ElfiePoo

Depends on what you mean by *exercise*. According to the experts, exercise involves things like target heart rate, cardio, yada yada. I can't be bothered. However, as the weight is coming off, I'm enjoying a much more active lifestyle. My husband, son and I have been competing against each other with the games on our Wii Fit. Who knew that virtual hula hoops was a killer?? Instead of sending my husband out to shovel the 14" of snow we got yesterday, I went out and shoveled steadily for 30 minutes and then spent another 15 minutes clearing off the car. Then we took the snowshoes down and had a great time slogging around the fields over 4' drifts and having a snowball fight. I just found out someone is teaching Tai Chi classes locally, so I'm going to sign up for them. Something I've always wanted to do but felt too ungainly and uncoordinated to do before. .

The 'number' of fills does not matter. It's the amount they put in on the fill. Some doctors only put .5cc in at a time so it will take many more fills to get to restriction than doctors like mine are much more aggressive with fills. If the swelling is going down within a week and you no longer have restriction, I'd make an appointment to get another fill. Some people say you can get a fill every week, but (and especially as you get closer to that sweet spot) I'd suggest every 2 weeks to make sure all the swelling is going down and let you get used to what you can no longer eat. Hang in there...eventually you'll get restriction and it won't feel like you're dieting. .

Bobby, Just curious. It's taken 6 *years* to get to restriction?? .

I've given up trying to eat breakfast because I'm too tight. It's just a Protein shake made with milk and a banana. I try to drink warm decaf tea through the morning and by lunch can usually eat solid food. dinner is not a difficulty. .

Every doctor is different. Mine does each phase of the postop diet (liquids, mushies, etc.) for 2-3 days each and by the end of two weeks we're back on solid foods. I've read where some here are back on solids within days after surgery. One lady said her doctor had her on liquids for 30 days. I don't know how anybody does it...and based on the posts here, strongly doubt that many do. .

My .02... I have a very active job. My surgeon told me I could go back to work in a couple days with lifting as normal after two weeks. Until he found out that normal lifting was 25 pounds plus. Then he told me no more than 5 pounds for the first 2 weeks...no more than 10 pounds for 4 more weeks and then...maybe...depending on how my port was feeling (as in soreness) 15 pounds. I was not allowed to lift 25 lbs for about 10 weeks. I went back to work the day after surgery and just did some desk work for a few hours before going home and crashing. The second day was better. I found that for almost 2 months after surgery, my port was quite sore at the end of a day because I was on my feet, bending, stretching, lifting and moving the entire time. I would guess this has been your major problem and it may have been compounded by falling on your part. I know when I leaned over too quickly into the washer and hit my port with the side of the washer, I was sorer than usual for a few days. I can't imagine how it must've hurt to fall on it. I wouldn't let him take it out just yet. I would start being very conscious of how much weight I'm lifting. If needed, ask for a note to take to your work that you cannot lift over 5-10# and give your port site time to heal. My surgeon could tell by looking at my port site that it was inflamed and most likely because I was lifting too much (or even not too much but for long periods of time). I've worked a checkout and there's a lot of upper body movement going on which may be aggravating your port. I was told to put a warm compress on mine in the evenings when I got home. You might try that. Hang in there.

What restrictions do you think you can't live with? .

I decided to start this tonight and am here to say I had 'no problem' eating the rice. What I do is take a slotted spoon and scoop out 2/3 cup of the mixture *without* the broth. The broth is just flavoring. As I took that last bite, I reached the point where I felt full. Good timing. As I did in the past, I'm not going to eat my vegies or fruit with my meal. Instead, I'll wait for 2.5 hours and have a whole pear (sans skin since I have problem with the skin) which counts as two fruits (which I'm allotted with my meal). We'll see if I'm able to eat the whole thing. I have to say I'm looking forward to this since I feel so much more energetic even by the 2nd day. .

Susan, Hang in there. You can push your doctor for fills every 2 weeks. I had my surgery on 11/3/09 and my first fill of 3cc exactly 4 weeks later. Then another 3cc fill two weeks after that. another 1cc over the next two weeks and then they started doing .5cc since I was getting close...but again every two weeks. I had my 6th fill last Thursday, only a week after the one before because it was apparent I had no restriction again, and am now at 8.5cc and <knock on wood> have hit the sweet spot. Over the last two weeks I've lost about 8 pounds and it's all due to the band stopping me from eating to excess. You'll get there but you have to be patient *and* make your doctor do fills every 2 weeks if you need them. .

As a diabetic, I was a bit worried about the carbs as well, but surprisingly, they weren't an issue. I didn't get that carb overload feeling that I normally would get after eating this many carbs and I my sugar readings didn't spike like I thought they would. I think we each have unique nutritional requirements which is why some people do well on a low carb and some don't and why some do well on a high carb and others don't. The trick for each of us is to find a healthy pattern of eating that we can stick with...a lifestyle change rather than diet. I agree it is very restrictive which is why I didn't last beyond two weeks the last time. The difference for me this time is that I have restriction and couldn't quit and eat out now even if I wanted to. Which brings me to a possible dilemma. I haven't yet tried eating the rice or Beans since my last fill and the only reason I'm considering it at all is because my 17 year old wants to go on it again and won't without a 'buddy'. Here's hoping I can still eat the rice. Oh and by the way...rice and beans when combined are a complete source of Protein...or so I've read.

I was told not to eat for an hour after a meal. Again, you don't want to help your food slide through too quickly, but also your pouch at that point should be full and to add liquid in on top may be enough to start you PBing and sliming. Not a nice end to a meal. .

I read somewhere that stress also causes your body to deposit your fat in your belly...something about cortisol, I think. I know I'm going to need a tummy tuck...I'm just not sure I'm going to do it. I'm 53 and it's not like I ever plan on wearing a bikini (or even a bathing suit) in public so I'm thinking one of those body shapers. I've heard good things about them. .

Awwww...that is so cute! And much nicer than a 17 year old son who tells me that if I could staple my arms to my sides, I could do the whole flying squirrel thing. :rolleyes2: .

Up until the last week or so, it was all in my boobs, hips and legs. I'm *finally* losing the stomach. I don't know how much of that is due to my insulin resistance. I know when you're insulin resistant, you tend to hold a lot of belly fat and it's only in the last month that my sugar levels have come down to the point where I'm becoming less insulin resistant. .

I use brown rice. Right now I have something I bought from Trader Joe's that's organic, but I've used regular Uncle Ben's brown rice...not the instant stuff. I just take small bites, chew well and then put my fork down and wait a minute or so between bites. .

This is too funny! I don't own any sweatshirts and needed something warm to wear outside this morning to shovel snow. So I raided my husband's closet hoping he'd have an oversized sweatshirt I could squeeze into. Not only did I find a sweatshirt but I didn't have to 'squeeze'! It fits me 'perfectly' (but it is a bit big on him). Ten or 15 more pounds and I can fit in his heavy flannel shirts. Woohoo! The look on his face when he finally 'noticed' I was wearing his shirt was priceless! .

I just thought I'd put this out there for any interested. A few years back I had great success with this very simplified version of the Rice House Diet. Obviously there are many many more choices you can make regarding food, but this is what worked best for me. I know 'rice diet' sounds like a fad diet but it's really just a very healthy vegetarian way of eating. It's a low fat, low sodium diet and the calories run roughly 1200-1300 per day. Breakfast -2/3 cup of rice & Beans 2 small fruit OR 3 cups of low carb vegies (raw...half that if cooked) OR 1 fruit and 2 cups vegies (raw) lunch and dinner are the same thing. I usually would save one of my fruits and eat it mid-meal as a snack. I lost 9 lbs in one week and 5 lbs the following week. I was never hungry, most likely because the beans and rice make a complete Protein. Here's my bean & rice basic recipe: Saute 1 med. onion and 1-2 cloves of garlic in 2 tsp olive oil. Toss in three 15 oz cans of beans (rinsed) and 3 cups of cooked brown rice. Pour in enough low sodium chicken broth to cover. Add spices and bring to simmer. Turn off and add any additional ingredients you'd like (e.g. cilantro) From here you can get adventurous depending on your mood of the day. Here are some varieties we've tried: Southwestern: 1/2 tsp turmeric, 1 tsp cumin. Add a handful of chopped cilantro after it comes to a simmer. Spanish: Before adding chicken broth, toss in a 15 oz can of diced tomatoes (we puree them because my son hates tomato bits). Then add chicken broth to cover and 1 tsp oregano, 2 tsp basil or just a tablespoon of McCormack's Italian seasoning. We like to mix up the beans as well. I'll use 2-3 different kinds of beans in a batch which might include pinto, red beans, kidney beans, black beans, garbanzo beans and, when I remember to make them ahead of time because they're dried...Jacob's cattle beans. .

Yep, it's normal. My port 'bothered' me in one way or another for about 8 weeks. Then, just as they predicted, it no longer did and I barely remember it's there. .

Todd, the fill isn't awesome...*you* are. Your progress has been amazing! Keep up the good work! .

Yes this is normal. It's not the band that gives you restriction, it's the fill. You may not even have restriction after your first, second or third fills, depending on how much/little your doctor puts in. I have 12cc band and had no restriction after my first fill of 3cc and a second fill of 3cc. In fact, even at 7.5cc I did not have restriction. Now, at 8.5cc I do. You should be able to go in every 2 weeks for a fill until you get to restriction. How soon you get to restriction is up to you. Don't let it be up to an arbitrary schedule set by the doctor.

Running at 225 pounds would cause far more harm to my joints than any benefit I could get out of running, but I'm up for 'walking'. My husband and his 80 year old mother have decided they want to walk the Mackinaw bridge next Labor Day (5 miles I think) and, as much as I intensely hate crowds, I'd like to do it with them. So I'm in. .

Here's the website. As for should we be doing it...the first line on the site says it all: Have you lost control of your weight loss surgery tool? Generally when it is suggested that someone does a pouch test, it's because that person has fallen away from what they're supposed to be doing and this is just a good way to get them back to it. When I found myself losing my way, I did a cleansing fast for 3 days. I think it's whatever works for you. .

Welcome to the club. But you have to admit, the pain is a great reminder to chew, eh? :thumbup: .

Prior to my last fill...tacos from Taco Bell. Now ground beef gives me difficulty so it's a baked potato with broccoli and cheese from Wendy's. I'm with Jachut though. Lately, when we've been out during mealtime and my husband asks if I want to eat at one of the fast food places, I decline. I'd rather go home and not waste my calories on something that's just way inferior to what I can make myself. If I'm just patient for half an hour, I can make a small baked potato with broccoli and cheese (and it's real cheese!) at home. .

Yes, I get full from slider foods...but it's the kind of full I got preband. In other words, I'm only full after I've eaten way more than I should have. I bought some Gorton seasoned fish fillets and I just pop one in the oven when it's just me. It's a simple enough thing to steam some broccoli (just do extra and you can heat it up for another meal) or open up a can of vegies or even have some type of salad for the vegies. A baby yukon gold potato is the perfect size for us and cooks quickly in the oven or microwave or even boiled. Small skillet steaks, thin pork chops...all cook quickly in a pan. My favorite is to take a chicken breast and slice it in half horizontally so it's thin (or buy chicken tenders - a filet of the best part of the breast), brown it up quickly, pour a bit of salsa over it and let it simmer for a few minutes. I find it helps with the dryness of the chicken so it goes down a bit easier. No, slider means exactly that. It's sliding through your band and that's why you're 'famished' when you eat them. You need to stay away from them. I find that I need to avoid casseroles because they're slider foods for me. Actually, anything with too much liquid is a slider. For example, I mix a bit of lite mayo with chopped up chicken or tuna and make tuna salad. A little moistens it and makes it taste better. Too much and it becomes a slider food.