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Need Lap Band Buddy / Mentor Need support!



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Hi, my name is Caity and I'm 26. I live in Ventura County in So Cal and was banded on June 14th- just this past week. I live with my boyfriend of 4 years and was never heavy until 3 years ago when I developed PCOS and gained 80 pounds in 4 months. Since then I've gained another 20 pounds or so despite trying to lose weight.

Since the pre-surgery diet began about 3 weeks ago I've already lost about 20 pounds. Not sure exactly because my scale is different than the doctors. Anyway, I'm looking for someone who can help me get through this. It's been really hard emotionally for me.

I was a competitive swimmer my whole life until college so I grew up eating 5 big meals a day and snacking constantly because I was swimming and working out 20-30 hours a week. So I have a pretty messed up relationship with food. I'm changing that. Even when I quit swimming I could eat whatever I wanted without consequence until I got the PCOS a few years after that. So anyway, since I gained the weight I've struggled to change my relationship with food and my eating habits but now that I have the band it's been a forced drastic change and I'm having a hard time.

If someone out there can help me get through this and encourage me and tell me about their experiences that would be wonderful.

Thanks so much,

Caity

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Caity I would be happy to help you through your journey! The first thing you need to know is that you are not alone. This is a very emotional process that you are going through especially the first month. Just as you mentioned you are changing your eating habits drastically. Right now you are probably not even eating foods..you are probably still in the liquid stages or maybe starting the mushies. The best advice I can give you is to try to remain positive and keep remembering why you chose to have this surgery to begin with. Picuture the end results..it will happen. Try to only have healthy foods in your pantry, that will lead to less temptation. I am currently addicted to sugar free popcicles...my life used to revolve around ice cream. Your taste buds will change throughout the process..things you used to love--you may not like any more (normally the bad foods). Once you start to eat solids, remember to eat small bites and to really chew your food to avoid getting stuck. You probably do not have any saline in your band right now but you still might feel some restriction due to swelling. You need to concentrate on healing right now. Whenever you are scheduled for your first fill, then you can concentrate on feeling restriction. You just had a major surgery so let it heal, walk as much as you can (that will help with the gas as well as make you feel better) and make sure you are getting enough fluids & Protein in each day. I hope this helps. You can send me a PM any time and we can talk more! Take care.

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Hi, my name is Caity and I'm 26. I live in Ventura County in So Cal and was banded on June 14th- just this past week. I live with my boyfriend of 4 years and was never heavy until 3 years ago when I developed PCOS and gained 80 pounds in 4 months. Since then I've gained another 20 pounds or so despite trying to lose weight.

Since the pre-surgery diet began about 3 weeks ago I've already lost about 20 pounds. Not sure exactly because my scale is different than the doctors. Anyway, I'm looking for someone who can help me get through this. It's been really hard emotionally for me.

I was a competitive swimmer my whole life until college so I grew up eating 5 big meals a day and snacking constantly because I was swimming and working out 20-30 hours a week. So I have a pretty messed up relationship with food. I'm changing that. Even when I quit swimming I could eat whatever I wanted without consequence until I got the PCOS a few years after that. So anyway, since I gained the weight I've struggled to change my relationship with food and my eating habits but now that I have the band it's been a forced drastic change and I'm having a hard time.

If someone out there can help me get through this and encourage me and tell me about their experiences that would be wonderful.

Thanks so much,

Caity

Hi Caity-

I live in Ventura and have been banded for 6 years and have lost 250 pounds. I'd be more than happy to offer any help and encouragement that I can. You may want to check out my blog at Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story

Perhaps you can find some words of encouragement there. Send me a PM or an email with any questions, comments, etc.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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