Hello Everyone!!

I'm so excited that I found this forum, I can't wait to read all the great stories and ideas that you all have shared..

My story is, I was banded on Feb 8th 2012. The surgery it's self went well, but I did have a problem with anesthesia.. I had some kind of asthma attack so I couldn't breath when I started to wake up.. Dr's. think I might have just gotten to much fluids into my system because now I am fine and show no signs of wheezing or any kind of asthma problems.

I'm not in any pain except for a slight pain every now and then on my right side, mostly when I bend over. I've lost 15 lbs since the day of surgery and 14lbs prior to surgery so a total of 29 lbs.. I'm on the mushy phase of my diet and I'm doing about 1/2 cup of food per meal.. That seems to work for me. At times i do feel hungry but when I do I just start to drink more and that seems to really help.. I think I've got a good system going that works for me so I'm happy abou that..

Now, excercising isn't working like I would like.. In November I broke my foot and my cast just came off on Feb 3rd.. I still don't have bone to bone contact with the area that's broke, but I don't need to ware a cast anymore ( actually I had a cast on for 3 weeks, then I moved to a boot ). My ortho dr. said I can do very light walking but I need to be aware the bone hasn't healed yet and I just need to give it time.. So, I'm not real sure when I will be able to get back into doing some kind of excercise.. I've continue to do light walking and that's it..

I have a mailbu pilates machine that I just got and can't wait to use it, but I'm waiting on lapband dr to clear me for that. I've thought about doing curves or siging up to a gym, but I will wait until I get the ok from dr. first..

I'm looking forward to reading all the post and reading about everyone's journey.

Congrats on your loss so far! I'm still waiting to be banded and hope to have success like you!

The forums are helpful - welcome!

congrats on your lots. what type of things are you eating/drinking?

Congratulations! Your regimen sounds a lot like mine. As for excercise, you could always do upper body stuff while sitting. Things like twisting (but not too fast), light arm weights or one of those resistance bands. My doctor told me to not lift to much but as far as sit-ups, etc...he said okay unless it starts to hurt. Also, if you have a Wii Fit Plus, there are some great yoga and strength training excercises on it that don't really require any special equipment. Blessings to you!

My routine is usually, get up have def tea, wait 30 mins then have 1 egg scrambled or 1/4cup of cottage cheese with 1/4cup of fruit. For lunch I have delmonte stew or some kind of chunky soups drained that have meat and veggies I add veggies to the stew as well. I usually have the same thing for dinner. I'm still working on the food so I'm still working on that. yesterday I had lentils soup with some broccoli. All drained, all mushed

when you were doing your liquid (pre and post op) what types of things were you drinking? (hope you do not mind me asking)...

I drank my protein shakes (still have at least one a day made with unsweetened vanilla almond milk), water, more beef broth than chicken broth, sugar free Jello. I've added sugar-free Hawaiian punch single serving packets to my water bottles. I had sugar-free popsicles. De-caf tea---sweetened with Splenda or "Stevia in the raw".

I don't mind the questions at all. That's why I like this forum. It has been so helpful to me and everyone is so willing to share their experiences.

before the surgery I was on Opifast for 14 days.. I had 4 drinks a day, with Optifast soup for dinner and a optifast granola bar for my 8pm snack. I also was allowed 3 sugar free jello's per day, but I only had 2 a day.. After surgery, I had bottle Water with crystal light, cream of wheat ( with 8 oz of water ), I had tomato soup, thinned. I had Protein shakes two a day, which I continue to this day.. I buy my shakes from costco, 30 grams of protein.. Def tea, I also allowed my self no more then two sugar free Jello or puddings per day.. I purchased these cream of chicken soup in a packet which was easy to thin out..

Now I drink, def tea, bottle water with crystal light, and my two Protein Shakes a day.. I usually started the day with a cuppa tea, then wait 30 mins and have Breakfast which is usualy around 10 am.. I try and have something every 2 hours. So my schedule is

10-breakfast,

12- Protein shake

2-lunch

4-protein shake

6-dinner

all other times I drink, I just make sure I don't drink 30 before a meal and 30 after a meal, unless it's a protein shake..

Hope this helps and I don't mind you asking at all.

Hello Everyone!!

Band going great.. Since the day of my surgery which was16 day's ago, I've lost 18 pounds. Total wt loss so far is 32 pounds. I feel real good.. I still don't have a fill yet, I'm due to have my first one ( if they do it ) on March 28th. I do get hungry at times, but not that often.. When I do get hungry I just drink and that seeems to help.. I'm eating 1/2 cup of food per meal and that seems to work for me right now.. I'm trying to get excercise in, but I have to do a much better job getting into my everyday life...

I have no pain anywhere, if it wasn't for the scars I wouldn't even know I had surgery..

I drank my Protein shakes (still have at least one a day made with unsweetened vanilla almond milk), Water, more beef broth than chicken broth, sugar free Jello. I've added sugar-free Hawaiian punch single serving packets to my water bottles. I had sugar-free popsicles. De-caf tea---sweetened with Splenda or "Stevia in the raw".

I don't mind the questions at all. That's why I like this forum. It has been so helpful to me and everyone is so willing to share their experiences.

how is the stevia in the raw? is it like sugar in the raw?

I like it better than most other sweeteners. I will still used Splenda in some things. The Stevia, too me, is a little sweeter than sugar and most times I can't tell the difference...unless I put it in something hot. Something about heat changes it just a touch and you can tell its not sugar. Though, i do believe they have another "formula" (for lack of a better term), that is good for baking, etc.

I got surgery Nov. 7 2011 and I'm down 50lbs best choice I ever made.

I like it better than most other sweeteners. I will still used Splenda in some things. The Stevia, too me, is a little sweeter than sugar and most times I can't tell the difference...unless I put it in something hot. Something about heat changes it just a touch and you can tell its not sugar. Though, i do believe they have another "formula" (for lack of a better term), that is good for baking, etc.

Thanks Chrissy..i will have to try it.. i LOVE sugar in the raw...Have you tried the baking kind yet?

Great job Boppers82!

Lisanj...I haven't tried the baking kind yet. My mom uses the baking/brown sugar kind of Splenda in her pecan pies. Oh my word!! so good!

mmmm peacan piessss...i gotta stop thinkin about food hahaha

Hedder14, do you swim? I highly recommend swimming it is great on the joints and no one can see you once you're in the water. I also recommend getting a water proof MP3 player makes time go by so much faster.