NJGirl32

Don't do it...ther will be other concerts and other events, why risk it? This is surgery and you need to think about recovering. My nurse even advised me againt going to malls the first few days because she didn't want to risk infection. Truthfully, even if you can sit down during the entire concert-you still with feel uncomfortable-a recliner is they way to go. If the concert was a lot closer and you had the option of quickly getting home-that would be different. Some people have horrible gas pains the first week or so too. Skip the concert and take care of your body!

We have a store in Jersey caled Trader' Joe's - it's a quirky store with fresh unique organic type items. Wegman's is another place that has yummy choices. I feel renewed engery buying some interesting foods. I ordered a Bento Lunchbox as seen on : http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/ It wasn't cheap, but I thought it could make packing a lunch fun!! Some things I bought at Trader Joes:' A tub of Greek yogurt/dressing the kind they put on Gyros. (it had low calories) I picked up a lonnng skinny cucumber that I plan on chopping up and mixing with some organic tomatoes for a cucumber/tomato salad. I bought a fish stew-had it for dinner-yummy. I bought an Eggplant and Garlic spread that I can using for dipping or mixing with something. I bought mozz balls in olive oil and spices (I know I can ony have 1 or 2 of these do to calories, but they will go good in my Bento box! So hopefully this will make eating a little more interesting by trying new things. If you are stuck in a rut try going to one of these stores and experiment with different foods. Go to eggface's website to get some ideas. I had to really watch the calories because a lot of the things in the store are healthy, but not necessarily ow in calories. On a separate note , I had my very first NSV today!! Even though the scale hasn't budged in 2 weeks, I feel thinner and I notice it when I wear tops. Today a secretary at my job looked stunned and said "You are losing weight!!" I said "Yep, I lost a little" of course she asked what I was doing and I said watching what I am eating. So that felt good!!

Awesome!! That email really says it all! I wantto check out the Dr. Oz inks!

Buckle up ...it's going to be a lonng ride! This is normal. Your band empty and your body is healing. It's true what they say-the first 6 weeks is all about healing. It might take a couple of fills before your band is truely working for you...welcome to what we call "Bandster Hell." Try to drink your shakes and really make sure they are high in protein becuase it's helps a ot with hunger. When I have a shake (25grams of protein) it fill me up for 4 hours. Eat a little snack in between (like SF applesauce). Good luck-hang in there!

That's the book my nutritionist recommended. I think the recipes make 4 portions so you can freeze them. Let me know how you like the book!

Definitelly get the book Bandwagon -it's a great resource and wil answer all of your questions completely. http://www.amazon.com/Bandwagon-Strategies-Success-Adjustable-Gastric/dp/0578061236 You'll neeed to take vitamins-plus they are always a good idea! You can bathe in 2 days My doctor said I could drive in 5 days (but that varies from doctor to doctor) You can't see the port I really think the most important thing to remember is that for the first 2 months or so you will be dieting pretty much on your own unless your one of the rare lucky ones who never needed a fill! Good luck!!

Here is a link for one cookbook with sample pages to read: http://www.amazon.com/Eating-Well-After-Weight-Surgery/dp/1569244537#reader_1569244537 and another http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470640189.html

I had the same feeling when I ate a hard boiled egg (although I didn't chew it well). I thought this was a false 'stuck" sort of like fase labor pains! lol Not sure-but I thought it could be relatted to being stuck. I had it happen this weekend with coleslaw-it felt ike a knot in the middle of my chest.

Sounds like a support group meeting might help! Does your doctor's office offer them or is there one nearby? Try looking into it. Maybe purchase a book to keep you motivated, even a cookbook? Take up a new hobby !! When you go to events arrive late and leave early-bring low cal treats. When you go to a BBQ have a time that you will eat so you don't mucj throughout the day. Look up walking paths in your area and buy a good pair of sneakers and an ipod-go for 20 minutes walks 2-3 times a week and then each week add on to it a little more. I feel the same way-what if I have this surgery and I fail??!! Anytime negative thoughts enter yor mind redirect yourself!! Have a reward system in place for short erm goals. For example: When I lose 10 pounds I am treating myself to a massage, nails, facial, etc. Goodluck!

Hi Karon-nopulled pork! The food wasn't all that great so it made it easier!! How have you been?

You can never be too skinny or too rich! lol That seems like a loss that is definitely on the higher end-but it's great!!! Congrats!

My first marriage we were a lot like that-I was very outgoing and always doing something. He was more of a homebody and had very little social outlets and friends. It didn't work as we grew older. My current hubby is much more aligned to me-he is very outgoing and enjoys doing lots of things. Personally, I don't think you'll have a problem...maybe you'll even inspire him to want to do more! But if not, you can still do a lot of things independently or with a friend. If it seems to become a problem, maybe some counseling to help with the adjustment. Can your love withstand the weight loss? Yes, it should, it really should-in fact it should make you stronger. Good luck!

So I was so worried about going to the racetrack and to an irish festival today, but I did really good!! I planned ahead and drank a shake on the drive there so I wouldn't be starving-good idea. NExt, it was BYOB so I opted out and just had water throughout the day. I had a little coleslaw because it didn't have hardly any mayo-but it got stuck-but went down after a minute-but that was scary! Then I had 1 spoonful of chile (minus the dog) and just a tasting of some other stuff (small taste) and I order a cheeseburger from the grill (minus the roll) and ate half of it. A really good day!! I drank lots of water throughoutthe day. I walked throughout the day as well. I am home eating egg drop soup. That wasn't so bad afterall!! As I reflect what I could have done differently I would say I would have brought different drinks than water (it got old after a while). I would have packed some veggies to munch on while they were dipping chips. I have maybe 5 chips and sat away from them. Much better then I though I would do-I don't feel like I cheated that much at all.

My first week out we went to eat-I just had the soup and asked them you bring it as my meal and I had a virgin strawberry diaquari. You can eat out you just have to plan for it. When you are are on mushies you have more options. A lot depends on what stage you are on the diet. A lot of restuarants have Vegan options, Chines restuarants have a 'diet 'menu, I think mexican has some options that might work-minus the bread. There are a few cookbooks for bandsters and they might give you some ideas of things to order. Good luck!

Love, love, LOVE this post!! I think you really captured the true picture of being banded!

Okay, so I shouldn't expect reallu anything for my first fill-and if I do it won't last long I wonder if I can ask my doctor to be agressive with it??? Is that ever done? Or at the very least request that I come back sooner if the fill isn't making a difference? I just can't see the point of waiting weeks for another fill when the purpose of the surgery is to help control the hunger. Has anyone else asked their doctor for more ccs or to come back sooner? I don't want to wait 2 months to feel any restriction

I had surgery on a Wed. and went back on Tues because it was a holiday weekend. I wish I could have taken longer because I was sore. My dress pants bothered my incision even though I sat at a desk all day. The rest of the week I wore stretchy pants.

That's such a great achievement!!! Just think that you are no longer walking around with the equivalent of another human being!! Today I was picking up 40 pounds of cholorine for my pool- that 40 pound container was SO heavy I could barely life it...I mean it was REALLY heavy. Then I thought..geeze if I lost 40 pounds it would be like not carrying around this container all day! Your body must be so thankful!! I am really proud of you and I think it's amazing! AT least you are still losing! Congrats again!

[Why do the thoughts of others have any impact on your decision? You must know what's best for you, and what you can live with.......... Why did you have the band? Wel this is a support forum so I do appreciate suggestions of felow Bandsters who have deal with similiar situations and I actually got afew good ideas of what to eat and to skip the beer. I am still in the learbibg stage so of course I want input. I had the Band to help with portion control and I have been making realy good choices thus far (considering I have no fills). I didn't get the band to never be able to eat real food in real situations. I don't always know what's best for me-it's a learning process.

Thanks everyone! I never thought about the beer thing-you are probably right I should definitely stay away from it at this early stage! I was thinking of a piece of BBQ chicken and a salad or maybe a burger without the roll? I have been pretty good so far and I absoultely don't plan on pigging out. I am even playing around with the idea of having a shake before I go so I am not that hungry.

Okay, so my hubby has a super active social life thanks to this club he belongs to. I avoided going to a few events since my surgery (pig roast/pinic, conecert/BBQ etc.) Well Sunday I am going to a big Irish Festival at a racetrack. There will be plenty of BBQ and drinks. I have no restriction but I have been pretty good with the diet (except I had a little more than just mushies-but nothing bad). I am thinking of having 2 beers and some BBQ food. I know there will come a day were I will get stuck or need a PB -but those days are nowhere in sight for a while. Would it be really sucky of me to enjoy the day with a beer and BBQ...yeah I know I can enjoy people's company and the festivities, blah, blah, blah...but really! Any thoughts? Did anyone else indulge a little more than they should have? Oh how I wish I had some restriction!!

That's good to know!! I would never have thought to use it to replace sour cream! Thanks!

At least you had a huge weight lost prior to the stall. I lost 14 pounds and nothing after that! From my understanding (through this forum and YouTube videos) this seems to be VERY normal. The trick is to stay with it and ride this wave and before you know it you'll be losing!

No, not at all-I was really swollen too! Even though I had lost 14 punds my pant were tight-really tight. My first day back to work I had to unzip my pants and I wore black yoga-pants the rest of the week. I amover 2 weeks post op and my pants don't feel any looser. I think in your case it may be the gas build up?? It will go down!! Good luck!

I ony told my hubby and 2 people I work with-that's it! It is a very personal choice. I am guessing that I will tell my mother and maybe my daughters once I start to lose some major weight. I have no guilt and no regrets-I feel ike this is my battle to fight.