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HI!! I feel great. I was having some doubts the first few days, but man i feel so good.. I go for my 2nd dr.appt Tuesday! I am hoping to be put on mushy foods, if not I am ok with waiting. I have tried to eat very chewed up food.it keeps getting stuck and I don't like taht feeling so I will just wait. (I also have gotten so bad "side effects" from not eat reg. food for so long. after "moving along"the food doesn't digest right! yuck!!) so all is going good.. I am down 12lbs so far from surgery.I can't wait to see what he tells me Tuesday!! I am so glad you asked.. I have been nuts with school starting, so i apologize for taking so long to get back to you...I will definitly keep you posted...

Well I didn't change much.. I think most of it was my doctors getting my restriction where it needed to be.. and I naturally stay away from foods that are harder to eat.. I just don't like fooling with them. I still eat the same things give or take a couple but just a lot less of it. I also try to walk/run every now and then. If you don't mind me asking what did you start at? I also had a lot to loose too so that might have played a part.

Hi Shasta1

I feel much better now that I have lost over 100 pounds in 1 year. I started looking into weight loss surgery over 10 years ago but my insurance would never cover it. Once I had a BMI over 50 they finally did. I was 5'6" and 375 pounds. I still hired beliteweight.com to get me through all the red tape with bc/bs insurance. There was a lot more of a wait for the gastric bi-pass surgery. I was in a hurry and opted for the gastric lap band. I was chicken for the drastic bi-pass. There was less of a wait for the band. I could always opt for the bi-pass later if the band didn't work. They put me on a liquid protein diet for 3-4 weeks prior to surgery to shrink my liver.

The lap band and gastric bypass has a diet to stick with so it is not easy and dieting free as I thought it would be. I automatically eat smaller portions of what I did eat before. It is a lot like the South Beach one with mostly protein, vegetables, low carbs and no "slider foods".

toosywoots

Don't stress. I barely lost anything before my surgery (and I had been trying) but they went through with it anyway. You'll be fine. But yeah, try not to gain anything!! I'm feeling great. I've officially lost 45lbs and I can't wait until I reach the 50lb lost mark. That's a lot of weight!! It hasn't been easy but I've gotten used to eating the new way (kinda) and living with the band. And adding exercise. What I like the most is weight training. I've never "lifted" weights before, but it's important because toning muscle is good. Muscle burns more calories faster. So dont just concentrate on cardio. Who is your surgeon? Honestly, contact me about anything! The first couple of weeks on liquid diet after surgery is hard. Dont be hard on yourself. Once you can eat "real" food again, you'll feel so much better!! Good lucka nd keep in touch!

Hi Brenda,

How are you doing day 5 on post-op? I am happy that I'm very satisfied with the foods on full liquids. No hunger or cravings. Healing well.

MaggieGt

I know what you mean. I was going up and down in a 2 week time period until finally it cracked and I've gone past the hump this week. I went to the dietician and she told me to stay under 800 calories a day & only 6 oz of food per meal. I had definately been going over that amount. She said my stomach could stretch having more than that. I'm now being very cautious and measuring.

Feeling much better not at 100% maybe more 95% I won't get there till I can eat real food, but mushies taste better than liquids and protien powder. I go back to teaching on Monday.

Almost 8 weeks post-op...22 lbs down. 49 from start of journey. Because of all the complications...I haven't exercise yet. Just had my port replaced 2 weeks ago, tummy looks like a battle scene. But still moving forward...missing foods that are BAD for me.

Gurl i'm doing well! I'm 3 weeks out, eating regular foods, just got a yrs gym membership so i'm working out and losing no weight, yet! I'm still 260lbs. I have a doc apt. On sept. 29th so i hope i get a fill, my doc don't give em out like that! I'm also training for my 1st 5k on sept. 26th! I will be posting pics!

Go to LAP-BAND?.com and I think you can register for one under My LAP-BAND? Journey. It has your surgeon's name and number, type of band used, surgery date, max fill volume and has a diagram of where the band is placed. It says it is MRI compatible and has some drug warnings on it for ulcerogenic meds. At the bottom of the card it has a note to restaurants. "Please allow this person to order smaller portions, as the amount of food this person can eat has been greatly reduced."

So how are you doing today? Are you maintaining your diet alright? I am so sick of soup and protein shakes. I can't wait until next Friday to eat some real food.

Let me know how you are doing.

Have a great time on your weekend away!!! I can't eat as much as I did before the surgery, but they say you are supposed to only eat 1/2 cup of food per meal and I can eat more than that. I try not to, but sometimes it's hard because I don't feel full on 1/2 cup. I know I have some restriction, but I guess with a fill, it will be better controlled.

Good to hear you are doing so well. My surgery was also at 8:45 and I was released around 11. The gas is mostly in my left shoulder and side of my neck. But I am walking back and forth in the condo and it seems to be helping. I see my doctor on July 6th. I am on liquids until tomorrow and then full liquids for 10 days. I can't believe you get to eat pureed already. You go girl.

I am in North Miami, FL. I just visited my twin sister in Great Neck NY for a week at Memorial Day. I go up every year - we call it our twins weekend. It is just the girls and it is a great get away. My husband holds down the fort here.

Please keep in touch since we are now band-sisters. My name is Eileen, by the way.

Hi, I was banded on June 9th 2010. Lahey Burlington, Dr. Neponmnayshy did the surgery. I am very hungry all the time, can't wait for my first appointment so they can adjust the band. Wednesday I final get to eat some food that will stay longer that liquids do. Did anyone else feel like this?

hi paula!

just hang in there! i was noticing the appetite growing more and more. it def takes will power to stay on track. just make sure you pre-measure your food before you go to work for lunch. i carry a TBS with me so when i'm out i know what 2TBS of food is instead of guessing. i had my first fill on wed and man did i feel the restriction! i also started my period that night and man, did that not feel good! everything on this site about your menstrul cycle and a tight band is def true...i did liquids for two and a half days cuz nothing felt good. i am now 4 days out from my fill and eating normal foods.

you said you are 17 down from surgery, what is your total weight loss? are you working out?

good luck and keep me posted on your progress!!!

hmmm, I love brownies! Just about my most favorite dessert of all time. Let me know how they turn out, and I will look into making them. I go on Tuesday for my first fill, and they told me that they would likely do 2 cc's to begin with. I agree with you that it is crazy to have the band so tight that you can't eat reasonably. For me, the whole purpose of the band is to help me learn to eat very slowly (so the longer it takes, the less I eat) and to help me not feel physically hungry for longer periods of time. It is NOT for me to starve to death and not be able to eat good food.

Today I waited waaay too long before eating lunch...It was 3:30 before I had time to! Then when I did eat, it hit my belly like that 4 ft drop you are talking about...My nurse (he did my checkup and will do my fills) said that we get that rock in our belly feeling because we are eating or drinking too fast.

I'm due to get my period in about 6 days...I had a HORRID day on Monday and sobbed on my husband and then when I looked at the calendar I figured out why! Since then it's been much better...

I had to do 1 week of liquid, now I'm on my week of puree (though I'm pushing it at times) and starting Friday I start the next week of mushies. I can't wait!!!

Tuna sounds so good...I couldn't have that water that it's packed in in it though! Man, I drain that stuff and then squish my tuna with a paper towell to make sure it's gone! It makes it too fishy too me...

How are you today??

I haven't been on for a few days...finally getting a chance to check in!

The pain in my side is almost completely gone and I'm trying to remember to use the Fibersure, so it must be working...I am a bit more regular than before (when I just wasn't going!)

My incisions are pretty good. Two have a little scab left...One of the small ones has no scab left and just is red like the scar tissue is starting to form. The one on my belly button is kinda the same...Reddish from healing/scar tissue, but no scab left.

I ate some lean chili yesterday. I couldn't help it. I had pureed some the night before and it sucked, so I just chewed it a lot. I did pretty good. It kinda felt like I had a rock in my belly, but not as much as EVERYTHING felt that way a week ago. I also took one bite of a roll the other day just to see what would happen.... I could kinda feel it I think, but I wasn't sure if that's because it was bread or because I was 'trying' to see if I could feel it. Haha...

What type of chips are you eating? I really love to eat crunchy foods so I started eating soy chips. One thing about eating the soy chip, I start to get an unpleasant taste in my mouth. I appreciate the advice to turn up the protein shakes. I am really praying this first fill give me more restriction so I feel more satisfied throughout the day. How did you feel with your first fill? Did it give you the edge you needed to achieve more weight lost? I am praying it gives me that edge.

Hello Shodge7017. I just joined today and my surgery is 8/10/2010. Do you have any suggestions meal plans once I get off of the liquid diets. I'm a little nervous about giving up my favorite foods. LOL.

Sincerly,

quinne77

Hey girl,

I was reading one of your posts about losing motivation and I'm right there with you. I had surgery 7-20-09 and have completely stopped..I've all but kept myself from gaining. well..I gain a few, drop a few. it just bounces back and forth so I totally understand your frusteration. The thing is I put up with pbing and getting food stuck for so so so long it was such a releif when it was no longer happening, because they realized I was too tight. Now I'm not losing a damn thing! I feel ur pain!

but what happens after the tummy tuck? You could get fat again if you don't learn to eat good quality solid foods and let the band work in your favor.

I am supposed to start the pre-op diet on Wednesday, but I am going to start tomorrow. That gives me 2 days to adjust instead of going cold turkey. I have not been overly cautious the past few days. As a matter of fact, I have been enjoying some things that I haven't had in a while. I don't want to call it my "Last Supper" or whatever other names it goes by, but I took my daughter school shopping and we went to an all you can eat buffet for lunch. I know it was the wrong choice. I went for a 2nd plate and I had 2 cookies. Tonight I am making a skillet brownie. Another bad decision. I just don't see myself as being able to ever eat these things again. I think I want this to be my "closure" if that makes any sense. Like a farewell to these things that have been so dear to me. Gosh I sound nuts. I wish food wasn't my friend.

Wk 3 going good for me, my post op is okay i mash up all of my foods, my doctor told me my fill is on aug 25 so i can have a restriction

Ah patience - not my strong suit, but I promise to try. This has been much easier than what I had imagined it would be. Thanks for the words of encouragement with the food. Haven't experienced first stuck yet, but I hear it happens to us all, so thanks for the advice. Have a great week! Love your picture!