LapBandit

My surgeon cleared me the following week and I started with a trainer the same day. Talk to your surgeon.

I was instructed...not 1/2 before eating or 1 hour after. But, sometimes I sneak a sip or two if I really feel thirsty. In my experience, I really do get hungry earlier than normal when I drink too soon after eating.

You'll probably be eating normal foods by week five, I was. Also, I think the average time off from work seems to be a week from surgery. As with anything though, everyone has a little different story so you'll have to see how you feel. Good luck with your surgery!

I'm not very "seasoned" but my doc required an all liquid/no sugar pre-op diet. Your doctor didn't give you specific instructions? I wasn't allowed any solid food for a full week prior to surgery.

You're full! Congratulations! ---That's what it says in my doctor's Lapband Handbook!

Yep, I was a terrible eater. My biggest flaw was that I would always skip breakfast then most of the time skip lunch and by dinner was ravenous. A frozen pizza should feed how many people??? One, me. Then I'd eat ice cream and chips while watching TV at night. I did that forever. I had to come to a realization that I'm not happy with my body and that it wasn't healthy any more. That was motivation factor #1 toward getting my butt in gear. Then I realized "what exactly was I afraid of giving up?" Was it the same old junk food I had spent the last 10 years stuffing into my face??? I'd tasted it many, many, many times before and so now it was now time for me to taste all those strange lookings healthy things that I had always bypassed in the grocery store! That was motivation #2. For me, personally, I still have an occasional moment of weakness but for the most part my "tastes" have changed and I actually crave the better food choice because I know it makes me feel better. When I slip up and eat something fried or not that great of a choice it makes me feel tired and gross. That's motivation #3!!! I hope that helps! You'll do great!

You got it! We can and ARE achieving our goals everyday!!

My stitches broke and came out. I think it depends on what kind they used and how your body reacts to them. If your doc didn't seem worried then I'd say you're probably OK. I know...it's weird though! Good luck!

WHATEVER. Ugh...those people can kiss my big ol xxx. So what they're saying is that most large people have no will power?! So they're recommendation is to give up on them and have them undergo a surgery that will do all the work for them? Nothing against GB-at all. But, I'd love to see an article that gives us credit for the hard work it takes to be a good bandster and stop telling us that it won't work for us. And, my BMI was 56 at the time of banding...I'm not getting a "free ride" with the whole "the heavier you are the easier it is to lose" thing. It's hard for all of us! Sorry to vent! And thanks for sharing the article...I'm always interested in lap-band articles. It's a free country...they can write what they want and I can have the opinion I want!! :clap2:

Based on my conversations with my doc and my own experience...I don't believe anyone would lose enough weight eating this way (even if it's cut in half) to make the surgery worth the money. After surgery, the amount of food one can ingest is significantly reduced so the "QUALITY" of the food starts making a huge difference. Sure, junk food would keep a person alive but it won't help them lose weight.

Hey if that happens can I come over and borrow your bed for a night?? Ha Ha!

That really sucks. You didn't deserve that treatment and you are definately not poop!!! That story really makes me mad :angry .

Molly, we all get off track once in awhile but I believe you'll get straightened around. When it's too hot to eat a hot dinner I'll have a bowl of Kashi Lean Cereal with skim milk. It's cold and healthy...do you like cereal? Kashi Lean is well balanced with a lot of Protein. I'm getting close guys...I think I may be moving into the 'ville sometime this week!

My doc said go for it. If you feel like you can do it then try it out. I'd just be really careful the first few days back into action. If it's a treadmill or a similar activity then you're most likely fine. If you're weight-lifting or something like that then just pay attention to your body and stop if it doesn't feel right. But, that's just my opinion and what my doc said...if you're not sure, you may want to check with your doc.

Yeah I agree that peanut butter might help...anything that already has a strong smell that you don't mind to help mask it. Also, silly as it sounds...holding your nose helps disguise taste to me.

Oh yeah...we can definately get dehydrated! I also ended up in the hospital very dehydrated and I'm definately not a skinny person!!

I had terrible shoulder pain that prevented me from sleeping on my side for about two weeks. My port felt OK, just tender, but that darn shoulder messed me up! Good luck!

Tonya, I'm so happy for you! You sound really motivated and I know you'll find a wonderful doctor and have a successful surgery. Even though Sept. sounds really far away it will be here sooner than you think...it's almost August already so you're that much closer!! Take this time along with the motivation you feel to start "practicing" bandster life...because I think you'll be one pretty soon! Best of luck to you!

You guys are AWESOME!!!! Congrats Julie, you made it! I'm taking the scenic route to Twoterville. I've still got a little over 3 lbs to go. Come on body...work with me!!!! This post is really keeping me motivated, thanks everyone! What do you say we change this into a Twoterandahalfville post next???!!! (Is that a long enough name?)

Eating for Life and Body for Life are the "textbooks" of my doctor's office. I have the Body for Life book but haven't really started it but the Eating for Life book is what has helped me lose almost 100 lbs already! Have you read Eating for Life too?

I agree with everyone and I have one thought...photoshop!! You can make anyone look skinny as heck with a good computer. That's what I tell myself when I see these "goddesses" on magazine shelves!! Real people don't look like that and that's my goal...to be a healthy "real person".

The period of time just after surgery is strange. There is a lot of swelling in there and so you'll experience feelings like this. Just follow the doc's orders and the swelling should start going down in about a week or two. It took about a week before my swelling started to receed. Enjoy the full feeling...waiting for your first fill after the swelling is gone is a bumpy road!

This is EXACTLY what happened to me too except I felt better after about 2 weeks. (But, I had already had anethesia once before so maybe it left my system sooner??) Any way, I was really freaked out thinking the same thing..."I'm messing this up." "It's not going to work for me." "I made a mistake." and then I'd just start crying. I was about a day away from calling the pshyc doctor that I had to see pre-op then one day I woke up and felt better. It was the strangest thing. If it doesn't "clear up" then I'd talk to your doc and see if you need to see someone because I've been told that post-op wls patients can see emotional issues that they didn't know existed suddenly pop up...and there's nothing wrong with that. So, for now try to hang in there but don't hesitate to get help if you need it. By the way...9 lbs in two weeks is awesome. The whole liquid thing didn't do a darn thing to me so you're exceeding what I'd say is the "norm". Liquid diets are hard on your body, that's why we don't do them regularly. The purpose was to prep your liver for surgery and my doc didn't expect any real weight loss to begin until after you make the transition back to regular food. You're cool...so just hang in there!!

Too funny! I just cleaned out my "unmentionables" this weekend. There's a whole bag of droopy drawers in the trash right now!!

I just realized...4 lbs until Twoterville and 12 lbs until I've lost 100. Can I do it by August 15th?? If so, that will make August one hell of a month for me!!!