Pana'sNewStart

Mkb, I'm gld you saw your surgeon and found a solution, even if it's temporary. The important thing is for you to get the nutrients your body needs. Keep us updated on how you're doing. Good luck, sweetie!!

Hi all, just checking in. Im 3 weeks post op, back to work, and hungry lol. My first fill is Feb. 1st and it can't come fast enough. It really is a mental challenge to eat those small amounts of food, but I'm doing it! I started making my protein shakes with a banana and a tablespoon of natural peanut butter, mix with chocolate protein powder and it keeps me full till 11. I've been logging everything with myfitpal and walking everyday at work. Im down 15 pounds and starting soft meats tomorrow. Lunch meat and chicken never sounded so yummy! Hope you all are doing well!!

Lol RNMellie! There's all these little things that we learn as we go along. Like at work, everyone is so fascinated by what I eat. To me, I'm used to the tiny amounts, but it's very funny to them. My coworkers are such a good support system for me! Besides I like telling them when I eat good healthy stuff, so it acts as motivation to stay on track.

I dont have to crush my pills, but i take them one at a time. Each with a sip of water.

I'm 16 days post op and the pain is gone, but i can physically feel the port. It's kinda freaky!! The pain will subside within 2 weeks completely.

I was banded on 12/21 as well and 2 week follow up was yesterday. I've lost 16 pounds and my first fill is on Feb 1st. For mushies, I can have soft fish (ugh, I dont think so!!), all kinds of cheeses like laughing cow, peanut butter, yogurt, canned fruit in water, mashed potatoes, no chicken or meat yet. Next week I can do small amounts of processed chicken. I really have to rely on protein shakes to keep me full once that swelling restriction goes down. I know its going to take some time to get to the green zone, so Im going to try like hell to resist those foods I don't need anyway.

I love this forum for the amazing support that I get! It's amazing when someone else is going through exactly what you're going through and can help you through it. I'm 12 days post op and have been weighing myself daily. Today, I step on the scale and I'm down 20 pounds since pre-op diet! That's major for me. To step on the scale and see 236!! Wow. But, why am I so scared that I won't keep it off? It's like I know I'm down 20, but it doesn't feel like it's a big deal because yeah, yeah, we've been here before. I start mushy foods in a few days and go back to work and from what I've read, weight loss slows during mushies. I'm ok with that, I just need to know for myself that those 20 pounds that went away are not coming back... ever! And that's on me... and my band. It's a great feeling to know that I'm not in this alone. I have this amazing tool that will not let me eat the whole pizza, 12 tacos, an extra large order of fries. I have to get my confidence up and Celebrate every pound I lose from here on out. I want to be happy and celebrate!!

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

Well said, Patty girl!! Anj, don't beat yourself up too bad. I think it's commendable you can come on here and say "Hey, I made a mistake, help me". I'm only 13 days post op and I so badly want to cheat, but when I see that scale go down, it makes rethink my dinner. I try to stay full or satisfied so that I couldn't eat my husband's pizza if I wanted to. You can do this, I know you want it bad enough or you wouldn't have gotten the band in the first place. 39 pounds is great!!! Keep up the good work

I like the Adkins Advantage pre-made chocolate shakes. They're good and not too badly priced and you can find them everywhere. I've been looking at GNC, but their shake mixes are so high priced that I think I'll just stick to what I can find at Wal-Mart or the grocery store!

Hi RNMellie, I was banded on 12/21 as well. Tonight I did a walking dvd and felt really good after! I use the Leslie Sansone dvds to "Walk Away the Pounds." It reminded me just how out of shape I am! Lol I use my fitness pal and really like it. Its cool to look up foods, track all my calories, and see how much I average during the day. I too am amazed at how little it takes to fill me up. If you have a myfit account, you can add me as a friend and we can look at each other's diaries My name is the same as on here: PBTango.

Hi Nika! I was banded on the 21st too! I go for my follow up on Friday Congrats on the weight loss!! You should be all smileys

Yes, that is completely normal. That first week, I was lucky to 400 calories a day. Really, your protein shakes are all about all you're going to be able to get down and it's all you'll want and be able to hold. Remember, to walk!!

Oh my gosh, me too! I get mad because I can't eat those foods I want to. And I'm so sick of soup and soft foods. When I get frustrated, I start thinking "hey, I've been fast food free for over 3 weeks!" or "when is the last time I've seen the scale at 239?" I just keep thinking that I will never see those 17 pounds again. The band is this great tool that's going to help us succeed in ways I never could on my own. It's a daily mind struggle with me. We can do this! We have to!

Where do I find the social groups and how do I join?

Best of luck and good wishes to those who are being banded in the morning. Remember walking really does help, even when you don't think you're up to it. You'll wake up and be banded!! That's an awesome feeling

Thanks! That worked I am still amazed that a half cup of blended soup satisfies me. I look at my husband's pork chop and mac n cheese and almost cry. But then I eat my 100 calorie soup and know I couldn't eat his food if I wanted because I don't have room.

How do I add friends on myfitnesspal? My name is PBTango if you guys all want to add me

Hi all, I was banded on the 21st and overall I'm healing really well. What I'm struggling with is eating! I'm on a liquid diet but I don't want soup! I want crunchy snacks like Cheez-its or Goldfish crackers, sometimes it makes me cry. I see the scale and I'm down 17 pounds and I'm terrified that as soon I'm on mushies or solids the weight will come back. Ugh! I'm a hot mess. I've slipped and had some Ritz crackers. I've logged every thing that goes in my mouth and I stay under 500 a day. Is that normal? If I'm absolutely starving, I'll eat 1/2 cup cottage cheese or half a cheese stick. I'm learning that if I grab cheese, that fills me up and I don't have room for the junk I really want. Thanks for listening to me rant I love the support of the forum.

Hi all my bandster buddies! I was banded on 12/21 and I'm doing ok. Been having a lot of diarhea (sorry tmi, I know). Immodium is ok to take and has really helped. Also, water/gatorade mix keeps me hydrated. I wanted to just give up because I was so miserable, but I know this is going to pass. Congrats to those who are getting banded in the next few days.

I'm having the same issue! My nail beds are cracked, my skin is dry. Diarreah is not helping either. I'm going to talk to the nurse tomorrow. At what point do you go get an IV for dehydration? Im sipping all I can... ugh this sucks

Oh Banjo, I'm so sorry. At least you didn't hesitate to go to the ER. I took some Miralax yesterday and it helped. I've been working on getting in more liquid throughout the day.

Hi all, I'm post op day 4 and the gas and healing is still really inhibiting my appetite. I'm just not hungry, which I know is normal. My question is how does soup and broth not just slide through? Or does it? I'm not rushing to any other foods, although I want to. I'm learning all I can. Also, should I wait 30 minutes until after broth or shakes? Or liquids in general? Or is that just after you eat solids? Any advice is greatly appreciated.