Texgirly

Hey all. I am in too. I have been going strong since surgery. For April, I will walk 6 days/week until April 17th (6 weeks post op visit and possible 1st fill.) At that point I hope to get the OK to start running, again. If that happens, I will re-start the Couch to 5K program with walking or elliptical in between, maintain 6 days/week.

Hey LA girl - I am 4 weeks post op tomorrow and I have been cruising between 800 and 1000 calories. Like you I have tracked everything and pretty consistently hit 70 to 90 grams of Protein. My fat has been a little higher than yours, but I am not using protein shakes at this point. I was wondering the same thing about 2 weeks ago. At this point I have lost almost 20 lbs, so I am pretty happy all around. I have also found by staying up around 70-90 grams of Protein I have not had a ton of hunger other than at actual meal times. As for energy at both the 700 range and the 900 range, I seem to have a truck load of the stuff. I have been hitting the gym at 5 am and going strong all day. My co-workers are all wondering what happened - they all thought I would be dragging. I really feel a ton better. I think it has to so with getting rid of the sugar and replacing it with more nutritious foods.

I am 4 weeks out and had about 1/2 glass of wine on Friday. It worked fine for me. Beer is so carbonated I don't know that I would go there.

As of tomorrow I will be 4 weeks post op and doing really well. This morning around 10:30 or so, like a moron, I thought I would chew a piece of gum. The moron part is that I ALWAYS manage to swallow the stuff. I was thinking about the gum, enjoying the mint mojito flavor when some folks walked into my office and we started working on some details of work. While mid-sentence, I swallowed the gum. It is 3:45 pm or so and I had no issue. Ate Chilk-Fil-a Soup for lunch, have had about 2 cups of Water and nothing. Did I get lucky and dodge a bullet this time or will I hear back from my friendly piece of gum later? And yes - lesson learned and I will NOT be tempting fate again. I am a by the book kind of girl and can't believe I did this in the first place.

I can't believe some folks can't burp. I have to watch it or I could embarrass myself. I have always been able to burp really well. Now the burps have changed a bit. It's like they are deeper and frankly last a really long time.

There is another thread about the effect of Protein shakes on some of us. I am guaranteed a BM no more than 30 minutes after I start drinking an Ensure Plus. I have no idea what is in it but it works like a charm. Last night was my first without Ensure. Maybe it will help but then everyone is different.

As a Texan it does sadden me that tortillas are off the menu. However, as a Breakfast taco addict, I suspect they are part of how I got to where I was pre-surgery. After almost three weeks I have thought about them but no way. I have heard to many horror stories about white bread and tortillas. I can live without them. I did eat a little nice in some Soup and it worked well, but it was super moist. However, I tried couscous. Thinking "hey, it's tiny. I bet it will be easy to eat." I couldn't have been more wrong. About 3 bites in it would feel like I have a cinder block on my chest. YUCK! I tossed the left overs and moved on.

WOW! WOW! Whosya - you too are a Rock Star! Under 300. That is a testament to your hard work. You are a great example to follow. As always when I check in on all of you I am amazed!! I have been plugging away at my walking. Had a check up and this week and doc is happy with what he sees. Look like I am in for a fill on 4/17 - my next check up. Hopefully by then I can pick up the pace some. You guys keep moving!

Hey Steve - sounds like you had a pretty big adventure. From the sound of it you have been out of the hospital only a few days? I was banded 3/4 and my first 5 days were tough with Water specifically. I could sip on 100% fruit juice pretty successfully, but water was tough. I also tried the new G2 loe sugar Gatorade and it went down well. To help with water, we bought little 8 oz bottles of water. They stay cooler which seemed to help and a tiny bottle like that is not overwhelming. Also very easy to measure. I would say that by day 7 after surgery I was drinking water regularly. Today, a little more than 2 weeks post-op I am nearly back at pre-surgery water consumption. (I am big water drinker.) Hope that helps. Good luck!!

One last thing I remembered that may make you feel better about the 6 month thing. I certainly had a month or 2 where there were no scale differences and the reaction from the doc's office was nothing scary. It was not like they were questioning my commitment or anything. They were very kind and gentle just offering suggestions for the next month. I was so worried about it that I hesitated to check in the first month when there was no scale movement. But the fact that I quit Diet Cokes was reason for them to cheer. Apparently that was as huge as dropping 20 lbs!

Hey yall. I thought all the itching was healing. As soon as the strips came off, little welts were there. Within hours of the strips being off the welts and itching were gone. I can't believe I have this "allergy" too. AS I get older the list just grows and grows! Glad to know I am not alone - sorry to hear you are suffering too.

Hey Amanda - I read it on some thread. Sorry I can't remember where. I was amazed. I think the thread was something like I cheated or tripped or something.

I tried some tiny couscous and my little stomach said - No No No! Yes - It felt like there was a cinder block on my chest. Not good. It has been the first food that did not work as expected. If you are on mushies or about to start mushies - stay away. Tiny couscous is no mushy! Bad feeling. What amazes me is some folks who were banded the same day as many of us have tried stuff like DONUTS! First I think why? Now tat I had the cinder block moment, I really questioning it - I mean what the heck are they thinking? Yuck.

I am pretty sure they call it Ensure because it will ensure a BM. I love the taste of the Strawberry and the 13 g of protein, but 30 minutes after I start one I am guaranteed a healthy bathroom visit. It is not exactly diahrea (sp?) for me, so I drink one about every other day.

I have an example of each for you. My sister told no one. I mean only her close 5 people knew she had it done. 3 years and 75 pounds later - I am the only family member who knows. When she showed up much lighter and family asked about it and how she did it (we are all chubby and everyone wanted in on her success) she just said she as watching her portion sizes - she was completely truthful. I however am a terrible liar, so I have hid it from almost no one. Even my friends in Junior League know. The support has been amazing. All of my co-workers and friends have been curious and supportive. Co-workers even tried to not heat up foods at work during my one week at work on liquids. I am blessed. Like my sister, I am not telling my stepmom and step sister - they are judgmental and would discount the work of the weight loss. No need dragging that into my happy little life. I live in a different town, so it will be easy not telling them. That said, with Soups and juices, I think it would be pretty easy to keep it your own business. In fact, because it is just cheaper eating like this, you could use saving money and eating healthier. Good luck.

TRN - I had a 6 month insurance required period as well. My BMI started at 42 and I have high chol, so there was not a huge chance I would have "undone" my opportunity to do the band. But the things that I worked on with my doc's office were all very band related. I saw the nutritionist and started making some of the necessary changes. I gave up diet coke, started (OK- tried) sipping Water, practiced eating my Proteins first, not drinking during meals, etc. I also stepped up my exercise program. I lost 10 pounds in that 6 months. But it really set me up for what was to come. I felt way more prepared for the surgery and the changes to come. I also feel like I did "sow some wild oats" and got it our of my system. I have jumped on the band-wagon with both feet and never looked back. No cheating on foods that I should not eat, following the new doc diet to a T, etc. I am glad I had the 6 month thing; in truth, I would not have been ready for the band without it. I like the other suggestion of asking about the insurance co. Also your doc's office/nurse may be able to shed light on it as well. It may serve you as a prep period as well. I would also ask the doc's office for a goal - what do they want to see you do. Some folks have pre-op diets for liver reasons and such.

hey Cat - Elisa and Becky are right - nervous is ok and expected. You are about to make some major changes in your life (that is where my nerves came from) and it is surgery. But it is worth it. Tomorrow will be officially 2 weeks since my band and I am down by 15 lbs. already. I am expecting that to slow some as I enter the mushies phase. I started back at the gym last week and will continue that, so a few more calories will feel better. Can't wait to see your progress too!

Lisa and G2S - LOVE where you have been this morning! What amazing suggestions you have G2S! I jotted them down and like Lisa will be trying them soon. I had a scrambled egg for lunch today and thought I was in heaven. Mushies is a nice place to be moving to right now. My husband is behind me in the kitchen as we speak making what we call loose meat. Traditionally we cook the ground beef with a little onion (this time cut smaller) with some chicken broth. makes it very moist. Today I will just be enjoying the meat, but in the past we would role it up in a leaf of romaine. As for the hunger pain - oh yeah! If I wait too long the hunger gets down right angry! I keep some fruit juice handy for a quick fix. Like you said, as soon as it has something to work with the pain goes away. How many calories are you getting in? I track everything on Sparkpeople. I have been around 700 per day until mushies; now I am closer to 1000. That should help keep the engine running. I have lost just about 14 lbs. so far.

Hey Lisa - I am with you on the Water thing. I want it all the time. It has been a struggle. I wish I had some magic hint to offer. I am at the end of a 2 week full liquid but I have been sneaking some mushies with success thus far. Today we shopped for the first mushy week. Can't wait to get into the cottage cheese and scrambled eggs. Yum! I also hit the gym this week - anyone else? It felt really good.

Hey Cerrin - along the same lines but I thought it would make you feel better. I went in January to be properly fitted for new running shoes. The sales girl and I sit down to chat and she has me take my shoes and socks off to see my feet when I walked. She says to me that I am tying my shoes way too tight. She said that when you can see the entire impression of your shoe in your naked foot, you have gone way too far. She brings out the new shoes and laces them properly and they were completely comfy and loose. The only place even remotely tight was at the very top where they were tied. I was really embarrassed :biggrin:. I figured since this was my gift to me for my 38th birthday I knew what I was doing but I was wrong. With the new tying system in place - no numbness, ever. I have restrung all of my shoes the way she did and they are all much more comfortable. Hope that helps.

Congrats! That is awesome. Lots of well wishes for your journey!!

For a quick, at any store shakes, I like Ensure (or the generic form of it) in strawberry. In 8 ox it delivers 13g of Protein. The calories are high but if you are like me and still in full liquid stage, 350 cals is not a huge setback. I love seeing everyone's suggestions. The recipes are awesome. I may have to try tat Espresso one.

Hey Am - same issue - I was banded 3/4 and exact description. I called my doc (good suggestion) and it sounds normal. Body adjusting, and such. My nurse said as long as I don't have shortness of breath (which I don't - it hurts if I breath deeply too fast but not if it is planned) then I am ok.

If you are talking about the stabbing pain when I breath deeply too quickly - or sneeze, cough, drive, etc. Yes! I called my doc's office and my nurse said as long as I am not experiencing shortness of breath (which I am not) then it is normal and will work it's self out. I didn't think about the scar tissue issue. I have a firm spot (not firm, but like there is something there) that I suspect is my port. Now I can't wait for my follow up next week to find out.

Lulu, Mindy, Wombat, Daddy Stranger and BigBaby- sounds like you guys are still logging miles and losing weight! Yeah for all of you. I missed yall and thought I would pop in and give a quick update. I hit the gym for the first time yesterday since the big day. (Yep, I am officially banded!) I walked for 20 minutes at 2.5. Felt great and will repeat tomorrow. I am all about walking until doc says otherwise. Someday I will check in with all of you and report a run has been made. You guys keep rockin' it. You are so inspiring!!