Kamie

Hey everyone! I had my surgery on November 17th 2009 and hit a bump in the road when my incision tore open and took an extra month to heal. I am now pretty much healed and I just got my first fill on Tuesday. I have been pretty much following the restrictions of 2 days liquid and now I am on my 1st day of mushies. I understand a little of what you are going through because I have spent everyday since my surgery (except maybe 4 days into healing) wihtout restriction. I had lost seventeen pounds and then gained three. Now I have lost 2 again and I am struggling to maintain healthy eating. I am working out, counting calories, and keeping proteins high. I am just glad to be through my last holiday with no restrictions. Luckily my doctor has me come in on Monday or Tuesdays so that he can be a little more aggressive with my fills. I have a 14 or 16cc band I think and my first fill was 4cc, I have another appointment in 2 weeks so I will just keep plugging away, knowing that as someone else put it, though this weight is tough to lose it won't come back once there is restriction. Lets keep our chins up!

This is my first Thanksgiving, I am 9 days out of surgery. I am looking forward to my 2 oz of mashed potato dinner, and my mom is using skim milk and light margarine for me. Being without food is really allowing me to think about what I am thankful for this year instead of how high I can pile my plate with food. There is so much that is good in my life and I am thankful for this tool in getting happier and healthier. Thanks for all the support here on LBT and good luck to everyone through the day. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Hello dowhatitdo1! I was banded last Tuesday, and coming from someone exactly one week prior to your surgery, don't worry it will all be alright! Best of luck and just know the recovery is day by day, but I am never gonna look back now! A new day is right!!!

Don't forget me! Kamie 5'2" 11.17.09 269 264 258

So, it is day 1 of my 2 week pre-op diet and I have got so many things going on in my head. I am hungry... both head and real hunger. I have never enjoyed that hungry feeling and I am doing a decent job reminding me that even though it feels totally wrong, being hungry is good for me these 2 weeks. I had my protein shake for breakfast (vanilla isopure with berries and water), an orange, and then a protein shake for lunch (vanilla isopure with SF lemon jello pudding mix). I just got home from school completely ravenous so I had a reduced fat string cheese and now I am thinking I may have the whites of 2 hard boiled eggs. The yolks are just way way too bad... so much fat! That will leave me still with 736 calories for dinner. I am going to have chicken with vegetables and maybe some rice which should get me right around my calorie goal. I wasn't feeling too good, but now I am looking at my day so far and feeling really successful. I just keep thinking of the consequences if I don't work these 2 weeks completely. I want the lap band, I want this change. I am deciding, no one is forcing me... this is the choice that will get me the life a want!

So, it is day 1 of my 2 week pre-op diet and I have got so many things going on in my head. I am hungry... both head and real hunger. I have never enjoyed that hungry feeling and I am doing a decent job reminding me that even though it feels totally wrong, being hungry is good for me these 2 weeks. I had my protein shake for breakfast (vanilla isopure with berries and water), an orange, and then a protein shake for lunch (vanilla isopure with SF lemon jello pudding mix). I just got home from school completely ravenous so I had a reduced fat string cheese and now I am thinking I may have the whites of 2 hard boiled eggs. The yolks are just way way too bad... so much fat! That will leave me still with 736 calories for dinner. I am going to have chicken with vegetables and maybe some rice which should get me right around my calorie goal. I wasn't feeling too good, but now I am looking at my day so far and feeling really successful. I just keep thinking of the consequences if I don't work these 2 weeks completely. I want the lap band, I want this change. I am deciding, no one is forcing me... this is the choice that will get me the life a want!

Wow, it surpirises me that you were told this. I have been told that everyone is different with what they can and can't eat. For example one person I talked to said she can't have bread, even toasted but can have rice or pasta. Another lady told me she can't have pasta or rice at all but can have toast. From what I have heard there are some things that many people find difficult to eat such as corn or fruit with skins on them, or yes starches. But I haven't been told of anything that I will for sure never be able to have again. I am going into my band on November 17th knowing that I may never be able to eat dry meat or bread or corn or really anything, but I have not been told that I definitely won't be able to have any starches at all. If anything, I was told that I should utilize mashed potatoes during my mushies stage. Anyway, this is what I have learned... maybe your doc thinks differently, anyone else have info?

We are band mates haha... I just found out that my surgery is on the 17th also. Yay to all of us Novembers! My pre op diet is similar. Two weeks before surgery I have a 2 Protein shake dealio with 1200 cal total everyday. I want to start a little early too just to get a jump start and be on the safe side!!!:seeya: YESSSS to all of us for coming this far!!!

Too true! Everyone has some cross to bare, some of mine are just shown on the outside. Luckily I get this chance to change that.

Everyone has such good points! I know how it is to feel this way too and living in a college town with a huge amount of gorgeous people I have gotten into some introverted habits as well. I have a wonderful boyfriend, but I give him so much credit for not being a shallow man. He has had friends (well now not-so-much friends) that have given him a hard time for being with me. He won't say it, but I can tell it is because if my weight. At first I would let this get to me, like I felt sorry for him when we were out, but he has made me feel so much better. While I am so happy I will be getting banded soon because it will help me be so much healthier and open my world up, we are beautiful people at our weight. I just can't wait to feel more of that confidence on my own and then to have others just telling me what I am already seeing in the mirror. I am a happy person and my weight has covered some of my smile and laughter. I think that as I am making this decision to really care for myself through a drastic process and hard work the confidence and inner happiness will shine even more brightly because there will be less to fight through. Hope that makes some amount of sense.:cursing:

Welcome!!! It sounds like you really care about yourself and your family. That is great that you love them enough to take this step. Thats one of the reasons I am doing this also, and of course the legs/feet hurting, etc. You have definitely come to the right place for support. I am going to get my surgery date soon and I have gotten so much support and information from everyone on here. Best of luck!!!

Kristin- Thats all I was here for also... just some friendly relation to know that I am not alone because feeling like I was the only one feeling this way is what got me to the point of needing weight loss surgery. So yes I hope we do better, but don't punish yourself with guilt in the meantime because you are not alone out there. Colorado- If it was all about simply being able to stop then why did you need the band? It sounds to me like you are strong enough to do it all on your own. Go you. I have tried to "STOP" eating about a million times in my life thats why I am lucky there is a tool. You can disagree all you want, but sometimes people just need to know they are not alone, thats why they offer support groups etc. All the more power to you if you don't need that connection but support is what I need right now. Not anyone telling me to continue eating badly, which by the way no one on this post has said to anyone, but support in building relationships. Thats all. Congrats on all your success though.

AL- I am already feeling some hesitation in responding to your comment, but I feel that there should be some clarification on a few things. So obviously if we are waiting for approval then we have seen our surgeons, done psych evals, etc. Those seem to be the most basic requirements for everyone that I have spoken with. With that said, we (or at least I) know that the lap band is not a magic wand that waves the fat away. Honestly, if it was I wouldn't have thought about and researched it for over 2 years before making a decision. Secondly, I feel like there will always be cravings and head hunger and all the triggers that caused the weight gain everyday. But you know what I have really found from all of the people on here is that the lap band is a tool to help you so that you are not running into battle without a weapon. While the throwing up and being uncomfortable may not seem to be a good reason for you to avoid cravings, it is for me. When I do have unbearable cravings I will vent here, just like we are now. Thank you for your input and response, but I guess I didn't appreciate the negativity you brought with it.

I am still waiting for approval also. I finished all of my nutrition visits and other paperwork stuff. My packet got sent to the insurance company about a week ago and the lady at my surgeons office said it should be 4-5 weeks until I hear anything. I can relate so much to what you are saying though. For the past few months I feel like any ounce of control I had before deciding on the surgery is gone now. I am having a really difficult with this. I just want to eat fast food and sweets and everything. I am trying to figure out why also. I am thinking that it might be the "last chance" feeling, but even when I think about how much time I have to eat these things before the surgery it doesn't help. I would love any info about whether these cravings subside a little or anything. Has anyone who has had the band been through this too? I think it will be a little different once the band is in and the real journey has started Kristin. At least I am really hoping too. Thanks for the post!