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

Hi Everyone.... Newly joined



Recommended Posts

Hi Everyone....

My name is Faith, I am 32 (soon to be 33) and live in a very small but beautiful town in New Hampshire called Mason. I just signed up today and have been reading posts for the last few hours and am finally getting the courage to post my own hello. My story is not that different from most, I have been heavy since my pre-teen years. I remember waking up one morning and discovering I had boobs and then it seemed like I woke up the next day and was fat (or at least I felt that way)! I suffered like most with dieting, failure, and ridicule in school (which is the WORST!) amongst other things. However, my weight ballooned after I had my daughter at age 19, I'm fairly sure that between depression and taking the saying "eating for 2" a bit too seriously I gained nearly 70 lbs. On top of my already being overweight I became obese. It didn't go well from their for my weight however, I can't complain about the rest! I have a VERY supporting (and thin, which is depressing sometimes) husband who loves me for me and I have 2 beautiful children ages 13 and 6.

I could blame my weight on food but it really has to do with me putting food in my mouth and now feeling to winded to even excercise so I don't. I have dieted many times over the years always fluctuating up and down but never being able to keep it off and I finally realize that I need help... something to assist me in losing weight because I can't do it alone and that is what the Lap-Band is going to be for me... my helper... always with me!!

I was at my heaviest about a month ago at 296 but again lost a few lbs so a few weeks ago when I went for my first appointment at the surgeons office I weighed in at 287 lbs! It is hard for me to admit that considering I'm a whopping 5 ft and a 1/2 inch tall but it is what it is (I'm short!) and acceptance is the first step I guess. My first and foremost reason for doing this is for ME, I'm tired of being big, not being able to shop in a regular clothing store and always feeling uncomfortable in my own body. My second reason is for my family so that I can be around for them for a very long time. I don't have any health issues yet from being obese but I know I will have them (family history) as I get older if I don't take care of this now.

My lifestyle is hectic with a full-time job, husband, kids, and college in the evenings but I am committed to making this work... my husband is even going with me to my appointments with the nutritionist, etc so he can help me too. I am hoping that considering my day-to-day routine does not allow me to get to personal meetings that I can get my support virtually with many of you that have been where I am. I'm also taking my tax money and buying a treadmill (even though we should do other things with the money) because I need to excercise.

What I am most concerned about is the pre-op diet of opti-fast for 2 weeks (not sure if I will feel hungry or feel the need to "eat"?) and then post-op... will I be able to cope with the liquid/mushy diet for the first several weeks.... will I constantly be hungry? My 13 year old said mom that will really stink you mean you can't eat ANYTHING? Although I played it off like I might not even be hungry.. they say there's a lot of swelling so who knows... it made we wonder and worry to be honest :unsure:.

Even so, I am anxiously awaiting my appointment with the surgeon on 3/11 to schedule my surgery date!!! I met my surgeon (and his partner) at the seminar I went to on 1/8 and they both seem really great and supportive plus one of the women in the office actually has a Lap-Band and another had gastric bypass so you get to speak with them too and get their point of view and advice so it has been a very positive experience so far.

Sorry this was so long... feels good to be open and honest and get it all out there though!!! Congrats to all those who have done it and to those who will and good luck!!!

Your help, input and words of wisdom are appreciated :D

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Welcome to the board! There is so much information here it is amazing.

I didn't think that the 2 week liquid diet was that bad until today. My surgery is tomorrow and I am just so done with it! lol The Protein shakes really filled me up. broth helped as did popsicles. Jello makes me gag but I did try it sometimes. Your mind definitely plays games with you. I was never truly hungry but I thought I should be if that makes sense. I just did something to take my mind off of it and that worked for me. I was on 4 shakes @ 27 g of Protein daily and 64 fl. ounces of clear liquid. The waiting until the day is finally here is worse. lol

Good luck and again, Welcome.

Wendy

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks Wendy!

Its good to know that I won't really be "starving" during those few weeks. Although you're right I'm sure it will get old once the date starts getting closer. I just met with the dietician and health counselor today and have my appointment with the surgeon on 3/11..... I am so very excited!

I hope your banding went well! Let me know how you are doing... maybe we can stay in touch :)

My email is fkreisz@gmail.com

Thanks again

Faith

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks Wendy!

Its good to know that I won't really be "starving" during those few weeks. Although you're right I'm sure it will get old once the date starts getting closer. I just met with the dietician and health counselor today and have my appointment with the surgeon on 3/11..... I am so very excited!

I hope your banding went well! Let me know how you are doing... maybe we can stay in touch :)

My email is fkreisz@gmail.com

Thanks again

Faith

Faith,

My banding went AWESOME! I have an amazing doctor and the practice he is at is great too. Everyone is so friendly and helpful. I am sure that this added to my great experience.

I have read that many can't sleep on there sides for days after surgery. For me that wasn't the case. From the day of surgery I rolled over to nap on my side and was fine. Just a small about of "uncomfortableness" but not "pain." The only thing that bothered me was the gas pains. UGH! I still have some discomfort with it but it is, slowly, getting better.

I meet with my doctor this Friday (1 week 3 days after surgery). RIght now I am on a Full liquid diet which includes low fat/ fat free cream Soups, Jello, pudding, cream of wheat along w/ the "normal" liquids. I am really hoping that he moves me along to the next stage at the appointment. I have no problem with anything so far. I pray it stays that way.

So on the 11th . . . is this your first meeting w/ the doctor? Do you have your surgery scheduled yet? Forgive me but I forgot. It is hard to keep up with everyone. lol

I have tried a few different Protein shakes and I could barf!! They are all so gross with the exception of the fusion Protein Shakes. Those are to die for! But it is pricey, which is why after the first container I tried others. I wasted more money trying other shakes that stunk when I could have gotten another of the good stuff. Now I have to finsih this gross one because I refuse to waste the money. :angry:

Keep me updated on how things are going. My e-mail should be on my profile page. Please feel free to e-mail me at anytime. I am certainly no pro, but am learning more and more. I am always here to lend an encouraging word!!

Wendy

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am new here too. I actually had the surgery last Wednesday. Pre-surgery, once I knew that the surgery date was soon to come, I switched to a low carb, high Protein diet of my own. Once I got to the 2 week Protein diet, it wasn't too bad. My doctor allowed me to have one well balanced meal a day, so that was something to look forward to. The hard thing for me was when my family would go out to eat. I chose not to go to the restaraunt, because it was so hard to resist. The other hard thing,(kind of stupid) tv food commercials. I have never craved pizza so much in my life! I try to change the station during commercials now. :)

The Clear Liquids the day before surgery was hard. Keep yourself busy. I went shopping all day.

Since the surgery, I started with Clear Liquids the first 2 day, then I moved to protein shakes. Yesterday, I switched to pudding, applesauce, and those types of things. I've been having terrible gas problems though....nothing will come out, and it hurts my chest. I talked to the dr today, and they said that because of the hiatal hernia repair that I had done, my food progress will be behind schedule, since there is twice the swelling. Unfortunately, I had to switch back to Protein Shakes only, for a few more days. :(

My moto that I say over and over in my head is, IT'S JUST FOOD!

Hopefully this will help you a little. You can do it! Keep up the good work. If you have any question, I'm here to help.

Jessi

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Jessi,

On the 11th I have my final meeting with the surgeon and they will schedule my surgery date. I'm glad you are doing well but I can understand the TV Commerical thing as strange as that sounds :)

I have already started trying to eat more Protein and cut down on my portions. Its weird but I think my body is ready to be lighter too because I have not been having too many issues with the changes I've made which is amazing! I'm was hoping that doing this now would help me to prepare and it sounds like I'm on the right track.....

My husband and I have decided to get a treadmill too since my schedule is very hectic and where we live is not really good for walking outdoors especially during the winter and spring (which I like to call mud season).

That stinks that that you had to go back to Protein shakes but at least you found one that you like and it will only be a few more days.

I read someones story on lapband.com and they had a good motto I liked.... they said "nothing tastes as good as being skinny feels". That kind of resinated with me and its so true.

Thank you so much for sharing. I really appreciate all of the information, I will keep you posted!

Faith

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Wendy,

Thats so good to know, I am a side and/or belly sleeper. I am not too worried about the surgery part, I have had c-sections with both of my kids and that was very uncomfortable so although I know there will be discomfort I'm not going to dwell on it. Someone else in this forum mentioned using the "belly band" from being pregnant and I think I am going to do that.... it sounds really funny but it was very helpful when I was recovering from having my kids.

I've heard that there is a lot of gas for some people I'm going to get gasx strips for afterward just in case. No surgery scheduled yet but on the 11th I will have my appointment w/ the surgeon and will schedule my surgery date then so I'll definetly keep you posted :)

So have you been feeling hungry since being on the liquid/mushy diet part? I'd be interested in seeing how that has been. Has your gas pain subsided yet? I hope that you are feeling well!

Thank you so much for the support.

Faith

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

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 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

    ×