Kelsy

Hey Everyone! I just came back from my 8 wk follow up appointment. I was going to move on to stage 5 - Instead the doctor gave me a fill! I was not expecting one for some reason, but i guess my restriction was beginning to lessen each day. I felt nervous and she had to find my port because i can't see it sticking out or feel it. It was fast, easy, etc. However I had a lot of grumbling in my stomach afterwards, Is that normal? Or maybe I was just hungry! It sounds like bubbles.. Now I'm back to stage 3 for 3-4 days... Stage 4 the next 3-4 days and then I can move onto stage 5. I hope this fill works for me! btw: I only weigh myself at my appointments.. I refuse to feel discouraged from the home scale!

This is the one i've been looking at! http://www.olympiasports.net/product/index.jsp?productId=2075806&cp=710956.863229 It doesn't seem too bad.. Though i don't see the weight capacity on there - uh oh!

I've been looking to buy an exercise bike. I am debating between a sit down one or the upright version - both are in the $200 range. Does anyone else here own an exercise bike? How well does it work for you?? Any tips would be helpful. Thanks

Do you mean in your signature???

Congrats Carol & Welcome That is excellent!! You lost a great deal in a such a short time, Any secret tricks to your diet/exercise?

Hi Melissa! Welcome ..You'll like this forum - It's a great resource for answers to your questions! It's normal to have nerves. I was really nervous and reconsidering the surgery. I was more or less afraid I would not wake back up ... But the night before and day of surgery, I had nerves of steel. I was so calm, I surprised myself. I was not scared or anything. My time was pushed back serveral hours b/c of an OR emergency (nothing to do w/ my surgeon) so the only real emotion i had hardcore was the annoyance with waiting! You'll be just fine and so happy once it's over and you start to see results! GOOD LUCK!

Ohh, I'm just as picky!! LOL - I don't eat any red meat, pork, etc.. Only meat that I eat is chicken and i was glad that I could eat alittle on this mushies stage. I went shopping yesterday after work and picked up more carnation 4pks, FF pudding, string cheese (which I LOOOOVE), fudgesicles, tuna, wheat thins, eggs, red bliss potatoes, I can't believe it's not butter no calories spray - which i also use to cook the potatoes in. That was just some of the stuff. Pasta & Bread are 2 of my favorite things to eat. Hopefully I am able to tolerate it once i move onto stage 5. We'll see! My appt is next week, I can not wait. I think you'll be able to eat a meatball. The chicken parm on the sample menu tells you how to cook it. I actually called Kelly the Nutritionist yesterday to ask her if it's okay that i am eating some tender chicken and she bascially said as long as it's cut into tiny pieces and chewed well.. It shouldn't be too bad. But it's considered more like a solid. 2 hours? Goodness! It only takes me about 10-15 mins to get to BI - LOL!

Ditto ^ Also, I like that this process is slower and you have the time to exercise and tighten your skin so you don't have the excess flab there. That was very important. I also loved that it's removeable and the fact that it seems less dangerous than the Gastric Bypass.. Thinking of them taking out a piece of my stomach and rearranging my insides... uh no thanks!

Ohh, you will loooove the sample menu! I thought the mushies stage was going to be really bad. But once I saw most of the stuff I could eat - I was happy and it's much better than having just liquids! btw: I have not PB'd at all - thank god! Have you tried the Carnation Instant Breakfast 4pk? In the blue box. I know they come in yellow and blue.. The blue has 12g of Protein and the yellow has 13g but it's wayyyy too chocolately and i'm a chocolate lover! For me to say it, you know it's too much haha. I had the Carnation packets that come with 8, I think? And i tried making them with 1% milk and EW. It was so gross and taste nasty, I was surpirsed how good and different the premade drinks were! . I also had Slim Fast in the beginning, The "Optima".. Each can was 15g of protein.. But I could not stomach those for long. Those are really the only 2 Protein Drinks i've had.

Yes it is! I actually went to her with tons of questions and she helped me a lot during the early stages and she continues to help. She looks great, She went from a size 18 pants to a 10.. I am so happy for her! I eat the fat free saltine crackers and wheat thins. You can eat those while on the mushies stage, But you're only allowed 2 and you just need to chew it up really well. Did they give you a booklet with a sample menu? I hate exercising too. Every late evening I walk my dog up and down my street for atleast 30 mins. My dog gives up on me 1/2 way through, Isn't that sad? lol. I actually waited abit to start exercising after my surgery, about 2 weeks.. Now, I keep reminding myself how much i do NOT want excess skin and flab and that gets me going on my walks, haha. I also have a 10lb weights and a thigh squeezer thingy that was collecting dust under my bed, I pulled it out and have been using it every night. I have not gone to any of the get togethers, I may try to attend one soon.

Well, I started the mushies stage on 3/9 and my next appointment is 4/12. So It's roughly 4 weeks, Although I am going somewhat over with my appointment date. My doctor wouldn't even mention a fill! lol. I don't really feel hungry.. And he said he will not give a fill unless you -stop- gaining weight or start to gain weight and over eat. My friend/co-worker had the band this past August (same doctor) and she lost about 75lbs. She looks fantastic and the doctor still will not give her a fill. He also said it's normal to gain alil weight back once to switch stages. I still do drink A LOT of the carnation instant Breakfast drinks that come pre-made in the 4pk. It helps keep me full and controls the hunger. I've eaten tuna on crackers, I break the one cracker into four pieces so it seems like a lot more, lol. But it's sooo good! That's great you've lost 20lbs - It'll start to fall back off. What do you do for exercise? & I live in Hyde Park.

Ohh.. I've met him a couple of times, but Dr. Schneider is my doctor. I'm doing pretty good actually.. I am still on the mushies stage and should go to the final stage 5 when I have my appointment on the 12th. It hasn't been all too bad being on mushies.. I've been eating eggs, mashed potatoes and bascially a lot of the stuff on the packet they gave us. I know that I have lost more than 24lbs.. but I refuse to weigh myself just yet, lol. I will wait until my appointment to see how much. My clothes are falling off too - I am down atleast one pant size, maybe 2 - but i'm still a little self concious to move down two sizes. How are you doing so far? How much weight have you lost?

Nope, I did not.. In fact, I don't think i've had diarrhea at all since my surgery. We were done at the same hospital, which doctor did you have??

Hi Suzanne, I was banded a few of days before you and the last time i was weighed says it in my sig! 3/9.. I have not nor do I plan to weigh myself until my next appointment on April 12th. That is one of the main reasons, I do not want to feel discouraged if the weight slows down or anything. Do you exercise a lot? I notice that I am building more muscle as I exercise which is probably why MY weight may not be a huge difference. I am also trying not to focus on the "weight" number.. I just want to be a certain size and look at my body and say "Ok, I look good"! and then i'll be happy. I am big boned anyways so if i say 160lbs..with my 5'9 height.. It may or may not look right. That's my take on it anyway! As i am typing my ring keeps twirling around.. I think i lost some finger weight, haha. My doctor said the only way he will give someone a fill is if they STOP losing weight or are over eating.. That is it. My friend who had the band in August wanted a fill but since she is still losing pounds, He told her not yet. I am kinda eager to get to my appt, I get to go to the solid stage! I'm still on mushies but I do drink a lot of protein drinks still.. They keep me pretty full. And I feel kind of nervous about eating food in general.

I did not have to go on any pre-op diet. Which I got nervous about and wondered if i was supposed to and maybe I misunderstood. But nooope! My surgeon told me the same thing.. To just try to ween myself off the soda, coffee, etc. And most importantly, He told me do NOT gain any more weight or he will cancel the surgery. I did not put myself on a strict diet... However I did stop drinking soda, coffee, eating junk food..etc. And i didn't gain any weight! I actually lost a few more pounds prior to surgery. And nope, No shaving.. I don't see why they would have to. I was on my period and had a damn catheter in... ugh! I woke up with it, Didn't even know I had one or was getting one for that matter.

It's all mental, I swear. I was banded on the Feb 12th and when people ask me am i hungry.. I honestly have to THINK about it. I just want to eat because it's human and i feel like i should be eating, pigging out, etc. Even though i am on mushies until April 12th.. I still drink a lot of liquids.. mostly Protein drinks which make me pretty full. You will have stomach grumbles for abit - that is normal. Just hang in there.. I was upset after surgery wondering what i got myself into and now i do NOT regret it.. The pants falling off of me is a constant reminder. You'll be fine!! btw: good luck shermy58!!

How much Protein drinks are do you have daily? I was banded on Feb 12th and i am not hungry.. Those tend to make me full, especially in the morning and near lunch. I am on mushies, but i still drink atleast 3 a day.

Since mostly everyone i work with knows that i had the lapband, It's weird because 3 people have confinded in me to tell me they had the gastric bypass before. It's cool to see them so thin and listen to their inspiration! I am having a hard time getting my calories and protein in everday. I am trying but constantly have to drink the carnation instant breakfast which come in a 4pk for $5. I'm drinking like 4 a day just to get SOME of my protein. I am on mushes and moved up to needing 80 grams a day instead of 60 because i'm 5'9. I am lucky if i can get the 60 grams in. I usually have a protein drink for breakfast, another one shortly before lunch, campbells hand soup for lunch, a pudding for snack, moist chicken parm or scrambled eggs for dinner another protein drink shortly after dinner and then a fudgsicle later on.... I know i should be eating more -food- now that i'm on stage 4 than the fluids and it's not that the food isn't sitting well with me, because it is. I eat an ounce very slowly, chew chew chew and i feel full after. But i still feel like i'm doing something wrong. Should i change anything? I just started the mushies stage this past weekend and have a month to be on it. I think that once i hit the solid stage i'll do better. Any advice?

thank you ! :girl_hug:

Hey! I went to my post op appointment last week and i asked the nutritionist what kind of pain meds i can take when i need them and she said TYLENOL - because advil can create a hole in the pouch. So, I went to the store and bought tylenol - it says "contains: Acetaminophen" right on the front of the bottle. Is that okay to use?

Thanks KHolmes :girl_hug: !! - Did you find out how much you've lost yet? I didn't weigh myself at all since surgery. Today i had my post op appointment and i'm down 24 lbs that's since my last appointment before surgery on 12/26/06 and It's been 14 lbs in the past 3 weeks! (24 total) I am sooo happy. My wounds healed very well and look great he said. Now i'm onto the mushies stage for 4 weeks! woohoo

I have my post op appointment tomorrow and then i'll be able to go on mushies! i am soooo excited. I haven't weighed myself yet, I'll just see when i get to my appt. HOWEVER! I did try on a pair of my jeans which were kinda fitted up top and they are BIG on me, They are sooo baggy in the legs and I can slide them off without undoing the buckle & zipper.. YAY!

I was finally able to sleep on my stomach last night -THANK GOODNESS! I still have some back/shoulder pain... It drives me krazy. I wonder when it's going to stop. I am still out of work and it's pretty boring around here.. I'm doing light duty housework even though i still have slight pain on my incision sites. How much Whipped/Blended Cottage Cheese does anyone eat in one sitting? I love it and started to eat it, but stupid me left it out all night and now i need to go buy more.

LOL, I hear that. I had the Tomatoe Soup that comes in the cup (not the can) the other day. Was i supposed to water it down? I dunno.. I feel like i'm doing something wrong. ALSO - Has anyone had any SF Fudgicles? (sp?) .. I know they have 3gms protein but are they more like Ice Cream and bad for you?

How did you drop 28lbs so quickly?! Is that w/o a pre sugery diet? And what to do you eat/drink ?