Longhorn

I know what you mean! I haven't had any negative incidents yet but tonight I was having my refried Beans concoction and I also had some soy chips which I chewed up until they were practically liquified. They have a high Protein content so I thought they would be good. At one point, I noticed that I could feel the last bite go through the band. It didn't hurt but I could feel it. I immediately stopped eating. I may have been eating too quickly so I got my one-minute timer out to remind me to use it the next time. I've had a lot of "new" foods in the last couple of days and I'm trying to be careful. I think I'll go back to more shakes tomorrow for a day of "rest." Keep up the good work!

I found no need for the tongs. I was sore but not that sore. I'm glad that I have a bidet next to my toilet, though, so that I could use it to push up on in order to stand up!

I was told that my food needed to be the consistency of pudding so if it isn't already like that, I needed to puree it first. But even pureed meats need to be chewed further so they are like pudding by the time you swallow them.

Great quote! That's exactly how I feel when my stomach growls but I never thought of it quite that way! :whoo:

I'm on full liquids/pureed foods so I had butternut squash soup and a tablespoon of pureed turkey and other similar foods. I couldn't eat all of it but I felt like I had eaten a huge plate full! Well, actually, I felt even better than that because I didn't feel stuffed but I felt very satisfied. After we went for a walk, I had a couple of bites of dessert and enjoyed that, too. I even had a little wine. If my holiday meals are all like that, I'll be very happy! Even with the wonderful aromas and seeing everyone else with plates of food, I didn't feel the list bit deprived. It truly felt like magic!

I've got a large frame as determined by wrist measurement when I was a senior in high school and weighed 135 pounds (5'8" tall.) I was on the drill team and we had to weigh in every Thursday. If we weighed a pound too much, we were not allowed to dance that week. I was almost anorexic in how I ate that year so that I could dance. Crazy and probably no longer allowed in schools but this was 1973. Of course, my size 11 feet and my "man hands" were kind of a tip-off. When shoulder pads were big in the 80s, I had to take them out of my clothes or I looked like I was ready to play football! Of course, now that they're not in style any more, I'm out of style. A few years ago, I went to the University of Texas Department of Kinesiology and had a thorough analysis to determine my BMR. The head of the department did the tests and he found that, yes, I have a large frame and that I carry an additional 15 pounds of weight due to it -- not just the bones but the muscles, tendons, tissues, etc. that are required to keep them connected and keep me functioning. This explains why at 135, my ribs protruded from my body! I got down to 165 four years ago and thought it looked good. I was wearing size 12 and even a couple of size 10s. My doctor suggested 170 as a goal so that's what I'm going for now. According to my BMI, which I think is somewhat of a joke and the UT guy agreed with me, I would be at or just above "normal."

Please add to THIS list. 1st PattyPoo Nessa3678 brandymom1234 Mom_of_Chuy sanderro Holiwood Longhorn Forestcat Rhea Sades edeva3 Teresajo 2nd lizzie_07 lindata KristinaDawnB lindseyann2u sconie pam726 4th QatarPhil 5th DLW Hungryforchange wnt2lose jelbel 6th Wishes4444(Ann) Diva Inside ndmom kandiceb jetti vanessav hollyberries LangleyGirl 7th Goldie1109 susieq125 shadst83 Cota129 Imonmyway7368 MyLady 8th anw5102 dawndannae stranger138 needto ebrow39 Bandstertobe zippykat QUEENMOTHEROF1 Melanie1972 9th Banded4Life neen7171 maccy mariaxoxo4u Kristin1031 Carsons mommy chubbydiva Miztrniceguy 10th Selisejohnson omlagirl jen6740 anitak33 12th suebob Shalee04 13th CCFRA Princessannod1 Tralynn222 sschude BandChick64 14th lightenup! dream'n2bthin Life Change (Eulete) carleah2 emnasmom 15th steph_cn RxTracy Hopping to It- Danna sunshiny Tete2 kickrmom 16th Laurieu sstaab 19th Mrs Smartypants Momto1plus1 20th Skinny_Jill blondecz (Crissy) Firebolt (Judy) Cuerposano (Diana) Mysie 21st Bobp 22nd luvmy4boys 23rd FlaLMT and fiance HoneyB-Palomino & mom 26th kuchiegrl1 Tishbite2 Motocrossgirly jrsyshoregrl684 (Bypass) BigDoug143 BarBee 27th 731Shawty Cherlita Julie-Ann plump_princess candy8360 28th lukin puppy cagstorm 29th Sassafras TAWHarris McQty close 4mykidzinVale (Surgery in Bend, Oregon) 30th WorththeWeight samorelli

A few years ago, I decided what I needed was some Elfin bread -- that bread the elves gave Frodo and his pals where one bite keeps you full all day? Well, today it was as if I had that bread! I had some butternut squash/pumpkin Soup, pureed turkey, pureed mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, dressing, cranberry sauce, and deviled egg. It sounds like a lot but it was actually only two or three very small bites of each. After we went for a walk, I had a couple of bites of chocolate mousse cake and pumpkin cheesecake. I was perfectly content -- not hungry, not stuffed! If this continues, then I'm in heaven! How about you?

Same with me about the hunger. Sometimes I feel a little weak and/or queasy and since the feeling goes away if I have something to eat, I'm assuming that's what hunger feels like. I almost don't WANT to eat when I get that feeling because food doesn't seem very appetising but I do anyway and then I'm glad I did because I feel better afterwards. But that gnawing, difficult-to-ignore kind of hunger that I used to get, even when I wasn't really hungry, has not returned. So glad you're feeling better!

We have the same attitude! I just don't understand it when someone posts, "Do I need an unfill? I can't eat anything, can't even keep water down, but gee, the weight loss is terrific!" I understand being in a hurry when one is on a "diet" -- that is, something he or she considers temporary. But I'll have this band the rest of my life. I'd rather take it slow and easy and comfortably be able to eat and drink in a healthy way, without constant fear of it coming back up or getting stuck. I also want enough energy to be able to exercise -- in fact, I want to become a "bicycle bitch" myself! My doctor will see me once a month and he said we will decide together if I need a fill based on how much I'm losing, what I'm eating, how I'm eating, and if I'm hungry. He is conservative about fills which is one of the reasons I chose him. If I can lose with few or no fills, even if it's slow, I'll be perfectly happy if I feel like I'm eating a healthy diet and I'm comfortable. Thanks for sharing your experience and advice! You've done great and I would love to emulate you!

My doctor insisted that I get 70 grams of Protein per day. It's all over the material he gave me. And I was to test and find a good source of Protein powder to add to foods -- something that I liked and didn't upset my stomach. I'm using

Please add to THIS list. 1st PattyPoo Nessa3678 brandymom1234 Mom_of_Chuy sanderro Holiwood Longhorn Forestcat Rhea Sades edeva3 Teresajo 2nd lizzie_07 lindata KristinaDawnB lindseyann2u sconie pam726 4th QatarPhil 5th DLW Hungryforchange wnt2lose jelbel 6th Wishes4444(Ann) Diva Inside ndmom kandiceb jetti vanessav hollyberries LangleyGirl 7th Goldie1109 susieq125 shadst83 Cota129 Imonmyway7368 MyLady 8th anw5102 dawndannae stranger138 needto ebrow39 Bandstertobe zippykat QUEENMOTHEROF1 Melanie1972 9th Banded4Life neen7171 maccy mariaxoxo4u Kristin1031 Carsons mommy chubbydiva Miztrniceguy 10th Selisejohnson omlagirl jen6740 anitak33 12th suebob Shalee04 13th CCFRA Princessannod1 Tralynn222 sschude BandChick64 14th lightenup! dream'n2bthin Life Change (Eulete) carleah2 emnasmom 15th steph_cn RxTracy Hopping to It- Danna sunshiny Tete2 kickrmom 16th Laurieu sstaab 19th Mrs Smartypants Momto1plus1 20th Skinny_Jill blondecz (Crissy) Firebolt (Judy) Cuerposano (Diana) Mysie 21st Bobp 22nd luvmy4boys 23rd FlaLMT and fiance HoneyB-Palomino & mom 26th kuchiegrl1 Tishbite2 Motocrossgirly jrsyshoregrl684 (Bypass) BigDoug143 BarBee 27th 731Shawty Cherlita Julie-Ann plump_princess candy8360 28th lukin puppy cagstorm 29th Sassafras TAWHarris McQty close 4mykidzinVale (Surgery in Bend, Oregon) 30th WorththeWeight

Believe me, if I had that kind of leave saved up, I'd take the time off, too. You won't need all of that time to feel better but you'll have time to get used to your diet without having to pack up a bunch of equipment and supplies to work. And you'll be able to start walking regularly without having to fit it into your work schedule. I don't get any leave -- I'm an adjunct faculty at a community college. But even if I did, it would be impossible to get a sub for that many classes. I cancelled one class from each course I taught -- one on Thursday and three on Monday -- and went back on Tuesday. I considered waiting until between semesters but I was assured that five days would be enough and it's been fine but I was sore and tired at first and was really glad when the week ended! Today I felt a little queasy and lightheaded -- I think I didn't eat enough this morning -- so I had a SlimFast Low-Carb shake and that helped. For me, the third morning after surgery was the worst, enough that I started feeling a little down about it. But by afternoon I started feeling better and noticeably improved day by day. I hope you're already over the roughest part!

Wow, what a roller coaster you've been on these last few weeks and months! Congratulations! How are you feeling?

I'm curious -- were you on Hamilton's board? If you were, you'll know which one I mean. If so, I was an active member of that board back in 2003. Give me a PM!

Thanks, Tish!!!! :clap2:

At one week, I was still pretty tired, too. But by ten days, I felt much better. Just baby yourself and get rest whenever you can. It can take awhile for the anesthesia to completely leave your body, from what I've been told. Take care!

Welcome and good luck tomorrow! I've read that this surgery is considered comparable to gall bladder surgery. It seems to me that it would be even simpler because the surgeon doesn't cut anything out of you. Anyway, I hope you recuperate as well as you did last year. If my husband agrees with your husband, he's kept it to himself. But people who haven't had weight issues just don't understand. Even some who DO have weight issues don't understand because we've been conditioned to believe that it's our fault. More and more research and studies are demonstrating that there is more to this than self-control. I lost 70 pounds four years ago and I fought every pound that I regained. I kept dieting and I exercised like crazy. I didn't pig out. I counted my calories. I don't know what else I could have done except stay on a liquid diet the rest of my life. But I thought that I could eat a normal amount of calories and maintain. Now I know that once you've lost weight, "normal" isn't normal any more. If I'm going to have to stay on a diet for the rest of my life, I need the band to help me. I read in "Fat: What No One Is Telling You" that claiming that losing weight and keeping it off is a matter of self-control is like claiming that you can use self-control not to sleep. Sure, it will work for awhile but eventually your body says, Enough of this!, and you will fall asleep. Apparently, it does the same thing with lack of food. It has certainly been my experience! They made a PBS special of the book, too: FAT: What No One Is Telling You . PBS You can watch it online. Maybe you can get your husband to watch it. Let us know how you're doing!

My doctor told me not to drive within 24 hours of taking prescription paid meds. I switched to liquid Tylenol on the day before I needed to drive to work.

Yes, down here, we have all varieties at the store. I got fat-free refried beans. I wouldn't know how to make them from scratch.

1st PattyPoo Nessa3678 brandymom1234 Mom_of_Chuy sanderro Holiwood Longhorn Forestcat Rhea Sades edeva3 Teresajo 2nd lizzie_07 lindata KristinaDawnB lindseyann2u sconie pam726 4th QatarPhil 5th DLW Hungryforchange wnt2lose jelbel 6th Wishes4444(Ann) Diva Inside ndmom kandiceb jetti vanessav hollyberries LangleyGirl 7th Goldie1109 susieq125 shadst83 Cota129 Imonmyway7368 MyLady 8th anw5102 dawndannae stranger138 needto ebrow39 Bandstertobe zippykat QUEENMOTHEROF1 Melanie1972 9th Banded4Life neen7171 maccy mariaxoxo4u Kristin1031 Carsons mommy chubbydiva Miztrniceguy 10th Selisejohnson omlagirl jen6740 anitak33 12th suebob Shalee04 13th CCFRA Princessannod1 Tralynn222 sschude BandChick64 14th lightenup! dream'n2bthin Life Change (Eulete) 15th steph_cn RxTracy Hopping to It- Danna sunshiny Tete2 kickrmom 16th Laurieu sstaab 19th Mrs Smartypants Momto1plus1 20th Skinny_Jill blondecz (Crissy) Firebolt (Judy) Cuerposano (Diana) Mysie (Happy Birthday! ) 21st Bobp 22nd luvmy4boys 23rd FlaLMT and fiance HoneyB-Palomino & mom 26th kuchiegrl1 Tishbite2 Motocrossgirly jrsyshoregrl684 (Bypass) BigDoug143 BarBee 27th 731Shawty Cherlita Julie-Ann plump_princess 28th lukin puppy cagstorm 29th Sassafras TAWHarris McQty 30th WorththeWeight

1st PattyPoo Nessa3678 brandymom1234 Mom_of_Chuy sanderro Holiwood Longhorn Forestcat Rhea Sades edeva3 2nd lizzie_07 lindata KristinaDawnB lindseyann2u sconie pam726 4th QatarPhil 5th DLW Hungryforchange wnt2lose jelbel 6th Wishes4444(Ann) Diva Inside ndmom kandiceb jetti vanessav hollyberries LangleyGirl 7th Goldie1109 susieq125 shadst83 Cota129 Imonmyway7368 MyLady 8th anw5102 dawndannae stranger138 needto ebrow39 Bandstertobe zippykat QUEENMOTHEROF1 Melanie1972 9th Banded4Life neen7171 maccy mariaxoxo4u Kristin1031 Carsons mommy chubbydiva Miztrniceguy 10th Selisejohnson omlagirl jen6740 anitak33 12th suebob Shalee04 13th CCFRA Princessannod1 Tralynn222 sschude BandChick64 14th lightenup! dream'n2bthin Life Change (Eulete) 15th steph_cn RxTracy Hopping to It- Danna sunshiny Tete2 kickrmom 16th Laurieu sstaab 19th Mrs Smartypants Momto1plus1 20th Skinny_Jill blondecz (Crissy) Firebolt (Judy) Cuerposano (Diana) Mysie (Happy Birthday! ) 21st Bobp 22nd luvmy4boys 23rd FlaLMT and fiance HoneyB-Palomino & mom 26th kuchiegrl1 Tishbite2 Motocrossgirly jrsyshoregrl684 (Bypass) BigDoug143 BarBee 27th 731Shawty Cherlita Julie-Ann plump_princess 28th lukin puppy cagstorm 29th Sassafras TAWHarris McQty 30th WorththeWeight

I got chewable Vitamins from Building Blocks: Building Blocks - Essential Bariatric supplements They specialize in vitamins for bariatric surgery patients. I also got chewable glucosamine from Vitamins: Alternative Health Supplements & Vitamin Nutrition Supplements - VitaminShoppe.com My doctor recommended calcium citrate, multi-vitamin without Iron, iron supplement taken at least hours later than calcium, and B-12 spray. I take the multi-vitamin, calcium, and B-12 in the morning and evening, glucosamine in the morning, Fiber Choice in the morning and evening, Pepcid Complete in the morning and evening, and iron in the mid-afternoon. Believe, taking all these vitamins is like eating a meal!

You're a very patient person and I'm sure you'll be glad when your time comes! Congratulations!

There are a couple of things about this experience that remind me of being pregnant -- and it's been more than 23 years since the last time I was pregnant! But besides the pumped up belly, the port feels like a baby's foot pushing against the inside of my abdomen.