4sweeties

My nutrutionist said do most of the work on the plate, until you get the hang of it, or always if you want. She means cut the food into bite sized pieces (size of your finger nail) so it is easier to make sure you don't take too big of a bite.

I tried to add you guys as friends on myfitnesspal but I hope I did it right. WHere it said email address I just typed the user name you listed. I didn't see another way to do it on my phone. Please help me if there is a better way to add friends. I also just had my first post op. I lost 8 pounds since surgery and the P.A. thought that was great. I lost it all the first week and nothing week 2 so I was surprised that was good. She said my body is just figuring out what to do I'm losing all this weight and it will start to lose again. Then some months I'll lose 10 pounds and some 4. But that's all normal. She took out my stiches. I thought they dissolved. I forgot to ask if I can lift my 40 pound son or go ice skating yet (both things I want to do this weekend). I was allowed to walk (treadmill or regular) since day 1. And YEAH I can start mushies tonight. I am sooooooooo excited. Bye bye liquid diet. Those of you still on liquids, keep up the hard work and you will feel so successful on the last day.

Before my surgery I got paper work from the nutritionist and it has sample menus. The first two weeks says about 500-600 calories so I think you are doing great. It doesn't say to add calories (just grams of protein) but it balances out to a range of 500-600 calories. Then I went in for a meeting and she explained it's low compared to what most people eat but it's right for newly banded patients.

I had both done this month. My doctor said he is seeing a lot of success with patients who have both. I am happy I had it done. It made the surgery a little longer. I never had a lap band surgery without plication so I can't compare pain levels. I will keep you updated.

My hubby also joined me on the pre op diet. He gained some weight back over holidays but not as much as he lost. He prob needs to lose 20 more pounds, but when you see him you don't think overweight. He is supportive in this except he keeps joking I just hope you don't lose it in your chest. I think since this is new to me I am talking about it too much around him. He doesn't complain but I try not to revolve every conversation around lap band, how my surgery went or my weight loss etc. But it's always on my mind at this point so I make an effort not to verbalize it constantly. I wouldn't want to be around someone who just discussed weight loss. I go back to work tomorrow so that will help. We've both been off together these past 2 weeks.

Groupon has food sales on sale 50% off right now

Oxy...the coughing fit is good bc you are getting all that gunk out!!! (even thought it hurt at the time and pp are right pillows pressed against the belly really help). I had a huge coughing fit on day 3 and (TMI) blood and a lot thick mucus came out. I was scared to see the blood. The dr. said was it bright red or dark red. Mine was dark red and that was fine because it was old and just making its way out. After that, I felt so much better in my chest and didn't need to use the blowing machine. Plus I was content to know I wouldn't get pneumonia. I felt so good. So keep coughing it up, with a pillow on your belly!!!!

OMG that must have made you smile so big!!!!!! That's great.

I'm Dec. 19. I can sleep on my right side but not the left side where the port is. I still think my tummy is slightly bloated. No more pain though. It was hard not to eat/drink alcohol at a New Year's Eve party last night. But I survived. Surgery day I was 171. The pounds were coming off so fast and now for a few days the scale hasn't moved. I like it better when it was falling off:) I'd love to hear how the earlier December people are doing.

This is my second round of hiccups. They are loud and annoying and a bot painful. At 6pm I drank Water (maybe too big of sips) and I hiccuped for 45 mins. 5 hours later a Protein shake and big annoying, hurtful on going loud hiccups that I feel from my belly all the way up. I did not drink too fast this time and not too much- same premade Protein Shake I've been having all along. It's not a burp, or 1-3 hiccups. I'm talking 45 mins. I can't take it! I did not eat too much today. I am 10 days post op, on a liquid diet. These huccups just started tonight after I drink. If it happens after my morning drink I might need to call the doctor. DOes anyone know what this could be?

I look forward to reading your journey. I am same height and was about that weight at my first consult. That's great that you will share and inspire others.

Not to be mean, but I want to warn you, It's going to be hard. I had a previous surgery (not WLS) with a dr who I asked if they take my insurence said "you're entitled to it" and quickly went on to book my appointment before I realized her exact words. The office took my insurence card on my first visit, photocopied it and charged me co pays that I would normally pay ($20) for all the visits leading up to the surgery, as if they were going through insurence. Within a week of the surgery I started getting hospital bills. Turns out the doctor was "out of network" and I needed to pay high deductibles, which I would not have chosen to do being that I am in an area heavily populated with specialists who accept my health insurance. When I called my insurance company they said, it's my job to check with them that a doctor truly is in network. A lawyer friend said it is hard also. The doctor said just pay deductible (which was high becuase it included dr visits and lab so thousands between the two). We worked it out with the doctor, but it was not easy. You might be able to get a group action law suit. From now on, I always get in writing that it is covered by insurance. But yesterday got a bill that my overnight stay for WLS wasn't covered because I was in stable condition. I feel another nightmare starting.

I have and I ordered soup as my meal. (and my lap band is secretive). It as fine. I didn't finish the bowl but I eat soup slowly and talked in between and enjoyed myself. Are you allowed to have soup?

I'm not allowed to have Peanut Butter yet but I will keep that in min when I am on the mushies stage, I never heard that trick before and I'm willing to try anything. ....Massacuusetts princess I will look for your thread. I will also slow down. I guess I am getting too confident at these liquids. thank you

I'm obsessed with the scale. If I see it in the bathroom I step on it. I can't help it.

I was banded on the 19 so about 10 days ago. Up until now it was hard to get all my protein shakes in. But today, I feel like I am starving. I had 3 shakes (my doctor wants 4 a day but I wasn't able to do that yet), a pudding, a soup and I am so hungry and only have one meal (shake) left. It's 4:15. It's weird bc until today I was not interested in eating/drinking. I'm going to drink water until my dinner shake. I hope this is an off day and not what it will be like while I wait for mushies on Jan. 5. That seems so far away!

I was 48 hours after discharge ( and I slept overnight so really almost 4 days) clear liquids only and by the last 12 hours I was getting hungry. I thought the clear liquids only was so hard. Then a 2 week liquid diet. Which includes up to 4 Protein shakes a day, pureed soups or soups that start off smooth, and no sugar added yogurt, sf non fat pudding and sf popsicles. Plus increase clear liquids to 64 oz a day. That will take me to 18 days post op. Then I see my surgeon and he will give me the ok for mushies. Every dr is so different. But in all the packets I received, it says this is a healing process do not rush it.

I felt like it was the opposite of a short cut. It was not easy going to 5 different specialist to make sure I was healthy enough for surgery, with many medical tests. My surgery went smooth, but even a smooth surgery seems harder than a non-obese person going on a "diet" for a month to lose a few more pounds. Liquid diets, mushy diets, they do not seem like short cuts. I wish there was a short cut for me to lose weight, but instead I am on this challenging journey that is right for me.

I was also banded on 12/19. I feel so bad you had to go back into the hospital for 2 days. What did your discharge instructions say? Usually it says come back to emergency room if... If you are experiencing any of the things on that list go back in. If you are nervous or unsure go back in for peace of mind. Ask lots of questions before you leave like, when do I have to worry if I can only eat ice chips, or if my stomach pain stays at this level what should I do? If it gets worse what should I do? I hope you feel better soon.

Do you live with your Dad? If not take a break from seeing him and focus on you.

Welcome Rockin Mom! I had so much anxiety, especially the week of surgery. Now my anxiety is gone and I'm so happy to lose weight!!!! I wish calm thoughts for you.

As a new person to the board, I do sometimes think a response might be harsh, non empathetic or tunnel visioned to what someone posted. However, I have no problem with that and follow the forum rules. Which are fair rules. I just move on and keep reading. What does turn me off, is when the original poster responds to the harsh statement (they might be right or wrong in their reaction) and all of a sudden "the family" comes out and posts and posts and posts to back up the straight up poster. I don't feel that's needed. Ok so the op was insulted by a response and shared their feelings, leave it between them and get back to the main question. The thread gets off topic quickly, people start praising the honesty and weight loss of the blunt poster and state their love. I get older posters have a bond and probably many private chats/forums etc. That is a great support network. But do you really need to chime in to protect someone and pledge your love, respect etc. The blunt posters know you support them, you don't need to do it in someone elses thread.. It just makes the post turn dramatic and into a bigger issue than it was to begin with. I think it can scare off new people or people from asking questions.

I was banded Dec. 19. I had a 2 week pre op diet. I went off it once, 4 days before surgery. I was at a holiday party. Everything looked so delicious, especially after not eating for a week and a half. I took a small sized plate, took the healthiest food I could find at the party and ate. Oh man did it taste good. It wasn't much. 1 piece of chicken and a few bites of a side. As soon as I was done eating it I was back to my diet. I still lost 13 pounds on my pre op diet and my liver was healthy for surgery. Now I am on liquid only (plus yogurt, sf ice pops pudding) post op diet for 2 weeks. Last night the Christmas Eve dinner looked delicious, but I had no desire to join in. Today, I wanted a piece of shrimp but it was so easy not to cave. I know I went through a surgery to lose weight and I don't want to mess that up. I am also not very hungry lately, maybe its the swelling from surgery, maybe it's being used to the low calorie no chewing diet. But it is soooo much easier. I see foods I love but it is easy to pass them up.

Oh yes...I can relate. At 3:30 am last night, in the hospital I was in pain, couldn't sleep and my dr tells nurses not to give us more than tlyenol and nothing to drink from midnight on, bc of our video x ray in the morning. Some people in the past heavy pain killers were too drowsy for the x ray, so he stopped it. I had a pain killer at 7:30 so at 3:30 I was miserable. I wished I didn't op for this surgery and I was freaking that I put a foreign object into my body for the rest of my life. But I think it was the pain and exhaustion talking. It still makes me feel a bit weird to know somethings in my body but I know as I feel better and get used to it I will be ok. The PA told me its so tiny and lots of people have foreign objects in their body for various reasons. She said I'm not the only one to get upset over it. My dr at my consltation I asked if anyone does not accept it. he said there is a very small percentage of people who physchiologically can't accept it int heir body and get it removed. Such a small amount of people though.

My surgery was Tuesday. I just got home now. My gas pain is starting. My dr. said when I drink my 3-4 oz I shouldn't gulp it but drink it over 15 mins. And walk. The PA said gas x is ok but not mentioned by them bc the gas is between the organs or something like that not in its usual place. But I might try a gas x bc it's not off limits. The holistic nurse gave me a chinese massage. Ask someone to massage your shoulders and run your back to get the gas moving.