Kime-lou

Wow, I know they told me that the tubing could cause odd pains, never would have guessed that though.

That is Awesome!! Can't wait to join ya!! Give yourself a big pat on the back.

Banded life can be some what of a roller coaster ride. We all get upset when someone says we took the easy way out, I'd like to see them try it! It's true you never understand until you walk a mile in there shoes. At almost 4 months out I have walked several of those miles and not all have been easy. For a week after surgery I though oh, heck what did I do. I felt like crap, I hurt, I was hungry, I was miserable. Then as the healing got going I started to feel better. Then I started to see results- weight loss- and it made it all worth it. I have had 4 fills now and know I am getting tighter. To begin with I was just watching my calories and staying below 1200 even if I felt hungry. Now the hunger is less of a problem except certain times of day. I am able to drink more and get my protein in, plus exercise. Since my last fill I experieced the dreaded "STUCK" moment. Before the food even got to my band I knew I had screwed up- I swallowed before I had chewed enough - MISTAKE. Lets just say that certainly gave me a good reminder to CHEW!! Most bandsters have experienced this moment and it's the ugly one- you feel like your chest will explode. You want to puke, but you can't, you want to wash it down, but you can't. You are almost foaming at the mouth with spit- not pretty or fun. Some foods I use to love, now just don't love me. Breadsticks for instance - I LOVED them- now I just can't do it without putting my band at risk. I don't know about you, but I don't really enjoy surgery and the thought of having to have my band fixed because I ate the wrong things and made it slip just isn't going to happen. That breadstick doesn't taste that good. Most other things I can still eat, but it's a question of should I. Things like ice cream and cheese cake - while my band will allow them down, my calorie count really doesn't. Does this mean I will never partake in these again, probally not. I think I will allow myself one SMALL slice of cheese cake once a year on my wedding anniversary because that is what we had for our wedding cake. However, I may do an hour on the elliptical to compensate. As most people who have been banded figure out quickly, weight lose can be painfully slow at times. This makes it easy to get discouraged, but when you look at the big picture, when was the last time you lost 35 lbs in 3 months. The band doesn't do it all for me. I still must choose the right foods - healthy. I must choose not to eat or drink empty calories. For me I choose to count calories, which has helped me a lot. This helps me make sure I don't go over and that I am staying in the "lose" zone. I think my counting calories with myfitnesspal will help me with my long term success. With counting I must be accountable each day not just when I get on a scale. The Good part of the band is-- I am losing weight, I am not crazy hungry, I feel good, I am looking better, I am becoming the me I always wanted to be! For the 1st time in my over weight life I have hope and confidence that this weight will come off and I will one day be a healthy weight. So to be the bad and ugly times are far out weighed by the Good!!

This is a difficult time. I told my doctor there was no way I could get my protein in those first few days and they said that was normal. Just sip as much as possible of water and protein shakes. Get a timer if needed and every 10 min take a sip. Not easy at all, but it will be over soon. Until all that swelling goes down it will be rough and then once it does it will get easier to drink.

For the first few weeks of banding I wouldn't even worry about myfitnesspal. I didn't start that until I was back on solids. The first few weeks, some people lose, some don't, but it's more important to heal. As long as you aren't having blood sugar lows and getting dizzy and nauseated you are fine, if you have those symptoms give your nutritionist a call, they will be able to help you figure out good options to prevent those. Be really careful when 1st starting to exercise. Walking is never bad even right after surgery. But you do not want to jog or do any ab exercise until you are healed. I made the mistake of do ab work to soon and I pull something. I was told I needed to be careful for 6 weeks and then I could go back to whatever I wanted. I was told at 2 weeks my elliptical was ok to get back on.

I only had to do liquids the day before. I have heard some people do half and half who were not told to do total liquids- like a protein shake for breakfast and lunch and then a sensible dinner.

I only have it if I eat certain things. Protein shakes give it to me horrible.

You are doing amazing! I had surgery in June (22nd) and I have lost 37 lbs and am just 7 lbs for onederland!! Can't wait!! Sounds like you are doing just perfect, so pat yourself on the back. We all want to lose quicker, but that isn't realistic. Stay the course and you will be at goal before you know it.

I was afraid of bypass. My best friend has had a lot of absorption issues (vitamin and mineral) since surgery and she is lactose intollerant now. I want to lose around 100, my first goal was to lost 70, but then after I got started I decided I could do better than that. As long as you are commited to doing what you have to do (smaller portions, healthy foods, exercise) you will do fine and you success is limitless. Look on utube for videos - there are a bunch of video blogs of very successful bansters, who have maintained for years. FYI, keep in mind the less you have to lose the slower the weight loss. Kinda sucks. As my doctor said you look at fat percentages -you will likely lose 50-60 % of that in one year and then more after that if you stay committed- so for those who have more to lose they lose more in a year than someone who has less to loose, but they end up lossing the same percentage.

I had surgery on a Friday and planned to be back at work Monday. I ended up taking Monday off and half a day Tuesday, but by Wed I was doing great. So if you tend to recover well, you should be fine. However, everyone reacts to this surgery differently so you have a good plan now, but just be aware you may have to extend it.

Mine is like yours. Put your food in cover with Water (don't fill more that 3 quarter the way up). Put your top on and lock it in place the put the "jiggler" on the little top thing and put it on the stove on high. It will begin to build pressure, once pressure is build the top thingy will jiggle - cook for the alloted amount of time. Release pressure by tilting the jiggler with a fork once the pressure is off open it. Mine is an older one. Good Luck

I was told no caffine, I could have any liquid that was caffine free. So go for it.

For me tracking my calorie intake works great. I use myfitnesspal. I go ahead at the start of the day and enter my Breakfast, what will have for lunch and what I will fix for dinner, I enter 1 or 2 Snacks in and see what my calorie count is at. Some times it is well below my 1200 calories, sometimes above - if it's above I mike chages to get it there. Also physcial activity helps even if it's just walking.

You are either to tight or eating to fast. Slow down with the next thing you have and see if it does it, if so you are to tight.

I am with ya girl! I hate them. I used unjury unflavored and added that to almost everything especially during mushies (apple sauce, mashed potatos, soup). That got me through until I could eat other Protein things. Not sure what your nutritionist recommended, but I ate a lot of soft fish even during the mushy time becuase it was already mush. If you want to do the Protein shake use a base shake and add fruit in the blender like banana, peach, apple sauce - also you can add yogurt. Good luck on your protein Quest.

I am one of these planner folks and numbers people. It annoys the crap out of some, but that is how I am wired and work the best. These days I plan my day out each morning. M-F I eat my Special K breakfast at 5:30 am, I get ready for work - pack my lunch and snack. Once I get to work and get settled in, I normally have a few min that I can get on MyFitnessPal and log breakfast, snack, lunch and what I plan to fix for dinner. This way I know exactly how many calories I am PLANNING to take in that day. If we are going to have something like pizza that night I PLAN that in and also PLAN in a workout. If I plan out my day like this I am much more likely to stick to it than if I just take it as it comes. I am like this in everything. At work I have a color coordinated calendar and my box of color highlighters- People think I'm nuts but it works for me. I believe that we all must have some sort of a plan in order to be succesful, if we "fly by the seat of our pants" we often end up somewhere we don't want to be. Just like when going to the market. I sit down before going to the grocery and write out everything I need (I preplan meals for the coming week). When I go to the store I don't allow myself to browse, I get what is on the list and keep truckin. This prevents me from buy those little extras that will derail me and it also saves time so when I get home I can work out. We plan vacations, meetings, appointments, ect to make sure we get in what we need, with the band it's no different. I you make a plan and post it- for me it's in my handy dandy smart phone (the hubs and I are total tech geeks), but some may stick it on the fridge; either way if you have a plan in place you are more likely to stick to it and be succesful because we hopefully don't plan for failure. So today I encourage to make a plan and stick to it.

It is unrealistic to think we can give up our favorite foods forever, but when we do have them we MUST do it in moderation. I love pizza to, my hubs and I use to order a large and eat the entire thing. Now we still eat pizza sometimes, but we order a small and I eat A piece and we have lunch left overs for the next day. When I want to go back for more I remind myself of how far I've come and I can't and won't ruin it. Enjoy your food in moderation and add your exercise in and you are much more likely to rock that band!!! Oh, and I can still eat salad - I just play the little engine that could - CHEW CHEW CHEW (lame I know, by my mom calls me that now

Hope it was as easy as most. Fills are not a big deal. I worried so much about my first one, now I look forward to then. I think now though I am getting close to restriction. This last fill (4th) I felt a big diffence in how I felt and how it felt to eat.

at times, but after you have followed the site for a while it does get better.

Gas gets in some funny places. Thre is no telling after surgery where the gas will pool, when I had my galbladder out I thought I would die my shoulder hurt so bad.

I am not a cook by profession, but I love to cook. I have loved to cook since I was little. I would get in the kitchen with my mom and grandma and we loved prepairing meals for the family. With just me and hubs in the house I cooked way to much and we ate it and gained weight. So I have learned to change the way I cook. I try and cook healthier. It's been a challenge- I try to change up recipes to make them healthier and for some it's worked great, others not so much. I still love food, I just love it in smaller amounts now. I think it is possible for you to still do you job and lose weight, but it will require a great deal of dedication on your part, so make sure you are ready.

Congrats! The pain will ease as the days pass. Don't be freaked if pain around the port area last longer than anything else. I am close to 4 months out and I still have a little ouchness in the area if I move wrong. Welcome to the band club!

Great job- keep it up!

There are fanatics on both side- good and bad. I choose to be realistic. I have developed what works for me and I can and will stick with it. Each person has to find their own way and hopefully I can support them in some way.

I have been over weight since childhood, so boy have I had it. I was harrished and bulled so much in middle school I because severely depressed. It continued some in high school, but I handled it better. College was a little better. However, when I went back to work in the school system I will see kids and they will make snide comments. On my wedding day of all days, I heard an older member of our community (who is obese herself) say I can't believe she is getting married before my granddaughter; look at her she is huge. Oh, well it makes since she is marrying a blind man. OMG, I got so mad- one that was a put down to me and it was to my husband. My husband is visually impaired, but far from dumb and stupid. He makes a six figure salary and is great to me. He granddaughter isn't married because no one can stand her attitude. People are so rude sometimes.