...how are you doing?

Maybe we should introduce ourselves to one another...I'll start:

My name is Trish and I was banded on December 17th in New York. I'm on mushies until next Monday, when I'll be starting Phase I of working in soft solids. As of yesterday, I am down 20 pounds from my surgery weight (32 pounds from my highest). My husband and I go to the gym in our apartment complex every day and walk for a half an hour. I can't wait to be able to vary my exercise regime more, but that will come in a couple of weeks.

I hope everyone is doing really well! Please give an update of your progress!

Ok I'll go next...

I'm Kelly and was banded on the 17th in Elkhart Indiana... I was on liquids for 4 days and mushies since... even though I have started to get into solid foods at this point... I am down 24 from the start of the process. I am a band/orchestra director for a 5-8 intermediate center. I just got the clearance yesterday to start exercising so Curves here I come!!!

Me too, banded 12/17 in TX.

I've had two weeks of liquids and I'm still doing mushies now. I had my post-op today and was told I could have small bites of chicken or fish or cheese if I wanted to. I've kind of been doing that already.

According to their scales, I've lost 16 since my first visit and 12 since surgery. I'm liking my scale much better. LOL From my highest weight (a couple of weeks before surgery) to now, I've lost 22 lbs. The scale hasn't moved in a couple of days though.

My first fill will be 1/29, I'm excited about that, three weeks!!

I still haven't been released to exercise other than walking. Still no lifting ... um ... I have a 2 year old ... enough said about that lifting restriction. I am anxious to get to Curves though, hopefully when I go in next time I'll be released for that. I was thinking of going and just skipping a few machines, but it might be easier just to wait and heal the rest of the way.

I'm Eileen, from NJ, banded on 12/18. I'm on mushies now until my one month anniversary. I had 2 weeks of liquids (clear for 2 days, then full). I've lost 16 lbs since surgery. I had put on one lb from the liquid to mushie transition, but now the scale is moving in the right direction again. My wedding band is loose, and my 20s, which were really too small before, fit. I joined curves a month before surgery, and just started back today, at 3 weeks out. (I felt the port a bit on a few exercises. I was just really careful with those.) My goal is to go 4 times a week.

Oh, I should mention, I have the realize band.

I have 2 kids ages 2 1/2 and 8. They are great kids.

My name is Angie, I was banded on Dec. 17th in Bakersfield, CA (central CA). I was on liquids for a week, mushies for two weeks, and am now eating semi solid to solid foods. I work at a school district, so I went back to work yesterday from "vacation". I started going to the fitness center today, our school has one on site with elipticals, treadmills, weight machines, the whole bit. But, for now I have been cleared for cardio workout so weights are off limits...So far since two weeks before surgery, I have lost 22 lbs.

I went to my first support group meeting tonight. It was quite interesting. I learned alot.

I am expecting my first fill in the next three weeks, depending on the rate of weight loss from now until then.

You all are doing great!

I attend the support group meetings provided by the hospital where I had my surgery. I was required to attend at least two as a pre-op requirement. They are kind of annoying...every week it seems like the same people say the same things...and they are always right about everything...and their eating habits are perfect, yadda yadda yadda (sarcasm). I don't know why I keep going. I guess it's just to touch base with physical people who have the band...cause sometimes it feels like a very lonely road. I mean, my husband is wonderful! He is extremely supportive, tells me I'm doing an awesome job, and works out with me, but he doesn't know what it feels like to feel paranoid to eat and the sadness associated with food withdrawal. Does anyone else feel this way?

Hi everyone! I was banded on 12/17 - liquids for the first week, mushy foods for week 2 with slow intro to solids, full solids at week 3. I'm down 22 lbs from the start of my pre-op diet 1 week before surgery. I lost 12 on the pre-op and 10 since the surgery, although that was mostly in the liquid diet week! I seem to have been holding steady since then. I have my post-op visit tomorrow - couldnt get in any sooner! Looking forward to scheduling that first fill, because I dont know how much longer I can go on being "good" mentally knowing that I have no restriction right now!

I'm in the DFW area and my doc is Dr Marsden.

I do "data analysis" type stuff for a living, and I work from home, which is great in terms of not having to deal with going out to eat for lunch with coworkers anymore - less temptation!

Look forward to getting to know all of you!

Tina

Hello Everyone, this is my first post. I was banded on December 17th by Dr. Neal in Northwest Washington. I was really nervous, but my surgery went fine. The first week or so was pretty rough, but I started feeling a lot better last week. I think I may have overdone it a bit, since I started feeling tired all the time and sore in the port area for the last few days.

I really didn't think I'd lost any weight since surgery, but when I was weighed at my doctor's office yesterday, I'd lost almost 20 lbs! I was 229 on the day of surgery, and 210 yesterday. I was really shocked because my clothes fit about the same, and I don't think I look any different. I think I must have lost muscle mass, since I've been very active all my life and I've spent the last three weeks not exercising much at all.

I look forward to getting to know you all!

Hi everyone! I was banded on Dec 18 in Ohio. I am anxiously awaiting the 16th when I can move onto soft (non-pureed) foods. Truthfully, I've kinda dabbled a bit with some very soft foods that have not been pureed. I lost 12 pounds from the 19-26th of Dec. and since then I've been going up and down 2 pounds. I've been eating less than 1000 calories a day and have not been exercising yet. As of last weekend I did start getting back to my normal level of activities and have had several very active days. My goal now is to up my calorie intake to 1200 and see what happens. I'm getting enough Protein and Fluid in since moving to mushies... so I hope at some point the scale starts moving again.

My next Dr.'s appt. is the 23rd and I'm not sure if I will be getting a fill that day or not. I hope so!

I think I may have overdone it a bit, since I started feeling tired all the time and sore in the port area for the last few days.

I have been feeling the same exact way the past few days...just so drained! My port area was finally starting to feel a lot better, and last night when I twisted funny (not even that jolting of a movement), it started to kill again. I wonder if it's just part of the healing process.

BTW, I saw your "before" picture and WOW! How cool of a calling do you have! A fire eater and training to be a contortionist! Frickin' awesome!

Hi, I am also on soft foods. Hasn't really been a problem. I haven't gotten into the exercise groove yet. Get my first fill next week.

Hi there. My name is Mary Faith and I was banded on the 20th of December in Ohio by Dr. Fagelman. Painwise, I am doing great. I have lost a total of 25 pounds since the preop diet. I did better on the preop diet than I have on since surgery. I am in the funky up/down phase with my weight. I am so thankful to this board though because I would be going crazy without. I am trying so hard to continue with my food changes.

Just yesterday I noticed I could eat a little more than I had been since surgery. Still not a lot but definitely a change.

Good luck to all of us.

Get my first fill next week.

I'm surprised that your doctor would give you a fill in your fourth week after surgery. That seems really quick. Usually fills aren't given until at least the sixth week after surgery for healing purposes.

I don't get my first fill until some time in February. That's only because my surgeon is only doing them one day a month under flouro. He said that it would be too soon for me to do it on the January date (the 24th -- five weeks out).

Please let us know how your fill goes!

Just yesterday I noticed I could eat a little more than I had been since surgery. Still not a lot but definitely a change.

It must be something in the air. Yesterday I was starving for the first time since surgery. It took a lot of self control not to indulge.

I have PCOS, so my periods are quite erratic. Maybe my time of the month is coming? I hope that is the reason.

I've got about three weeks until my first fill and I'm starting to feel a little hungry. I think PMS has a lot to do with it because I'm just wanting junk. Hopefully it will pass quickly!!

Trixie,

My Doctor does the first fill at 4 weeks. He uses flouro. Dr. Curry is the only one in Ohio certified (by LapBand and Realize) to teach other doctors to do the surgery. So I'm not concerned about the earlier fill. (I have the Realize band.)

My sister got her first fill at 4 weeks and she lives near St. Louis. She's not having any problems. My husband (went to Barix Clinic in Columbus area) would have had his first fill at about 2 months, but it ended up being much later because his surgeon left that practice yadda yadda. He also was on Clear liquids for a week post of and didn't get to soft foods for 6 weeks. I started soft foods 2 weeks out. There seems to be a wide scope for when bansters get to do what.