btrieger

Things come across wrong sometimes online. Especially things I say. Sometimes, I think I'd rather have people taking it out on me instead of themselves. This is a support network and we all have our own way of saying things. Everyone of us has beating ourselves up for years and that obviously doesn't work. One of the most important steps in the whole progress is getting rid of as much of the negativity we feel towards ourselves and turning it positive. The reason your original post got me going is because others that may have lost less than you read them and sometimes think that if you may be upset over 15 pounds, they should be even more upset for losing even less. You've taken an important step in getting your life back. and if you look closer, you'll see that the majority haven't come anywhere near 15 pounds in 3 weeks. Sure, some have lost 20 pounds or more but they are a small minority and most of it was probably Water weight or the food they gorged on right up until surgery day. Once again, congrats on your progress!! The next step is to not only be happy with the loss, but to be proud of it.

I wasn't being hard on you. I was pointing out that you are setting your expectations way way too high. 15 pounds is spectacular!!! And maybe you were wrong.

Turkey meatballs are simple. Use 98% fat free turkey, egg whites instead of whole eggs and oat meal instead of bread crumbs. Devilled eggs work too. Just throw out the yolks and substitute with fat free cream cheese.

WTF!!! Since when is 15 pounds not GREAT for 3 weeks?!?!?!?! What were you expecting? I must be a total failure!! I was banded 47 weeks ago and the most I have lost in any 3 week period is ONLY 10 pounds. I've averaged about 2.5 pounds a week. Congrats on your progress and make more realistic goals!

Absolutely not!! It just shouldn't be done in a fit of anger and the child should know exactly why it is being done.

Thanks!! Words cannot express how healthy I feel and the sense of pride that comes with it. The most important tool is a positive, can-do attitude.

Well, I hope my surgery days are finally over. I had my panniculectomy on Friday morning and everything went well. I had an umbilical hernia corrected simultaneously. The surgery(ies) took just under 3 hours and they removed almost 7 pounds of excess skin and my belly button. When I first woke from surgery, the pain was about an 11 on a scale of 1 to 10 but that lasted less than a half hour when the pain meds kicked in. It's been about 2 and a half days since and I haven't felt the slightest tinge of pain since. I have a couple of drains that are collecting the excess blood and body fluids that have to be emptied every couple of hours. They are a little gross but really simple to empty and I have to bend 15% degrees while walking and sleeping until healed. I can't wait to get the bandages and stuff removed in a couple of weeks to get a look at the new me. It's been 15 months and few surgeries since I began this journey but I feel like a new man with a brand new lease on life. Who knew that losing 166 pounds (75.3 Kilos) and a belly button could feel so damn good? The pride I have for my accomplishments is somewhat clouded by the shame I am feeling for not being able to kick the butts for good but in due time, they too will be history. Initial Consult: September 18, 2009 - 365 pounds (165.5 Kilos), BMI 54 Lapband Surgery: March 2, 2010 - 270 pounds (122.5 Kilos), BMI 40 Panniculectomy: December 3, 2010 - 199 pounds (90.2 Kilos), BMI 29 The rest of my life: priceless! The pictures will follow soon!

I lost 95 pounds in the 5 months leading up to surgery and my weight slowed drastically following surgery. If you are averaging more than 3 pounds a week, you are doing way better than average!!

Banded March 2, 2010 and lost 71 pounds since then. I lost 95 prior to surgery for a grand total of 166. 21 pounds in 3 months is excellent! Do NOT worry about what others are losing. You're doing great!

I got over it by not having the extra food readily available and keeping my mind occupied so I don't have time to watch the clock. Don't have a lot of ready to eat foods in the house except may fat free yogurt or the like. Only cook enough for 1 serving at a time. That way you aren't picking at leftovers. When the hunger hits, take a walk or brush your teeth. The walk will give you time to get over the hunger and nobody wants to eat right after brushing.

@Melody - Don't laugh. I have been warned quite a few times by my surgeons and their staff about balance issues with the center of gravity change. As it is though, I am walking around hunched over anyways. They do the surgery with your body on an angle. So, as you heal and start to stand straight it tightens up. @Leigha - good for you! Even a day makes a difference with Water. The mold and mildew take over fast if water damage isn't dealt with immediately. I'd like to think that none of my neighbors would hesitate for a second to do the same for me. @Denise - It was not even 7 pounds. I was surprised but not disappointed. I don't really care about the weight. I just want clothes to fit right at this point. I actually weighed 8 pounds more when I got home from the hospital than I did when I checked in. I hadn't had water or food in 8 hours prior and now I have swelling; drains and a pain pump. I won't be able to get an accurate weight reading for a couple of weeks but I am positive I will be in Onederland!! @Jackie - Welcome aboard. You bet 40 pounds makes a difference! My feet started feeling better after the first 10 even. @Elcee - we are all old farts and hate change. You'll get over it I 'll have to go back and read a few pages before I can comment on any of the other drama I've missed

Laura and Melissa summed it up very well but the most important thing is to be proud of those 45 pounds you have lost! Are you drinking with your meals? How fast are you eating? Are you eating Proteins first?

I think excitement only leads to let down. Take it slow and be excited as you reach your goals. We didn't get fat over night and we don't lose everything over night. Take it one day at a time and keep a positive CAN-DO attitude!

Thanks for the kind words Dave! I only have 1 cigarette left and it WILL be my last. I had a pretty bad cocaine habit 15 years ago and quit without any effort. I realized one day that I hadn't done coke in 6 months and it was over. Nicotine is much worse than coke because it is so readily available. Good luck on your weight loss. It really is easier than you think as long as you keep your head high and don't set unreachable goals.

Thanks all!! Unfortunately, I am fighting the nicotine demon. First cigarette when I came home gave me such a head rush that is scared the shit out of me and I swore I wouldn't light another. I just put the 5th one out. I need to stop this insane habit before it kills me. I only have 2 left and can't drive and my neighbors would never drive to get more. So, hopefully tomorrow will be easier. PS. They released me about 24 hours following surgery. Not same day.

I'm sure it doesn't include the advertising fee that they should be paying this site.

I apologize for not posting here for a while. Had my panniculectomy Friday morning. All went well. The pain was intolerable when they first woke me after surgery. I was thinking, "why did I do this to myself?" The pain killers kicked in about 30 minutes later and I haven't had any pain since. I've been home for about 12 hours now and doing fine except I can't quit smoking. I am so ashamed of myself. I felt as if I was going to die after first cigarette. I had a very scary head rush and my blood pressure sky rocketed. I've had 4 more cigarettes since. I need to stop but can't. I only have 2 cigarettes left, can't drive and I know my neighbors won't take me to get more. So, hopefully it will be much easier tomorrow.

I'm glad it worked out for you and you have a great surgeon!! I'm even happier that you posted that others may learn from this.

The initial pain when they first woke me was an 11 on a scale of 1 to 10. That lasted less than a half hour. It's been 30 hours or so and I haven't felt an ounce of pain since. I was estimating they'd remove 10 - 20 pounds and it only turned out to be a little less than 7 pounds. I feel great now but I have to walk hunched over like a 90 year old man. The surgeon says they have lots of pictures during surgery. I will post them when I get my hands on them.

How many have they killed or disfigured this week?

It is not supposed to evaporate or dissipate through osmosis. What probably happening is that the initial shock from the fill caused your stomach to get swollen. Then, over time, it relaxed or shifted.

doh!

Walking is all I do as far as exercise goes and I am down 165 pounds. I hated it at first but my feet also used to hurt when I walked 10 feet. Now I can walk for more than an hour. It's really quite interesting to see the things in your area or neighbors in your neighborhood that you never knew existed.

I quit reading at the "1/3 need re-operations" line. I think the majority of us did enough research to realize that is a stupid statement.

I have to argue with you on this one. Many of the people here went to a third world country to have surgery and are provide with absolutely no after care.