This group is for weight loss support for lower bmi bandsters (of course anyone is welcome!).

For encouragement, tips, accountability.... Give stats, helpful advice, etc.

How much weight you have lost, how long it took. etc.

In some case I have found it takes a lower BMI patient a lot longer to lose the weight.

Introduce yourself and jump on in!!!:welcomeB: :welcome2:

Audree

My recovery is going great. I am not swollen at all anymore, all of the post op restriction is gone (darn it!) The only incision you can see is the one where the port is and it looks so good. My hubby still doesn't know. I will probably tell him after Christmas. He has been supportive of my "new diet"...I was absolutely starving so I had to start grinding up real food and eating it. I have lost 7 lbs though. I will probably get my 1st fill on my 4 week anniversary. I just can't believe how good my incisions look, Dr. Ortiz did a fabulous job! After looking at some of the pics on the "scar stages" thread I was really worried because I do not scar nice at all. I am not sure what Dr. Ortiz did but, the port incision just looks like a scratch and the others are just tiny dots. I am very pleased with the overall experience so far, just wish I still had some post op restriction....can't wait for my first fill, I don't want to gain the 7 lbs back!

That is so awesome to hear! You aren't even a whole two weeks out yet! My fear is that the surgery will "keep me down" a long time. I had plastic surgery in '05 and it kicked my butt. This surgery is so much less invasive so I am hoping I recover sooner. I have a 6 y.o. to keep up with!

RTW

was absolutely starving so I had to start grinding up real food and eating it.

What real foods are you eating now? I had my surgery done by Dr. Martinez @ OCC and I too am surprised by how small the incisions are. I'm only a week behind you, have no restriction and I'm starving. LOL

Welcome to all the new people!!!

I am so happy to hear everyone is doing so well!

Dr. Ortiz and staff make the smallest possible incisions, stitch from the inside and use crazy glue to hold the skin closed.

My incisions look really good too!

Any New Years Resolutions?

These are mine!

1. Continue to go to the gym to weight train 3 times a week and do cardio in between.

2. Eat healthier

3. Buy new clothes and re-invent myself!

How about you guys?

What real foods are you eating now? I had my surgery done by Dr. Martinez @ OCC and I too am surprised by how small the incisions are. I'm only a week behind you, have no restriction and I'm starving. LOL

I have been eating alot of Wolfgang Puck's canned soups, chicken tortilla soup is great, the chicken and dumpling's is yummy too. I just add cheese and tortilla chips and grind it or mash it up and eat it. It is soooo yummy and filling too. I have also been eating mushy foods, I know the nutritionist advised against this but I am so hungry. Today I was really bad and had a few french fries. I just chewed them until they were watery mush and swallowed them. I can't wait until my first fill. I tried some tuna with a lot of mayo to make it really creamy, no problems with that. I made some pasta with vegetable sauce and mashed that up and ate it too. I have no restriction at all, the only reason I know that I have the band is because of the incision where the port is. I am eating much smaller amounts than normal though, I do get full faster. I wish I still had the golf ball feeling, then I would know the band is there.

You don't want that golf ball feeling. It's painful and causes vomiting. That would be bad for you this soon after surgery.

Do you have one of those mini blenders? You really should be only eating whatever you can get through a straw. Has anyone ever explained to you why this is important?

I told my Husband the day I got home on friday December 14 I had my second fill total of 6cc from fills and 2cc the doc put in and I am now properly restricted!!!!!!!!!!!! one egg fills me up for 4 hours I had a slime issue once (eating chicken too fast) I have lost 2 lbs and am happy and hopefull

That is so awesome to hear! You aren't even a whole two weeks out yet! My fear is that the surgery will "keep me down" a long time. I had plastic surgery in '05 and it kicked my butt. This surgery is so much less invasive so I am hoping I recover sooner. I have a 6 y.o. to keep up with!

RTW

You will do fine. It takes a lot to keep me down though. I have 2 boys, 4 and 1 years. I had the surgery on Thursday afternoon, stayed at the hotel Friday night and I was home by 9 am Saturday morning. I didn't tell my hubby so I have had to act like nothing is wrong. I have been able to take care of my boys fine. At first I didn't carry the baby around much, I would just sit with him in my lap when he needed me. I am fine now though, I can pick him up when he needs me too. I only took motrin for the pain and the 1st week I took 600-800 mg 2 times a day, that helped a lot. I did not get any narcotic drugs and honestly, I didn't need them. This has been a walk in the park for me. Everyone is different though, you have to go in to this with a certain mind set I guess. I knew I wasn't going to let this keep me down, it is a small procedure that takes 15 minutes. It is very minor compared to vaginal child birth and a c-section.

You don't want that golf ball feeling. It's painful and causes vomiting. That would be bad for you this soon after surgery.

Do you have one of those mini blenders? You really should be only eating whatever you can get through a straw. Has anyone ever explained to you why this is important?

I use a food processor for the more solid foods then I add them to broth or soup. I know I am not supposed to eat solids because my stomach needs to heal and it could cause band slippage or stretch the pouch. My nutritionist said as long as I can drink it, I can eat it. I just make the food a consistancy in which I can drink it. I can't be doing too bad, I have lost 7 lbs so I am not overeating, I am still not getting all of the calories I need. I tried the Unjury protein drink, it doesn't taste bad at all, the problem is the smell. I gag as soon as I smell it. I have a horrible gag reflex and I don't want to throw up so I just can't drink that stuff. Even the protein waters are gross. They taste like kool-aid with meat in it:phanvan. Thewy also leave a funny film in my mouth that is milky....not a good combo for me at all. I have to get my protein some how so grinding up real meat is better than none at all I guess.

I have a question. Can you still chew gum with the band? I don't know where i read it but i think someone said no gum chewing with the band. I love to chew gum, Orbit is my fave! Any comments on the subject????:omg:

I have a question. Can you still chew gum with the band? I don't know where i read it but i think someone said no gum chewing with the band. I love to chew gum, Orbit is my fave! Any comments on the subject????:omg:

I have a question. Can you still chew gum with the band? I don't know where i read it but i think someone said no gum chewing with the band. I love to chew gum, Orbit is my fave! Any comments on the subject????:omg:

My doctor didn't say anything about it but I have heard on here that some dr.'s advise against it because of the danger of it sticking in the stoma or blocking the opening.

I love gum too and my dr warned me against it, but out of habit I was chewing on some and then remembered what the dr said and I looked like the biggest idiot - I could not get the gum out of my mouth fast enough and I was at work (in my cube farm) I am sure that it was hysterical.

That incident broke me of the habit - I need to switch to mints or something.

I don't understand why you can't chew it as long as you don't swallow it. How can it get stuck or block your stomach just by chewing it??? Did anyone's Doctor explain in detail why you shouldn't chew gum? I hate to give it up, it helps with my sweet tooth alot.

You can chew gum. I chew gum all the time. It keeps me from eating. You can't swallow gum. But who swallows it anyway. Maybe I did when I was a little kid, but I haven't in years.

That's too bad you don't like the Protein drinks. I really like Atkins

chocolate. I think it tastes great.

Hello fellow bandsters. Just posting an introduction:

Starting BMI/weight: 34.1/231 lbs

Surgery Date: November 16, 2007

Surgery BMI/weight: 32.5/220 lbs

Now: 30.7/208 lbs

I am not feeling any restriction but I get my first fill tomorrow!

I self paid as an investment in my future. I have central body obesity, high blood pressure and hyperlipidemia. My mother had the same body type, heart disease and diabetes. My insurance would not pay unless I had a BMI of 42 or greater! I would have to be about 290 lbs first. I could see that happening eventually if I kept going as I was, so I took the leap. I am glad I did.

Welcome!!! I felt the same way! I was at 190 but knew the way I felt I was on the upswing again!!! I had weighed 240, lost weight, then up to 240 again, lost some for a wedding, than started gaining again. I was out of control!!!

My body had been thru too much already and I didn't wan to gain like that again.