Sunwyse

Cobrien, with your liquids, to they have to be Clear Liquids or can they be any liquid as long as it will go up a straw? I was in the second category and I found custard to be my life saver. At first I thinned it with some milk, but then the last few days before moving onto mushies, I started to have it straight. It helped to give me the sense of bulk in my tum that I'd been missing. Together, we can do this!

I've been bold stop 10 minutes before and start again 30 minutes after. The 10 minutes before is to allow it time to pass through the band and into the lower tummy. Once in there, it won't interfere with the food going into band. Waiting 30 minutes after is to allow food to pass through.

I love my scale. It tells me I'm the same weight no matter how much I gain or lose. Well, If I lose about 8 pound, it might tell me I've lost 2!! So basically, I stay away from it. I pay attention to my clothes, I figure, people aren't going to know what I weigh, but they are going to see my weightloss in my clothing.

For many of us, the first experiences after getting the band don't seem to be as fantastic as we had hoped. The first weeks or even months for some, are a time of great change and we can be in more dejection than blissful states of mind. I thought it would be great to have a place we can come to and find others who are going through the same thing and get that support we need to keep us going. For me, the band has been a rollercoaster ride since I got it done 11 days ago. I've had days where I've felt like I could take on the world and days where the band has been fighting me (or me it?) and I've wanted to rip it out. Last night was the worst. I was in pain and in tears. I felt like someone had stuck a knife in my chest. After waking this morning, I realise it was my fault, but I wasn't to know that an ice cold milk shake would be a limitation before this. Today I feel much better and I'm finding following rules on how much to eat, though itsn't exactly filling, is at least pain free. I'm going to perservere with this until it gets to a point where I too am blissfully happy about the decision I made. Want to join me?

I can understand where you are coming from, but look at your weight loss history. If its anything like most of us, you've lost weight in the past and put it all back on again. The band is about maintaining the loss over the long haul, not just about losing it in the first place.

I've had my band 10 days. With the two week diet, I have lost just under 1 kilo/2/2 pounds a week. I expect this may slow down when I hit solid food again. I have PCOS, so weight loss for me is going to be tougher going anyway. I'm really happy with my loss so far, because at least its a loss.

Absolutely! You're doing amazingly well! congrats.

I've worked in child care for 4 years and not really had any comments from the children, but 7 weeks ago I started a new job. I'd been on this job for 5 days, when I got lectured by 4 & 5 year olds about being fat because I eat too much junk food (actually, I don't eat all that much at all).

This doesn't sound good, I can understand why you are worried. If I was you, I would arrange to get that last fill taken out, then go on clear liquids for 48 hours, just to let it all rest and settle down. I'm sorry, but I disagree with your surgeon, if its happening from foods that are fine one day, but not the next, then your chewing has nothing to do with it. Go back to that doctor and demand to be seen. If they won't see you or remove the fill, find yourself another surgeon quick.

I was banded 29/10. Went to see the dietitian today and she was a bit concerned when I told her I can feel the band. Not confirmed by doctor yet, but it appears he put some fill in during the operation. She said some doctors do that if you have no fat around the vital organs themselves. I'm assuming I must have some, because I have been feeling restriction, but its not a regular thing at the moment.

I asked my dietitian about this only this morning. She said it would be fine, but is formulated for babies and not adult bodies, so if I went ahead I had to up the protein content, like half protein, half baby food. Also a pinch of salt and some spice wouldn't hurt.

I had a baggy t-shirt and pj pants but ended up spending the whole night in the hospital gown anyway. I figure, its only one night. And yes, the IV was left in til it was time to leave the next day.

I saw my dietitian today and she recorded my first official weightloss. So far I've lost 3.6 kilo/7.96 pound since I started the pre op diet and 1.8kilo/3.96 pound since surgery 10 days ago. That's equating to just under 1 kilo or 2.2 pounds a wee, which is recommended weight loss anyway. Doesn't sound like much, but I'm happy.

Support and encouragement are great, we all need it, but sometimes we need to be told things aren't right as well. Some times the truth hurts, doesn't mean I'm not supporting you.

That is such a relief. Nothing to do now, but sit back and wait. Very exciting.

Penny, he might be good looking, but this is your body we are talking about! Next time, write all your points down, that way you won't forget anything.

It is perfectly normal, relax. It just means you aren't anywhere near your sweet spot yet. Some people only need a couple of fills, others need heaps. It will happen, try to be patient. While you are waiting, try your hardest to modify what you eat so you aren't eating the way you used to. When you go back for your next fill (or before if it worries you that much), speak with your doctor. Ask him/her what might be going on.

Prunes are an age old remedy to this. Either eat the prune or drink the juice. Oh, and figs as well.

Not seen this one before, so not sure if anybody else has experienced this. I'm just over 1 week out from surgery. If I stick to the Optifast and custards I'm OK, but as soon as I make a liquid meal, like a thin Soup, my body heats up and goes into overdrive. I get really hot and clammy. Has anybody else had this? If so, does it settle down? Is this what it feels like to have a metabolism working properly??

The reason we need to be on liquids only for the time stated is to allow the stitches around the band to settle. Eat 'normal' foods too soon and you cause the stomach to swing into action digesting it all. That motion can cause the stitches to pull. That can lead to band slippage and I've been told you don't even know straight away, necessarily, that it has slipped, but might not know for a year! I can understand the hunger. I have it. I can also understand that I am an adult who chose to do this. If you eat solid foods before time, then you aren't really doing your part in this.

Thanks Blocka, you are so right!!! I have this permanent indigestion pain in the middle of my chest. I only just discovered that I haven't been taking in enough to maintain my body, so I've had to up my intact calorie wise! Feeling very sorry for myself right now and have been wondering if getting a sleeve done might not have been a better idea! I have noticed my clothes are roomier on me though. I took a photo of my face the day after surgery and another yesterday, and I can see that I have lost weight. Just that my tummy hasn't gone down at all. That's not me talking, that's going by measurements and also my clothes!! But then, my tum was always the last thing to be affected, so I'm not too worried.

Hi Sunshine, well, the dietitian asks you about your diet history and eating style. They will discuss with you the dietary changes required after surgery and give you some insight into the road ahead. The psychologist will ask you about your diet history and why you want to lose weight. They are trying to find out if you are mentally ready or suitable for the op. When I was asked, I was honest. I said I wanted to lose weight for health and flexibility, but I also wanted to be more sexy.

Absolutely, I agree with you, but what I was saying is its the perception of most people that it all takes too much. Its their perception that needs to be changed.

Mostly dreams are about what is going on subconsciously. If you are like me, then the surgery has also triggered some psychological stuff. I have already seen my blaming shift from fat to my age *sigh*. Because of all this, you are likely to get some weird dreams til it all settles down. Keep a journal of them though, what they are about, because its an insight into what sort of issues are under the surface. Emilie, I like the one about feeding a body to the animals. Sounds like you were getting rid of that fat person to me! lol The only vivid dream I had so far was last night. I drempt my partner and I had a very steamy session in bed. I woke up feeling quite happy. Now that is my kind of dream :thumbup:

You say these are guy friends. Well, I think they most likely think of you as "one of the guys". You probably fitted into that role to begin with because you were hiding behind the fat. We all do it. Problem is, they can see you've changed, but they haven't changed the way they see you. You are still one of the guys to them. Have you changed the way you see yourself? Do you see yourself as one of their pals? You need to work on yourself inside first. People will respond to you the way you expect them to. You give off vibes to everyone you meet about who you think you are and how you think you should be treated. So you lost weight, what else have you done? Have you done anything to pamper yourself yet? Do you think you deserve to be pampered? If not, why not? Take a bubble bath, get some nail polish and do those toes! Work on your inside first. Then don't hang around the guys for a few weeks. Might be hard, but keep away from them. Get yourself a sexy FEMININE little outfit and then call a few and arrange to go out clubbing with them. Taking a break for a few weeks will allow them to see the change when you meet back up. A new clothing style and a new setting to see it in, will help them see you differently. Going to a club will allow men who don't know you to approach you, but you will feel safe because you have your buds there. One of these guys may not ask you out, but they may have a mate you don't know, so changing their mind this way could lead to other things later. And certainly, ask a guy out. I've done the asking my whole adult life. That way I got to pick the guy. Mind you, I've always been big and I've never had a problem getting a date, but like I said earlier, it was to do with my attitude to myself.