Sailor Doom

This will be only mildly amusing to some. It's been a while since I could feel my balloon 24/7, usually only when I've eaten, am running or doing some body mindfulness meditation (so insanely helpful when you're not sure that you are feeling full, I've been following a mindful eating philosophy and it is hugely helpful).
Anyway, today I was sitting on my sofa chatting with some friends, I was sitting with my left leg curled up against my chest and I got excited about the conversation and bounced a bit. So I am very amused to share that when my knee is bent up and I bounce I can hear a bouncy/sloshing noise coming from my balloon. The little guy is just saying 'hi'.
I can make it happen on demand, so I can now add 'expensive party trick' to the list of Orbera benefits
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Today was a good day. I passed the 38 pound mark since my procedure. But more importantly, I passed the 100 pound mark since my all time high. I couldn't be happier! :-) Furthermore, while I am pretty good at getting regular exercise in, I struggle to get in over 10,000 steps a day. But today I did it for the first time in I don't know how long! In fact, I am almost at 12,000 now, and I have not even had a pedometer on all day!! :-D Yup ... it's been a good day.
I've got about 2.5 months to go. Surely I can break 40 pounds, and maybe even 50, by then?!? So many people say that they stop losing after three months so I don't want to get my hopes up, but ... We shall see - fingers crossed. But even if I don't lose another pound, I would say that it's been a fruitful journey and time/money well spent.

That's interesting ... and a good question. I have not had the exact same lessons. I do eat for hunger, but I also want to eat for comfort. I have to force myself to think of food a fuel and make eating decisions based on what's the best fuel for my body. It's not as fun but making it clinical like that somehow makes it easier. Also, I have not thrown up since the first 48 hours, so I have not learned the latter lesson either.
But I have learned (as I suspected) that losing weight is work no matter how you do it. I am very cognizant of what I put into my mouth. If I ate mindlessly, I think it would be easy to gain weight, despite the balloon. So while the balloon definitely helps, it's just a tool - not a solution. And what does that mean post-balloon? That the work will continue. Six months does not fix a battle that has lasted decades ... it just helps to keep you hyper-focused for a few months while you (hopefully) develop better habits.
Granted, I assumed this would all be the case going into the procedure, but now that's been confirmed. I'm still glad I did it - it was exactly what I needed, and was the best option for me.
Cheers! :-)

This will be only mildly amusing to some. It's been a while since I could feel my balloon 24/7, usually only when I've eaten, am running or doing some body mindfulness meditation (so insanely helpful when you're not sure that you are feeling full, I've been following a mindful eating philosophy and it is hugely helpful).
Anyway, today I was sitting on my sofa chatting with some friends, I was sitting with my left leg curled up against my chest and I got excited about the conversation and bounced a bit. So I am very amused to share that when my knee is bent up and I bounce I can hear a bouncy/sloshing noise coming from my balloon. The little guy is just saying 'hi'.
I can make it happen on demand, so I can now add 'expensive party trick' to the list of Orbera benefits
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

This will be only mildly amusing to some. It's been a while since I could feel my balloon 24/7, usually only when I've eaten, am running or doing some body mindfulness meditation (so insanely helpful when you're not sure that you are feeling full, I've been following a mindful eating philosophy and it is hugely helpful).
Anyway, today I was sitting on my sofa chatting with some friends, I was sitting with my left leg curled up against my chest and I got excited about the conversation and bounced a bit. So I am very amused to share that when my knee is bent up and I bounce I can hear a bouncy/sloshing noise coming from my balloon. The little guy is just saying 'hi'.
I can make it happen on demand, so I can now add 'expensive party trick' to the list of Orbera benefits
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

This will be only mildly amusing to some. It's been a while since I could feel my balloon 24/7, usually only when I've eaten, am running or doing some body mindfulness meditation (so insanely helpful when you're not sure that you are feeling full, I've been following a mindful eating philosophy and it is hugely helpful).
Anyway, today I was sitting on my sofa chatting with some friends, I was sitting with my left leg curled up against my chest and I got excited about the conversation and bounced a bit. So I am very amused to share that when my knee is bent up and I bounce I can hear a bouncy/sloshing noise coming from my balloon. The little guy is just saying 'hi'.
I can make it happen on demand, so I can now add 'expensive party trick' to the list of Orbera benefits
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

This will be only mildly amusing to some. It's been a while since I could feel my balloon 24/7, usually only when I've eaten, am running or doing some body mindfulness meditation (so insanely helpful when you're not sure that you are feeling full, I've been following a mindful eating philosophy and it is hugely helpful).
Anyway, today I was sitting on my sofa chatting with some friends, I was sitting with my left leg curled up against my chest and I got excited about the conversation and bounced a bit. So I am very amused to share that when my knee is bent up and I bounce I can hear a bouncy/sloshing noise coming from my balloon. The little guy is just saying 'hi'.
I can make it happen on demand, so I can now add 'expensive party trick' to the list of Orbera benefits
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

This will be only mildly amusing to some. It's been a while since I could feel my balloon 24/7, usually only when I've eaten, am running or doing some body mindfulness meditation (so insanely helpful when you're not sure that you are feeling full, I've been following a mindful eating philosophy and it is hugely helpful).
Anyway, today I was sitting on my sofa chatting with some friends, I was sitting with my left leg curled up against my chest and I got excited about the conversation and bounced a bit. So I am very amused to share that when my knee is bent up and I bounce I can hear a bouncy/sloshing noise coming from my balloon. The little guy is just saying 'hi'.
I can make it happen on demand, so I can now add 'expensive party trick' to the list of Orbera benefits
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

This will be only mildly amusing to some. It's been a while since I could feel my balloon 24/7, usually only when I've eaten, am running or doing some body mindfulness meditation (so insanely helpful when you're not sure that you are feeling full, I've been following a mindful eating philosophy and it is hugely helpful).
Anyway, today I was sitting on my sofa chatting with some friends, I was sitting with my left leg curled up against my chest and I got excited about the conversation and bounced a bit. So I am very amused to share that when my knee is bent up and I bounce I can hear a bouncy/sloshing noise coming from my balloon. The little guy is just saying 'hi'.
I can make it happen on demand, so I can now add 'expensive party trick' to the list of Orbera benefits
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

This will be only mildly amusing to some. It's been a while since I could feel my balloon 24/7, usually only when I've eaten, am running or doing some body mindfulness meditation (so insanely helpful when you're not sure that you are feeling full, I've been following a mindful eating philosophy and it is hugely helpful).
Anyway, today I was sitting on my sofa chatting with some friends, I was sitting with my left leg curled up against my chest and I got excited about the conversation and bounced a bit. So I am very amused to share that when my knee is bent up and I bounce I can hear a bouncy/sloshing noise coming from my balloon. The little guy is just saying 'hi'.
I can make it happen on demand, so I can now add 'expensive party trick' to the list of Orbera benefits
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hey lady!
All well here, hitting the gym and eating well. All else is now also 'moving along' quite nicely
I've been sulking over what I understand is called a 'stall' for maybe a week and a bit now. But I have to keep looking that the food I'm putting in and the effort I'm putting out (and the fact that my 'lady time' put in an appearance) and have faith that things will start moving soon. I'm so so close to under 90!! I'm sort of white knuckling my way through and trying not to lose faith. How are you doing @@Wayward Traveler
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

So far I have lost over 25 pounds, but I've only just begun.
@@Recycled - Please note that some people do get the balloon to only lose 36 pounds ... or maybe to only lose that much while they have the balloon (and to continue losing more after). This makes more sense when you consider the following:
- the balloon is temporary (you only have it for six months)
- the balloon is intended for people with lower BMIs than those who have more traditional WLSs
- the balloon is much less invasive that WLS (i.e. it is an outpatient procedure that does not involve any cutting)
- the balloon is a beginning, not an end (i.e. a tool and not a solution), so many strive to lose more after it's removed
When you consider those factors and the risk/reward spectrum in general, 36 pounds makes more sense, however I heard heard of a lot of people losing 50-77 pounds during their six month balloon periods.
I hope that helps! :-)

I've stumbled on some interesting things lately ... both good and bad. I thought I would share them here and hope that others will do the same. :-)
First, I found a recipe that looked decent enough (in terms of nutritional value, taste and ease), but it did not include the nutrition information so I was not sure. I then discovered a website that I will calculate the nutritional value of any recipe. Pretty cool! Check it out:
https://www.caloriecount.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php
That recipe was really begging to be served with rice or another grain, but I didn't want to add all of those calories. Trader Joe's to the rescue with Organic Riced Cauliflower - only 20 calories a serving:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wsuc0S-HsB8/VXmclJbbQUI/AAAAAAAAVo4/zs9oUSbegTU/s1600/DSC03584.JPG
Could I "rice" it myself? Sure, but boy was this ever quick and easy!!
My last interesting find was not a good one. I decided to splurge last night with a flavored yogurt that was not non-fat (I know - crazy, right?). So I had a Noosa, which I've had before. As yogurt goes, it's quite decadent ... it's like dessert without being quite as bad, and the added benefit of lots of protein! I've only had it a couple of times before and enjoyed their berry flavors, but this time I opted for lemon. SO yummy!! The problem? I was reading the ingredients and it includes ... wait for it ... BUTTER!!! Who has ever heard of butter in yogurt?!? Blech. And it's only in the lemon flavor. How weird is that?!? So it's back to more tame fat-free yogurt for me. After all, if I'm going to indulge in butter, I wanna taste it, and I want it paired with something that makes a lot more sense than yogurt.

I might be alone here but I don't think a binder is a great call? I could barely stand to have my loose yoga pants touching my stomach and even my bra was too much. Maybe for a sleeve or something, but certainly not for the balloon. Maybe I'm alone on this though?
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I might be alone here but I don't think a binder is a great call? I could barely stand to have my loose yoga pants touching my stomach and even my bra was too much. Maybe for a sleeve or something, but certainly not for the balloon. Maybe I'm alone on this though?
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@Inner Surfer Girl - I am certain you are correct. I know I'm not getting enough Water or Protein. I have a dietician appointment tomorrow and I'm going to work out a strategy for improving both.
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@Inner Surfer Girl - I am certain you are correct. I know I'm not getting enough Water or Protein. I have a dietician appointment tomorrow and I'm going to work out a strategy for improving both.
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@Wayward Traveler Hey! Thanks for the reply, I have ventured to the gym twice. The first day was just 40 minutes on the treadmill, I found medium incline and a moderate walking pace was my best bet. I definitely feel like running is a little far off, I get the feeling that the jarring motion would make the balloon... uncomfortable? I can't say I feel it specifically in my stomach, but I'm aware of the weight of it and it can move a bit. For instance, if I'm in bed and I roll onto my right side to turn off a lamp or grab my phone I can feel the balloon sort of bear down on the remainder of my stomach. It's not painful by any means, but certainly peculiar and unpleasant. I think if I were to run any great distance/duration I might get the same sensation in an up/down kind of way (I'm trying to avoid saying the balloon would 'bounce' because I feel it's pretty secure in situ, but it would definitely maybe push as I move up and down). So running, short term, maybe for a warm up or something I think would be fine, but not as a complete form of exercise. At least not for me after only one week.
Today I tried my hand at the cross trainer, basically fine, though I did get a little... er, fullness (?) around the diaphragm (not heartburn, but like something was sitting low in my chest?) when I started to get a bit too high intensity, I think it was the twisting through the torso that caused that. I calmed it down by shifting my hands from the long moving grips to the short, stationary ones for a minutes or so, so that I twisted a little less.
So, anyway, I was pretty happy with the outcome.
Now, Krav Maga! Oh my goodness I love it! I started it last year and I have zero regrets. Not only is it a great workout, but its a useful skill to have under your belt. The practice I go to is for people 18 and above and it's pretty serious about what it does, but that works for me because no one is there to waste time. For my first class I rocked up feeling like I'd be this loser 30 YO woman, far too overweight and surrounded by hotheaded dudebros tripping on testosterone. I persevered only because I had watched a doco years ago about Krav Maga and had promised myself I'd investigate when I moved to an area that had a class.
Anyway, so I was expecting some sort of quasi UFC thing: not at all what happened. People there came from so many different backgrounds and fitness levels. Young women, older women, fit guys, unfit guys... you get the point, all different and all there just to learn.
The class is essentially at whatever difficultly level you require, if you're a beginner there's a grade for that and other students to work with, I progress when I am ready. Some people pick it up quickly and some don't and that's fine. You stay at your level until you are confident to move on. It also isn't really a 'martial art' as much as it is a system of self protection. You won't see people competing for belts (or at all, though there is a grading system) because in Krav Maga the best fight is the one you see coming and can avoid altogether (or with a swift knee to the groin).
The warm up is typical of any fitness class, jogging in a circle, a few push ups (on your knees if you need to), sit ups, stretches. Then usually it's about learning new techniques then consolidating them with a partner and protective pads.
The part that I found most challenging when I began (and still struggle with) is the confrontational nature of it. I'm not sure why (because it seems obvious in hindsight) but I was shocked in my first class to realise actual people would be attacking me (in a controlled and force-appropriate way, no one was trying to beat me or anything). I think the first thing we drilled what getting out of a front-on chokehold so there I was with a stranger trying to choke me. I learned very quickly that I freeze and panic in aggressive situations, but now that months have passed and I'm slowly teaching myself to have more reactive and useful responses to stress (not just in terms of physical violence, but in very useful situations like unexpected traffic panics, dropping things etc). So the thing that I hated about the class at first is actually the cause for one of the things I love about the class: I haven't just gotten fitter, I've become more situationally aware and better at handling pressure.
As for backs and knees, my class is about working with what you've got, so if you're older or have injuries you learn to compensate and work with what you can do. Plus I'm sure you'd be able to opt out of any drills that cause pain.
I'm sure all classes and teachers vary a bit. My class is affiliated with Krav Maga Global, and I know they are everywhere but it can't hurt to get in touch with the people near you and see if you can get in on an info session or beginners class.
In my experience if you actually like what you're doing it won't feel so much like having to work out. For me, Krav Maga gives me those few nights a week that I can look forward to and work on myself, that fact that there's an element of fitness is just a bonus. I am so vey keen to get back to class and I'm aiming for the first week of June.
@@flamingfeather_fly The balloon is a Fluid filled orb placed in the stomach to inhibit appetite and limit space. I have an Orbera but if you'd like to know more I'd suggest looking at Google.

Hey all! I'm a week in with my balloon today and 10lb down (and that's not including what I lost on the shakes prior to surgery) though I do fret it's too much too soon and can't be good for me...
I've been thinking a bit more about getting off the sofa and getting moving, I go back to work in a few days but I'm feeling mostly okay these days. On day four I got ambitious (and a little stir crazy) and went for a walk. It was roughly about a mile round trip, taken at a snail's pace and by the end I had the sweats and cramps and ended up needing an epic nap afterward. Yesterday I cleaned the house in a fairly energetic manner (read: loud music and more dancing than cleaning). Today I'm feeling ambitious again and I think I'll head to the gym for a low-intensity session on the cross trainer or treadmill.
I am a little concerned about a couple things, first, I do get dizzy quite a bit. I have Stemazine to counteract that but I think it's truly just because I'm still not really making it over 700cal a day. Second, while I have yet to experience any reflux/heartburn and am religiously taking my prescription for that anyway, I'm sort of worried about aggravating that.
What are your experiences? Does exercise zap your energy? Does it aggravate the reflux? What about drinking Water while exercising?
Prior to placement I've led a very active life (too bad I couldn't stay away from the food!) and my real aim is to get back to a Krav Maga class that I attend 3x a week. But I stress that the push-ups, sit-up and general up/down nature of the class might test the balloon. I imagine anything where I have to sort of hold a plank or lower position might make me uncomfortable or nauseous. Is anyone able to shed light on this?
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hey all! I'm a week in with my balloon today and 10lb down (and that's not including what I lost on the shakes prior to surgery) though I do fret it's too much too soon and can't be good for me...
I've been thinking a bit more about getting off the sofa and getting moving, I go back to work in a few days but I'm feeling mostly okay these days. On day four I got ambitious (and a little stir crazy) and went for a walk. It was roughly about a mile round trip, taken at a snail's pace and by the end I had the sweats and cramps and ended up needing an epic nap afterward. Yesterday I cleaned the house in a fairly energetic manner (read: loud music and more dancing than cleaning). Today I'm feeling ambitious again and I think I'll head to the gym for a low-intensity session on the cross trainer or treadmill.
I am a little concerned about a couple things, first, I do get dizzy quite a bit. I have Stemazine to counteract that but I think it's truly just because I'm still not really making it over 700cal a day. Second, while I have yet to experience any reflux/heartburn and am religiously taking my prescription for that anyway, I'm sort of worried about aggravating that.
What are your experiences? Does exercise zap your energy? Does it aggravate the reflux? What about drinking Water while exercising?
Prior to placement I've led a very active life (too bad I couldn't stay away from the food!) and my real aim is to get back to a Krav Maga class that I attend 3x a week. But I stress that the push-ups, sit-up and general up/down nature of the class might test the balloon. I imagine anything where I have to sort of hold a plank or lower position might make me uncomfortable or nauseous. Is anyone able to shed light on this?
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

'Not too bad' is still pretty good this soon after placement, so I'd say that's a definite win! Are you staying on top of any prescribed meds for the cramping? I take Buscopan Forte (over the counter, but on my doc's advice) as needed and if it gets bad, which it hasn't for a day or two, I lie on my left on top of a heat blanket. The warmth really helps. Warm drinks too.
My dietician sort of gives out plans as you reach the stage and I'm on liquids for two weeks. Research etc, has told me many programs differ in timings, but since I'm paying a buttload for this, I might as well follow instruction. So because of that I'm sticking to liquids, even though I feel I could manage something a little more substantial. I did decide to have a cup of coffee (flat white) and a teaspoon of Peanut Butter yesterday afternoon (wild, I know) and I was sure I'd be fine (and mostly I was okay) but I swear they stuck right up behind my ribs like cement. So much so that I could only manage maybe 1/4 of my dinner Protein shake. I wasn't ill, just kind of mildly uncomfortable? So I'd say err on the side of caution or at least introduce maybe only one portion of soft food a day and in a controlled way where you know you can take time out if your body doesn't want to play ball?
Let me know how it goes!
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hey @@Esq123 you should have your balloon now, right? How are you doing? Hope you're well!
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hey all! I've had my balloon in for almost a week now and am travelling a pretty standard path, I was nauseous and throwing up for 2-3 days, barely kept juice/meds down. Day 4-5 I braved broth and tea and today I graduated to half a Protein Shake as well. I'm expecting to be on liquids until week 2 is done and then have another follow up with my dietician to look at the puree and beyond stage.
Right now food isn't massively appetising to me, I'm very much 'eating to live', which is a strange adjustment after 30 years of Food Food Food. I have a fair idea of what the puree/real people food stages will entail and have done stacks of research but I'd like to hear from the 'front line' what a day in your food diary looks like? Oh and also, have any of you been out to dinner since getting your balloons? How did that go?

Hey all! I've had my balloon in for almost a week now and am travelling a pretty standard path, I was nauseous and throwing up for 2-3 days, barely kept juice/meds down. Day 4-5 I braved broth and tea and today I graduated to half a Protein Shake as well. I'm expecting to be on liquids until week 2 is done and then have another follow up with my dietician to look at the puree and beyond stage.
Right now food isn't massively appetising to me, I'm very much 'eating to live', which is a strange adjustment after 30 years of Food Food Food. I have a fair idea of what the puree/real people food stages will entail and have done stacks of research but I'd like to hear from the 'front line' what a day in your food diary looks like? Oh and also, have any of you been out to dinner since getting your balloons? How did that go?

Hey!
Well I'm only on day two today, I'm being sick less often but still don't feel fantastic and have chosen to stick closer to bed. I have the luxury of having my mum here for a few days so I can be a bit selfish, I think maybe by this evening I could be getting up and doing more if I forced myself, but I'll let you know how it goes in the coming days!