Banannie

Actually, we can all track it ourselves - I just made a second ticker and put it in my signature - that way I have to hold myself accountable!

I like the idea of a challenge, too! Either weight loss or exercise driven... I'm up for either!

So I went in today for my first fill - I was totally freaked out over my fill, which didn't help. Smallish needle, just lay back, lift your legs to make the port "pop" up (no flouro), five seconds later, I had 1.5cc in my 4cc band, with really NO pain (and I'm a wimp, so I was expecting a little and "waiting" for pain). Since all my fills and visits for the first year are covered with my surgery fee, they don't do aggressive fills for the first one. They want to let us get used to the restriction. I can go back in a week if/when I need more... <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

So I had the opposite experience of Nat today for my first fill - I was totally freaked out over my fill, which didn't help. Smallish needle, just lay back, lift your legs to make the port "pop" up (no flouro), five seconds later, I had 1.5cc in my 4cc band, with really NO pain (and I'm a wimp, so I was expecting a little and "waiting" for pain). Since all my fills and visits for the first year are covered with my surgery fee, they don't do aggressive fills for the first one. They want to let us get used to the restriction. I can go back in a week if/when I need more...

Nat - after hearing you overfull on your pizza, I managed to resist mine - completely! I did have two bites of a piece of yummmmmy garlic bread. Yay! That pizza and that garlic bread (and the frosty beverages consumed with them) are certainly part of the reason my name is ChubbyGirl! :mad:

Oh, geez. I'm scheduled for my fill with the famous Jessie Ahroni herself tomorrow at 9am. I'm going to a great pub tonight with friends that has the BEST pizza and TO DIE FOR garlic bread with real garlic. I know without the fill I can eat this stuff... I so totally want it... I'm having a hard time telling myself no! Bad Annie!

Steph, you crack me up! Nat, go get you some of that!

(running scared of the thoughts of a big needle sticking out of my tummy TOMORROW) I really want my fill tomorrow but man these visuals are freaking me out! Annie

Guys, this info on the fills and how you're dealing with them is SO helpful... thanks for posting the details!!!

Kirsten - great idea! Bandiva - report back on how it goes after you're all done - my first fill is Thursday and I'm NERVOUS!!!

Yes, what have people been getting stuck on? I've been eating chicken since I don't get my fill until Thursday, but I've been careful with it... Just curious as to what are the trigger foods!

Siyah (well, really Siyah's "mom") - nice job on the eating out. I've been avoiding it a bit since good greasy restaurant food is one of my downfalls - I'll have to keep an eye out for good soups! Kirsten - I was thinking the same thing - might be good to start a new thread each month so it's "manageable" but I'm fine here, too (how's that for non-committal!) Annie

Patty - I hate needles, too, and am afraid for my fill in a week - please let us know how it goes!

Kay - very well written! We're not going to sort this emotional eating stuff out overnight. It's going to take time (and likely a handful of fills) for most of us to be in a position to feel comfortable with food. It's so cool you're already "feeling" rather than finding that crutch - keep posting, it's great to hear!

Interesting - I guess I'm the opposite - I see that you've already done EXTREMELY well - 33lbs is GREAT!!! If I personally say "oh, I'm going to crash diet" and it doesn't work, it really gets me down and starts the same cycle that gets me to quit dieting over and over again! Just want to make sure you're ok - because you truly do have great weight loss to date! I'm careful to keep my thoughts in check right now especially since often we won't even notice our first fill... I'm afraid I'll set myself up for failure that way, as I would be disappointed that it didn't get easier right away. One thing about this group is you get to see and learn different styles and thought processes. What works for one of us, would derail another. So, if I were in your shoes and trying to crash diet, I'd do a high protien, "good carb" diet (veggies/fruits) that is low in fat (which Atkins sometimes isn't) at a max of 1000-1200 cal/day. Measure your foods, write or journal what you eat, exercise, and it should work!

Okie/Kristin - why? Don't get me wrong, we all want to lose weight, and fast, but this isn't a race. You've already lost a lot!!!

Jaqui, don't stop giving input! I was just asking since we've had a few folks "pushing their luck" on following their doc's instructions - if you're following yours and doing well - that's marvelous! Keep up the good work and know that once we get a fill or two in us, we won't be starving any more...

Kirsten - THANKS for the update! I'm totally and completely terrified of needles so all the "oh it was easy" stories I can hear, the better! Do you have to go on liquids or mushies for a few days? Seems like some docs say yes, some no...

Jaqui, at 2 1/2 weeks post op my surgeon would have killed me if I ate a taco salad! What did your doc say for your post-op diet? Most people are on liquids for a time (I was 2 weeks), mushie/soft foods for a time (I was another 2 weeks) then solid foods. But, all docs are different!

Brandi - you have amazing strength. I'm so proud of you for choosing to do something better with your life. My (now ex) husband told me on Jan 2, 2006 that he was sleeping with a coworker, had been for 2 1/2 weeks (weeks, not months) and he was willing to let our 7+ year relationship go. Over a 2 1/2 week fling. He also insisted he had been happy and I hadn't done anything wrong. I gave him one shot the next day with a marriage counselor, when that didn't work I filed for divorce, and only a few weeks later she dumped him. Karma's a bi*#h. Just know that you are a great person, and we all love you!!!

I'm the same way - I'm trying to convince myself once a week. Hasn't worked yet in 4 weeks!

Nat - hang in there girl! We've got your back! BK - hope your dad is doing better today! B-man - happy birthday!

Hi Siyah! I'm in Kent and yes it's just gorgeous out! But it took me 2 hours and 15 minutes to get home from downtown Seattle last night - that's the part of the snow I don't like - on a normal day, that would have been a half hour drive, tops. For everyone who's stuck in a plateau on your weight - I was totally frustrated and stuck on my weight loss last week, too - actually went up 2 lbs. I was thinking HOW????? when I struggle to get 1000 calories some days. Well, my body had been holding onto Water, and this week, I'm down 6.4 lbs! So you know there's NO WAY I lost that much fat in one week. Plain and simple, the scale may not always move, as our bodies are wonderous and complicated things, but behind the scenes, if you really truly are doing things right, stuff is happening!!!!!! So watch what you eat (journal if you have to!), get your Protein, get your water, try to stay away from too many carbs, don't take in too much salt, get exercise, and IT WILL HAPPEN!!!!!!!! If you get stuck for a few weeks on the scale, you really need to honestly journal - measure and weigh your foods, as I know I ALWAYS overestimate my portions (and underestimate calories). I went through all the emotions, too - I remember crying over the stupidest thing a few weeks after surgery, and probably was a little depressed. Think of it - you body is confused. You not only have DRASTICALLY changed what you put in it, you let someone cut into it! Think of how your body feels - I can picture it throwing it's hands up in the air and saying "what are you doing to me???" So it's no wonder it's contributing to odd moods... I'm feeling pretty darn good now, and I'm at 4 weeks today, so it does get better!!

Steph - My mushies requirement was soft foods as well, so I've done similar - yogurt, cottage cheese, super soft meats, lots of scrambled eggs and egg beaters, etc. I'm just afraid of PB-ing cuz I hate throwing up! Good info on the lunch meat. I may try a little chicken with teriyaki, BBQ or hot sauce so it's moist... and veggies! I couldn't think of a way to get soft veggies while on mushies and for the first time ever ever ever I actually want some green beans! (I'm normally the one who avoids veggies...)

So all of you on real foods, what were the first things you tried? I'm so used to yogurt and cottage cheese, I don't even know where to start!!!