Thanks for your responses to my first blog. I only noticed today that anyone saw my comments. I'm a little new at this! Well, it's been an eventful month since surgery on 06/18/09. I am trying to get used to the band. The healing process can be very daunting especially in the first couple of weeks. I could feel the heaviness in my stomach and yes I could feel the band around my stomach. I am still very aware of it, however, my surgeon says that eventually I will not notice it. I can feel where my stomach has been stiched over the band when I strech after sitting for a while. Sitting still for long periods of time can be uncomfortable and I have a job where I sit alot (so I get up and walk more than I used to). I have been losing some weight. I weigh in at 286 right now. So that is about 20lbs down since surgery. I know I could have done more except that I do very little excercise. It doesn't seem to take much for me to make an excuse not to go to the gym and I live really close to it. I am really going to make more of an effort to excercise because losing 1 pound a week (maybe) is not why I had the surgery. I have been trying to increase the amount of protein in my diet, drinking shakes and eating protein bars. Ofcourse, I cannot eat as much as I could before. Maybe half of my previous portions. I try to make good food choices. I take a lot of weight watchers and lean cuisines for lunch. I did eat some foods that didn't go down right and that caused some discomfort but it got better after about a day. I hope this doesn't discourage anyone, just being honest. You really have to train yourself to chew your food well. One thing I can say is that I feel a lot better physically just losing this small amount of weight - so that in and of itself makes it all worth it. I'm not scheduled for a fill yet, perhaps my surgeon will okay it on my next visit at the end of August. I just wanted to check in and say I'm doing pretty well after surgery and I hope I continue to progress and heal completely. Good luck to anyone about to have surgery or who has already had it!

I was just banded on 09/14/09 and I am hungry most of the time still on full liquids, can't wait to get to soft foods yah!!! I have lost 5 lbs already. Hopefully things will get better for you. Hang in there don't give up.