healthierbutlessofme

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OK, I must confess something here.  For the past 6 months, I have done nothing!!!!  I have been so ashamed of myself for not doing better.  I lost restriction back in September of 2008 and have not gone back for a fill.  I watched what I at but I definitely could have done better.  I basically wasted 6 months of the bands assistance.  I watched the scale to make sure that it didn't increase but it sure didn't decrease either.

I decided back in March 2009 that I would regroup, and go back to the doctor's office and get the support I needed.  I went back to get a fill March 23, 2009 and weighed 234 lbs.  I went back this week April 20, 2009 and I lost 7 lbs.  now 227 lbs.   I should have been closer to 200 lbs.

I am mentally kicking myself but now my head is clearer and I am back on the losing track again!

I figured I would update you on things since my fill at the beginning of last week.  Things have been going well. I fell great.  No problems so far with this second fill. 

The restriction I felt just after the fill felt good but then I lost some of it.  I asked on the Board what it felt like once you got restriction but never got the answer I was looking for.  Of those that did respond, I guess the hiccups I get shortly after eating is my body's way of telling me you are nearing your max and to quit eating.  I have been trying to listen to my body more.  I had been eating and not looking and paying attention to my body's signals.  I think that is why my weight loss has been slow.  I also need to follow the bandster rules more closely.  I don't get started with water until about 10 am.  I get close to getting my water in but I am always short.  I am pledging to start drinking water sooner than that and will monitor my progress.

I am will be heading to the beach on Friday so I decided to write some things down before I left.  I am going to treat myself a bit while at the beach.  I'm going to enjoy crab legs this weekend.  I am going to enjoy a little bit of ice cream.  I am going to enjoy eating some pizza too.  I will also enjoy the long bike ride I am going to make myself do every morning so I work off the calories I plan on consuming!!! 

My weight update:

Highest/   Pre-op/   Surgery/   Current/  Goal
272      /    264    /    254      /    233    /   150

Well, I wanted to update everyone on things.  This past Monday, August 18, 2008, I went for my second fill appointment.   I told the Dr. that I had little to no restriction so he told me he would go a bit more aggressive this time.  He added a whole 1 cc in the band this time.  Though it is Wednesday, I have been hesitant to eat solids just yet.  I did liquids and a creamed based soups since my fill appointment Monday late afternoon.  Wish me luck when I decide to try solids in the next day or so.

Yesterday, I had my last tennis lesson.  I am a bit sad that it is over.  It provided a good workout when ever we did drills.  I am going to miss it.  I have decided to find a partner to hit around with and to also take some lessons closer to home so it won't interfere with picking up the kids and dinner.  Other then that, things are going well.  Weight loss is slow but at least I am losing! 

Hello WLS Friends!

Well on Monday I had my six week check up and my first fill appointment.  If you have not had a fill yet,  don't panic..... it isn't too bad.  I went in, he felt around my stomach, cleaned that area with alcohol or whatever they use, took the needle and pricked.  I just felt a tiny prick and he extracted some fluid to make sure he hit the spot and then injected the new fluid.  That part felt funny.  The new saline was colder and I could feel it go through the line from the port to the band.  It wasn't uncomfortable at all.  I went out to the weighting area and drank about 1/2 of a bottle of water and let them know that that went down just fine and I was back out the door and in my car.

My weight stayed the same from the other day that I entered into my profile.  I have been retaining water and it was that time of the month.  I am OK with this .... just so long as I am not gaining.  I don't think that this fill has given me the restriction that I need though.  It has been a few days and I don't feel it too much.  I am just doing mushy foods and liquids but I will have to test it on more solid foods.  When I do, I will let you know.  Right now I have a total of 5 cc's in my 10 cc band.

Last week I started tennis lessons.  I didn't realize how much I like the sport.  I just need to find a tennis partner so that after class is over, I can play with a partner on a regular basis.  I have about 5 more weeks of class 3 days a week.  I am a little sore from using muscles that have not been used for a long time but otherwise I am fairing well.

Well, I hope to hear from youfellow WLS friends soon!

Hey Everyone!

I know it has been awhile since I posted an entry but I wanted to catch everyone up on things.  Since posting almost 2 1/2 weeks ago, my weight loss had practically stopped.  Needless to say, I was having "Buyers Remorse".  Then I started reading other posts on the message board from other Lapbanders who experience a stall in their weight loss.  All the advice from the vets keep pointing people back to the LapBand Rules.   Well, I realized that I was not following the rules myself and that I was sabatoging my own progress.

I needed to figure out how to eat low carb foods that had good amount of protein.  I bought a book that provided nutrition information on a good number of products found in the grocery store.  I went through my pantry and started reading the labels of things I would have normally eaten and was shocked at the nutritional facts on these items.  Incredible!

I went shopping for food just for me that I knew were safe foods.  I started to plan my meals ahead of time and started doing more chores outside and working muscles that apparently had gone dormant.

My efforts have paid off.  The scale has started moving!!  

My weight stats are as follows:

Highest/Pre-op/Post-op/Current/Goal
272       264         254         240       150

I was checking my weight loss this morning and I realized the scale has not moved in days now.  I was up a few ounces then down a few.  I knew that without a fill you may not loose any weight but I did not think it would happen so soon!  My body seems to be attached to the fat cells and don't want to let go.  I bought a treadmill about a month and a half ago and I think I am going to have to get back on it.  I am still a little sore near my port area and are afraid of doing too much to soon but somethin has to give.

I am still on mushie foods.  I couldn't wait to actually chew on some canned tuna and chicken.   You would have thought that was the best tasting stuff in the world.  I feel good overall though.  I have not experienced too much gas, or any other uncomfortable pains thank goodness.

I have to go away this coming weekend.  This will be the true test of my will power.  Can I eat on the road and eat the right stuff????  Probably not, so I will have to pack some things along so I will have what I need to eat that is also handy.

Later!

Hello everyone!  I am sorry to take so long to post a new message.  I made it through surgery Wednesday.  It was not too bad.  The surgery was supposed to begin at 4 pm but got bumped to 6 pm.  I had to stay overnight because I have sleep apnea.  I had a bit of stomach swelling.  The port location hurt the most I would say.  It was more or less very uncomfortable rather than severely painful.  Unfortunately, that same night my father-in-law passed away.  Needlesstosay, I had to recover quickly.

A friend drove me home because I wanted my husband to stay with his mother and family.  Shortly after coming home, I left again to be with the family.  Talk about the longest 25 miles there and back home of my life.  I recomment you map out a route home that has the least bumps and potholes!!  My once private surgery was now exposed somewhat.  I did not mention what type of surgery I had but it was obvious by my slow walk that I went under the knife and needed to sit.  

Friday, I decided to take it easy and stay home.  I felt like I overdid it the day before.  I got really sick to the stomach that day.  I believe it was from the anesthesia.   I stopped taking pain meds on Friday morning. The gas in my system started to build up and I felt a miserable because I wanted to burp or fart or anything to get rid of the gas.   Saturday morning my prayers were answered.  My body relieved itself several times and it felt good.  The wake service was Saturday evening and the funeral was on Sunday.  

Sunday night both my youngest daughter and I both had diarrea.  So on Monday, my daughter and I both had appointments with our prespective doctors.  Both of us armed with prescriptions and hopefully on the road to recovery.  I truly feel good though overall.  I just have some soreness at the port location.  I have been forced to do a lot of walking and I think this has helped with my recovery a lot.  So future banders.....walk, walk, walk!

I would love to hear back from everyone.  Oh....I forgot ..... since surgery last Wednesday, I am down 6 lbs.  Take care!

Hello Everyone!!!

Just ONE MORE DAY UNTIL SURGERY!!

I am back from my lovely vacation to Myrtle Beach, SC.  It was Bike Week (motorcycles) there and traffic was horrible.  Our family decided to camp at the beach and that was a lot of fun.  I did a little bit of bike riding (using a regular bicycle) and pulled my kids behind the bike in a trailer that attaches to the bike.  I got a workout pulling nearly 30 pounds of little girls!!!  I used to ride my motorcycle before my 3 year old came.  I sold the bike and stopped riding after having her.  I think this trip renewed a new sense of me.  I actually got the bug to ride again.  I decided to come back next year with a new body and mind next year. 

While at the beach, I thought about all the foods I would now have to have a new relationship with such as bread, soda, fried foods, etc.  I thought to my self, just go ahead and eat it and be done with it because when you get back from vacation, it is surgery time.  Well, I was good and didn't indulge too much.  I think I may have actually lost a few pounds, go figure!!  Our family got in from the beach late last night.  My husband said he wanted to order pizza.  I told him that I didn't want my last real dinner to be that so I ordered from Applebee's their Fiesta Lime Chicken.  I ate every bit of it too and it was good.

I had my pre-op appontment with the hospital and that went well.  They aread through everything and I just signed my life away and it was done.  I am now ready for surgery.I am getting alittle bit nervous but I am sure things will go fine.  Friends, please keep me in your prayers. 

I just got the great news today!  My insurance company approved me.  I think excited is an understatement.  To be truthful, I am a bit scared.  I am undecided about telling my daughters about my surgery.  I have two little girls, one 5 years old and the other 3 years old.  My 5 year old tells everything!!!  I am not sure if I want the whole world to know about my surgery.  I guess I am going to have to change and shower before and after they go to bed mostly. 

I have a pre-op appointment on May 20, 2008.  I will update things once I meet with the doctor.

I called the Dr's office on Friday and they said that they had everything except for the mental health report.  I told them that it should be there soon.  Late in the day (5:30 pm) they called me back and said that they received the report and that they would be sending my approval request to BCBS early next week.  Yeah!!!!!  We discussed tentative surgery dates.  I was so excited.  I had a choice of either May 14th, 23rd, or 28th.  I selected the 14th.

Well after thinking about things and looking at my schedule closer.  I realized I had a continuing ed. class that I need to take on that day.  I needed it before June in order to renew my real estate broker license.  Can't miss that!  I also wanted to have fun at the beach during a beach trip we planned during Memorial Day.  We camp and I love to ride my kids around on the bike (I have a cart that attaches onto the bike).  Plus, I want to have crab legs for the last time for a while.   I  called Anne at the Dr's office back on Monday AM and said that I may have been too hasty.  I asked her if May 28th was still available and it was.

So you have it,  MAY 28, 2008,will be the beginning of the rest of my new and healthier life if all goes well with the insurance company.  Wish me luck!