marfar7

How do you get in your nutrition? With Protein shakes? Now this surgery is scaring me. I don't want to live my life without eating or painful eating. Just curious...

I'm awaiting a sleeve revision soon (been lapbanded for 3 1/2 yrs). The reason I chose the sleeve was that my BMI is only 27 and I thought GB was too extreme to lose 30 lbs. My band slipped so it's of no use anymore and I need a tool to keep off the 100 I've already lost. While I'm terrified of a leak happening with the sleeve and kinda freaked out that I'm losing 85% of my stomach, I can't see rerouting my organs, not being able to absorb most nutrients, not be able o eat sweets without regret, and having the possibility of gaining it back (the sleeve take out the stretchy part of the stomach making it nearly impossible to gain back any but a small amount) like my sister in law. She ha the RNY about 7 yrs ago at 320 lbs. She got down to 180. Today she weighs about 290-300. Your stomach can slowly stretch out if you're not eating correctly. And if we all ate correctly all the time, none of us would even need wls! Those are my personal reasons for choosing the sleeve. I chose the band 3 1/2 yrs ago because, well the sleeve wasn't even offered to me. Had it been, I probably would've been inclined to still choose the band. It's reversable, there's not cutting of anything, you can't really gain weight because it's always adjustable. But now, after having it for over 3 yrs, I'm realizing what a pain it is. All the trips 6 hrs round trip to the dr for adjustments. All the vomiting if I eat the wrong thing or eat too fast. The reflux. So, so glad my band slipped so Medicare will pay for a revision! Good luck!

I used to hate cooking. My late husband commented to my family once that he actually asked for meatloaf for his birthday meal. Just meatloaf. Something so simple, but since he ate Cereal, PBJ's, and hot dogs everynite, meatloaf was a special thing to him. He was lucky if I cooked twice a month. And never homemade. I always used prepackaged foods. My mom is an avid cook and cookbook collector. She started buying me cookbooks (that I never opened). Why do I need to cook when Lean Cuisine, Kraft, Hamburger Helper all did a fine job at it for me? When I lost my husband almost 6 yrs ago, I weighed about 200 (always overweight me whole life). But then over a 2 yrs span, I gained another 50 lbs. I moved 3,000 miles away (from VA to OR) to start my life over again 4 yrs ago. I still hated to cook. I ate fast food, sandwiches, frozen stuff, deli stuff, you name it. When I got my band 3 1/2 yrs ago, I STILL hated cooking. I still ate crap. Over this past year, I've discovered my inner cook. Pinterest recipes is my very fav website. I scour cookbooks at nite while watching tv. My husband is a carb-a-phobe, so he basically eats meat and veggies. Not too difficult. Every Saturdy nite we play poker at a friends and have a potluck. This is my night to shine! I practice my skills on them - and they LOVE it! i usually make a main course and a dessert. Last Saturday nite I made chicken enchiladas and Mexican sopapillas. So many compliments. Now I can't cook enuf! I wish my husband would eat a more variety of foods. I hate cooking just for myself! I try out low carb recipes that fit his taste, and those are good for me too! And baking....I'm even more fond of making homemade cakes than opening the package of Duncan Hines! Now is the time I wish I had 4 kids to cook for! I'm part of a group at my church that brings meals to people that are sick, just had a baby, or in the hospital. I can create masterpieces there also! Just wanted to share how getting healthier has affected my cooking skills! The only things in my freezer now are meats and veggies. No frozen meals, burritos, pizzas, etc. Love to cook! Marci

Why does it make you grimace? Just curious...

Wow! WTG!! congrats!!!

I've also had my band for 3 1/2 yrs! Oct 1, 2009 was my date. Last year I had a minor slip, which caused my dr to unfill my band by 1/2 (from 10cc to 5cc). In the process I gained 24 lbs. 2 weeks ago, I was in agony with abdominal pain and went to the ER. After the CT they determined that my band was herniated. They totally unfilled me and I have to have a revision. I decided against a 2nd band because: *Stats show that when your band slips once, it's more likely to slip again *I'm tired of vomiting all the time! *Tired of reflux *Tired of maintenance Have to drie 6 hrs round trip to get a fill/unfill and pay $160 each time I'm so ready to have it done, but if I want it done in 1 surgery, I have to wait till the swelling goes down. So it'll probably be late June. So now I'm totally unfilled and grazing constantly. I have a 27 BMI (need to lose 30 more lbs) but know I can't do it on my own. Since it's a complication, Medicare is paying for it. Can't wait to have it done. So ot looking forward to the post op liquids only. Didn't do so well on it after my band. Cheated after a week. This time I'm determined that it's gunna work and I don't want to mess it up and get a leak, just because I couldn't follow the rules. Good luck to you! Keep in touch. I'd like to find out how you're doing afterwards!

Instead of giving them to the Goodwill (which charges way too much for FREE items that they get), have you thought of donating them to someone on this site? I shipped clothes to Houston, TX and to Nebraska. They just paid for shipping. I know it's easier to pack them up and drop them off at the Goodwill, but know that people in need have to pay like $8 for a pair of jeans that they got for free. There's a clothing exhange forum on the general forums list. Just a suggestion...

I hope I can still take my pills after being sleeved! I take alot of pills everyday (pain, sleep, reflux, thyroid, depression) and continued to take them with no problem after being banded 3 1/2 yrs ago. You might want to be careful with emptying a pill into something. Some pills have to be taken whole, not crushed or it can either increase the effect or decrease it. Good luck!

I'm so terrified that I'm going to be writing this exact post in a couple months. I was definitely a rule breaker when I was banded, 3 1/2 yrs ago. I was sposed to be on liquids for 4 weeks. I made it thru week 2 and I added mashed potatoes cuz I thought I was gunna starve. Week 3 I had a Burger King cheeseburger, and wished I had bought 2 of em when I had finished. I still occasionally have a sip of hubbys soda when we go out to eat (a big no no with the band), I don't count carbs, calories, fat grams, or measure my food. I've been fairly successful, despite my harming myself (until after 2 1/2 yrs of frequent vomiting, caused by my inability to eat slowly) my band finally slipped. This time, when I'm getting the sleeve, I plan on keeping all my promises to my dr. I will not eat food when I'm not sposed to. A leak terrifies me. More than a slipped band. This time around I have someone else in the house eating in front of me (got married last year, was single when banded) so it's gunna be hard. But doable. And I'm NOT gunna cause myself to get a leak just because I couldn't follow rules for a few weeks.

Wow! What a difference. no offense, but you looked pregnant on the lower left pic! Congrats! WTG!

It took 3 for me. No difference at all until the 3rd (4 mths). I ate just as I had previously (hence the no weight loss). Then the magic started..... Good luck to you! Marci

If you go up top to SETTINGS, then GOALS, then at the bottom CHANGE GOALS you can change the amount of calories they give you. I think they stick to 1200 generically when you sign up, then you can tweak it if you want. When I was actively losing, I didn't count or measure anything. I ate till I was satisfied. Now that I've gained a few lbs and I'm trying to prevent more gain, I'm counting calories on MFP. Good luck! Marci

I had an open gallbladder surgery 20 yrs ago (at age 25). It was really infected so they couldn't do it laprascopically. I woke up with an ng tube in my nose and in unbearable pain. I was constantly asking for morphine every 4 hrs. Spent 6 days in the hospital. So....my lapband was a piece of cake! I've had foot surgery, knee surgery, 3 laparoscopys for infertility - and the band was by far the easiest. Good luck! The uncomfortable stage is over quickly and your life will be back to normal soon Marci

3 1/2 yrs post lapband and I still vomit about 3-4x a week from eating too fast. Not sure why I can't control my eating rate. I learned to eat fast in Army basic training. If you didn't eat in 5 mins, u didn't eat. Plus my husband is a fast eater and I notice him eyeing my food after he's done. So I feel like I need to "protect" my food, so I eat fast also. Not good with a band. Now that I'm revising to sleeve soon, I'm hoping to follow the rules better. I'm so afraid of leaks...

I'm going on an Alaskan cruise on May 7th. This will be the 4th cruise I've taken with my lapband, the 1st totally unfilled. The last 3 cruises, I ate small amts of everything, as usual. Now I'm almost "excited" to go on the cruise unfilled. I plan on hitting up the chocolate buffet bigtime! I also plan on going to the gym while there. I'm not trying to lose weight while waiting on my revision, but I don't want to gain either. I'll try to be good...

My doc says 1 nite. I spent 1 nite 3 1/2 yrs ago when banded and most people are outpatient. I assumed I'd stay more than when banded, but I guess it's the same. My insurance required a 1 nite stay with the band. I haven't checked to see if they require more time than my doc recommendations. Maybe I should ask?

I also had liquid Vicodin. I even ordered 1 refill on that bad boy! But, I also take many other meds, so swallowing pills wasn't really a problem with me... Marci

I was diagnosed with Major Depression when my husband died 6 yrs ago. I was on 4 different antidepressants when I saw the psych. I was approved immediately. Now, 3 12 yrs later, I'm down to 1/2 of 1 of my pills! Yeah! Life couldn't be any better (well, I could get down to my goal weight, which would make it better!) Good luck! Marci

I always use frozen fruit (I even freeze my orange juice in ice cube trays) and no ice. Ice reminds me of a Slurpee, no a healthy smoothie. I use: OJ, pineapple chunks, 1/2 banana, and a handful of frozen strawberries. Add in a carton of yogurt and with or without Protein powder - whalla!! ( or however you spell it!) My homemade smoothies make Jamba Juice look like a novice!

Where r u going on ur cruise? I'm also going to Alaska on Carnival on May 7th out of Seattle. This will be my 4th cruise since being banded (ever, for that matter!). This will be the first 1 that I haven't had restriction, however (had all my Fluid removed 2 weeks ago following a slip - revising soon) and I'm a little happy and a little scared at that thought. I'm not trying to lose while waiting for my reivison (most likely late June), but I'm trying not to gain also. Have a fun trip! Looking forward to pics!

The first weeks after my band surgery (I'm revising soon due to a slip) 3 1/2 yrs ago, I would go into Alberstons 2-3x a week to stock up on tomato soup, jello, popsicles, etc. Everytime I'd walk thru the door, the smell of the deli fried chicken would get me. I swore every single time I walked in that very chicken would be my first "real" meal. It wasn't. Know your pain!

Can't see any of the pics! Says " Oops! Google Chrome could not find i1277.photobu...zps4b476e83.jpg Bummer...

Yep! When they first came out in 2000, I tried them for about a month (it was all I could afford, since insurance didn't cover em!). Yep, yellow, oily stuff. Yuck. The OTC version (same drug, Orlistat) is called Alli. It has about 25% of the RX version. Sposed to make you poop out the fat instead of absorbing it into your gut. You'd think out of something on this earth, something short of surgery would actually work. Thats what we all think, that is. Why American spend over a billion $ a year trying to lose weight. I've heard that 95% of people fail. Thats alot. Thank God for WLS!!!

I've been banded (revision to sleeve soon due to a slip) for 3 1/2 yrs and can tell you this: They did surgery on my tummy, not on my brain. Oh how I wished they could take the part of the brain out that thinks about food constantly. Even after losing almost 100 lbs, I think about what I'm gunna eat my next meal, during that meal. My husband doesn't even think about food till he's hungry. We can be totally out of...say...eggs. He won't notice until he goes to make one and they're not there. I keep track of the food in my frig and cupboards constantly. Just to make sure theres enuf! Since my band slipped and I've been unfilled, I will admit I've been eating much more than normal. And I will admit to doing something I hadn't done since getting proper restriciton (on my 3rd fill, 4 mths post op): Middle of the night snacking. I get up about every 90 minutes to pee at nite and once during the nite I'll creep out to the kitchen and grab a cookie that I've been hiding (my husband HATES carbs and can't stand looking at them, so I hide food. I know, a no-no) or an ice cream sandwich that I've managed to keep discreet at the back of the freezer. If no one sees us eat it, then it doesn't count, right? I've been a rule breaker from day 1 of having this band. Always pushing the limits. My first real food was a Burger King cheeseburger. not a good choice. Now that I'm having a revision, I'm gunna do things right this time. Especially cuz there's a chance of it leaking during the first months of healing. No more closet eating!!! How come no one has a problem with closet eating carrots or broccoli?

WTG!!! Keep it up!