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I felt this way early on, too -- from the restless sleep to the icky taste in my mouth and acid reflux. I am now approaching week 4 and as recently as this past week still had some up days and some down days. The nasty taste in my mouth has diminished. Someone here said that's a sign of ketosis. So I guess in a way it might not be so good that it's gone, but then again, its disappearance has also helped eliminate the nausea I was feeling and helping the little that I am able to eat now taste a whole lot better, which -- for me -- makes it easier to get my fluids and protein in. This has been a very difficult adjustment to make and I'm still taking it one day at a time, but it does seem to be improving week over week. So hang in there. It does get better. This is something I have to keep telling myself as well. Best of luck to you. Sleeved 2/27/12

Behaving is sometimes an issue for me on all levels!

Hi, I'm getting sleeved on 3/19/12 in Dallas at Forest Park Medical Center with Dr. Gonzalez. Getting very nervous. I will update you on how I do. I wish you the best of luck! Jenny

Congratulations....I agree with everything you said. I hit my one year January, and I can also say I hit my mark. Don't regret it for one minute. Best thing I have ever done for myself. Literally changed my life!

Ahhh, exercise! Those wacky movements that cause our muscles to ache and for a voice deep down to scream "Take that!" to the world at large who says that big people are just lazy. So I work in what is (not) affectionately known as "The Batcave" or "The Fortress of Solitude". Basically it's a very, very small windowless room next to a giant convection oven that is sweltering even in the depths of winter. So while I am far, far away from being nature girl (I hate bugs, being dirty, trees, and those bushes that always cling to your legs and are currently spludging pollen like it's an Olympic sport) a friend and I decided to picnic and hike at Umstead State Park. So off we hike (amble) on a nice 2 mile trail. Yet a good gossip later we found ourselves having taken a switchback and somehow jumped trails to the 7 MILE LONG ONE! Now this Plumptious Lady is good for about 3-4 mile up and down trail hiking but not for any more than that! So we continued walking and stumbled across this dude jogging. We asked him but he had no clue how to help us, which was okay because he was shirtless and hot and I enjoyed the eye candy. We then wandered across this couple who were dressed as "serious hikers" and while she tried to help us he was a total jerk and kept on walking. Also, I would like to take this time for an aside comment, "Hey, fella, karma's a b**ch and I hope you enjoyed your hike while knowing that two bodacious babes were more lost than Hansel and Gretel. May a good Samaritan be scarce when you need one". All we wanted to know was where an intersecting trail was to take us the fastest route back to the cars so my friend could get to work on time. So, basically when I decided that it was going to have to be cannibalism and my friend would have to take one for the team we found a superhero dressed in black workout spandex! (She also goes by 'Carmen' in her day-to-day life) This wonderful lady walked us to her car and gave us a lift back to our cars. Thanks, Superhero Carmen! My friend will never know how close she came to being lunch meat... Well, now I'm back home with my legs wrapped and elevated (stupid surgery scars) and my feet singin' the blues. Yet deep, deep inside is this skinny person standing on top of a rock (like in that credit card commercial) with her hands up Richard Nixon-style screaming, "Ha! I did it, I kicked hiking left butt cheek! Mwahaha! The world is my oyster and all I need is a lemon slice!" I couldn't have done this multi-mile hike a few months ago and it's nice to see that the jogging and weight lifting has paid off even pre-surgery! I think, however, that next time I want to experience some of the 'great outdoors' I'll just go walk around one of those open air malls. They have restaurants as I really don't think that my friends would taste good without either tabasco or A1. And who carries condiments on a day-hike....? *grin* (I had to re-type this from memory. Apparently the "Add Entry" button doesn't add the entry to your blog, but deletes what you have written and opens a new blank entry page. Awesome. Not.)

First, Welcome to the Blog! I am sure if you stick around long enough and read and take all the wonderful constructive encouragement we all give you will get back on track. As far as your comments, we all ask our selves at one point or another what did we get our selves into. The belching, the burping, the fills, the unfills, the vomiting and just the pure frustration with finding the green zone. As far as advice with diet, going back to basics may seem frustrating but that is what works. Protein first, no drinking immediately before, during or after meals. Eat off a small plate, drink 8-10 glasses of water per day. Keep an exercise and food journal. Oh and yes along with the exercise journal, you gotta move it off the couch and do some type of exercise 60-90 minutes a day. Park further away at the shopping centers, take the steps, etc. I also have band joints, knees especially and have had surgery for repair since being banded. Exercise for me is pure hell sometimes but I want this so band I willing to endure the pain. Ice Bags are my best friend and icy hot. As far as protein powders, Oh Yeah makes a good chocolate, Pure Protein Vanilla mixed with peanut butter or fruit is not bad. Bariatriceating.com has my favorites but they are a little pricey but low in carbs and only require a small amount of liquids. For the summer Isopure is not bad, it comes in koolaid flavors and is 40gms per bottle (GNC) I also am a coffee person, Starbuck to be exact. I put a scoop of my Vanilla protein powder in my skinny vanilla latte, this is my breakfast and my coffee in one shot. I call it my one cheat for the day. To measure my intake I use myfitnesspal, this is an on line app, a lot of us are on there and it is a way for us to hold ourselves and each other accountable. Again welcome and best of luck, believe in yourself and your abilities. The power of positive thinking can be half the battle.

I think I am adjusting pretty well. So far I have lost 12 pounds in the almost month since surgery. I have my first fill on 3/14. I still am feeling pretty good. I do not eat anymore than 1/2- 1 cup at a time and I always eat my protein first. Water is a bit of a struggle because I have to make sure that I drink it slow enough to not cause this overwhelming feeling of being super full. Mushies have been so great!! But honestly I am not looking forward to solids. The thought kinda scares me. I know I can not stay on soft food forever, but i just am not looking forward to regular food. And I will be back to liquid and mushies after I get my fill for a day or two, so I really will not have a chance to actually be on solids for long. Sigh....... I am enjoying not being focused on food and also I have learned the difference in between being hungry and just eating for the heck of it! My mother is not really happy that I did this. She told me that between her and my brother that they thought I was being vain and it was not as though I was spilling out of my clothes and falling out of my seat. Well, I am never going to spill out of clothes, because I always have clothes that fit. But buying a size 24 in said clothes is not ideal. Oh and nevermind that I take meds for high BP for two years( I was able to stop those recently) or that my back, knees and feet were hurting all the time. My feet will swell at the drop of a hat due to the amount of walking I do and the weight I carry. I am only 37 years old and quite honestly I should not have these "old lady issues" So it hurt my feeling when she said it, but I just told her that I did this for me and my health. I can't place my health and expectations on no one but me. I have been getting lots of compliments on how defined my face is looking. I looked in the mirror and it actually looked "skinny" to me!! I can not express how happy I am that I have made the choice to do this!

This blog sounds like me also. I have to convince myself daily that I am not a failure. I actually got banded 3 years ago and fired my surgeon shortly after (poor choice of doctors); however I'm starting over and it feels great. Everyday is one day at a time. I began to blog for the support and day by day, it's getting a little better. I've learned that there is a substitute for every craving, find your fix, you would also be surprised how soon those cravings go away if you just ignore them.

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I'm like Cfalbro, wait when did I right this.? It's easy to think this because all our lives we have failed and failed to lose weight the way society dicates we do, and some of us have people in our lives that don't let us forget that we should lose weight and that in itsself is another failure that people can't see us for who we are but look at the weight first. To make the lapband work, you do need to follow the regime set by dr, at least for the first few months and then afterwards, you can start experimenting foods, to learn what you can and cannot tolerate. Sweets is a big addiction. Be careful, be honest and let your nutritionist know so they can help with alternatives. I didn't know this , but it was a big eye opener. Last night my hubby spoke to a co-worker who he knew had the lapband and she knew I had mine. She's had her for 3 years, and recently said on Facebook , lapband failure, all I lost was 20 lbs. Well she didn't mention , that she ate candies all the time, drank shakes, sliders as they call them. She even had her 10cc band filled to 9ccs in effort to lose weight and all she could get down were shakes, not the protein kind, but the cool whip on the top kind , with ice cream. And now she is diagnoised with diabetes and with poor leg circulation because of it. Its not you wanting that stuff its your body. Its not a craving that's gonna be turned off overnight, but its one you have to learn to control. I'm the biggest whiner/baby because I can't eat something anymore, But if I look at the scale my body is following along, its my mind that is kicking and screaming. And I do indulge myself in a bite of pasta here or bread there, but I've gotten to where that's enough. You will be ok, we are rocks in all areas, but sometimes we don't see it because we have been told we were. I wish you the best!