MarilynJ6354

I had the same problem with craving sweets at bedtime. The nutritionist told me it's ok to have a treat "once in a while", that I should focus on 90% nutrition, 10% pleasure. I eat only sugar free treats but yes, you have to be careful. I was overdoing it on chocolate covered toffee so I can't have it in the house anymore. I haven't lost any weight in a week and I bet it's because I was eating too many of those. Has anyone gone back to only liquids for a few days? I'm stuck at the same weight I used to get stuck at with weight watchers and it's VERY irritating! The other thing is, I keep losing inches on the bottom but not on top and I look like humpty dumpty! The exercise physiologist told me to focus on weights for back and chest, and starting this week I can finally do abs, so I am hoping this change will help.

Yes, I just had that happen a few days ago too and it sure put me in my place! I even scared the dogs LOL! I am down 30 lbs but have been stuck there for two weeks. Just keep going up 1, then down 1, etc. I changed up my gym routine so I am hoping it starts moving again. The clothes are falling off me though!

I had my first fill 4 weeks ago and lost 10 lbs during those 4 weeks for a total of 28.4 pounds lost since I went on the liquid diet January 5 (my surgery date was January 19). I was told by the nutritionist I can start adding foods but when I tried cantelope, tiny pieces, it gave me too much gas and felt stuck. The nutritionist told me to remember to sit up straight when eating to help prevent anything from getting stuck. I haven't tried salad yet but nuts and cantelope do not like me yet. Other than that everything is fine. Oh and I have lost a total of 16 inches since before the surgery!

I haven't had any real burping issues since surgery but like Ki-Ki said I am at the gym a lot and that has helped me a lot all around. Never had any pain, gas, nothing. Oh sure there are times when I scare my dogs under the covers at night (LOL) but I really haven't had problems. I just got my first fill today and wow...even though they had taken out 3 cc the day after surgery, there was still 3 cc in there. She tried to add 2 but that wasn't working so she kept 1 cc in there, a totla of 4 cc. I am on liquids for 2 days, pureed for 2 days, then it's a go! Hope I don't have gas issues now that I am filled!

I never had any gas pains anywhere. I was so fearful of getting those that I walked a LOT, from day 1. Never had any pain standing or sitting either. Maybe it was the walking, or the fact that I only laid down when it was time to sleep...I walked and walked, even in the house. I even danced to music, although not wildly, to make sure I didn't get those pains. I guess I was lucky!

I am shocked that you are eating steak so early! My doctor said it can take up to a year before you can eat steak, and that is once you progress to the low fat, regular diet. I am having my fill next Tuesday and I was banded on Jan. 19th, so that will be 5 weeks. I'll let you know how it goes!

I just had my 4 week post op and I gained 3 lbs since my last appointment 2 weeks ago. I was freaking out but the doctor assured me it is temporary, due to more sodium, and likely just water weight. I woke up this morning and had lost 2 of the 3 lbs. I am getting my first fill next week and looking forward to it. I track my food and weight at livestrong.com and I know I am eating a lot more, although I am exercising more too. The doctor told me to STOP WEIGHING MYSELF EVERY MORNING! Still, I did weigh myself this morning. I just have a hard time worrying because I used to never weigh myself and the weight got out of contro. To me, it's easier to handle a 3 lb gain rather than a 10 lb gain. But I understand I can't let the scale control me. Does anyone else have this problem?

My goodness, where did you learn all of this?! I feel much better now after seeing the responses. By the way, I used to live in Lombard...and I have family in Joliet, Plainfield and Lombard. I miss the casinos!

I have gained back 5 of the 23 lbs I lost, just since being promoted to pureed foods. Tomorrow I am supposed to start on soft foods but I am scared to death. I am pretty sure I will get a fill on the 16th, but I thought I would still be losing at this point. The doctor told me last week that I could advance to my regular workout instead of just the treadmill, which I did. Do you think it's muscle? I have a hard time believing I gained that much weight in a week just in muscle. I am getting scared. Should I go back to liquids until I see him on the 16th? Has anyone else experienced this? I log my food, weight and exercise in livestrong.com so I know I am keeping between 900 & 1200 calories per day.

Isopure Blue Raspberry is my favorite. I buy it by the case. The first week I froze it in ice cube trays. Now I am able to drink a bit more. Just have to make sure you shake it up good!

I did it two days after surgery, but I have walked tons since the day after surgery so I think that may have helped "Move things along". Also, I make sure I get in enough protein. Because of the walking I haven't had the gas issues others seem to have had either.

When did you have your surgery? I can't imagine how you managed to eat that many carbs without getting sick! Didn't the diet coke give you problems? Is your band too loose?

I weigh myself every morning after I pee, naked, before I hop in the shower. I saw a show about a woman who became obsessed with her scale and it ended up as an eating disorder because her scale controlled her food intake. I am just doing it to make sure I don't gain too much, although right now I just keep losing. It's easier for me to control a few pounds rather than 5 so I don't wait an entire week!

I use OS Cal 500 + D, Chewable Tablets, Light Lemon Chiffon. I take two each day...am and pm. They don't taste too bad!

The ISOPURE frozen in ice cube trays works great (I love the blue raspberry). It controls how much you are sipping at a time but you still get the protein. GNC has sales once in a while where you can buy one case, get one at 1/2 price. Make sure you join the club also. You pay $15 but will get $8 off your first case!

The surgery on Tuesday the 19th went well, although I ended up spending 6 hrs in recovery because my oxygen levels would keep dropping...from 97 to 77 and in between. They finally sent me home at 2:30 even though I was in recovery by 8:30! I felt great but a bit woosy that night and was able to eat ice chips and have sugar free popsicles with no problem. I woke up Wednesday, however, and all hell broke loose. Anything I drank ended up as foam in my mouth. I wasn't sick. I would just all of a sudden within minutes of drinking have a mouth full of foam. I also developed a fever and headache by noon, probably due to dehydration. I called the doctor and my husband brought me immediately to his office, where he removed the saline in my band. He said I probably developed swelling at the site overnight and now that made the band too tight so as soon as he removed the saline I could feel a big difference and since then I have been fine. He also has me on liquid prednizone to bring down the swelling. The good news is, I haven't had to take any pain medication at all and have been able to shower, etc. since Wednesday. I have been driving since Thursday, going shopping to get walking in. The biggest issue with me has been not sipping properly and boy your body let's you know it. Foam has become my friend LOL! It lets me know I gulped an ounce rather than sipped it. A friend of mine had LAP-BAND® surgery a year ago and said to try hot tea. Hot peppermint or chamomile tea works wonders! I am also now using ice cube trays to put my drinks in, which prevents any gulping. I am using a baby spoon to drink my hot tea, also, and really, I have to say there has been no pain. My steri strips are falling off every day. I have bruises starting on the tummy at the incision spots, which are very tiny except the port one, and a big bruise is on my arm where they put the IV. I feel much better than expected, that's for sure! I'm not very hungry yet but then again, it's only the 3rd day.

I have to confess. Monday I was going to have the "last supper" of chinese, since my husband is working 3-11 and hates chinese. However, I didn't want to spend the money so I didn't do anything special. Then, last night after my pre-op with the surgeon, I picked up Mongolian beef and brought it home. I had 3 bites of beef and felts sick. I think it was guilt...or the fact that for 3 days I haven't had anything but liquids. Anyway, I called my husband at work and confessed. All he said was "are you going to do that again?" I realized that we really have to be accountable to ourselves. We can't blame others and the choices we make, or have made in the past, have consequences. I have to get in that mind set to eat to live, not live to eat. It's tough!

Love the logo! 11 Days to go! :tt1:(Jan 19)

Mine is the 19th at 7:30 am. I started the liquid diet Tuesday. It's getting easier. My husband and I attended a pre-op Lifestyle Management class on Wednesday and yesterday was my pre-op with the surgeon. Now I am just waiting for a call from the anesthesiologist. 11 days to go!:tt1:

I'm January 19th also, at Presbyterian Hosptial in Charlotte, NC at 7:30AM. Tomorrow I start the totally liquid pre-op diet. Strange how some doctors allow one meal a day and others are totally liquid proponents. Lucky me. LOL!

I bought a sample pack of Chike and I love them all, except for the vanilla. I also bought a sample pack of Unjury, which I will break open next. I got them both online. I am trying to get a list together of what I need to buy prior to my liquid diet, which starts on January 5, 2010. I found shots with 25 grams of protein at Target that I like, in grape. After watching others go through this years ago and not caring about protein, I know the consequences are horrible, so find what works for you and keep track of the protein, carb and fat grams. Thank goodness this can be done online now!

:thumbup:I just got my date. Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, NC with Dr. Voellinger. WOOHOO!!

WOW this is so wierd...my assistant and I were just talking about this very same thing! I quit smoking in May and still have awful cravings, but not when I drink. I gave up drinking alcohol and coffee for the first 3 months and a year ago I got a new car so I stopped smoking in it back then. My assistant asked if I plan to start smoking after the surgery and my first thought was YES! but I really don't want to for health reasons. I have gained 15 lbs since quitting so a lot of my reasons for wanting to smoke are at night when I want to eat due to boredom...I would rather smoke but then again, I really need to do something else. Plus, if my stomach is smaller, maybe I won't have that "need to nibble" feeling. Still, I wonder what I will actually do. It would be a shame to quit for so long to start back...again....I quit for 5 years in my 20s and started back after a divorce and increase in going out drinking. :thumbup: