shellyh

so excited, I met my mini goal, 50 lb loss by March 10- and I did it! horah, I was stuck all through the holidays, but for the last month and a half I've been actually averaging 2 lbs a week. I hope it keeps up.

:waytogo: GREAT JOB! greatz and keep it up ! I have 9 lbs to go to reach my 50lb goal ! wish me luck lol

Hi Shelly

Thanks so much for the encouragement!!! Hooray for your doc being so helpful and you finding restriction - I totally related to all you said.

I played down how hard it's been - I've stayed at the same weight for 4 months with a bit up and a bit down now and again so anger, depression, doubt and guilt have been my unwelcome buddies for way too long. I had such high hopes of losing at least 50% of my weight by now but not my story so far I get you about being scared of losing the restriction .... we so want this to work!!!! I definitely have to go for another fill so will make that booking this week - never a fun outing hey! I will share your story with the man.

I'm also NOT a gym bunny so well done to you for making a start :Banane52: . I have a orbital stationery bike which I want to start on soooon. (I've just moved house so not organised yet).

Just a question if you don't mind - What is your portion size for each meal and what is your common daily 'menu'. I'm holding thumbs for your success with the new restriction.... :thumbup:

Hey Bunny ! =) No problem asking me any questions at all ! For the first time in my life my portion that i'm able to eat is about a palm full of food. But i'm also trying to have a small snack in between to make sure I get what i'm suposed too. I'll give you a good example of what i've been doing this week since my fill last friday. 8:00a.m Chobani yogurt with a medicine cup Kashi go lean crunch mixed in for Breakfast ( I LOVE THIS) 10:00am reduced fat cheese stick ( takes care of that hunger before lunch) 11:30am 1/2 of or whatever i can handle -lean cuisine or healthy choice - or whatever i bring from left over supper the hubby made but i've only been able to eat about palm full portion...2-3:00pm I have a sugar free pudding or Jello to help me get home.. then supper is whatever he makes but i use a tea saucer as my plate and eat what i can. last night he was making some kind of Pasta chicken and cream sauce and i wasn't feeling that much into it.. so i had fat free cottage cheese/pinapple on some special K chips ( the latest fad). I'm thinking i ate way more then i shoulde have. think i had almost half of the cottage cheese cotainer.... But that is an example of my day. I do have to return to the Doc in 4 weeks to check in. if i'm eating more then i am right now i will get another fill . but if i'm going like i am right now i will not.

Surprisingly I'm Loving the gym !! I hated workouts.. i hated any kind of exercise but i gotta tell you, i'm feeling sooo good the rest of my work day i'm really liking it now and missing it when i don't go . I go @ 6a.m 3 - 4 times a week, take my shower there and get ready and off to work right from the gym. :welldoneclap:

Hi All - it's been ages since I've been on but good to see all the posting and the ups and downs of the banding journey. I was banded on the 14 September 2010 and it's been such a hard journey as despite 3 fills, I still haven't reached the restriction I hoped for. Sooo, that means that I can eat way more than I should be able to do - I tested it on pizza a few days ago. No fullness! I have 12cc band and am sitting at 7cc at the moment so have some way to go. I'm hanging in there, trying to keep my portion sizes to the half cup but it's tough!

Hey Bunny !

I was banded on 9/20/10 , i also have a 12cc band and my first 3 fills did nothing ! and i do mean absolutley nothing !! I have not every felt a tiniest bit of restriction. Finally after complaining to my surgeon how i'm not getting any help here and i saw the scale beginning to move up he did a little experiement last week and it seems to have worked ! After a heck of a time trying to find the right spot in my port.. he withdrew all of the Fluid he had put in which should have been 6cc and came out as 5 1/2 ( but thats nothing), so anyway, he said " let's try putting in a fresh 6cc's and then adding until we have to stop. he put the 6 in and then another 4 to make a total of 10cc's OUCH lol chest pain! He said " good it works! now tell me when you feel comfortable again" and started to withdraw some. All of a sudden poof NO PAIN! I was left with 8 cc's. And I've finally after all these months I have restriction! :clap: Now granted i'm scared it'll stop in a week LOL i'm hoping NOT! And i've been working out at the gym for the first time in my life. But I just wanted to let you know there is hope ! and it may only take that one or two more fills before you hit that spot !!

So here is the update to my last post ! I went to my heart and wellness session at the hospital which for my hospital and doctor is mandatory 12 post op coarse. There is a team of nursing staff that meets with us each week for 2 hours of working out, nutrition and meditation. The head nurse told me that she sends a note off to the doctor to let him know i dont' feel a change after my fill and that i should call him. I did that on friday and sure enough i do have an appointment this friday to get another fill. I hope this one works !

Yay ! finally after reading this page i am feeling so much better :thumbup:

I was banded on 9/20/10 i'm down *(flucuating)* between 25-30 lb weight loss since a pre op liquid diet! I had my first fill this past friday ( 3 days ago) 2cc's and i feel nothing! No restriction what so ever! i'm thinking i need to call him in a week or so because i DO NOT want to over eat and gain ... I am trying to work on Portion Control and healthy foods and i have been doing a really good job but it's tme to move past the fluctuating 26 lbs and get to 30-35-40. he did tell me he gave me 2cc's and everyone is different, but he didn't mention that it can sometimes take up to a week or two to feel the restriction?? can you guys elaborate on that please. I mean if this is true i will do my best to bare with it and wait a few weeks before calling and pleading for more cc's LOL

Hi All, Your all doing so great !! congratz! I know by my doctor and family /friends and Co-Workers they are all so proud of me but I'm not so happy with myself LOL I've lost about 30 lbs up and down since a week before my surgery which was 9/20/10. I went for my first fill on friday last week and I feel NO restriction what so ever:crying: Yes i'm doing ok on Portion Control and trying but heck, if i was good at all of that prior then i wouldn't have had surgery to begin with. I know my doctor only put in 2cc's he told me and he said everyone is different so lets see how that works and if we need to put a little more.. then in 6 weeks when you come to see me we will put more in. But i don't want to wait 6 weeks. I want restriction right now ! I know banding is a much slower weight loss then bypass and i know my reasons for choosing it over the bypass ( mainly my osteoporosis and the fast no obsortion from bypass) but come on lol So i've read some of your blogs about the fills and is it safe to say that it sometimes takes 1-3 fills before you feel that restriction and i should be patient and just stick to a diet plan until then? Another major issue for me is exercise . I know i need to pick it up so i'm gonna work on that for sure, but what about the fill?

:blink:Hey All, So i was banded on 9/20/10 and i'm about hmmm 5 weeks post op now i guess. I'm really struggling right now with foot portion sizes . Of course i have NO restriction whatsoever right now.. today is the first day of my 12 week post op heart and wellness program , i start exercising today with them. My nutritionist put me on regular food (stage 3) because she said i'm doing great with losing ( 29lbs ) but she feels i wasn't eating enough. My first fill is next friday and i cannot wait ! im actually looking forward to the uncomfortable feeling that makes me not want to finish my plate LOL. sounds crazy right. I know my decisions for not doing the bypass ( i already have osteoporosis at 44 and all of the other risks involved with that surgery) but seeing my old g/f's from school that were as fat as me and now they are skinny in a matter of a year is hard . LOL .. they don't have to work out and do the things we need to do. I know we are better off int he long run for doing the hard work, but i needed to vent is all LOL.. wish me luck on the treadmill today and good JOB all ! :cursing:

:blink:hey all .. I'm feeling the same way as everyone else ! I had my surgery on 9/20/10, and have not had my first fill yet! i am down 29or so lbs. I had my first meeting after surgery with cardiac nurse and nutritionist, to get me ready for my 12 week heart and wellness program at the hospital. they were VERY excited at how well i've healed and am doing, until they found out i was not eating enough LOL i thought i was following instructions but i must have missed a whole paragraph of what other mushy foods i could eat LOL.. Anywho, nutrition is skipping me to stage 3 and wants me to Eat 3 meals a day and two Snacks. it's tough, i feel so full all day long and i feel am eating too much food to lose any weight. I have my first fill on 10.29.10.. so i'm hoping for that restriction to take over and help me get that feeling of wow i can't eat another bite also.

hey Everybody ! So i was banded on 9/20/10. My doc does a strict 14 days prior liquid diet and liquid or mush diet for up to 8 weeks afterwards.. so i'm very jealous of those who are getting to eat normal solids by porportion after a week or two . i'm down 26 or so since a week before surgery so i'm not going to complain lol. Next monday will be the beginning of my fourth week and by instruction am able to start eating soft cheeses/mashed potatoes and baked or poached fish. i may have to start a few days early and have the fish this weekend and mashed because we are heading to the mountains for the weekend with friends.. and they will be eating and drinking all weekend.. at least i will be able to socialize and have something with them! Also for me i wasn't able to get down even close to the liquids i was suposed to for the first few days. sugar free popcycle's did help alot.. and i noticed hot broth or bullion did help with gas and getting it to move on ! I have no restriction what so ever right now because i haven't had first fill yet. So it's very hard to not eat normally , and taking alot more will power then before surgery ! anyone else finding that before first fill ?:tongue2:

:smile2: hey Everybody ! Just an update.. surgery was monday 9/20/10 .. some soreness right under breast chest area and a little radiation to the left shoulder.. the first 3 days was hard to get anything down.. possibly one SF carnation Breakfast and maybe 1-2 SF popcycles but felt like I ate 3 turkey dinners LOL.. i was uncomfortable.. but much much better today.. and getting up some gas still which really helps. Key i discovered was don't try to be a hero LOL and take the pain medication..i feel so much better.. i was trying to hold off till sleep time but forget it ! Today i woke up had my carnation no problem and took a pill.. then Decaf with skim and splenda.. feeling much much better =) I havn't weighed myself since last wed. gonna weight till doctors appt on 30th. will keep posted

:woot:I'm home ! I did so well yesterday for my surgery they sent me home same day.. i didn't even have to unpack my pj's till i got home =) The kids cleaned the whole house for me spotless.. it was so nice and they are all waiting on me.. including the hubby who took the night off when hospital called :thumbup: I went to the hospital yeterday @ 9:30am.. got me settle in Pre Op. but he had emergency surg so he told me we were gonna me a little later.. wheeled into OR about 11ish.. woke up around O i forget now but was pretty sedated.. the liquid meds and IV meds took care of most of the pain.. but honestly not that bad.. i expected more in the shoulders from gas.. i have some chest pain.. right under the breast and radiated to left shouder.. but percocet taking pretty good care of that and its ok. I feel a little queezy here and there. but i get up and walk a bit or take a little nap and i'm good. I stuck like glue to my two week liquid diet.and now am on liquid diet for another two weeks before mush food.. so i'll keep all posted. Havn't weight myself since last week and won't be able too for another 2 weeks..

:thumbup: I"M OFF TO THE HOSPITAL !! just got out of the shower and packed up my cpap.. all thats left is blow dry my hair and off we go.. ! I hope to see you all soon with details ! =) huggs and kisses till then ! HAVE A GREAT MONDAY!

xo

I am turning 40 on Saturday.

I have been conquering my addicitons for the last 6 months. I stopped smoking in March, Diet Coke in July, Caffine in August, and now compulsive overeating in September..... My surgery date is Sept. 23rd and I have been on 1 protien shake(breakfast) 1 shake(lunch) and 1 lean protien 2 vegies at dinnertime since August 23rd. I am now getting anxiety about my surgery next week and fighting off all of the above listed addictions!!!!:eek6:

Is this some sort of self sabotage??????? Ahhhhhhhh!!!!:wub:

I am glad I have a place to vent!!!

Hey Cici, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! ...I don't think it's a self sabotage i think it's just plain nerves! I'm scheduled for surgery this monday the 20th and i'm wicked nervous lol. I quit smoking in may, diet coke and coffee last week, and food last monday, i've been on liquid diet since then. Today they called me to pre register and yikes did i want to run to the work kitchen and eat just one cracker or something OMG .. and smoke.. ! i've been thinking about that all week this week. I'm thinking nerves! but we can do it.. we WILL do it , hang in there !:alien:

thanks melonie and danielle for the support and best wishes.

About to leave for the hospital now! Will keep everyone posted when i get get home from hospital!

Hope all of you are doing well on you journeys! Xoxo :wub:

good luck !!:alien:

:wub: I've been on liquid diet since last monday 9/6/10.. my surgery is scheduled for monday next week 9/20/10 !! woot woot.. hospital just called me here at work to pre register me yikes!! asking me if i want a clergy to come in and see me while in patient.. NO TY lol and do i have a living Will .. NO.. OMG lol i don't like those questions.. but i know they have to ask them.. To be honest the liquid diet isn't that bad after a few days it becomes same ole same ole.. i'm surprised at myself.. but please try and NOT cheat.. it'll be so much easier and better for you if you stick it out!! remember we are changing our lives!! and we have to start somewhere.. to regain our mindset.. i have faith in your guys/gals.. big hug no matter what you choose to do.. !

Hi Maxi2010 ! Good Luck with Surgery on Friday *** BUT *** by looking at your surgeon and his credentials ... I think you are in great hands. I have a GREAT Surgeon too and like I have posted elsewhere here it was pretty painless / less painful because of it.

As for fretting about the Post Op food... DON'T. You are making a extremely MAJOR life changing decision here. You want a better / healthier life and by going with a Band, you will be committed to it either way. Once you are banded ... you are banded Babe! It doesn't come out easily and once its it its in and you have to go through some hoops to get it out. It is almost like the Mafia but in a good way... it will make you lose weight unless you seriously fight it.

I am Day 6 Post Op and I have to say that I have had to come to grips that my attitude and relationship with food has to and HAS changed. I can't eat what I want and an extremely large amount of whatever I want when I want anymore. I can't pig out anymore / I can't numb myself with food anymore. AND thats a good thing. The Band is working and keeping me in check against my own food addictions and cravings. It is giving me the extra will power to fight a lifelong losing battle with food. Although I have had some major weak moments in the last few days and days I have had some low commitment ... the Band KEEPS working and keeping me in Check. The Band is great in that even with low commitment and resolve, it works and then when my Sanity returns a few hours later, I am so much more happy because of the Band and that it kept me honest and strong. The REALIZE Band is working for me and it is doing what I thought it would do for me. I am so sick of being overweight and what it has cost my life so far, it is time for a change. Now that I have it I only wish I did it YEARS ago !!!

-Brian :crying:

:thumbup:I agree Brian, The sugar free pop's are saving me bigtime.. specially at work when everyone brings in all the snack foods.. i work in a huge medical office, there is take out every day and Snacks galour ! I have been on a liquid diet since last monday and i'm 10 day's of nothing but liquids so far.. i'm hungry but they really help ! I'm going into this knowing i need to make huge changes in the way i live my life.. the way i eat.. the way i think..about food and exercise. I'm not gonna like it for a while.. but i will learn to LIVE with it and love it later. If i were to find a possible way to eat the icecream or sherbert, i don't think this new lifestyle would last too long and i'd right back to the me i've become and not the Me i wanna be again.

hey thats where that came from !! lol Thanks Miss

You CAN do this LovelyMiss ! believe me.. I have alot of weight to lose.. I smoked 2 packs of ciggs a day since i've been about 14 yrs old.. i needed my coffee and diet coke every day.. and yet.. the need to see myself thinner is overwhelming now.. I have quit smoking all together since 5/5/10,, stopped caffeine completely and have been doing NOTHING but liquids and following the pre op list to the T since last monday! YOU CAN DO IT ! WE HAVE FAITH IN YOU !:thumbup:

WTG Danide

I'm sitting in work drinking my crystal lite just waiting for this week to get overwith! My surgery is scheduled for next monday 9/20/10. Believe me i don't think it's possible to feel like it's going any slower! I'm glad your feeling better, and on your way ! i'm looking forward to being out of work the next two weeks and here you are hurrying back LOL :thumbup:

Thank you Maxi ! let's see if this works :thumbup:

woohooooo ty ty ty

wow i gotta long way to go huh LOL

I'm excited for everybody !! and me too !

Can sombody please tell me how to get the ticker on my blogs or forums or profile?? i went and picked out the tracker i wanted and i copied the thingy in the box but when i put it into my forum signature it doesn't show.. it just shows like a link and not picture:bored:

:thumbup: Starving and hanging in there LOL Surgery next monday woot woot ! Anywho.. they hubby and kids.. aaahh YES.. i had my little freak out on them all this weekend LOL.. I've been on liquid diet since last tuesday and they thought they were going to sit right in back of me and eat take out food!! r ya kiddin me LOL i turned to them all and said.. IT would be nice if you could all show a little support maybe.. and eat that in the kitchen seeing how i havn't had a bite of food since tuesday! I'm not asking them to not eat i'm just asking them to not do it right in front of me and maybe refrain from the take out stuff for a month.. it's not going to kill anyone ! I have living with me.. My hubby my son who's 14 and my daughter who's 21 with her fiance and their daughter who's 5 weeks old. Bad mistake on hubbies part to say to me .. Well Hun i mean come on what am i suposed to do , we didn't have anything defrosted.. i mean u r the one who made the decision to do this.. OMG he said it.. i couldn't believe he said it LOL.. i lost it.. i said.. O really ?.. Well let's hope you don't regret the decisions IVE made! and a few more choice words LOL.. needless to say the next take out was wonton Soup for all .. and let mommy strain the broth for herself hehe.. which was cool .. LOL and no more take out for a month or more he said

Ok So i'm almost 8 day's into liquid diet Pre-Op. I actually made it through the weekend yay! Caffeine withdrawel headache has subsided compeltely but sunday i had a total meltdown and had a cup of caffeine FREE coffee with fat free skim and a splenda.. so if that is cheating then i'm sorry but it was heaven and really helped me throughout the day . I've not had any food thats not on the list of liquids and i don't plan to, but my weekend needed that ! I have givin up smoking from 2 packs a day to zip 0, alcohol, and food and caffeine. I think i'm doing great! woot woot.. surgery next monday 9/20/10

Good Morning All !

Im 6 day's into Pre-Op liquid diet. I'm surprising myself actually that i've been able to do it ! I've got down the not eating thing so far, I had a Migraine for the first 5 days of no caffeine , but it's slowly subsiding. Can anyone tell me why i cannot have caffeine free coffee with fat free skim milk ? it's not on my list.. all i see is any flavor herbal tea.:thumbup:

I smoked for 17 years and quit in May. The choice was simple for me. I am having the LAP-BAND® placed to prolong my life and to enjoy life more. I know that smoking would just contradict the reasons for me to undergo the proceedure. So, for me, the choice was easy.. its the actual quitting that takes self control! :smile2:

I quit cold turkey. I set a date, and when that date came - I was done. Not to say that at 11:55pm the day before I wasnt outside hot-boxing a cigarette right up to the filter.

You can do it! You may crave a cigarette here and again, but just think of the benifits you will reap! :blushing:

WTG ! I quite smoking also in may.. May 5th to be exact! it was the day i got admitted to the hospital with pneumonia and was there for 6 days on oxygen. My surgeon said no smoking or no surgery. so i vowed to never smoke again and havn't.. GOOD JOB!:couch2: