Hi everyone--I thought I'd listen to some advice from one of the other monthly groups and start one master thread in which we have an ongoing discussion/updates. I don't know about you all but I certainly spend most of my time on these boards on the pre-op forum and the general forum, not here. It would be nice to have just one thread to go to once in this forum.

We can maybe start out with introductions?

As for me, I'm going the "online privacy" route for now (paranoid that people I haven't told about this will somehow stumble across me on this site I guess, which is crazy, I know) but I can give you the big picture:

You can call me Penny, I'm 27, single and live in the Washington, DC area. I have a background in politics (which is why I live in DC) but now I'm a librarian which is much cooler and way more fun (trust me on that). Oh, and there's no "Marion the Librarian" thing with me either. One of the things I hear most frequently (besides the cliche "you have such a pretty face") is "but you don't LOOK like a librarian", which is another one of those bizarre backhanded compliments that you never really know how to take.

Personality wise, I'm kind of dorky, big into public radio and books and popular science. Oh, I'm also a little on the paranoid side (as you may be able to tell from earlier in this post). Beyond that I'm just kind of silly and friendly, VERY much so into traveling and I'm an aspiring "green" domestic diva (but that's not going so well).

Hi July Butterflies - I need some help! I can eat anything anytime I want. When I realized this two weeks ago it just opened the flood gates of poor old habits. Is anyone else experiencing this?

I think I could eat anything I wanted to also. my home is full of sweets(4 grandkids) and I make big ole country meals for my DH nightly. I haven't touched any of it, I give myself a reason every day as to why I'm staying on plan that day and take it one day at a time. I wanted to bite my granddaughters ho ho so bad yesterday but I managed to hold out, she even went as far as to ask me why I kept looking at her. I didn't have the heart to tell her it was taking all my will power not to tackle her and wrestler that ho ho out of her tiny hand. but I can't expect the world to stop eating all the things I love just because I can't have them. anyway that's my story and now back to you: when is your next fill? I'm sure that would help.

Has anyone started lifting weights yet? I want to start but Im not sure if it's too early.

I use the universal/nautilus weight machines. The only one I have had any issues with is the ab machine...I can do 30lbs fine but at 40lbs, it feels like my port is pinching something.

Hi everyone! I had my first fill on 9/11-Thursday, then I could only have liquids until Monday (Dr.'s orders). So I have been back on normal food for 2 days. So far it seems practically the same as before. Meaning not too much restriction, and I'm still counting my calories, as to not go overboard. They put 1.8ccs in my 4cc band. I hope that I will feel a bit more restriction with my next fill, and enough before I reach the max of 4cc! After I eat it's not really a full feeling, but more of a "I swallowed a horse-pill feeling and it got a bit stuck", so I do stop eating, but this is weird to me. That is normal, right? It is still after quite a bit of food though.

My Dr. said that it is fine for me to begin weights now, but to still NOT do abdominal work until 3 full months after my surgery (7/24-10/24). Doing them too soon could cause problems with the port; which, is sutured to the abdominal wall.

I'm slowly losing. I thought it would be a bit faster, but at least the scale is going down. It's been 13 pre-op and 19 post-op. Continued success to everyone. :thumbup:

Hi July Butterflies - I need some help! I can eat anything anytime I want. When I realized this two weeks ago it just opened the flood gates of poor old habits. Is anyone else experiencing this?

Same problem here. In fact I gained 5 pounds. For me I pushed to see how far I could go. When I started food I waited a week to try bread. I had heard that alot of people cant eat it ,well I can eat it no problem so I went on to eat a 6 inch grinder (sub). I go for my first fill today so my fingers are crossed. The only thing I try to do is forgive myself. This is a learning process. Yes I walk up to the frig, open it a million times and stare into it, I open the goodie cabinet also and hit the chips. I'm stressed! but I pick myself up off the ground and say "ok Tina, its a new day lets start over"

P.S. I hit the M&M's hard! I will admit it only to all of you. I afraid of failing!

I'm there in bandster hell, too. I'm trying not to gain, but I've put a few back on. I am not eating junk, I'm trying not to eat more than a cup at a time, but I am ravingly hungry again in an hour or two. No fill until October 2.

All I can do is keep trying and stick to healthy, high fiber stuff. Ack.

So where have all the butterflies flown off to? haven't heard from a lot of you in a while, how about some up dates. I'm doing fine, I've lost 35lbs but still have 57 to go. so far i'm pleased with the progress.

I can tell you where a few of us went.....we ran from IKE. I still don't have power, but just got internet. It is pretty bad down here in the Houston-Galveston area, especially Galveston and coastal towns.

I am going tomorrow for a 3rd fill. I hope to get closer to a REAL restriction. I still can eat a cup of food at a time, and I know I shouldn't be eating that much. My dr wants me eating half a cup six times a day.

I can tell you where a few of us went.....we ran from IKE. I still don't have power, but just got internet. It is pretty bad down here in the Houston-Galveston area, especially Galveston and coastal towns.

I am going tomorrow for a 3rd fill. I hope to get closer to a REAL restriction. I still can eat a cup of food at a time, and I know I shouldn't be eating that much. My dr wants me eating half a cup six times a day.

Sorry to hear about Ike. I got hit with Gustav and then scattered wind gusts and rain from Ike. We are so tired of street lights being out and our stores being empty. The lights came back on and then Ike knocked some of them back out again. Everything is slowly getting back to normal again.

Glad to hear you got your internet back.

Your dr wants you eating 6 times a day. I wish I could do that. I don't have the time, so I just do the 1 cup 3 times a day:mellow:

Charlene, so sorry to hear of your troubles, thoughts and prayers are with you and your community. When I read your post it made me think of just how differant all of us are told to eat. I'm on 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup 3 times a day with no snacks or grazing. If I had to eat 6 meals a day I would never get my fluids in you know with having to wait an hour after each meal to drink. There's just not enough hours in my day.

Hi everyone! I had my first fill on 9/11-Thursday, then I could only have liquids until Monday (Dr.'s orders). So I have been back on normal food for 2 days. So far it seems practically the same as before. Meaning not too much restriction, and I'm still counting my calories, as to not go overboard. They put 1.8ccs in my 4cc band. I hope that I will feel a bit more restriction with my next fill, and enough before I reach the max of 4cc! After I eat it's not really a full feeling, but more of a "I swallowed a horse-pill feeling and it got a bit stuck", so I do stop eating, but this is weird to me. That is normal, right? It is still after quite a bit of food though.

My Dr. said that it is fine for me to begin weights now, but to still NOT do abdominal work until 3 full months after my surgery (7/24-10/24). Doing them too soon could cause problems with the port; which, is sutured to the abdominal wall.

I'm slowly losing. I thought it would be a bit faster, but at least the scale is going down. It's been 13 pre-op and 19 post-op. Continued success to everyone. :crying:

That's the feeling I have. It's not a full feeling, but more of a stuck feeling and if I eat another bite I might PB. I go for my 2nd fill on Tuesday. I do have some restriction so my next fill may be it for a while. At times though, I can eat more than a cup of food. Not the meat of course, but the veggies and carbs. My dr only wants 3 meals a day and one snack. I would prefer the the six, which means I would probably abuse it by eating more than a cup! :wink2: I hope all are doing well and survived all the bad weather.

I'm right there with you - I was banned on July 16. I'm still having a really hard time eating lots of food. I really really have to becareful with my chewing. I need to eat about every 2 1/2 hours to get all my

protien in. I'm a little furstrated about my weight loss. I've been lossing and gaining the same 5 lbs all month. I see my Dr. on Monday-to schedual my first fill. I hope that will get me over the hump.

Kimaly - Thanks for the info. I'm not sure when my next fill is. I'm seeing my doc today. I'm going to insist that I get a fill soon.

And for everyone - isn't this much harder than you thought. I guess I was kidding myself that the band was the miracle. I knew it wasn't, but I guess I didn't believe it. Now I do.

I just keep telling myself that the band is a process, not an instant fix... (darn it!) It's killing me to see my weight creeping up while I wait for my first fill. I'm keeping my ticker at the lowest point for now. It's too awful to have to change it upward.

Orea

I just keep telling myself that the band is a process, not an instant fix... (darn it!) It's killing me to see my weight creeping up while I wait for my first fill. I'm keeping my ticker at the lowest point for now. It's too awful to have to change it upward.

Orea

I'm with you girl friend, leave the ticker alone. I changed my ticker back and forth for 3wks before my first fill from now on it's staying and if nessary i'll catch up with it well i'll cross that bridge if i get to it(hope not)

Hello July bandsters.

I'm needing a 2nd fill and have one scheduled for next week. My 30 lb. weight loss is most noticeable in my face, but I'm still wearing the same size undies and bra. I can't wait to get into smaller sizes... like a 2x lol..

Oh well, not a lot to report except that I'm so glad I had this done, and look forward to someday boasting 100 lbs. lost!

Charlene, so sorry to hear of your troubles, thoughts and prayers are with you and your community. When I read your post it made me think of just how differant all of us are told to eat. I'm on 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup 3 times a day with no snacks or grazing. If I had to eat 6 meals a day I would never get my fluids in you know with having to wait an hour after each meal to drink. There's just not enough hours in my day.

Yea! My internet is back up and PTL! after six days we have power restored to our home.

I went to see Dr. Davis today and got another fill. He said I only had 1.5 in my band and he put more in....I am not really sure how much I have now....maybe 3cc. I don't feel any different than before today, but I do know it may take a couple of days to feel the restriction. I kinda feel like you about the eating. I usually eat eggbeaters in the morning, then a cup for lunch and a cup for dinner. I get three snacks in too. I just have to journal or I can go over on the calories.