sandradee0124

I was struggling with liquids until I found some new ideas on sparkpeople.com: 1. Water with lemon (or line, or orange just a drop) 2. New crystal light flavors (Metabolism and Fiber are very good!) 3. Really watered down iced coffee 4. Mixing Snapple Diet Lemonade and Diet Team for Diet Arnold Palmer :-). Starting last week I wouldn't eat the next meal until I drank 20 oz of liquids between this meal and the prior one. That helps me a lot. It has also reduced between meal snacking (as previous poster think that hunger was really thirst?). I used to love water, I just can't do it right now. Good luck!

Update -- spoke with the doctor who told me my port is upper right, he had to do a lot of prodding to get everything (including hernia) done and he thought it was just muscles. He told me to go to ER if I had problems with eating, drinking, breathing and come in tomorrow just to check. Thank you for your responses and support!

Reaching in a cupboard yesterday morning to pull something out for the picnic and I pulled something. Felt something "pop". Just under my lowest rib on my left side. The initial pain was pretty bad, but it seemed to go away in about a minute. Kept on getting ready to go. Bent over to get some flip flops to wear and the pain came right back! Took a couple Tylenol capsules. Went to the parade and concert. Ate fine (no problems other than finding decent food to eat around hot dogs and bratwurst lol). No other issues. Got home, still sore like I pulled a muscle. Put some ben gay on it and went to bed where I could not get comfortable. Finally put a heating pad on and fell asleep. No better this morning. I want to go work out and go to water aerobics but I'm gonna lay low for another hour and see if it improves at all. I'll be calling the doctor after 8 -- even though they aren't there I'll get someone to call me back. Pulled muscle? Haven't done any weights on lower body and those muscles were tore up anyways during the surgery? Wonder if I didn't do something with the band or the port? I didn't really strain that hard, and I'm 6 weeks post op?? Any suggestions or insight are greatly appreciated. Hope everyone had a nice fourth!!! Sandy :frown:

When I was at the post-surgery visit (6/14), I asked about taking a probiotic. I had started taking one in February 10 but stopped a week prior to surgery. In my case its Align which is in capsule form. I was told OK. Started taking it around the 18th of June and I can say it is working well at helping my digestion both in gas and constipation; both of which are basically gone. Still have some issues if I eat later at night and don't walk afterwards, but otherwise I notice a big difference. On my way to the gym for some early morning elliptical and a water aerobics class. Have a wonderful day everybody!

I'm in for 20 lbs

Nice! I'm glad you are happy, and congrats on your check list! Best wishes!

Next year I'll be able to say I'm no longer dependent on airplane seat extenders, shopping at Lane Bryant, and not being able to go on roller coaster rides. This year, 6 weeks in, I'm no longer dependent on food as my primary source of focus during the day. I'm no longer dependent on needing three minutes to recover from walking up a flight of stairs. And no longer dependent on worrying about my feet swelling and my blood pressure. That is a good feeling. However, at the base of all this is the fact that I live in a country where people fought and died to allow me to enjoy those lifestyle changes, and I'm grateful for living here in USA. We are watching fireworks over Coronado on the Navy Base in San Diego. Beautiful day full of picnics, games, beach and awesome fireworks. Have a great day!

Congratulations and enjoy the day!

Congratulations, and have a great holiday yourself :-)

Lost a total of 14.4 lbs against a challenge of 15. Loved this, count me in for Labor Day :-) :thumbup:

I want to get a Wii -- there are a lot of programs to do on there that would switch things up! I worked up to what I'm doing, started walking two days post op and was in the gym a week later. Now, at week 6, I do 45 minutes a day, 6 days a week on the elliptical and 3 days a week 30 sets of upper body strength training. Released to do lower body and core next week. Added Water aerobics once a week starting last week and adding Zumba once a week starting next week. I guess that is averaging about 75-90 minutes a day? I love feeling healthier, which I attribute to the exercise. I enjoy going to the gym (couch potato turned gym rat?). I have to get up at 3:00 am during the week to get it done, but it is worth it. I think its great you are posting your goals for motivation and accountability. Keep it up and good luck!:thumbup:

Congratulations! Rest and heal!

Fantastic post, and great information! Congratulations on your success and your great insight :-)

And I just got home from the gym -- down 4 lbs so who knows. But we will make it! :-)

Yesterday my workout buddy, who is following a diet MOST of the time told me she lost 9 lbs in two weeks. (She weighs about 40 lbs less than me and isn't banded). OK, I'm eating 1/2 what she is, working my butt off (I guess not!), and today I put on jeans that are no looser than they were the week before my surgery. Unhappy describes it. I won't get on the scale anymore because its not moving like I want it to. I can't even eat this week (ref previous blogs) and I'm still not moving in the right direction. I don't eat outside the program, and probably intake between 800 - 1000 calories most days and up to 1200 max. I work out SEVEN days a week. I am 5 1/2 weeks post surgery and I actually lost more weight the two weeks before surgery than I have since. I'm missing a piece of this puzzle somewhere. I'm kind of tired of self-talking myself into doing the right things when I'm seeing no results! FRUSTRATION REIGNS.

You aren't alone! There are a lot of people that are blogging or in the forums that talk about a stall. It sucks -- I hate being in it, but I decided last night, like you, to just push through it. You have a lot going on right now with your move! Have fun at your friends and take care!

Congratulations! You've done fantastic! I'm sure you feel better which is half the "battle". And the fact that you've lost the same pounds that have come back over and over is really a huge accomplishment! Thank you for your motivating post!:thumbup:

That is fantastic! Congratulations! And always, always thank you so much for the recipes! They help me add some variety and great taste. I made one for friends at work and they raved about it!!! Many thanks, and Happy Weekend!

I used heating pads, helped with the pain and the swelling. I retained a lot of Water for a couple weeks, I found walking, drinking crystal light metabolism tea (green tea/mango??) helped too. Try not to weigh yourself? They pump you full of so much stuff IVs, CO2 that it takes awhile for your body to get rid of all of it. Congrats and good luck!!!

We were talking about the body bugg and I wonder about whether its worth the cost. I did find some oneline reviews to look at. It basically tells you how many calories you burn? Is it based on your metabolism or averages for height and weight?

Great post, thank you! And congratulations on your fantastic weight loss. You are always very inspiring to me and I love to read your posts -- they always make me feel hopeful. Sandy Devine

I love the site! She has written several cookbooks which are great!

I agree with the previous posts. Follow your doctor's instructions, but by then you'll be having a great time with your friends! I grew up in Chicago; love it there!

Definitely notice the difference after the fill. If I eat too fast, or not chew enough its right there! I call it one of my "gentle reminders".

Yesterday I made lunch for myself and a couple co-workers. I might not have ate enough as I'm watching the fill and taking it easy. Ate around 11:30 and didn't eat again before going to the gym at 5. Got on the elliptical and started kicking it up. I am off my bp medications and I can get my heart rate into target with a little effort, so I was working pretty hard. About 30 minutes into a 45 minute workout I got really hot, sweaty and a little dizzy. My stomach was GROWLING. Loud. I stopped, took several sips of water, and kept going. I got off at 45 and I was downright dizzy. I sat in a chair along the wall for about 20 minutes before I was able to get up and walk to the car. Then I waited about an hour to meet a friend for dinner. Headache, dizzy, not good. I need to pack more snacks and protein, and try to eat more at a single setting. I'm pretty sure I had a cup of food at lunch, but working out on an empty stomch didn't go well. Iget all my protein in for the day, so I am missing something somewhere. I was still a little lightheaded this morning, and skipped the gym. Brought some fruit, tuna snacks and deli turkey to work. If I'm going to work out I am going to have to eat more than 1000 calories a day for sure. If anybody has any suggestions, please let me know. I did not like this feeling. And the kicker? After the fill Monday and fun Tuesday? I have what feels to be less restriction now (at 5.5ccs) than before the fill (at 4.0 ccs). And next fill can't be until 8/6. Ish.