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!!

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 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

Hi Tom, Congrats on your successful 5 years!! Just thinking about where I'll be in 5 years with my band scares the hell out of me because I know it'll be in a place that I've never been to, which I guess is exciting too. So scared and excited. That's me. What is the egg timer trick??

Hi Tom,Wish I could make it. I'm from Peterborough. Do you know of anyone closer to where I live??Thanks,Erinn

I'm starting to experience the same thing. I've read it's normal, but it's still frustrating. I've been waiting so long to gain a sense of control over my body (and food addiction) and to lose this weight that has been holding me back from being my real self and from living life to the fullest. I got a little taste of the feeling of losing with the pre-op diet and the first post-op week....then this week nothing, infact I even gained a pound!! I don't want to wait anymore...that's what my brain it saying....but I know my body it saying....what the #%#%^@ did you just do to me!! I've read before that when you reduce your calories so drastically and then start eating more (like moving from the liquid to mushies to real food) your body will hold on to those extra calories cause it doens't know what's going on and once it realizes it's going to continue to get a certain amount of calories it will start to let some go....if that makes sense. I also experienced my first fight with head hunger last night and it sucked. I wasn't physically hungry but wow, did my mind not think that what I eat was enough. I think I ended up eating a little to much, as I had a tiny bit of a full feeling in my lower chest. I also realize I need to start breaking routines, like coming home from work and basically getting into my pjs. I need to start to do stuff after work. Go for a walk, go to the gym, visit a friend, shop....do something!! I'm also going to put up the scales till Sept 1. I know that's really only 6 days away, but I've been on them either everyday or every other day since August 1th. Sept 1 will be one month since pre-op diet and I wanted to track monthly weight loss and take pics, so I'll hold off till then and try to only weigh in weekly on Thursdays after that. I'm totally rambling on now....sorry about that

If there are not medical problems...staph, mrsa, I would try laser hair removal. At least then you'd know if it was caused by in grown hairs and start eliminating possibilities. I should also mention, my room mate had some weird skin issues happening, including boils in the same area as well as armpit, she ended up having Celiac desease (not to the point were she was having the digestion issues, but the gluteen was coming out in her skin). If that makes sense. She was put on an antibiotic and they are clearning up.

I love Dance Dance Revolution!!!! It's so fun and a great work out.

The itching means the nerve ending in your skin are healing....it's a good sign

I'm having cooked turnip, then mashed up with some brown sugar and butter....yummmmm. I also bought some canned carrots and peas that I'll mash up. Another thing I'm going to make is some instant mashed potatoes with Philly ranch dip added for flavour.