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I'm down -3 lbs this week!!! Woot woot! I can officially say that the after Christmas/Holiday vacation recovery is fully underway! I haven't done anything drastic, I've just been back to work for a week, eating healthy choices, drinking lots of fluids, and really just watching all the crappy stuff leave my every day meal choices! And it's working! So glad! I was technically on a 3 week stall, because I was eating so much bad stuf the last few weeks, that this week I felt soooo much better and in control. I'm going after my 145 lbs goal with complete focus! I'd love to hit it in the next 3 to 4 months! I'd be sooooooo excited! Just got to keep focused, and know that the little numbers add up to big numbers in the end!! And my NSV? I walked into the the GAP yesterday and grabbed a pair of size 8 jean legging (jeggings I think they are called) and they fit perfectly. I walked into a name brand store and bought a pair of size 8 jeans??? Whaaaat? REALLLYYYY? WHaaaattt???? It's made my week! So excited! Height: 5'9 Highest (Surgery) Weight: 216 1st Primary Goal Weight: 169 (Achieved 11/27) 2nd Optimal Goal Weight: 145 Sleeve Journey: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 8/17/12- PreOp/Surgery Day w/Pics Posted in Blog Week 1 (8/24): 204.8 (-11.2) Week 2 (8/31): 200.6 (-4.2) Week 3 (9/7): 196.8 (-3.8) Week 4 (9/14): 193.5 (-3.3) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 9/17/12- 1 Month Anniversary w/Pics Posted in Blog (-22.5 lbs) Week 5 (9/21): 191.6 (-1.9) Week 6 (9/28): 190.1 (-1.5) Week 7 (10/5): 187.0 (-3.1) Week 8 (10/12): 181.9 (-5.1) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 10/17/12- 2 Month Anniversary w/Pics Posted in Blog (-11.6 lbs) Week 9 (10/19): 181.4 (-.5) Week 10 (10/26): 177.9 (-3.5) Week 11 (11/02): 176.8 (-1.1) Week 12 (11/09): 174.7 (-2.1) Week 13 (11/16): 173.3 (-1.4) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 11/17/12- 3 Month Anniversary w/Pics Posted in Blog (-8.6 lbs) Week 14 (11/23): 173.1 (-.2) Week 15 (11/30): 167.3 (-5.8) Week 16 (12/7): 168.1 (+.8) Week 17 (12/14): 164.6 (-3.5) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 12/17/12- 4 Month Anniversary (-8.7 lbs) Week 18 (12/21): Holiday Break/Vacation- No Scale Available Week 19 (12/28): Holiday Break/Vacation- No Scale Available Week 20 (1/4/13): 164.5 (-.1) Week 21 (1/11): 161.5 (-3.0) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 01/17/13- 5 Month Anniversary (-3.1 lbs)

Next year I'll be able to say I'm no longer dependent on airplane seat extenders, shopping at Lane Bryant, and not being able to go on roller coaster rides. This year, 6 weeks in, I'm no longer dependent on food as my primary source of focus during the day. I'm no longer dependent on needing three minutes to recover from walking up a flight of stairs. And no longer dependent on worrying about my feet swelling and my blood pressure. That is a good feeling. However, at the base of all this is the fact that I live in a country where people fought and died to allow me to enjoy those lifestyle changes, and I'm grateful for living here in USA. We are watching fireworks over Coronado on the Navy Base in San Diego. Beautiful day full of picnics, games, beach and awesome fireworks. Have a great day!

1/16/2009 My journey, almost 50 years in the making, is about to take a turn. 2 weeks from today I will begin my life as a "bandster", the recipient of a gastric lap band. I am grateful that this surgery is available as a tool to assist me in my journey to health. Come friends.....you are welcome to tag along with me on this adventure, the more the merrier ! "The Sweet Spot" Karen's Lap Band Journey

Oh, my goodness, this is hard. I had my surgery on October 29th, and it has been slow-going ever since. Not slow in the fact that I have been losing weight, just slow in the fact that it's taking me a long time t recover. I don't know why I didn't expect this to be hard and painful. It is major surgery, after all. It's November 4th now, and I'm finally starting to get around and moving, but I get tired so easily and get nauseous pretty fast. My doctor put me on Phenergan for nausea, but that just knocks me out and takes away whatever little bit of energy I had! The pain is finally subsiding and it's mostly just a nagging pinch now, but my back muscles ache something terrible. Initially, I did not want to eat anything. Now, my waves of hunger are so strong, I can't tell if I'm hungry or nauseous or both. I'm still on a liquid diet for 2 more days. So far, all I have eaten since my surgery is a cup of soup, a popsicle, a small frosty from Wendy's, and a small side of mashed potatoes from KFC (I cheated, but I was so hungry!). I think about what I am going to eat when my stomach goes back to normal. I can't seem to stop thinking about food. I hope once I can eat some more normal foods, and am not so hungry, my focus will be elsewhere and not on tempting things I should not be eating. I have lost 22 lbs since October 16th. That's 19 days. I feel good about this and want the weight loss to continue. I figure if I can lose 2 lbs a week until next year, I will be down 100 lbs. Even if I only lose 1 lb a week, I'll be 50 lbs lighter than right now. But there are so many foods out there that look delicious that I can no longer have! What I really crave is Chino Bandidos, my favorite restaurant. I figure once, before my band fill, I will go there. Just once. I know this may be a recipe for disaster, but it is what I have been craving. I willnot eat a whole plate of food. Just half, maybe not even that. If I plan it, and work my dieting and exercise around it, I think I could splurge just once. We'll see...I know it's not the best decision, but if I don't give in once in a great while, I feel I may be setting myself up for failure. I may just reach a point where I eat everything I want whenever I want and will lose all self control. That's exactly what I don't want to happen. Oh well....this is also coming from someone who has not eaten a real meal in a week's time and is food crazy. I can see the weight coming off in my face and in my arms. So far, so good. I want to be at 230 lbs by Christmas. I am at 253 right now. I have seven weeks, so that seems about right. All I know is that the airplane seats better feel more roomy this time when I go home. Last time, I could barely get them to buckle. I was so embarrassed. I don't ever want that to happen again. Anyways, that's all I have for now. Have a great night, everyone!

Just found this forum, first post. Banded a week ago, moving from Clear liquids to full liquid diet. Dr. advised full liquid for two weeks and wants 80 grams of Protein a day. i tried the strained low fat cream of chicken Soup and added a scoop of GNC whey protein. What an awful mess, was like glue and just unpalatable. Needless to say my dogs loved it! Any suggestions on getting the protein with the small 1/4 cup size portions needed during this full liquid phase. Thanks for any advise

So far, as part of my pre-op preparation I have: 21/7/06 Met with the GP (Dr Richards) for initial referral to surgeon; was weighed at 132kg. He said to eat less and move more - and that I'm depressed - well der fred! Of course I'm depressed - without hope of losing weight until I heard about LapBanding. I need a new GP. 28/7/06 Met with surgeon (Mr Chris Hensman, EndoSurgery Victoria)for initial consultation; was weighed at 134.3kg Had chest x-ray at The Valley Private Hospital 5/8/06 Had blood, urine, ECG tests at Melbourne Pathology, Edithvale 5/8/06 Met with GP to discuss Enhanced Primary Care Plan (referrals for dietician and psychologist) recommended by the surgeon. 8/8/06 Met with physician (Dr Lim); was weighed at 132kg. Told I have a heart murmur. I'm to have an cardiac ultrasound (echo) on 10/8/06. Mum tells me that Nana Vi had one (which wasn't picked up until she was over 90!), as does Carla (cousin). Dad has a "missing heartbeat". 8/8/06 Dropped paperwork for EPCP to GP's office. He had secretary call in the evening to say he wouldn't do it / doesn't think it's necessary. This means I'll have to pay for these visits via health insurance, resulting in a much bigger out-of-pocket cost to me. Now I KNOW I need a new GP - one who is band-friendly and more supportive. I'll ask ESV for information, or go and talk to Dr Dillon. (TERESITA - THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENT!!) 18/8/06 Second visit to Dr Lim. Heart murmur due to turbulent blood flow. Blood tests all normal, including triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose. I am good to go. Booked surgery date with ESV for Oct 5th. Roller coaster of emotion today, as dad also announced his retirement - but am elated! 24/8/06 Met jenny from LBT for a coffee - very nice lady, and very reassuring. 26/8/06 Had psychological evaluation with weight loss counsellor. Going in, I was very sceptical, and feeling defensive, however I was determined to be open and get as much out of the experience as possible. She says my emotional cues for eating are likley to be anxiety / wellbeing imbalance related. So I need to take more time to sit in the sun and do more things for myself that promote my wellbeing. oooh goody - a prescription for massage! LOL! A life-changing and very positive experience. 29/8/06 Went to fist Bandworks meeting at TVP - wow so many people! I haven't really clicked into this group yet, however met some really nice people, including tolmc (Vicky)and tarajane (Lisa) from LBT. 31/8/06 Dietician group session #1. Went through pre-op diet and post-op liquid stage. tolmc (Vicky) was there also - she's being banded in a couple of weeks.

Well, a BIG box of Optifast shakes arrived in yesterday's post (from my eBay purchase). I also bought a box each of the choc bars, choc mousse and chicken soup.:hungry: Not really motivated to drink or eat this stuff... ...but since I spent all that money on it, and want to drop some kilos right now before surgery, I'd better start. It tastes ok, but I'm not looking forward to hunger pains and feeling depived... ...at least its only a few weeks, and the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. My work pants and jeans are both falling apart, and as I haven't any other decent clothes I fit into right now that are warm enough or suitable to wear out of the house:cry , a couple of weeks of meal replacement will do me good. I have several pairs of NEW pants hanging in the wardrobe - and all they need is just a very few kilos lost before I can wear them:) . So that's motivation to get started. So, from now until the final 2 weeks pre-op, it will be breakfast and lunch of Optifast, and a normal dinner with the family. Some days I have lunch functions, so will not Optifast at these events:hungry: . The last 2 weeks pre-op will be the full Optifast shebang.:speechles Exercise will be a minimum 30 min walk (work days), a 1 hour session of something else on the other days (walk, ride, gym or swim), or a full weekend "chores day" (gardening, laundry, cleaning etc). I must log back into fitday.com and get that log going. I got the rest of my pre-op appointments and instructions from ESV today. Appointments as follows: Sat 26/8/06, 11:15am - weight loss counsellor, Kew Thurs 31/8/06, 5:30pm - dietician group session, Mulgrave Wed 27/9/06, 8:00am - pre-admission nurse, Mulgrave Fri 29/9/06, 9:30am - specialist surgeon pre-op review, Mulgrave Thurs 5/10/06 - surgery, Mulgrave Mon 16/10/06, 3:30pm- post-op nurse review, Mulgrave Mon 23/10/06, 5:00pm - dietician group session, Mulgrave

I completely relate to what you are describing. I'm now banded and at least this first week the late night binging hasn't even been an issue. I'm sleeping thought the night and I know I can't eat. That combo keeps it from being an issue for me. Pre-op is going to be hard - its the same story as the years before. The band will help you regain control. Hang in there and keep sharing with us!

I feel like I've been riding a rollercoaster for the past four days. The pace of events, and emotional highs and lows have left me worn out. It'll be good to get back to work tomorrow for a break! LOL! Here's what I've been up to: Thursday - had a late night Wed writing up the kinder newsletter, so I could print it during the morning. Then we had a surprise party at playgroup for AD's 40th - she was touched! I met up with jenny from LBT for a coffee - her insights were very reassuring. Had dinner out with the kinder mums. After 2 glasses of wine, I felt like I'd had the whole bottle. Friday - got a call in the morning that uncle B was very ill and may not live more than few days to two weeks - so I drove to Sale to visit him in hospital. At this stage, he really doesn't know his prognosis is so grim - the doctors are preparing him for this news. He didn't look good - could hardly breathe, and the medications that he had been on had made him bloated and blotchy. These have been stopped now (because they found out it's not an infection), and they were making a gradual transition towards palliative care, with morphine pain relief being started. But he was still the same old B - happy (and surprised!) to see me. Mum and Dad would have liked to have been here to see him. It was very hard to kiss him goodbye when time to go home, as I won't see him alive again. He is my favourite uncle - a bit of a larrikin, and had his problems, but still loves us all. Didn't get home until late - quite emotional. Time to cry later, not now. I had some phone calls with friends etc when I got home that were a bit stressful - some anxiety and stresses amongst the gang - some of them have some major issues in their home lives at the moment which are making them agressive due to stress. A bit like what's going on around parts of LBT too. I hope to keep out of it as best I can. Saturday - Mad rush day - to get ready for church family dinner (30 ppl at our place). Had my visit to the weight loss counsellor - very enlightening - I journal about this separately when my head has cleared, so I don't lose the benefit of her insights. The main one is that I am anxious - and need to find time to calm down and relax - this will help with the snacking, which she believes are due to an energy imbalance (well-being sense). I need to sit in the sun more! Hooray - permission to relax and be girlie!!! A doctor's prescritpion to break out the oil burners, massage oil, yoga classes, mediation... ...mmmmmmm! bliss!!! What more could a girl want?? Sunday - church, followed by puppet rehearsal for next Sunday. After lunch at home, we went to Elwood Beach for a family break afternoon. DS loved playing on the playground, and we had a coffee in the foreshore cafe. He crashed out fairly early - he's been grumpy tired all day. Finally time to clean up and do laundry etc in the evening. I'm off to bed now - I feel like I've not slept in days - it's mainly emotional exhaustion - but elements of physical exhaustion and probably dehydration from rapid pace of the weekend are not helping either. Anyway - it's been wone of those weekends where it feels like the world has tilted and adjusted itself - funny how things often all happen in a rush at times - and then all is calm for a while. Except this weekend, following the counsellor's consultation - it feels like it has finally tilted in the right direction in terms of finding some of the ansers to my emotional / head hunger issues. Halleleulia!

Yes. I think sometimes it get a little worse the week or 2 after for some folks as the healing process happens and the nerves come back to life. Mine was not that bad but I think it was a couple months before the big incision had "no" pain. When I had my hysterectomy the insides they shuffled around to get to what they needed hurt way worse than the incision the whole time and I could see the bruising on my belly from where they clamped my skin. That was MUCH worse than my sleeve procedure BTW.

Almost a week since my April Fool's Day first blog posting, and i've finally procrastinated myself into this 1.39am effort. I told myself that i would record this journey, and i will. I know to do so, is important for me because i must always remember what life is like now at my heaviest, 193.5kg (427lbs)... for those days when i want to give up on the struggle to stay on my pre-op diet, or post-op when things might get a little rough and i feel frustrated. If you chance upon this blog, this blurb, is just so (if the going ever gets tough) i can come back and read this and remember... why. As it stands today, i struggle to think of a time in my life ever... when life with food, wasn't a struggle for me. As a baby i was a little 'pudgy' but in a relatively 'healthy' way. I was certainly active enough and full of strife too, from all accounts. Even as a toddler, i have pics of me still 'pudgy' but within the realms of the wider 'normal weight' for age. From my first and second grade pics tho, i was taller and wider than most of the other girls, and i suspect was already starting to overeat and probably not exercise as much as i should have for my age. I seemed to be pudgy one year and taller and slimmer the next, though never as slim as the other girls. I had a little double chin in my Grade 3 photo. Even then, i was still fairly fit. I was quite good at sports, and on every team we had at school. Between myself and my best friend... we were Captain of all but a few of the teams as well. I was a good swimmer and represented my district and even twice, my state in sports. I think i had the height, size and strength rather than the agility and that held me in good stead for a spot on most teams. I was also a pretty good strategist and good at motivating and organising others. I grew up on a farm and we worked every day before and after school. Most weekends in between team sports fixtures, we worked as well. At that time, i was 'chunky' and probably even 'fat' by todays standards, but think all the activity i was doing was holding my obesity at bay. Certainly when i hit senior and gave up most sports to study and work part time in a pizza place, the weight started to pile on. I didn't really notice, i guess because i had plenty of friends, got good grades, was voted class captain each year, and made the school honour roll. Some would call that kind of thinking, denial. Today i would agree with them. In college that trend continued, only now i was starting out on the 'dieting' merry-go-round. I would lose 10 or 15 kg's (30-40lbs) and then gain it all back and then some within a few short months. I hated my size by then, and avoided most sports as a result. By the time i was 21 i was 120+kg (260lbs). I remember losing about 40kb (100lbs) and feeling pretty good about myself. Life was good, and then a series of unfortunate things happened... life's ups and downs... and my weight went with up and down, right along with them. Through my 20's, with all the parties... when i wasn't eating i was drinking. Even that i did to excess too, ending up hospitalised and told to give up the booze of else! I did that, and the eating took over, even more completely. Add to this, smoking... a habit that would quickly turn into 50 cigs / day to try and help me ward off hunger pangs. I really can't begin to complain tho, because even as a 'bigger' girl, i really did have it all in many ways. I had a good education; a great job that paid really well; a nice feller that i was to marry the following year.. flash car; fun holidays; many friends... but life's what happens while you're busy making plans. It's a long story, but somewhere in the middle of that, my world caved in, and i just could not cope with the reality of what happened. I left and without planning or even a necessarily a destination... went overseas. To this day, i'm not sure what i was looking for, but i didn't find it overseas. As my friends referred to it, my "world tour of war zones" (i seemed to have a penchant for going to dangerous places) showed me a lot about life and a little about me. Mind i had the time of my life... but yet still, 41 countries later, i was stunned at the realisation of how little had changed when i finally got home. I had changed a little however, and managed to lose a fair amount of weight whilst trapsing from one end of the planet to the other... carrying that huge backpack. For a long time it was the hardest thing settle down and get back to work. So I studied, and then studied some more. I was bored for the excitement perhaps, so i began trying for promotions again. These came fairly easily, and quickly. I was once again successful at what i did, and happy. I had a great life, and the time and motivation to eat well and exercise... and i lost more weight. Enter, my now ex-husband. I'm not sure how to explain what happened next, but when he asked me to marry him... it seemed like the next right thing to do, settle down and start a family. He seemed so perfect for me too. So what happened... i lost a son, my sister died of a brain tumour, his brother committed suicide, and i was working 60 hours a week and coming home to raise two little girls on my own and run his business too. Somewhere in it all of that i lost myself in a relationship that was to become so incredibly and entirely toxic that it nearly killed me and my kids... literally! PTSD for the kids and i, divorce, bankruptcy, major upheaval from our home, my work, and then having to nurse my mother as she died of leukaemia. All in the space of about 5 years. Long days and even longer nights and i was so very very, tired... eating anything in front of me, my weight ballooned again to 160+kg's (350lbs). Then, i gave up smoking... and the final 30kg's came quickly. That day not so long ago when i stood on the scales and saw 193.5kg's (427lbs)really scared me. Already i was having mobility, health and every day life related problems. Sitting there, that morning too, i knew that no program alone, not theirs or anyone else's, let alone any diet... was enough to help me. That's why, the next day... 07 March 2010. 07.03.10, my Mum's lucky numbers.. i decided to have the LAP-BAND® surgery. I know people do this for many reasons, all of which are valid. I know in my heart though that i am doing this not just to lose weight or even to look better... but, rather.. to save my life. It really is such a relief in many ways to know that in 77 days time, I will being having surgery... and turning the corner on this life to a new and better one. I haven't even had surgery, and just meeting fellow banders, listening to and reading their stories, i have already started asking myself... why didn't i just do this sooner!? Thanks for letting me rant... crickey, it's 4.00am here, so i best hit the rack! Nite all xox

If fish is a well tolerated band food I'm going to have to start experimenting. Sad to say, I mostly prepare red meat or chicken in our house. I caught a clip on YouTube by BandedWendy of her baking some jumbo shrimp. It's not a soft mushy food but maybe in a few weeks it's something we could try. It looked super easy.

Today is day 3 of pre-op. I stayed within my calories yesterday, but overdid it on carbs!! I thought all the dinners in my freezer were less than 20 grams carbs; I cooked one then looked at the carbs: 43!! oh no, should have pitched it but I went ahead and ate it. Then had blueberries for snack, and they are higher carb too. Some friends came over and brought a watermelon, I went ahead and ate some because I didn't want to have to explain. She asked twice what kind of diet I was on and I said predominantly liquid, she wanted to know what kind, blah blah, so I finally went ahead and told them I was going to have lapband surgery in two weeks. (Wasn't planning to tell very many people, but I'm not good at making up stories as I go along) Anyway, I was surprised, she said it would be good for my health; I about fell over in surprise. Another protein review: 1) Whey Gourmet Creamy Orangesicle Swirl - just 'ok'. Too sweet tasting for me. I mixed it with ice and water; maybe should have used a little more water. I wouldn't buy it but others would probably like it. (It came in my Bariatric Eating sample pak. My goal for the rest of the diet: STICK TO IT!! Don't overdo the carbs. I am feeling full; however, the day I had my regular meal at lunchtime, I was hungrier in the evening, so think I will stick to having the regular meal in the evening since I feel fuller longer.

I thought I would blog my journey so others could know what I went through and maybe it will be helpful to someone. Background info: I am 5'4" tall and 43 years old. I was sort of thick in high school. Not fat really but my thighs were a little heavy and I wore a size 9 to 11 jeans. I remember this well. I was a cheerleader and was the biggest one. In college, I lost a lot of weight because I was the mascot of my college and it is really hot in the suit! I was a size 5 then, for about 2 years or so. I joined the army and gained a little weight. I was back in a 9 or 11 for the next couple years. Then I got married and got pregnant. That was the beginning of the end. I gained 80 pounds with him and he was premature! I never lost all the weight. I was 210pounds when he was born. I got back to 175 and stayed there for a year. Then my second pregancy.... gained back to 210 and lost only to 190 the next year. I joined weight watchers in 1995 for the first time. It was an at work program. I lost 12 pounds over the summer and continued to loose til I got to 163. I thought I was done with weight watchers and quit. I was a perfect size 12 for two or three years (continuinig to go to WW later on). I was pretty happy with that. Then came my daughter. I gained back to 215. I lost some of that after her birth but was hovering around 200 for a year or so. I did WW again to try to loose the weight. I got a divorce soon after she was born and I managed to loose back to 170 but that is as far as I got. Then, I slowly gained and was in the 180's for several years. I did WW again and I lost 20 pounds or so and got back to 170. I did this 170 to 190 and back again about 3 more times in 5 years. In 2007, I met my husband and I weighed 170, still at weight watchers. We married in September and you guessed it, back to 190 before the wedding and had to get my dress let out! I felt very frustrated. We wanted to have children so I had a tubal reversal in December of 2007. I took a lot of hormones trying to conceive. I balooned up to 220. I tried WW again and lost 10 or 12 pounds. I couldnt seem to get under 200. Then I had a job transfer and moved all the way to Texas from Alabama. It was a huge stresser on our family to move from a house to an apartment. Nobody was happy about the move. My kids were mad and I couldnt sell our house. It took 9 months and we finally did sell it and buy a nice home here. During all of this, I gained to 235. My highest weight. My husband was not "particularly attracted" to me anymore and it left me in the worse depression I have ever experienced. He was heavy too and so I pointed that out and we both did WW for 6 months or so. He reached his goal in that time, loosing 60 pounds and I lost down to 210. I was depressed because it was just falling off of him and I was eating much less and not loosing very much at all. I gained it all back. We planned a trip to Brazil to see my exchange student get married. I had 6 months to loose some weight. I considered wls then in fall of 2010. I felt I could do the supervised diet and then have surgery when I returned in March. I did the diet and took the HCG and B12 shots every week until we left. I lost 20 pounds. I weighed about 215 when we left. I returned two weeks later at 230. I consulted a surgeon about wls again and I didnt like the staff at that Dr.s office. The medical assistants as they are called could not even spell and could not hold an intelligent conversation so I didnt feel I was in good hands. I gave up on that in May 2011. My husband got a new teaching job in July, his first since being in Texas! We were changing insurance in August. So July 29th, I decided to see if Humana was going to cover wls and what type of diet and stuff was I going to have to do to get it done. I saw that the surgeon my friend recommended to me was having a seminar the next day (Saturday, July 30th) and so I signed up. My husband and I went. We met nice people and I decided I wanted the sleeve. Its the same one I decided on the year before, but didnt follow through on. I made an appointment for Monday, August 1. Humana didnt cover the sleeve unless you have a bmi of 50 and mine was 40.2 so we were going to be self pay. We decided to get it over with before school started and scheduled the surgery for the NEXT Monday at 8 am. Wow! I had a date already! I went on a one week preop diet and lost 9 pounds. I was 225 when I had the surgery. I went back to work the following Monday. I was just weak and tired but not much pain or anything. I had a little trouble getting in the required fluids. Next chapter-- At the begining of my third week post op I developed a kidney stone because I was dehydrated. I was hospitalized for 5 days and had another surgery on my kidney to place a stent. I gained a lot of weight from the fluid they gave me. I got the stent removed last Wednesday and I am finally, at 5 weeks out, starting to feel like my old self again. I started walking this week and doing a little weight training. To date... I have lost 27 pounds. I weighed 206.9 this morning. Thats lower than I have been since the trying to conceive days about 3 or 4 years ago. I am doing better about drinking but have not reached 64 oz on any day yet. So in Summary: I have been a yo-yo dieter for 20 years and havent been under 170 in about 14 years. I want to be my college weight of about 135 pounds, a size 6. I could stand to be 125 but that is getting a little thin for my build. It has been forever but I at least have a reference point. I can visualize that but I still have a hard time believing that any thing will work to get me there. I am scared to believe that this is finally it for me! I hope I can do this and maintain it for my lifetime. At my highest weight, my feet and back ached all the time, I cant tie my shoes right. It hurts to lean over. I am miserably tired and have no energy to do anything. I starting thinking in terms of how far do I have to walk and are there any hills to climb before I would decide If I wanted to go to the zoo or any activity with my family. I was not living. I was slowly dying. I had to make a change for good. I am sorry this story is so long but I wanted to get it all out there. The truth, the facts... my story.

Here's a list of my vitamins: multivitamin, (2 a day) calcium citrate (1500mg) StressB complex, B12 (500mg) Iron (160mg) Vitamin D (25,000IU), Vitamin E (400IU) Vitamin C (500mg) Zinc 50 mg and my two protein shakes. My girlfriend takes two multivitamins and vitamin D. My other friend is having her surgery in Oct and her doctor is allowing her dinner on her liquid diet (salmon and chicken) and she has to take a short every day for two weeks to ensure no clotting. Then she takes her multivitamin and vitamin D. Now...I would say I have to take all of these due to my blood test, but I was in a room with 6 other women who is going to have their sleeve and they got the same standard list I got. Plus we are told we can't eat dairy products....ever! Thanks for sharing

I started my two week all liquid diet and vitamins. I am taking about 10 different vitamins. My girlfriend had the sleeve in Feb. and she only takes a multi vitamin and iron. What is everyone else taking?

I know what your talking about too. I also take omeprazole, it's a different sensation than acid reflux. It was worse when I first started sifts and solids. I'm three months out and it is a lot better now.

Had my visit after my first fill of 2 wks ago. 4 more lbs gone. My Doc thinks I got this, so he said one more visit next month before going to a every three months visit. I feel like I am graduateing or something yeah!!!!!!!!! His words of advice stick to the 4 0z measurement at each meal I don't need to get ahead of myself on this. I agree weighing measureing your intake is critical.............it would be so easy to just eyeball my intake and let my brain confuse want with need. :thumbup:

I weigh once a week, same time, same scale at Weight Watchers. I hid my scale in the garage the day after surgery and haven't looked back. On Monday I weighed at the doctor's office. Lost a pound since Saturday. Great! Started eating soft foods and I log them on dailyplate. Still around 800 cals - 1000 cals/day. Gassy tummy gone, swelling still there. Met with personal trainer first time yesterday. She didn't force me to weigh, I did. That was last night, with sneakers and full on workout clothes -- GAINED SIX LBS. So I cried for about 10 seconds in the locker room, washed my face and left it there. If I freak at this early date every time I get on a scale I'll never succeed, or if I do I will lose my mind and drive everyone around me crazy too. I'm sticking with a weigh in at Weight Watchers on Saturday mornings. My trainer will be good with it (what she will say no?) and I'll stop this stupid vicious roller coaster that is already running when the cars aren't even on it yet! Today is a busy work day from home, getting ready to go back to work Monday. I love LA Fitness, and I love my trainer. I love grilled fish and I love the fact that its another beautiful day. Good Friday :bored:

Third day of getting up early, driving to work and getting home late. I'm getting pretty tired. Had to use puffy eye cream this morning. Big meeting with customers this morning but after that I can be in my office semi-relaxing at desk work for the rest of the day. Then its workout time with my gym buddy! That I'm actually looking forward to. I am alternating between working out at home in the morning and at the gym after work. After a week of it I'll figure out whether it works for me. Im trying to get those calories to between 1000 and 1200 slowly. I've been on 600-800 for almost three weeks and I'm kind of used to it. I get in my protein and water so I'm not doing badly I just know the weight loss won't continue at a starvation mode. Even though I bring a whole bunch of soft foods to work I can't seem to get them in. Its much tougher at work than it was at home. This will be a good thing when I really get hungry! Oh my gosh! Today is 3 weeks! 3 weeks ago today I had my surgery! Happy Birthday, Band! And like having a baby, the initial days of discomfort are fading fast.......

so good. Tuesday, September 20, 2011, at 8 AM I had my surgery. Before hand, like many of you, I had second thoughts: am I doing the right thing, did I really try hard enough to lose the weight, am I taking the easy way out, am I really ready to give up the food and change my eating lifestyle, etc. Because I had been praying about it for what seems like forever, and my family had been praying I had peace and comfort and forged ahead. After the procedure naturally I slept like I hadn't slept in years. I mean the good, undisturbed, morphine enduced sleep that I so needed - LOL. Later on that evening, around 11 PM, I was awaken and told "come on, time to walk." I didn't think I would be up to it but it really wasn't that bad. With the next day came another challenge -- liquids. I wasn't given anything to drink in the morning but at 3 PM I was given 6 oz of chicken broth. The first 3 oz went down with ease and suprisingly I didn't feel full but I knew I needed to stop sipping. I had the last of it around 5 PM. Home a day after surgery - yeah, I though it was a bit early too - it was time to operate in the real world. Time to apply all of the things my doctor had told me, the nutritionist shared with me, and all of the super helpful things I've read from all of your experiences. Today, I'm sitting here 4 days post-op, getting in roughly 48 oz of liquids a day, in mininal pain and taking it easy. Initially, I said I was going to go back to work after a week but I've decided to go back Oct. 3. Oh, and as if things couldn't get any better pre-liquid diet I weighed 323.6 pounds. The day of surgery I weighed 311. And as of yesterday when my home health aide/nurse came, I weighed 295!!! Oh happy day!!!

This may be slow in coming but I've come to realize something...this change is truly a process and is very, very different for each person. Prior to having surgery, my physician and his staff provided me with tons of information at each appointment. I have a wonderful binder (my bariatric binder) chronicling step by step, and day by day things from vitamins, what to expect before and after surgery, pre-admissions, examples of meal plans, what kinds and times to take in liquids, etc. It is so informative and I refer to it at least 20 times a day. During my appointment, my doctor as well as the on-staff nutritionists adamantly steered me away from certain carbs. I was under the impression as soon as something sweet or some bread like substance hits your palate I'd regret it instantly. It was/is because of this that I have stayed on point. That and I'm only 3 weeks post-op. Anyway... I've read the occassional post where someone may have had a weak moment (nope, I'm not judging) and they never mention getting sick. How can this be??? Of course this is his profession, but I now know my doctor is really committed to steering me away from the potentials of what contributed to me having the surgery in the first place. Yes, these things could possibly make me sick but why go there. He's actually aiding me in my lifestyle change by assisting with changing my mind set. Just one more reason why I love, love, love the bariatric staff at Temple University Hospital!!!

I started walking two days post op, albeit short distances. After about 2 weeks, I was walking and biking for 30-40 minutes a day. Added swimming as soon as the wounds healed (think it was at 8 weeks or so, can't remember). Wasn't cleared for weights until about 16 weeks and then it was moderate, nothing too strenuous. At 20 weeks, I started hitting the weights aggressively and haven't looked back!

Thanks for the reply, sounds like your schedule has worked great. I'm at 4 weeks Post Operative and I currently do not have a exercise plan. My job is physically demanding, constantly working in the yard and I do walk a food bit, but I'm eager to put a plan into effect. I appreciate the information, sounds like its time to get those tires pumped up on my mountain bike and hit the trails!

Thanks all! I am a first grade teacher in an inner city school and will definitly need my coffee. I'll give it a few more weeks (3 more weeks 'til school). There is light at the end of the tunnel:)