tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69811197067028494422024-02-19T04:45:12.369-05:00Re-doing myself in Royal OakThis is about my journey into the land of Lap-Band. After struggling with my weight for all of my adult life, I have decided to do finally something about it. My Surgery Date was December 11, 2009Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-92014502102382034212010-08-16T10:52:00.001-04:002010-08-16T10:54:53.323-04:008 months and 33 pounds later....<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzc3r5IZvv6ls_4OCDGqx47j0qGgHonvwX7C5pjUxGO6P06PKsL-x9lkvtTQ35x8b22gt3fLAZnrpxsfoc_mQmZ-NxfN129ZYL2TkWmA48zeb_o-L47vTvaFlJ-scYEuwi3mh0IZDx6U/s1600/before+after+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzc3r5IZvv6ls_4OCDGqx47j0qGgHonvwX7C5pjUxGO6P06PKsL-x9lkvtTQ35x8b22gt3fLAZnrpxsfoc_mQmZ-NxfN129ZYL2TkWmA48zeb_o-L47vTvaFlJ-scYEuwi3mh0IZDx6U/s400/before+after+1.jpg" width="392" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not thrilled with the results or the pics...so I will<br />
keep plugging away....I now see just how much harder<br />
I have to work and how much further I have to go. So instead<br />
of being discouraged...I am motivated! <br />
<div align="left"><br />
</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-332232393245529312010-07-27T10:43:00.000-04:002010-07-27T10:43:41.672-04:007 months 30 pounds. Slow but sure.Long time no post...months actually. I barely have time to check email let alone keep up with how everyone is doing. So today I will check in and check everyone out. I finally reached the 30 pound mark at 7 months. This last fill has really made a difference. I am eating half as much as before. And my appetite is pretty slim. I am almost wondering if I don't need a bit of an un-fill. It has only been a week, so I will give it a chance and see how it goes. I will be taking some new pics soon to post and see the diffenence. Funny thing is, this loss has been so gradual that not many people are saying much about my weight loss. I expect people to notice, but no one is saying anything. Weird. Oh, well. 30 is 30 and I am pretty happy about it.Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-33217335702088004872010-04-28T10:00:00.001-04:002010-04-28T10:07:51.611-04:00Help!!! Chicago??? PLEASE fill me in!Hi...well I have not been on in over a month and it is my loss. I guess I have been in a funk with this band....still not losing much at all, and really discouraged. I go for my 3rd fill today, and hopefully this will help. I am losing about a 1/2 lb a week. VERY SLOWLY! <br />
<br />
But as I logged on today, I notice there is a trip to Chicago planned, that I have missed hearing about. Can someone tell me WHEN, WHERE, HOW, WHAT it is all about? Detroit is very close, and I may be able to make it. Please fill me in and let me know WHO to contact! Thanks, Linda<br />
<br />
I can be emailed at: <a href="mailto:lca4162@yahoo.com">lca4162@yahoo.com</a> too!Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-84403967860378294682010-03-11T14:51:00.001-05:002010-03-11T14:52:11.899-05:002nd Fill and hoping it makes more of a differenceI had my second fill yesterday. He put in .75cc which brings me to about 4.25cc in a 10cc band. I am hoping this one makes a difference! Met a bunch of bandsters in his office and at support group last night. Of the 4 people I met, all of who had been banded over a year and a half ago, there were two at 70+ pounds, one at 90 and one at only 30 pounds. The one that only lost 30 in two years was in her 60's and that may have had something to do with it. <br />
<br />
Let's hope this fill it the ticket! Or at least it will be closer to it! More news later...Cheers!Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-49188027048343585322010-03-03T15:57:00.002-05:002010-03-03T16:01:49.757-05:00New Lane Bryant Bathing SuitsI have been away from blogging, both reading yours and writing mine for a few weeks now. I am still really busy with my Dad. Doing lots of back and fourth between the rehab-nursing center and hospital on a regular basis. Believe me it never ends. But he seems to be dealing with it all pretty well emotionally but not yet regaining much strength. <br />
<br />
So to deal with the “stress” I have wanted to revert back to one of the things that has always made me feel better emotionally. Go shopping. Now I know our one of our goals is to say goodbye to Layne Bryant forever, but I am honestly not there yet, (still holding at 245 lbs, my next fill is in two weeks where I hope to see some changes soon after) Anyway, they have something new that I think is just a great idea and I had to go out and get one today. It’s a bathing suit with a built in under wire (plunge style) bra in actual bra sizes! Lane Bryant’s 'plunge style' is their answer to Victoria Secrets push up. There is nothing worse for me than wearing a regular bathing suit that flattens me out and gives me pancake boobs, and this top does not! It actually gives me cleavage holds the girls up nicely. <br />
This is the top and bottom I bought: <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuhXyFc-Xp7gkYIhIyP7ZefcdNzVNGq-5qeDf0AXOoNyz5aaOxF9dxkwKlHO1vfxQF9pMb9pplro4bfhoZigH9pGK_CMT75AIFD4AWvkdrJD4EsrxNJ1nZ52iEcADRRJfXjQrO9Jq3jI/s1600-h/bottom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuhXyFc-Xp7gkYIhIyP7ZefcdNzVNGq-5qeDf0AXOoNyz5aaOxF9dxkwKlHO1vfxQF9pMb9pplro4bfhoZigH9pGK_CMT75AIFD4AWvkdrJD4EsrxNJ1nZ52iEcADRRJfXjQrO9Jq3jI/s200/bottom.jpg" width="151" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyQo0iHhatXM-SRW2wrdPnstnC6vsaitiI4Rr63GQ0pqBmb-EF0mbDtGZZ8Hq6y9cCKMcW9tB5FfBProREKamOQ0duntOrFDikCSkHqdzorwUY6J9KNfyMOYHCCDI1M2iKa7LWfproQ9w/s1600-h/top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyQo0iHhatXM-SRW2wrdPnstnC6vsaitiI4Rr63GQ0pqBmb-EF0mbDtGZZ8Hq6y9cCKMcW9tB5FfBProREKamOQ0duntOrFDikCSkHqdzorwUY6J9KNfyMOYHCCDI1M2iKa7LWfproQ9w/s320/top.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, now I have this great bathing suit and have nowhere to wear it because Florida at this point isn’t looking like a real probability this spring. Not yet anyway. So, that would mean that the soonest I would wear it here is in June, 4 months away. A lot could change body wise in 4 months. So, I bought it tight, and I have the option to take it back within 60 days if I want. So I figure if I see a significant change in two months, I will return it and go one more size down. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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So glad spring is around the corner!Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-37587065688172240432010-02-19T09:43:00.000-05:002010-02-19T09:43:51.406-05:00A Week Away...but not on vacationI got back on-line today with Blogger for the first time in over a week. It has been a long week or so dealing with my Dad and his health issues. He was in the hospital for 6 days and has since been transferred to a Nursing/Re-hab facility. So, I think things may be looking up for him. Not sure at this point. The body only bounces back so much at 89! But he is trying. <br />
<br />
Needless to say, I have not been concentrating on “Linda” much at all the past 10 days. My weight is actually up two lbs and I am really pissed off at myself. I have been eating all the wrong stuff. Lot’s of carbs and fatty stuff. Comfort food to ease the anxiety I have about my Dad. It is very easy to “eat around the band”. The last two days, I am concentrating on protein, (mostly fish) and vegetables and cutting the carbs and fat from the diet to see if this helps. It is also my TOM so, that may have some bearing on my weight gain. <br />
<br />
I was so thrilled to be nominated for a “Beautiful Blogger” award by Tracy from <a href="http://metamorphicjourney.blogspot.com/">Metamorphic Journey</a>. It really warmed my heart to be thought of and I will try to keep the chain of nominating going when I have a chance to sit down for more than 10 minutes at the computer! There are so many of you out there who are “beautiful bloggers” and Tracy is one of them. She is very inspiring and has done a great job losing weight in a short amount of time because she is very, very focused. Something I need to be more of! And I will be…soon. Thanks again Tracy!Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-90481198393444855872010-02-10T19:08:00.000-05:002010-02-10T19:08:40.422-05:00Survived my first PB! Woo Hoo!Just had my first PB and it was gross. Soooo I thought I would share it with you all, since this seems the place to do so! Not that you asked!! If you read my last post you know that my Dad is very ill, home bound and being a bit of a difficult P.I.T.A. He pretty much only eats when either my sister or me cook something for him and serve it to him. No problem. My pleasure. If that is what makes him happy at this point I am here to do it. So I went to the deli and picked up some nice Honey Ham, Super Sharp Cheddar and some nice bakery style bread and decided to make him a grilled ham and cheese. So, I am standing there assembling the H & C sandwich and decide to pop a piece of ham in my mouth….chew once or twice then swallow. What could be more normal right? WRONG! Maybe pre band that would be normal but not now. So, I first felt the pain, then the slimy part (eww) and then it happened. (yes I made it to the bathroom) Up it came. Just when I thought that would be it, and I resumed my kitchen duties, here it came again. Twice. Ugh. Not fun. I felt horrible afterward. I am glad I was home and not at a restaurant. <br />
<br />
<br />
So, I sit here on my Dad’s home computer circa 1998 and write this to you. He only ate about two bites of the sandwich. Poor guy. <br />
<br />
Anyway, I am heading home soon to share the whole experience with my husband. He just got home today from a week long business trip and I am sure he will be thrilled to hear my PB story too! <br />
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Thanks for letting me share...cause you know what they say; Sharing is Caring!Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-37124684822635982072010-02-10T10:51:00.000-05:002010-02-10T10:51:09.377-05:00Enough Restriction and my Dear DadDo I or don’t I have enough restriction? I keep asking myself that. Sometimes, I feel tight. Like in the morning or when I take my first bite of food at a meal. But then, the second, third, fourth bites go down much easier and I can actually over eat at times. I have to literally stop myself from over eating and I do so in fear that if I don’t I will PB, or hurt the band. <br />
<br />
This is going very slowly for me. My second cousin who is the other bariatric surgeon at my hospital (he does not do lap band) says I am doing fine and thinks slow weight loss I is the way to go. I would like to see faster results. Especially when I see how fast some of you all are losing. <br />
<br />
Stress is playing a big part on my concentration and weight loss at this point too. So I am not going to be too hard on myself. My dear, darling father is gravely ill. He is 89 and his health has declined drastically over the last 5 months. We are now trying to coordinate his care, whether it be at home with nursing, or in a nursing home. It is hell watching him go through this. I wish there was something I could do to make it all better. This is a picture of us from a few years ago. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdrbRnEgTQ9HO-Z2F40RG1trppgHmZd3Q-ka3MipyBxvFlJoz_h52R6AtcOYNLF4rD1psHY2HuT5w1Wb3pcXpETFStiFILRqZ5Ffu_U60c2G42JlpR4yJci23j6D-0RylCwQ1tLT6dqE/s1600-h/DSC00203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdrbRnEgTQ9HO-Z2F40RG1trppgHmZd3Q-ka3MipyBxvFlJoz_h52R6AtcOYNLF4rD1psHY2HuT5w1Wb3pcXpETFStiFILRqZ5Ffu_U60c2G42JlpR4yJci23j6D-0RylCwQ1tLT6dqE/s400/DSC00203.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
So, in the meantime, my priorities are with his care. And the goal for myself is to try to stay healthy so I can be there for him. Just last week I got a bad cold from being rundown. <br />
I keep reading your blogs and love seeing what you are all up to. It is a nice relief from my reality if you know what I mean. I may not be able to post too often, but I am here.Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-39709826939128761512010-01-31T12:39:00.001-05:002010-01-31T12:41:27.779-05:00Wine Induced Error in JudgementFeeling big time guilty this morning gang. It seems like I have had decent restriction since my first fill and my portion sizes are much smaller and I have really been watching what I eat as well. I was even down two more pounds yesterday bringing me to 248 which is only 10 pounds s to my next goal of 238 or the 10% mark. Anyway, Dave and I had a nice dinner at home, turkey meatloaf, salad, small glass of wine before dinner and then decided to head out for the evening. We live in a really popular area just to the north of Detroit and were heading to our neighboring city of Ferndale to check out their "Blues Fest". We ended up at Como's which is a super popular Pizza place and hung out at the bar and listened a pretty good blues band. We met a very nice couple at the bar and started drinking and having a nice time talking with them. Well, 3 glasses of wine later (BIG GLASSES) and quite a buzz, I was starving and needed some "filler" to soak up some of the wine, so what do I do? I order a Pizza! Cheese, pepperoni and mushrooms. And I was "able" without any problem whatsoever to eat a two small slices! I think what is bothering me more than the fact that I did it is that I "can" do it. I really hope this restriction gets me through to my next fill with some significant weight loss. <br />
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Anyway I will try not to dwell too much on my wine induced error in judgement and remember what Scarlet O' Hara said: "after all tomorrow is another day".Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-25217658690527629972010-01-28T20:45:00.001-05:002010-01-28T20:46:43.363-05:001st Solid Meal after Fill #1Just finished dinner and did OK. I stopped before I felt full because I am so afraid of the dreaded PB! I hope I never experience it, but am afraid I will one of these days. I had 1/2 piece of baked Tilapia...maybe 3 ounces, some brown rice with sauteed mushrooms (1/2 cup), some spagetti squash with grated cheese and a few slices of avacado. I ate it from a 9 inch salad plate and it was pretty full. I feel OK now. Not full but not hungry either. Although I do feel pressure where the band is. Not sure if that is fullness or some sort of GERD pressure thing.Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-57275372275250783432010-01-27T13:19:00.001-05:002010-01-27T13:19:50.853-05:00First FillFirst fill went well and was much easier than I thought it would be. A numbing prick, then the fill needle, where he removed what was in the band, (2cc that I never knew was there in the first place) and added 1.5 cc giving me a total of <span style="font-size: large;">3.5cc</span>. So, we will see how this works for me. My next fill appointment isn’t until March 10, six weeks away so you know what that means? It means I am going to have to be very diligent and controlled if I am to lose some weight by my next appointment. The good news is, I did not gain any weight since surgery and am still at 250. I am really happy about that, because I thought I for sure gained a few pounds. <em><span style="font-size: x-small;">(can't believe I just said I am happy about being 250!) </span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
What is amazing is how easily I have fallen back into my old eating habits. My portion sizes have changed and are smaller, but I still eat the same stuff. I cook with EVOO and butter, still use ½ and ½ in my coffee, tarter sauce on my fish and ranch dressing on my salad. (and those are only a few of my bad habits) They are all high fat foods and all wrong. It is amazing my weight stayed the same. <br />
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So, it is time to strategize and get busy. And change what I am eating. It’s time to concentrate and make weight loss my priority. I didn’t have surgery or a contraption implanted in me to stay the same! <br />
<br />
My goal for my next appointment is to be at least at 240. 10 lbs in 6 weeks is doable don’t you think? Actually, my next goal is 238 which is a 10% weight loss. So that is what I will strive for.Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-24110126145636012472010-01-26T15:04:00.002-05:002010-01-26T15:06:34.338-05:00Excited about fill and thinking about SallyCan't tell you how excited I am for my first fill tomorrow... I will fill you in on how it goes. I really hope I get a decent amount so I can feel "some" restriction. <br />
<br />
Also thinking about Sally Hammilton <a href="http://sallyslapbandjourney.blogspot.com/">(Sally's Blog)</a> and what she is going through with her medical tests. Saying a prayer that she will be OK. She is very inspirational and helpful to a lot of us. Good Luck Sally...you have a lot of positive thoughts coming your way.Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-48351963244003226202010-01-22T09:47:00.000-05:002010-01-22T09:47:51.328-05:00Countdown to 1st Fill...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituMyFqSJkDqzbv2HihTvee8SDpQQIdW6a4rHOGTBfR2podnZp34hN3igeoIhM61IaAqFm68I1xmitn9MUXiLBDQQ-_Rk-KaQdN456ylOuJlSwB_z8_vkZB2O0SW38fwn5eexs1W0zDhQ/s1600-h/HoldingPatternCover370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituMyFqSJkDqzbv2HihTvee8SDpQQIdW6a4rHOGTBfR2podnZp34hN3igeoIhM61IaAqFm68I1xmitn9MUXiLBDQQ-_Rk-KaQdN456ylOuJlSwB_z8_vkZB2O0SW38fwn5eexs1W0zDhQ/s200/HoldingPatternCover370.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
</div> I am counting the days...<strong>6 </strong>to be exact, until my first fill! I feel like I have just been waiting in a holding pattern and doing nothing the last month and really need to get the band working to help me start the process of losing weight. It is very frustrating! <br />
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My eating habbits have somewhat changed, but honestly not enough. I am relying on the "band" to <strong>help</strong> me make the changes and to keep me on plan. It is very easy to fall back into old habbits and eat the way I used to especially without restriction. Sometimes I feel it is like I didn't even have surgery. I am a bit disappointed in myself for not having better "selfcontrol" and staying on a good eating plan now, but I honestly don't have it in me, and haven't for a long time....THAT IS WHY I GOT THE BAND...CAUSE I NEEDED HELP, RIGHT? So, I am going to give myself a chance here, get the band "working" for me with the proper fills and see where I go. One thing is for sure, it is very encouraging reading about other's successes here in our little blogworld.Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-13753444791446110802010-01-14T15:28:00.003-05:002010-01-14T15:57:11.516-05:00Lap Band Support GroupWent to my first post-op lap band support group meeting last night. There were only 3 of us there along with the psychologist Jackie, who runs the meetings. One lady was a year and a half out and the guy was only two weeks out. The lady has lost only about 70 pounds in the year and a half and still needs to lose more. She has had issues with GERD in a big way, and has had about 9 fills over that peroid. Jackie told us they actually have patients who have lost nothing after being banded. They go for one fill, don't lose, get discouraged, then never come back. Can you imagine? So, I mentioned I am worried about gaining some weight back during this period of no restriction, and Jackie then asked me <span style="font-size: large;">"Well aren't you staying on the plan?"</span> And I had to answer truthfully, that I am not. I am pretty much eating like I used to before surgery, with a few exceptions and of course my quantities are somewhat more limited. So, today I am back on "plan" and paying attention to what I am eating again. I need to start writing what I eat down too. Do you guys do that and find it helpful? <br />
<br />
Jackie did ask the other woman if she was happy with the band and on a scale of 1-5 (5 being the best) how she would rate it. She said she would give it a 4, and knows she would have never lost the 70 lbs without it. 4 is good in my book, better than average. So I am keeping the faith and looking forward to my first fill on Jan 27.Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-56706494469204730262010-01-01T22:01:00.002-05:002010-01-14T15:13:09.168-05:00Restriction in the New YearI need some restriction in my head and my band! It seems I am pretty much eating almost as much as I was pre-band the past few days. I have no restriction other than the band itself and as long as I chew things pretty well, everything seems to go through OK. And my portions are much larger. I did have a bad experience yesterday with a corn muffin. Came home and wanted to have a bite of something with some tea before getting ready to go out for NYE. The muffin was a bit dry even though I had butter and maple syrup on it and I (unconsciously) took a bite without chew, chew, chewing and it got stuck. Wow did it ever hurt. So, I stood up and moved around a bit and took a few sips of tea and it passed. But boy was that a reminder that I have to be fully aware and conscious of everything I put into my mouth from now on. That is the reason for being banded in the first place right? My first fill is scheduled the last week of January, so I am really concerned about how I am going to control my calories-portions from now until then. I am really stressed and sad about my darling Dad too. I see his health deteriorating so quickly and I am a stress eater so I am afraid I will sooth and comfort myself with food in the coming months. I have lost 15 pounds and don’t want to screw that up. I would even be happy if I could at least maintain it until my first fill. This is the New Year and a new way of life for me, so I am going to concentrate on goal setting and being being aware of what I am doing regarding food and what I chose to eat. <br />
How did you guys get through this time? Any suggestions? Hope you are all well and wish everyone the best in the New Year!Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-67132699755948103412009-12-29T11:32:00.000-05:002009-12-29T11:32:55.214-05:00New Years Week~ 1st Post-op Visit with SurgeonI feel like I am eating like a human once again. I am not sure if this is good or bad because I am reverting to some of my old eating habits, although I did eat a small chopped salad (mostly lettuce) yesterday which was refreshing and crunchy. My portion sizes are much larger now too as is my appetite! So I need to remain diligent until my first fill. <br />
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<br />
I see my surgeon for my first post op visit tomorrow. I will be exactly 18 days post op and I am wondering if he will give me a small fill. I think he normally waits until 6 weeks post op, but since I am tolerating food well, and eating more, and hungry every two hours, perhaps he will get me started. I will let you know what happens. I will weigh in tomorrow too. I don’t feel like I have lost any more weight since surgery which is about 12 pounds down total since the pre-op diet. <br />
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The things I am having a hard time with at the moment are (1) drinking enough liquid. I am lucky if I can get in 32 oz a day. I have never been a big water drinker, and 64 ounces seems like more than I can handle. (2) My protein is coming in around 40 grams a day. Need to keep working on that too to get to 60. I also see the dietitian tomorrow. My other issue (3) is writing everything down in a food journal. <br />
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In the back of my head, I keep thinking like I have every other holiday season in the past, I will start my diet after the New Year! Some habits are hard to break. <br />
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Good luck and Happy New Year to all of you this week and I will let you know if anything happens at the surgeon’s office.Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-54218004526118970832009-12-22T12:52:00.000-05:002009-12-22T12:52:55.991-05:00Christmas Week and 11 Days Post-opI am about 11 days out and finally starting to feel “normal” again. The last two weeks have been kind of uneasy and strange for me. I guess it is my mind and body reacting to life with the band. I had a major meltdown one night last week with my husband…big crying spell. I think it may have actually done me some good to release it and get it out. I was crying for lots of reasons. I cried about being banded and told him I regretted it and was sorry I did it. That I hated my life and missed my best friend “food”. Are you all rolling your eyes right now and saying, WOW what a baby and a “drama-queen”? But hey, that is how I was feeling. I was also crying for my Dad, because he is ill and I see him changing day by day. I know there will be more of the emotional stuff to come, so I am going to try and prepare for it by making sure I go to the support group meetings and keep up with everyone’s blogs. My husband made me feel better and said “hey if it doesn’t work, you can have it taken out”. Not that it is an option or even a thought in my head right now, because I haven’t really even started with this journey. But just knowing I have that option makes me feel a bit better. Choices right? Since then, my mood and spirits have been getting better, Thank God! Even I didn’t want to be with me! <br />
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So I am still eating pureed mushies and really getting tired of it! My diet mostly consists of cottage cheese, crushed lentil soup, ricotta with marinara, cream of wheat, Greek yogurt. I also roasted some eggplant, onion, and marinara and then pureed it and that was really good. I’m still supplementing with protein shakes too. BORING!! And the worse part is I AM GETTING REALLY HUNGRY ABOUT EVERY 2 HOURS! Who has the time to eat every two hours??? Is this is what is meant by Bandster Hell? It should be called Banster <strong>pain in the ass.</strong> <br />
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I have been working at my day job every day since last Tuesday for a few hours a day but tonight I go back to my part time job at Saks and I am really excited. I have been there part time since 1991, so I cannot imagine not being there during the holidays. I am really looking forward to it. I don’t make much money, but it is worth it for the discount and I love the people I work with. <br />
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I hope everyone has a great Christmas this year and I also hope we all have a very healthy, prosperous 2010 with great weight loss results for all of us!Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-71148516414358512772009-12-14T13:08:00.001-05:002009-12-14T13:46:48.440-05:00Day 3 and more questions for you professionals out there!Thanks for all the great advice ladies. Much appreciated. I got in about 30 oz of liquid yesterday and only about 10 grams of protein. Today I expect to do better. I am moving around the house a bit more, doing some light laundry, but not lifting anything. I am also doing my breathing contraption thing. Did you guys go home with one of those too? To help expand your lungs? I can only get up to 2000 ml, but I will keep at it. The pain today is tolerable. I have not taken anything today except a .25 Xanax and my Prozac. I more than anything don’t want to let myself fall into a depression, especially since I am feeling a bit remorseful at the moment. The Lortab Elixor tends to be a depressant too. So I am only going to take it as I need it. Now I am starting to feel very bloated and gassy. So, I am letting it rip girls! <span style="font-size: large;">Warning:</span> Funny but gross: when I had gas the first day I came home, well, let’s just say it was a PF (like a PB…if you catch my drift) Sorry had to share. Anyway, since then nothing. Must have been all the IV fluids in my body. <strong>OK, so I have one really weird thing that I am noticing. My tongue is kind of coated and white. Like it has a film on it. And whether I brush or not, it is still there. Does anyone know what this is and what I can do to get my normal pink tongue back? I also feel like my stomach is very distended and bloated and sticking out as if it is being pushed from the inside…is this gas? Not in my shoulder, but in my upper stomach. Also burping a lot. Normal? </strong>Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-19114584571952940822009-12-13T10:29:00.000-05:002009-12-13T10:29:00.639-05:00Home and BandedGreetings fellow lap-banders. Ugg. Surgery and hospital part of this thing simply sucked for me. I woke up thinking, what the hell did I do with my body and WHY? Surgery was at 3:00 on Friday and I finally came home last night (Sat) around 9 pm. It is good to be home, that is for sure. I do not understand how some people do this as an outpatient. The pain at this point isn’t too bad other than in the port site where it feels really tight and sore. They sent me home with liquid vicodin and even at half dose it makes me want to sleep. So, I am trying to stay off it as long as I can. <br />
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I just spoke to my sister who is the queen of elective surgery (literally) and she said that every time she did a new procedure she felt the same way. Then once she started to recover she felt better about her decision. <br />
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My goal today is to drink liquids to keep hydrated and to try to get 20 grams of protein in the form of protein shakes, Greek yogurt or HMR soup. Wish me luck! <span style="font-size: large;">Any advise you guys have for me this first week is really appreciated….so please write and add your 2 cents!! Thanks</span>Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-65742222265170189712009-12-10T13:04:00.001-05:002009-12-10T14:57:36.194-05:00TOMORROW IS MY BIG DAY!Just got the call from the hospital telling me to be there at 10:00 tomorrow morning. Surgery is at noon and they have the operating room for 90 minutes. So this is it guys, it is finally time! I called a good friend who is a big shot Dr. in Chicago <a href="http://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/anesthesiology/faculty/nmh/walega.html">HERE</a> and he said it is an easy case and I shouldn’t be worried. He also said one of his co-workers at the hospital had the surgery and is doing well and has lost about 80 pounds. I felt a bit better talking to him. <br />
I want to send out many thanks to all of you for all of your encouragement and support through the process of getting ready. Your thoughts, inspirations, stories, successes, humor, openness, and the many pictures you have posted are the reason I got this far. I don’t think I could have done it otherwise. Thank you for welcoming me into your blogs and I only hope I am as successful as all of you are. <br />
So, with that being said, wish me luck, say a prayer and I will be back on-line as soon as I can. <br />
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Much love, <br />
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Linda OLinda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-10274346819165648942009-12-08T13:12:00.003-05:002009-12-08T14:04:53.906-05:00My Big Fat Greek Drama and BangladeshYou tell one person and the rest eventually find out. I haven’t exactly been quiet about my upcoming surgery, but I’m also not broadcasting it from the hill tops or on facebook, if you know what I mean. So, my darling nephew (he is 40) ran into an old “friend” from our church and “Greek” social circle the other night and decided to tell her about my surgery! Did I also mention that she is 5’8”, maybe 120 lbs, stunning for her age, used to model, a size 2 or 4 and one of the biggest gossips on the Eastside??? Let’s call her Cinderella for the hell of it. So, I get a call from one of my very close friends "E" yesterday, who I told about the surgery, telling me she got a call from Cinderella, saying<strong>…"Did you hear about Linda???...did you know she is having WLS? OMG, What kind, where, why? what hospital etc..."</strong> Well, my dear friend "E" had to confirm it but without any details, because if she hadn’t Cinderella would have know she was lying to her. <br />
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The only way I could have kept this on the QT is if I only told my husband. But even then, he would have told someone, like his sister, and then the cat would have been out of the bag. I guess I am just wondering what the fall out will be from this in the future. For the most part I am pretty quiet about my private life. I know some of you have only told your husbands or close family members while others have told a handful and others are completely open and honest about their Lap Bands and tell all. In a way, we all are "out" just by writing these blogs and attaching our faces to them. So I was really a bit pissed about this for a little while, texted my nephew a nasty note and then poured myself a glass of my favorite wine from Trader Joes to calm my ass down. <br />
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So I start watching the evening news and they are doing a broadcast about the people of Bangladesh who are being forced to move from their villages to the north because of massive flooding. Close to 1 million people will be displaced by the floods and become refugees. These people are so poor, and are mostly farmers and villagers. It was so sad and really put it things back into perspective for me. <strong>Like.....Linda, get over it!</strong> Who cares what some gossip says about you. It also made me realize how fortunate we are to live in a county where we have choices like the ones we do. To have a choice to have a surgery to aid in weight loss seems so frivolous and unimportant compared to what these people in Bangladesh are doing to just survive. So I am going to count my blessings, keep focused, be thankful for what I have, be compassionate for those who have less and NOT give a damn about what others think. Life is too short..Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-47472349418231423702009-12-04T11:49:00.001-05:002009-12-04T11:50:03.930-05:00Time Off? & "pre" Buyers Remorse Anyone?I am curious how much time off work everyone took after surgery? One gal, Tracy is going on 3 weeks! My surgery is on a Friday and I am hoping to be back in the office for a few hours by the following Tuesday. It is a family business, so it is flexible, but I need to be there. Nothing heavy duty, just a few hours at my desk, and if I am tired, head home...or take a cat nap in my Dad's office. I am sure it will all depend on how things go, I know everyone is different. <br />
Also wondering if any of you got really scared before surgery? I am really freaking out about the surgery itself and the lifestyle changes ahead of me. <strong>OMG...sliming and PB ing! The thought of a foreign object inside my body!</strong> The only thing that keeps me on track is when I look at the pictures I posted last post. Especially the side view...A picture is worth a thousand words. When I look at that picture, the word that comes to mind is "<strong>rotund</strong>". <br />
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What did you do to calm the nerves? Did you have pre-buyers-remorse?Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-34678298281701030402009-12-01T11:27:00.003-05:002009-12-01T13:15:32.520-05:00BEFORE PICS-Thanksgiving Day 2009These pictures were taken on Thanksgiving ....at 265 pounds!....OMG. I haven't had any pictures taken in so long, so these are really eye opening. Notice how I wear all black to make myself look slimmer....hahahahahah! Who am I kidding? Just me! <br />
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</div>Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-6593746966115106662009-11-24T11:11:00.000-05:002009-11-24T11:11:16.531-05:00Questions for my Lap Band Buddies out there....I am starting to freak out a bit. I start pre-op on Friday. So it is count down time and all these doubts are starting to surface. <strong>Is this normal? Did you guys go through this?</strong> Questions: <br />
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<ol><li>ANY REGRETS? Are you happy with your decision and would you do it again?</li>
<li>ARE YOU SORRY, YOU DIDN'T GIVE TRADITIONAL DIETING ONE MORE TRY?</li>
<li>WHAT IS THE WORST THING ABOUT HAVING THE BAND?</li>
<li>WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT HAVING THE BAND?</li>
<li>On a scale of 1 to 10 HOW HARD WAS/IS IT PSYCHOLOGICALLY TO GET OVER THE FACT THAT YOU CAN'T EAT THE SAME WAY ANYMORE? </li>
<li>HAS BEING BANDED MADE YOUR PERSONALITY CHANGE? For the better or worse? </li>
<li>Are you still able to party a little? (I am a wine drinker...can't imagine giving it up completely) and are you a party pooper now cause you can't party as much?</li>
<li>HOW MUCH HAPPIER ARE YOU WITH YOUR BODY? I am wondering what I will look like 50-80 lbs thinner. I am 47 and will have a "lose skin" issue. </li>
<li>HAVE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS CHANGED? Spouses? Family? Friends? Strangers? </li>
<li>DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE SAME PERSON OR COMPLETELY DIFFERENT NOW THAT YOU HAVE LOST WEIGHT?</li>
</ol>I hope to hear back from some of you...or maybe you can direct me to some of your past posts where I can get some of your wisdom and answers to these questions. <br />
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL!Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981119706702849442.post-3546461010217588392009-11-16T12:00:00.002-05:002009-11-16T12:03:48.170-05:00ChangesI guess I need to take some before pictures right? I was just looking at Amy's recent pics of her bare back, and in her shirt with no pants....<strong>I love that girl!</strong> So it made me start to think about what I should wear for my before picture. Like maybe some tight sweats and a tank shirt? That way you get to see the bumps, lumbs, and flab. Or should I remain clothed in just some normal sweats that just show my size. Or, do the dignified, more ladylike thing and just wear normal clothes? I am not sure, but need to figure it out pretty soon. . .<br />
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I am really starting to think about the surgery a lot now. (less than a month away) I am a bit scarred and worried and really freaked out about the lifestyle change this is going to be for me. My food life as I know it, will soon be very different. As David Bowie said...Ch ch ch chaaanges! <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoEYXEz94Io">LISTEN </a> Maybe that can be my theme song when I am down? <br />
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Also not looking forward to the pre-diet or liquid phase. It will be tough not being able to eat over the holidays. Christmas is only 14 days post-op, so I guess I will still be on liquids, or mushies, right? Not fun. Hopefully, I will have no appetite so it won't be a big deal. HOPEFULLY!!! But geeze, what is one holiday? I have treated my whole life like it was a holiday and ate everything is sight...<br />
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I am trying to read as much as I can to prepare myself for what is ahead. And will spend some time going back over some of your blogs, to see what you went through...Linda Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854825355549708818noreply@blogger.com6