2KpUpwithAvery

I believe my soreness/swelling helped me get through the liquids and full liquids phase (I just exited the full liquids 5 days ago) Even on full liquids there were days I'd drink Water and one can of cream of something soup... No Jello, no anything else.... the appetite was gone, cramps were present. Now I'm in the mushy food stage and am controlling just fine, and I'm a 500 lb man (actually ex 500 lbs man at this point) so getting my mind in line with my goals was very very important. This will not fail, I won't let it... Good luck, get your mind straight cause these battles are going to be ever present!

Wow, I read EVERY post and it took until the last one to finally find someone who thought like myself. I told everyone (once i had it, prior to it was my medical business and nobody elses). I wanted the support, and am VERY proud of what I've decided to do for myself. Alcoholics are not chastized for getting help, nor is anyone else with a crutch, problem or yes even Addition! I may be crossing the line, but I don't mean to :-) Its my personal experience that many many woman are the ones who fear letting everyone know, where as the guys are more willing to accept the consequences and gain the support. I might be way off, if so I apologize but its just a personal observation. Let the world know, the more help the better!!

It is what it is.. Bottom line, I didn't decide to be banded or not be banded because of any ONE positive or negative article. This is just one article that was researched to find flaws, they are out there but so are the positives :-) Lets all migrate to the positive articles!!

Good Post :-) No fills yet Breakfast: Egg Beaters and Salsa Lunch: 5 crackers w/ chix salad ($1 at the dollar store) and some cottage cheese w/ fresh garden tomato slices Dinner: Canned chix breast w/ salsa and a dollup of full fat sour cream to bring it together Plus two slices of dill pickle For a snack mid day, I had three lil sweet pickles. All in all about 1000-1100 calories

Don't worry, I was banded two days before you, lost 16 lbs during the pre-op diet and after surgery did one week of clear, and then one week of full liquids. I'm now into mushy foods and haven't looked at the scale since BEFORE I had surgery. I've done enough weight loss battles in my life to know I would experience weight gain after the liquid period and didn't want to feel "owned" by the scale anymore. I'll check the scale after a month or so, for now its do what I'm supposed to and things will play out accordingly. Don't let the scale be the ultimate judge, ESPECIALLY when you just entered the mushy phase. Good luck

I liked ur last reply the best, your following your doctors direction. IF, and only IF, you listen to others will information be conflicting. Just listen to your Dr. and assume because he did the surgery he has YOUR best interest in mind :-) Just my thoughts, but I do understand the other woman who was critical of what "seemed" like you had no idea why you couldn't eat in the beginning? That you didn't know the healing process involved with this surgery. You just have to remember that conflicting reports come from different people, with different health histories, with diff amts of weight to lose, with different bands (sizes/capacities) and different motivating factors. Things are just different, again I applaud you for following your Dr's orders :whatchutalkingabout

very good to hear Becky, was hoping that somone would show up in that "Elite Group" Hope to join you in the near future, you should post more about your journey here so we can read it.. Weight loss per say 3/6 months each of the past three years. A mainstay in your diet, or how you approached eating with your band? Any exercise plan you likely were on would be great.. Just any information to help us all reach the same, as I said, Elite Level of weight loss. Very well done :thumbup::thumbup::cool2::scared2::thumbup::thumbup::thumbs_up::thumbup::thumbs_up:

I'm with ya! My BMI is an embarassment, but the battle has begun. Good idea, I want to hear from others of larger sizes so I can feel Like i have people providing info who can relate. Thanks Froggi!

Yes sir, I'm with you I started this process just over 500 lbs at 507. After pre op diet I was 491, now 7 days post op I haven't a clue. Not planning on weighing myself through the up and down liquid to mushy to reg food stage. I'll keep myself sane, eat as good as I can and check my weight after one month :-) Very happy to meet others in a similar boat, it'll be nice to gain support and motivation from others of bigger sizes. Thanks

Sounds as if no amount of advice will be the right amount of advice :-) Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter

Ditto, I'm with you... Lets hang in there, I've also read from others AND my Dr. said not to be alarmed. We're ok

Wow! I feel better you liked the advice. This is a very serious battle, lets group hug and get on with it Heck, I even feel kinda cool cause someone said I gave a piece of good advice

Thats one of the funniest things I've ever read on here! "We won't fix ur other eye...." I love it!! Our families should meet!!

Just wanted to update everyone and come back and read the support that everyone is so good at providing. I'm now 6 days post op and NEVER in my life thought I'd be so excited to eat a can of cream Soup (tomorrow I enter full liquids) I've tackled this head on, no matter the pains and hunger strikes I've NOT cheated one time, nor will I during this clear liquid/full liquid phase. I've got a game plan for dealing with my return to "food" when I'm allowed mushies next week, and then "soft foods" the following week. Advice to everyone, develop a game plan and plan out a nice menu. You'll feel much better with a plan mentally by creating sort of a "new world" which your now a part of. I'm also reserving scale watching to others, I will not get on a scale until one month POST OP. Why you ask? "I am just so curious" people say! I don't want to see the ups and downs that are typical/normal/expected when you go from liquids to full liquids and then introduce food back into your diet. You'll lose, sure! Then lose some more, awesome! Then when you get back to some mushies and soft foods during the second half of the month there will be a time where you put on a few pounds. I've decided i don't want to see the fluctuation, I won't let the scale determine my daily happiness. After one month it'll just be a number, then I'll look again after month two. Thats my Plan! Just me... nobody else's Nite everyone!!

6 days post op and experiencing pains and cramps and hunger and through all that.. Hell no, no regrets. I'm a 34 year old man, I have my entire life ahead of me and I don't have to tell you all the same. Positive energy breeds positive results. You can only do what your body allows, nobody who used the band as a tool and as help to a healthier "you" will ever be disappointed in the end. I plan on NOT stepping on a scale for at least a month or two. Honestly, we all become so fixated on lbs that we have too many ups and downs because of that darn scale :-) Its ruled my whole life, I won't let it happen again. After weeks of being post op you have to realize you lost weight due to being on liquids, of course when you reintroduce "food" like "mushies" ur gonna put on a few. You won't gain 10 lbs, and soon it'll turn around and you'll start to see the results again. Thats why through the up and down period I won't look at a scale for at least a month. I want to see a number after one month, not the typical ups and downs that go along with it.... Good Luck guys...

Heres a tip, and I believe it to be a GREAT TIP! If your going to let food get the best of you on certain nights, please please please put healthy food in! No, I'm not telling you to munch on rabbit food i'm talking about healthier choices. Slice of low fat cheese with a piece of turkey, or the whole turk sand depending on your restriction. Eat some cottage cheese with a slice of fresh tomato, or an extra bowl of healthier soup. Either way, if you are going to EAT EXTRA, EAT HEALTHY. At the end of the day, it won't sabotage your goal and the extra calories aren't that bad. Good luck, remember this is not a diet.. Its not going to end, we have to change mentally and realize this is an every day battle. That means a new battle starts tomorrow :-)

Yes!! This is me to a T. I have a feeling of pressure when I take a deep breath and have been blessed with what feels like a permanent cramp in my side It feels like the kind of cramp you get while running, drinking way to much, then trying to run some more.. Only problem is its just staying, and staying... and staying. Its still here! Your right, when short of breath its nearly impossible to breath without some pain/discomfort. I like the idea of taking it easy, but I want to get to the point I feel good.. Like you others, I will join the chant! Until then, I'll worry there is something wrong with me.

DIVA... You know what the cool thing about eating ur Frosted Flakes would/could be? You could actually eat them CRUNCHY and by the time you chew chew chew chew chew (you know the drill) you get two things! A great crunchy taste your craving AND you get ur mushies. I loved ur reply, you have a certain amt of calories to use and I am with you, all mushies for the most part are gonna slip through at this point so keep urself from goin nuts and have a pleasure food. If its cereal, so be it :-) Good luck.. GREAT question :-)

Don't worry, its my thinking that you'll experience the ups and downs until you hit your sweet spot with your fills. Don't worry, this is a life long goal so don't think you've ruined anything. Keep strong, hopefully you followed the Diet you left Juarez Mexico with, I TOO WAS JUST BANDED IN JUAREZ by Dr. Rod. One week of liquids, one week of full liquids.. two weeks of mushy and then onward. Hope ur doing better, one G R E A T way to turn your personal negative into a "not so negative" is to do this.... IF you feel the need to eat MORE than you feel you should be right now, BE CERTAIN what your eating is healthy! I'm not talking about munching on carrots and veggies.. I'm saying eat some turkey cold cuts or cottage cheese with tomatoes rather than a frozen pizza meal, or frozen mexican food meal. I think you'll find come the end of the day, regardless of WHAT you ate you'll realize your starting the battle off on the right foot and again, even if you ate "too much"... it wasn't all that bad for you :-) Hope I've helped!! Be certain to email lupita! Or she will get ticked at you :-)

hopelives... IT is a struggle, and let me tell you going two weeks without food isn't easy and I'm only on my 5th day... You hang in, the 16th is fast approaching :-) OH! As for Avery, I didn't mean to give the impression I don't see her. I just see her as most divorced fathers, every other wknd holidays and EVERY single day I can sneak in between. I have a great relationship with my daughter, but without being with her every day it'll never be the situation I would've imagined. I simply want to be there, side by side with my daughter every day. I'm sure you understand. Keep on keeping on!

Yah, they are exaggerating, it took me THREE breathes and I was O U T! Its fine though, they told me it was oxygen wink wink good luck...

You are correct! sip sip sip is told to some people because your band and swelling can leave a tight passage after surgery. I just had my band Installed 3 days ago, during the process a fluoroscopy was performed to see how well fluids passed through the pouch, and hence the band. The flow through my band was excellent with the liquid, the girl who had surgery same day as me was told to SIP SIP SIP because he had less of a passage way. Like most things with the lap band, it is person specific... While I don't know that NOT sipping would stretch the stomach, I'm certain it wouldn't, it would probably result in reflux or some certain discomfort if your new stomach cannot handle it as fast as your providing it.

All I can say is Wow.... This has little to do with the band, and much more to do with your psychotic sis. Next she'll be telling everyone ur losing weight due to a crack habit!

Quote: I guess I shouldn't have told anyone. I should have known when I told one or two people at work, everyone would end up knowing. I know how you feel. I'm going to work in 2 weeks after being banded on 7/15/08 and I'm afraid now that I've told some co-workers when I go back the change might not be enough. I guess I shouldn't care. I really freaked out when I first went to real food again. That week I didn't loose at all. But I'm doing way more Protein and sticking to the rules and the weight is coming off again. I think a big key is not only daily exercise you enjoy, but cutting out white carbs (bread, rice, Pasta, etc.) It's not my favorite thing to do, but it works! Are you too really discussing whether you lost enough weight before you go back to work to Make YOUR COWORKERS Happy?? Your gonna be fine.... they'll see the habits have changed, and the weight will come off...

I was banded Wednesday July 30th, don't be alarmed I'm going through the same thing with some of the pains. Just keep moving forward, and follow exactly what they tell you as people on here can't stress that enough to me. Soon things will be better, sounds cliche, I just know they are right.