MPatrizzi

I am finally posting some pics. I had my surgery on May 21, 2007. I am down 50 lbs. so far. The first pic is from the night before surgery, the 2nd is July 11, and the 3rd is from August 13. I just had my 2nd fill and I am feeling great! Looking at all these pics are inspirational!

Thank you!!! I have a 4cc band, too. However, I didn't even ask how much they put in it. I am not sure it's enough though. I feel some restriction, but nothing like right after the surgery. I think I am going to call on Monday and get in next week again. Can't you call your dr. and get an appt. sooner? You are doing a great job. Remember that if the fill isn't helping you are doing this all on your own. Don't beat yourself up or dwell on what you are doing wrong, today is another day to start over again. I would definitely call and get in sooner though. Take it easy

HI everyone, I haven't posted in a while. We had company come into town and that keeps you busy. Needless to say, my exercising has not been the greatest these last 2 weeks. I have been great about the Water though. I went for my first fill yesterday. I can feel a difference. The most exciting part is that I still lost 7.5 lbs. That brings my total to 47 lbs. since May 21st. I am down 2 sizes, too! I feel great, but really need to get back to the treadmill. I didn't meet that challenge this month with exercising. I'll try harder next month. Take care

Hey Kansas Kim, We had our surgery on the same day!!! I weighed today and I have lost 39.5 lbs. We are doing great!!!

Wow Maryum!!! That's fantastic! It feels sooooo good, doesn't it?!!!

Thanks Sandra, I believe a lot of the journey is a mind set. You have choices. It's what you want to do and what you should do. Sometimes it's hard to see the difference between the two, but it is there. Sometimes I WANT to sit down with a bag of Fritos and french onion dip, but I SHOULDN'T!!! So.....I don't!! I am very happy that I have had this done! I know it will work. I closed that chapter in my book and life and have started a new one!

TOM=Time of the Month Julie, You are right...we don't want to ruin our hard work. And I had heard sometimes you have to up your intake, too. But isn't that so hard to swallow? After all the fad diets, etc. which focused on deprivation to lose weight. I keep telling myself that the first few months are about healing not losing weight, but you think that when you were use to eating 1000's of calories a day and not excercising, that when you cut way down and start to move your butt, that the weight would come off. However, I know that I didn't put the weight on overnight and I won't take it off overnight either. What does help is to know that we are not alone and that we are probably not doing anything wrong. Let's stay strong!!!!

Hi Metalband, I feel the same way. I did really weel the first few weeks. So far I have lost 30 lbs. and it's been 6 weeks, but 2 of those weeks I haven't lost anything. I exercise regularly and eat how I am supposed to, but nothing happens. I haven't had a fill either. I won't get one until the 25th of July. My dr. is out of town. I don't really feel like a need fill really. I don't get super hungry, most of it's mental hunger. I am very frustrated at this point and feel like I am doing something wrong.

Well, I finished my first day of the challenge. I jogged for about 15 minutes then did a fast walk for the other 15. That's a lot of water, too! I did it though. Still working on my last one. We should all give ourselves a BIG pat on the back for the first notch completed in our goal.

HI everyone!! It's been soooo long since I've posted. I am 1 month (approx.) post-op and doing pretty well. I still feel restriction and not super hungry. I am on to soft foods and sort of regular meal plan. I can only have 4 oz. of food per meal, at 3 meals a day. I try really hard not to snack and I'm pretty successful. I eat a cheese stick if it gets too bad. The drs. office gave me a scale to weigh my food and I take it everywhere I go. Once I weigh it that's all I eat! Even if I still feel like I could eat more, I don't. I push my plate away if I feel full even if I haven't finished. Also, I can't drink 30 min. before, during or 30 min. after I eat. My question is....Does anybody else follow this? I know so many drs. are different. I find this REALLY helps!! I have been following the magazine Family Circle's Walking challenge. It's great. It gives you times for each night to walk, and extra exercise if you want to. If you follow it, by the end of the week you've walked 10 miles. Of course you can always do more. I would LOVE to set an exercise challenge!! I hope everyone is well.

Hi all you a-May-zing bandsters!! I am 7 days post-op and feeling very "normal" today. I also start my full liquids and I am on them for 2 weeks. I have been up and about since the day after my surgery. I would feel a little discomfort but nothing serious. I actually slept on my side last night, it was great! According to my scales I am down 16 lbs. I think I might go in the pool today or go for a walk. I am anxious to get "more" active. I just wanted to say that I LOVE reading everyone's posts! There is so much encouragment and honesty. It really helps!

Hey Sheree, Congrats on your date! I was banded on 5/21 and there are quite a few of us who have a May Bandsters thread going. You can search for a June Bansters thread and probably find a bunch of wonderful people who are having surgery in June. It's great!!

Hi everyone! It seems mostly everyone is feeling ok. That's good. I don't feel as good today as I did yesterday. I am 3 days post-op. I did go see the dr. today for follow-up. I have lost 7 lbs. That's very exciting!!! I am still on clear liquids until Monday, then I go on full liquids. I really haven't been that hungry, which is good. I was lucky to have family come and help. They made meals for the dh and kids for the next week. I can't tell you how great that is! I truly enjoy reading all the posts and seeing all the updates. Way to go A-May-zing Bansters!!

I was told to NOT have sf, ff stuff for the first week. You need the sugar. I thought that it would be better, too. That way I wouldn't be taking in empty calories, but for the first week it's not about weight lost, it's about healing. Can you check with your dr. and make sure that you should have sugar. It's amazing how different the drs. are and what schedules and menus they give us. Take it easy

I was self-pay. I am now 3 days post-op and things are going well.

Hi Everyone, I am 2 days post-op and doing pretty good! Not a lot of pain, just discomfort. On the day of surgery, I got up every hour and walked about 15 minutes (just around the house). I sipped and sipped, too. Yesterday, I actually went to Wal-mart with sis-in-law, that really helped move the gas. I have an appt with the dr. tomorrow. I think I might get a few hunger pains, but they hurt, so it might just be gas. Other than that it's been pretty easy. I hope everyone else who has crossed to bandland are doing great!

Me too!! I will be thinking of all of you! I can't believe it' already here.

I am getting ready!! I can't believe it's less than a week. That's great about you date. Time will go fast!

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day!

That's what I figured, too! But then you read stuff and seems different. I am just going to stick with what the dr. says!! Thanks for the input!

Glad to hear most are doing well. I have a question....I went to see the nurse on Wednesday. We talked further about post-op diet. She of course kept saying to stay hydrated. I asked about sf jello and sf pops. I told her that I really didn't want to drink all those juices b/c they are so full of sugar. She told me that sugar is so important the first week. I am on full liquids for the first week, then go the protein drinks the 2nd week. She said I will need the sugar. I wanted to try and stay away from high calorie stuff as mch as possible, but she replied that the first fews weeks it's not about caloric intake. Anyone agree?

Good Luck Nickswife, Let us know when you get back! You'll be in my thoughts and prayers!

That's great Melissa O!!! BTW, love your name.....I'm a Melissa, too!!

Lubterp, Glad to hear that you are doing well! You make it sound so easy.

You got that right!! I am going to change mine too!