Hey fellow Samurai, let's use this thread to check-in every time someone has surgery!

Here's how it works: After you have surgery submit a post to this thread giving the date and any other details that you may wish to share.

gg2007 will probably be the first to check -in. Her surgery is today in Belgium.

It is 9/1/08. Officially the month of the Samurai!

Game on!

I feel so much better today. I can even feel water going down slower. That's good. I can't believe I scheduled my next fill for 2 days before thanksgiving. My mom is in a total panic. LOL.

teri

I know what you mean about the water. Do you feel tighter in the morning (anyone?)

I do.

Hi. I haven't been on here for awhile. Feeling frustrated and kind of like a failure. My surgery was 9/29. Went for my 1st fill 10/28 and didn't get it cuz my lg incision was infected and got antibiotics instead. Took that (GROSS!) and went back for a fill 11/06 which I did get (YAY) 3.5 cc. Tried some soup, then scrambled eggs. Then 1/2 a grilled panini. I'm down 13 lbs at the drs office, they use a different scale each time, according to my scale, i'm down 15, so either way, that's 13-15 gone. Wish it was more. I'm having a huge mental block to exercising. Worse than any other times I've tried losing weight. Don't know if I'm afraid of success or what. I know if i'd start just walking it would help. I'm not sure really what to eat. I get compliments at work often even thought I feel like I'm not losing. Haven't been on here for awhile cuz I've just been discouraged with the whole thing. Guess maybe I should have been on here more, that might have helped. It was nice to read from you all. Thanks for "listening". Ambra

Oh don't feel bad. I know what you mean. we all want it NOW. I haven't lost much in the last few weeks myself. I know it's hard not too get upset. Just think we're going in the right direction . This is not gonna be a quick thing for any of us & we'll have to always deal w/ the food & weight issues. Even when we do lose all the weight it will still be a life long battle. I know I battle myself everyday. It's almost like something in me is used to failing & wants to. Does that make sense??? I'll hang in there if you will. :ohmy:

Now, if I could only follow my own advise .

Great to read all the updates and compare notes!

Ambra... I feel your pain. I take breaks from the boards sometimes too as I feel I am losing so much slower than most and get discouraged. I too struggle with exercise and just feel like it is some kind of mental issue. The hardest part for me is getting my gym shoes on, lol! If I can accomplish that, the treadmill itself is easy. Makes no sense..

Upping my protein has seemed to help me a bit too. I read that on the boards and am making more of an effort to make sure I hit 80.

I go for my next fill on December 1st. I don't want to be so tight I can't enjoy food anymore, but I'm finding myself snacking, so I know I need a small amount in there.

I have either 3 or 4cc's in a 10cc Allergan band. I can't remember... I'll have to write it down next time.

Cheers to all. We can do this.. bite by bite!

I got my first fill this week..at 5 weeks post op. There was 3 ccs in my band to begin with (to prime the band). So I have a total of 4 ccs. I feel good. I went to the YMCA and did cardio for 65 min and did some upper body too. I think I am going back today. I am very proud of my weight loss. It is about a pound a day..I am sure it will slow down soon.

As far as the diet, I have stuck to the rules 100%. The one thing that has been hard for me is drinking out of a straw. I have caught myself 3 times with a straw in my mouth! Still on mushies until Tuesday...been very creative with that. I am afraid to get stuck...especially after the complications that I had at the beginning.

Good luck to all my fellow Samurai!!

Ambra-Don't be discouraged. You know that didn't put the weight on overnight. We are all going to have to learn patience. It is so hard. I know I stuggle, but I try to keep it in my head that this will take time. There have been several times I wanted to just give up. It is too soon for us to give up. We have NOT failed. You keep up the good work. Our time will come.

Let's stay motivated Samurai!

Thanks for the motivation/support. Think I'll try to be back on here more often. Definitely helps to have other people going through the same things.

Just curious-anybody keeping track of what they eat? I heard about sparkpeople.com and you can plug in everything and it calculates your fat/protein/cal etc. Cool, but don't know if I'll follow through. Just an idea. I'm really trying hard to walk/exercise, drink enough water, and get enough protein. Afraid my thin hair will fall out. Don't have much to spare. Yikes! Aslo worried cuz I go back on nights tonight and never know when to eat. Guess I'll figure something out. I had my first fill thurs. I don't really feel anything. Anyone else the same after their 1st? Here's to keepin on keepin on!!!!

I got a food diary and bought a very good Calorie/protein counter book. I was so surprised at how many calories were in my favorite foods. You can also pull up nutritional values of restaurants on their websites. I keep this in a notebook. It really helps with my food choices. I have learned to read labels.

I feel like a nerd!

I got a food diary and bought a very good Calorie/protein counter book. I was so surprised at how many calories were in my favorite foods. You can also pull up nutritional values of restaurants on their websites. I keep this in a notebook. It really helps with my food choices. I have learned to read labels.

I feel like a nerd!

OMG! Have you lost 49 lbs? That is awesome!!!! I was so worried about you at the beginning. You're doing so well. I'm not doing the best at making healthy choices all the time. I am trying to do better. I don't eat the amounts I did before. It's so hard being so busy. Working 12 hour days, then picking up 1-2 extra shifts a week, I'm just so tired. Trying to figure out what to eat, let alone go the store, shop and cook is beyond me. Ye gads! I like the idea of a food diary. Where did you find that?

Edited November 9, 200817 yr by ambraberger
i messed up

I think my post op complications helped with my weight loss. I know it did mentally. I have been very careful with everything and have been following the rules to the T.

I actually won the food diary at my support group meeting. You could just by a notebook and do it. I just keep track of calories and protein right now. I may keep track of carbs later (although I watch them now).

Some of the weight I lost preop. I had to gain a little weight to get approved (I gained 10 lbs). So since the day of surgery I have lost 39 lbs. But 49 if you include the preop diet. I wasn't really telling the difference until the past few days. I was one of those that could lose/gain 20-30 lbs and no one would be able to tell. I was always heavier than I looked.

By the way, I work 12 hour days too and it has been an adjustment when to eat.

I have used sparkspeople and love it. That is where I go to get my calorie and Protein counts.

My daughter made me an excel spread sheet we printed out that keeps track of the protein, calories, Water, Vitamins, exercise, and how I feel after I eat.

I have written everything down since day one. I did the liquid thing years ago and the long term success people always kept track of everything they ate. I am using that info to keep me logging everything down.

I can't imagin how hard this is working 12 hours. I am at home and am finding taking care of me is a full time job! I much prefer taking care of someone else. It is sooooo much easier!

Keep trying - that all we can do. I have a long road ahead of me. I really appreciate this thread. You make each day easier.

I am in that "no one can tell" catagory. I keep getting the "have you lost any weight" guestion. That gets upsetting because you know that you have lost, but if the people that know you and look at you can't tell... :cursing:I'll just say it burns my bum.

I have had several people mention my weight loss. I don't see it however.

teri

Hi Everyone

I haven't checked in here for awhile. I've been keeping up with how everyone is doing by reading posts tho. I'm doing well, since pre-op diet started I've lost 23 lbs (by my scale). I did my BMI on Friday and am now actually just obese instead of morbidly so. My goal is Onederland by Christmas and I only have 9 lbs to go. I have my 6 week check up with my surgeon on Tuesday and really hope to get my 1st fill then as I'm hungry a lot. My tummy keeps growling at me. :rolleyes2: I find that I can eat a lot more than I think I should and almost everything I want. I cannot eat Pasta though, it just doesn't go down and hurts a lot. I'm determined to make this work this time though. As I told the psychologist at my pre op work ups, this is a "last resort" for me. I've been trying really hard to stick to a good food plan. Slipped yesterday though and had a strawberry shake, that really wasn't all that good.

I'm actually learning to crave Water. :cool2: Who'd a thunk it???

I'm finding a lot of support from the people I've told about my band. Several family members and friends I still will not tell because of what I'm sure they would say. I tried to keep it quiet at work but when I got back from my week off, everyone knew. I guess working in a medical clinic it's almost impossible to keep anything like this quiet.

Good luck to everyone. It really helps to read all the posts and hear how everyone is doing. Simon

Great job on your weight loss, Simon. You know, you could make a strawberry protein shake and won't have the guilt. (My favorite shake is strawberry!)

Hi all!

I am so glad to hear so many sucess stories from the September Samurai's!

I am not having as much sucess.

I don't think I have lost any weight since my post-op visit.

I had been walking since I had surgery until my planter fasciitis flared up making it very painful to walk.:rolleyes2:

So I am not doing any exercises at this time.

Even though my portions are much smaller and I am drinking lots of water I don't think I'm loosing as I should be loosing.

I go for my first fill on 11/19 and hopefully that will help.

I wish I had a better report but it is what it is.