would be carefull gulping water the way I understand from my surgeon water drains threw our bands very quickly so you can drink often, just watch large volumes. I hope everyone is feeling good and shrinking daily.

Jodi, My suggestion to you is do ALOT of soul searching and research. If and when you come to a place where you are ready and willing to make a commitment to CHANGE YOUR LIFE then take the next step. I completely agree that it would be a great idea for you to visit a few support group meetings and get to know how others are living with their bands. Ask as many questions as you need here as well.....I have found there there is a good variaty here...some love their band and some....well not so much. No one here is selling anything, here you get the good the bad and the ugly. Best of luck to you, I hope you find your way to a healthier life with or without the band.

I don't think the band is right for everyone. For me personally I believe I made the right decsion (easy to say 14 days post-op right). Yes it is a FACT you will loss weight faster by going by-pass, there is not the same amount of compliance required with a by-pass as there is with the band. You have to remember your band is a tool to help you get yourself where you want to be, it's not going to do it for you. The 2 surgeons I consulted both said the same thing. In order to be successful with the band you have to have a history of successful weightloss. If you have never been able to loss weight on your own in the past then your success rate with the band is not likely to be that high. My best friend had a band 5yrs ago and is planning to convert to a by-pass in the future, she's a food addict and knows how to eat around her band and cheat. My aunt had a by-pass about 5 yrs ago too....now she tells me she wishes she had had a band because we have the flexibility to have future fills to help keep us on track. Her body has adjusted to the by-pass and now she's gained back about 30-40lbs. There is no "right" answer for everyone. I hope that you can find peace with your choice and remember that it took you time to become overweight and it's going to take time to get back to a healthy weight.

Bridgit77m...hope you are recovering well...what stage are you in now? I was banded 3/26 in my 14 days of soft/mushies Lilth....best of luck to you, I hope you have an answer soon and can move forward with your plans for a healthier future!!

Everyone is different, but I was only able to wait until day 5....very slow and easy to begin with...I'm day 14 today and getting close to being back to "normal" for us. I guess your hormones and rate of healing will be the determining factor for you. But I have to admit....even if it doesn't burn many calories (and I think that may be a matter of how um....shall we say "active" you are) it sure is the most enjoyable form of excersice!!

Gail, what kind of things are your eating?? Also what is your excersice routine like?

Happychick.....I definetly think you have the right attitude. You have to have the procedure that YOU feel is going to be the best fit for YOU. The 1st surgeon I met with tried to push me toward a by-pass, I personally wasn't interested in doing anything that radical to my body. Good luck to you in your Quest for a healthy future, I know you will find lots of support here.

I'm also 5'7"...and LOVE my heels!!! My DH is about 5'9" so sometimes I'm a little taller then him, but he loves to see me in the heels so that doesn't bother him at all. I say if you can wear them, and they make you feel sexy then ROCK THE HEELS!!!!

Good Luck!!! If you aren't spendng the night then I recommend bring as little as possible. Wear something comfy and easy to slip on and slip on shoes. And Remember to Walk Walk Walk after surgery....the sooner u are up and moving the better your recovery. My Dr asked my just before we went into surgery...."what are u supposed to do today?" I said "rest"....he said NO, WALK....lol My thoughts will be with you tomorrow.

Good to see you aren't excited justpeachy....lol That is GREAT!!! and congrats to you as well curlytop... Best of luck!!

Hey HotMomma.... I'm doing great felt ok day 1-3 post op days 4-6 felt like crap...by day 7 I felt pretty good..... Today I'm day 13 on soft foods....food is soooooo goooood. I'm trying to stay around 500-800 cals Down 11.5 lbs @ my post op visit, but I think real food has added a cpl of those back, but I know that is only temporary. I've been eating very small meals, not TOOO hungry so I think I'm doing really well. Hope everyone else is doing GREAT!!!

Ky, That is FANTASTIC girl!!!!! Now pour all those sugary drinks down the drain and keep up the good work!!! I'm glad to see the scales put a smile on your face!!

Pezo - I was thinking about u this morning and wondering if the crawfish got the better of ya..... Glad to hear that they didn't cause ya any trouble, we are going to a crawfish boil this wkend, but I think I will pass on them all the same. Hope the port gets less tender soon....take care!

Be STRONG....You didn't get to the weight you are at overnight and you are not going to loose it in the blink of an eye. Try to remember that you are still in the healing process and you are going with NO restriction. This is not the time to beat yourself up, keep following the diet your doctor has recommended, move your butt and the scales will follow you soon. Keep smiling....it's gonna get better!!

Babygirl, I was banded at Park Plaza by Dr Marvin on 3/26. Today is day 11 post op for me and I feel pretty darn good. I've been eating mushies since day 8 and I can tell you how good that little bit of food tastes and feels in my tummy. Good luck to you, I have no doubt you will do great. Let me know how things are going for ya!!

I think at some point we all have a case of pre-surgery gitters, for me mine didn't hit until there was a delay taking me down for my surgery, then I started thinking holy crap this is really happening. Congrats on winning the fight with the insurance company, I hate that they try to make it so difficult for us to take positive steps to improve our health, but on the other hand I have read about ppl here that seemed clueless as to what having a band was going to mean for the rest of their lives. Are you gonna be hungry......sadly yes, but not forever. When you are drink some Water, take a walk, and just remind yourself, this is only for a little while I can do this. Good luck to you, it sounds like you have already had a long road to travel so you should be as prepared as you can be to take the next step. I'll be thinking of you on Wednesday.

Congratulation on the progress Don!!!

Congratulations Hunzi!!!! I know you are thrilled, since this is your 2nd time around there shouldn't be too much in the way of suprises for you. I hope that the Relize band will do the trick for you this time. Good luck and let us know how you are doing!!!

I have never heard of them before, are they local here in Houston? and how reasonable is there pricing? I would definetly like to look into a health alternitive to fill in the mealtime blanks. My biggest cheat was last night...I had a bite of my daughter's baked potato (just a small bite) other then that I've been All liquids All the Time...ugh!!! I can't wait till tomorrow morning when I can actually have some REAL FOOD!!!!

Dr Hollis did a hernia repair for my hubby about 11yrs ago...long before the WLS boom at that time he was just a general surgeon. I know my sweetie didn't have any problems and Dr Hollis is an excellent surgeon. All that being said, if you aren't happy with the care that you have recieved up until now and aren't yet banded I would seriously consider looking for another facility. This is a long process and you need to have a support sysem that YOU feel confident in....Please hear me loud and clear...I AM NOT SAYING ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT DR HOLLIS OR THE TRUERESULTS FACILITY OR STAFF....only saying if your not happy look elsewhere..... I had my band with Dr Robert Marvin. I LOVE him and his staff. If you are considering another facility I would highly recommend him. Good luck to you, I hope you are able to find the support that YOU need.

My advice.... DON'T Eat...bagles, rice and pasta Try to find more whole UNPROCESSED food to fill yourself up on. If you want rice, eat brown rice, pasta - whole grain pasta...as for the bagels - don't eat'em period. April Avengers has a pretty extensive thread with recipes...give it a look. It's hard for us to turn our backs on our old eating habits, but that's what we have to do if we are going to be sucessful in the end. I don't know if you were self pay or covered under your insurance, but wither way I have no doubt that you had to go through alot to get your band, so I guess the question to ask yourself would be..... After everything I did to get this tool.....why aren't I using it the way it's ment to be used. I realize I'm a new bandster and haven't walked down the same path yet....but this is the approach I am taking with myself...also planning to go back to more of a "south beach-ish" way of eating (when I can start eating that is) that's something else you may want to give some consideration to. Good luck I hope you can get back into the groove!!