LadyLeigh2012

Hi peeps its been 3 weeks from my surgery already back to work didnt take much time off I have been adding some foods back in my diet I eat a lot of fish just love it so happy I did this I have lost 39 pounds in 3 weeks I can already see the difference

Hey there! Awesome progress! Are you on MyFitnessPal, too?? There are quite a few of us from here on there …it's a great way to track yourself and get/give support. I'm DLeigh77 on there, feel free to add me!

So I was banded on the 19th. I had my first post-op yesterday. They do not put any Fluid in the band at my Drs office until you are 6 weeks out from surgery so I will go in 2/7 for that, which is 2 days before the hubby and I take a romantic trip to St Thomas. So excited :-) I got to move to mushies last night I had a scrambled egg with pureed zucchini in it. It tasted like pure heaven. This morning I enjoyed cottage cheese and I am really looking forward to hummus for lunch :-) My port site is becoming less irritated so that is great. Just hope I keep losing. Goal is 10 lbs this month :-) They only released me to walking last night so treadmill here I come.

I was banded on the 18th! I started back to the gym last night w/ the treadmill … it was awesome! Adding in activity will help keep our momentum going w/ the weight loss … or so I'm told!

I know, it does that for me too! I dont know how to add. Someone help!!

Hope this helps:

1 - Go to the tab that says Community

2 - Then click on Find Members in the dark blue toolbar under Community

3 - In the username/email box, type in the username you are looking for and they should pop up!

4 - Once you have their name, click on it, and click 'add friend'.

I am DLeigh77 on there!

Hi everyone!

Banded on 12/21/12 best decision I have ever made:) Started working out yesterday nothing crazy just some cardio with wii fitness! It feels great!

Is anyone else using my fit pal? I have been and I really like it to track what I am eating BUT i have to say it freaks me out a little bit to see all the nutrients I am lacking in like potassium and Vitamin A. I am hoping this improves once my diet is upgraded!

I am amazed at what little bit of food I eat and it satisfies me:)

Welcome!!! Congrats on getting banded … the best Christmas gift we could give ourselves! Many of us are on FitnessPal … look me up and feel free to add me: DLeigh77

I'm down 24 as well, and I have been stuck for about 2 weeks now. I have an appt. On the 10th , but she said she didn't know if we would do a fill then! Ugh! I'm just now to the point of where I don't hurt doing anything.. guess its time for the gym?!

Down 29 pounds thus far … but it has taken 10 days to whittle off that 29th pound! I do think drinking our required amount of Water is essential, but it is frustrating! Doc said I can go to the gym, but nothing more than treadmills and fancy things like that. No lifting or resistance training …. yet!

I had my 2-week post-op appointment today!! According to my scale I am down 28 … according to the doc's scale I am down 25 … it's whatever! LOL!

Anyhoo … he said I can move on to 'mushies' and that I will come back in a month. No fill for me unless my progress drops below a loss of 4 pounds per month. He said that my unfilled band gives me a little restriction, but nothing like it's potential once I get a fill. He also said that he has few patients that didn't get a fill for nearly a year post-op because their monthly progress was right on target!

I kind of have mixed feelings about this.

I know that 'slow and steady wins the race' … BUT … I better damn sure lose more than 4 pounds a month after going through all of this!!!! HOWEVER … if I do lose that much then I won't ever get a fill … but isn't that the point of having the band!?!?

What are your thoughts!?!?!

--- eating oatmeal now … LOL!

So I am feeling pretty good since my surgery on the 19th. I went and tail gated and watched the Skins stomp the Cowboys last night. I stood for the 4 hours of tail gating and then stood the entire game. I ate my Soup and just fought off wanting to enjoy tail gate food. I can't wait to move to mushies. Post-Op appointment Thursday :-) My only problem is it hurts to tie my shoes and hurts to bend over at my port site. Does anyone else have this problem? If so what are you doing about it? Looking forward to an amazing and healthy 2013.

Hey! I was banded on the 18th … anything w/ bending down or over seems to hurt the port site, but beyond that I, too, feel great! Nice job w/ fighting off tailgate food … I have found that people have wanted my soup more then I have wanted their food! LOL!!! I guess nice, warm, yummy soup is a perk for getting banded in the winter! Cheers!

I was told clear liquids the first 24 hours, and after that anything you can get through a straw. I was put on mushies after a week of liquids, however, I feel like i am better off with mostly liquid and some added mush. Like, I added some crackers to my Tomato Soup, that kind of thing.

I was also told that rice, especially white rice, is an absolute NO NO NO with a band - it swells as it retains Water, and will absolutely puff you up and make you feel miserable. So it might have been that you chose the wrong mushies. No rice!

I was told the same thing.

I was put on a liquid diet as part of my pre-op protocol.

The day before and the day of surgery I was on clear … so that would be about 48 hours.

Liquid diet for first 2 week of post-op … this includes anything that can fit through a straw but is not carbonated.

On Monday I will have my 2 week post-op visit and hope for the green light to start mushies!

I, too, was told that Pasta and rice are not included with this stage and to stick to things like cottage cheese, yogurt, applesauce, mashed turnips/potatoes/carrots, pudding, refried Beans with melted cheese, guacamole, etc...

This mushie stage will last from week 3 - 5 … as of week 6 I can add more in.

It's a lot to remember and adjust to so I made myself a cool menu map that plots out each week and phase. I gave a copy to my family, hung one on the fridge at home, and put another copy in my work bag.

Drinking warm prune juice …. y'all know what that means!

My post-op appointment is scheduled for Monday at 8:45am! Yeh! Hoping to get the OK for mushies! Maybe a fill, too!?!? I'm very excited for this!

Hey December 19th BANDits , can you believe its been a week already!

Ok, I was the 18th … but yes, I sat back yesterday and gave a smile … wishing myself a 1 week Happy Bandaversary!!! LOL!! We are all doing so well … all that fear, anticipation, anxiety, and build-up of excitement … now, it's like proud and peaceful joy! As of Christmas Eve I am down 28 pounds … including pre-op stuff.

I also thought I'd share this with you ...

One of my best-friends was here visiting for Christmas and last night we sat up talking … he asked me, "So, tell me, is there any food you find yourself really missing?"

I thought about it for a minute and then said, "No …. but …. that's because I know these phases are temporary and that at the end of the tunnel my behavior will be altered so that my mind eat well and my stomach is altered so that my mind doesn't fool itself!"

Then it came to me … my feeling about food right now … there's not much I miss, but there is a lot I'm looking forward to! LOL!! Never thought the idea of scrambled eggs would make me so happy … LOL!

The Christmas feast was easier to get through then I thought … how did you make out??

Hey all...I'm wrapping up my pre-op diet and will be banded on 12/31. I stumbled across this forum when I was doing my research - thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences so I've got some idea of what I'm in for after surgery.

Welcome!!

So I get to start mushy foods in a few days. Any ideas on high Protein foods? I'll prolly still have a shake but want to make sure I'm getting protein elsewhere.

Thanks!

• Plain oatmeal = 4 grams of protein per 1 packet
  
• Instant Cream of Wheat = 9 grams of protein per half cup
  
• Scrambled Egg = 6 grams of protein per large egg
  
• Cottage cheese = 15 grams of protein per half cup
  
• Peanut Butter = 4 grams of protein per tablespoon
  
• Refried Beans = 6 grams of protein per half cup
  
• Mashed banana = 2 grams per cup
  
• Mashed Avocado = 3 grams per cup
  

Hope this helps! Hmmm …now, I'm hungry! LOL! Gonna go back to my broth now …

We sound like a bunch of old people obsessed with our bowel movements lmao

I guess I was the opposite. I had diarrhea the whole time. It finally stopped about two day ago.

I was banded 12/4 and have lost 15 pounds! I've always had Constipation and during the liquids only phase, I craved something salty so I sipped on 1/4 cup of pickle juice. A few hours later, I had the best BM ever!!! I was so surprised and curious if the Pickle Juice was the ignition and did a little research. Sure enough, it works like a laxative! I know it has a lot of sodium, but a little dab will do ya!!

Pickle juice sounds like it did the trick! Awesome tip!

LOL w/ Nancy … yes … you are so right!

I took 45ml of MOM the night before last … still nothing.

Last night I took 30ml … and it has been a looooong night!

My bowels and tummy have been cursing me out all night! Sure it worked, but OMG!

Put it to you this way … the scale is down another 3 pounds this morning … now that's a lot of … well, you get the idea!

Nice choice of words, Grammy ….

Thanks, I thought I should have more energy. Maybe next week.

I'd still say to push yourself a bit.

Yesterday our kids had a half day. We dropped them off at 8am and then went shopping. I wore my sweats and pushed the cart … hubby took care of putting things in the cart and taking things out of the cart. All I did was walk, chit-chat, and sip on tea while we shopped. We got home at noon and I was very, very sleepy. No pain though. That may be why I am extra tired today, but I do think it was good exercise and it showed my body that at a slow and easy pace I can get back into a 'normal' routine.

Here is a GREAT example of different docs... now, granted we both (husband and myself) were banded the same day so maybe this is why but he said... 4 - 6 weeks. Of course.. I was cool with that! Like having a baby all over again!!! LOL

You two had it done at the same time?!? Wow!! That is awesome! What a cool thing to do … my hubby and I had our sleep studies done on the same night, at the same place … the people there thought it was a poor excuse (but cute) for a date night! LOL!

Is anyone else super tired after surgery? Yes, i'm on pain meds, but all i'm doing is sleeping. Is this normal?

Yes … it's our body's way of healing.

I haven't taken my pain meds all day, but have been very sleepy all day. Yesterday, I went shopping w/ the hubby in the morning … in the afternoon I was completely zonked!

Also, if your body is use to having caffeine and you've cut that out entirely then you may feel a bit more tired, too.

My post op instructions say two weeks.

You actually have instructions that say this!?!? Wow!! Awesome! LOL!

I was afraid of the 2 week rule of thumb applying here … but, nothing is worth risking post-op problems.

You know that old saying, "…it's better than sex!" … well, I suppose now we can add lap band to the list!

I am often accused of not being shy … LOL … so here goes the question of the night:

Sex after surgery?

When?

I forgot to ask the doctor/nurse on my out of the hospital on Tuesday. Guess I was a little out of it still and just focusing on going home.

I realize I have internal stitches and I don't want to cause any slippage or tearing … but … well … I do have more than just one type of appetite here! :wub:

OK … entering into 'Onderland' would not be a NSV … so my new #1 is when I can say my size 16s are easy to just slip on and off without unbuttoning them … from there that'll change to 14s … then to 12s … and then … hmmmm … I don't know! I have never been under a 12 in my adult life!

So what about NSVs. What is something small that you are going to be proud of? I think I'll be quite happy when my boots slide up easily over my calves. What's yours?

I have two (initially)

1) Entering into Onderland! LOL! Even at 199 I will be happy to be out of the 200's!

2) Crossing my legs without it being uncomfortable!

I have a blog … might get into the video thing down the road, but for now I'm tracking progress, goals, recipes, and some day to day stuff. I'll add some pics soon, too. I figure it'll be an outlet for me!

Be careful to follow what your dr. Instructed. Ive read not to exceed 2oz-3oz Fluid intake at a time & told by dr. Not to exceed 4oz or I could risk stretching my newly formed pouch. That means my 32 32 + daily oz of liquid that I drank ,I drink at 2 or 3 ounces each time with about 20 to 15 minutes in between. Make sense?

I takes me a while to get the Soup and water/juice down … not because I feel restrictions, but because the doc and guidelines insist I take me time and use small sips. Now that I really sit and take notice of my amounts, I am taking in somewhere between 50 and 64 oz. per day … slowly throughout the day.

I actually just told my hubby that I needed to up my Water intake.

I don't feel any real big restriction, so taking in water or other liquids has not been a problem. I have not kept track of ounces per say, but I know my Protein Shakes are about 11 oz. per container and when I have my Soup it is about a half cup to a cup at a time and no more than 2 times per day. As for water, tea, and low-cal/sugar juice I am having one regular size glass at a time; about 6-8 oz.