scp000
One Year Bandiversary (in a couple days...)
Apr 05, 2010
It's been quite a year. In some ways it feels like MUCH longer, in others much quicker. For the most part I couldn't be happier. Here's a summary of the difference between then and now.
- I am down 91 pounds since surgery. I lost 20 pounds in just over two weeks and averaged 10 pounds a month for a while. Now I am about 3-5 pounds a month.
- I run. Not fast, not well - but I run. I am running my first 5K on May 1.
- I don't feel physically worn down and overheated all the time.
- I can run up and down stairs.
- I can fit inside restaurant booths and I went to Cedar Point and rode roller coasters
- I enjoy looking for clothes to buy.
Here's how I did it:
- I am not perfect, do not try to be perfect, do not expect to be perfect. I had ****a and Easter candy last weekend. The difference is how much I eat and that a couple bad choices doesn't lead to a week of bad choices!
- I drink only water and a LOT of water
- I focus on protein
- The biggest reason I've had success is the running. The intensity of the workout is exactly what I need - I thought I had been working out before, but it was nothing like when I run.
I have issues - I get stuck, eat too much sometimes, still have foods that trigger too much eating. But those issues are the exceptions. The overall picture is positive. I came into this expecting it would take 3 years to reach my goal. The more I lose, the slower I lose. It may take me all year to lose the last 30+ pounds. That's OK!!!
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- I am down 91 pounds since surgery. I lost 20 pounds in just over two weeks and averaged 10 pounds a month for a while. Now I am about 3-5 pounds a month.
- I run. Not fast, not well - but I run. I am running my first 5K on May 1.
- I don't feel physically worn down and overheated all the time.
- I can run up and down stairs.
- I can fit inside restaurant booths and I went to Cedar Point and rode roller coasters
- I enjoy looking for clothes to buy.
Here's how I did it:
- I am not perfect, do not try to be perfect, do not expect to be perfect. I had ****a and Easter candy last weekend. The difference is how much I eat and that a couple bad choices doesn't lead to a week of bad choices!
- I drink only water and a LOT of water
- I focus on protein
- The biggest reason I've had success is the running. The intensity of the workout is exactly what I need - I thought I had been working out before, but it was nothing like when I run.
I have issues - I get stuck, eat too much sometimes, still have foods that trigger too much eating. But those issues are the exceptions. The overall picture is positive. I came into this expecting it would take 3 years to reach my goal. The more I lose, the slower I lose. It may take me all year to lose the last 30+ pounds. That's OK!!!
6 month bandiversary AND hit halfway point!
Oct 07, 2009
I am so excited to share two milestones that happened today!
First off, it's my 6 month bandiversary. April 8 I had my surgery. I've lost nearly 63 pounds since surgery - about twice what I expected. It's what I hoped I would lose, but I set very conservative goals for myself so I didn't set myself up for failure. I've had 4 fills. The third fill got me at my first good restriction. Lost it in September, got another fill and am back to good restriction. I'm thrilled. It's not easy, but it's not hard. And the best part is that I am just not as reliant on food.
Second, I hit my halfway point today! If you look at my signature, I set a series of goals for myself to achieve. This is a big one! And if you look at my highest weight ever, it's more than halfway. It's a bit daunting when I look at what I still have to lose, but if I just focus on what I've done so far, it is so exciting!
Here's for another successful 6 months!
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First off, it's my 6 month bandiversary. April 8 I had my surgery. I've lost nearly 63 pounds since surgery - about twice what I expected. It's what I hoped I would lose, but I set very conservative goals for myself so I didn't set myself up for failure. I've had 4 fills. The third fill got me at my first good restriction. Lost it in September, got another fill and am back to good restriction. I'm thrilled. It's not easy, but it's not hard. And the best part is that I am just not as reliant on food.
Second, I hit my halfway point today! If you look at my signature, I set a series of goals for myself to achieve. This is a big one! And if you look at my highest weight ever, it's more than halfway. It's a bit daunting when I look at what I still have to lose, but if I just focus on what I've done so far, it is so exciting!
Here's for another successful 6 months!
Success with my recommitment!
Jun 24, 2009
I am so pleased to share that my recommitment has had fantastic results.
I started my recommitment to try to break some bad habits I had developed. I didn't want to try to add so many targets for myself that it was unrealistic. So I committed to getting a fill ASAP, taking my snacks to work, not eating out and not snacking at night.
1) The fill worked great! It was last Friday and really made a difference. I am not sure that I am at my sweet spot, but I am definitely able to eat less than before and not get hungry between meals. So I have not had to snack as much to keep myself going - which is fantastic!
2) I did take my snacks to work and I stuck with what I brought. We have only healthy choices in our vending machine at work, so yesterday I had an afternoon snack of healthy popcorn. BUT - I didn't go next door to CVS to get something unhealthy!
3) I can't say I didn't eat out at all - but we had gotten bad in the week before I recommited. I had some already planned lunch meetings and some travel days, where I knew I'd be eating out. My husband and I ate out last week the night before my fill. I did OK, not great, but OK. But just that once instead of quite a few nights out!
4) I had a harder time with the not snacking at night before the fill. But since I knew I would likely get hungry, I got some healthy options at the store, so I could make good choices.
And I lost 9 pounds! Some right away after I recommitted. And 5 pounds since my fill. I am so excited about my progress! I really felt defeated 2 weeks ago, and I can't wait to go on vacation with my new motivation. I can't say for sure that I will lose on vacation, but I go being very confident - and that's the best!
1 comment
I started my recommitment to try to break some bad habits I had developed. I didn't want to try to add so many targets for myself that it was unrealistic. So I committed to getting a fill ASAP, taking my snacks to work, not eating out and not snacking at night.
1) The fill worked great! It was last Friday and really made a difference. I am not sure that I am at my sweet spot, but I am definitely able to eat less than before and not get hungry between meals. So I have not had to snack as much to keep myself going - which is fantastic!
2) I did take my snacks to work and I stuck with what I brought. We have only healthy choices in our vending machine at work, so yesterday I had an afternoon snack of healthy popcorn. BUT - I didn't go next door to CVS to get something unhealthy!
3) I can't say I didn't eat out at all - but we had gotten bad in the week before I recommited. I had some already planned lunch meetings and some travel days, where I knew I'd be eating out. My husband and I ate out last week the night before my fill. I did OK, not great, but OK. But just that once instead of quite a few nights out!
4) I had a harder time with the not snacking at night before the fill. But since I knew I would likely get hungry, I got some healthy options at the store, so I could make good choices.
And I lost 9 pounds! Some right away after I recommitted. And 5 pounds since my fill. I am so excited about my progress! I really felt defeated 2 weeks ago, and I can't wait to go on vacation with my new motivation. I can't say for sure that I will lose on vacation, but I go being very confident - and that's the best!
Day 1 Getting Back on Track
Jun 10, 2009
I really didn't think I'd be here so soon! I had surgery on April 8 and had done so amazingly well! -41 pounds since I did the info session last year; -28 pounds since surgery. Once I started eating regular foods, my loss started to slow. I had a big loss in the days after my first fill, but have stayed steady - even gained a bit since then. I don't have restriction and have just had grazing issues.
It's too soon for me to fall into this! I can do it! I have done SO well so far! I am almost at my first goal of having a BMI under 40. But if this continues, I won't get there at all!
So, here's my commitment to all you - gotta keep myself accountable! I will check in every day and share where I am at! I am leaving on vacation to San Francisco in two weeks and don't want to go there with these bad habits. It will make for a very difficult week.
Here's what I am doing well, and vow to keep doing:
* Water, water, water. I have been drinking water a lot for years, but the difference now is that there is no pop involved! I missed a cold can of Coke for about a month, but don't anymore. That's HUGE for me
* Exercise - this is another huge thing for me! I have found exercise to be much easier and more enjoyable since I have lost this initial weight. I do it almost every day. It's generally walking or doing cardio games on the Wii. This WILL continue!
* Protein - I started having success with this back when I started with my nutritionist, and it has continued. Yay me!
Here's what I commit to doing differently:
* Taking snacks to work. I have found that I struggle in the evening when I have not planned during the day. Eating small snacks, focusing on protein, will be a huge thing for me!
* Not eating out. There will be lots of eating out in San Fran, so if I can focus on eating food I cook between now and then, I will be able to control what I eat.
* No evening snacking. For whatever reason, this has been a problem for me in the last week. This had really stopped being a problem for so long - I don't know where the issue came from this time! But this could ruin me completely.
* Make a doctor's appointment and try to get a fill. Gotta do it to try to give my band the best opportunity to work for me.
0 comments
It's too soon for me to fall into this! I can do it! I have done SO well so far! I am almost at my first goal of having a BMI under 40. But if this continues, I won't get there at all!
So, here's my commitment to all you - gotta keep myself accountable! I will check in every day and share where I am at! I am leaving on vacation to San Francisco in two weeks and don't want to go there with these bad habits. It will make for a very difficult week.
Here's what I am doing well, and vow to keep doing:
* Water, water, water. I have been drinking water a lot for years, but the difference now is that there is no pop involved! I missed a cold can of Coke for about a month, but don't anymore. That's HUGE for me
* Exercise - this is another huge thing for me! I have found exercise to be much easier and more enjoyable since I have lost this initial weight. I do it almost every day. It's generally walking or doing cardio games on the Wii. This WILL continue!
* Protein - I started having success with this back when I started with my nutritionist, and it has continued. Yay me!
Here's what I commit to doing differently:
* Taking snacks to work. I have found that I struggle in the evening when I have not planned during the day. Eating small snacks, focusing on protein, will be a huge thing for me!
* Not eating out. There will be lots of eating out in San Fran, so if I can focus on eating food I cook between now and then, I will be able to control what I eat.
* No evening snacking. For whatever reason, this has been a problem for me in the last week. This had really stopped being a problem for so long - I don't know where the issue came from this time! But this could ruin me completely.
* Make a doctor's appointment and try to get a fill. Gotta do it to try to give my band the best opportunity to work for me.
First fill experience
May 22, 2009
I had my first fill this morning. It went really well. I was most nervous about drinking the stuff as I had the fill in radiology under fluroscopy. When I was in the waiting room, they were bringing these big jugs of white pasty stuff for people to drink. I didn't know what they were having done, so I assumed it was what I would have to do. Turned out they were having cat scans, so I was good.
I went back to the room and changed into a gown. Stood in front of the machine and they took some pictures to be sure they could locate my port. They marked my port and then numbed the site. Then inserted the big needle (it was pretty big). I felt a bit more than I expected, then the numbing stuff kicked in. They moved the machine up so they could watch my stomach and I took a drink of the stuff. I could see the liquid go quickly through my stomach. She put 2 CCs in and I took another drink. It went through quickly again. She put in two more CCs and I took a drink and it stopped completely. She took a bit out and felt the restriction was good.
The stuff I had to drink wasn't bad at all. I was worried. When she took the needle out, I had a bit of bleeding. She said that wasn't normal, but my BP meds may be the cause.
I came home and ate just a little bit - I was starving when I got home and the little bit I ate was fine. I have to eat soft foods today and tomorrow and then back to normal. I can feel a difference when I eat now, so we'll see what I am able to eat from here on out. Restriction here I come!!
0 comments
I went back to the room and changed into a gown. Stood in front of the machine and they took some pictures to be sure they could locate my port. They marked my port and then numbed the site. Then inserted the big needle (it was pretty big). I felt a bit more than I expected, then the numbing stuff kicked in. They moved the machine up so they could watch my stomach and I took a drink of the stuff. I could see the liquid go quickly through my stomach. She put 2 CCs in and I took another drink. It went through quickly again. She put in two more CCs and I took a drink and it stopped completely. She took a bit out and felt the restriction was good.
The stuff I had to drink wasn't bad at all. I was worried. When she took the needle out, I had a bit of bleeding. She said that wasn't normal, but my BP meds may be the cause.
I came home and ate just a little bit - I was starving when I got home and the little bit I ate was fine. I have to eat soft foods today and tomorrow and then back to normal. I can feel a difference when I eat now, so we'll see what I am able to eat from here on out. Restriction here I come!!
Wow - how things change!
May 13, 2009
I have my first fill next Friday and it can't come soon enough! Last Wednesday I finally arrived in the awful place called Bandster Hell. At first I thought that I would just keep eating what I had been eating and work through the hunger. By Friday, that was impossible. So I decided I would make sure I wasn't hungry but try to make good choices. If I could maintain during the time, I would be happy. Well, opening the door to eating a bit more sent me to making bad choices. I am maintaining my weight - but I am also starting to exercise more. So, now that I have one week until my fill, I have to approach things differently. I have to continue working out. I may not be able to get by with tiny portions, I HAVE to make good choices. I am going to the grocery store in a couple of days and have to get meals I can make easily at lunch and get snacks easy to take to work with me. I am traveling next week. I need to buy some Slim Fasts so I can have those with me.
I can do this. It's too soon to have these issues! I have to keep pushing.
UPDATE - I was able to increase my working out quite a bit and still lost 2.5 pounds in a two week period! I guess I was perceiving it to be worse than it was - go figure!
2 comments
I can do this. It's too soon to have these issues! I have to keep pushing.
UPDATE - I was able to increase my working out quite a bit and still lost 2.5 pounds in a two week period! I guess I was perceiving it to be worse than it was - go figure!
Back to work and so excited!
Apr 22, 2009
Wow - I was so worried about coming back to work today. Mainly because I was worried that I would be tired and unmotivated. Well, I am tired and not terribly motivated, but happy to be back and it's been going well. I already feel all caught up!
But - the best part of coming back was putting on work clothes again. After two weeks of wearing wonderful sweats and t-shirts, I put on some pants that haven't fit in two years and they fit! I put on a shirt that was quite tight (but I still wore it...not a lot of options) and it fits loosely! The tops of my feet don't spill out of my shoes. My ring is fitting comfortably. I can't believe it! I have done extremely well so far - close to 20 pounds lost. But I really didn't think that it would impact anything yet.
Plus yesterday I had a doctor's appointment with my regular doctor and she thinks I'll be able to go off my BP medication shortly. That's HUGE! Having trouble with my BP was the primary thing that pushed me from the thinking about surgery category to the gotta do it category.
So, while I would prefer to be back in sweats watching Dr. Phil - I love all the great things I discovered by coming back to work!
1 comment
But - the best part of coming back was putting on work clothes again. After two weeks of wearing wonderful sweats and t-shirts, I put on some pants that haven't fit in two years and they fit! I put on a shirt that was quite tight (but I still wore it...not a lot of options) and it fits loosely! The tops of my feet don't spill out of my shoes. My ring is fitting comfortably. I can't believe it! I have done extremely well so far - close to 20 pounds lost. But I really didn't think that it would impact anything yet.
Plus yesterday I had a doctor's appointment with my regular doctor and she thinks I'll be able to go off my BP medication shortly. That's HUGE! Having trouble with my BP was the primary thing that pushed me from the thinking about surgery category to the gotta do it category.
So, while I would prefer to be back in sweats watching Dr. Phil - I love all the great things I discovered by coming back to work!
I'm starting to feel better!
Apr 12, 2009
I am happy to share that this is the first day I am starting to feel better. I am 4 days post-op. I am still taking pain pills, but can now get up and down from a chair without supporting myself. I tried to get off the pain pills yesterday, but found out at 10pm that it was maybe too early to try that. So I took them last night and am taking one at a time now. Even this morning, before I took any pills, I could tell I was in better shape. I still can't stand or do much at one time. However, I am thrilled to finally see some improvement.
I am still weighing myself every day for continued motivation and am now down 10 pounds since surgery on Wednesday. I chose this surgery because I didn't want to lose a ton of weight too quickly, but I am not complaining! I know it will slow down and every day I am expecting to see it slow down. In the meantime, if I can have this kind of progress while I am still not feeling great, I will be thankful.
1 comment
I am still weighing myself every day for continued motivation and am now down 10 pounds since surgery on Wednesday. I chose this surgery because I didn't want to lose a ton of weight too quickly, but I am not complaining! I know it will slow down and every day I am expecting to see it slow down. In the meantime, if I can have this kind of progress while I am still not feeling great, I will be thankful.
Results already!
Apr 10, 2009
I do not want to get obsessed with weight as I am trying to lose it. I can become very focused on that one number and not focus on the bigger picture of health. I just started using a Wii Fit about two weeks ago and I track my BMI on that - it also lets me set bite-sized goals, which is wonderful. So I have been setting goals for myself to lose 2 pounds every two weeks.
Since surgery Wednesday (today is Saturday), I have lost 7 pounds!!! I know this is unusual and mainly due to the fact that I can't eat much yet and am also struggling getting all my water in. But I checked yesterday and today and each time I lost. I will likely let off with the daily checks, but at least for now while I am still uncomfortable and wishing I felt better, it's a definite motivator. I don't feel like I can do much to assist in the weight loss (can't work out much - walking slowly to the bathroom is quite a workout now!!!), but I am encouraged to see that weight loss is happening. Once I can help things along - imagine what will happen!!
However, my ultimate goal for myself is to lose 1 pound a week. I know others get frustrated at that level of loss, but it means 100 pounds in 2 years. So far, it looks like I might be tracking faster than that. But I don't expect quick results the whole time.
Home from the hospital!!!
Apr 09, 2009
I have benefited so much from the posting of other people and I wanted to share with everyone my experience so hopefully someone will get as much out of it as I got out of so many others.
I just got back from the hospital and wanted to share how I am feeling and what the whole thing was like. My surgery was scheduled for 11am yesterday and I had to report at 9am. Within an hour of arriving, I was dressed and in pre-op with everyone poking at me and asking questions. Then onto the operating room. I saw my surgeon quickly and they had me move to the table and put the mask on and I was out. I woke up in the recovery room feeling very groggy, but not much else. As I started to come around, I started noticing the pain in my abdomen. At that time I likened it to how I would feel if I slept way too long on a weekend morning and woke up with my mid section aching.
During recovery (where I stayed for 8 hours because of a shortage of rooms) I didn't feel much pain, but did get nauseous from time to time from drinking water. They gave me some nausea medication and I was OK.
Then I moved up to my room where I desperately had to go to the bathroom. They had a potty next to my bed so I wouldn't have to go to the bathroom or use a bed pan. This is when I learned how badly my mid section hurt. Pulling myself up so I could stand up was very painful. Standing up was painful. Sitting down on the potty was painful. Learned a lot in that moment! I was able to move around, but was surprised at how much pain everything took. Primarily in the area where my port was placed, I believe. No shoulder pain from the gas at that point.
Later in the night, I was able to eat sugar-free jello and chicken broth. I do not have to do a liquid diet post-surgery, moving right to mushies, but not right away. It took me all night to eat the jello. This morning I got more jello and broth. I ate less of the jello than the night before, but more of the broth. Drinking water throughout. Before I could leave, they wanted to make sure I could get the mushies down, so for lunch I got a strained cream soup and fruit puree. I ate about half of each, and everyone was happy. The shoulder pain started today, but is more of annoyance so far than anything else.
Then it was just a matter of pulling myself out of the bed and getting into the car! The worst is just trying to get up and down. Didn't realize how difficult that would be! I am having no trouble eating - right now I am drinking a Glucerna shake. I don't have much of an appetite, but am not feeling like eating is impossible.
0 comments
I just got back from the hospital and wanted to share how I am feeling and what the whole thing was like. My surgery was scheduled for 11am yesterday and I had to report at 9am. Within an hour of arriving, I was dressed and in pre-op with everyone poking at me and asking questions. Then onto the operating room. I saw my surgeon quickly and they had me move to the table and put the mask on and I was out. I woke up in the recovery room feeling very groggy, but not much else. As I started to come around, I started noticing the pain in my abdomen. At that time I likened it to how I would feel if I slept way too long on a weekend morning and woke up with my mid section aching.
During recovery (where I stayed for 8 hours because of a shortage of rooms) I didn't feel much pain, but did get nauseous from time to time from drinking water. They gave me some nausea medication and I was OK.
Then I moved up to my room where I desperately had to go to the bathroom. They had a potty next to my bed so I wouldn't have to go to the bathroom or use a bed pan. This is when I learned how badly my mid section hurt. Pulling myself up so I could stand up was very painful. Standing up was painful. Sitting down on the potty was painful. Learned a lot in that moment! I was able to move around, but was surprised at how much pain everything took. Primarily in the area where my port was placed, I believe. No shoulder pain from the gas at that point.
Later in the night, I was able to eat sugar-free jello and chicken broth. I do not have to do a liquid diet post-surgery, moving right to mushies, but not right away. It took me all night to eat the jello. This morning I got more jello and broth. I ate less of the jello than the night before, but more of the broth. Drinking water throughout. Before I could leave, they wanted to make sure I could get the mushies down, so for lunch I got a strained cream soup and fruit puree. I ate about half of each, and everyone was happy. The shoulder pain started today, but is more of annoyance so far than anything else.
Then it was just a matter of pulling myself out of the bed and getting into the car! The worst is just trying to get up and down. Didn't realize how difficult that would be! I am having no trouble eating - right now I am drinking a Glucerna shake. I don't have much of an appetite, but am not feeling like eating is impossible.
About Me
Columbus, OH
Location
35.7
BMI
Surgery
04/08/2009
Surgery Date
Mar 30, 2008
Member Since
