heather316

Hi, I think beef is very difficult to chew properly, and frankly I think it may be even too early for you to experiment with steaks. You may want to get comfortable with the soft foods first. If you really crave beef then try the meatloaf or Salisbury steak instead. You will need to cut it into very teeny-tiny pieces like a green pea, if you want to eat a beef steak. I have been also worried for a long time that I ate more than I should have. people have reported that they can only eat one cup of food at a time. However, I could always eat 2 cups of food. As long as they are low calorie options (fruits, vegetables, low fat yogurts etc) you may be just fine. For me when I eat my lunch, (I still finished it very quickly, in 10 min), I have to sit and wait 5-10 minutes - I try to browse the internet or read a newspaper until I feel that my stomach is full. Usually, it takes 10-15 minutes for the signal to go from your stomach to your brain and let you know that you are full. If you can manage to wait 5 minutes between "meal courses" you may eventually feel full at some point.

I believe it took appr. 10 days after the dr's assistant submitted it - only because they mailed their response to the doctor's office. You would think they are more high tech than that...

You will be fine! I lost only 9 lbs before surgery, and that was enough. You will catch up later!! I think they will only send you home if you gain weight

Hernia surgery is very minor and also common. This is what I did.

Good job! What a nice inspiration for us!!

I was told to split the Calcium chews, one 500mg in the morning and another one in the evening. Studies show that only 500mg Ca absorbs from the guts at a time. If you take 1000mg, appr 500mg leaves the body without being used.

You seem to be young and healthy (except for the extra weight, I assume). If you do not have major illnesses you should cruise through the surgery just fine. You will be surprised how close to normal the banded life will be. If you have issues with food portion and control you made the right decision. This also went through my mind before my surgery but I just asked myself: "do I want to continue my life like that??", and as my answer to this was "no" I knew that I did the right thing. I hope this helps.

Yes. Why not!!? I had no problem with that.

Congratulations! Look at this abd muscles you have now!!

Ok. I can report now that my first fill really did not hurt and was not a big deal. They were very careful and took an Xray of my chest before the fill. Then the radiologist identified the port through the Xray and marked it for the Nurse Practitioner. Then she inserted the needle - and yes, I felt a pinch for 3-5 seconds- then I felt some pressure at the port while she was injecting the 2ml water into it. After all of this, there was a swallow test, I had to drink the white fluid and they took pictures while standing and laying on the table. I had to wait at least 1 hour before this and the whole procedure was done in less than 15 minutes. They said that they always inject 2 ml the first time and after that there will use 1 ml increments.

I will let you know, Nikki tomorrow evening how my first filling went. Everybody says that it is a piece of cake. I am not afraid of the injection, I am more afraid of the swallow test afterward

Yayy! Congratulation! It is such a big relief.

Thank you Intelirish! That was helpful info.

I will have my first fill next Monday. My weight loss has slowed down and it was more and more difficult to control my appetite I hope that the filling will help. What I am not sure is how do they know how much to inject. I hear that everybody has a different first fill amount.

Congratulations!!

It is probably easier on your body if you do 4x 1.5 hours of exercise per week.

Good job! Awesome job!

Thanks!! Awesome lists!

HI, I was banded on June 27th, I am 3 month out and has lost 27 pounds (starting weight was 235). I have not had a fill yet. I am one of those rare people who does not get hungry for 2-3 hour between meals if I eat enough protein - even without a fill. I might be in a green zone even without a fill. The catch is: I am able to eat 2-3 cups of food without problem and it takes a lot of effort to restrain myself As of now, I am able to lose 4-5lb/month. One part of me wants a fill so that I would stop eating after 1 cup but the other one is afraid of getting a fill.

Pampi, I wonder if this is some kind of a form of "self-sabotage". You need to be able to say goodbye to those pounds and the bigger clothes without feeling sad. Maybe it has some psychological reason that you may want to figure out.

Unfortunately or not - I have no issues of eating anything (3 months out of surgery). I can eat bread, tortillas, raw apples, grape, green salads, read meat or fried chicken (in limited amounts of course) etc, anything that I was told might be difficult to eat after. I think there is only one way for you to figure it out if you can eat it or not - by trying it!

I have been stuck 2x but those were solved by itself within 3-4 minutes. I assume drinking some liquid may wash it down, but only sip it.

Hi, I am 2 month postop and 4 weeks ago I started to go back to the gym. As of now I only dare to go to cardio classes such as zumba or step aerobic, because I was told that I cannot have abdominal exercises for until 3 month postop. I am doing better and better at zumba, but I cannot really do jumping jacks or running in place and have to do/fake something else instead. I feel like my belly is just baggy and my muscles do not hold the port in place. I was wondering if someone remembers when were they able to do jumping jacks again after surgery?? Maybe I am impatient, but I would like to get back to my exercise routine. Thanks!!

Thank you for all of your responses. I have been cleared for sports 6 weeks after the surgery and yes, I used to work out pre-op 4x a week.This means singles tennis 2x a week + zumba and total body workout. Now, I am trying to get back the same routine. What I am not used to is that I need to hold my tummy in place when jumping or jogging ( It starts hurting a little and is very uncomfortable if I do not). Is it going to stay the same or will my abdominal muscles be able to hold the port it in place? I still have 1 more month until I can start abdominal exercise, until then I will probably try out the compression top.

Thank you everybody! Just wanted to share the news with you guys.