shanna

1/3 B: Protein shake L: Healthy Choice (Turkey/potatoes/green beans) S: Light yogurt smoothie D: Peanut Butter crackers....then pb-ugh! Water: Plenty Exercise: Jazzercise YEA! SOMEONE FIXED THE EDIT FUNCTION! THANKS!

Cindy, That happened to me, too, right after my first fill. It was like Alex said, it took a few days for my body to adjust to the new caloric intake. Also, it may take a couple of fills to be at a good, restricted level and sometimes it takes a few weeks for the fill to "kick in" (I have no idea why, but it happened to me, too). Good luck. Oh, by the way I grew up in Katy, off of Mason Road. I live in San Diego now, but my sister still lives there, off of Fry Road.

Happy New Year to everyone and Happy Birthday to all you New Year's Babies!!! (there are so many of you!)

I don't know about you, but for me 100% good on a diet usually lasted about 2-3 weeks, losing about 5 lbs the first week, then 2 the next and then tapering off. I'd get discouraged and begin thinking "Is this worth the daily struggle? Can I keep this up for as long as it will take to lose my excess weight?" Then I'd decide, no, it's not worth it and then go off the diet only to gain it back+, then decide a couple of months later that maybe it is worth it. Thus the cycle continued.....until lapband. Lapband is not a magic pill as you probably have read, but it has had a major impact on my weight loss. When you get to a good restriction level, you can't help but eat a lot less. So as long as you're making good food choices, you can't help but lose weight. There's no more yo-yo. Just eating regular, no diet. It really is amazing, but then again I'm feeling pretty good today. I woke up this New Year, 2 lbs lighter than yesterday and I wasn't even trying! That's never happened before. What an awesome contraption.

Yesterday, Dec. 31 (Sorry, I was busy-who wasn't, right?) B: 5 bran flakes L: 3 Peanut Butter crackers S: Protein shake D: 1/4 c. lasagna & 3 tiny bites of bread 1 New Years Eve drink - Vodka & lemonade-yum! Water: ok Exercise: Jazzercise :Bunny Happy New Year!:Bunny Jan 1, 2006 B: 1/4 c. bran flakes in skim milk L: 1/2 "Smart Ones" pizza D: chicken Noodle Soup, little Pasta, 1/2 corn muffin Water: 68 oz. Exercise: Walk the dog-30 min. PS Good Job, Cindy, on your exercise yesterday. Was it fun? What Salsa video did you use?

My doctor's a little different. He says liquids the rest of the day, then begin soft foods the next day and solids as you feel ready (can begin solids the day after a fill). From what I understand you may have swelling after a fill, therefore liquids for the rest of the day. Then the soft food stage is to kind of test the restriction before going on to solids. I would definitely go with what your doctor recommends, though.

Ohh, I'm so so sorry. Dogs are one of the best things God created - so loving and loyal. It's such a shame they can't live as long as us, huh. It sounds like Schnapps had a great life, though, and lived it to the fullest with a great mom. God bless you during this time of healing. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Awesome! Let's Go People - WE CAN DO THIS!! :banana :banana :banana

Dec. 30 Brunch: 1 egg, 1 bacon, few bites of hash browns & pancake Snack: light yogurt smoothie Dinner: Protein shake & 6 Peanut Butter crackers Water: 50 or so - I'll do better tomorrow Exercise: Jazzercise-45 min. & walk Toby-20 min.

Dec. 29 B: Protein shake L: South Beach Diet pizza D: chicken sand.-1/2 bun, green Beans, 1 piece chocolate Water: 68oz Exercise: Jazzercise - 1 hr.

Wow! That's awesome! You really are an inspiration to us all! It CAN be done! ;-)

I just got back from Jazzercise. It's really fun so it makes exercise easier. I usually go 5 times a week.

I'm so sorry Elda. I would have been upset, too. I just know that once you're at a good restriction level, it WILL work for you, too. I was banded just 3 days after you and I hadn't really lost much weight until my first fill (Nov.19). Now things are going much easier for me. They will for you, too. As far as your family - try to focus on yourself right now while your concentrating on losing weight - get a manicure/pedicure, go for a walk, take a bath, the other stuff that always needs to be done will still be there when you're feeling better. Do things for yourself and TRY not to let them bother you with negativity. Keep things positive on your end - it will probably rub off on them, too. Have you had a fill? If so, when? Maybe it's time for another.... Good luck and {hugs} from me.

Hi, From what I understand, soda (or anything carbonated-so it doesn't matter if it's diet or regular) is one of those things that MAY lead to erosion. Just that thought alone keeps me FAR, FAR away. I haven't had a soda in almost 3 months - you can do it. You'll probably feel so much better after the initial shock to your body wears off. Good luck!

Oh boy, here we go. I'll update this post this evening. Oh, and just so you don't think I'm trying to starve myself - Since Sunday (Christmas Day, of course) I have had almost complete restriction suddenly, even liquids are painful. I have a call in to my doc to see if I need to go in - I'm sure I do, though - eeek. But I would still like to begin with ya'll cause I'm sure this much restriction won't last... and I would still like the accountability exercise-wise. Thanks! Breakfast: 1/2 c. hot choc, then pain-grrrrrr Lunch: 1 c. tomato soup & most of a cheese stick Snack: Protein shake w/peanut butter (yea!, it went down) Dinner: We're going to "Islands" and I'll have tortilla soup Water: ugh - can't get much down, maybe 24 oz Exercise - 1 hour at Jazzercise

I was able to eat quite a bit during the regular food stage-before my first fill. Actually, I was able to eat anything I wanted with no adverse affects(like pbs or pain) and I ate about the same amounts as before the surgery-I was beginning to wonder if I even had a band at all. Then I had my first fill - what a difference a fill makes. You can NOT overeat with an adequate fill. You get pain in your chest area, then begin to slime (sliming is when you get a lot of saliva-like when you're about to throw up) and then you may or may not pb (pb is when you kind of spit up the stuff that wont go down). It is a definite learning process and I am learning and relearning every day. Good luck on your journey but do try to be careful not to eat to the point of uncomfort, but to the point of being satisfied. It's really hard, I know. Once you get your fill, it will be much easier.

It's my understanding that protein shakes are good during the liquid/mushy stage but after that my doctor said NO MORE. He said the band only works with real food, no liquid calories. That worked OK for me before my first fill, but now I've had to go back to protein shakes in the morning - I just can't get "real food" down at that time. Also, before my first fill I lost weight during the liquid phase and a little during the mushy stage but only maintained during regular food stage. After your first fill you'll start seeing the downward pattern on your scale and you will need to see what works for you food-wise in the am. I wouldn't worry about being at a standstill at this point. I don't think it's the protein shakes, you just may need a fill at the 6 week post op. Wishing you the best in finding what works for you!

The liquid phase was difficult for me, too. I was sooo hungry. What I enjoyed most was soup put in a blender. The Chunky Pot Roast and Chunky Chicken Noodle/Chicken n'Rice were yummy! I don't know how she feels about veggies, but assure her that when you blend it all together, you really can't taste them. (I'm not big on veggies) Hope this helps. With the protein shakes and soup blended completely, she should do better. Let us know how she's doing in a few days. I have a 13 year old daughter and I can't imagine how difficult this is for you both. Hugs and prayers!

Hi, I would love the accountability, too. Thanks so much!

:banana Hi! I am also in beautiful San Diego. I went to Mimi's Cafe this month with the San Diego Bandsters. I had a good time - it's great meeting and talking to other bandsters.

"Ditto" to what Angie said. I had a great experience with Dr. Kuri. He did a great job and I have had no complications. It took me a couple of weeks before I felt "much better" but other than that it has been great. It definitely makes eating too much impossible (after a fill). For me, before I had a fill I could eat exactly as before the band - absolutely no restriction at all. But after my first fill, definitely a difference. So don't worry if you don't feel restriction at first, it will come...

I paid $8700

Paula, YES! I read The Crippled Lamb to my own kids every year and I also read it to my Kindergarten Class each year - Love it! Merry after Christmas to all and a safe New Year!

:devious Grrrrr! Christmas (food wise) was horrible! I had been thinking up until yeaterday that I could use a small fill after the holidays. I was doing OK with food and then WHAM! Christmas morning started with a bang - I sat down to eat with my family and within 2 bites the chest pain started so I stopped eating but the pain continued... The rest of the day continued in the same way. I could not eat anything without GREAT pain. Even liquids were difficult. I'm not sure what's going on but I'm sticking to liquids today but even that has been hard. I couldn't get down a protein shake about an hour ago. Time will tell... Until then I am happy to say I was down 2 pounds this morning!