starting a new thread for anyone who has or is considering surgery thru the Brigham/Falkner program.

~Mel

surgery 11/13/07 Dr Vernon

-35lbs

So far my hands haven't fallen off so I'm thinking I escaped the Green Line without the plague!

I bought a scale yesterday (When did scales get so expensive? I just wanted one that you stand on and it tells you your weight. They have scales that tell you your body fat, how much Water percentage is in you, if your outfit is ugly and all kinds of other contraptions on there. And you pay dearly for all these extra add-ons that I didn't really want) But I am down 13lbs since surgery, so i'm happy about that. Which I think makes it 35 lbs down since I was officially weighed at my first appointment with Dr. Robinson.

As for the treadmill, I won't run on them. I don't know why I'm so afraid of it, well ok I do know, I've heard fat people run on a treadmill, and I don't even want to be the cause of such noise. Maybe if I had one in my house, but not in a gym where there are other people, who I could see looking around to see from which direction that deafening sound is coming from. So I walk at a brisk pace.

I'm also afraid of falling off. And since I'd be at a gym someone would probably see if I'm alright and I'd have to lie and say that I'm fine and and pretend to be Ok rather than lay on the ground in the fetal position for 30 mins and sob which is what I'd probably rather do at that point.

Hope everyone is having a good day!

Job Lot has digital scales for 20.00 if you live near one and want to take the other one back. I have priced others at targets at 39.99 too much money for my taste

As for the treadmill, I won't run on them. I don't know why I'm so afraid of it, well ok I do know, I've heard fat people run on a treadmill, and I don't even want to be the cause of such noise. Maybe if I had one in my house, but not in a gym where there are other people, who I could see looking around to see from which direction that deafening sound is coming from. So I walk at a brisk pace.

I'm also afraid of falling off. And since I'd be at a gym someone would probably see if I'm alright and I'd have to lie and say that I'm fine and and pretend to be Ok rather than lay on the ground in the fetal position for 30 mins and sob which is what I'd probably rather do at that point.

Jay,

I totally understand and sympathize. I bought a treadmill for my house when I had surgery because I certainly didn't want to workout in a public place. Over the summer I had to travel to Chicago for work and didn't want to take the 5 days off from working out. So....I had to face my demons and walk/run in public. I do what they call interval training. I started by walking at one rate for a few minutes, then jogged at a faster rate for intervals as short as 30 seconds. I lost about 30-40 pounds BEFORE doing that, though...Increasing the speed or intensity, even a little bit, will have a great impact. I, too, worried about breaking the treadmill. Let's be honest---I was over 300 bills when I started. I WAS going to break the treadmill, but they're built to last. I ended up doing my regular workout last summer at the hotel. I was horrified that the only available treadmill was in the first row, with 3 other rows behind...so if the noise wasn't deafening, the wiggling of my fat would be quite a scene! So...I put on my headphones really loud. I didn't want to hear it. If I didn't hear it then it didn't exist. I didn't make eye contact. I didn't want to know what people were thinking. In the end, though, I will tell you that people have a great deal of respect for your effort. They're not thinking what WE think they're thinking. I swear. OH, but just so you know you're not alone...I won't run outside yet. I have a 5K in 11 weeks outdoors and I'm horrified to imagine what I'll look like. As it is I'm self conscious in my gym. I workout when I know my gym is empty. It doesn't matter how much weight you have to lose---we're all self conscious, at every size. That part of your brain doesn't disappear with the weight loss.

Just get working out. Walk, jog, skip if you want...just move. Don't worry about how you look. There's always someone who looks worse. :tt2: Keep up the great work! :tt2:

Edited February 19, 200917 yr by notateechanow

Jay,

-I was over 300 bills when I started.

OH MY WORD!!!!

I was reading and couldn't believe you said that, luv2teach!

"How on earth could this gal have weighed 300?"I asked . So, being nosy I went over to your profile photos Before and Afters and saw the TRUTH!!! Yikes gal...you're a walkin' LB miracle.

Thanks. It's scary to think I let myself go like that....:tt2:

Hi Everyone, my little cat got sick Monday(UTI), so I had her at the vet for observation all day Tuesday and picked her up Tues evening so I had to miss the group... I am looking forward to next month to hopefully meet most of you. I am losing steadily but no progress on Surgery date until Dr. R can see me on 10 Mar, and I am weighed on their scale... I might end up as an April surgery after all. Oh well.

Jay,

I totally understand and sympathize. I bought a treadmill for my house when I had surgery because I certainly didn't want to workout in a public place. Over the summer I had to travel to Chicago for work and didn't want to take the 5 days off from working out. So....I had to face my demons and walk/run in public. I do what they call interval training. I started by walking at one rate for a few minutes, then jogged at a faster rate for intervals as short as 30 seconds. I lost about 30-40 pounds BEFORE doing that, though...Increasing the speed or intensity, even a little bit, will have a great impact. I, too, worried about breaking the treadmill. Let's be honest---I was over 300 bills when I started. I WAS going to break the treadmill, but they're built to last. I ended up doing my regular workout last summer at the hotel. I was horrified that the only available treadmill was in the first row, with 3 other rows behind...so if the noise wasn't deafening, the wiggling of my fat would be quite a scene! So...I put on my headphones really loud. I didn't want to hear it. If I didn't hear it then it didn't exist. I didn't make eye contact. I didn't want to know what people were thinking. In the end, though, I will tell you that people have a great deal of respect for your effort. They're not thinking what WE think they're thinking. I swear. OH, but just so you know you're not alone...I won't run outside yet. I have a 5K in 11 weeks outdoors and I'm horrified to imagine what I'll look like. As it is I'm self conscious in my gym. I workout when I know my gym is empty. It doesn't matter how much weight you have to lose---we're all self conscious, at every size. That part of your brain doesn't disappear with the weight loss.

Just get working out. Walk, jog, skip if you want...just move. Don't worry about how you look. There's always someone who looks worse. :smile: Keep up the great work! :thumbup:

Luv2~This is really great what you said to Jay here. It's sooo true! It really takes guts to get out there & get moving especially when your 200-300+ lbs! I am self concious at the gym. I just do what I'm comfortable w/ & stay in the back. I don't know that I'd evr be comfortable to run. :tt2: I may have to try doing the run/walking. You think this speeded up the weight loss??

Well, I am a little upset. :tt2: I thought maybe my hair was thinning a bit in the front. I just looked at a few close up pics of myself & I could see the light on my scalp through my THNNING hair!!! :thumbup: This was one of my fears. It will grow back right?? does this mean I need more protein???

Heidi,

Raising your heart rate will undoubtedly improve your weight loss. However, be sure to make changes that you can sustain. Working out will certainly improve your cardiovascular health and will raise your metabolism, even when resting. If walking is all you can do, then walk. If you want to try, try jogging for even 15 seconds at a time, then resume walking. Do the best you can do to start raising your heartrate even a little more. Working out will initially make it seem as if your weightloss has become stagnant as muscle mass increases and your muscles retain water---however, this is the time to take measurements!! I lost 2 clothing sizes last year without dropping a pound. I lost the pounds later on.....I just know I'm healthier today for it. :tt2:

I have officially finished week one of my ten week training program for my 5K in May.....I'm sore. I feel crummy, but I'm going to do this!!! :thumbup:

Well, I am a little upset. :tt2: I thought maybe my hair was thinning a bit in the front. I just looked at a few close up pics of myself & I could see the light on my scalp through my THNNING hair!!! :thumbup: This was one of my fears. It will grow back right?? does this mean I need more protein???

Have you had hour thyroid checked? I know mine needs to be regulated when I can see my scalp. Other things affect this, too, not just protein---seasonal changes, hormonal changes, etc. Even with the band, you should be getting adequate nutrition. Are you taking a multivitamin???

Hey everyone, I hope you're having a great weekend.

Thanks for the suggestion about Ocean State Job Lot, I'll be heading there tomorrow to pick up some containers so I can carry the right size portion of food to work. I'll take a look at the scales there.

Has anyone bought this book [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Eating-Well-After-Weight-Surgery/dp/1569244537/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top]Amazon.com: Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery: Over 140 Delicious Low-Fat High-Protein Recipes to Enjoy in the Weeks, Months and Years After Surgery: Patt Levine, Michele Bontmpo-Saray, William B. Inabnet, Meredith Urban-Skuros: Books[/ame] or a book like it? Did you find it helpful?

Hey Everyone..haven't been on the boards for a while...which would explain why I totally FORGOT about the meeting until it was too late!! Kids are on vacation this week and I've been buy at Disney on Ice, Rainforest Cafe and playgroups all week!! How did it go? Sounds like a few new people showed up...

Jay the more you go the less self conscience you will be. its taken me a while but I really dont care what others think plus when I look around there are all shapes sizes and ages at my gym and I doubt any of them are spending their time looking at me being a fool on the treadmill bc Im not giving them a second look

As long as it was another surgeon doing fills I wouldnt fret whos doing the fills. If it was a PA or student I wouldnt feel so comfortable. I did hear that Dr V is taking on some of Dr Muns sugrical cases.

I just got a replacement digital scale at Target for around $24. I was using a cheapo Ikea scale but it wasnt accurate enough for me

Im going in tomorrow bright and early just for a check up, I really thought I had damaged my band last week but now I feel a bit better.

Glad you bounced back from that bout with the flu or whatever bug it was, tinywishes!

I really am not all that keen on residents and students having a part in my procedures. When I first had a surgery, there was a resident with the dr who introduced us. Naive lil me welcomed him with a smile. When I came out of the recovery room the young resident asked if he could look at the incisions. I groggily consented, thinking he knew what he was about. Afterwards, he couldn't figure out how to put the bandages back like they were and said to me "I guess I shouldn't have done that"!!!!

That was the last time I let a resident or student get within 10 feet of me. The second procedure I had several years later I made sure I put in writing and also told the surgeon"NO RESIDENTS!"

I also heard someone ask the question to Dr Robinson last month at the information meeting if he performed the entire procedure, or allowed students to participate. He emphatically pointed out that the assistant is one of the qualified staff specialists..vernon, Lautz, etc. He joked about going upstairs for a coffee and letting them carry on ....toting his cell phone "just in case'.

I suppose I could address this question to the Pre Op board here at Lapband talk, but I feel more at home here having met some of you...

What about waistbands in slacks and pajamas after the Band? Uncomfortable?

And ..how do you deal with feeding other family members. Do you eat first so that you are not hungry when you cook for others.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

Counting the days til my exams and tests and I go back to the doc and get a date for banding.

singingintherain

My incisions are far closer to my bra than they are to my waistband. In fact, I have one that was right smack in the center of my chest, right below the band of my bra. Otherwise, the others are all lower--but quite a way above my waist. (I'm tall and long waisted, but it's about a 6 or 7 inch difference on me....)

As for eating, cooking, and feeding---let me suggest a few things. Once you're back on solids---what, like 6 weeks out, maybe? (I can't remember now) I found it easiest to make everything at once, but setting a portion for me aside before it was made for them. For instance, I'll take out a small piece of chicken and prepare it without breading or sauces until later on for me. The other thing is to never cook when you're hungry. Picking will be a problem for a few reasons--1) you aren't keeping track of how much food you're consuming. 2) you will eat unconsciously. THIS will have to change with the band. You will need to be a conscious eater after the banding. 3) It's anti-social! You'll leave the table far sooner when everyone else is still eating.

Chew gum while cooking. It will keep you from munching OR drink your water while cooking. It will make sure you're not so parched that you'll want to drink later, while eating. Yvonne will tell you, just don't swallow the gum!!!

Good luck. Hope it's all going as you want.

Edited February 22, 200917 yr by notateechanow