Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Introducing myself after lurking for months! 2 months post op



Recommended Posts

Hi!

Ive come to this site for encouragement during low moments and I want to join in.

I'm Gail, 44, in California and had lap band surgery mid-June of this year. My first fill was last week.

I started the process last November and had the surgery June 14. According to the home scale, (which is painfully close to the doctor's scale) I've dropped from 243 in May to 209.5 this morning. I'm 5'4" and my goal is to drop back down into the 130s, where I was for most of my 20s.

I've been seriously battling my weight for 14 years and am eager for these pounds and bulges and bags to let loose!

Right now, what I'm struggling with most, is battling old habits. I'm a spec. ed. teacher, mom and grad. student and now that school is back in session, I see how much time I spent actually eating every evening. I'm also struggling with exercise right now, too, working it into my schedule and seriously committing to it.

I'm also struggling with redefining myself and finding comfort in something more than food. I'm fine during the day, downing Water mixed with Crystal Light and Protein Shakes, but it's those hours from 5-11 that may do me in if I don't turn it around.

I'd love any advice that anyone may wish to share.

I've got 5 CCs in a 10 CC band and feel some restriction. My doctor is conservative and does fills only every eight weeks max.

I'm happy to have lost this much, and today had a mild NSV when I realized that a pair of capris I couldn't even get over my butt pre-op were getting a little too loose today, but I'm feeling just a little blue right now, especially as I face my old high caloric habits square in the face.

Thanks everyone! I have been soooo inspired by all of you!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Kipper - sounds like you are doing AWESOME!!! 34 pounds down, is a HUGE accomplishment.... Congratulations!!!... NSV victories are huge also - good for you....

5-11 are hard - have you thought of starting a hobbie or going to the gym? I'm sewing like crazy and loving it... Try picking up a new skill...

Keep on track, you are doing super great!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I don't really have any advice or tips for you as I am not banded yet... but I just wanted to say that what you've lost in such a short time is amazing! And NSVs, to me, are just as important as seeing that scale drop.

Congratulations on the new capris. :]

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have some encouragement for you, I was banded in Oct 09, and I thought that if I could get to 150 pounds and size 10 I would be happy, but I have always been overly ambitious and I set my goal at 130. I had used diet pills and Adkins to get down to the mid 130's before but I was still a size 10.

Well I am now at 133, I went clothes shopping at 135 and I was scared to try on a size 6 because I would be disappointed if they didn't fit, and they were too big, I ended up buying a size 4! So I decided not to lose the last 5 pounds and maintain at 135 or so. Following the band diet and exercising has brought me back to the size I was when I was 20. Of course there is flabby skin involved now but at least it isn't filled with fat.

So the moral of my story is 130 is doable! Find an exercise that you enjoy and follow your eating requirements. Your already 30% of the way there!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you everyone for the friendly welcomes! I should have clarified that I was 243 when I started the process, and came in somewhere around 233 when I had surgery- so the loss isn't as dramatic as I first made it sound. It is exciting to feel restriction.

One thing that is helping with the urge to eat is adding sugar-free flavorings to ice cold Water bottles (it's super hot here right now). I've discovered Wylers light singles to go in raspberry and (for the moment) they are delicious!

I've never been big on exercise, but now is the time to really jump in. My 9 year old wants to do Wii Fit with me every night, and that may just be the ticket during this busy season, and a bonding time, too!

Thank you for the words of encouragement. I can't even imagine making it to a size 4!

:o

Gail

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 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. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×