~Bridgette~

I've been doing lots of cottage cheese and refried Beans with cheese & sour cream (low fat). But last night I had a delicious dinner. It was a crab cake (Phillips brand from freezer section at Walmart) with some butter beans. The noodle-less lasagna has been really good too, but I'm more of a meat-eater so I try to find ways to get Protein through fish. I'm allowed tuna salad or chicken salad with a little bit of mayo. I haven't had an egg yet, will have that tomorrow. May even make some egg salad. Thanks for sharing the ricotta bake recipe, Lulu!

My preference is Slim Fast low carb chocolate... they're the easiest since pre-made but not as much protein as some of the mixes (especially if you mix with milk or soymilk)

I'm feeling like a bottom-less pit today! I'm on mushies but feel like I've been eating off and on all day. I finally made some tuna salad and have been chewing really well (it's on my approved list)... I'm hoping the meat will help satisfy me. I'm trying to decide if it's real hunger or boredom/head hunger?

So, this is what bandster hell is... I thought it was the liquid diet, LOL. Seriously, I'm afraid of this time period. I don't get my first fill until Dec 10th and I'm hungry a lot. I force myself to wait at least 4 hours between eating, but it's definitely like dieting right now. Since I started mushies I haven't lost a pound and am scared I'm going to start gaining....

Mine were loosening up but not enough to fall off by my 2 week follow up with the doctor. When he saw them, he said I was healing fine so just pull them off next time I got ready to hop in the shower. So that's what I did. I was nervous, but once I took them off and got the crusty blood off, I looked so much better and felt much cleaner. I'm still having trouble getting the sticky residue off though.... alcohol didn't work, so I just gently rub it when I'm in the shower and it's slowly coming off... but too slow for me. LOL

I can't feel my band at all. I can only feel my port when I press on it to make sure it's still there, LOL.

I've heard of some folks doing a yoga position... downward facing dog? Something like that... I don't know from experience (yet) but when something gets stuck I'm bending over or walking around probably as my first attempt to get it to move. I've heard that drinking anything can make it worse... Good luck.

Janet Evanovich is my all-time Favorite!!! I love her humor. I've been wanting to try that book. I really love books in a series, especially mysteries with some romance. My faves right now are the Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson (just discovered these this past summer!), Hannah Swensen series by Joanna Fluke (cookie murder mysteries with recipes, not good for a recent bandit! LOL). I'm hoping to start the Twilight series soon... is it gory? I don't like gory...

No problem, Jazz! I wish you the best.

I suggest you take your actual pills with you. I did that so my surgeon could see my pills and tell me if I needed to do anything different. My Metformin ER 500 mg is kinda large, but b/c it's extended release, I can't break it in half. He said for me to take the smaller pills (Lexapro, atenolol, prilosec) first and then about 15 minutes later take the Metformin. So, that's what I do. He told me it would be fine. So far, no problems. I don't know about after my fill, but as of now, there aren't any problems with it the way it is.

I can tell when I'm done... I have a little hiccup followed by a burp. When I do that, I stop and don't go any further. I can't actually *feel* anything passing through, I guess I'm not as in touch with my band as others, sometimes I forget it's in there... so I eyeball my food, and when I do that hiccup/burp thing, I put the fork down, look at my watch so I know when I can resume drinking water.

By a week and a half I was feeling much better, just a little sore at the port area and had to remind myself to take it easy. Now at almost 3 weeks, the only way I remember I have a band is by the incision scars on my belly. I feel great!! I have more energy and am eating food (carefully) but am doing great! I feel like myself again, and sometimes better than myself. LOL

Can hiccups cause the band to slip? This morning I got a really bad case of hiccups and got nervous. In the past the only way I can cause my hiccups to stop is to take about 10 sips of water without stopping to squash the air bubble but was afraid to do that this morning... didn't want a back up.

Jmegirl, where do you guys get your Optimum Nutrition powder? I tried the Rocky Road and it was a little too sweet for me. The Extreme Milk Choc reminds me of a frosty from Wendys.

I know my ticker includes pre-op losses... but I agree with the others, try not to think about it as everyone is different. We're *supposed* to lose 1-2 lbs a week after we reach proper restriction, from what I've heard, so considering it'll be awhile before proper restriction for me, I'll take whatever I can get. LOL

Thanks! I'll see what I can find! :Dancing_sorry:

Thanks, Laurigee! :Dancing_sorry:

I ordered the sample pack of Protein shake mixes for Optimum Nutrition from Netrition and tried them all to figure out which one I'd like to have on hand for when I can't get in all of my protein from food. Well... I have one I really wanted to order and they don't have that one flavor for individual purchase! Now I have to try to find it somewhere and hope it's the same one.... sorry, just had to vent a little. What are some other online shopping cites for ordering Protein powder? I'm looking for the Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% whey in Extreme Milk chocolate... Any ideas? I'm so new to this online shopping thing for supplements and I'd appreciate any help you may have.

I'm confused, my book from the doctor says no hard boiled eggs on "mushy" stage... but egg salad is pretty mushy... do you think it means no "dry" boiled eggs? I don't know why I'm asking about them now, after eating a Salmon burger for lunch that was definitely not mushy... but I chewed and chewed and chewed!! 18 grams of protein for it and I was full when I was done!

I'll be just at 4 weeks post op... so we'll see. We'll be at DH's family's gathering (about 50 people)....I'm planning on trying turkey with gravy, a little stuffing (unless it's stove-top: I can skip that, was raised on homemade dressing). I'm going to have some mashed potatoes, hopefully a little bit of sweet potato caserrole (my favorite), and I want to try some mac n cheese (but I'm scared of noodles!) so I might forego that and eat a deviled egg and veggies... I'm planning on putting a little bit of various foods on my plate and seeing how well I do. My first fill isn't til Dec 10th.

I'm so scared I'm going to overeat! It's my fear now when I sit down to eat... trying to learn how to tell when I'm full and not overdo it. It's hard to eat slow when you're hungry... I guess this is what we must learn to do... I hope you're feeling better by now.

I'm actually thinking of getting a second one to keep at my mom and dads house so I don't have to pack it with me when I go to visit them.... I'll have to check out the JCP version. Thanks!

I am officially on mushies now!! Woohoo!!! I came home to enjoy some cottage cheese before going grocery shopping. I figured I'm safer that way, LOL.

I went to the outlets with my mom this past weekend. The Vanity Fair store had Riders jeans for $6 a pair. So I figured I'd grab some that were smaller and work my way into them for that price. So, I grabbed a size 20. (I am still wearing anything from 24-26 and a lucky pair of 22's from Catherines). So, I went to the fitting room to try to see if they'd go on somewhat well enough for me to tell if they were going to work, height and all... Well, I was floored when they buttoned and zipped! I had tears rolling down my cheeks. I haven't seen a 20 in over 10 years! Now, I know sizes vary... blah blah blah... but for me, less than 2 weeks post-op, it was so very encouraging!! I can't wait to be able to shop anywhere I want!

That's awesome, Beth! Best of luck to you in your new journey! I'm only 2 weeks in, but so far, no regrets and it has been worth it!