Klisa

I haven't even started counting calories. My doc said to just focus on liquids period so that my stomach could heal...that I could focus on weight loss later. I was banded on 7/30. I'm learning that things have gone pretty well for me compared to some other folks, so I've been fortunate so far. I hope I feel the same after my first fill. I'd rather not have as tight a fill and not lose as quickly because I can be comfortable and kinda eat normal than be filled too tight and deal with nausea, vomiting, etc. I'm a big baby. I figure if I just can't eat what I USED to eat quantity wise then I'm waaaay ahead of the game. I was a pretty healthy eater, but I could PUT IT AWAY!

OK, what is PB'ing? I've seen that one a few times in threads...Same with 'DH'.... I just had my surgery 7/30, so I have not experienced 'stuck' yet. Not looking forward to it. My cousin's wife had something get stuck on a Friday night and could not eat or drink ANYTHING till she was 'unfilled' and flushed on Monday morning! WTF?! How do you not die?! OK, I'm being dramatic...somewhat! No Water for a couple of days? What do people normally do in these situations? You just wait it out? I think stuck is going to trigger anxiety for me. Normally, I take xanax for an anxiety attack. However melting it on my tongue would be HORRID, but if you can't drink/eat, then that's kinda the only option!

I am using Bob's Red Mill All Natural Whey Protein Concentrate. 12 oz cost about $14. A 1/4 cup has 15 g protein, 1 g carbs & 80 calories. I've been putting it in my Soups. Sometimes it clumps a little, but you can whip it in or something using the blender if you want...Just be prepared for it to get 'foamy'. I found mine at a local heath food store called Lassens. If you have any local health food stores, they likely have similar options.

I'm thinking that an average of 10 lbs per month is a safe, somewhat conservative guess, but you can see that many people responding seem to lose more. If I could lose something like 40 lbs after 2 months, you can bet you'll see me doing the happy butt dance!

OK, I keep seeing the reference 'DH'...what does that stand for? Damn Husband? ExternalX -Oh, Little Honey, I feel bad for you! It's hard enough being a teen in general, but then feeling powerless to control things because you have to do what Mom & Dad say, eat what they eat, etc. makes your situation hard. I know there's never enough time in the day, but maybe you should learn how to cook some healthy options and then 'treat' your Mom to a cooked meal a couple times per week...Maybe she'll see how good 'healthy' can be and start migrating over to your side of the kitchen. That, or ask her to not make food for you and tell her that you will make your own food so that you can be more successful in your battle. She's gotta realize that fast food, greasy food, etc. is horribly unhealthy and MUST want her child to be as healthy and awesome as she can be, so remind her that you don't want to deal with health complications such as High BP, High Chol, Diabetes, etc. That YOU want to be healthy and live a good life so that your Momma can be proud of you! It would be hard to feel powerless when it comes to food choices...The rest of us feel so limited, but at least we can select what we are purchasing at the store and what is being prepared for us. I'm sorry, Hon...You stay strong...You are going to need to ask to be more independent when it comes to meals so that you can succeed...

LovelyLady, you may want to pick up some of the Protein powders from a local GNC or something. I'm using AMPLIFY and they aren't bad. I HATE diet drinks, etc. because of that aftertaste and though these are low carb/high protien, the aftertaste is pretty minimal. I've tried the Cookies & Cream, the chocolate Cream & the vanilla Cream. I like vanilla because it's versatile (you can throw peaches or whatever in it to make it different each time), but the cookies & cream isn't bad by itself. I've been using my organic 2% milk with it. If I use 1 1/2 scoops of powder, 1 c of milk and a handful of ice, it makes a pretty large shake and I get 40 g of protein in. The shakes will just take forever to drink once I have had my first fill though. I had also picked up some unflavored whey protein concentrate at a local health store (I had to have them help me...not normally my kind of store). I am throwing some of this in my Soups to get 10-15 g of protein here and there. It mildly changes the taste and texture, but I'm just being careful not to taste the Soup BEFORE I throw the stuff in so that I can't do the 'Ewww, it made it gross' thing.

Isn't it funny just HOW different the instructions are from different docs? I was told that they were going to do my first fill at 3 wks...some people are waiting so much longer...6 wks, etc. (aside from the lucky person going on the cruise, I wonder what the docs' differences in opinion on when to get the first fill are due to?) I'm kinda bummed that I am supposed to get my 1st fill after 3 wks because that's just when I would be introducing solids again. I suppose the 3 wks can be pushed out based on when an appt in my area is available (does anyone else's docs seem to do a circus circuit, travelling all over?)...but then I guess it would be good in a way because it won't give me much of an opportunity to go hog wild before I'm heavily restricted again. Today is the roughest for me so far. I woke up headachey and not wanting to bother with another dang Protein shake. I made myself one...a larger one so that it has 40 g of protein...I wanna get the 'pressure' to get in the protein over with earlier in the day so I don't have to think about it later. The Water is much more appealling to me though. All in all, the first 1/2 of the day is way easier than the last part. The latter part of the day would be when work is done, I'm starting to make dinner for myself and the hubs and then we get to enjoy it together in front of a favorite show. I loved that. Obviously I can still make him dinner, but it's not near as much fun when I don't have a full plate of delicious food vs him having one and me having...soup...again. But alas, we will make it through this period...Think about how quickly time goes...Heck, we're well over half way through 2010 already...The next few weeks will soon be a dim memory...a 'remember when that sucked so bad?!' thought. I remember when I got my braces when I was about 36...Thinking about how horrid it was (I had to have a tongue guard so I talked like Elmer Fudd forever)...and now they are off and I am so happy that I have nice teeth that I'm not so ashamed of (mine were truly monsterous)...In retrospect the time went so quick...but in the beginning it was hard...All things 'worth it' are hard for a while. Just makes us appreciate it all the more later. We can be proud of ourselves later...That we DID this...That it sucked at times, but we DID IT. We'll be healthier & happier in the end... And our asses will look better in jeans.

I have to change my username...My name is actually Klisa, but my email addy has always been 'lisa with a k' (get it?). People understandably keep calling me Lisa and I keep thinking they are talking to someone else. Duhh...I just put in a request to change my username so I stop getting myself confused! :blushing: My whole family knows (aunties, cousins, etc.), and my closest friends know, but I haven't told all of my co-workers and extended friends. I mentioned it to someone during a conf call (they were inquiring about me being out for surgery and hoping everything was OK and I'm not the best liar so I told the truth) and I could tell by their response that they didn't really know what to think about someone purposely doing this to themselves. It's my assumption that people who have never had a weight problem themselves or been really close to someone who has had one would never understand why we wouldn't just shut our mouths and stop eating so much. I wish I was one of those people who could do that! My hubs has the will of steel and I am often envious of that. That's just not my strength though! The glued incisions remind me of the cheesy Halloween wounds that you buy and put on your forehead or wherever. I always thought they looked so fake, but now my incisions look just like them! Ha! I made my Hubs dinner again tonight...crisp, green salad, mac n cheese (going for easy) and a filet mignon. I thought I was going to die cooking the steak. I always freeze them in 2's so I actually cooked 2 of them, though one was tiny. I took about 3 bites of the steak, just enjoying chewing/tasting them but then spit each of them out rather than swallowing them. Kinda gross, I know, but it got the 'need to chew' out of my system, gave me a bit of the steak flavor & my dogs enjoyed the leftovers (I know, once again, gross). :cool2: I left my hubs to eat alone and I worked for a bit and then when he was done I heated up some of my soup. Just think, y'all! We've made it through another day! Whooowhooooo!

I hear ya, Stefani - It's hard to watch the fam eat...I made homemade spaghetti sauce right before I went liquid so that my hubs could make himself something 'easy'. I made dinner for him last night...chicken...and am planning on bbq'ing a steak for him tonight, but I'm not entirely sure I can bbq it and hand it over vs beat him to death with it. He's not asking me to do any of this...I'm just torturing myself...but I'm trying to be nice while I can cuz I know the beast is rising and I need the brownie points when it comes - hahahaha! My largest incision is a little sore, but isn't itching...Did you get stitched, stapled or glued? I've been glued...It's hard not to play with the incisions. I'm like a little kid futzing with a scab except that I stop myself from actually picking. 10 lbs is excellent! I think that it's probably good not to weigh yourself every day just because you end up feeling let down, but who am I kidding? I'm one of those 'wake up, weigh, pee, weigh, shower, weigh, dry hair after shower, weigh' cuz it's fun to see the difference. Pure torture at times though. Try not to be disappointed that you plateaued for a few days. It'll start again.

Oh! One other thing - if you value your hair and don't want to lose a ton of it, get your Protein, calcium and B Complex Vitamins in! I know of folks who have lost hair after having the gastric sleeve or bypass and was told by the nutritionist that it was due to their inability to absorb as many vitamins/minerals. This made sense...but I was confused why this ALSO happened to a person I know who got banded...She had GLORIOUS hair and lost A LOT of it and it's just not that healthy anymore...I found out that she is TERRIBLE with her diet...she doesn't get in hardly any protein, doesn't eat veggies, rarely eats solids (she was banded in Dec, had complications and couldn't get her first fill till Mar), etc. She's just NOT getting her nutrients in and although she is losing weight, she losing her hair too. She's lost 55 lbs so far, but that hair of hers is no longer amazing... My hair is one of my attributes that people know me for (not that it's super amazing, but it's long and it just happens to be what people think of when they think of me), so I do NOT want it falling out if I can help it. I'm using Bosley defense shampoo & conditioner and then trying my damndest to get my nutrients in. I'm taking liquid multi vits & a liquid B Complex. Just thought I'd warn you all...I didn't realize that this could be an issue till shortly before I was banded and then I nearly freaked out.

OMG - I look at how some people are still in a ton of pain and I feel lucky! I still have the heavy chest where it's uncomfortable to breathe deep, and I am still gassy, but NOTHING compared to that first night. I think that staying up and cleaning for an hour or so at a time that first night saved me! I went to my Auntie's memorial on 8/1 and did pretty well...It was a long car ride and I was able to stay for about 2 hrs. Today is my first day back to work, but I am a programmer and work from home, so it's not a stretch. I took a nap during lunch. It's hard to focus, but just because I want to eat, not because I'm hungry. Naps are heavenly right now cuz you don't think about food! I can't wait to get to mushies! Mashed potatoes? YUM! Overcooked broccoli - who would have thought I'd crave it?!?! I'm already very tired of the liquids. I started them 2 days prior to being banded, so it's been a week for me. I don't feel 'hungry' so much as just really have the desire to consume something with some consistency! So, obviously it's psychological. I've been using the Amplify Protein shake mix...I had vanilla which I liked (and accidentally returned instead of a different flavor), chocolate and Cookies & cream (the one I meant to return). I threw a peach into the vanilla (pre op) and it was quite good. The chocolate is OK though I tried to do to much with it. The cookies and cream is good by itself. I blend them with milk so I get the extra protein and Calcium from the milk too. 1 srv = 20 g protein & 5 carbs. I'm 'juicing' too...something new to me. Today I juiced about 1 cup of spinnich, 2 carrots, 1/3 cucumber, 1 pear & 1 green apple. It made a large cup of juice and I threw some of that Fibersure stuff in it to get some extra Fiber. I figure this is a good way to get extra nutrients till I can eat veggies again. I've also been throwing some unflavored Protein powder in my Soups. I found it at a health food store called Lassens. There's 15 g of protein in 1/4 cup. You just have to stir it pretty good cuz it will form some lumps...I keep telling myself 'it's miso soup'. You know how miso Soup has floaties? That's what I'm going with... My stomach just growled... Has anyone noticed that the signals you get from your tummy aren't what they used to be? I've gotten one a couple of times and have thought - is that a 'stuffed' signal or a 'feed me' signal...I guess they are just mild cramps, but I had to think about them...

Mommy2Ps - I've thought the same thing a gazillion times...'Well, if you chew it REALLY well, then isn't it the same thing as pureed?' People will say we are rationalizing, but it IS kinda the same, right? I've lost about 5 lbs...I started the liquid diet 2 days prior...and was banded on 7/30 so it's been about 1 week of liquids. Given the amt of solids I would consume before, it's no wonder I've lost something. My surgeon and nutritionist DID say that this first few weeks were NOT for weight loss and how a couple weeks down the road I'd be able to consume a good amt of food (though I s/b on liquids?) and that that would be totally normal. They said we're just looking to let the tummy heal right now and THEN I'd get my first fill and start being restricted. They want to do my first fill at 3 weeks. Then I hear it's another couple days of liquids & then a couple of mushies. I guess they are getting that fill in there before I can get to solid foods...They see that look in my eye, don't they?

I'm trying soooo hard to be good but I want something to CHEW, dang it! I've been doing Protein shakes, 'juicing', drinking Soups...Last night I made my husband chicken and the tiniest piece fell off (the size of an pencil eraser) and I snatched it up and chewed on it forever and it was heaven. I don't think I ever even swallowed anything. I just masticated it till I could find it no more. :blushing: But I'm not planning on continuing down that path. I want this to work and just keep telling myself to get past this first month...THEN I can chew to my hearts content (well, kinda) again. It's tough though...My surgery was 7/30 and I'm already chompin' at the bit.

So they inflate the band when they first put it in? To maybe verify it works? And then they are supposed to deflate it? I just had a different struggle...I was banded on Friday (7/30) & came home the same day...Have been doing pretty well...the standard gas pains...but I just made my hubs dinner and let me tell you...THAT was painful! BBQ'd chicken, salad & some mac n cheese. I actually tore off the teeniest bite of chicken and hoarded it in the corner of the kitchen...It was soooo good...but then after I told him to serve himself I went in the office and shed a pitiful tear or two. Just pouting. Of course he told me not to worry about feeding him, but he eat'd granola bars for dinner if I didn't help him out...and then I'd have to listen to him whine about 'dying'. He's spoiled. :thumbup: So, that sucked, but I did pretty good considering that I figured I would have gnawed the arm off anyone who got between me and that chicken thigh.

I still have a lot of pressure. I keep hoping to fart...who knew I'd EVER wish that...hahaha. I have more pressure in the evenings, but I think that's because I'm having Soup and then something to drink along with it. Too much at once and I'm left feeling stuffed, bloated, etc. Today I drank some coffee, which I know we're supposed to avoid caffeine but I was hoping to embrace the 'caffeine push' if you know what I mean. Not much happening in that dept, but I don't really know whether I should be bothered by that since I haven't eaten anything solid since last Wed! I stepped on the scale the day after surgery (just for fun) and weighed 7 lbs more! Today it's gone (phew!). Does it feel to you guys like you can't empty your bladder completely? It's getting better, but that's how I've kinda felt since my surgery on Friday. That was probably what a lot of that 7 lbs of weight was! I can see how it's going to be difficult to get all of our protien, Calcium, etc. in like we should...especially after the 1st fill. I'm hearing that the amt we feel like we can take in is NOTHING compared to how restricted it will feel later. I know it's important to get in our nutrients though...I have a cousin who got the lap band in Dec 09 and she has lost a good portion of her glorious hair because she's not making sure to get what she needs in...Not that hair is THAT important, but if you are losing it, you know there is other stuff going on as well and that your body is just not all that happy with you. This'll be a challenge, but if we can get through the first couple of months, we'll be well on our way.

Moving has been helping me a lot. It feels better to move than to be still, it seems. My pain was horrible the first day, but is getting better and better. I was banded on Friday, 7/30. I've been busting open GasX capsules and swallowing the contents...Does everyone else just take them normal? I've been on broth or bisque Soups, Water, tea...yesterday I felt like I had a rock in my belly but not so much today. My main incision is kinda sore today though...It feels stretched...my belly is distended.

My hubs was initially kind of against the idea of the surgery because we know folks who have done some of the other bariatric surgeries and have regained weight. He didn't want me putting myself through a surgery if it wasn't going to be a true solution. He was worried that there was a problem behind the weight that needed to be fixed first. I explained to him that this was just a 'tool' to help and he was willing to learn about it and then felt better. I just had my surgery yesterday. He's been good about not eating food in front of me during the pre op diet...food is my very favorite thing, so he knows this will be really tough for me at first. I'm going to do my best not to be horrid to him this first month while I can't eat. I sent him away with friends today since I was doing so well, so he's gotta be grateful for that! I also made homemade spaghetti sauce for him a couple of days ago so he would have something easy to make himself for dinner while I was out of commision. Building up my brownie points for when I am a beeoooch, I guess. :rolleyes2: He's a bit spoiled too, I guess, but he's a good guy. :w00t:

I ended up being awake for a good portion of the night, but actually made quite good use of the time...I was doing the 'walk around the pool thing', but then it hit me that I might as well do light chores rather than just walk around the pool, so I ran my dustmop over my floors, did some light dusting, cleaned the kitchen, etc. I do about an hour of work (moved slow, but that's OK since my point was just to move), sleep for about 2 hrs, do another hour of work, etc. I think the longer bouts of activity helped a lot because after a couple of them I was able to sleep for about 4 hours at a time, which was nice. Still have some pain when taking deep breaths and the belly area is a bit sore from where the port was placed (behind the belly button), but the gas is MUCH better. Still there some, but NOTHING compared to last night! Phew! sleeping on my side helped too...as well as the heating pad. Today I've had some Jerry's Deli chicken Soup broth (the pups are getting the chicken, noodles & carrots in their dinner tonight), some Vietnamese beef broth w/ some Protein powder in it, a small rootbeer float, a little juice (I 'juiced' 2 apples, a pear and threw in some coconut Water, but then was too full to drink most of it) and about a 1/2 liter of water. I know I need to up the water quite a bit, but I think I'm doing not so bad for my first day. :rolleyes2: Oh, I had my liquid Vitamins too. All in all I'm doing much better than I figured I would be... However it kinda sucks seeing a steak or something on tv and thinking, 'Hey, maybe I'll BBQ one!' and then 'remembering'... Just gotta get through this first month and it'll hopefully be not so bad.

OMG! The gas pains are HORRIBLE!!! The pain killer doesn't even make them go away. I'm trying to walk around my pool 10 times every once in a while...I got home a little over 3 hrs ago and have done it 3 times. The funny part is that I'm too tired to count so Lord only knows how long I am actually walking. It feels A BIT better WHILE I'm doing it, but afterwards, it sucks again. I took some GasX as well. It feels like it hasn't helped much, but who knows hwat this would feel like if I weren't walking or taking the Gasx and the pain meds. Forgive any bad spelling here. I'm half asleep. Came back on to look ofr addtl suggestons. Heating pad next. I hope you are having an easier night than me, Nicole!

I'm new to navigating in this site, but I found what looked like a 'friend' request and sent it to you, Nicole. My name is actually Klisa...Lisa with a K in the front of it (lisawithak). Ohhh, I'm so jealous that you had sushi! I've been dying for something to CHEW on! I was on the phone laughing with my Mom about how I was going to wrap a steak in a pair of nylons so that I could chew on it to get the flavor but still maintain the 'liquid only' diet because I wouldn't be able to swallow any of it. Hahaha! I have to be at the facility at 10:30 am tomorrow (PT), so my surgery will probably be 12:30-1:00...hopefully things aren't delayed much... surgeries always seem to get backed up. Rheaosun - 35 lbs in 9 weeks?! That's so wonderful!!! I was only planning on taking a couple days off of work...surgery tomorrow, return to work on Tuesday, HOWEVER, I work from home (programmer), so I don't have to move much at all to work. We'll see how it goes.

My surgery is tomorrow too! I figure tomorrow will be fairly easy to get through because I'll be groggy from the anesthesia, but I hope the rest of the days the first week go well. I've been doing the 'liquid' thing yesterday and today in preparation and have been thinking 'oh it's no problem getting in that protein' but right now I'm doing a couple of good sized shakes and after the surgery it'll be hard to fit both those shakes in if I can only kinda sip it...We'll see how it goes...Good luck to you Nicole!

I have Anthem BCBS. I was told you need to have a BMI of 40 or a BMI of < 40 but with other issues such as high BP, high chol, diabetes, etc. I had to select one of BCBS's 'centers of excellence' facilities. I live in So Ca, about an hour from LA, so I selected Cedars Sinia. I have a BMI of 39 and high BP, high chol, high trigs so I was able to get my approval OK without receiving any initial denials...