Hey all.

So there's a bunch of us in this group, all split up into our different banding days. I was thinking that it might be a good idea to have one master thread as we move through the month, in which all of us could post as we go, from the pioneers going on March 1st to the finalists on March 31st.

I'd love to talk about our anticipation and any worries as we approach our banding date, for people to talk about exactly what happened from the moment they walked into the hospital door until the second they walked out, about how recovery is going, about weight loss and plateaus, about non-scale victories and challenges.

I was thinking that if we all contribute to one thread, it'll form a more substantial channel for information and support. At the moment, I was thinking that we might be too spread out into individual date, and that a central thread would be a really good backbone for the group, in addition to the date-specific threads.

What do you think?

Fenton

good luck to everyone, I just had my surgury on 3/20. I guess I am very lucky so far I have even been able to swallow my normal meds... I drink my protein, but I know I am not getting enough in yet. I guess my test will come more after my fills and I have some restriction, right now I just feel a little full and puffy in the tummy....

have u all been told not to drink from a straw? i think the reason was cuz it adds extra air. ive been drinking out of a water bottle with a end on the lid that can sort of spray into my mouth. Do u think that is adding extra air to my belly and maybe making me still have this gas pain??????

Good Morning Shamrocks!

It's my turn now! So, I leave for the hospital in less than an hour and will be on my way.

Fenton - I did watch TLC on Sunday and saw that show. Good thing you warned us about the infomercial way the show appears. I almost turned it off because of that, but I did watch it all. The process he taught to deal with emotional eating is called EFT. What is odd is that I learned that process just two weeks ago. I think I will continue to watch because he has some good things to say. I think it can help with the eating issues that I obviously have!

Anyway, as I sit here, I am not overly excited or worried, just ready to go. I have to admit that I slept 6 hours last night, which was good for me. I took a percocet and it helped knock me out. I have them for knee pain, but my knee wasn't really bothering me that much. I just didn't want to be awake all night.

I have a small bag of stuff. I would imagine that I won't need much of it. I have a rubick's cube to keep me interested as well as a book, magazine and newspaper. I figure I won't need much else. I did toss a small pillow in the bag for the ride home. Otherwise, I think I am set.

I did loose some weight on the clear liquid diet. I had last supper syndrome for 2 days prior to that, so my weight loss wasn't that great. But, I am almost 20 pounds down prior to surgery, so that is a good thing. Bye, bye 270's!

Well, I'm off for now. Not much else to do now, except wait to get my family up and moving and get me to the hospital! See ya all in a day or so.

P.S. Anyone that is still not banded might want to slowly decrease your caffeine intake to avoid the headaches. I can't imagine having to deal with that as well as the liquid diet.

Edited March 25, 200818 yr by hopeinapril

Good luck and keep us posted Hopeinapril!

congrats, and best wishes hopeinapril!!

You go girl!:biggrin:

Good Luck HopeinApril, we will be thinking of you and will be here waiting when you get home.

you go girl. I know in life skills classes you were anxious to get this done. So glad your day is here.

HOPE!!! A *Rubik's Cube*??? OMG!

I've never been able to do one of those in my life.

I'm glad you slept well - we'll see you soon.

I haven't watched last night's I CAN MAKE YOU THIN yet, but the first ep, where he introduced the principles of conscious eating, was very good, I thought (once you got past the cheez-ee set and all around icky infommerciality of it). I'll watch it tonight - it sounds like a technique I might need.

I've been doing badly, I have to say - by which, I mean, no weight loss this week. Indeed, since coming off liquids 10 days ago, I've actually put on a pound. I was surprised by this, because I'm sure my intake has been less than 2000 calories a day. Perhaps the liquid diet turned down my metabolism or something, because my body's clearly jumping on every calorie I take in.

I'm going to have to tighten up my intake. Also, I realized last night that a Soup I'd been enjoying and thinking was 200 calories actually is 200 calories PER SERVING, with the single-serving-looking container actually being 1.5 servings. So that's an extra 100 cals a day right there...

Anyway, yes, more vigilant about the intake, more vigilant about walking and whatnot.

Rhonda, do you hate to sip or something?

I doubt squirting Water into your mouth gives you extra air, but I'd have thought that was a good way of guzzling water, rather than taking fluids in slowly and steadily, which is what we should probably be aiming for. I think sipping water slowly would be the best way to do it, but I don't think that squirting water into your mouth will do you much harm, as long as you don't have too much at one time.

And hey, lrh - glad to hear you're doing well.

I've been doing badly, I have to say - by which, I mean, no weight loss this week. Indeed, since coming off liquids 10 days ago, I've actually put on a pound. I was surprised by this, because I'm sure my intake has been less than 2000 calories a day. Perhaps the liquid diet turned down my metabolism or something, because my body's clearly jumping on every calorie I take in.

Fenton, I'm just starting mushies and I was warned not to freak out if I gain a few pounds during this stage. :thumbup: Our bodies have been getting mostly just Protein, very limited carbs and fat, on the liquid stage, so it's a big adjustment going into mushies. We tend to get much more in the way of carbs and fat, in particular. Plus, this is a period where we're unrestricted other than texture...

By the way, have you tried your yogurt smoothie for protein in the morning? Just checking to see if it gave you an energy boost. Me, I've always been a Breakfast girl, just now it's in the form of protein shakes!

Well today is 7 day post op for me and I have to say that I have actually been hungry today, first time since surgery. I've been sticking to my menu of liquids and soups, yogurt and protein drinks, but I am so ready for tomorrow to come when I can add some different more solid type foods, i.e. the mushy stage, yippee!! DH went to the store and bought some lunch meat type turkey and chicken for me even though the dietician's book that I was given shows deli sliced thin meat which to me is meat such as Buddig brand paper sliced meat. I got mad at him for not getting what I asked for, but I just don't want to hurt my band. Does anyone know if the regular sliced luncheon meat is ok for the mushy stage? He also bought some fresh pears which I absolutely love, but my book says only canned fruit beginning tomorrow and that I can't have fresh fruit for 6 months. Anybody else have to wait 6 months for fresh fruit?

The thing is, over in the Men's Room, I see all the lads with this great weight loss, and I'm frustrated that I'm not accomplishing that. Particularly because my high starting weight should mean that I'm ploughing through the calories.

But I think you're right - this bump reflects the return of carbs, and some change in Water weight. Even so, I'm going to be hypervigilant. I wish I could be filled sooner. And I"m increasing my activity.

My new blender arrived yesterday: tomorrow I shall branch out into Protein shakes for breakfast. I have been having a bite in the morning, but haven't noticed any change in my energy levels or whatnot. Perhaps I should be taking in more - I shall try. There was actually a piece in the New York Times today about how children who eat breakfast are statistically far more likely to be normal weight than those who routinely skip it.

Fenton, you might also be retaining Fluid from excess sodium that you are probably taking in now. I have found that my average sodium intake during the day is normally around 1000-1500mg and much over this amount causes me to retain fluid. Do you track your sodium contents when you're tracking Protein and calories, this might be something you could watch out for.

We women, need to help keep you encouraged, just the same as you do us, so I'm here to tell you that you have done so well and you're so awesome to help keep us on track with your words of encouragement and advice and I just want to send you some encouragement and kind words and support your way and let you know that we also care about how your journey is going. We will get through this, we are the Shrinking Shamrocks.

Have you been hitting the sauce, Teri?

I kid, I kid!

What motivates me is the success of others, so just keep on losin'!

I just unpacked my new blender and my new blender cup, and made a Protein shake - it was actually delicious! One of the horrid Slimfast Optima vanilla shakes tarted up with some banana, Peanut Butter and Protein powder. It actually tasted quite good, had tons of protein. Not low cal, though.

Still, not TERRIBLE...