NCsQueen

Well I'm tall so I carry it well lol. About 5 years ago somethings happened in my life that made me extremely depressed. (Mainly an ex who put me through a lot) I used to weigh 145 and I've gained over 100lbs in a year and a half span. I tried to lose it and I would lose 30lbs max but then gain it back. So frustrating. My older sister who also had the lap band told me about it and convinced me that it would be better for me to get it now while I'm still young than to wait like she did (we're 10 years apart). I want it because I need help lol. Also I had knee surgery back in 05 and being over weight is not helping my knee. I hope they will tell me today when my surgery is. I'm really ready. I've already been approved by my insurance and 2 weeks ago I had my psych and nutrition evaluation. So now I'm just waiting on them. I'm assuming with all the holidays that's what has put them behind. Well I gotta get ready for work talk to you soon!

Well I've lost a total of 21lbs, well it fluctuates between 17-21 lbs. I've been like that for the last two weeks. I go for my first fill on monday. I can't wait. And after we get our taxes back my DH is buying me an elliptical. How are the fills? Do they hurt?

Well my doc said no treadmill, ellipticals, etc. until after our first fill. All we could do is walk. I think that I'm going to go try the elliptical anyway. I don't want to go backwards, especially after getting this surgery. Thanks for your words of inspiration, honestly it really made my day! I told my DH that I want to buy an elliptical after we get out taxes back so that I won't have an excuse when I'm able to work out. As for my scars, they itch like crazy lol I feel like I got another tattoo lol but overall they're healing really nice. I think the only noticable one will be the port scar. I can't wait to get my first fill! Have you already scheduled yours? Mine is on 3/16.

Well my insurance didn't require none of that. All I had to do was attend the seminar, the nutrition evaluation and the psych. evaluation. I'm done with all of that. So just still waiting on my doctor. I'll be honest, I'm not looking forward to the liquid diet part. My older sister had her lap band surgery on December 8th and she said that she's not hungry but she just wants certain tastes in her mouth. The broth gets really old lol.

Well my surgery was scheduled at 10:30 and I had to be there at 8:30. When I got there they weighed me and I lost 9 lbs!! Yay! I didn't actually get my surgery until about 1:45 b/c they were running behind. Now I'm going to be honest I thought that my surgery was going to be canceled since they had me on the lc/lf high protein diet and didn't realize how many carbs were in fruits. I drank apple and orange juice had bananas and clementines. I cut out all the pasta, bread and rice but I really thought that fruit was going to mess me up. Well after my surgery my husband talked to my surgeon and he said that i did great on my pre-op and that my liver was so small he didn't even have to move it! Also that saved him an additional 20 mins. So I'm thinking the people before me didnt do as well as i did on my pre-op. today I'm just like you, sore & I'm having those gas pains in my shoulder and I feel like I'm having difficulty breathing. Other than that we're in bandland!

Well thats good if you don't. My older sister was banded Dec. 5 and she didn't have a pre-op diet either. She just couldn't eat the day before. I didn't even get an ultrasound done at all. (thats the army for ya!) I have my ekg, chest x-ray etc. appt. tomorrow so we'll see how that goes. I'm doing really good though on my diet. I'm proud of myself, I haven't cheated. trust me i've had all kinds of temptation too. And my hubby this last weekend was no help. lol I told him he could eat whatever he wants in front of me but i swear (it could just be me looking too deep into it lol) but he was just eating all kinds of stuff he knew i couldn't have. And it felt like he was only eating it because he kew I couldn't have it. I'm ok though, just an obstacle and I overcame it!!

Well the fill hurt. They lied lol! They put 3.5 ccs in. I don't feel a difference yet I guess because I'm on liquids and I start pureed food today. Maybe when I get to more solid food I'll feel something. I know what you mean by being busy. I still haven't been able to hit the gym.

Well they told me the main purpose of the pre-op diet is to shrink your liver so there are less complications during the surgery. Basically your liver sits on top of your stomach and its easier to move when its smaller. My pre-op diet is a low carb/fat high protein diet. They gave me the choice to do that for two weeks or full liquids for one week. I felt I could stick to that one better. I totally understand the whole thing about staying the night. I kind of want to too. Hospital stays aren't too bad anyway

Well your supposed to eat every two hours is what my surgeon said. My hubby made me some veggie beef soup and adding lots of broth and putting it through the food processor for me. That's kinda been helping me from being so hungry. I got that isopure protein and to be honest I haven't had it since day 2. Its soo nasty. I'm about to start on my chocolate soy protein. I think I'm healing pretty quickly. I'm able to keep everything down with no nausea. My incisions are not bad anymore except that port one still and now its just the gas pains that are bothering me the most now. When did your surgeon say you can start mushies?

Wow that's good! So I weighed myself this morning and I'm back down to 226.4 So that brings me back to my 21lbs loss. Let's see If I can actually keep it off now. As for your little cheat, refried beans were your protein, the quacamole was your veggie/fruit (avacados are fruits right lol) and sour cream is dairy...so as I see it you were staying within the four food groups he he... (thats how you justify it lol). Ikow that I shouldn't be rushing this but I want to be at my sweet spot now. I hate that I'm able to eat more now. I'm so impatient. lol. Did you have a good weekend?

Wow that's great... I can't wait till I get to at least 160. You should post pics!!

Wow your started about at my starting weight! I'll be banded on 2/16. Congrats you look great!

Wow... thank you for actually responding with a detailed answer!! Your work out plan is very doable. My DH is getting that P90X workout and its about muscle confusion, pretty much the same thing you're doing with your work out. You're my new motivation

Yea I just got back actually. They didn't find anything. They wanna do an mri on my shoulder and if they don't find anything that way they wanna do a scope through my navel. It sucks. The only positive was that I lost 3 more lbs!!

Yea I was a little confused about that. My nurse said in the pre-op to take off the bandages and let the steristrips fall of by themselves. Well I don't know if you saw my surgery pics, but they put this like plastic wrap bandage over my steristrips so I can't just take off that without taking off my steristrips. I called my Doc. and he said to wait 5 days and then take them off. I'm a little nervous though. I kinda wanna wait until monday at my post-op appointment to see what he says then you know? Oh and I love refried beans!!

Yea i''ve already started prepping. I bought the chocolate myoplex soy protein. It feels better on my stomach than the regular protein and I've been working out since the first! I can't believe in 3 wks from today I'll be banded! I'm soo nervous. But good luck to you and keep me updated! Later chica!

Yea my doctor took my steristrips at my post op appt. I still feel my scars at about 3 of my incisions especially the port. Its still kinda sore there. Ane no i'm on mushies..really soft mushies. I can move to more lumpy food next week. I'm glad to here you're doing good

Yea thats the part i'm afraid of lol. And I've been approved already just waiting on my doctor. I'm guessing since its the holidays they're trying to get caught up. I wish they would hurry though lol.

yep no problem except make sure u eat really slow!!! trust me we may not have that much restricition yet but you will feel it if you eat to fast.. kinda like you wanna burp and throw up and the same time but its just stuck. i'm sure if you tried a little mushy food it wouldn't hurt too bad.

Yes I'm excited for the change but nervous about the surgery and if I will fail. i know I shouldn't have thoughts like that in my head but I just want to be really successful. I'm aiming to lose about 90lbs within a year at most. I know its possible I just really hope its possible for me.

Yes if I eat too fast!! I mean I dont' feel the restriction of only being able to eat 4oz of food, i can definitely eat a little more but am staying fuller a little longer now. You should to the shrinko de mayo challenge with me!

Yes!! In fact one of the nurses at the hospital had the lap band done about a year ago and so far she's lost 115 lbs!! She started at a 6x (i didn't even know they made clothes that big for women) and she's down to a 16/18. She looks great and is so happy. Oh by the way my hospital is awesome! Its like a hotel they have valet parking and even a shoe shine place! Its really nice. I'm feeling really confident about all of this. As for you.... enjoy your food as long as you can!!! really you will miss it. I mean yes i'm happy with the pre-op diet i'm not sure exactly how much i've lost yet but i wish i had just one more day for believe it or not but corn! i love corn and i can't eat it right now b/c its a starchy veggie. crazy huh lol

You look amazing in your pics posted on the before/after thread! I will also be banded by Dr. Smith on 2/16. Have any advice for a future bandster? Again congrats on your accomplishment!