nina874

Hi Jaz, I am a dinky person too ( 5' 1 1/2") and what I have learnt through my years of yoyo dieting is that the older I have got the more weight I can carry and be the same dress size IYKWIM. The last time that I was really slim I was a UK size 8 ( 16 years ago!!) but I still weighed 126lb, when I weighed that at 17 I was a UK 12/14 so I guess as we get older our bodies carry the weight differently. To get into my IDEAL BMI I would ( going off past experience) be a UK 6/8 which I think is a size 0 in the US - that is WAAAAY to slim for me you could see all my bones when I was an 8!!!!! I guess what I am saying is your body will adapt to this process in in its own way and you will hit the dress sizes at your own rate! Good luck hon NIna xx

Hi hon, Hmmmm good questoin, I was told by my surgeons office when I asked them the same thing that you can't overfill the pouch on mushies cos they just pour through ( I was moaning to them about being hungry all the time) and that this was why I wasnt getting the full feeling. I wasn't given any Portion Control info, and I am wondering if the 3/4 cup thing is to make sure that you keep losing weight as opposed to resting the band. I am in the UK by the way so that might be why I get different advice??? Nina x

I moved to mushies a few days ago ( its amazing what you can blend) and I havent had any problems - almost wish I had IYKWIM I would say do another day of liquids and then try gagin but if you still are getting pain then contact your surgeons office and ask their advice. Hope you feel better soon hon Nina x

Hi all! I would love to join you if you dont mind another newbie ( who will doubtless have a lot of questions that you have answered like a thousand times before) I laughed when I read the posts about height , I knocked an inch off my height even though I was self pay just to make sure that I got approval. I have put myself under a lot of pressure cos I have got a full tummy tuck booked for Feb next year (long story) and the PS wants me to have shifted 20-25kg by then. I am already struggling as my appitite is returning ( oh boy is it returning) and I am feeling very discouraged that I am having to REALLY use self control ( not my strong point) Any helpful tips will be welcomed!!! NIna xx

I am with you , dont have any helpful hints ( approaching eat my own feet hunger) Just wanted you to know that you are not alone and it must be normal! Nina x

Whats the secret to making a shake that doesnt make you gag? ( I am gag obsessed this morning!) We have a much more limited choice in the uk and by the time that I have blended it it has the consistancy of, well to put none to fine a point on it, mucus. I have tried holding my nose and everything and it just isnt working for me- even tried mixing it with yoghurt-ewww - I still have night terrors about it. How can I get that Protein in?? NIna x

I also really liked the fact that the pain meds they used make you feel sick, so you get into a lovely circle of - gagging wrenching everything inside, it hurts so they give you pain meds, which in turn make you gag.......Thanks docs.... Nina xx

Hi you lovely helpful people, Yet another question from the dim, but enthusiastic, newbie I am afraid! Yesterday I decided that I had better start doing some exercise to help this band along whilst I am awaiting that elusive full feeling ( I swear I could swallow a fillet steak WHOLE at the moment) I decided I would ease myself in and did 30 mins of floor exercises and then did 1/2 hour on the power plate, felt fine straight after ( and quite full of myself!) but BOY did I get payback about 3 hours later! My port site swelled up like a brick under the skin ( NICE and v.v. atractive - the kids invited me to their halloween patry cos I looked like something from Alien, thanks kids for your support) and was really really tender. Did i do too much ? Is this normal? The thing is I have an appointment to have a full tummy tuck done in Feb and I HAVE to get 20kgs off by then and until I reach the ' sweet spot' its all down to me! :help::help::help: Thanks in advance NIna xx

Thanks WASA I laughed so much I think I split a stitch. I like your style lady ;0) Nina x

Sorry to thread jump, but what are the cups that people talk about? I am in the UK and it isnt a term that I am used to. Mandi I am so with you on the head hungry thing, its been so long since I listened to my body that I think it has lost its voice! Nina xx

Ahhhh so if the scales dont move kill the scales....... I like it!

Hi there, Like the title says I was wondering how often everyone jumps on the scales? I had my op Tuesday 16th Oct and I havent dared yet as I am still really swollen around all my inciscions and I know that I will just be soooooo stressed after a week of wanting to eat my own feet if the scales havent budged. What is the best time gap so that you can see a steady progression without imploding through stress???? Nina xx

Hi there, I dont know about HAVING to have the skin removed, but I have already booked my tummy tuck and possible boob lift/augmentation. For me it gave me an end goal that I have to focus on,so that I know I will keep up with the exercise/diet thing , kind of like a whole new me mentality. I know that if I lose weight and everything starts sagging it will discourage me, so for me the answer is book it anyway - shallow maybe, but focused -hell yes!!! NIna x

Been there hon!!! I feel for you that is how most of my diets crash and burn. I cant offer any words of wisdom hon, all I can say is KEEP STRONG!!! You have got this far you only have 2 more weeks to go and than you will have the band, just focus on that and stay off the scales. I know that it will all be worth it in the end Nina x

Hi there, I have 6 kids aged from 18 down to 4, the older ones know whats going on but the 9,6 and 4 year old just know that I had to have a little operation on my tummy to make it work properly and that the strange diet that I am on at the moment is just to give it time to mend.I have to say that they are all showing an almost morbid fasination with my scars!!! I have always tried to not pass my food issues onto the kids and all of them seem to have a very healthy attitude to it, I think that what you are doing shows such a responsible attitude hon, all she will ever know is that mum doesnt eat HUGE plates of food and that cant be a bad thing! Good luck with the other 3 visits hon , I am sure that you will be running in the park with her before you know it. Love nina xx

Hi Gayle, Thanks for replying and look at you!!! losing all that weight, you must feel so proud of yourself, has it made a huge difference to your life?It seems like the first steps on a very long road at the moment! Yes I did but we talked more about long term diet than post op, and all I got was a piece of paper with a list of suggestions like jelly, ice cream, clear broth, yoghurt etc. I was surprised that he did the fill too, he just said that the band was too loose without it, he did say that it isnt something that he usually does.I am sooo hoping that the fill he did will have given me some restriction so that I dont go through too much bandster hell, but I dont feel any different right now- can you feel restriction on a liquid diet? The surgery was in the uk (thats where I live) and I self payed so I didnt have to have all the pre op assesments or the liquid diet before, so you are probably right I am detoxing but ooooooh what would I do for some quality carbs!!! Its definetely the savouries that i am going mad for, the sweet things dont bother me that much. Thanks so much for the PM I will do that Nina xx

Ok maybe not a thousand but I am sat here with my head spinning! I was banded on Tuesday on other than being a bit sore I feel pretty much ok......and hungry... oh lord do I feel hungry, like eat my own feet hungry. First of all why does everyone talk about grams of Protein a day? I wasn't given any intstructions regarding protien or Fluid intake, just stick to things that can be sucked through a straw for the first week then pureed for a week and then foods that only need a fork to eat them for 2 weeks, then onto solids? Hmm another one that is bothering me, how do you tell head hunger from real hunger? I swear they both induce exactly the same feeling in me. Also my surgeon told me that he put 4cc into my 10cc band while I was in theatre as the band was so loose, why isnt that helping me? Is it cos liquids will slip through anyway? If I can suck cream of tomato Soup through a straw ( thats my bench test :embarassed:) does that mean I should eat it?? Have to confess that I already have but now I am panicking reading everyone elses diet. How did you restrain from ripping food from your kids hands and shoving it in??? I have 6 kids aged between 18 and 4 and they eat at different times so there is ALWAYS something being eaten...... I just want to chew, something , anything!! Finally, I have a power plate ( vibration exercise machine) and I was just wondering when it will be ok to use it. Thanks so much for reading. NIna x

Hmmm, Health issues aside I have to say slimmer for sure, I am lucky that I have olive skin ( though I do look kinda green if I haven't seen the sun for too long - nice!!LOL) Why dont you just invest in some fake bake tanning creme? I have friends that have fake bake girly nights in and they all help each other put their tans on, that way you get the colour without the risk. NIna x

Hi Hon, I got banded on Tuesday as well and I have to say that my anti-nausea tablets ( dissolvable) were my life savers!! The pain killers that I was on had the same effect as yours seem to be, and it is only now that I have stopped them that I realise that it was them that wre making me feel sick and tired ( still needed them though!!) Also I munched on anti gas tablets as often as I was allowed and took lactulose to keep everything moving ( which it did last night not and experiance I would want to repeat!!LOL) I know that your DH has your best interests at heart but there has to be a degree of listen to your body too! I pretty much slept the first 3 days away and boy did I feel better for it! I feel much better today, just sore where the cuts and port are, have faith hon it will get better, little steps thats all! Love and a hug ( cos I think you need it!) NIna x

Hi Hon, I am lucky that I didnt have to wait to qualify ( UK self pay) I know that you have to do all sorts that would have really disheartened me! Congratualtions on getting this far! Dont worru about the surgery hon, I am 5 days out and other than being tender I feel fine. Keep strong! NIna x

Hi , I cant offer you words of advice based on experience as I onlu got my band fitted 5 days ago, but I know from reading on here that where you are at the moment is frequently described as 'bandster hell'!! From what I can gather you arent supposed to have restriction yet as your band hasnt been filled yet so you will be able to eat just as you used to- bummer I know - I am dreading it!! The tightened band is what creates the pouch, so when it is loose there is in essence no pouch there just the full stomach space that you always had. Congratualtions though on the amazing weight loss so far hon! I can only pray that I do half as well as that!! Have you tried eating low GI foods to stop the blood sugar dips that make you hungry?Maybe its worth giving it a shot til you have your first fill, my sister swears by it and I have to say she is a UK 10 ( she soooo got all the will power!!LOL) Keep strong hon , if you can stick to the liquids/mushy then by jupiter I know you have the will power to do a daft low GI or something for the time time til you get that fill!! Sending you a hug Nina x