Wow...I made it to week two. Not that I didn't think I'd make it, but it just seemed to have taken a while.

Some observations of the surgery:

Scars - I have five small 1.5cm cuts which were sealed with the glue. They are healing well. I wash them daily with the surgical scrub I used before the surgery. They no longer hurt when rubbed up against anything. A few are almost totally closed, and a couple are almost there. I think that surgical glue will be there long after I'm totally healed.

Mobility - I've been very mobile and active since the fourth day after surgery. I walk daily, and pretty much do everything I can except for picking up anything more than about ten pounds, as per my doctor's instructions. I know I'm a bit more cautious when bending over, because there are some things that area a wee bit sensitive when I do. No real pain, but more of a discomfort in certain spots in my chest.

Eating - I seem to fall into that group of "I believe that I can eat anything I want and it won't get stuck", although I don't push that. I make a conscious effort to chew everything completely, and I try to eat everything without fluids, but sometimes I just have to have some water with my meal. Just habit, but I think I'm slowly breaking myself of that habit. I know I'll have to get used to that when they tighten up the band on my first fill.

Discomfort - Okay. Here it is. A whole new sensation - I am totally aware of where my port is. I read before that many never know where their port is, or that they cannot feel it. I can. I know exactly where it is, and I know that it is the focus of some of the discomfort when I bend over, and move about too much in the abdominal area. From what others have said, and what I read, that is about normal, and that it will go away. I guess I can comfort myself in the fact that it's easy to find, and there won't be much sticking around with the fill needle when it comes to the fill.

Weight Loss - I'm not really sure about this. Although my clothes seem to fit a lot better , but I haven't been back to my doctor's office to weigh myself. I keep a record of everything I eat. I try to keep my calories below 1,400 a day, my carbs below 40, and my fat below 40 as well. My protein is always above 120. I've read that a very high protein diet, especially in men with the lapband significantly reduces the chances of excess skin because of the weight loss. But then again, I don't believe everything I read, so it's taken with a grain of salt. Also, my dietitian states that my protein intake is just fine for someone of my height. I'm quite anxious for my first fill, not just to experience 'the fill', but to find out my true weight loss (as I have used it from the start) has been.

Shakes - I'm really getting sick of the three flavors and variations on the themes of strawberry, vanilla and chocolate. A the end of this week, I'm going to explore more flavors. Although I really enjoy the Isopure Fat-Free shakes, especially the Cookies and Cream and Chocolate Mint.