LittleBird

sounds like you are doing very well. Glad to share your story and journey with you!

Venting is good. Your information was very helpful. I think I'm going to delay my first fill as long as possible. I've heard a few people go for months and months without needing one. I'll take your experience to heart.

how long after did you wait for a fill? I'm thinking I might wait and only go in if my weight loss slows - thanks for sharing - even though its old - its new to me!

The first step is the hardest! You might find yourself a little preoccupied in the coming days and weeks - I have been anyway - but making that choice is the hardest part.

www.surgeryloans.com was who I used. Capital One also offers a medical loan program...Does anyone have that link?

Welcome to the board! You are in for an incredible journey. Stick around. You'll find great information and wonderful support here.

I am seeing parts of my butt I haven't seen in years! I'm thrilled that my butt and thighs are shrinking before my very eyes. I guess I must have carried most of my weight there because it seems to be the primary area I'm losing - or just the area I notice the most! Amazing how much better my pants are fitting! I walked again last night - 1.14 miles in 30 minutes. I'm taking it slow becuase I still don't feel comfortable walking faster than about 2.5 mph. I finally had the energy to clean my house - well, not the whole thing, but the living room and dining room area that had been driving me crazy. I'm able to eat more and I have been - I know this phase is temporary and am still trying to limit my calorie intake to under 1200 calories a day while still trying to get in the protien I know my body needs. Feels like a lot after the limited intake I was having right after surgery but then I realize I could never have done 1000 - 1200 calories a day before surgery. I know that with a fill I will be eating less but I'm still happy with my "shrinkage". I still have burpy gas occasionally but not nearly as bad as before. My incisions are healing and the sticky glue is slowly coming off my skin.

I am seeing parts of my butt I haven't seen in years! I'm thrilled that my butt and thighs are shrinking before my very eyes. I guess I must have carried most of my weight there because it seems to be the primary area I'm losing - or just the area I notice the most! Amazing how much better my pants are fitting! I walked again last night - 1.14 miles in 30 minutes. I'm taking it slow becuase I still don't feel comfortable walking faster than about 2.5 mph. I finally had the energy to clean my house - well, not the whole thing, but the living room and dining room area that had been driving me crazy. I'm able to eat more and I have been - I know this phase is temporary and am still trying to limit my calorie intake to under 1200 calories a day while still trying to get in the protien I know my body needs. Feels like a lot after the limited intake I was having right after surgery but then I realize I could never have done 1000 - 1200 calories a day before surgery. I know that with a fill I will be eating less but I'm still happy with my "shrinkage". I still have burpy gas occasionally but not nearly as bad as before. My incisions are healing and the sticky glue is slowly coming off my skin.

The first pictures were taken just about a week after I started my preop dieting - down from 255 and the 2nd set are from the 31st of August - 15 days after surgery.

Just over 2 weeks after surgery and one month since the original photos were taken...

Just over 2 weeks after surgery and one month since the original photos were taken...

I've tried posting pics on my journal and threads - its not working like it did before. Is this a glitch?? I'm going crazy here!

I finally got my photos of the trip to Mexico for surgery uploaded so here are a few. I should have been more "reporter" like about it for newbies considering the trip - but I went more "touristy" instead...I didn't want to haul my expensive camera down there with me, so these are just so-so pics... Hubby and I the day after surgery in the courtyard of the hotel. These workers to it the old fashioned way...this was a hotel down the road being worked on. The view outside our hotel window - the "frogger" course! The hillside outside the hotel patio. Up close these houses leave a LOT to be desired. I would have loved to see the "real" TJ rather than just the touristy section of town. You see these delivery bikes everywhere. I guess they can manuver through the crazy traffic faster than a car! The bathroom in our room. These guys at Hotel Lucerne are great - they leave a fuit basket every day - not good for me but my husband enjoyed it. The room - I think they do double beds for Dr. Ortiz's patients cause everyone else had one too. DH was relaxing upon our arrival. The hotel has a great pool - very large with a walking bridge over the two sections. I was able to enjoy a swim the day we arrived. This is the day after surgery. Saved the best for last - my incisions the day after surgery. Lots of sticky iodine everywhere - still washing that sticky stuff of my belly!!

I finally got my photos of the trip to Mexico for surgery uploaded so here are a few. I should have been more "reporter" like about it for newbies considering the trip - but I went more "touristy" instead...I didn't want to haul my expensive camera down there with me, so these are just so-so pics... Hubby and I the day after surgery in the courtyard of the hotel. These workers to it the old fashioned way...this was a hotel down the road being worked on. The view outside our hotel window - the "frogger" course! The hillside outside the hotel patio. Up close these houses leave a LOT to be desired. I would have loved to see the "real" TJ rather than just the touristy section of town. You see these delivery bikes everywhere. I guess they can manuver through the crazy traffic faster than a car! The bathroom in our room. These guys at Hotel Lucerne are great - they leave a fuit basket every day - not good for me but my husband enjoyed it. The room - I think they do double beds for Dr. Ortiz's patients cause everyone else had one too. DH was relaxing upon our arrival. The hotel has a great pool - very large with a walking bridge over the two sections. I was able to enjoy a swim the day we arrived. This is the day after surgery. Saved the best for last - my incisions the day after surgery. Lots of sticky iodine everywhere - still washing that sticky stuff of my belly!!

I'm glad you are starting to feel better!

Glad you are feeling better!

Welcome to your journey! Keep sharing. I'm looking forward to hearing about your progress.

I'm sorry you went through that - but it was a great story. You brought a smile to my face! Can you say "key under the mat?" for next time? Glad your nieghbors were able to help!

I think anything high in fiber and protien will help. Protien especially. I was making a protien shake with a soy protien, an egg, water, bananna, vanilla and splenda. It was tasty and filled me up and with the protien and fiber from the bananna it helped with the hunger. Your tummy will be making lots of noise - even when you AREN'T hungry. Hang in there - what worked for me was just reminding myself that this phase was temporary.

I have very cautiously begun eating soft, moist regular food. Chili, mashed potatos with gravy, baked chicken thigh with gravy are some examples. The hardest part I'm having is this chewing - I'm doing it just fine, but I find it affects the way I TASTE the food - I'm so concentrated on chewing that the food touches my teeth, not my tounge. I wonder if this will always be the case?? The good news is with the added food (still staying around 500-700 calories a day with these portions) my bowels are working more normally now. There is something reasuring about that....:cool: I am feeling much better each day. The nasuea (I can't spell that word) I discovered is really just all gas - the GasX wasn't working before I think becuase I was still swollen inside, but its helping now. I must have belched about 4 times at dinner last night. My kids were so proud of me! "That's great Mom! Do you feel better?" Without that gas, the sick to my stomach feeling goes away or subsides at least. I found that a cup of tea at night is a great way to get more fluids in - it tastes good and feels good going down.

I have very cautiously begun eating soft, moist regular food. Chili, mashed potatos with gravy, baked chicken thigh with gravy are some examples. The hardest part I'm having is this chewing - I'm doing it just fine, but I find it affects the way I TASTE the food - I'm so concentrated on chewing that the food touches my teeth, not my tounge. I wonder if this will always be the case?? The good news is with the added food (still staying around 500-700 calories a day with these portions) my bowels are working more normally now. There is something reasuring about that.... I am feeling much better each day. The nasuea (I can't spell that word) I discovered is really just all gas - the GasX wasn't working before I think becuase I was still swollen inside, but its helping now. I must have belched about 4 times at dinner last night. My kids were so proud of me! "That's great Mom! Do you feel better?" Without that gas, the sick to my stomach feeling goes away or subsides at least. I found that a cup of tea at night is a great way to get more fluids in - it tastes good and feels good going down.

Susan4794 - I actually wrote a book on the subject called "how to cheat and not get caught" I was bitter at the time and wrote it as a healing tool - the alternate title was "How to catch a cheater" the ways of "not getting caught" are also ways to discover a cheater - all the tell tale signs that cheaters sometimes miss. I appreciate your honesty. The board is only a few days old....

I've heard it come up on this site and with my own experiences felt inspired. I hope its ok that I post this shameless - non-commercial plug here. Visit www.cheaters101.com to see what I'm talking about...Just looking to generate some conversation on the topic....

feel better soon!

too funny! LMAO