My Story

[amyk]

I guess this is where we go to tell it all. So here goes. I have been a big girl for a long time. Even when I was little I was big. I think my family uses food for comfort and my Granny (being from the south) to this day will feed anything that walks through her door (and is slightly put off if you leave without eating). Every hoilday is all about the food, every wedding, every funeral. Looing back it is no wonder I'm fat! LOL! Food has been my friend, my comfort, my tool to stave off boredom. And last Friday I had my lap band surgery. It has taken me about a year to get to this point. Supervised diet, sleep study, psych eval...the works. I don't know what brought me to this descision, but I just knew that I had to do this or I would end up with major issues. My weight had been steadily climbing by 3-5 lbs a year for the past few years and I hit a new high of 238. I feel really good about my descision and can't wait to start my new life. I hope to use this as a reason to turn the eating habits of my kids around too. I used to work out every day when I was younger and know I can do that again! I have fought to get this band and I can't waste this opportunity to be healthy and happy. I may need a kick in the butt every now and then so I hope y'all are prepared! Have a great evening! Much love and hugs....:bandlove:

[MyGenesis]

Hi Amy and Welcome to B2G. This is a wonderful and caring place to come for support. (Kind of like Grandma's without the food!)
Good luck....and hugs back at cha :)

[Kate]

Welcome and good luck. You are going to get all the help you could ask for, and some you don't on here. :nod:

Congrats on the decision that may well save your life.

[amyk]

I went to the Dr today for my first post op and everything is looking good. He showed me where my port is (under my biggest insicion). Scheduled me for my first fill in 3 weeks. Also, said I can start on soft foods. Yeah, onto mushies! I bought some Kashi oatmeal and some greek yogurt. Some cottage cheese and tuna and other stuff. I figure most stuff I can just throw in my bullet and turn it to mush! He said next Fri I can start eating regular. He also signed off for me to go back to work on Monday. Which is good because I am getting bored around the house. I still have not had a "BM" yet and forgot to ask him about that. I guess some milk of mag would not hurt me. I am looking forward to taking my boys out trick or treating tomorrow but it might be really chilly here, like 40. But no candy for me! The walking will do me good tho....hugs to all, ttyl!

[Kate]

You're right, a little MOM might do ya good. And drink plenty of fluids. Sounds like you are doing great! Keep up the good work.

[amyk]

Thanks Kate! Hope all is well with you also. I had some chicken salad and some fat free cottage cheese. It all went down really well. I still don't feel hungry really. Trying to practice chewing even tho it is mush and not drinking with food. My boys are home so I gotta run.

[Patrick]

Hi Amy and welcome to bandland. You are going to great because you already have the right attitude. Re BM, DW and I have used Benefiber (or similiar) to help establish regularity for the first several months. I also use it when I know I haven't eaten enough raw veggies lately. Your body need some time to adjust to the changes in eating habits that you are going through. Good luck with everything and keep on posting and picking up the support. This site is all about the love and honest support.

[chrispygal]

Welcome Amy, and congratulations on making it to bandland! Your story sounds similar to mine (always beeing overweight, food is focus of everything). You will love being banded and I look forward to getting to know you. :)

[503-250]

Welcome to the monkey house Amy...you will find a lot of people who have your same issues (ME!!! ME!!! ME!!!) so I am sure you will be just fine.

Do yourself a huge favor and take this beginning period really slow...this isn't a time to lose weight, it's a time to follow the nutrition instructions to a T, worry about weighing in, losing weight and all that other crap AFTER.

Meanwhile...as a representative of the men here on the forum...I welcome you...hot chicas are always a wonderful addition to our family here and there is plenty of them so you will fit right in.

[cliving]

I love hearing about all the success stories and the soon to be success stories. My surgery is Tuesday, Nov 3, and i can't wait. by following the soft foods and now liquids i have lost 12 lbs, also parking as far away from my work (Arizona State U, lot 59, out in the boonies) so with increased exercise and support from this i KNOW i will succeed!!!

[curliesue]

Glad you started your own thread, now I can find you easier. So how are things going for you?

[amyk]

Pretty good, I downed two deviled eggs at lightning speed and gave myself a small issue (PB i believe it is called ;)) Other than that is has been fine. I am on to mushie food, but I don't really feel hungry. My first fill is scheduled for the 18th. I can eat "regular" food starting this Friday. IDK, that one episode really scared me.....but it was totally my fault. Driving, in a hurry, paying attn to the kids. Just tried to eat like I used to. Forgot to pay attention to my food, won't do that again anytime soon LOL! Hope all is well with you and your recovery...

[amyk]

Thanks to everyone for all the warm welcomes and notes of support! Glad to hear there are similar stories and ppl out there. ttyl! Love and hugs! A hot chica huh lol thanks???

[Want_2_B_Free]

Welcome to B2G. Glad all is moving along well. I like hot chicka's. Or was that hot chocolate. Any way, moving on-take it slow. It is a life change not an overnight change. I have to keep telling myself that. I am in no hurry, I am in no hurry. Deep breath, I M IN NO HURRY. . . :)

[amyk]

Thanks! I have to tell myself that alot! And I am one of THOSE ppl...you know always running at breakneck speed and totally spazzing out! So I'm in no hurry needs to be a mantra for me. :)

[Stitchy]

Amy, welcome to bandland if I didn't to that already! You've got everything under control and the band has YOU under control. NO WOLFING!!

[momsquid4u]

Amy welcome to bandland and I do understand the hurry up and go as with my 11 year old it seems we are on the run all the time and I have to tell my self to slow down when it comes to food......... I hate PBing and it taught me that if I can't set and eat then just drink something until I can. :) I look forward to reading your journey. I need to start one instead of just posting :) I guess it will be a little goal to do just that :)
Julia
1 lb a week challenge 9/10/09 -10 lost

Banded 08/24/09 by Dr Scott Ellison in Kansas
242/200.5/145
S/C/G
first fill 2.6cc 9/30/09
2nd fill 1 cc 11/2/09



http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/wk0t5jv/weight.png
(http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wk0t5jv/)


http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/4;14;0/st/20090824/e/my+lapband/k/a859/event.png
(http://www.TickerFactory.com/)


Life is too short for drama & petty things,
so kiss slowly, laugh insanely,
Love truly and forgive quickly

[amyk]

That is a good idea, to just drink something until I can sit down and take time to eat properly. It will take some training tho, I am always on the go! But it is better to learn to slow down the food situation then to do what I did with those eggs! If I had not read on here about other experiences, I would have thought I was having a heart attack! Studying other ppls journeys has really helped prepare me, even tho I am stubborn and will still have to learn the hard way. My first fill is the 18th and I am looking forward to that. I will be on "normal" food starting Friday and that scares me a little. I kind of feel like that is unleashing my old demons. I have lost 20lbs so far and being able to eat again especially with no fill for 2 weeks is about enough time to put it all back on! I have been walking on the treadmill at lunch every day, and that is good, but how do I keep it all in check now? Heeellllpppp!

[amyk]

So I went out to eat for the first time since being banded. I was nervous! So weird. I was dropping stuff and didn't know what to order. I was worried that I was going to gag or PB, or do something wrong! LOL, it just freaked me out completely for some reason. I ordered the "diet plate" it was chicken salad and cottage cheese. I thought that was playing it totally safe. Everything was fine. I was being crazy for nuttin! I could only eat 1/2 of the serving, but I took it home and finished it for supper.

[MoOrLess]

hi Amy - and welcome - I don't think I've said that to you yet - and here you are already on regular foods already lol

You sound like you're doing great in these first weeks since band surgery! I'd say as far as having PBs - trust me - they come even easier the more adjustments you get -- so tread lightly and carefully - esp with "new" foods eaten after being banded. I agree about drinking liquids if you are driving in the car -- avoid eating anywhere but sitting at a table. You'll save yourself a LOT of PBs and pain - they ARE awful!

Look forward to getting to know you better -- and yep there IS a hot chicka wall - it's Bear's and only his - imaginary or otherwise - it's an honor when you get added to it :)

[amyk]

So tomorrow I get my first fill. I have read that it won't be very much for the first one. I am feeling a bit discouraged today. I know it is not a race, but I really just don't want to be hungry anymore. I hope this fill helps. I have been trying to live by the rules, but I am so hungry. I have been working out like I should, but I am counting on this fill helping to reduce my intake. I am sad that I have come this far and feel like I need to eat so much still. I am sure the quantity is not as much but it seems like it. I have not lost any more weight and just feel like I should be doing something else, or more or just something! I have never followed through with anything in my life and I really want this to work, but right now I feel like I do nothing but hiccup and listen to my stomach growl. Please someone tell me that after tomorrow I will have some reduction in the quantity of food it takes to feed the beast that lives in there and grumbles at me all day!

[gregken77]

Amy I just got a fill last week and yeah I was bumbed out. Yeah I am eating alittle less but its not much less. You know when you get this first fill just try eating like you have good restriction---1 1/2 cup of food. Wait 10 minutes and if your still hungry eat alittle more. At least until you get a few fills in you. And who knows --you might be one of those lucky ones that gets one fill and starts losing massive amounts of weight, has great restriction, and the world just starts throwing you blessings, catering to your every whim and need----but just dont get your hope up. Yeah getting to the point where you can actually start losing weight is the only thing so far that I have found negative about this band. I am not a patient person either. ha ha

[amyk]

Amy I just got a fill last week and yeah I was bumbed out. Yeah I am eating alittle less but its not much less. You know when you get this first fill just try eating like you have good restriction---1 1/2 cup of food. Wait 10 minutes and if your still hungry eat alittle more. At least until you get a few fills in you. And who knows --you might be one of those lucky ones that gets one fill and starts losing massive amounts of weight, has great restriction, and the world just starts throwing you blessings, catering to your every whim and need----but just dont get your hope up. Yeah getting to the point where you can actually start losing weight is the only thing so far that I have found negative about this band. I am not a patient person either. ha ha


I will try that wait 10 min thing. And BTW, I don't know about your luck, but I am not that person who gets any "gifts" from the universe. LOL, I don't know what I ever did to karma, but she hates me!

[amyk]

My fill went well, didn't hurt or anything. He has a table that tilts so I didn't even have to move. I was numb so I didn't feel a thing. I talked to my Dr about if the first fill was a "little" one or what the deal was. He said no, but the restriction from a first fill does not seem to last and I should schedule another one in two weeks. He put in 6cc which seems like a lot, but I drank some gatorade, V8 and chicken soup and have not puked yet, so I think I'm ok. He said tomorrow night I can try some solids...that sounds scary so I think I'll do mushies. It is our Thanksgiving food day at work tomorrow, and I will be on liquids. That will be hard, but I think two ppl are bringing soup :) I know better than to expect miracles, but I hope this fill gives me some restriction, and helps me stay on track. Good night all and God Bless!

[gregken77]

Well Amy hope the first one gives you something but if not at least you can go back in 2 weeks. My doctor is the same way--I can go back every two weeks if I need to. Your doctor sounds like he is an aggressive fill guy. Which I think is good. Just remember that most women I read about on here tend to tighten up durin gthere monthly cycle or when under lots of stress. So like Jachut told me being too tight is not a good thing. Just get to a comfortable restriction, taking in account those days you might swell or whatever/

[gregken77]

I will try that wait 10 min thing. And BTW, I don't know about your luck, but I am not that person who gets any "gifts" from the universe. LOL, I don't know what I ever did to karma, but she hates me!
Is that her name? Karma----I hate that women! I bet you money she is friends with my ex wife "the Queen of darkness" . ha ha Ok lets dont go there

[amyk]

So this morning I had about 1c of eggs and 1/2c of kashi oatmeal. It seems to be lasting pretty good and it did fill me up. My Dr said that the restriction from a first fill seems to wear off fast though. Oh well, it works for me today anyway. I didn't want to under eat and be hungry again and not be able to stick to 3 meals a day. I have to reign in my grazing. I did find it hard not to sip coffee right after eating, but I managed. I have a worry stone that helped me quit smoking and it helps me to not eat also, gotta keep those hands busy.....