SoccerMomma73

Ice cream from snow....an essential part of childhood!!! It's actually not all that great but a heck of a lot of fun and watching the kids eyes light up when he bit into it it made it all worth it!

Yup, yup, what they all said above...the band is great but a lot of work. I am 2 months post op and at this point able to eat virtually anything, whether I should or not, just in much smaller portions than the old me would have. I don't have great restriction yet but I've only had 1 fill and assume/hope this will continue to improve with each fill. For me to be healthy I needed to learn to slow down and eat quality food instead of worrying about quantity. When I used to look at a menu, I'd automatically exclude something if it didn't sound like a huge amount of food, I no longer think like that, now I look for what sounds good, really really good, and won't be too bad for me and I savor every bite (that I can take)...I used to think I loved food, now I think I used to love eating... and am now learning to truly appreciate good food but not be obsessed about it, it's pretty cool! The band is an amazing thing, but a huge commitment. Don't go into it unless you are totally ready to make it work, or else it won't, and you will have under gone the physical strain of major surgery (it seems minor and is easy to get over but it's still major) plus the financial aspect. I won't say the sleeve and bypass are bad things...if that's what you need to get your weight down to a healthy level then do it, but for me the band has been the right choice. Good luck in your decision, I applaud you for questioning it and not just jumping in blindly expecting a quick fix!!! Good luck!

I was whining earlier today about not being able to make snow ice-cream that I could eat, sooooo...here ya go. 1 large bowl fresh clean snow 2 cups skim milk 1 package sugar free instant pudding Mix the pudding and skim milk until well blended but before it thickens, quickly mix into the snow. Tada! Low fat, sugar-free, and mostly water. We used chocolate...interesting after after the conversations last weekend with the five year old about yellow and brown snow, but still fairly tasty.

I was whining earlier today about not being able to make snow ice-cream that I could eat, sooooo...here ya go. 1 large bowl fresh clean snow 2 cups skim milk 1 package sugar free instant pudding Mix the pudding and skim milk until well blended but before it thickens, quickly mix into the snow. Tada! Low fat, sugar-free, and mostly water. We used chocolate...interesting after after the conversations last weekend with the five year old about yellow and brown snow, but still fairly tasty.

It took me 5-6 days to get the fluid from surgery off and to get the, ahh, poo out, so it was really a week before I saw anything on the scale....try not to get too frustrated, it'll start showing BUT you do need to e working on the exercise too...

Just one more benefit to being self pay I guess, no psych consult! Woohoo!!! In medicine we call it CYA (cover your a--) medicine. I'm sure there's one person out there somewhere who had the procedure expecting the magic quick fix, didn't do what they were supposed to, got stuck, slipped band, etc and then tried to sue their doctor so they all freaked out and started requiring the psych eval.... Just a theory.

Mine were made with water and yep, had massive headaches the first couple days...got better after 5-6 days though. Good luck!

I was allowed 3-4 shakes a day plus the broth, SF jello, SF popsicles, water, crystal light. The shakes have 170 calories so I averaged 600-700 calories a day....I was probably the most tired I have ever been in my entire life those 2 weeks.

I'm a full time single mom and full time family practice physician assistant...both jobs I absolutely adore.

Keep in mind, change isn't always bad...it can be very healthy. I'm only down 30 pounds but can already see some changes taking place...so far all for the better..I do have a few friends who also have weight problems and I'm curious to see how they feel about me in 100 pounds. My place in the group has always been the "biggest" and it's a title I'm gladly giving up...I'm just not sure anyone else is going to be happy taking that spot.

I'm out about the same distance as you (Dec. 16) and it's only been the last week that I don't have pain in my left upper quadrant (stomach area) if I take a deep breath or bend/stretch/etc. It wasn't a bad pain, just a friendly reminder of what I'd been through. My port is way over on the right and is an entirely different feeling, sore and achy if I over do it or bump it, etc...best advice, if you're concerned about it ask your doc...

Hahaha, nope, no falling, at least on my part...however we did stay in the slow lane close to the wall and railing...Connor (who is 5) wiped out repeatedly but took it all in stride. My butt is killing me today but well worth it! I've always wanted to go snow skiing but figure it'll be the death of me, maybe in a couple years, I tried water skiing once...when I was about 15...sheesh, I am just way too big of a wimp for that. I think we'll keep working on skating for a bit before we branch out. I am contemplating a 5K in a couple months but making the commitment is killing me, I'll probably chicken out. One of the best "side effects" from my surgery and life style changes is that Connor, who is a giant 5 year old and the height of an average 8 year old, has slimmed down amazingly. He's never been fat by any means but has always been just a little chubby. Chubby no more! He is long and lean and the jeans he started the school year in are falling off of him. Yay for us!

I went roller skating today!! The last time I went roller skating I was 12, playing a stupid game, fell and had a nasty break to my left wrist which caused all kinds of freakish problems and eventually lead to 2 corrective surgeries.... Today was also my son's first time on skates. I'm sure we were a sight, but we were out there, laughing hysterically, and loving every minute of it. I can already tell my behind and thighs are going to have nasty things to say to me tomorrow but, still, well worth it! I can honestly say 30 pounds ago I would have given up after going around the rink once....if I was brave enough to even put on skates. So yay! Loving life! (and, importantly, no broken bones!!! WOOHOO!!!):biggrin:

I went roller skating today!! The last time I went roller skating I was 12, playing a stupid game, fell and had a nasty break to my left wrist which caused all kinds of freakish problems and eventually lead to 2 corrective surgeries.... Today was also my son's first time on skates. I'm sure we were a sight, but we were out there, laughing hysterically, and loving every minute of it. I can already tell my behind and thighs are going to have nasty things to say to me tomorrow but, still, well worth it! I can honestly say 30 pounds ago I would have given up after going around the rink once....if I was brave enough to even put on skates. So yay! Loving life! (and, importantly, no broken bones!!! WOOHOO!!!):thumbup:

Congrats on finally getting a date. The pre-op sucks but knowing there's an set end makes it bearable....Unlike the poster above the protein shakes do nasty nasty things to my GI tract that no other human should EVER be exposed to...Hope that doesn't hit you!

I tried...it was one of the nastiest things I attempted, I highly do not recommend it.....

I can't tell you why you're getting stuck, just take it slow and chew, chew, chew...if you continue getting stuck go back to liquids and advance slowly. And yes, you can have swelling after a stuck episode, again, back to liquids for 48 hours then advance to mushies x 48, the regular foods with cautions (my docs regimen at least). Good luck!

Whoops, sorry 'bout that, just had me worried! Hope all goes well!

As above in many cases, I'm having trouble with chicken or any "roast" type food...I think it's just that they're so solid I have to check for all of eternity and by the time it gets ready to swallow...bleh.

Oh Tweety, please tell me your doc has discussed this with you!?! Each surgeon is different but I was on 2 weeks of liquids, followed by 2 weeks of mushies (minus meat that was not ground to a spreadable consistancy), Followed by 2 weeks where I could add finely ground meat and toasted whole wheat bread, followed by 2 weeks where I could add deli sliced meats (still no other bread products and fruits/vegetables with peels or that are fibrous)....after those 8 weeks it's regular foods with caution....contact your docs office, they're all very different but they should be able to give you detailed information step by step....Good luck!

I agree with the above...BUT!!! At my first support group meeting (okay, my only support group meeting) we had a lady who was 8 months out and close to 80 pounds lost with no fill (our doc puts nothing in at the time of surgery) so it does happen! Enjoy the restriction while it lasts and maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones!

My office Christmas party fell half way through my 2 week pre-op, I emailed my docs nurse before the part and said... "what if..." her advice was to just get back on the wagon the next day and it wouldn't be a problem....and he never asked Good luck!

I'm not completely on "normal" foods for 2 more weeks and my doc won't allow salad until then. But, now at 6 weeks post-op, I eat beans A LOT...possibly too much if ya know what I mean....I've always liked beans but now I'd eat them all the time if I could. I don't seem to want meat as much as I want to so beans, cheese, and eggs with a little meat are my proteins for now....

Pre-op depends on your doc. Mine was 2, hellishly long, weeks. Some people on here only has 24 hours, some people have as much as 6-8 weeks....average seems to be about 2. Good luck I hope it all goes smoothly!

I have the gowear and am learning to love it. Seems to be fairly accurate (might over estimate my steps a little). I will just say I hated having it on at first, it drove me crazy but I am getting used to it. I have the display and highly recommend it, have discovered it encourages me to get off my duff and moving if I haven't done as much as expected during the day. It is user friendly and I've had no problems with it.