shaggs

Oh and Mc Donalds chicken ceasar salad is TOPS! and at 5 -6 points on WW its a no brainer. Great take away!

Hey megsy, finding decent food in a hurry is hard so I keep a stash of pre cooked things ready to go. I boil up a batch of eggs and keep them in the fridge to have with some cooked haloumi cheese (fry in non stick pan no oil needed) with some beetroot and lettuce or whatever YUM! Some turkey or chicken with cheese and vegies. I also make sandwiches or burgers without the bread yesterday i had a low fat mince pattie with fried onions beetroot lettuce tomato and grilled cheese a perfect burger but without the bread. woolworths pasta or potato salad makes any meal interesting. woolworths select also do salt and pepper squid in the freezer do it in the oven very low in points for weight watchers whole box is 8 points and soooooo yum. I love a good gourmet sausage blended up with the above salads. Brekkie is a mashed fried egg with some turkey and cheese in it. Super high protein keeps you going for hours could also take it for lunch or keep in fridge for later re heated. Salmon rissoles are tops in the fridge go down like a dream and very low fat can give you recipe for them. Its mostly about being prepared but if worst comes to worst go and by a roll from a sandwich shop and use the roll as a plate and just eat the contents, leave the bread or ask them to put it in a salad container instead of roll. Oh and canned refried beans heated up in microwave with lowfat sour cream, cheese and avocado are TOPS! Mexican wonderland! I blend any meat I cook for kids with a little water or sauce and its ready to go for a couple of days. I've got some more involved recipes these are just quick ideas let me know what you like and I'll find a recipe in my collection for it and good luck!

First of all - go Megsy you ol' devil! Good to see the old girls' got some juice left in her yet! Hope you had a top time and thanks for testing out the alcohol thing, I'll be trying that myself tonight (husband away again this week) Funny that you had a bad experience yesterday, I have found out alot about bad experiences since I started whinging about having no restriction and eating all the time. Well, I do feel pain and now I know what comes after the pain I will do everything I can to not go there. Unfortunately I also know that you dont know theres a problem until its too late but I can only try. ALOT of people have mentioned this problem after eating rice. I've always had a prob with rice so I havent eaten it as yet but given the right circumstances I'm sure I will. Others have also experienced pain afte the PB on a par with post op pain and I definitely dont want to go THERE! Crossing my fingers for a better week, thank you for sharing hopefully we can catch up on chat one night???

Hey Megsy, god I want that restriction! The most I get is a little tightness if I havent chewed properly (pretty much on normal foods although I am careful no bread as yet). The worst thing I get is a horrible pain when I sit down after I eat not around the band but behind the wounds like my full intestines are pushing on the scars! Yuck! Time to cut back and pull in the reigns on the quantities I think! I guess its back to me and will power (or lack there of) for now. How's your restriction going now? Is it still good? God I cant wait! I want it back!!!!!!!!

Oh man! I am on that slippery slope! Please everyone tell me you're doing the same. I swear its getting so hard to control the constant nibbling, I feel like I'm going to be over 100kg within the week if not the day. One half of me is freaking out and cant believe I'd do this after all I've been through and the other half just aint listening. I am trying so hard to reign it in. So far the scales are good but I know thats not going to last. I still have sore spots on my tummy and a god awful pain if I sit after I eat (not in the band area but under the port scar). I cant WAIT for a fill only 3.5 weeks to go! And then I will probably need about 5 more fills for it to work. Help!

I think it is the same IMhopeful. I was scared too but I soon got over that, mushies has been sooooo great! However, has anyone else noticed their post op restriction wearing off? I am slowly being able to eat more, and its not lasting as long but it is still good but the worst thing ever is, I have started to "seek out" food again. My emotional/entertainment eating is creeping back in. I am hoping its just a phase that after not being able to eat anything i am just excited about eating again and I really want to put back some self control before things get out of hand. How's everyone else going? R u hungry, restricted or slipping back to old habits?

Hi Megsy, Ive been wondering how you're going! I hope this fill gives you some good restriction. I have often thought of you when you said you've had no restriciton and I've known all along my day was coming and after great restriction after the op I can now feel it slipping away and I want it back! No fill for me for another 4 weeks though! Keep me posted on how it is for you

Hey Debbie, we dont have staples here in Australia for lap banding, we all just seem to have only the steri strips. One of the incisions between my boobs lost their strips within a couple of days from rubbing on my bra and sweating etc. The rest of them were still stuck hard and fast but I was over it and pulled them all off last Friday. It took a little pulling but they came off and underneath everything was beautiful and I doubt if those strips have been doing anything for the past week or so. I know my c section scar the stitches are removed after 4 -5 days and the skin is perfectly healed so go for it - just rip them off (carefully) you'll psychologically feel new again! And if they're a bit itchy you'll be sooooo relieved!

You're so right blklab70 this is AWESOME! I still have pain in the port site but its more crampy, stingy, pulling type pain not so much throbbing (although it can throb a bit if I lay too far on my left side) but the pain is pretty much gone now. I guess we have to remember there is a foreign body in there that your flesh has to heal around so it may take a while - my tongue piercing hurt longer than this has! This has been nothing compared to that! Good luck for a great recovery!

Hi Skinneyminney, I think you have what I had during my first week also. It seems to be a deferred gas and or stomach pain (rather than in your shoulders but it can be in both) I found that patting (sometimes thumping) my chest really helped disperse it and then as the week went on I would cross my arms over my chest and "hug" myself squeezing my shoulders in which created a kind of deliberate burp and a huge relief from the pain. People suggested mints and I did get quite attached to mentos (peppermint) they helped alot but the squeeze was the best. The pain in my chest is pretty much gone now (its day 14) so hopefully yours is on its way out. Good luck with the coming weeks!

Saw the chiro today and wow, that feels better! Although I havent eaten much today so the gas pain hasnt really been an issue, we'll see as the day goes on! I fessed up on the surgery also, chiro was very happy about it and knows the SIOS pyschologist - its a small world! I can lay on my tummy now so a massage is on the cards! Cant wait! Thank you everyone! First check up tomorrow!

Hey Leah! I actually didnt feel guilty at all (LOL) but it didnt go to my head like I expected it to??? Bummer. I usually like chardonnay and it was my old favourite brand and it tasted quite gross so I drank it really slowly and didnt finish the second glass so maybe thats why I didnt get a buzz. Or maybe its because I also could down a bottle of spirits on my own in one session not even a couple of months ago????? I think my taste buds lean more towards sugar now because of all of the fake opti crap and juices etc. I actually feel like dessert wine. Must give that a try one day soon! Thanks for the Bowen idea, I know the residual gassy pain I'm getting could be easily fixed with the right pair of hands and some trust from me (tummy still quite sore) - just dont know if I'm ready for that yet. Also, some Bowen therapists are very hands on and some are almost Reiki, I really like being touched and kneaded into submission (LOL) I've got a great masseuse and chiro but I really didnt want to tell anyone about the band,not even them and I still cant lay on my tummy yet so I dont know if I'll really enjoy it? I dont know, just whinging again I guess but I can definitely feel a massage of some sort coming on this pain is dragging on too long now. Anyone else got any ideas? The pain is definitely gas related and goes from my left hip up through every cut on stomach, into my chest and through my left shoulder and ribs. I can handle it, I have to brace myself when I want to burp and it quite often hurts when I take a breath, but i would really like it gone now! I'd be interested to anyone else's tips, massage is winning at the moment.

I can be there! Life can be a little random but I it should be good for then! Let me know of any changes. C u then!

IMHopeful, what an amazing experience this must be for you! Its such an awesome journey and even better when you see the health effects. I've lost 19 pounds all up and I can feel an amazing difference in my body and all of its aches and pains and problems - and it does bring tears to my eyes. This is the best thing I have EVER done! And its only been just over a week. Imagine a month or a year! Wow! Keep up the awesome work and enjoy the great health!

How's it going Kylie? by my calculations you would be on Optifast now? Its getting close - it'll be here before you know it! I'm still loving it - I hate fluids and I'm starting to have a little mushy food (more like thick soups now). This has been the best thing I have EVER done. I hope you feel restriction straight away like I have and I hope my restiction sticks around for a while yet - its excellent, unbelievable and I actually dont feel like rubbish either! All up, you wont regret it - its tops!

Thank you for all of your great support and advice guys, I really appreciate it! I made it through the night but found myself in the same situation tonight. I think I go too long between lunch and dinner and while I'm not actually physically hungry my mood nose dives and I feel yuck about drinking anything. I also find it very hard to sit and consume a drink and treat it as a meal. I tend to sip and sip over time and never really get full or feel completed. So tonight I didnt blend my soup and I chewed it into a mush instead and it felt great to chew and have control. i was very careful that is was soft and only tiny mouthfuls and I conquered the crap mood! My mum was worried about me and god love her, she bought me a bottle of wine and I shared it with my neice, she had most of it but I had two little glasses and yes, it has taken the edge off alright and I dont feel the least bit guilty! Another day down 3 to go! I'm such a sook! its such a small amount of time but it does do your head in!

Ohmigod someone's out there! Thank you Emmsie!

I'm suffering. My husband is away and the general activity in this house when my husband is away is to have a few drinks and some nibblies and watch some chick flick or another with a few of the girls. Since I no longer have these fun times to offer I am sitting here alone, bored and hungry! I want chips and wine and nibblies. Is this social hunger or real hunger? I cant possibly understand what I have found ok about only being on liquids and or optifast for the past 3 weeks!!!??? I stump myself! Help!

Megsy, you've done so well you have to look at the big picture 13 kgs in not even 2 months! Thats awesome!!!! Now let go of the numbers they do your head in. My clinic is constantly pushing that the first 6 weeks is for healing not weight loss so really, you havent even started yet! I already feel heaps of restriction but I know thats probably because I was only done a week ago and theres still swelling etc but I really hope it stays that way. i cant imagine not having it now I've experienced it - you must be beside yourself! Good luck for the next fill hope it brings all that you imagine and more!

Hi I was done Feb 10th and the pain in recovery was indescribeable!! And I have had 3 c sections before so I kinda new what i was in for! I vomited 4 times that day and I lived to tell the story (painkillers do not agree with me) even though my surgeon was peaking out! My gas pain is in my chest which at best feels like a rock and at worst stops me from breathing. Not once though have I ever thought "I wished I'd never done this" I dont regret it one bit! Port site is sore of course but recovery and mobility is ultra fast! Its now day 5 and I can sleep on my back or side with a little tiny discomfort. I'm pretty much up and at em just slowly and carefully. Missing and grieving for food badly but I love the restriction and lack of hunger and the gross feeling you get after 2-3 tablespoons of anything no matter how much you love it. I am sooooo looking forward to mushies or pureed on day 14. I have lost 3kg since surgery 5 days ago and thats 8.2kg total (approx 16/18 pounds I think) and I love my new body already. Every second of excrutiating pain was worth it! And I love hearing everyone's stories, keep them coming! I couldnt have done this without all of the great people online supporting me!

You lucky cow Megs the pain is feral in the extreme! No wonder you were out and about and getting munted on day 11! You must be made of steel girl! I've been thinking about you and your stories from then and I have to say I am also starving! I just keep sipping (soups Water drinks anything) but I'm hungry again in 10 minutes and man I would murder to have a chew. I'm counting down the days til I can do mushies. How was your fill? Is it working yet?

I'm done!!! Everything went well. The pain and surgery situation is quite a shock but now three days later I'm feeling really good and not once did I think "is this all worth it" cause it is soooooo worth it. So glad its over with and recovering well. First day or two i didnt want to communicate with anyone - I was thinking how come no one told me it would be like this? But the recovery is really quick so thats a huge bonus. Just taking it easy and loving the weight loss even though I know its about healing but looking in the mirror and seeing someone elses body winking back at you is amazing!!!! And thats only approx 7kgs! Thank you everyone for your tremendous support it has made all the difference!

I'm waiting on a call sometime today to find out what time tomorrow. I'm sweating they're going to forget me! If they dont ring by lunchtime I'm ringing them. I'm a little nervous but these bush fires have put things into perspective! Thank you for your thoughts - Its really nice to know there's a world of people out there who are waiting to hear how it all went! Especially when no one here knows! I'll be thinking of everyone tomorrow and all of the pioneers and guinea pigs who went before me - thank you for the inspiration and courage!

Oh my God! You must have been terrified! What a stroke of luck that wind was! Someone's looking after you! And it just goes to show that none of us is safe where fire's concerned. Best wishes to anyone out there affected by this awful tragedy. If I hear anything about sending things down there I'll let you all know.

Now I know how its gotten so out of control, its arsonists! I had no idea! And they keep relighting fires that have been put out! I cant believe it!