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@Hungryman I know it can be frustrating but you are really doing good so congratulations...one of the posters posted his weight loss journey for 10-12 months and he lost slow but the big picture was he lost about 90 or so lbs in that time frame...his point was “Look at the big picture” when I think about it, really makes a lot of sense...I try and keep that thought in the back of my mind. You’re doing awesome. Keep up the good work.

Can't believe 24 hours from now I'll be checking in at admissions!!! I'm excited and nervous!! The anticipation is the worst, lol! I'm just ready to get this over with and get back home to start my recovery! I started packing my hospital bag last night and reality seriously set in! This is really happening! I've only had surgery once, and I remember being incredibly nervous. I think I'll do better this time, but I have apologized to my husband in advance for being a nut tomorrow morning!! The plan is to drop my daughter off at school (which I pre warned my husband I will cry) then head to the hospital. Check in is 8am and surgery is scheduled for 10. I'm hoping if all goes well, I'll be out of the pacu and in a room by 2pm. My husband plans to be there the whole time, then pick my daughter up after school and bring her to visit. She's only 4, and knows only a little about what's going on. She knows mommy is having surgery and will stay the night at the hospital. Luckily, I worked nights as a nurse for a long time, so hopefully mommy staying the night in the hospital won't be to weird for her! Anyway, the plan is to stay busy today, and try to sleep tonight! I'm sure sleep won't come easily, lol! I'll try to post again tomorrow with an update. My surgery is at Parker Adventist Hospital in Parker, Colorado. It's a beautiful hospital, and all rooms are private, which I love!!!!!! Wish me luck!

Oh, I hope someone reads this and can help me-if in fact I have a problem. I am 10 days post sleeve and started working in soft Proteins yesterday. Today I was stuck away from home and made 1/2 a bologna sandwich at my friends. I had NO trouble eating, did not feel full and almost ate the other half. Is my sleeve too big? Did I somehow stretch it? I felt very restricted the last 10 days but I never threw up any food or felt sick from too much. I realize this is a very specific problem, but did any one else feel just fine eating soft proteins, and BREAD right away? I thought I would never be able to eat bread again. ST

Welcome back Season :smile2: There is so so much info on the band now every DO and DONT I've thought of is somewhere here at this site. This site is AWESOME.:thumbup: So many supportive people with great advise. Now that you've renewed your band vows I'm sure you'll do great!!! You'rea already 10 lbs down, that's a really good start.

Im only 10 days in and i feel the same way..Im so hungry and aggravated. I get full drinking the liquids but a little while later im hungry again. I dont know what to do. I thought about starting mushies a little early. can you do that? Another thing I lost 10 pounds the first 5 days after surgery which Im thinking might have been water weight.. Now my weight is going between 263 and 264 and not really doing anything is that normal? Help

I did this! Too bad its already getting back to its non-spotless state now, LOL!!! Luckily 10 days out and I feel well enough to piddle around the house again

The amount of saline in your band has little correlation with how effective it will be. Some need no saline and some may need all 10 CCs. The band works by dimming your appetite but needs to be adjusted for this to happen. Eating fewer calories than you consume is how this works but you won't eat less until your band is adjusted so that you're in the green zone. If you can feel satisfied with a small meal for 4+ hours you're probably in the green zone and the band can work it's magic. Good luck.

Ugh! Mine periods were horrible. A couple of days of insanity followed by 24 hours of terrible cramps and diarhea. And I started really young. I turned 10 in July and got my first period at the beginning of September. Because I never wanted children I thought that all this suffering was most unfair and I was always trying to find a doc who would remove the apparatus that was causing me so much grief. I was relieved when I crashed into an early menopause. So relieved that I refused HRT for the first five years, then tried it for a couple of years in my late 40s before going back off of it. With menopause I did suffer from hot flashes for about a decade and I do have osteopenia. You are lucky that your periods were/are easy.

I too am so glad I got the band. I reached my goal in 10 months. I spend a little more time hungry or too tight but it's all been worth it.

So much better today. I actually left home went to Walmart. What did you eat and how soon did you eat it? When we're you banded? I thought I saved your link on my computer but can't find it can you post again or email me. Smarshall10@att.net I'm down 16 lbs from 10/21 I'm 6 days post op Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I used the patch for about a month maybe, then it was cold turkey. I also lived on this website, it literally saved me on more than one occasion. There is alot of information, forums, chat and the best thing is there is a gadget that tracks your quit for you and you can sit and watch it go up. The gadget kept me going, I would look at it and think to myself it's just not worth losing my progress so far. Now if I could only find a gadget like that for Cookies and crackers not eaten!!! Another thing I did was I actually quit on Christmas day and I made that a gift to my kids...that way I couldn't start again, I would be taking away a gift! It will be 5 years this Christmas. Here are the stats from my gadget: 1648 days, 20 hours, 17 minutes and 51 seconds smoke free. 65954 cigarettes not smoked. $13,184.00 and 16 months, 23 days, 19 hours of your life saved. Your quit date: 12/25/2005 2:00:00 AM

Yay! I got my surgery date today! I have to go in for my pre-op appointment next Monday and my surgery is scheduled for Thursday, July 19. I am so happy that they were able to schedule a date so soon. I want to be off of my modified liquids diet before I go back to school (work). I will be 4 weeks post-op by then, and 12 weeks post-op by my brother-in-law's wedding. I can't wait for my body on the outside to match my personality on the inside. I am so excited! I am motivated to get as much weight as I can off before the wedding. Wahoo!

It's totally normal to be scared! I was freaked after my pre-op appt with my surgeon, then I was calm again. Then the morning of my surgery, my husband drove me to the hospital, he pulled in the parking ramp and I looked at him and said "lets go home, I can't do this" But, I knew if I didn't do it, I would regret it! I'm only 2 weeks post op now, so I'm not experiencing all the differences there will be (other then only being allowed liquids still for another week), but I know that since starting the 10 day pre-op liquid diet until now, I've lost 30 lbs already. So it WILL be worth it! Only you can really decide what's right for you, but as a person who has fear and anxiety myself, don't let fear of the unknown rule your decision. My husband was worried (and so was I), about the risk factors and death is always a risk, but I always told him, and reminded myself, I could die driving to work each day, I could die walking to the mailbox, and I could die early because of my obesity. Sometimes the risks are worth it! Good luck!

How is everyone doing from the July group? I had VSG on July 10, started at 346.6. Now I'm at 293.2... Down about 53 pounds. I'm feeling good. I still can't SEE a difference in my physical appearance. Others make positive comments, but I'm not able to see it yet. How's everyone else doing? Sent from my iPhone using VST

I told all my kids. Three of which are still at home (ages 19, 17 and 12) and one that lives with his wife and child. I don't mind that their friends know. The kids did need to know because they had to understand that my eating would change. It has been a family thing really. They encourage me when I start getting annoyed that I can't have some of the things they are eating. Now I have no cravings for most of what they eat and only want my shakes and my meals. They have been wonderful through this.

Thanks.... Jess...Surgiversary 9/19/12

Well just one more day till I start my preop diet and I must say I'm scared and excited at the same time. Tomorrow I will weigh and post my measurements. Kinda curious if I gained any weight in the past few weeks cause I have been eating any and everything that I know I won't have ever again. I'm paying for my surgery because my insurance doesn't cover any weight surgeries. I feel like I owe this to myself I have spent my whole life taking care of others now it's time to take care of my self. I have struggled with my weight since I was in middle school. I'm so ready to shop in the regular size women's department instead of a hidden plus size section. The determining factor that made me make the decision to have surgery was when my boyfriend and I went to Orlando to shop at the outlet mall. I couldn't fit any clothes at any of the stores including Nike and Addidas even women's workout clothes didn't fit what sense does that make. I cried on the inside all the way home and was so ashamed of myself. I had had enough. So my story begins on Tuesday 10/25 with my 2week preop diet. More updates to come. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@jane13 Since we're really close to the same height, sizes are probably about the same too -- I've gone from a 20 to a size 10. Yay! My goal was 90lbs. by Christmas, and I think I might just make it! That puts me at 185 -- this is so exciting, isn't it? A year ago this was all just a dream! What holiday challenge are you talking about? I'd love to do that! (P.S. I got on the scale the day after Thanksgiving AFTER I ate breakfast and was down 2lbs. from the previous week -- I thought I was going to cry, I was so happy. Can't remember a Thanksgiving where that has ever happened!)

Every plan is different with the diet plan. My surgeon doesn't require a liquid pre-op diet unless I weighed over 400lbs. From what I've seen - most require one for 10-30 days pre-op. Those are great questions to ask your nutritionist. Keeping a journal is a great idea!

Hi everyone! I had the lap band in 2015 and thought I would be completely different within a year. I initially started to lose weight but even at the beginning felt like I shouldn't be able to eat as much as I could. I was constantly hungry and felt like I was starving all the time. I had several adjustments and even got to the max allowement then had to have it drained because I couldn't even drink Water.. It was aweful! My heaviest weight was 289.7 and I didn't even realize it! I seen a picture of myself and had no idea who that person was. I am 5'8 and have always been told that I'm curvy and look "good" so it never occurred to me that I was actually that big since I carry my weight well. Don't get me wrong, I knew I was a big girl but still felt like I wasn't that bad. My horrible motto and cop out was, "You can fix chubby but you can't fix ugly!" How horrible right?? Smh.. Well, I had pain, brusing on my belly button and could no longer hold down real food. But let me tell you that chips and candy went down super easy. I ate the big Reece's cups everyday! I felt like a complete and total failure and started feeling like everyone who loves me was being nice to me and telling me I was beautiful because they knew my heart. I am currently 33 and was 17 when my beautiful mother died and 19 when my amazing father died. I raised my 2 brothers and 1 sister when that happened and worked 3 jobs to make sure we had a roof over our heads. I sang in a band for many years and always felt like the fat girl. I even had a miscarriage 5 years ago that devastated me to the core. I was tired, and tired of being tired. Last week, October 19th I changed my life!! I had the revision to sleeve!! Let me tell you the honest raw uncut truth... I NEVER EXPECTED THIS! My amazing, supportive fiancé got me a scale yesterday as a surprise. I almost felt like maybe my doctor didn't actually do the sleeve since I don't notice any changes. I went into surgery at 281.7 and I weighed myself this morning at 262.4!!!!! I AM IN AWE!! I go to the doctor today for a follow up and am honestly in pain (mostly super tenderness) and man oh man do I want a cheeseburger.. Lol.. But this has been all worth it! I know that if I stay focused, stay connected, stay honest and give my all.. I will have amazing results! This site has been so inspirational. I have literally been reading stuff all night!! Haha.. I had to tell everyone a part of my story and really stay accountable. Thank you for reading my extremely long story. I hope that someone out there can relate and feel encouraged. My new motto is, "Live the life that you want to live and live it well!" Bee Sent from my LGMS550 using the BariatricPal App

Rode any ride I wanted without fear of being too big. Walked over 10 miles while at the park and my feet did not hurt. Was able to walk through turnstiles head-on instead of turning sideways. Did not succumb to eating junk while in the park and found healthy options. It is definitely now officially the happiest place on earth!

Ok, I'm going to give every bit of my story in detail so grab a glass of Water lol. It all started around the first of March, 2013 when my friend (who just scheduled with Dr Kelly for May 16) mentioned you could get weight loss surgery in Tijuana for about 5k. I laughed so hard I almost spit out my drink and was like YAH RIGHT, I'll get right on that. After I went home I did a ton of research and a few days later I said, ok, if I'm still this heavy next year I will schedule the surgery, possibly in the states. I've been a medical professional for 15 years and had that old Tijuana reputation in my mind. After researching for hours, days on end I found Dr Kelly's profile. Hey, this guy is a member of FACS and the American Society for Bariatrics etc and had done a transplant surgery residency in the US. Really? 7,000 surgeries? Really? Well ok, I was impressed. $5500, REALLY? lol.......ok. I prayed and thought about it for a long time and looked at other surgeons. I read all the Dr Kelly gossip, about his unfortunate death and him leaving his coordinators behind. I can totally relate. I'm a midwife and deal with major complications that are not something I cause or can avoid. He operates on the most at risk population possible. Then I read that the bariatric surgery death rate was 1 in 400. I prayed about it and felt totally at peace. I looked at Dr Aceves and he seems wonderful also, but I just couldn't justify the extra $3,000 when Dr Kelly had as much as more experience........he just never split from his coordinators and had them drag him through the mud. One of the most respected midwives in this area lost a baby a few months ago, which of course tore her and the family a hole in their hearts that will never close. Thankfully we support talented midwives (she had taught and trained so many over the years) when something out of control happens, in MX I guess they drag you through the mud for years. In MX I'm sure that all Drs have deaths, there is no way that they have escaped the 1 in 400 statistic if they have done thousands of surgeries. It is just impossible. I talked to Lora a lot and even had Dr Kelly call me. I prayed some more and decided instead of waiting until I gained another 100 pounds in a year to just go ahead and go for it, so I scheduled for April 9th. I texted Lora constantly, she was always so sweet and helpful. She was a patient of Dr Kelly's also and doesn't get paid per patient, just a salary. I even tried to trick her once to see if she was really a coordinator and asked her if there were any other surgeons she might suggest. She said I had a lot of options but she had chosen Dr Kelly. I was relieved to know she really did just work for him (I'm a suspicious person lol). The week before my scheduled surgery I started the pre-op diet. I had a higher BMI (50, 49.something at my actual surgery) so it was all liquids for me. Ugh.....terrible. Then on day 4 my husband developed pneumonia and my daughter caught the flu from him. Surgery cancelled. Lora was really nice and I rescheduled for April 22nd. Lucky me I got to do the preop diet again (I regained all the weight back from the 4 days before from pizza....i'm sick) and stuck to it the whole 7 days! I lost 11 lbs. The day of surgery I picked my mom up super early and we headed for our 7 hours of flights to San Diego. I tried to buckle my seat belt and it wouldn't buckle. Oh my goodness. I had to ask the stewardess what to do and she discreetly handed me an extender. Nothing more reassuring you need WLS than not being able to fit into a pretty large seat belt on the plane. When I got to San Diego I received a text from Alina telling me Dr Kelly's wife would be there in about 10 minutes. I had to sit in the sunshine for 10 minutes, oh the horror. A gorgeous, sweet lady got out of a very nice 15 passenger van and introduced herself and grabbed my luggage. It was Dr Kelly's wife Cecy. On the way to the hospital she apologized for her English, it is ok. We communicated pretty well and she told me about the areas we were passing etc. It was neat. When I pulled up to the hospital I was impressed. From hearing about it I thought it might be a bit run down but it was very nice. I was taken to lab, xray, seen the attending Dr and the cardiologist all within about an hour. They took care of you but there was no waiting around until that was over. After that I was in my bed having a nervous breakdown and praying with my mom. I asked for something to calm me. They gave me something and it helped a little. When they came to get me the Anesthesiologist came in and introduced himself. Ooops........Dr Kelly had already been in twice. I forgot to mention that. He took his time and answered my zillion questions, what a kind caring man. I got in the operating room and it looked much like the one I was in for my csections in the states. The anesthesiologist asked if I was ready and said slowly, ok ok bye bye and the next thing I realized I was waking up in my room. They had me in recovery for quite a while and I guess I was awake but it's all a blur. I was NAUSEOUS! I mean the kind of nausea you get when they twirl you in those things at the county fair that make you stick to your seat. They had given me a dose of Zofran already but it was awful. Dr Kelly ok'd it more often. Kudos to you that get up and walk. I couldn't because I would have fell over. I truly think it was a reaction to the anesthesia, I tend to be really sensitive to medications. It was the exact drugs they use in the states, (oh I checked) but people are different. I finally went to sleep and woke up about 11 hours later. This was the first time I asked for pain medicine. They gave it right away along with some Zofran. I had an IV with 5% dextrose so you won't get famished even though you aren't hungry. They don't use narcotic pain medicines unless you specifically really, really need them because you need to walk. I was given a strong IV NSAID and it worked lovely and controlled my pain. Yes, I was sore, I felt like someone punched me in the upper abdomen 100 times. The first day is definitely the hardest but you heal so quickly it is amazing. I've heard from some the nurses at Oasis speak English. Um, well, they speak enough to understand what you need and are very sweet but I met very few that were fluent. I used Google translate a few times with the free WiFi. There is an attending Dr there at all times and they all spoke English probably better than I do lol. Everyone went out of their way to be kind, and they cleaned the large room twice per day. My mother was very comfy with her twin size bed. She's about 5'2" and watching her lay there I figure someone 6ft or more would fit comfortably. It wasn't tiny and had drawers underneath. I also had a nice lil closet for my stuff. The hospital bedding is sooooooo warm and cozy, like a really thick comforter and all. Nice touch. By day 2 I was feeling good and ready to roll! I met a lot of patients, all happy, except one who was happy with the surgery/hospital but was angry with the booking agent for switching/downgrading her hotel at the very last minute. I told her about booking directly with Lora and the Dr. By that time I was so ready for something to drink that I snuck about an ounce or two of apple juice. I'm just going to admit it, don't follow my mistakes. Alina stopped in with a very nice packet outlining your food each step of the way and which medicines (antibiotics, prilosec and pain) to take when. We went to Hospital Angeles because they have a new, super cool machine for leak tests that is better than the one at Florence/Oasis. It's definitely an upgrade you don't get unless you book with the Dr because otherwise it is the agencies taking care of your hospital arrangements etc and it is out of the Dr's hands. The stuff you drink tastes gross and Dr Kelly came running over with some juice for me so I could get the taste out of my mouth quickly. He is very thoughtful. We all took pics together in the lobby afterward. Upon arrival at the Lucerna I was so excited. This isn't Hilton Nice, this is W nice. Huge hotel set up like Villas with a pool with a bridge over it, a courtyard with a fountain and fish etc. The broth was actually good, I was skeptical. We walked around the very safe area both days and felt like I was on vacation. I saw Dr Kelly everyday but the day I left (which is expected, seen him for 4 days). I rested and walked around, just had fun. On the last day Cecy told me to be ready about 9am but our flight didn't leave until 1pm so I figured it was border issues. We actually flew through the medical lane and was in San Diego by 10am. She was taking my mom, a breast cancer survivor to the Cancer Survivor's Park as a surprise. How sweet. It is beautiful by the water. We stayed and then said our goodbyes at the airport and she told me she knew plastic surgeon's, dentists, etc and they drive from the airport multiple times per day so if I wanted to follow up with Dr Kelly and come back to TJ just let her know and she'd pick me up. They are very kind, warm people. The flight home seemed like forever but it wasn't bad or painful. I'm 10 days post op today and have lost 22lbs already (11 preop and 11 post op). Oh, and the day I got to the Lucerna I weighed myself and I had gained back ALL the weight I lost preop. I kinda freaked but was told it was water. They were right! Don't fret. I loved my experiences and wouldn't have changed it a bit! I've been blessed by God every step of the way, from finding and good surgeon and guiding his hands to healing me very quickly. I'm still paranoid about complications, but that is just me. So far, so awesome! Feel free to PM me with any questions or just to say hi!! Everyone wants to hear the negatives........so I'll have to come up with some. The traffic is TJ is nuts. Cecy is a good driver but I'm a horrible passenger and it is like NYC going 60mph. They test you for HIV at the hospital without your permission in your preop labs, as a medical professional in the states I thought this was crazy.....but I could really care less. I would bring extra juice in your suitcase, I brought gatorade bottles and the little 10 oz apple juicy juices because I wanted them for my room and didn't feel like walking to get them although I walked for everything else lol. I can't do artificial sweeteners so I brought my own Jello too, the kind you find on the regular shelves that doesn't melt when it is warm.. I think it is called Juicy Jels or something. That's all I can come up with lol.

I am still on liquids. Full liquids for 10 more days. I wish I could start pureed. I had a family gathering today of course that revolved around food. It was really hard but I made it. Keep on keeping on!

I was about to answer someone’s post when I thought I'd rather not derail it and instead start my own. This is hard for me as I am not usually a person to open up to strangers so please bear with me. For a long time, even in my teenage years I would be a bit ‘chubby’, not fat but a little over weight. When I look back I can laugh, as my idea about dieting and losing weight, was to drop the 4 or 5 lbs I put on over Christmas or family holidays. I was about a UK 10 which is a USA 8. I heard from my Mum all the time, “If you could only lose a few pounds you’d be happy”. That confused me as I always thought I was happy!! My Mum had a 24 inch waist when she married and had a 24 inch waist after having me 7 years later. She came from the generation where you dressed to clean the house or do the gardening, so I don’t blame her mind set but it hurt me, a lot. When I married my first husband I was already a slim 8 stone 4lbs (116lbs) and only put weight on during my pregnancies and lost it afterwards and was around 10 stone (140lbs). Then my thyroid stopped working, my body ate it up and to cut short a 22 year story of hell and despair I put a lot of weight on. I tried so hard to lose weight but between my thyroid, depression, moving every 2 years (my ex-husband is military) AND my own inability to stop putting food into my mouth, I failed time and time again. Seventeen years ago my Mum told me that she was very disappointed in me. She had no complaints about me as a Mother, she felt I was an outstanding Mum however everything else disappointed her. I disappointed her. She told me, her only child, not to visit anymore as I was FAT and embarrassed her. I haven’t seen her since. I was unhappy in my first marriage and ate as a comfort. I also thought the fat would stop him wanting to touch me. It was a shield and if it was there nothing could hurt me. He wasn’t abusive, we had a good lifestyle and at times a good marriage but there was no real emotion there for me or the kids. I am not blaming him either, he just couldn’t do the connection thing on any levels. After 25 years of being together we divorced. Food was now my partner and I stayed fat. I met my second husband online 7 years ago. Online is easier isn’t it, you type and people don’t ‘see’. People can get to know you before they see the blubber. I was safe and felt secure. Even when we skyped about 4 months after sending emails and chatting on messenger, he only saw my face and you can always angle the webcam to make yourself look 40lbs lighter, only use it at night when the house lights are dimmed and wear black! We finally met and as the saying goes, ‘that was that!’ He saw past the fat. For 3 years he drove down from his home in the north of England to see me (I live in the south) every weekend. The drive was about 5/6 hours and he never ever missed a single weekend. We married 4 years ago this October. Not wanting to sound big headed but he worships me, loves and adores me. He accepts me for who and what I am and I am so blessed. I always kept it in mind in the past that I had to diet for ME. Now I have had the surgery for US. I want to be around for a long time so we can enjoy life together. Doing it for US doesn’t mean I don’t want to be able to buy ‘skinny women’s’ clothes and get into a swimming pool without feeling I was going to pass out with shame. I want to peel back the layers and open myself up to life, grab it with both hands and shake it till it bleeds. I don’t want to waste any more time. So yes ~ I keep to all the rules, yes ~ I’m not rushing to the next stage because I am tired of one week of soft foods, yes ~ I will wait to listen to my body and not my head or my fears, yes ~ I may make mistakes, learn from it and move on rather than sabotage it. Yes. I can begin to love me.

I have gone through this every morning of my six-month pre-op diet. I won't get an accurate weight until after about 10:00am or so. I am still ridding my body of liquid until that point. If I weigh super early (before 7am), it can easily be a 2ish pound difference. I've learned to know that and accept it -- but it was a hard pill to swallow in the beginning!