Hello everyone. I thought I would share my experience from the start with everyone. Today is my first day on my liquid diet, and so far so good. I will be banded on May 1st. I woke up hungry, but quickly made my protein shake and was satisfied. I picked out two really good flavors; banana and orange cream. Can't really say I miss food yet. I was going to take my son for a walk, but it is raining so I plan on using the treadmill. My starting weight is 270.

Definitely a shocker about my half sisters.

My mom was never home when I was a kid. She stopped cooking when I was 7. She was working two to three jobs at a time and was hardly home to raise us or even cook. We would eat a lot of frozen meals. I had to learn how to cook on my own, which I am still learning. I know my mom just tried to do the best she could and had to work to pay for everything, but it really sucks that she was not there. Till this day she still works two jobs. I gained my weight with my first pregnancy and then after started to lose it since I was active and then I became pregnant with again and stayed the same weight until after the birth when my now ex husband became emotionally abusive. He would call me fat every day and back then I weighed 150, he would say that I disgust him and no one else would ever want me. Boy was he wrong, I have a wonderful husband now. I still feel emotionally messed up from my first marriage and I'm trying to feel better about myself, but it's hard to break the 11 years I had spent with him and all the hurt and pain he caused.

It's so nice to be off my meds and have normal blood sugar levels. Without the surgery I think I would have had serious complications with my diabetes, because I was still eating a lot of high sugar stuff. Having to do the pre op diet and getting the surgery has helped me change with cutting sugar out of my diet. The surgery will definitely help with your cholesterol and trigs. It may not cure your bipolar, but it can help since you will feel better physically and emotionally with the weight loss.

I forget to remember how good a childhood I had. There are so many people out there who share your story and worse. It must have been really hard on you. And then to top it off with an awful marriage seems like a nightmare.

I was a skinny little kid, but in high school, I gained and gained and gained. In 9th grade, I weighed 180 lbs. Then as a senior, I lost it all and was down to about 135. Then I got pregnant. Gained 60 lbs with my son, but then lost it all plus a bunch. I married at 120 lbs. I looked awful. Almost anorexic. My wedding dress was a size five, and it was loose. Then I got pregnant again, and something tripped my trigger. I gained 60 lbs, and kept gaining, even after birth. I'm lucky that my husband loves me for more than just weight. I'm glad you have someone who treats you like you should be treated and loved. A man who treats a woman badly is not a man.

I bet you feel better just not eating things with sugar in them. My husband used to use sugar like it was going out of style, and he didn't feel well. We switched him over to straight from the hive honey (we have a large nice honey producer locally), and he feels better. I haven't used any sort of sweetner in years. No soda, no anything. I don't even bake anymore. Still the weight won't come off.

I'm really glad for you that you don't have to take meds for diabetes now. That has to be a relief. I want so badly to stop taking meds. I know I will always have to take meds for bipolar and thyroid disease, but hopefully, the rest of the stuff can be dc'd.

Linda

That's so sweet. You seem like a wonderful grandma and mom. Your daughter in law has some great ideas, I'm going to try that pudding one with my son.

Your already doing a great job preparing. I didn't really start preparing myself and all my stuff until I was approved by my insurance. I mean I read things and went to the dietician, but that was about it until I was approved. They say no steak until after surgery when you move to solid whole foods and then you have to chew chew chew. I was scared to eat steak, but when I did it was fine since I chewed it until there was no more chewing to be done...lol...my jaw was killing me. If you get that scale tell me how it works, I think I'm going to wait until we move to go get it. I use recipes and make up stuff to. When I was pregnant with my son I craved so many foods that I learned how to make them myself at home, so it would be cheaper than eating out and healthier.

I'm a much better grandma than I was a mother. I wasn't bad, just I could have been better, done more stuff with them. I am a better mother to them now than I was then. I never beat them or anything. I was kinda strict, but allowed them to make mistakes. They knew they were loved. I never had a problem with any of them since they knew they could make those mistakes and they wouldn't be judged. I was mostly a stay at home mom, but worked periodically for a few years at a time. They are all well adjusted adults. My oldest daughter is a social worker and has a son a year old. My son works at Whirlpool, and is working on his Journeyman's thing. He's the one who has given me three grandchildren. My youngest daughter is a teacher, recently engaged, and just purchased a house on her own. I must have done something right.

You sound so much like me! I read and read and research and research this lapband stuff. I actually get sleepy hopping from site to site, looking at every aspect. There's a lot to know, and not just the lapband surgery stuff. I have found information on pre-op, post-op, nutrition, things you need to know but aren't covered in meetings, seminars, classes, and on and on. That's one reason I was so excited when I found this place, and then read your progress.

That's funny about the steak! I'm seriously considering buying that Ninja system that processes food. That way I can prepare my own shakes and smoothies. Its supposed to pulverize anything. Have you read any of Michael Pollan's books? He makes really good sense about foods. A few tips he has is to shop the outer perimiter at stores. All the nutritious stuff is there. You don't really need to go down the other aisles. Also, cook like your grandmother (or great-grandmother) did. They ate things directly from their gardens. And, if you read the ingredinets on a label, if there are more than five, it could be a problem. If it has things in it you can't read or recognize, don't buy it. He has several books on Amazon pretty cheap.

Linda

Whoops I forgot to finish my post before I sent it.

Maybe when you have your grand kids you can take them for a walk with you. An iPod is a good idea, you can listen to books or comedy if you like that. I remember being at work typing all day and I would get tired and bored so I would put on my headphones and put the comedy channel on and it would wake me up and make me feel in a better mood.

Excellent advice. My grandkids do enjoy hiking.

Linda

Well that's good that your son is close an your daughter is not to far. If you ever come to Vegas or my way it would be nice to meet up. Is Freemont Street where downtown Las Vegas is? Weight limitations really suck. I want to be able to ride dumbo with my son just like I did with my daughters at Disneyland. I'm afraid I will be turned away and my son hates going on rides by himself, I know my husband or girls can go with him, but I want to share those moments with him to. I'm afraid to go somewhere new, but I don't want that to keep me from seeing parts of the world. I would have to take my Xanax and have a few drinks to get through the plane ride, but other than that I think it would be nice.

It would be nice to meet up in Vegas! Right now, I'd have to purchase two tickets on a plane. Ugh. Freemont Street is wonderful. Its really advertised a lot there, so its easy to find. Its also free, which is a plus. I run into weight related obstacles every day. Pulling my seat belt out as far as it goes in order to fit me. Chairs at anywhere... doctor's offices, anywhere you have to wait. And then there's running out of breath when you have to stand in line at the DMV or the bank.

And while I'm ranting, food commercials send me over the edge. They show these skinny people eating everything from ice cream to fast foods to pizza to EVERYTHING. Skinny people. Why? (I know why) You know darned well that those actors don't REALLY eat that crap, and yet I still wanna know, WHY can those skinny people eat that crap and still be skinny!

/off soapbox

Linda

A lot of cars are priced more in California and have way more miles. I think a lot of the stress will be gone once I move. I hope after moving everything just falls in place.

I'm sure once you get settled, things will be better.

Linda

I think that's wonderful that your doctor cares so much and is friendly. My doctor is a good doctor at what he does, but I don't like how he is always in a hurry and trying to rush out the door. If you don't mind me asking, how much weight have you lost so far?

I lost 10 preop and 23 post up . I think that's good my doctor said you suppose to loose the 30% of your goal in the first month that everybody looses between 15 to 30 pounds. He told me to stay away from shakes that they pack to much calories you suppose to burn more calories that you eat so you can loose the weight he also said that if I wanted I can use Ali . Or any other diet pill . But I haven't. Keep controlling your calories an exercise and you will loose. Laters

Evenings are the worst for me. I hope you continue to feel full and the weight keeps coming off.

Linda

Ok I was feeling really full for a few days, but now I'm freaking hungry again. I do eat less now, but my stomach growls a lot during the whole day. I really can't wait until the next fill. I think it's going to take a few fills to help me feel full all day. I'm drinking lots of water and have no more kidney pain. I'm down to 253. Yesterday I ate yogurt with 3/4 a cup of frozen fruit thawed out for breakfast, for lunch was a omelette with two eggs and feta cheese, for a snack was milk with decaf sugar free French vanilla coffee mix that has 30 calories, and for dinner I had a cheese burger wrapped in lettuce and made by hand. I can't wait until 1 cup of food fills me up.

Ok I was feeling really full for a few days, but now I'm freaking hungry again. I do eat less now, but my stomach growls a lot during the whole day. I really can't wait until the next fill. I think it's going to take a few fills to help me feel full all day. I'm drinking lots of water and have no more kidney pain. I'm down to 253. Yesterday I ate yogurt with 3/4 a cup of frozen fruit thawed out for breakfast, for lunch was a omelette with two eggs and feta cheese, for a snack was milk with decaf sugar free French vanilla coffee mix that has 30 calories, and for dinner I had a cheese burger wrapped in lettuce and made by hand. I can't wait until 1 cup of food fills me up.

Yeah, but its so great that you lost more weight! I don't think I've heard my stomach growl in 20 years. I am glad to hear you aren't having any kidney pain. I've been practicing drinking lots of water. Sounds really stupid, but I want to make sure I can get it all in. How much did you lose pre-op? How much have you lost from start to finish (I know you aren't finished).

Linda

I forget to remember how good a childhood I had. There are so many people out there who share your story and worse. It must have been really hard on you. And then to top it off with an awful marriage seems like a nightmare.

I was a skinny little kid' date=' but in high school, I gained and gained and gained. In 9th grade, I weighed 180 lbs. Then as a senior, I lost it all and was down to about 135. Then I got pregnant. Gained 60 lbs with my son, but then lost it all plus a bunch. I married at 120 lbs. I looked awful. Almost anorexic. My wedding dress was a size five, and it was loose. Then I got pregnant again, and something tripped my trigger. I gained 60 lbs, and kept gaining, even after birth. I'm lucky that my husband loves me for more than just weight. I'm glad you have someone who treats you like you should be treated and loved. A man who treats a woman badly is not a man.

I bet you feel better just not eating things with sugar in them. My husband used to use sugar like it was going out of style, and he didn't feel well. We switched him over to straight from the hive honey (we have a large nice honey producer locally), and he feels better. I haven't used any sort of sweetner in years. No soda, no anything. I don't even bake anymore. Still the weight won't come off.

I'm really glad for you that you don't have to take meds for diabetes now. That has to be a relief. I want so badly to stop taking meds. I know I will always have to take meds for bipolar and thyroid disease, but hopefully, the rest of the stuff can be dc'd.

Linda[/quote']

I forget to remember how good a childhood I had. There are so many people out there who share your story and worse. It must have been really hard on you. And then to top it off with an awful marriage seems like a nightmare.

I was a skinny little kid' date=' but in high school, I gained and gained and gained. In 9th grade, I weighed 180 lbs. Then as a senior, I lost it all and was down to about 135. Then I got pregnant. Gained 60 lbs with my son, but then lost it all plus a bunch. I married at 120 lbs. I looked awful. Almost anorexic. My wedding dress was a size five, and it was loose. Then I got pregnant again, and something tripped my trigger. I gained 60 lbs, and kept gaining, even after birth. I'm lucky that my husband loves me for more than just weight. I'm glad you have someone who treats you like you should be treated and loved. A man who treats a woman badly is not a man.

I bet you feel better just not eating things with sugar in them. My husband used to use sugar like it was going out of style, and he didn't feel well. We switched him over to straight from the hive honey (we have a large nice honey producer locally), and he feels better. I haven't used any sort of sweetner in years. No soda, no anything. I don't even bake anymore. Still the weight won't come off.

I'm really glad for you that you don't have to take meds for diabetes now. That has to be a relief. I want so badly to stop taking meds. I know I will always have to take meds for bipolar and thyroid disease, but hopefully, the rest of the stuff can be dc'd.

Linda[/quote']

It is what is was, there is nothing I can do to change my past, but just move forward and try to be the best mom I can be and enjoy my life with my husband who makes me feel like I matter.

I think you will have wonderful results with the lap band, especially since you were able to lose weight on your own before. The lap band is a tool and sounds like you are making all right choices. That's wonderful that your husband has supported you all these years. Now that's a man. My ex husband definitely wasn't a man and still isn't.

I feel so much better not being consumed by sugary sweets. I would feel like crap after eating sweets and my body would swell up, but I never associated it with eating sweets until I cut them out and felt so much better and didn't have the body aches. I love honey, but I have to stay away from that to since it makes my blood sugars increase.

You will be able to get off some of your meds for sure and will even feel better. I noticed while I gained weight I had to increase my Xanax, as I stopped gaining my Xanax stayed the same dosage, when I drop more weight I will see about bringing that dosage back down as well.

I'm a much better grandma than I was a mother. I wasn't bad' date=' just I could have been better, done more stuff with them. I am a better mother to them now than I was then. I never beat them or anything. I was kinda strict, but allowed them to make mistakes. They knew they were loved. I never had a problem with any of them since they knew they could make those mistakes and they wouldn't be judged. I was mostly a stay at home mom, but worked periodically for a few years at a time. They are all well adjusted adults. My oldest daughter is a social worker and has a son a year old. My son works at Whirlpool, and is working on his Journeyman's thing. He's the one who has given me three grandchildren. My youngest daughter is a teacher, recently engaged, and just purchased a house on her own. I must have done something right.

You sound so much like me! I read and read and research and research this lapband stuff. I actually get sleepy hopping from site to site, looking at every aspect. There's a lot to know, and not just the lapband surgery stuff. I have found information on pre-op, post-op, nutrition, things you need to know but aren't covered in meetings, seminars, classes, and on and on. That's one reason I was so excited when I found this place, and then read your progress.

That's funny about the steak! I'm seriously considering buying that Ninja system that processes food. That way I can prepare my own shakes and smoothies. Its supposed to pulverize anything. Have you read any of Michael Pollan's books? He makes really good sense about foods. A few tips he has is to shop the outer perimiter at stores. All the nutritious stuff is there. You don't really need to go down the other aisles. Also, cook like your grandmother (or great-grandmother) did. They ate things directly from their gardens. And, if you read the ingredinets on a label, if there are more than five, it could be a problem. If it has things in it you can't read or recognize, don't buy it. He has several books on Amazon pretty cheap.

Linda[/quote']

You definitely did a good job as mom, your kids have all done well. No one is perfect and we all make mistakes especially as parents.

There is so much on lap band. People say good stuff and others say bad stuff, but I think it's all about following the plan that makes it work and getting the fills helps with following those rules. I love the fact that if I need to or decide I don't want the band anymore I can have it removed. I feel like my progress has been slow, but I only have myself to blame. I'm not going to beat myself up over it, I'm just going to keep moving forward and follow the rules.

I've seen the commercial for the Ninja, I want one of those to. I have the magic bullet and that thing is pretty cool. I haven't read any of Michael Pollan's books, but I have read something about just shopping the outside aisles at the store. All the processed foods are in the other aisles. I do like to get the dole fruit cups since they are in water and they don't go bad fast like fresh fruit. I love fresh fruit, but hate going to the store a lot so I get the dole fruit cups along with apples and another fruit that way it doesn't all go bad. That's a good way to think of eating, just like my grandma, everything was freshly made. I'm going to look into some recipes that have protein and little ingredients. Thanks for the info. I'm going to look into buying some of his books to.

Excellent advice. My grandkids do enjoy hiking.

Linda

That's awesome. Nothing like getting exercise and spending time with the grandkids. When I walk with my kids we talk and it doesn't even feel like exercise.

It would be nice to meet up in Vegas! Right now' date=' I'd have to purchase two tickets on a plane. Ugh. Freemont Street is wonderful. Its really advertised a lot there, so its easy to find. Its also free, which is a plus. I run into weight related obstacles every day. Pulling my seat belt out as far as it goes in order to fit me. Chairs at anywhere... doctor's offices, anywhere you have to wait. And then there's running out of breath when you have to stand in line at the DMV or the bank.

And while I'm ranting, food commercials send me over the edge. They show these skinny people eating everything from ice cream to fast foods to pizza to EVERYTHING. Skinny people. Why? (I know why) You know darned well that those actors don't REALLY eat that crap, and yet I still wanna know, WHY can those skinny people eat that crap and still be skinny!

/off soapbox

Linda[/quote']

I know what you mean, when we went to California for my brother in laws funeral last year we had to take one of those smaller planes which the seating is even smaller than the bigger planes, I had no problems on the way there since we sat in the emergency exit area, but on the way back they said we couldn't sit there since our son was on our lap even though we were able to the way there. The seats were not open they went up high on both sides like boards which was squeezing my hips and then the worst part was I needed a seatbelt extender, I felt so ashamed I have never needed a seatbelt extender before.

I hear you on that, they always show skinny people eating these foods that are so fattening and you know they don't eat like that, just like the commercials that show skinny people who did some diet or took some diet pills and you know they were never even fat. They even take it as far as photo shopping pics.

I'm sure once you get settled' date=' things will be better.

Linda[/quote']

Thanks I sure hope so. I did find a car so that's one less problem to stress over. I pick it up on July 10th, the lasting is moving back to Brazil and she had taken good care of the car, it's a 2007 Mazda 5 Sport, it's in good condition and has a third row seat. I'm so happy that's one less thing off my list.

I lost 10 preop and 23 post up . I think that's good my doctor said you suppose to loose the 30% of your goal in the first month that everybody looses between 15 to 30 pounds. He told me to stay away from shakes that they pack to much calories you suppose to burn more calories that you eat so you can loose the weight he also said that if I wanted I can use Ali . Or any other diet pill . But I haven't. Keep controlling your calories an exercise and you will loose. <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> Laters <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Wow 33 pounds is good. Your doing amazing. I hear your success and it helps me to stay on track. Thanks

Yeah' date=' but its so great that you lost more weight! I don't think I've heard my stomach growl in 20 years. I am glad to hear you aren't having any kidney pain. I've been practicing drinking lots of water. Sounds really stupid, but I want to make sure I can get it all in. How much did you lose pre-op? How much have you lost from start to finish (I know you aren't finished).

Linda[/quote']

I lost 13 pounds pre op and then 6 pounds post op, but I gained weight back and went up 8 pounds. I'm now back on track and have lost the 8 pounds I gained back and I'm now down 20 pounds all together.

As far as the kidney pain it kinda went away with drink water, but it came back way worse. I woke up yesterday at 5am in really bad pain. When I went to the restroom it felt like my kidneys were going to burst. My husband offer to drop me off at the emergency room, but I didn't want to stay there alone and have to wait until he could get off to pick me up. Luckily he got off work early and then he took me to the emergency room. Turns out I did have a bladder and kidney infection. They gave me IV fluids, some medicine for the pain, antibiotics, and medicine for nausea. They also did a CT scan to check for kidney stones. No stones. I was sent home with 6 different meds and pretty much slept the whole day yesterday. I feel like throwing up right now so I'm going to take some meds for nausea and go back to sleep.