Mackenzie

Hi everyone! I was banded on 2/27 and I have lost 21 lbs so far- (including the 10 i lost during the preop) I should have lost 23 by now, but i think my body has gone into starvation mode bc i wasnt eating enough calories! i am SO SICK of liquids that i dont really want to drink/eat anymore....however, i am glad that we have to be on liquids for 21 days bc i think it cleanses our palates! when we go back to eating food (at least for me) i am going to change the way i cook and the foods i buy- i will still induldge in the occasionaly cookie or whatever, but ill be buying fat free/low fat food items. I have gotten so many compliments already on my weight loss i will never go back to being 313. I was fat, lost 80 lbs on my own- went to 188 and then gained it all back plus some. i will NEVER go thru this again. bc i was much happier when i was skinny...anyway this has gotten a bit off topic - but i hope everyone is well. IT IS SO HARD not eating! my friends and my hubby are going out to eat tonight and Im going to stay home bc it just doesnt sound fun to me since i cant eat- and its been rough as I know i have a food addiction ( i guess i am a bit scared to start EATING again bc i dont want to take advantage of the food) anyone else feel this way?

it also has to do with your blood-- i dont remember what smoking does to it...takes oxygen out??!?! something...I quit on the 10th- surgery on the 27 and i still havent smoked! YOU CAN DO IT ! you are getting the band to become healthier, quit smoking too!!!!!!!

she told me that i could have leafy greens like spinach- but ive heard some people say that they can have up to 4lbs of veggies a day?! sooo i duno..there were a few nights when i went out to eat on my preop diet*to hooters no less* and I still lost 10 lbs sooo if it were me, i would eat it...but you can always call dr. miranda..... i also quit drinking diet soda and i think that mightve helped! good luck to you! it is NOT easy- and the liquid diet isnt any easier!

thanks! that helped hahaha i think everything is fine- just parinoid i guess! your answers on here are always really informative!

cylnn- hahahaha i cant really tell if its gas or not.. i dont think its a big deal I was just wondering if you can cause trouble by drinking too fast *i am not chugging* just maybe not leaving enough time inbetween sips?!?

thanks kim- i am so parinoid that there is something wrong! haha but im sure im fine- i am keeping liquids down just fine....it must be gas! thanks for your advice! Mackenzie ANOTHER QUESTION: can your band slip from sipping liquids only???

I just had surgery last wednesday- so i am still on all liquids- i have been following the pre op diet-....i can tell if i have gas pain-or if i am drinking to quickly. I am still taking sips, but im wondering if i am still drinking too quickly.... let me know if you can! thanks! Mackenzie

Hey lisa! I am feeling the same way! I told my husdand, never have I actually WANTED to go to the bathroom like I do now! hahahaha-ONE DAY hahaha. I have lost weight since Ive been home- about 8lbs since my surgery date- so 18 total! I dont want this rapid weight loss to stop! haha - It sucks not being able to chew on things..but the scale is making it worth it! I think that I hit my low on Sunday and I am starting to feel better. If i can quit smoking from being stressed then I can stop eating for comfort- It doesnt get me anywhere anyway but fat! Hope all is well! Let me know how you are doing! Mackenzie

I was listening to a new LeeAnn Rymes song the other day on her new CD and one of he songs says: I will learn to forgive what i can not change I will learn to let go what I can not change I will learn to love what I can no change But I will change, whatever I, whenever I can. I just thought that it was such an "inspiring" statement. We are all starting on or are already on this journey to better ourselves- and there are SOME things that we can not change- and those that we can not, we should accept - I was speaking to a friend of mine the other day who had the lap band a year or so ago, and she told me that she wakes up every morning and reads this little piece of paper that she wrote- it sounds STUPID but it says I have the lap band. I have made bad food choices before. Today I am going to commit to making the right choices and learn from my mistakes. I will not use food as an escape. She said it just remindes her everyday that she really needs to be consious of her band and the food choices she makes..... I think i might make a little phrase and just look at it every morning- or when I really want a cookie or something! some people smoke then whey are stressed...and some people eat. I have quit smoking and I am determined to quit eating for any other reason other then being hungry! Hope all is well for everyone! )

dont be nervous!!! its a lot of fun at the OCC- the nurses and docs are AWESOME! And its pretty painless- the wost part is just starting the IV!

hi hanna! i loved your post----i agree-----i was banded on feb 27th and am feeling the same things you are. I have DEF. chewed food and spit it out hahaha- just to crunch something! im getting sick of just drinking things! i am still feeling a little pain in my port area, but my incisions look great, they are healing and dont look red at all. I havent started smoking again, so Im pretty proud of myself for that- I have also (as of this AM) lost 18lbs since starting the pre-op diet. Im thrilled! The head hunger is quite a battle but i TRY and remember that i am LOSING weight-and binge eating doesnt solve my problems! another little issue was that I thought I had strep throat (started on sunday) but i went to the doctor today and (WARNING THIS IS GROSS) i have "pusstuels" (sp?) in the back of my throat. My Dr. things it might be acid refulx...but ive never felt that before....he also said it might be a virus..sooo im waiting to hear back- hopefully it will go away on its own! I dont have a fever- so I think i am ok.....i just dont want it to go to my stomach since i am newly banded. I hope that everyone is doing well and losing weight! mackenzie

ok- all liquids and gels have to be in 3 or 4oz containers and they all have to be in a gallon sized plastic bag. no sharp objects or lighters....for a complete list you might want to check online- whatever airline you are flying should have a list. be careful packing!!!! bc you will have to throw out anything that doesnt get past security!

thank you everyone! hahaha i am back to work so Im not sitting at home thinking about eating! Thanks for the support- it has help put me at ease!

thank you for your response! Cheating is not an option for me but its just the thought of food that is consuming me! I started liquid yogurt today. Do you know if you can drink too much (water, tea, juice)? I just dont want to hurt my band!

I was banded on 2/27 in TJ. I had a great time there and loved the OCC and everyone in it! My surgery was wednesday and its now Sunday evening....all i can think about is food. I want to eat something so badly. I dont even know if I am hungry...but i just want to eat. When I was at the airport on my layovers I was just surrounded by food..and i was so bored- there was nothing to do but eat. I was laying in bed today realizing that my sundays revolved around food. Id make breakfast for my and my husband, then go to the grocery store, and pick up a big sub from the deli and then make a big dinner... today- ive had a little bit of broth and of course some water and crystal light..... i just want to eat-i dont even want to start typing what Im craving because I will never stop. I quit smoking about 3 weeks ago....and that was a piece of cake compared to this. I know that this not eating thing is just for a few weeks (until march 18 to be exact)..... i dont know what advice there is to be given on this topic...but has anyone else felt this way? AHHHHH Also- has anyoe been in therapy after being banded for addiction? I want to know how to deal with this?! HELP ME! I seriously feel like THIS is my low. Ive never felt this pathetic before. Ive been thinking that it mightve been better to be fat and be able to EAT then to have to go thru this post op diet. I have watched the scale go down and it makes me feel good for a minute, and then the thoughts about eating just take over. DOES IT GET BETTER?!

that is correct its just easier with a passport- i think starting summer 08 u need a passport

hahaha yeah i wish i wasnt hungry! my gas pains feel like they are getting worse sometimes. i am just sore, i think that the long flight may have been a bit much for me. i sent kyle to the store to get me some liquid yogurt..........and he came back empty handed. so it looks like i will have to wait until tomorrow. hope all is well

DR. ORTIZ WILL PICK THE BAND THAT WILL SUIT YOU BEST.

BARB: I LIVE IN SARASOTA FLORIDA AND WILL BE DOING MY FILLS AT THE FILL CENTER SINCE ITS SO FAR TO TRAVEL BACK TO THE OCC- EVEN THOUGH I LOVED IT THERE! I AM ALREADY SCH. FOR MY FIRST FILL, BUT I THINK I CHOSE ST.PETE BC THEY HAVE FLOURO THERE FOR FREE. WHERE IS "KATHIE" AT SINCE YOU SAY SHE IS VERY GOOD AT WHAT SHE DOES. LET ME KNOW IF YOU LIKE ST PETE OR TAMPA BETTER--- OR IF YOUVE ONLY BEEN TO ONE OF THEM! THANKS A LOT!!! MACKENZIE

That is so weird about the slim fast shakes...i guess i am the weird one bc I LOVE the cappacino ones! You can do it! I lost about 10 lbs on the preop diet and there were times when i didnt stick to it at dinner time. Just remember that they will send you home if you dont lose anything! Good luck!

thanks for the soup tips! I bought organic vegetable broth, its very good! I am just excited to be able to enjoy some yogurt today! How are you feeling? It feels like my gas pains have gotten worse!?

Hi there- you will get 4 pain pills/anti inflamatory to take every 12 hours (so it will last you two days) If you are still in pain they say to take a tylenol. when you cross the border into mexico...there is nothing to it. you just cross the border. when you cross the border back into the states its a bit different. You will see a line that is SO long, but you dont have to wait it in. The driver for the OCC will take you in a different line. You will wait for a while, and once its your turn you will get out with your luggage and go thru customs. To show your passport is easiest. The you will put your bag thru a security. Then you walk outside and meet the driver in a parking lot across the street. It took us about a hour and 15 minutes to get back over the border. As for you can bring back...Im not really sure. Hope this helps a bit!

mindy- the preop diet is hard! i know what you are feeling, but the NOT eating after surgery is pretty hard as well. Just make sure you DO lose the weight or you have a possibility of being turned away once you get to TJ!! I did cheat when I did the pre-op. I would get sooo hungry that I would get home from work and eat anything, but i found that a spoonful of peanut butter (even though its fattening) really helped put my hunger at ease! So good luck! Ella- to hear that you feel like you have some control over your weight makes me feel at ease. I seriously am having food withdrawls! I just want to eat anything..but instead Im on all liquids since I just had surgery on 2.27. Did you feel this as well? I think that quitting smoking was easier than not eating. HELP

hey! kyle had a great time with you guys! Thanks for entertaining him! I showed my surgery marks? hahaha i dont remember that!- oh jeez! I am so jealous of your nice trip home! It took a lot out of me- I might have to get the Gas X strips bc i am very uncomfortable. Take care! Are you having a hard time not eating as well? I know i am!!!

If the slim fast grosses you out, you might want to try the aitkins. I loved the slimfast optima shakes! Good luck!