Countdown to Balloon Launch

[RoseMcnose]

Hi and welcome L13

As long as your head is in the right place and you are willing to work with the balloon you will be fine. Expect to feel really off colour & sicky for the first week of insertion. It does get better. Be prepared and stock up with things like bottled water, NAS jelly, juice, thin soups to get you through this time. Concentrate on getting liquids in as you do not want to get dehydrated. Personally it took me awhile to get to grips with my balloon as I suffer from reflux/hiatal hernia and the balloon has aggravated them. But as long as I avoid "problem" foods & take my lansoprazole I am absolutely fine.
After that initial week it's down to you ... The balloon is a tool to aid us to lose that weight. Listen to your dietician and follow their advice to the letter & learn to read the signals your body gives you to let you know that you are full. Restriction is easily lost if you over eat and you dont want to stretch the stomach further or the game is up .....

Tips.. Always eat off a side plate, use small spoon & fork. Chew food well, drink at least 2.5litres a day. Do not eat & drink at the same time ... Wait at least half hour before and after meals before you drink. Concentrate on eating lean high in protein foods first, veggies next & if you are still hungry then the carbs. Don't be tempted to skip meals. Protein foods stay in our stomach longer and keep us fuller longer so you are looking at a high intake of fish, lean meats, milk, eggs etc this should be your main food component Avoid high carbs, sugary foods & fatty foods
I'm sure others will add their tips as they read your post good luck for Monday L13 and if you have any questions ask away xx

Welcome!!!! Good luck on Monday. You can do it!!!

 

[RoseMcnose]

Omg!!! My husband has it easy!!!!
I do everything! Including cleaned out the shed and went the dump 6 times!!!!
Wow!
Ah well I'm not working and he is. Although I'd give my left leg to go to work! It can be boring at home all day! Used to think I'd love it! been way too long!

carol b

Sure no wonder he does nothing!!!! Hubble works too but fervently, so did I. If you were not there he would have to do it himself. You are not his skivvey. Oh this is a topic close to my heart. Gggrrrrrrrrr

 

[Yvessa]

I totally agree with you Rose. Just because someone works doesn't mean that the housework belongs to the other person. If it bothers you change it It would drive me mad if he didn't do enough, but at the same time its not fair for me to expect him to do it all, its my mess too.

 

[cb4]

It's just one of those things isn't it! Just have put up with it! When I get back to work it will have to change!!!

carol b

 

[L13]

Thanks,
I'm having it done in Prague, never been abroad before and don't think there is any after support.. Not been much before support Tbh.
I am 36, and weigh 21stone..i will be happy to lose 5 stone in total from now which will take me to 16, still obese but much more able to do what I want to do.. (I have horses and a crazy kid that loves roller coasters I want to join her on her hacks out and her roller coaster rides)

I only drink Pepsi, no tea or coffee etc.. And that's one of the reasons I am the weight I am.. The other reason is I don't eat!! I don't have breakfast or lunch.. Will have a packet of crisps at 2pm and a can of Pepsi, and then a huge dinner of chips and curry etc at 8pm
I lost 18lbs last year on my own but then I lost my Mum and piled it all back on.

I already go to the gym once a week and do 20mins on treadmill, 20mins on bike and 20on cross trainer followed by 30/45 mins swimming..

I need to eat properly and I'm hoping the balloon will be a tool to structure that and make me eat at normal times or at least make me feel hungry enough to eat in the mornings as I won't be able to eat a large dinner

 

[femfrankie]

Thanks,
I'm having it done in Prague, never been abroad before and don't think there is any after support.. Not been much before support Tbh.

No idea how it works as regards going abroard for the balloon. I would want to know ...what happens if the balloon bursts? ( rare but it can happen). What if I need a refill?
I assume that there will be another visit to Prague for its removal at the end of the balloons life?
Is there any dietician input?? Which is a must as far as I am concerned.

I am 36, and weigh 21stone..i will be happy to lose 5 stone in total from now which will take me to 16, still obese but much more able to do what I want to do.. (I have horses and a crazy kid that loves roller coasters I want to join her on her hacks out and her roller coaster rides)

I only drink Pepsi, no tea or coffee etc.. And that's one of the reasons I am the weight I am.. The other reason is I don't eat!! I don't have breakfast or lunch.. Will have a packet of crisps at 2pm and a can of Pepsi, and then a huge dinner of chips and curry etc at 8pm

Your diet, apart from the fizzy stuff is very much a blueprint of my eating pattern pre balloon and this will need to change for your comfort as well as the balloon to be able to work.
No more fizzy stuff... Not just because it is unhealthy but because you will not be able to tolerate it with the balloon in. Persist and the gas will stretch your stomach and the balloon will cease to do the job any more. So sorry but fizzy liquid is a big no no. In my case I have had to give up on soda water which was a big boohoo for me.
The idea of the balloon is to help you recognise a healthier way of eating. Regular, portion managed, healthy meals. I now and always eat off a side plate using small utensils. I chew chew my food and take my time when eating. I don't drink with my meals and wait at least half an hour before I have any liquid. This is a must with the balloon in . You must change your eating habits & sort the head out as regards your diet or the balloon won't work. Work with it and it will serve its purpose

I lost 18lbs last year on my own but then I lost my Mum and piled it all back on.

I already go to the gym once a week and do 20mins on treadmill, 20mins on bike and 20on cross trainer followed by 30/45 mins swimming..

I need to eat properly and I'm hoping the balloon will be a tool to structure that and make me eat at normal times or at least make me feel hungry enough to eat in the mornings as I won't be able to eat a large dinner

Good luck for tomorrow and remember this is the start of the new you ...embrace it and you will succeed ... Remember to pop back in and let us know how it all went too xx

Frances

 

[L13]

Thanks Frances

Yes back in October for removal, no dietitian support so far not sure what will happen when I get there
Go in tomorrow morning and get out on Wednesday morning then flying home Friday

Hopefully everything will go smoothly

 

[femfrankie]

Whoohoo a third of the way in my weight loss journey... 4lb more and I'm into the next century & another 2lb sees me at a six stone loss. So many good things all going to be happening all at once. Life is good

 

[cb4]

Whoohoo a third of the way in my weight loss journey... 4lb more and I'm into the next century & another 2lb sees me at a six stone loss. So many good things all going to be happening all at once. Life is good

Well done femfrankie xx that's great work
Delighted for u!!!!!
Keep up the good work

carol b

 

[cb4]

Hey there have a problem

I went the gym today. Got a stitch but kept going!!! I have the stitch back again, not doing anything much at the minute. But it's sore! Anyone got any ideas?

carol b

 

[femfrankie]

Sounds like you have over stretched or pulled a muscle hun. If you are really worried go to the doctor just to be safe . Not going to harp on about over doing it lol.

 

[cb4]

Sounds like you have over stretched or pulled a muscle hun. If you are really worried go to the doctor just to be safe . Not going to harp on about over doing it lol.

It's just strange! I was only on the treadmill!!!!

carol b

 

[femfrankie]

Hi CB4 how are you doing now?

Frances x

 

[femfrankie]

6 stone gone for good

6 stone down . Thats 2stone 4lb since the balloon was inserted 11 weeks ago. Got the dietician on Monday so hope she is happy with the progress. Just 1 & 1/2 stone before I reach that magic 50 BMI .. Hopefully I can achieve this in the last 13 weeks of the balloons life. :fingerscrossed: x

 

[RoseMcnose]

6 stone down . Thats 2stone 4lb since the balloon was inserted 11 weeks ago. Got the dietician on Monday so hope she is happy with the progress. Just 1 & 1/2 stone before I reach that magic 50 BMI .. Hopefully I can achieve this in the last 13 weeks of the balloons life. :fingerscrossed: x

You are miles ahead of me. I am just maintaining. My own fault. I have discovered grazing!!!!

 

[femfrankie]

You are miles ahead of me. I am just maintaining. My own fault. I have discovered grazing!!!!

Aww hun you will get there ... You just need to get your head back in gear. Since I have upped the fluid I have no room for anything else inbetween meals. Tonight though is going to be a toughy ... This is our family get together for a curry night and goodies... With the odd glass of wine:break_diet: ...... Last time everybody came out in sympathy with me and hardly ate or drank which is not what I need lol I'm a feeder and need to see others enjoying themselves! As regards the snacks I am going to have to sit on my hands I think .... I love nuts!

How's the job hunt going?

Frances

 

[cb4]

Hi ya

I'm down 2lb this week! It's so hard but I'm toning up so that's a plus
Trying hard!
But I went the gym the other day in a size 14!!!! And it fit just right, no lumps and bumps!!!
So I'm moving in the right direction!!!
Off to the gym later

carol b

 

[femfrankie]

Well done Carol

Remember to go slow and gentle on the exercise x

 

[cb4]

Well done Carol

Remember to go slow and gentle on the exercise x

Thanks a mill
Taking it easy!!!

carol b

 

[femfrankie]

And here comes that damn fly....

Was at the dietician last night and since I last saw her 5wks ago I have lost just under 6kgs. So she is well pleased with my progress & so am I. I'm just waiting for an app now to see Mr Stuart so he can organise funding for the next phase.... And here comes the fly that lands in and spoils the ointment...
Turns out that Forth Valley HB are making financial cutbacks in bariatrics. The dietician can't see a problem as I am making my weight-loss targets easily and it seems that it is those that don't show the commitment prior to surgery that are going to lose out in these decisions. But as usual I'm now in a right flap that this is now going to burst my happy bubble!! I foresee a very nervous few months ahead for me. X