HeatherinCA

I'd wait till the latest possible. The first few weeks even you could lose like 30 lbs I had this problem in the past I did a wedding and I bought my dress then lost a ton of weight and had to buy another one haha. They can only take so much in and keep the shape of the dress.

Right, i'm still full with less, but not full enough to be satisfied I guess. I don't understand the "i'm starving" because I personally am not. I feel like i have to police myself. Which is hard to learn.

@JAMILLAH E Still be careful. Yes, at this time you CAN eat food, but follow the plan. Sure, maybe my purees ended up being not as pureed as they should be, but I didn't go eating full, hard food. I think you have to figure out what works for you... but you don't want to slip into your old ways. You are only a few days post op. I took those weeks as training for my new diet. @CheckYes I'm scared to screw it up too, I don't want to get sick.

1/2 cup is for when you are on food, not for liquids. You can have full protein shakes. You should have 3-4 full protein shakes a day. Drink the shakes first because they have protein then supplement with jello or yogurt. There is no restriction in your band right now, till you get a fill, so that's why you can put more in it. Call your surgeon, or nutritionist you should have book or something that lays out everything you can eat/drink for each stage. I'm a little discouraged, but apparently it's normal to not be losing much until your fill. Just gotta police yourself on portions!! Also 1-2lbs a week is normal. Don't expect to lose more than that!

Are you going alone? I usually just ask if I can put the arm rest up, say it'll be more comfortable for both of us (or def keep it up if it's a friend or family member), I've never had anyone say no really. and make sure I sit on the aisle for a little more leg room. I carry my weight on the bottom so I do have a problem with tiny seats. I'm not SUPER huge or anything. I've never needed an extender or anything like that. It's just a little bit uncomfortable. Also prepare, wear comfortable pants, or leggings, make sure all your belongings are ready before you sit down (like have your iPod and magazine you want during the flight out before you take your seat). I don't like to shift around a ton making it obvious that I'm larger. Have fun in California!!

I'm doing pretty well. I'm getting a little carried away with my portion sizes since I went in to more solid food because I don't have restriction yet. So this week, I'm making sure to measure my food and write down the calories. I'm not hungry at all, but it's hard to feel satisfied. I didn't lose any weight this week, so I'm kicking it up, and make sure I exercise (I know I should just be patient because it's only been 3 weeks). It's just taking some getting used to, but overall I feel it's pretty easy to stick to. But by no means am I going crazy. I feel like I have a good handle on things. I'm not eating junk, no pasta, barely any bread. I'm not hungry, I don't really feel like I'm missing anything. Yes, it's less food, but I'm not craving junk food, or soda, I'm perfectly happy with what I can eat. The hardest thing for me is keeping a schedule and not grazing. I used to just eat because I wanted food. Didn't have anything to do with hunger.

I want to play! Name, real or screen~ Heather Age~ 25 Weight on January 3rd~ 276 Goal Weight for January 31st~ 266 Exercise Goal for January~ 40 minutes on the treadmill 5 days a week Dietary Goal for January~ Make sure my portion sizes are correct Personal Goal for January~ I really need to stay focused on the exercise! Date Banded~ 12/13/10 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~ 8lbs? don't remember the exact amount I lost prior, I think it was 15

Listen to your stomach, ask youself if you are hungry Eat slowly, and pay attention to WHAT goes in your mouth Water I know what you mean! But I'm figuring out it's pretty much just eat LESS and slowly, drink lots of water (but not b4 or after meals), exercise, eat mostly Protein, watch what goes in your body. Some of the rules seem so nitpicky I don't feel everything in this 50 page book I have from my surgeon needs to be remembered daily. The biggest change for me is just noticing what goes in. Before I'd mindlessly eat, and I was never "hungry". Now I know when I'm hungry, and what I'm eating.

I wouldn't worry about it. I don't expect anyone to praise me for losing weight. It's nice when it happens, but it's my own personal journey. I'm sure in the long run you will inspire her . Yes, as @vip1968 said, as long as she's not sabotaging you. None of my friends have said anything haha, they ask how I'm doing, or questions about how I'm eating, but nobody is like you look great!

Exercise daily Start measuring my food more carefully

Overall just be careful, and don't go overboard. I'm sure 1 glass of anything OCCASIONALLY is fine.

More protein!! Are you getting like 60-70 grams? Also I had a lot of rumbly after surgery but it's not food, it's just gas and weird pains.

What's good to take for that? I'm having trouble going, and I'm on solid food.

I had one shot of something sugary, eh.. I hate drinking. Didn't do that much for me anyways. I really hate drinking and NEVER do it, maybe twice a year so I don't feel bad, and don't plan on doing it anymore. Also dancing for 2 hours definitely burned off the calories.

The pain is totally bearable, and it's only for like 3 days. It sucks, but nothing was THAT bad. It's more just discomfort in your stomach muscles.

Interesting! I'm not hungry now.. I don't have a fill yet. But I would think it would lead to cheating if I never got a fill. I have a good handle on what I'm eating and how much, and eating slowly and all that. I don't know how long that will last!

I might.. I'm going out, I don't like drinking much, but I might do a shot or two haha, since I don't want all the calories.

For me the first 2 days after surgery were terrible, I felt really bad and hurt a lot, but about 3 days i was much better, than by 5 I could return to normal. Get a heating pad!! that helps

I hate it too! Same reason, I just don't like the act of going. It smells, and nowhere to put your stuff, and it's busy. My parents signed me up a month or two ago and I still haven't gone :-x. Also I belong to LA Fitness (big gym chain) and there are 4 or 5 gyms within 10 miles of me. One is huge and new and nice, and the others are smaller and older... do some research and find out which is nicest? I don't know where you live, and if you have hills or good weather. But I like walking outside and hiking. I had a personal trainer for a number of years and once a week we'd always go hiking in the canyons. 1 hour long hike burns about 600 calories she told me. I enjoyed that way more than being in the smelly gym. I took a walk outside this morning it was nice, little cold though!! But I think I'm going to start hiking all the time. Also I wanna look into classes like Zumba or Yoga or just things that don't involve the gym. I wish I could get a treadmill but I have the smallest apartment on earth and I'm on the 3rd floor.

ahah sounds good I'd rather not be poked with needles LOL.

I don't think they intentionally make you go back for a ton of fills, you won't know it's right till you go home and eat for a few days an see how it's working for you, I'm guessing.

I had terrible neck and shoulder pain but that was gas. I didn't have a headache.. did you give up caffeine perhaps? Just walk walk walk!! It'll help the gas pain.

Maybe just start over! Follow all the rules and you will lose weight. Don't test your band, eat the amount you are supposed to. I always wonder why people say I can still eat normal amounts of food, the real question is WHY are you doing that. I think a lot of this journey is mental. I haven't had a fill yet, but I'm hearing people having problems and lack of restriction and they go back a zillion times and all that, I think 50% of it is what you decide to put in your mouth. Sure I want food, but I'm not hungry you gotta pay attention to that. I'm also with everyone else and go check with another doctor!

They make vegetable stock! It's only a few days out of your life, you will be back to normal food soon. You don't have restriction thats why you can eat things.. but you aren't supposed to! That is why we have guidelines.

Most things are like that! It's annoying!! 400 calories isn't that bad for an entire meal. But I'm sure you can do better for 400 calories.