Dadkins8

Please know that it is your choice to tell others or not. However, there will always be those who like to talk. Just keep doing what you are doing and hold your head high. As we bandsters all know....this is not easy. We still must all work to get our weight off. It was great that you planned ahead for your meal today. It makes it alot easier to share in the family gathering. I ate what everyone else had. However, I could barely have a spoon full of each. However, I was able to get a taste. Good luck!

Good luck as you embark on your journey. They just changed the site. I am getting use to it myself. You are doing great as you have already figured out how to post to your blog!

I have been there myself. However, I really took my time eating today. I know it hurts so bad when you don't chew something correctly. Good luck as you continue on your journey!

You have done a wonderful job! Congrats! I hope I am there at one year. Keep working hard!

That is wonderful! Keep up the great job! I am glad that everything is going well for you! Best of luck over the holidays!

Wow, my experience was totally different. I had a my second fill. I have a total of 4.5 in my band. I have had a difficult time eating anything for the first week. It all came back up. However, I learned how to adjust to make it work. I know everyone is different. You may just need more in your band. Trust me when I say you will know when you had enough. I often wondered how would I know. Well with this second fill...I know. Good luck!

That is wonderful! These stories are so inspiring it helps those of us who still have a few more miles to travel in our journey. Thanks for sharing!

I am sorry but I have no idea about that. However, remember the first 6 weeks were for healing. I know how hungry I felt. I even went to bed hungry quite a few nights. I was thankful to get a fill. It was really simple for me and I really didn't feel much of anything. Also, are you exercising. When I hit a plateau, I started to really exercise. The weight started to move. I also made sure to get around 1,000 or a little more calories a day to keep my body from going in starvation mode. Good luck!

I didn't lose much at the beginning. It did pick up when I added exercise. However, I think you need to give your body a little time to heal and adjust. I know when I was about 5 to 6 weeks out, it really picked up. However, I still hit plateaus. Then, boom...I'm off again. I am just about 4 months out and have loss 43 lbs. However, I felt just like you at the beginning. I thought I should have loss 20 lbs that first week. LOL

Yes, and it was usually due to not getting enough water or protein. Make sure that you are getting the nutrients that your body needs. Since having my second fill, I have had to go back to drinking a protein shot a day. To ensure that I am getting my protein. Also, you might try journaling so you can see what you are eating and when you feel tired. Good luck and I hope you get some energy back soon!

You are off to a wonderful start. I think it is wonderful that you are thinking about the tools that you will need. That is so important. I have found that when I was post op and had a bad day, it was because I was not prepared or did not have my tools...in the form of planning out my day as far as protein and water. I am wishing you the best on your journey. This site is also a wonderful resource to add to your tools!

I am still working through my second fill. However, I now know that feeling of when to stop. It hurts like $#@@. I must chew, chew, and chew. I am still debating getting a little removed. I know at least once a day I feel like I could get sick. It might just be too much.

Good luck as you get ready to embark on your journey. You are already off to a great start being so persistent when you had other obsacles thrown your way. That will really help you on your journey. I know you will do great!

My doctor told me to walk for the first six weeks as I healed. He encouraged me to walk as much as I felt able to do. He did not want me to lift more than 10 pounds until I was out pass my 6 week mark. I would definately call and find out from the doctor when you can begin those things. Good luck!

Lemonchick you are doing great. I do use this site as my main form of support. The support group that my doctor offers is mostly geared toward the gastric bypass patients. I have found this site to really help keep me focused and on track. Good luck on your journey!

Lemonchick you are doing great. I do use this site as my main form of support. The support group that my doctor offers is mostly geared toward the gastric bypass patients. I have found this site to really help keep me focused and on track. Good luck on your journey!

Are you pre surgery or post surgery? Just be careful with lifting things. I am hopeful that this is pre surgery. I know I was not allowed to lift anything more than 8 lbs after my surgery. I just want you to be safe!

I keep a journal. It really helps me to stay focused. I put in how much exercise I am getting. Also, I keep track of how many grams of protein, ounces of water, and the vitamins that I have taken. Sometimes, I write my thoughts and feeling about things but not too often. I do most of that on this website. Also, I put my daily weight. It is refreshing to see it go down in print.

It is so true that so many of us had "relationships" with food. I think that everybody has a vice that they use to cope with stress and the challenges of everyday life. You are doing great to think of this as a new beginning and to know that you must change your mind and attitude about food. I think for me over 75% of this is mental. The rest is physical. Good luck as you begin your journey.

I was in the same boat as you when I went in for my first fill. I ate a "normal" breakfast. Then, I went light for lunch. That wasn't doctor's orders. However, no one gave me any specifics. It worked out fine. My first fill was done in his office. He just felt my stomach until he found my port. Took this super long needle (didn't like the sight of that), and injected the fluid. I didn't feel a thing. I was so surprised. I thought for sure it would hurt. I was slightly hungry before going in. However, I was not when I left. I didn't mind my first fill at all. The second one.....now that is another story....still getting use to it.

Mardot, You will get a lot of support from this site. I visit it everyday to help me stay focused. Keep coming back and reading. You will be able to share with others who understand exactly what you are going through.

Please make sure to incorporate exercise. That was another really important component for me.

You go girl! You are such an inspiration to so many of us. This is my support group and reading your story just pushes me that much harder. All I can say is WOW! Keep on going! I know that last time my bp was 104/62. I have a feeling I will be off of those meds soon. Keep us posted.

As so many of us mention on this site, it is a journey. You must stay focused and really listen to your body. As many of you know, I had a second fill and had found it very difficult the first several days to keep anything down. However, I did manage to get it all figured out. I must eat the bites SUPER small. I need to eat super slow. That means I must take a small bite, chew it 30 times, and then wait a while until my next bite. I warned my family that it will take me a lot longer to eat a meal with them. Also, I need to make sure when I introduce a new food to proceed even slower to ensure that I am able to eat it. Prior to my second fill I could eat bread. However, I was pretty much staying away from most carbs. So, it has not been too difficult giving that up entirely. The funny thing through all of this is that my weight has maintained and not gone down. I truly feel it is because I wasn't getting enough calories. My doctor did say that this could happen. However, I must stay the course and keep on walking and journaling my protein and food. :smile2:

Goodluck bluerose! I know all of the pre op stuff makes you feel like you are jumping through hoops. I know I was glad to have done it because the first group I went to sent me running. I found them very cold and not really all that understanding. After trying it on my own for a while. I found another group. They made you feel that they were there for you and would support you through this journey. It was a world of difference! In that sense, all of the pre op stuff helped me determine which group of peoples I felt comfortable working with. I wish you the best as you embark on your weight loss journey!