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Lap2Fab

LAP-BAND Patients
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Blog Entries posted by Lap2Fab

  1. Lap2Fab

    Baby Steps!

    By Lap2Fab,

    I finally walked into my gym after joining two months ago. I've been doing a lot of walking outside and was really nervous about actually going to the gym. I didn't realize that they changed it. The gym used to have a women's only area for weights but now they have relocated it to another area and have an entire women's only section, so they have treadmills, bikes, stairclimbers and elipitcal machines now in the room too!
     
    I did 20 minutes on the treadmill and 20 minutes on the bike with some stretching. I'm going to blog what I do to keep track of myself and be more accountable!
  2. Lap2Fab
    Today is my 2 month bandiversary, I've had 2 fills and can go back for another in 2 weeks. I feel like I have hit a plateau and am just wondering if that's normal so early on. I still eat whatever I want, though I really think about what I am eating, so I'm not doing any fast food (except the occasional Subway) or junk food/snacks. I'm full most of the day, I drink my water and take my walks. Should I go back and do shakes for a couple of days to get my body back on track? I know it's a process and it's not a race, but I haven't lost anything in weeks!
  3. Lap2Fab

    Second Fill

    By Lap2Fab,

    I had my second fill this week, it didn't sting as much as the first one in fact, I don't even remember her doing it. I now have 4.5 ccs in my band. I still don't feel much restriction. Went to a fair yesterday and ate a greek gyro, finished about 1/2 of it and I was done. My husband kept asking me if I wanted fried dough or a sausage bomb or french fries, which is what we would usually eat a fair. I just didn't feel hungry and nothing appealed to me like it once had. I'm not going to lie, the smells were fantastic, but I knew if I put one bite in my mouth, it would have been too much after the 1/2 gyro! Much to my surprise, my husband only ate the other half of my gyro and a burger! Boy, this lapband will pay for itself in no time!
     
    I'm now down 30lbs total, 25 since the preop diet. I'm feeling good and loving that a lot of my old clothes are fitting me better. I am starting to see the changes. I have absolutely no regrets about doing this, I'm so happy that this was an option for me!
  4. Lap2Fab
    I'm in bandster hell right now! I need to find my way out of it. I switched 4 days ago from EAS shakes with 17 grams of protein to Slimfast (just for a change) which have 10 grams. I'm wondering if that is why I'm hungry all of the time. I was doing fine until I switched. I didn't look at the label and bought a case at BJs. Should I go back and get the EAS shakes and just use the Slimfast as needed once I'm on regular food? I'm only 15 days post op.
  5. Lap2Fab
    I have to admit that I had been a little disappointed in the scale since WLS. I gained 5.5 lbs after the operation and although I knew mentally that it was from the surgery and the gas and bloating, emotionally, I felt disappointed that the scale went back up. I had worked so hard on the pre-op diet and stuck with the plan and gaining weight wasn't part of my plan. You can tell yourself it's not a big deal over and over, but when you want to see results, it's difficult to face the reality of it.
     
    On Friday, my doctor suggested that I take Mirilax because I hadn't had a bm. On Saturday, nothing...but on Sunday...holy crap! I had no idea that a liquid diet could still produce all of that. I don't mean to be gross, I use this as educational purposes for those who go after me! And you will go!
     
    I got on the scale this morning and I am happy to report that I have lost those 5.5 lbs again along with another .5 for a total of ....drum roll please... 6 lbs!!
     
    I knew that it was short term, and I'm glad it's over!!
  6. Lap2Fab

    First Fill

    By Lap2Fab,

    Yesterday I had my post op appointment and first fill. I have to say that for someone who has a very high tolerance for pain, it hurt a little! Or I guess I should say, it stung. Even after she was done, I could feel it stinging. She said I already had 3 ccs in the band so she put another .5 ccs in. I'm back on liquids for 2 days, but I'm okay with it, it's Africa hot outside, so fluids are good!
     
    I'm still down 20 lbs overall, but I can tell that my clothes are fitting me better, so maybe the scale isn't moving, but my body is changing. Today I put on my size 16 shorts and they fit! Unfortunately, they are white, so I only have a few more days until Labor Day...heck...I'm no fashionista...I just may wear them into October! LOL!
  7. Lap2Fab

    I felt like I cheated

    By Lap2Fab,

    Last night my husband and I went out to dinner with friends and I'm only 9 days post-op. I'm allowed to have soft foods, so I checked the menu before we left the house. Luckily, my husband got caught up at work so we didn't get to dinner until after they had appetizers. I had grilled salmon over a caesar salad (which wasn't a salad at all but some romaine leaves (not chopped) with a little dressing drizzled over). It actually was perfect because the salmon was huge. I also had a glass of red wine. So I just cut some lettuce (I can't tell you how much I chewed and chewed!) and ate 1/2 of my salmon. I don't have restriction yet, but I definitely felt like I was full. I played with my food a lot, so I don't think with all the talking, that anyone noticed I barely ate the lettuce and only ate 1/2 my salmon. My husband finished it for me. I felt like I cheated with the wine, but I drank that one glass while everyone else had 3-4 drinks, so I decided to let it go. I was reminded today on another post that the weight didn't come on overnight, and it's not going to leave overnight...one glass of wine isn't going to break me!
  8. Lap2Fab

    New Recipe Idea

    By Lap2Fab,

    Today I made a new recipe idea and thought I'd share.
     
    2 plantains baked[/url]
    3 Sweet potato, cooked, baked
    1 Apple peeled and sliced
    Cinnamon, ground, 2 tbsp
    4 tablespoons butter or butter substitute melted
    Brown Sugar, .5 cup, packed

    Bake sweet potatoes for about ½ hour at 400, turn over, then add sliced plantains and apples and cook for another 20 minutes. Once everything is soft, remove from oven. Mash ingredients to desired texture and pour cinnamon, brown sugar butter over and mix. Return to over for another 10 minutes. It’s delicious and high in vitamins A, B-6 and C.
  9. Lap2Fab
    Pray - pray that we are all successful in our journey to become healthier, that we have the willpower to stay on track, that we have the commitment to use this tool and do the work, pray that we will help each other, encourage each other, and befriend each other during this journey.
     
    Love - love ourselves for making the decision to go through this journey, love the Lap Band, love our family and friends who have supported us and love that we have a group of people that we can confide in and that we have a circle of trust with them, sharing our successes ands struggles knowing that they truly can relate.
     
    Eat - eat when we are hungry, not when our heart is broken, the scale doesn't move, we hate our jobs, or we are buried in debt. Eat foods that are smarter choices for our bodies to absorb the nutrients to become leaner and healthier!
     
    Pray, Love, Eat...that's what we are doing every day! Julia Roberts has nothing on us!
  10. Lap2Fab
    OMG! I'm in Onderland! I haven't seen that number in a while and boy oh boy, what a great feeling! I knew that once my body started to recover from surgery that I would start losing again. I'm so happy today that even my chocolate low carb protein shake is going to taste like a Big Mac, large fries and a diet coke with a straw!
     
    I would like to officially apologize for all the mean things that I said to you and about you last week Lap Band, I truly do love you and appreciate what you have brought to my life! You do your job, and I'll do mine!
     
    Off for a walk...
  11. Lap2Fab
    Starting to feel a little better this morning. I have decided that sleeping in the basement without my husband snoring and being able to sleep almost sitting up is helping me. I woke up this morning and decided to go for a walk and much to my surprise, my husband decided to come with me. Our kids had a sleepover last night, so it was just us and the dog. It was nice and something we don't normally do together.
     
    The walk helped the gas pains and I already can tell that I'm feeling better. I know I still have more to get out, because I'm still bloated and uncomfortable, but it's only been 4 days. I sneezed this afternoon and you would have thought someone shot me. I was looking for the blood because I honestly thought I blew out my wounds! It hurt so bad, the worse pain I have felt so far. I've learned that getting up and the heating pad are really helping me.
     
    I've decided to try blended foods today, my post op diet says that I can have 5 shakes or 3 shakes and blended foods. I've already tried jello and it tastes so good. I'm going to try blended tuna and mayo, not looking forward to the texture, but I have to try. I just can't wait to be able to have my favorite chicken lo mein again! I know it will be a smaller portion, and I will have to chew it well, but I can't stop thinking about chicken lo mein!
  12. Lap2Fab

    Day 1 post op

    By Lap2Fab,

    Well after yesterday being a walk in the park, I was surprised at the pain I'm in today. I didn't leave the hospital until 8:45 last night because I couldn't drink all the fluid as quickly as they would have wanted. I woke up at 2:00 am and the pain was bad. I took my meds and tried to go back to sleep, without any luck. My nurse said to be ahead of the pain, but it's wearing off faster than the 4 hours on the label.
     
    I'm sipping my protein shakes and a little nervous to drink too quickly. It took me nearly an hour to get one down. I'm trying again, trying to get up and walk around the house, but I'm in real pain and want to lay down.
     
    Does everyone have a hard time getting out of bed the first few days? I need help getting out of bed and also finding a position that is comfortable for me. Luckily my two young sons are helping me today since my husband had to go back to work. They have been like my little nurses!
  13. Lap2Fab
    I have been going through all of the hoops that everyone else has gone through. All along, I kept saying, " if it's meant to be, it will be." I thought maybe they wouldn't let me have the surgery because my BMI is only 35, maybe they won't let me have the surgery because of my heart, or my defibrillator, maybe they won't let me have the surgery because of my insurance. I've been surprised that they are all letting me have the surgery.
     
    Now, it's 8pm the night before my surgery, and I'm starting to realize how enormous this decision is. Seven months I've never doubted for a minute that this is what I want, and now, in less than 12 hours I'll be banded...for life! I'm scared, nervous and confused.
     
    I just want to lose weight and be healthy, why has it come to this? Does everyone go through this the night before their surgery? I remember earlier this year when I had to have my defibrillator replaced in a risky surgery, I honestly thought I was going to die, and I didn't. I stressed over nothing. Perhaps that is what I'm doing to myself tonight, stressing over nothing.
     
    The next time I post, I'll be banded. There's no backing out now...I need to do this for me!
  14. Lap2Fab
    Weekends are hard for me on the preop, I don't know why these two days make it harder than the rest of the days. Yesterday I only had 1 meal and the rest were shakes. I'm allowed 2 meals but I really didn't feel like I was hungry when it was time to eat so I drank a shake instead. When I ate my meal at dinner, which was just a small Weight Watcher meal, I actually felt like I had cheated on my diet, I was so full. I felt overly full.
     
    Today, my 7 year old son is sick in bed, and I'm running around doing anything he needs or wants me to do. I've been drinking the shakes again, but having a hard time not thinking of that chicken pot pie that's sitting in my refrigerator! I asked my 9 year old to eat it for lunch and he said "can't we save it for tomorrow because I don't like leftovers the second day, but I'll eat it on the 3rd day!" AND I think I have issues with food! LOL! I'm out of Weight Watcher meals and can't leave the house and my husband won't be home for 5 more hours! :tt2: I may just have to call my neighbors and see if anyone has a meal in their freezer! LOL! That chicken pot pie will not break me! 4 days until surgery!
  15. Lap2Fab
    I'm anxious for Wednesday morning to come, I'll be banded first thing, so I'm hoping to go home same day. I have a wonderful friend who is taking my boys overnight tomorrow and keeping them all day on Wednesday. I went shopping today, stocked up on soups, yogurts, shakes and jello. I don't have to do a clear liquid diet after, just 3 shakes and 2 blended meals. I'm not sure why everyone has different rules on what they can eat post op. I understand we are all on a different path to weight loss, but you would think there would be some consistentcy with what we can eat and when we can eat it. My doctor just says blended, no chunks. I think I'll just stick to liquids, I'm big on texture and I don't think I could eat blended chicken!
  16. Lap2Fab

    Recovery Time???

    By Lap2Fab,

    I am having surgery on Wednesday morning, first appointment of the day, 7am! I can not wait...pre-op diet is getting boring though I'm happy that it's not all liquid. I've been doing pretty good on it, down 10lbs. I'm amazed when I look at the scale.
     
    On Friday night, the 13th, a bunch of high school friends are meeting up for a reunion and going dancing. I'm trying to figure out how to explain why I can't go (downside of not telling anyone!). Is there any chance that I would be up enough to go out and offer to be the designated driver (since I can't drink anyway!) or am I fooling myself to think I may be able to make it for the reunion?
  17. Lap2Fab

    Joined the Gym

    By Lap2Fab,

    I did it! A friend of mine won a contest for a gym membership - $99 for the year and could invite other friends to join with her. I was scared to just even walk in to sign up, but I had to by today or they wouldn't honor it! I didn't work out, my kids were with me, but I'm proud of myself for signing up! I figured I could work up my strength walking on a treadmill and then going from there. When I've worked out in the past, I've always liked going to classes, but I know I won't dare to go in there until some of the weight comes off. I found an old weight loss journal that includes a workout page and a food tracking page, so I made copies for myself and started a new binder. Small changes = big results!
  18. Lap2Fab
    I have to say, I love my DH! Today he was offered a new job and accepted it! Yay for him! When I asked him if he had given notice, he said that he called his friend in HR and asked her about our health insurance. He is planning on giving a 2 week notice, but he's in sales, so they could just tell him to leave when he gives his notice. She told him if he waits until Monday, then we are covered through August but if he goes in tomorrow and they tell him to leave, our insurance ends this weekend! He looked into it because he knows how important my surgery is to me and didn't want me to worry about it or have to wait until he's on his new company's insurance! He has been through so much with me and my illnesses, and always is my rock!
  19. Lap2Fab

    The Journey

    By Lap2Fab,

    My journey to LAP-BAND® started long before I went to the first seminar. I have always been a little overweight and even after two kids, I lost weight. I would say that I suffered from anti-anorexia, I honestly looked in the mirror and didn't see what was being reflected back. I thought I looked good, and I thought I looked healthy. I was always shocked when I'd see a picture of myself on a night that I thought I looked good. UGH...was that really how others were seeing me?
     
    I think that I tried to ignore it, I had a great husband, two great kids, a great job and great friends. They all liked me, but I didn't like myself! I treated everyone else better than I treated myself and put them all first.
     
    In August 2005, I lost my mom to colon cancer. In 2006, at 35 years old, I got Lyme disease which damaged my heart (I needed a defibrillator impanted) and two years after that I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I had to stop working at a career I loved because I was having issues with pain, fatigue, memory and concentration issues. It's been a long and winding road to say the least. I have been required to keep my weight down, I can not seem to lose weight and keep it off and I seem to just keep gaining. I've been hospitalized 3x this year because of my heart and my defibrillator.
     
    I am hoping that by losing the weight, I will become healthier and will have more energy for my husband and kids. I'm hoping it will also help with the pain and fatigue. I'm hoping that it will help my heart to recover from all that it has been put through. I just received my letter in the mail today with my approval for surgery, which will be on August 11th. I am so excited to take back control.
     
    The Journey - it's only just begun...
  20. Lap2Fab
    Yesterday I went to my post op lap band support and learned a few things. Most of us in the class were 2 weeks + a couple of days post op, so we were in the space place. They said we should stop using the shakes as much and only use them to get in enough protein. I added a scoop to my slimfast yesterday, and it tasted like a thick shake, it was yummy!
     
    I got a good laugh when I asked when the steri-strips would fall off because I was the only one with them still on! 16 days post op and they were still stuck on me! They said I could have taken them off 10 days ago! I was amazed when I showered...I was all healed! LOL!
     
    I also learned that too much Crystal Light can make you feel bloated and gassy, which is probably why I haven't been feeling that great this week. It's the chemicals and the body has to process them differently. I was tired of water, and I just kept drinking lemonade and iced tea from Crystal Light. I'm giving myself a break and going back to water.
     
    I had a back to school party for my kids and their friends last night, and several people commented that I had lost weight! I'm glad that it's noticable, the only thing I notice is that my shorts are falling off me! I finally broke out my bike and went for a ride with the kids yesterday. I did okay, but it hurt a little where the port is, so I think I'll stick to walking until I'm fully healed! No need to push it, I'm doing great and losing every couple of days! :scared2: I love this lap band! I finally feel in control and don't have cravings!
  21. Lap2Fab
    I have not posted any pictures yet, I haven't told anyone that I'm having surgery(except my DH) and I'm almost afraid that someone I know will see a post on here from me! I know...crazy! I think once I have the surgery, and start losing, then I will post the before and after pictures. My surgery is on 8/11, so I'm still at the before shots, minus the 9lbs I've lost on the pre-op. With that said, I can not tell you how inspiring the pictures are that people post. It's the first place I go on the website, I love seeing the pictures. I hope that one day, someone will see my pictures and be inspired to change their life too. Thank you for those who have shared, you probably have no idea how you have touched those of us who were considering the surgery! Congratulations on your success!
  22. Lap2Fab
    I was actually excited to start my PreOP diet, just knowing that surgery is around the corner. I went to BJs and stock piled shakes, popsicles, crystal light and Weight Watcher meals.
     
    At 5:00 at my son's baseball game, I realized I was starving! Before the game, I had made my WW meal (which was chicken broccoli alfredo), my 9 year old son saw it and grabbed a fork and ate 1/2 of it! No wonder I was so hungry, instead of a 300 calorie dinner, I only got about 150 calories! I'm going to have to figure out what he doesn't like and buy those! He's such a good eater, I'm going to have to be selfish with my meals!

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