leahwebster

I am starting the 5 day pouch test on monday the 15th. Lets do a group test! YOU are doing AWESOME! ALMOST TO Onderland! Did you have much experiance with what some refer to as bandster hell? the plateau before the sweet spot?

OK, I have been sooo hungery, like an constant munchies. When I eat it loast for such a short amount of time , VERY frusterating! I can wait for my first fill. I will be going to RIchland Wa to see Dr. Adrian Heap to get a fill on the 18th. I know it will take time to hit the "SWEET SPOT" but I really lookforward to it! My hope it to eat every 4 hour like a normal person. Just lapband type/size meals! Tuesday is my 4th week the dreaded 1 month bandaversery and I was soooo hoping to have lost 30 pounds, now I see that expectation is not realistic. I just hope I havent gained from my 14 pounds lost so far. So, starting monday I am going to start the 5 Day Pouch Test. Basically, 2 day liquids, 1 day soft meats, firm, then solid meats http://www.5daypouchtest.com/ this link talks all about it. It is great to be able to learn from our bodies and our bands. This site talks about slider foods, protien, water, gives great reciepts ect. It will be great to see all of the different types of experiences and results we have from this pouch test!

WOW, MEE TOO! my surgery was on 5/19 and it is like this week I have had the constant munchies! I have been trying to stay on tract with logging my calorie intake. It is sooo hard to get 64 oz of water a day. I have been averaging HALF! UGGGG I have read alot about the 5 day pouch test and I am going to do it! CALLING ALL WHO ARE..... stuck on a plateau, not loosing weight, emotionally frusterated. US TOO! So on monday I am going to do a Surgical Weight Loss 5 Day Pouch Test. I am excited to see the different results we will see from so many people being in different stages of the lapband journey. I am here to support others just as you are. Allright lets get started, monday will be day 1 of 5. Introduce your selves everyone who is jumping in......I will start. my name is leah, I have 3 kids, hubby, and live in oregon. my max weight is 275 #'s, surgery 5/19/09- 240 #'s, current 226#'s, goal- 150 #'s My main modivator is to feel comfortable in my own skin, and to be able to keep up with the family hiking, biking ect. I just dispise it when they say "wait up for mom" HERE WE GO! _________________

It is hard sometimes but WE ALL have to remember this is a journey. at only 3.5 weeks out I have been teetering also and I know I need a fill. But until then I HAVE to stay focused nutritionally. We are in the same boat..... here are some things I am doing to keep me sane! I made a list (yes, I am a spread sheet person) LOL if my daily intake goals. NOT WHAT I CANT HAVE which is opposit of what my thinking has ben in the past but what I NEED to have to be healthy. The body will follow along. Here is what it looks like.... The Example Column shows my goal intake. And for dinner I just add lapband portions of what the family is having. I start on fridays because the weekends are hardest for me since James (hubby) is home and I have to take alot more time cooking... But , I am a visual person and having this on my frig help me alot. Also, just so you know I have a soymilk maker so I make the milk from the beans so this is an est. calories. I really like the milk with a little coffee creamer and sense it has great protein its good nutritionally also. I hope this helps. At this point I have almost no restriction so I know I ahve to keep close tabs. I was hoping my food list days were closing since getting banded but I guess we were wrong about that. I hope after the fill that will help a little more. Daily Food DIARY Date: 6/11/2009 FRIDAY Weight Start 226 pounds- 14 total lost Example 6/12 6/13 Meal Food Eaten Amount Calories Calories Calories Breakfast Soy Milk- 9.2 G protein 1 CUP 120 Creamer 1 TBS 45 Snack BANANA .4 protein 1 WHOLE 72 APPLE .6 protien 1 WHOLE 72 EGG 5.5 1 CUP 72 Lunch EGG 5.5 1 CUP 72 FRUIT 1 CUP 72 Snack Soy Milk- 9.2 G protein 1 CUP 120 Creamer 1 TBS 45 Dinner GREEN SALAD 1 CUP (with Family) MEAT 2oz Fish 1 CUP RICE 1 CUP POTATOE 1 MED. Snack Soy Milk- 9.2 G protein 1 CUP 120 Creamer 1 TBS 45 Exersize Walk 1 hr (pick one) Bike 1 mile Garden 1 hr Leg lifts 3 set of 5 GOAL 64 Oz WATER GOAL 40 G protein 855 0 0

where did you go to get the 200-300 for the flight?

amen to that! the money spent is a huge motivator! and the pain invoked when we eat just a bit too much. After not eating with the family for so long it is a relief to finally be able to eat a Normal Meal just in lapband portions. THe hard part for me is slowing down and CHEW CHEW CHEW! This is 180 from the eat on the go habits I had accuired! We have the power to change, I am working to remember that!

Yes, I looked at flying in and it costs $1000. But yes I can do it in a quick turn around if I need to. I am hoping to be able to take care of it here. But I will do what I need to. I can fly into Sandiego for under $400 if I plAN AHEAD. fiRST STEP IS TO GET A PASSPORT.

What a great way to NETWORK! FREE ENTRY for all who attend this ~Texas Awards Event~ JUNE 23rd YOU CAN BE A STAR! In the "WLSC SPOTLIGHT CHALLENGE” Grand Prize- Free Get Away to the SPA & Glamor Recreations ~ FREE Seminar by Dr. Ramos Kelly MD~ *Expanding the Definition of Weight Loss Surgery* Q & A Strait from the Surgeon! 1st ~ 2nd ~ 3rd Awards ~ Door Prizes RSVP For your Free Admission Tickets! Pre Register for "WLSC SPOTLIGHT CHALLENGE” Email Your Testemonial and Pictures & $10 fee to Enter to WIN! Support the Center For Overweight and Obese Children FREE ENTRY for all who attend the ~Texas Awards Event~ JUNE 23rd Leah Webster office: 619-793-5922 toll free: 877-239-1277 www.wlsclinic.com leah@wlsclinic.com surgery date- 5/19/09 @ 240lbs Current Weight- 226 lbs and LOVING IT! Follow me @ www.youtube.com User ID- Truthaboutthelapband

I went in on the 8th to get a fill and they COULDNT get it. After a X-ray I can see that instead of the port face pointing away from my spine it is pointing slightly towards my left shoulder. It is like it is sitting on my bellf "Shelf". but you know it makes since because since the port it stitched onto my muscle and my belly i pointed that way the port is that way too. I am just hoping it can still be filled and with the exrays we now can see how it sits and SHOULD be able to get it done. If not then I guess I should be getting a passport. I will have to get a passport and go to TJ. I can fly into Tj for 1000, or to SanDiego for $380. I will have to go to the local Post office to get my passport card. here is a break down of the costs- state-$20, post office- $25. I will need my birth cert., drivers Lic. , 2 photos (white bkrd), they may take it there. I called 1877-487-2778 to get this information. I hope this helps anyone else who may be going to MX.

ok I seem to be counting down!!! week 1 8#s week 2 4#'s week 3 2 #'s yes this totals 14 pounds but I dont like the way this is heading! I went to get a fill yesterday and even though finding the port was no problem he couldnt seem to get any fill IN. so he is wondering if it is on its side or flipped or what. So now I have to go get an exray to find out if it is tilted or what! so I can get filled. I can tell I have been eating more (an slice of pizza instead of a 1/2 like I was) and I am hungery every 2 hours or so. I am looking at having to get a pasport and going back to my surgeon in TJ. I dont know how I could have messed it up?????? Is there some kind of indicator that the port flipped? I though it was sown into place. hmmmmmm, so I need to try harder and make better food choices. I garden and am outside ALOT with the kids unless it is raining. I cant stand the EXCERXIZE ROUTINE thing! I wouldnt have got the lapband if I didnt ned the help. but maybe 14lbs inst tooo bad, it has only been 3 weeks. I was just hoping for 5lbs a week for atleast the first month or so.... well , here we go!

After my one week report my insision's scab rubbed off in the shower and the bump came streaming out! YUCK, BUT the skin on all but one insision has completly healed over and the only bump it the line of scar tissue under each line. and of course I can feel the port under the one. My week 2 isnt quite here yet that is tuesday so I dont know how much i will have lost by then. I did get a sneak peek and so far I have lost 4lbs this week which is a total of 12 lbs since my lapband's b-day. I think the key to not getting discouraged is weighting in weekly not daily. (That is the hard part) I will check in again after the 2 week mark. I am also keeping a video log on you tube and myspace. FYI - (yes, I am showing the healing of the insisions) LOL

I found a Surgeon who will Adjust my lapband eventhou my surgery was done in Mexico. I have been wondering about going back to Tj for fills because my Surgeon Dr. Kelly is a wonderful DR. It is just hard to find someone to watch my 3 kids to go. And the person I found is only 1.5 hours away and I can take them with me. (I will just make a field trip out of the day) THe fill dr here charges 150 for the fill and 350 if he needs to use the flouro. $500 ouch! But what are my options?! I hope he wont have to use fluro or I am out of luck and out of money! Fill centers USA is good but they are 200 miles away! It is 350 for the first round with fill centers, I believe it includes fluro????? I dont know.... I just wish I could go to my surgeon which I cant do with 3 kids! Should I keep my appt on the 8th? I have the 150 but not the 350 more if fluro is needed. I am just hoping it wont be needed! or cancel the appt on the 8th and find a bb sitter who will watch my kids for days so I can go back to TJ. My surgeon only charges $200 and he ALWAYS does fluro. I need to see how much the ticket would be......... or cancel the 8th and go to Fill centers USA drive 200 miles one way with kids pay 350 and hope it covers the fluro and fill. Options options.... For all of the MOMS out there.... What would you do?

I know secon opinions can help a person feel confident with what the DR says. I know my doc said 14 days liquid and go from there. Really the point is CHEW CHEW CHEW CHEW CHEW CHEW. Maybe I too am a fast healer but After a week I started having dinner with the family I am sure to CHEW " " " ". And I have been loosing weight. 8lbs first week, and I am in the middle of my second week and have lost 4 lbs when I took a sneek peak. SOme people are very restricted on what they can eat. and every persons experience if different. My biggest change is the portion size. For dinner last night we had hambergers and mac and cheese. I cut one in half to share it with my 17 mo old and each of us ate 1/4 of the burger and I ate about 4 table spoons of mac & cheese. ( he out ate mom with the MAC) LOL I love it! I can eat what I want as long as I chew """"", and I am totally satisfied at 1/4 of a burger and some mac! After years of guilt and denial of foods I FINALLY can eat WITH the family! And I am still ooosing weight. My husband and kids are very thankful mom isnt "FIXING" everything to "Make it HEALTHY". It was to the point where I would ask my husband what her wanted for dinner and he said "Something NORMAL" LOL I still strive to have a healthy happy lifestyle for me and my family and now I can do that without ALIENATING them! I have found I am hungery again after about 2 hours so I will be getting a fill on june 8th with the hopes that will give me a 4 hour belly. I am rejoyced to finally not be a slave to hunger! Constantly battling its desires! In a word, RELIEF! My family said so too! LOL ps- I too had that shoulder pain but at about the 1 week mark the pains are gone.

wow, that popping sound is odd! I hope it doesnt hurt. After my one week report my insision's scab rubbed off in the shower and the bump came streaming out! YUCK, BUT the skin on all but one insision has completly healed over and the only bump it the line of scar tissue under each line. and of course I can feel the port under the one. My week 2 isnt quite here yet that is tuesday so I dont know how much i will have lost by then. I did get a sneak peek and so far I have lost 4lbs this week which is a total of 12 lbs since my lapband's b-day. I will check in again after the 2 week mark. I am also keeping a video log on you tube abd myspace. FYI - (yes, I am showing the healing of the insisions) LOL

Checking in for my week one post op and I have to say I feel AWESOME.. My energy is BACK. No Pain, Lost 8 pounds. I just couldnt do the liquids any more so I have been eating mushies and fruits, CHEW CHEW CHEW. The wounds are healing very well, I do have a bit of a bump where the port incision is. So I am wondering what you all have experienced when it comes to swelling and how long it takes to be not noticable. let me know, Thank you, Leah

yea, this is normal. I know many people who's skin can only unstretch so much. Lotions ect help but can only do so much.

I too just got my lapband on 5/19/09 One thing I am having is a sharp pain in my left shoulder. When I asked they said it was because of the gases they use o expand our chest cavity so they have room to work.This is totally normal and it should last 3-5 days. mine has nearly gone unless I move wrong. I found that wearing a girdle to keep things from bouncing around too much has REALLY helped with these kind of pains. Sleeping sitting proped up helps alot too. It has been 5 days and I am 8 pounds down from my surgery date. Tuesday in my 1 week then I wil be weighing in weekly from there. It has been worth every second.

Surprize. My family decided (Lets GO Camping!) So I did not get down to the 235 I had hoped for but I did maintain 240 lbs so that is ok. I am back from Mexico now. My band was place 4-5 pm on the 19th. this puts me just about 4 days post op. I do know when I was in the hospital the night of the 19th and day of the 20th the pain was more of what I expected. I felt pretty good. Mostly like I had done 100 sit-ups there for my abdomen was totally sore. but it was bearable. I thought my left shoulder was hurting from the airport, luggage, and travels home on the 20th. By the time I got home to Oregon on the night of the 20th I was wiped out. The hospital meds had worn off in transit and by the time I was home I hurt every where. With my mom at my house taking care of my family and I, I was able to sleep most of my 2nd day post op. Drinking limited liquid, meds, and sleeping was all I did. I had to remind myself I had a surgery it is OK to need time. The 22nd ( 3rd day post op) I felt 10 times better. but my stamina was still easily drained. After being up for about 15 minutes, I needed to rest. The pain was manageable, I was starting to walk upright ( my 100 sit-ups starting to wear off), the left shoulder pain was still there every once in a while but minimal. Now it is the 23rd and I have been up all day. I am not allowed to do an lifting, which my 17 month old little guy doesn’t like in the slightest. And I sit and take a break when I am feeling tired. My twins are 9 years old and have really stepped up with the chores and my husband is doing the rest. For the most part I am feeling pretty good. The Doctor has me taking pain and antibiotics so I am sure they are a part of things going so well. Ok the stats.... I left for Mexico ( which was a great surprise.. I will upload the pictures)- 240lbs this morning- 234 lbs starting Tuesday 5/26/09 I will be weighing weekly to keep the changes a surprises. I know when I refer the this 6 lbs and lost forever I can say that not just because of the Lapband but because of the lifestyle change I am choosing with the AID of the Lapband. I do realize the Lapband is a tool not a miracle worker. It will take personal determination to NOT retrain my NEW BABY STOMACH to except unhealthy foods. I hope in the last 29 years I have learned enough lessons the hard way to do what I know it right to produce a healthy life style for my family and I. The Lapband offers me a physical redo. Now the work is up to me. I thank God for knowledge and wisdom given to my Surgeon Dr. Kelly. With this tool I have chosen to overcome the spirit of gluttony. Rejoicing as I step forward, I can fulfill Ephesians 5: 1 Follow God’s example in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

I dont know what time will be available but if you would like to connect you can give me what name to ask for at the marriott and I will try. As you can see my name is LEAH WEBSTER (CREATIVE sign in name huh. I just like to keep things simple ) Dr. Ramos Kelly is doing mine at the Angeles Hospital in Tijuana, Mexico. I will be staying at Camino Real Hotel.

THANK YOU! For sharing the Scripture that has touched your heart. The Word is so uplifting. My mom is flying out of Syracuse. she lives in Newark Valley

Surgery on 19th, flyig on 18th- My mom is flying from Newyork to be with my kids while I go. She will be here on the 16th at 7pm. All has been done. I have been drinking 2 meals and eating one with the family. since monday and have lost 6 pounds as of this morning (friday)which puts me at 239lbs. I will do the same today. Starting saturday I will go full liquids to flush the fats and prep for surgery even more. I hope to be at 235 lbs before surgery. Here to hoping and trying.

thank you for your reply. It is very uplifting and encouraging to know there others who are in faith and becoming victorious to live the lifestyle God has intended for us with the help of the lapband. After I stood up and told them I feel this is what I belong doing I felt such a relief and have been at peace about it since. I think it was a test of faith that I " Having done All, Stand" . My husband came home last night and announced we are going camping this weekend with my inlaws. I am going to be in TJ on the 18th and surgery on the 19th. Dont get me wrong, they are good people, and I love them dearly. this is the only reason thier thoughts matter to me. I think this is thier way of intervention. I am just going to ask them to leave it alone and lets enjoy the weekend. I will be taking my car so if I need to leave early I will. Do you have any of these type of family hurtles to overcome? Where are you getting your Lapband done at? Maybe we could meet up?