anewchapter

Enough said!!

Stay calm...The same thing happened to me. Post-op weeks 4-8 sucked because I didn't lose a thing. Honestly, I eat whatever was on the ok list from the doctor to keep the hungery away. It takes your body, stomach and mind to adjust to smaller portions. I didn't start using myfitnesspal and watching calories till 6 weeks post op as to not kill myself in the lack of calories. I normally eat most of my exercise calories because when I exercise I'm hungry. I also plan to eat around 1200 calories till i'm closer to onderland. I'm now 12 weeks post-op and I'd say the last 4 weeks have been going good I really feel like I am in a better place. I think when you body is in and out of liquid and mushie food when your getting fills it's hard for it to get into a routine. I'm still averaging 10 pounds lost a month, which I think is good, even with almost 4 weeks of nothing. I will also say that even tho I didn't lose for 4 weeks my body did get smaller during that time. Hope this helps.

Oh ya....and when you start feeling a little restriction try to change the way you think at meal time. Instead of thinking, :"how much can I eat"...think "how little can I eat and still be satisfied". I read this somewhre on the boards here and it has really helped me.

It can be hard the first little while, till you start getting some fills. Hang in there. This is about making changes for life. So even if you can't feel restriction, just try to make healthy choices and get exercising. That way you are on the right path and when the fills kick in you will be much happier. I've found that I take pride in getting a good workout in or making a healthy choice at meal time....not that I have restriction. Sure it does help, and it will help you, but this journey also needs to be about your changes. Not just having a band. I found weeks 3-8 post-op were the hardest, mentally, because no weight came off......but changes were being made with my body and mind that I couldn't see on the scale. If you haven't already, take pictures of yourself. Really helps your mind when the scale isn't moving. Hope this helps.

Gas-x chewables, massage and a lot of walking. At one point it was so bad it brought me to tears and I thought....what the hell have I done. But don't worry as the other gals have said....it will go away Hang in there.

Love this!!!! Some things that inspire me and thing that keep me going: - I have a couple friends that are losing weight and trying to maintain a new healthy lifestyle and we share are little milestones together. - Taking pictures of myself every month....this one really helps. - Finding clothes in my closet that fit again - (this is from another post I read but helps me) I don't think about how much can I eat, but how little can I eat and be satisfied. - I realized I was having a love affair with food. It was on this imaginary pedestal and I idolized it. About a month ago I realized....."it's just food". I now know that I need it for fuel not companionship. I really am working on an "everything in moderation" mentality. - Having a great workout, enjoying it and realizing how far I've came physically. Great topic by the way!!

Forgot to say....get off the Protein drinks and eat real food. Those things will not keep you full for long...real food is what we crave and what....so eat it...just be smart about it. I try to stay consistant with this: Breakfast - Quaker weight control maple and brown sugar instant oatmeal and 1 cup of skimmed milk lunch - salad with grilled chicken or hard boiled eggs....a little cheese and a sprinkle of bacon bits...still low cal and totally yummie dinner - Protein and veggies...and a bit of carb if I really want it. I still have things I probably shouldn't...like cheesecake at thanksgiving (i'm from canada, so it was last weekend), but this is still about living, just making changes to life better. I do have 3 fills and don't find the need to snack to much.

I there....I just wanted to say....take pictures.....lots of them......I struggled losing the same 3 pounds two months into this process, but the pictures told a different story and I inspired myself! Also....use myfitnesspal....awesome site. I don't plan to use it forever, I don't want to treat this like another diet. My dad always says, "insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." I use the site for now to track calories and exercise to find a happy place where I'm losing at a consistant rate. Once I find the right combination I'll stop using the site and if needed go back to find the next right combination....if that makes sense. I don't think it matters how much we lose, we all wish it was faster. It's just the nature of the beast. Everyone is going to travel this road differently and I try not to compare myself with others. All I can say is don't give up, just try to make some small changes and build on those small changes to make bigger ones. Also don't strive for perfection. It doesn't exist. Aim for consitancy.

Thanks Ladies!! It's also kinda fun putting the clothes on each month and taking all the pictures. Also good to feel the zippers pull up easier and easier.

Hello everyone, Like most people I did great my first month (lost 20 pounds), but this second month has been a struggle (gained and lost the same 2-3 pounds, twice!). Today I was hoping to be down at least 21, 22 pounds....and although I was down 1 pound, still 20 pounds total! I was getting a little frustrated. However today is October 1 and on the first of every month I said I would take some pictures to track my progress (3 profile pictures in 4 different outfits). I almost didn't take them today and was telling myself, "you haven't lost anything just take the pictures next month". But oh my goodness, I'm so glad I did this today! I really didn't think anything changed over the month because of the scale issues. But the pictures tell a different story!! I could really see a difference between last months pics and today!! So feeling good and proud of my progress, although a little slow and the scale didn't show it this month, there was progress! Thank you pictures! And holy crap, comparing today with August 1....wow, I can't believe the difference!! I did start working out again two weeks ago as well....so maybe that has effected things too! I hope everyone else has been taking pictures

So happy for you!! I can't wait...seems like a forever away day. But just getting back to they gym now, so hopefully will get the move on!

I have no advice for you on this one, as only banded since Aug 15th and haven't not been on a vacation yet. But I just wondered where in Canada are you from? I live close to Toronto, Ontario.

I haven't used mine yet, but I think I'd like to if funds were short. But like the above post, I just take home the leftovers and it's usually enough for another meal Two for one, can't beat it!

I also agree that you should probably talk to someone about this behaviour

I'm gonna check it out. Send you a message through fitnesspal.

Maybe some frozen yogurt.

After 6 days I couldn't wait any longer...sure enough they looked better under the tape then the dried bloody tape looked.

As the others have said....it will slow your weight loss...so many empty calories, but it's not going to hurt you otherwise. I drink once a week and have no problems. I just stay away from carbonated stuff.

Hi There, I was banded Aug 15 and have lost 18.2. I'm not done a size that I know of....my regular clothes are feeling much better though. I was just bearly squeezing into some of them. I didn't have any issues with constipation, but my clinic told me if I did to try ground flax seeds in my protein drink. Maybe that will help.

Hi Amanda, reading all these posts and then this one, I literally got chills down my arms. I also had so much anxiety before surgery and thought I was a crazy person. I also agree with the person who posted about the band helping with emotional eating. Although I haven't had any fills yet (get my first one sept 12) I believe the band will help with this because it will assist in my abilities to realize that I am not hungry nor can I eat so much as I used to. I also have been developing other things to keep me busy and working with the therapist. I also know one person who has had the surgery for over 10 years and she is doing wonderful.

Well my fills are done in Toronto, but I'll ask them anyway. Whitby wouldn't be to bad to drive to. Maybe I'll attend when one is held there. Thanks for the information