EdmontonGal

CONGRATS!!!! :bananapartyhat:

Happy Vday to you too Rosey! I havent eaten out yet although I think about it daily. Damn drive thru addiction! Youre mastering it all bit by bit. Keep it up! As for the guilt, forget about it. Give yourself permission to make less healthy choices once in a blue moon. 80/20 is what I live by. Live perfect 80% of the time and dont 20% of the time. I may amp that ratio up as it seems that I am currently doing great 90% of the time and 10% not but we have to allow the little flex for the human in us! Keep up the good work!

fillesudiste: For everyone the process is different but with the openess of most people on the site, your questions will be fielded. Dont obsess! It's a little bit harder when you go in and think you are prepared for every detail and aren't. Take it from me! Good luck, RELAX, be at peace.... What's meant to be will be! Always here if you need anything. Good Luck!

Good to hear things are swell so far! 40 lbs!!!! CONGRATS! ZUMBA!?!?!?! WOW! You must be doing great! I only started doing 20 mins on the elliptical at 2 weeks and wasnt allowed (nurse) to use the arm bars even at that point. Amped er up to 30mins today and used the arms. All good! My nurse said that the internal stiches are still healing for up to a month and suggests no HARD AT IT until 6 weeks. But each to thier own inner voice huh!? Keep it up and I am sure you will hit your goal!

I totally agree with the accountability in a blog. I dont mind if no one reads... but it feels good to get the encouragement from those that do follow. YOU CAN DO THIS! The first 60 came off easily, the next 60 is going to be tough BUT you deserve it! PS I may just call on these forums for accountability and motivation come my 6 month honeymoon burnout too! All the best!

I am 3 weeks post-op and still have allot of tenderness at my port site. I still cant sleep on that side and tend to wake myself up in pain if I do. My surgeon suggested the other day that trama at the site could cause the port to actually sort of pop right out of the skin. SCAREY! To be clear though, I have a Realize band and have been told that my band is not sutured to my stomach like a LapBand would be. In getting back to exercising, my nurse and surgeon suggest rolling the band of my sweats down to aviod any rubbing on the port site. Good luck!

GOOD JOB! KEEP AT ER!

So today makes 3 weeks. Again, it seems like only yesterday but also like it was 6 months ago! I have my full energy back. I am back on the beginner levels of my elliptical at least four days a week and I am still maintaining great meal choices! Another 3 lbs gone this week. For a grand total of 14lbs since surgery and 53 lbs all together. HOW EXCITING! I came out of the washroom yesterday morning after getting ready for work and the hubby looked up at me from the kitchen. "Wow, you look like a different person". Did he just say that? The man that sees me more than anyone else? He never notices. Not that it is a fault of his but they say when you see people on a regular basis, you are less likely to notice. I wasnt expecting that but it sure made my Monday start off on a good note! *sigh* He is sweet! I had a follow-up with my surgeon yesterday. I have been a little nervous about the two upper incision sites as over the weekend, my sports bra was rubbing on one and it seemed like it was getting infected. Sunday night I had a bath, cleaned the sites well and dabbed a bit of polysporin on them. They were cleaner by morning. I had a few questions for Dr. Birch. I wanted to know when I could get back to practicing roller-derby (not like I'd ever make a team), skiing, full on work-outs and all of that. He suggested another 3 weeks. Keep doing the cardio and light weights but suggests holding off until the 6 week mark before diving right back in to everything. 6 weeks, that's it?!?!? I can live with that! Dr. Birch also asked if I had been feeling any restriction. This made me panic a bit. Am I supposed to be feeling restriction? I know my band is empty! I explained that I have been eating small portions and not pushing anything to the point of feeling any restriction. I thought for a moment that maybe I had done something wrong, that I wasnt eating enough.... NOPE! He smiled, high-fived me and told me that for such a young woman, I was wise. I shouldn't be dependant on feeling the restriction, I should be controlling my portions. IT WAS A TRICK QUESTION! Ah, that cheeky little monkey. So I left the clinic feeling awesome and booked my first fill for March 21. He said that 2 weeks would be ideal BUT I have a week-long conference in Toronto the 2nd week of March and then... as a thank-you for pulling up my socks, rolling up my pants and carrying the laundry up and down gift, I bought tickets to St. John's Newfoundland for Steve and I for a week following. There is somehting about Newfoundland that is magical. Someone told me once that no matter which walk of life you may arrive from, part of you will feel "at home" in Newfoundland. This is an understatement. We haven't visited his family there for a year and a half. So, no worries about getting a fill and heading off to a conference with colleagues for a week and trying to adjust. This also made me feel fantastic. I wont have to worry about ANYTHING but staying on track! So, BRING ON ADVENTURE PACKED MARCH! I am ready for it! My first dip in the Atlantic Ocean - 2007. The view from Signal Hill, St. John's

Keep it up!

CONGRATS!

" can be done but you have to use the band and not rely on the band, You and only YOU can decide that that tasty chocolate is not worth it and you can live with out it." I couldnt agree more! I find, even with an empty band currently, that I make better choices and concentrate on better portions. I didn't go through major surgery to get back to my old habits! I wont have my first fill for a while and being 2 weeks post-op, just got back on the elliptical yesterday. It felt good! Your post is totally inspirational! Thanks for sharing!

I think my post op days 4 and 5 blog was the first time I actually slept in bed. I slept sitting up for the first few days. We have a really high bed and one night at 2am I had to wake the hubby to pull me out. My stomach muscles were too weak and sore. First good nights sleep I got was day 6 or 7 when I actually slept on my side. ROSEY: MAC AND CHEESE: 1 1/4 cup shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese 1c ff milk 2/3 no fat cottage cheese 1Tbsp each pepper, paprika and minced onion 2 1/2 c whole wheat shells or elbow macaroni. Blend all ingredients except pasta in a blender until smooth. Add to pasta in a bowl. Mix well. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. (I found an hour to be REALLY too long. Half or 40mins should do it) This made one bread pan and 6 "muffins". You could also add tuna to this for more flavour and protein if you like hot tuna. Shepards Pie 1lb gr. sirloin OR ground turkey. 1/2 c carrot chopped 1/2 c celery chopped 1/2 c corn 1/2 c peas 1/2 c onion 2 cloves garlic 2 sweet potatoes 1 c reduced sodium broth of choice (i used veggie) Peel and cube sweet potatoes. While these are boiling, brown off meat in large skillet, add all veggies except peas and cook until veggies are tender. When cooked, add 3 Tbsp flour. Sprinkle slowly and stir. Brown 5 more minutes. Add stock and peas and let simmer without covering for 5 minutes until liquid has reduced a little bit. Drain and mash sweet potatoes until smooth (ish). Add a little bit of salt and pepper or whatever you like personally. Spray no stick spray on pan (or muffin tin) and pour in meat mixture. Smooth potatoes overtop. I baked this for half an hour at 350. It was delicious!

2 weeks today. WOW! Seems like yesterday but also seems like 6 months ago. The pain is minimal. Still a little tender here and there and definately burping allot more, but other than that I am back to the ups and downs of everyday reality. 10 lbs down since surgery and 50 LBS since I started all of this! SUPER STOKED! I had only taken 6 days off of work and it seemed to be good timing for me. I finished my 2 weeks of pot-op liquid diet like a champ and am moving on to getting back to my 3 meals and 2 snacks a day. Yesterday I cooked up some lowfat mac and cheese with 20g protien per serving AND some shepards pie with sweet potatoe crust. I baked them in muffin tins for me and bread pans for the hubby. When they were frozen, threw them in to a tupperware in the freezer. TAH DAH! Lunch and Suppers if I happen to have one of "those" days at work. I knew going in to this that being prepared would be my biggest weapon against my caving to cravings. I am constantly on the road for work and drive-thu windows are the easiest fix for this. Not the easiest fix however for the ever increasing size of my ass. I have been working on this specifically over the last year or so and do well most of the time but really had to bunker down for after surgery. I feel like I am ready to take on anything! I have been walking, and walking and walking since surgery. Its a balmy -33 celcius today and has been since the weekend so took in a few laps at Ikea and the mall - not so good on the wallet. Today started out at -27. BORING!!!! Oh Canada - youre lucky you have the mountains (and free health care) out here or I would be GONE! So, I called my nurse and got the green light to rekindle my love/hate relationship with my elliptical. I love that I can still work out when it is this cold but I hate that I am stuck in my basement moving yet going nowhere! I am dying to get moving again and was on a 40 mins 4 days a week schedule for the winter so far... start slow, take it easy and build it back up! Ive set my goal to be back to where I was by April. I can do this! Then summer, glorious summer. Dog Parks, Mountains, Camping, Hiking... sun, warmth.... CAN NOT WAIT! Anyhoot - GOOD LUCK ALL!

My tips would include: 1. food JOURNAL!!!!! All the time. If you miss one, jump back on the next day! They dont care if they are 100% or not. They only care what you are doing so that they can help. Dont cheat - you only cheat yourself AND from experience... When you committ to not cheating, you force yourself to be accountable and who wants to write down a 1/2 chocolate cake? So you tend to not eat things if you remind yourself that you have to put it down. ALSO - This was my hardest thing to maintain!!!! I saw no value in it until a year later when I went back and compared old habits to new and saw the huge difference, when I didnt even think there was that big of a change. 2. Dont cancel anything: meetings, modules, appointments. This is frowned upon. 3. Ask about the support groups they offer. I met some GREAT friends! 4. BUY IN! If you arent bought in to all of it, it isnt the route for you. I am always open for questions!!! Keep it up! Its a long road but SO SO worth it! Jen

I too was feeling a little low the first few days. Being dependant is hard! Watching life fly by while you still splint your tummy on a car ride around the block is difficult! I think there are some reasons having to do with the surgery itself that contribute to depression. Im sure my nurse told me that at the hospital... I forget though, the morphine was pretty good! Hang in there! I know your that kind of gal! XO Jen

I use "SILK" brand chocolate soy milk - Im not sure if you have that in the US. IT is the one and only choc soy milk that I use as others were not even close to as good! Low fat - high flavour and with 3g protien per half cup, not too shabby. Even just ice mixed with the soy milk and a little protien powder is DELICOUS!

Hi Rachel! Glad to hear you are looking past the first few days!!! It seems like I woke up day 4 and felt pretty great. Hang in there! As for the gas... I got a wheat bag heating pad for my left shoulder. That helped. Again, day 6 post-op, I thought the gas pain in that shoulder would kill me. I almost cried. It was about a 15 minute episode where I thought I might actually die... and then. POOF! That was the last of it. I havent had it since. I am guessing that it really had to make its exit be known. Keep up the good attitude and this too shall pass!

Sorry to hear. Im 1 week post-op and I hope things will be smooth for me! All the best!

Hiya Living! I just sent you a fb message! I guess this answers the sushi question. lol. Settling for wonton broth huh? Im already eyeing out fantastic wardrobe ideas for summer but Ive never been a big shopper, nor do I have much fashion sense! Maybe you can give this Canadian TomBoy some tips ya lil hottie! Dr. Love is my fav Doctor! lol. No baby making here either until at least summer 2012! I have my 30th Bday that June and want to P-A-R-T-Y like its 1999! xoxo

Sophinator; I think everyone is scared! Scared of a major surgery and the risks but scared to change the one constant realtionship we've all had too!!! That little fling with food and break-up with exercise! It is scarey, it is serious but the thing is - YOU DESERVE IT! You will find allot of women on here are Moms, teachers, nurses, along with many many more hats and continue to give give give to everyone surrounding them. I didnt take care of myself at all until the day I quit nursing. (NOT KNOCKING ANYONE) I was so exhausted emotionally from taking care of everyone else and physically too from those 12 hour shifts 6 days a week that there was nothing left for me. Not even enough energy to cook a decent dinner once in a blue moon. YOU DESERVE a little TLC too! GOOD LUCK!

CONGRATS! Thinking of you!

1 week since surgery. I SLEPT ON MY SIDE LASTNIGHT FOR 8 HOURS STRAIGHT! Can you imagine?!?!?!? Yes, it was that good! The gas pains in my left shoulder are almost unmanagable but who cares? I SLEPT ON MY SIDE LASTNIGHT!!!!! The liquid diet is getting easier to manage too. The protien minimum my dietician wants me hitting daily is 67g. I had not complied until yesterday and it was my first day back to work. Here's the food journal: 0700 - 1/2 c oatmeal protien smoothie w. soy milk and skim milk powder. 0800 - 1.2 c water 0900 - 1.2 c peppermint tea 1000 - 1400 EVERY HOUR - 1/2 c split pea soup w. soy milk and 2 Tbsp skim milk powder (in my coffee travel mug 1 c at a time) 1500 - 1/2 c water 1600 - 1//2 c veggie chili w. tomatoe juice 1645 - 1/2 c veggie chili w. tomatoe juice 1800 - 1/2 c greek yogurt w. 3 TBSP blueberry puree 1900 - 1/2 c peppermint tea 2000 - 1/2 c water 2100 - 1/2 c water 2200 - 1/2 c greek yogurt w. pear puree. HELLS YES! Not so bad huh? I didnt slosh at all. My eyeballs werent floating. Maybe because you wouldnt consider these things to be liquids.... Well, I dont really care what YOU (not really you) think! It worked for me! The first 6 days of post-op were spent forcing myself to eat these liquids that were full of protien but sickeningly sweet or actually kind of tasty without even 0.2 g of the magical stuff. I did discover GREEK YOGURT - with 14.7 g of protien per 1/2 delightfully sour cup and a little bit of fruit puree on top - ITS BETTER THAN ICECREAM!! Also, had an appointment with Dr. Love lastnight. Lol. It had been way too long! Perhaps the appointment is the only reason for my fantastic attitude? I dont care... whatever it is, Im holding on tight and ready to keep movin on! KEEP ON TRUCKIN!

Hi Nicky; Thanks for the add. I got in to the weight wise clinic and started my modules in September 09. I just has my band surgery last week. So in total: 16 months from start to finish. All good things come to those who wait right? It is frustrating but in my case, I may not had made the decision to be banded had it been offered any sooner OR the band may not have worked for me had I not been so far in to the changes in my lifestyle. Maybe it wont despite! Who knows. I just have to keep to the plan Stan! Be patient, appreciate your team at the clinic (all are fantastic) and committ to change more than you have committed to the love of your life! Sounds silly but its all you girl! Feel free to keep in touch. I haven't met anyone else from Edmonton on here yet but have a great group of gals that I stay in touch with from the program! None of them have had surgery yet either and some of them have chosen not to.

I love chicken and fish but have never been a fan of pork and beef as an adult. I think I just had too much when I was a kid growing up on a farm. I am going to try though... not so tough during the liquids stage. I may miss my chicken but I could survive on fish! I hope!

YOU ARE HILARIOUS! Please write more! I think I broke off some more durabond laughing! THANK YOU!