Jannalise

How soon after surgery do you get the fill? Is there criterea to get it? Someone said you have to have not lost weight first before they will fill you?

Sounds sooo good but it has rice. I thought we couldn't do rice? Is it ok to eat banded?

That makes sense! I never really understood. I will try that ice trick. That sounds like a great idea. I get so thirsty so it's really hard, but I will do it. Thanks for the replies.

Drink while we eat? I know we aren't supposed to..but I don't really know why? It's an extremely hard habbit for me to break. I'm only still on mushy food and soups but I always find myself reaching for my water. Can someone explain to me why or rather what happens when we drink while eating?

I LOVE your motivation! You keep me smiling:) This lap band has really changed me too. I feel great, full of energy and I love how I can actually feel fullness. I honestly can't remember feeling full before this band...thus the weight gain. I can't wait to hear your success stories and now especially about when you hit the 30 pount mark. That will be such a huge milestone for you! You are doing great and thanks for always being so positive. {{{Hugs}}}

You'll do great! And come here often it's full of so much information to help you. I'd be lost without this site. Congrats so far on your 5 lbs.!!!

Don't compare yourself to anyone but yourself. How far have you come since your band? Maybe it doesn't show on the scale but you are here blogging which means you are still motivated. Look for the things you have changed and focus on them. Some people don't do well taking in more than one small change at a time. I think we are always trying to keep up with everyone else in life we forget to be good to ourselves. This is YOUR journey and however long this journey takes is up to you. As long as you don't forget to enjoy each stage of it. I'm taking each stage and really taking my time to get to know myself again. I have been so lost that I lost touch with so many things that are slowly coming back to me. I"m in no way competing with anyone to see who gets there the fastest. Instead i'm doing what it takes to make sure I make permanent changes...even if it takes me twice as long. I want to understand my body and how it reacts to foods mentally and physiaclly. I'm taking my time and doing the best I can. If I mess up, so be it...I get up dust myself off and say ok take 2. We are all human, with strengths in different areas. Find your strengths and let them help you. Vent anytime...it really helps!

Cami - I too am 8 days post op. I am amazed how I feel Kind of like I didn't even have surgery. I cleaned today even vacumed with no issues. 1 week makes all the difference in the world. Congrats on your weight loss. I'm down 12 pounds also but I have been doing protein shakes and puddings/yogurt for a couple of days now. My downfall is I feel hungry and have since about day 3 post op. I've been really good with sticking to the liquids but my engergy really boosted up once I put in a few more calores. Congratulations to you for your 12 pounds!!!!!!!

Sounds like you had a great time. It has to be water if your feet are swelling. Sounds like you did great. No matter what you lived your life and had a great vacation with foods in control. That to me is paradise :0

I must have missed a step in my banding process. I went to one seminar then the Dr. had me do all my testing and in 6 weeks I was banded. I really never got anything on what to eat and when- other than to be on liquids for 1 week post op - then mushy food for 1 week then I see my Dr. from there again. I was never told not to drink from a straw - I had no pre op diet (although my Dr. said on paper I look like i'm athletic) and I'm kind of thinking I should buy a book or something on this band and foods. Maybe it will all come on my appt. the 17th. For now I am eating soups, protien shakes, jello, yogurts and drinking lots of water and crystal light. I feel really good and I don't have any issues eating/drinking or with gas. In fact I had NO issues with gas even after my surgery. I didn't know the straw part so I've been drinking with one and I've had no issues. When you guys say gas do you mean like burping or GAS down the other end?LOL sorry but I don't have either so i'm not sure. I'm not comlaining trust me, just worried maybe something is wrong, i'm literally having no issues other than wondering if I'm doing this right. Well - Cheers to feeling good and I hope this continues and I start to see the weight drop soon. I keep reminding myself - It's only been a week, BE PATIENT. I'm truly amazed that I have been able to stick to this so far with no temptations. So far so good. I am starting to feel hungrier each day so my 300 cal days are now about 650 calories per day. Is that enough for now? Because thats about all I can get in.:rolleyes2:

Thank you so much for the advice. It seems like pretty much if we listen to our bodies we can live with choices and be ok. A friend of mine got banded a week ago and is eating Wendy's chili because she is starving and found it worked well for her and she swears its only 220 calories and 18 protien. I'm too scared to try it but she is fine. It's amazing how different we all are with this band. I know this is a lifestyle change and I plan to use this band to help me recover from my old habbits.

I like to have wine with friends too. I know it will be a while before I can have it again but I proabably will allow myself a small glass in the future. I know moderation is the key to success for me and I also know myself well enough to know if I deprive myself totally...I go overboard later. I hope you atleast enjoyed yourself?

My insurance is covered at 90% as well and it's all on the back end billed to me. I was told I can make monthly payment if I need to. Check to see if this is an option for you?

It's sad but true. I can relate so some of it. My biggest light bulb moment is when I realized I couldn't cry when I ate...that opened my eyes to the idea I had Sh** to deal with. I have delt with most of it...but my years of bad habbits equaled years of not crying becuase my mouth and mind took me briefly away from what was on my mind and in my life. It took associating it to realize the link for me and now, i'm here on my journey to turn old habbits into new fresh better ones. It's a hard habbit to break, but support is my key to success and we all have different motivators and needs to succeed. Sometimes we may feel just as disgusting as people view us, only instead of being shamed a hug and a friend to talk to often are lacking in that persons life. That is just my view and opinion on the topic. It's a deep rooted extremely personal issue that we all can relate to in very different yet identical ways.

Are we not supposed to drink through a straw? I did not know that.