Kekeboo

I talk a good game but can I follow my own advice? I have always been told that I give great advice, but I just can't seem to incorporate my advice into my life. Between the selfhelp books, the weightloss books and the devotional books...I thought I would have my life more put together. My kids are healthy, smart and seem to very happy. I monitor thier food, thier homework, thier friends. I am not over protective because I feel they need to fall down so they know how to pick themselves up. We talk about what they eat and teach them to make good food choices, we talk about thier friends and if they are surrounding themselves around positive role models or if they are the role model for those who need positve friends. I took motherhood on as a lifestyle, not a challenge. But, I forgot to take care of mom. They saw the opposite of what I was teaching them in me. My food choices, my education and a few friends that were not healthy for me. I remember introducing a friend of mine to Lowcarb eating. She lost 35lbs so fast and I gained 5. She thanked me for all the recipes and websites to follow. I wanted to crawl under a rock. So now that I have revealed myself, I feel like I have to put up or shut up. So, I am going to post on my blog my daily food intake, my excercise and anything else that comes to mind. It will be easier to post my successes my failures since I don't personally know anyone here. The only person I can dissapoint is myself.

I can have the eggs, tuna etc... I speak a good game, but if I am going to do this the right way, I have learned that I have to be honest with myself. I overindulge on even the healthy food and will make myself sick and hurt over it...and I would keep going. Not because I am still hungry, but because I love the flavor. Oh, btw, the combo of the cream cheese, stick of "real" butter and the PET milk is to die for. I think I will try to make some for dinner one night using all fat free stuff and see if my family tastes the difference.

I was just getting used to the soups and protien drinks and now.... I don't know if I am mentally ready to move on. When my nurse said I could add mashed potatos and other foods to my meals, I didn't hear anything after mashed potatos. My mind immediately saw a bag of potatos, a block of cream cheese, a stick of butter and a can of PET milk. Oh the horror!!! I know myself, adding the white carbs will sabatoge anything I have done so far. I am a carb junkie. I went to the store and purchase veggies to steam, turkey meatballs, maranara sauce, quinoa and other items that I intended on adding slowly to my diet. Hehe, I made dinner for my family tonight...little do they know that they had turkey meatballs, whole wheat pasta and low sugar marinara sauce. And they ALL liked it. I had steamed veggies and 2 meatballs with a TB of sauce. It was weird eating it, I felt like I should have put it in the magic blender first. I may do that tomorrow with the meatballs and marinara and add a spoon of ricotta cheese.

I took a shower after I had my walk and notice that the area where the port incision is, is very swollen. It's not red or anything...just a large swollen area over it, about the size of a softball. It's not sore, but I feel little shocks of pain occasionally around it. I am 14 days out (today starts 15) and I didn't notice this until yesterday. I don't know, hopefully my doc will have an answer for me.

No not completely. I may not have the experience that some bandsters do, but I am quickly learning in my 13 short days. I am sooo very greatful I have found ways to enjoy my protien powder without getting bored. I am very happy I invested in a Magic Blender. It's been my lifesaver. I put all my Light Progresso soups in it with some chicken or beef broth...to make it soupier. I add vanilla and/or chocolate protien powder to a cup of ice and a cup of coffee in the morning to make an iced coffee. I bought Lipton diet tea with honey, individual packs, and add unflavored whey protien to it for my afternoon drink and I drink another one at night. So I am getting atleast 75g of protien per day. I am getting in the habit to brush my teeth after EVERY meal, that helps the hunger cravings. Then when my 30 minutes are up the toothpaste taste is gone and I can have my liquids. I am still having trouble getting all my liquids in, but I am trying since the hunger has increased over the past couple of days. The worst time of day for me is suppertime. My family has always depended on me to cook a hot dinner. The first week and a half they did fend for themselves, but I had to help because alot of what they were cooking were my recipes. Now, my husband has stopped helping make dinner and my kids are tired of ramen noodles and frozen pizza's. Actually they are out of them and I refuse to buy those anymore. So, I am cooking chicken and rice for dinner tonight and I have the BBQ chicken in the oven for tomorrow night. The house smells soooo good, and so tempting. I miss eating with my family, but I know if a couple of weeks I will be eating with them and they will be eating healthier since I don't short oder cook. Time to move on and take another walk on the treadmill.

Thank you, I have owned a treadmill for 5 years now and I am just now using it. Sad fact, but true. I am curbing my appetite with walking on it. I am looking forward to working out with weights. Right now I am using 3lb weights just to start the habit.

So I went to the gym again today, I have been everyday this week. I only walk on the treadmill at a 2.8 or 3,0 speed and a 1 incline. I walk for 2 miles and that it. The treadmills are equiped with cable tv so the time seems to pass quickly. I used the fitness room scale, which is what my surgeon has, this is the printout I got Weight 233 started 250 BMI 37 40 Fat % 51 47 There was more, but this is what caught my attention. I am happy about my progress, exspecially since its going slow and steady. I know this will allow me to shape my body better when I start my workouts. I am starting to get hungry in between meals, so I am adding unflavored whey protien to my SF teas in between meals. I think next week I can have mushies....for some reason I am craving tuna fix salad and baked fish. Strange. Anyway...I go back for my post op check on Tues. the 31st, ready ready ready!!

I was doing fine after i pooped Friday, (5 days post op) but now I am not going...again. I thought the liquid diet would take care of this. What else would work?

Get a book or a magazine to read while you eat. At the end of every page, take a bite. There's no easy solution, it's just what may work for you.

I agree with the advice above. Don't just rely on the band, it's a total life change that has to be made. I am horrible about hetting my water in, so I keep bottled water in the fridge and stocked up so I have no excuse. Buy some unflavored protein powder to mix in with your water and a crytal light pack. YOU CAN DO THIS!! Just keep telling yourself that you deserve it.

So, Day 8 is here and I can't believe what a difference I feel every day. I was still hurting on Friday (Day 5) and every day since I have woken up feeling better and better. The neck pain can still get pretty bad, so I cut back to 3 oz. of liquid at a time and it was a big difference. I am down 19 lbs. since I started my pre op, I am not starving or feeling deprived. I am learning to eat to live. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have the flavor of a good steak or some lasagna....but I know what the consequences will bring and that's just terrifying. My fear of throwing up is enough keep me dedicated. I am walking 1 mile a day...it's a start. I sat in one of those full body massage chairs at the gym today, WHOA!! That is worth going to the gym everyday. I need to do that after my walk though, I sure didn't feel like getting on the treadmill after that. Okay, time to sit back and enjoy the evening.

Thank you!! Feeling great on Day 8!!

I also had a V8 juice today....so there are my veggies. It was sooo good. I am looking forward to week three so I can add my mushies!!

I was banded on July 16th. I was in a lot of pain when I woke up. I have 6 incisions, but doc said everything went fine. My port area is still pretty tender, but some of my pain is in my lower left side of the abdomen. The shoulder pain is pretty intense though. It runs into my neck. I am walking alot, 2 miles today. I was hoping that would help the pain....not so much. I have Lortab, but I am trying to take it when absolutely necessary. I have lost 18 lbs since the pre op diet. I only lost 4 before surgery. I don't think I am drinking enough, but when I drink just a few oz. the shoulder pain starts. I am eating cream Soups and beef broth, I am over the shakes....the sweetness is just too much. I put unflavored whey Protein in my soups and broth to get my protein in. I also found a liquid Vitamin that taste pretty good at Walgreens. I bought the one from GNC....looks like yellow baby poop. I don't think I will be taking tht at all. Goodluck to everyone....my first goal is 225 and then I will Celebrate every 10 lbs after that until I reach my final goal of 145.

Sounds infected, most of the time it will drain naturally but antibiotics are needed. Does your surgeon have a weekend phone you can call. I have my doctors cell phone number as well as his nurses for emergencies. Take care

Pre op was hard for me as well, I ended up doing 1 shake a day and had 2 meals and 2 Snacks. I included a salad with both my meals to make me feel fuller. It's not easy, if it was every would do it. Remember the band is just a tool, it's not the reason you will eat differently. You still have to make the food choices. You can "choose" to follow the diet given by your doctor or you can "choose" to eat what you want...suffer the consequences and be miserable from the side effects. Right now is preparing you for the band. Find a hobby, a book or an excercise program to get your mind off the hunger pains. Good luck!!

I am on day4 of post op. Today was a better day for me. I know what your feeling and it will start to get better. I took a shower today and that made a huge difference. I still have pain over my port and gas pain. But it's not as bad today. I walked every hour for 10 minutes the first 2 days and it did help, it's hard and uncomfortable, but it's part of the the process. It's not going to be easy, take some deep breathes, be sure to sip on your protien drinks and broth. Take your multivitamin and just give yourself time to heal. It's ok to moan and groan, it's painful and that what's support groups are for. To listen and then encourage.

I am hanging tough through a tough time. I have NO regrets, I am just posting the facts. I am sore and the gas bubble are excruciating. I am taking gas x strips, it is not helping. I am walking as much as I can, it's not helping. I am just biding my time until I am past the initial aches and pains. I know this will be easier in a few days, I am excited to get to the point where I can see some results. I know it's based on my actions, I am 100% dedicated. I couldn't imagine going through this much pain and not follow through.

Well I did it. And everything that I read so far is absolutely the truth. I feel the way the descriptions said I would. The pain on Day 1 verses Day 2 is still painful, but easier to walk. Wow, the pain over my left rib cage....very painful. I have liquid lortab, it doesn't help that pain, but it does relax me enough to where I am not moving around. It's very difficult to find a comfortabe way to lay day. It feels better for me to stand, but I am sooo tired. These are NOT complaints, just some facts. I am not hungry at all. I haven't eaten since Sunday afternoon, but I am sipping on my water mixed with diet cranberry juice. I am sleeping on the couch because it is very painful to climb up the stairs. I am didn't sleep well last night because of the pain. I expect to have a rough couple of days, but the outcome will be worth it.

I am not banded yet, but have thought ALOT about the different stages. I am one for flavor, so I would add celery seed, garlic powder and maybe just a touch of dry mustard to the tuna with the mayo and hard boiled egg. I have never used the canned chicken, glad to see some great ideas.

That was the response I got at Olive Garden today when I said "no thankyou" to the complimentary garlic bread. pat pat pat myself on the back. Seems like small potatoes, but it was a HUGE triumph for me. I love breads, rice, pastas...oh and the delicious mashed potatoes made with cream cheese!!! I am a not just a food addict, I am addicted to starch. So, I orded the soup (pasta fagioli) and salad...yes with the dressing. But I did not order anything carb loaded. I thought about asking the waitress to remove the bread, but my friend was enjoying it sooo much, I just didn't have the heart. ooh ooh ooh....and you know that little mint they give you at the end, I gave it to my friend. New plan, I am going to feed all of my friends so they get fatter to make me look skinnier. Just joking. The will power is getting easier....but no bueno on the shakes 2 times day. It's too much sweetness. I bought some jerky, string cheese and yogurt to get the full amount of protein needed per day. I also eat fish or chicken and green veggies or salad for dinner. I am only down 2 lbs for the first week of preop diet, but I am still limited on my excercise with my broken toes. Note to self....stop falling down stairs. Tomorrow starts week 2 of preop. Phew....can't wait for this week to be over with. I am so excited to get banded next week.

7 days to go till I am banded. I am taking mental notes like crazy hoping it will keep me on track knowing what can be normal. I also appreciate the positive and encouraging feedback given here.