It's really hard to believe because, physically, I don't feel any different than I did before the surgery. I have no pain or discomfort at all, in any position. I can feel my port with my fingers but that's the only time and even then, it's much less prominent than it was at first. I'm no longer tired, either.

Today I get to begin exercising again and I'm really looking forward to it! I already feel smaller and more nimble.

I still don't feel hungry unless it's time to eat and even then, it's different than before. It's not that overwhelming feeling that I'm starving. It's more physical -- I feel a little weak and even lightheaded. It feels more like a "need" and less like a "want." I enjoy food when I'm eating it but it doesn't take much to feel like I've had enough. I don't have to cut myself off -- I just reach a point of knowing that's enough and it's hard to describe how it is that I know.

I won't know officially how much weight I've lost until my next appointment December 14 but I did step on my scales last weekend and I'm definitely on the way down! But I don't know how my scales compare to the doctor's and I could gain between now and then so I'll stick to the official monthly weigh-ins rather than set myself up for disappointment getting attached to a number. However, my clothes are fitting so much better and I'm wearing some things that I wouldn't wear before because they showed too many bulges. I've gone from XL to Large on a few things. :clap2:

My conclusion: I'm very happy with the band! I don't know if I'll get a fill at my appointment. I don't start soft foods until the day before. If my hunger has returned, I'll get a fill but otherwise, I'll probably get used to soft foods and see what things look like at the next appointment in January. I realize it may take me longer to lose but I'd rather be comfortable and lose slowly than experience the negative side-effects of adjusting to a fill that I don't need. Guess we'll see two weeks from now!

How are my fellow bandpals doing?

I'm just a few days beyond the 4 weeks and am really feeling good. I'm walking during breaks for 15 minutes daily unless the Seattle weather prevails and I would drown. I definitely feel I haven't much, if any, restriction and want a fill 12/05/07 at my appointment. I've eaten "regular food" but make sure it isn't too dry. I'm not hungry but when I've passed my eating time then my stomach hurts, I know I had better eat something...though not much. I could eat more but don't want to. When I eat a couple bites more than I think I should, I can feel it and it hurts. I just don't feel restricted like I think I should. But this is all so new and who knows if I'm feeling correctly.

Take care.

I am 17 days out and am feeling really good. No pain or even discomfort. I posted on another thread that I went to my internist Tuesday, and he said that I can cut my BP meds in half and will probably be off them entirely in a few months. That is GOLD to me - even it I wasn't going to lose weight (which I am). I also FEEL much better than a month ago. I almost trot up and down the stairs and my knees feel great. I think that having so much less food to process has been a tremendous vacation for my internal organs. I am a happy gal with my grumbly tummy!

I was going to start exercising this week, but will probably put it off until next week, because I caught a WICKED cold that has me feeling very puny and weak for the last day or so. Next week, I'll be leaping on the eliptical trainer.

It's been four weeks for me and my first day back at work after being off for a month. One of my coworkers said she thought I looked like I lost some weight...and I know I have because my size 16 pants were very unflattering on me. I need 14's already.

I have restriction...I think...because I cannot eat much. A small yogurt fills me up...and today at lunch I had a small noodle Soup which filled me so quickly.

I am now on solids and so far it's going well. Just has a roasted chicken healthy choice dinner and I was not able to finish it. Yeah...maybe this is the answer to small portion.

I am averaging at least 800 calories a day and about 48 grams of Protein (I know I need to be up to about 60 grams, so I am still working on it). For the most part, I have no regrets about the surgery so far.

Sounds great, Longhorn! Keep up the good work. Isn't the band great? My hunger is much different, too. It's fabulous. WTG on the downsize from XL to L!

I had a great ending to my four-week anniversary! I met my husband and daughter and son-in-law at a Red Robin restaurant to watch the Cowboys-Packers game since we don't have the NFL Network on our cable system. Anyway, after looking over the menu, I decided to get the fried cheese sticks. Now, I know that doesn't sound particularly healthy but I'm still on mushies and everything else came with bread or chips or lots of chunky stuff. Well, out of an order of probably a dozen cheese sticks, I had four! I brought my one-minute timer and waited a minute between bites. When I stopped at four, it was because I felt full, not because I hurt or just thought I should stop. In the past, I could have eaten the entire order and then eaten a sandwich or some other entree! It felt so good to have a treat like that but in a small portion and not feel the least bit deprived! I also had two glasses of wine over a span of about three hours. It's not something I'll do every day but this was a special occasion. And the Cowboys won!

Good job, Longhorn! That's fantastic.

Off-topic: I heard on the radio about that Cowboys vs Packers game and how they were going to only air it on the NFL Network that most cable/dish providers don't carry because they're trying to get people angry so they demand it from their carrier. I think that's cruel and unusual punishment! LOL DH is a die-hard Cowboys fan.

Yes, that's the reason we had to go out to watch the game. The place was packed! We were going to go to a sports bar next door but it was already overflowing. There was an article in the paper today that every place in Austin that had satellite TV was packed. Our server told us she had been working at Red Robin for six months and had never seen it so busy.

I'm on the side of the cable companies. The NFL Network wants to charge the cable companies $8 per year per customer to carry it. That's more than they pay for CNN and there's only a handful of games per year! Our cable company, Time Warner, wants to put the network on a sports tier that customers would pay extra for if they want it. Makes more sense to me! Why should people who have no interest in football have to see their cable bill go up?

Anyway, I'll bet your husband is as excited about the Cowboys as I am! :whoo:

Hi everyone. It's a month today and can't wait for some restriction. I hope my first fill does give some restriction, I know sometimes the first one doesn't. I'm quite happy with the weight loss so far. Today I went out for lunch to a pizza place and WOWEE I didn't even have pizza - just had the salad bar - some cottage cheese, potato salad, boiled egg. I'm sure the person I went with couldn't believe it but was too polite to say anything.

Well I'm just over 4 weeks out and am on solids now. Haven't had any problems with anything I've eaten so far. Only thing is I have to eat slower... sometimes don't give my self a chance to realise I'm full. I haven't been feeling too hungry, just need to eat on time. My first fill is 12 December and I have lost 10.6kgs / 23.5lbs since surgery... definitely not complaining about that !! I've started doing some walking but will make sure that I do a lot more in the coming week. Looks like most of us have had a really good journey so far and I hope it stays that way. Good luck to everyone.

Yes, that's the reason we had to go out to watch the game. The place was packed! We were going to go to a sports bar next door but it was already overflowing. There was an article in the paper today that every place in Austin that had satellite TV was packed. Our server told us she had been working at Red Robin for six months and had never seen it so busy.

I'm on the side of the cable companies. The NFL Network wants to charge the cable companies $8 per year per customer to carry it. That's more than they pay for CNN and there's only a handful of games per year! Our cable company, Time Warner, wants to put the network on a sports tier that customers would pay extra for if they want it. Makes more sense to me! Why should people who have no interest in football have to see their cable bill go up?

Anyway, I'll bet your husband is as excited about the Cowboys as I am! :whoo:

I agree - it really is not fair to charge EVERYBODY that fee.

And YES - DH was so excited to hear that they had won. He was busy and didn't know there was a game. Quoting from him over messenger:

Richard said:

my boys now have a berth in the playoffs and home field advantage...the first team in the NFC to do so....yeah

Richard said:

it could be that the boys and the pats going to the super bowl, the pats are 11 and 0 and the boys are 11 and 1, green bay are 10 and 2 so they could and I hope take the pats down a notch but they are the only ones who coudl do it before the super bowl

Glad to hear things are going well with you Longhorn......seems like you are on the right track!!

Sades same to you.....I still have 9 days left on mushies.....and I will be happy when I can cook again and actually eat some of it......I know DH will be as well.....although he has not complained once.

I have been just living on lot so ff refried Beans and ff cheese and salsa......:girl_hug:

I try to eat lots of Protein when I do eat.....since that is what I will be doing when I get back to regular food.

SADES!! Wow pizza parlor I love that food, and I know some who do it with band, they limit it to once piece though and don't eat the dough. But sounds like you handled that temptation well.......:clap2:

Great job Ladies!! We sound like we are all doing well and no one having too bad of issues right now, I am praying it stays that way with all us November Bandsters!!

Hi Longhorn:

Glad to see I'm not the only using a one-minute timer. It helps me alot.

I live in Patriots country, and my ex-husband (and still friend) is a huge Cowboys fan. He goes to a Cowboys game every year from Massachusetts to wherever. I like to see the Pats do well because it makes my coworkers happy. It could end up Pats vs. Boys. May the best team win.

I hope our bands have as good a year as the Pats and Cowboys are.

Take care.

Sue

Glad to hear things are going well with you Longhorn......seems like you are on the right track!!

Sades same to you.....I still have 9 days left on mushies.....and I will be happy when I can cook again and actually eat some of it......I know DH will be as well.....although he has not complained once.

I have been just living on lot so ff refried Beans and ff cheese and salsa......:girl_hug:

I try to eat lots of Protein when I do eat.....since that is what I will be doing when I get back to regular food.

SADES!! Wow pizza parlor I love that food, and I know some who do it with band, they limit it to once piece though and don't eat the dough. But sounds like you handled that temptation well.......:clap2:

Great job Ladies!! We sound like we are all doing well and no one having too bad of issues right now, I am praying it stays that way with all us November Bandsters!!

Thanks Kristin. By the way, the Pizza Parlour story wasn't me... but she was good to resist the temptation! :clap2::clap2:

Sorry Linda!! Silly me......Anyway Kudos to staving off the temptation of one of my favorite foods....:clap2:

Thanks Sades for clearing that up......sometimes it is hard to recall who said what here.

I have been out to restaraunts a few times since my surgery and the looks I get from the wait staff is incredible. Especially when I tell them I want nothing to drink.....LOL

I asked for a to go container when I ordered my food......LOL When it came I took out the portion I could eat and put the rest away......It works really well to help to not over eat.

I also can't believe that I've been banded only a month ago! I feel like a different person. At first the weight just melted off me. This week though it has slowed way down. Which is ok because I don't want to lose too fast. I certainly feel restricted even without a fill. Still on mushies but possibly after I see the Dr. on Monday I'll be on to regular food. It is amazing how I am making what used to be one meal into two! We were at the mall the other day and for supper I got myself a plain bean cheese burrito. I just ate the middle of it and I got full on just half of it. So I wrapped it back up and took it for my lunch the next day. Some days I have a hard time getting in the required Protein and Water.

Does anyone else get bugged that your food gets cold before you can eat it all? I never had that problem before, but now with little bites and taking my time I am constantly having to re-heat it to keep it warm. It's also funny to be the last one eating from my little plate.

I was able to start playing volleyball again! Yes, even though I am 100lbs overweight I have always played and loved volleyball. (Just not as quick as I used to be. ) Anyway, I felt so good and actually felt I could jump higher than I did a month ago!