JWhipple

LOL I've already gone through every flavor that I could find - sure, they tasted good, but when I think about food those things I mentioned come to mind! I wonder - would adding some low-fat Peanut Butter to a vanilla flavored Protein shake and then blending taste good? Would it be bad if the peanut butter was done in moderation? We're moving to full liquid starting tomorrow - trying to make the most of it!

I know I'm not hungry, but I've been having some really strong cravings for certain foods, and where these come from I don't know! Peanut Butter - THE MORE CHUNKY THE BETTER! Chili! Ground beef mixed with some rice and shredded green beans! Split pea Soup with big ol' chunks of ham in it! Anyone else care to share your cravings?

I hate to even ask this, but can anyone advise if it's normal to have a SOLID (although limited) bowel movement during your first week post-op while in the clear-liquids-only phase? I have a suspicion that my wife thinks I've been munching on the side, which I have NOT been doing, but I want to head this one off at the pass if an accusation comes about! Thank you!

Maybe I shouldn't have asked - I think I jinxed myself! I woke up this morning and weighed myself - up .4 pounds from yesterday - I killed the trend by asking LOL! Oh well - I'm NOT discouraged at all.. I'm still 11.6 pounds down from where I was on Monday morning - I can't complain about that at all!

Actually I like the idea!

Big concern is shapes becoming misshapen... Example - the globe of my tattoo warping or becoming pear shaped or something oddball like that!

Anyone else? It was my pleasure to serve. At this point in my life I really miss it, and would pay them to let me back in! All Marines are my brothers, and I wish that I could be there abroad fighting side by side with them to accomplish the mission! Please - no flaming me with political jargon - that's not where I am going with this - just proud to claim the title of United States Marine ! OOORAH!

I got to thinking today - the USMC Eagle/Globe/Anchor tattoo that is my avatar here on the forum I probably should have waited to get until after I lost a bit of weight! 12 years after having left the Marines I FINALLY got my tattoo, but now I am concerned that it's going to get distorted all to hell once I start losing weight. It's on my upper left arm, which is pretty much solid. Any thoughts on whether it will get thrashed by the weight-loss, or do you think it will be fine? I'm sure there's got to be some men on here that have tattoos - how has losing the weight impacted your ink? Thanks!

Yes it does! Thank you!

Wow - that's one heck of a delta in weight there! I didn't weigh myself the first day after getting home (well ok, maybe I did - I was so loopy I don't remember much of anything from that day!), but the next morning I was down several pounds from the morning before.

Oh it's not that I would even consider it ! Just curiosity has me asking the questions, ya know? I've actually not been hungry at all - but don't tell my stomach that! It's been snarling at me like a circus tiger for days, but I don't feel that hungry feeling I used to. No temptation will get me until I get the thumbs-up from the doc!

No matter how good those goodies look, I can't justify spending the money on medical bills that I would have to pay just to get a mouthful of yummies LOL! Several thousand dollars for a cookie? Doesn't seem worth it to me :-)

Fair enough :-) Thanks for the excellent answer! I knew there was a good reason to not touch any of the holiday goodies everyone brought in today LOL!

Even foods with little to no heft can make you nauseous. My wife last night about projectile vomited some beef broth that came in a carton that she warmed and took a sip of. Every person is different. You're simply going to have to test the waters and see what works for you and what doesn't. My doctor very clearly said that many people can no longer eat things they loved before, such as rice, but in other cases, persons can now stomach (and enjoy for that matter!) things they could never handle before.

I was discussing my band with a friend a little while ago and a question came up. What would happen if someone who was freshly banded (such as myself) were to eat something solid before the appropriate time? Taking into consideration that said person chewed the food completely, that it wasn't something that is known to cause blockages, and that it wasn't something large that they ate. What kind of issues could this cause? I am DEFINITELY NOT doing anything stupid like this - I've dropped too much already to throw it out the window in the first week - just curious! Thanks!

My wife and I both got banded on the 8th and so far at the beginning of my 5th day I've lost 12 pounds. My wife has lost 8. Her sister got banded about a year and a half ago and took off 120 lbs, but only 13 during the first month. Is it safe to assume that the vast majority of this is Water weight? Can I assume that the rapid loss will slow down once we move to the full liquids and then mushies?

Thank you :-) Taking photos of the fish has proven to be one of the best stress relievers after a long day at the office. Sure, you have to take 20-30 photos just to get one that is acceptable (photos of fish isn't easy!), but when you're done all the stresses are gone! Doesn't work as fast as a trip to the pistol range, but, it costs a lot less to do :-)

If I recall correctly, the pain in your shoulder is due to gas from the surgery. If memory serves, it was mentioned in an online informational session that we had to watch prior to coming to our pre-op appointment with the surgeon. It will go away on it's own.

I can happily say that I am not one who usually attends the company social events, so, I have no worries there. I don't tend to have lunch with anyone here at the office either. There are the occasional manager-served appreciation lunches where all the managers serve to all the employees a catered meal (Thanksgiving, Christmas), but never a time that I would be eating in front of someone openly. Also thankfully I have a closed office - I can just pull the door and never get questioned. What's going to look funny is me taking my 4oz cup of broth to the microwave, zapping it for a few seconds and sipping it down :-) Guess i'll wait until around 2:00 so all the lunches are done. I just really don't care to share too much of my personal life with people at work, ya know?

This is a bit off-topic, but since I am spending a bit of time on this forum I'd see if anyone else here is into one of my hobbies - freshwater aquariums! I have quite a few tanks at home, plus one 10 gallon at the office. In the livingroom: 1x 55 gallon (Larger central/south American cichlids) 2x 20 gallon (Smaller central/south American cichlids) 1x 46 gallon bowfront (Community) (These three will hopefully soon be replaced by one large 120 gallon tank.) In our bedroom: 1x 38 gallon (LOTS of loaches and a few rainbow fish) In the computer room: 1x 1 gallon Betta tank. I figured I'd share a few photos I've taken of some of them! Hope nobody minds? Red Devil cichlid Mayan cichlid (AKA freshwater snapper) Salvini cichlid (may it rest in peace!) Vieja Fenestratus (standard variant) Black-belt cichlid and Vieja Fenestratus (pink variant) "Pink" Vieja Fenestratus (like his teeth?) Blue Gouramis Rosey Barb and Odessa Barb Convict Cichlid A batch of Vieja Fenestratus babies from my breeding pair: The 55 gallon plus 2x 20 gallon tanks: Panda Corydora Upside-down catfish Turquoise Rainbow trio Horse-faced Loach One of my larger clown loaches Polka-dotted loach with YoYo loach Polka-dotted loach Bolivian Ram Another of the large clown loaches Clown loach trio Jewel cichlid

I can honestly say that I haven't been physically hungry - AT ALL. My "hunger" comes mostly from the old routine of eating at points X, Y and Z throughout the day. I feel almost guilty drinking as much as I do right now - it's almost like going on an all day eating binge! But, that's what the doc told me to do , so, I'm doing it!

Thanks for the clarification :-)

I am a software technical support lead engineer. I did hold the title of manager, but due to some re-organization, they gave someone with 20+ years tenure the manager's hat and laterally moved me into the 2nd-banana slot. That's ok though - now I only have to work 8 hours a day :-) Desk job, so, I was back at work the next morning after banding - from home of course :-) I'm back in the office today though. I do have an interesting background though... US Marine Corps reservist as an MP and full-time LAPD for several years during my 20's... So, my current job (have had it for 10 years) is a far cry from where I used to be.

Interesting Pete - the wife and I were strictly forbidden from drinking from a straw until at least the end of the 4th or 5th week. The reasoning was to keep us from sucking too much down at once I guess... Based on what I am reading on this forum ,I find it really interesting though how each program varies from doctor to doctor, but hey, if it works, run with it!

My name is Jon and I am 36. My wife Sonya is 41. We both got banded on Dec 8th. She was at 255 and change, I was at 279.0 - both weights same at the same-day-surgery center and at home. We were done in Melbourne, FL by Dr. Fusco and we both live in Merritt Island, FL. We're both on our way - and I can tell you that putting up the Christmas tree on Saturday is going to have a whole new meaning this year!