criveraarroyo

I promised myself, that when I hit a year, I'd post a "success" story.

A year ago today, I lay in the "big" hospital bed at 274 pounds and completely miserable. The two days prior to surgery were the worst ever. I called my Dr's nurse the morning of surgery and told her "I think I need to cancel, I can't do this." She told me that she wasn't going to listen to me and that she expected to see me at the hospital in a few hours.

I'm so glad I did. There are very very few things in my life that I'm more happy about than my decision to have Lapband surgery.

I was 32 and miserable. Couldn't stand to look at myself, even more, couldn't stand to have my husband look at me. We got together when we were 17. I was fit then, always the bigger girl, but very active. Softball, cross country, track, etc. Almost immediately after HS, the weight just piled on. When we got married at 20, my wedding dress was a size 16. I hated my wedding photos, they are horrible. To this day, very few people have actually seen them. I still have them in proof form, in a box underneath my desk. I have no pictures of my wedding out on display. For that matter, I have very few pictures of myself in the last 14 years.

We have two kids, two boys, who are very active. It was so hard to want to do anything with them. My husband, thank goodness, is one of those people who could eat the world and couldn't weigh more than 160 if he tried. So, while I always took the pictures or sat on the sidelines, they had the fun.

I spent my 20's with no sexual drive whatsoever. I was disgusted with myself. If I couldn't even look at myself, how could my husband want to. It made him sad, he always said he didn't see me the way I did. I couldn't believe him.

So, after three years of research, I initially tried to get the band in 2007. My insurance changed at year end and no longer covered it. So scratch that. In 2010, I went to my GP and he asked if I'd thought about it. Yeah yeah, I did, but insurance. He encouraged me to call and check again. Unbeknownst to me, they covered it again. I cried and cried and cried. That was in Feb 2010. I quickly researched the two Dr's that I had chosen and decided on one. Went to the seminar, got my 6 month supervised diet in, all the other pre-req's and next thing I knew, I'm laying in the hospital bed seriously thinking I shouldn't be doing this.

Recovery was HARD, not hard hard, but not what I expected. The first week, I was sure that this was the worst decision I had ever made. Only a clinically insane person would put themselves through this, I was sure of it. However, things started getting better. I was losing weight and I was losing it quickly.

When I was around 3 weeks post op, I started walking/running. Eventually, I was running a mile, then two, then three. I was actually able to RUN and ENJOY it!!!

There have been some bumps along the way. Mainly mental. Around September, I was sure I was going insane. I was okay, but, it wasn't until then, that I actually realized my crutch, my addiction, was food. I was going through a "detox", lol. It made me for one very very grouchy and irritable woman.

I believe, I finally hit onederland on December 8th. 75 pounds gone since July 29th, a little over 4 months. By the end of 2010, I was down 80-85 pounds. Now, today, I'm down 106 pounds. I still have 15-20 pounds until I reach goal but I'm happy. I'm so happy! I'm plateaued, but I'm happy.

I run 5k's WITH my kids and husband now. I have energy. I'm the person, I think I always knew was inside of me.

Make no bones about it, it is difficult. It is a huge mental mind screw. There are days I look in the mirror and I don't see me now. I see me as I was a year ago. It's hard. But there are days, I look in the mirror, with the biggest smile on my face and I see me as I am now. I've made it and I've done it.

Hugs to everyone who does this journey. It's well worth it.

I was going to post some pics from my gallery, but they were insanely too big.

Here is the link. http://www.lapbandta.../7195-new-pics/

Hi,

Did you have plastic surgery after all that weight loss?

Thanks for all the suggestions, I will try to get a hold of the book and as far as bringing lunch to work I cannot bring any outside food for Kosher reasons but I do trust me I do try to eat healthy but it's the picking that's killing me. But I'll keep trying didn't do all this for nothing.

THANKS

So I was banded June 1st and have had 7 fills down 38lbs, have some restriction but still can eat a lot more than what doc recommends. My biggest complain is that I work at a delicatessen and I am surrounded by food all day long and can't stop picking on stuff. Although I am loosing I feel like I can loose a lot more. I try to eat healthy but can't get myself to do it everyday. Please any advice getting very discouraged? Should I start looking for another job? Thanks to all

you lost 90 lbs in two months?

No. My BMI was hovering at 43 I believe?

Thank you for your advice and high spirits I will keep my head up and give it all I can.

Cynthia please tell me what you have been doing? when did you really start loosing weight was it after reaching restriction or from day one. I have been on the same wait for the last two months and I am soooo fustrated i don't know what to do I am getting sooooo discouraged that I am starting to make lousy choices and eating everything I shouldn't be. Please share some light on me.

Thanks

Cynthia

yeah my name is cynthia also lol

by the wy i was banded 6/1/10 and have only lost 35 pounds and have had 4 fills and no restriction

Oh How I know this feeling and this may sound weird but I hate that I don't throw up after the last bite nor 10 minutes later. I rather throw it up than keep it in and making me consume more calories. :thumbup:

Hi just wondering if you guys have been banded? If os how is it going.

OMG, I work at a Kosher Delicatessen and I love love love their bison burgers and last week i tried one and ohhhhhh:eek: the pain from that first bite; had to throw it away and make myself a salad:sad:. Before my last fill I was able to eat anything I mean anything sometimes I felt like I was eating a full meal like before surgery but now I've experienced not being able to eat beef, and some pastries,:thumbup: yeah I know the pastries are not suppose to go in my mouth but here and there I gotta have me a piece of ruggelach.

I stopped taking my Vitamins because I bought 3 different ones and they all made me regurgitate even with food. I don't know why but I've decided not to take them anymore. Last ones I took were Bariatric Fusion and they taste great but didn't make me feel great.:smile2:

Great thanks for the replies. I'm hoping everything goes well I mean how bad can it get; maybe that I won't eat much:thumbup: that would be great. Lol

So my doc asked me to go see him for a fill the day before I go on vacation. Has anyone flown right after a fill? Does this matter? I'm just a little concerned. I have had three fills and have no restriction at all and really want to get my fills because I am desperate to feel restriction. Please give me your advice.

Thanks

Just got my third fill today and just finished having a create your own salad with grilled chicken 4 vegetables, croutons and caesar dressing and ate it like nothing.

Definitely have no restriction.

Hi,

I take Bariatric fusion the berry flavor they taste great and they are chewable. Go to bariatricfusion.com

OMG I love this stuff I work at a Kosher restaurant and we just brought them in and I think my boss is about to band me from drinking it.lol It taste soooooo good.:thumbup:

Hi I was banded on the 1st of June and went I went for my one week follow up visit, my doc told me I can return to my normal life "sexual activities". About the smoking sorry i can't help not a smoker.

SO I WAS BANDED JUNE 1ST (NO FILLS) AND HAVE BEEN DOING REALLY GOOD WITH WHAT I EAT, BUT MY 4 YR OLD JUST HAD A WAFER CONE WITH BREYERS Cookies AND CREAM ICE CREAM AND ATE JUST LIKE 5 0R 6 LICKS AND SAID M0MMY HERE I DON'T WANT ANYMORE.

OH AND WHAT DO I DO TAKE A LICK AND THAT WAS IT I WAS OVERPOWERED BY HOW GOOD IT TASTE AND ATE THE WHOLE THING.

HOW BAD IS THIS? I AM FEELING SOOOOOOO GUILTY RIGHT NOW. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK:confused:

It is so frustrating how every doctor gives different explanations and directions. I am 17 days post-op and during my first week my doc said it was ok to go into mushies and as of last weekend doc said I can eat almost anything as long as I chew chew chew and stay away from dry tough foods. I don't mean to confuse. As far as the stitching I believe the only stitches are the ones by the port so how can your band slip. Anyway just so you know I have been doing just fine. I have had salads with chicken, vegetable Soup, mashed plantain, and more and I have lost 17lbs since surgery.

Good luck in your journey.

Cynthia

Cream of wheat is great that's something else i eat thanks,

and as far as the re-fried Beans never had them and don't know what they are. Where can i get them? Is there a specific brand?

Great thanks for the answers I guess I've been doing the right thing oh and I'm gonna research:thumbup: all your suggestions. Thanks again I love this site.

Ok so for Breakfast I have a Protein shake; is this considered a meal or should I be having something else with this.

I am also getting sooooooo bored:bored: of the same mushes everyday getting very frustrated:cursing: don't know what to have.

Currently having yogurt, shakes, Jello, mashed potatoes and scrambled eggs. What can I eat? Don't like cottage cheese. Please help.

cmsirois;

Have you asked the doc what it can be? I haven't been to the doc yet so I don't know if it is just gas or maybe something else.

So i have this terrible pain on my lower right side especially when i walk; but the thing is there are no incisions or anything there. I walk and walk and nothing pain remains there. Should i worry or could this just be gas?

I was banded june 1st.

Thanks

Thanks Jen that helps. I actually have been doing the yogurt, applesauce, etc I just been wanting to do other stuff. But I guess I must stick to the rules.

Hi all, I am soooooooooo confused as to what I can and can't eat the first days/weeks. Many of you are on liquids for the first two weeks but I was banded on June 1st and on June 3rd my doc called me to see how I was doing and in the conversation he said i can begin my mushy stage. So what is mushy stage? Can I eat anything as long as I chew the heck out of it and make it mushy.

Please help me understand a bit more. Thanks