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A little over 24 hours since Fill #1, so anything I say here is speculative at best and ridiculous at worst. Good thing ridiculous has never stopped me. My surgeon instructed me to stick to liquids for my first meal after the fill, but said that I could progress to mushies after that and back up to soft solids and then solids as soon as it felt comfortable. I'm assuming I still have some swelling, but no discomfort at all. Having liquids yesterday was touch and go. I felt full quickly at lunch (my liquid 1st meal), but it didn't last more than a couple of hours. I went to mushies for dinner and had no problem getting anything down, but I did notice that the more substantial meal stuck with me a loooong time. I ate at about 4 PM (because I was starving after my liquid lunch) and was still not hungry when I went to bed at 10 PM (yes, I live like an old woman at 36. Sue me ) That was great! Today, I had a poached egg for breakfast and was good for about 4 hours. My lunch was tuna salad and it really filled me up! I ate about the same amount I was eating before the fill (about 1/2 cup) and I can totally notice the difference in satiety. Before the fill, that amount would end my hunger, but the reason I stopped eating was because the food was gone, not because I felt physically full or satisfied. After the fill, I feel full off the same amount of food. Not stuffed or uncomfortable but full, as if I would choose to turn down more food if it were offered (and free of calories!). It's a delightful feeling, because it tells me my band is really there! And it's working! I wouldn't call what I feel "restriction" per se, because I don't feel anything unusual going down, and nothing is having any trouble sliding through, but like I said, I feel full off smaller amounts of food. Maybe that's what restriction is supposed to be? It could be that I've been misunderstanding the term all along. And it could also be that it's not really my band making me full but that residual swelling from the fill. Doesn't really matter to me at the moment, because either way, it's working. If this feeling fades in a couple of days or a couple of weeks as the swelling goes down, I can go back for a second fill in 3 weeks. Yay! I'm on my way, kids, and nothing can stop me now!

Today is my one month anniversary! Wow time has flown by and I can't believe it has been 30 days. I am feeling great and my clothes are getting too big! Now that is exciting news (jumping up and down)! LOL Looking forward to the next 30 days! One step at a time...

Started liquids today. I'm using a product called Bariessential that I purchased at my docs office. The flavors are chocolate and vanilla. I had both today and they are really good. I mix them with Smart Balance fat free milk (which truly taste like 2% milk) and some ice chips from Sonic restaurant and blends it all together to make shakes. The chocolate is my favorite, it taste pretty close to a frosty from Wendy's. I put some instant coffee grounds in my vanilla shake with some hazelnut extract, and had myself a "Vanilla Nut Latte", delicious. I am going to be over here in my "Crazy Kitchen Laboratory" making some yummy drinks, mixing all kind of "extracts", milks (soy and fat free) and spices to get the most enjoyment out of this experience as possible. ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO!!!!!! "WHEN LIFE HANDS YOU LIQUIDS, MAKE A DELICIOUS MESS!"

I cannot believe how fast a month has flown by! Ok well at first it seemed as if it was crawling but hey tomorrow begins my second month! YAAAAAAY! My original and only goal was to be under 300lbs by this time. A month has flown by and I now know that it was a really really, really tall order in such a short time. I came off the liquid diet on valentines day cause my husband decided he was taking me out to a formal dinner and there was no way I was going to pass up on making such wonderful memories. :wub: I just had the soup and dessert and brought home my entree for the babysitter. Next day I continued to eat normal foods in half cup portions. I did not meet the original goal but I'm in no way disappointed. I'm wiser now! Ususally in the past I would have just given up and rolled right back into the old swing of things. "What's the use... I'm not seeing the results I expected!" That was B4! But thanks to good ole perseverance and loads of invaluable advice from you guys right here on LBT I consider my first month in an overwhelming success! What did I accomplish? 1. I now recognise that the last fill I got since over a year ago had put me in the green zone(aka sweet spot.! I was there all along! 2. I now understand what it means to have your head in the game and how necessary it is for this banded life to be successful. 3. Every morning I smile 'cause my normal clothes are getting loose and the tight fitting ones are now fitting right. Also I have clothes that I can put away now cause I know I'll never wear them again. I have a few outfits that I ordered just b4 christmas and were small in some body areas due to their cuts. Those are starting to fit and will come in handy when my current clothes get too big. Shoes that I was able to wear for only half of the day stay on my feet all day now cause my toes don't rub on the inside of them anymore. (Go figure! My feet lost weight!) 4. I understand what it means to just eat two spoonfuls and be satisfied and I no longer have the mentality that any food is forbidden cause I'm on a diet. 5. I have recognised and have come to accept that slow and steady is the way to go when it comes to weightloss. 6. I have managed to keep my caloric intake between 800-1200 for the past month. ( I have never, ever, ever been able to do that before) MY STATS: Ok so by now you're like... "Tell us how much you've lost already! " So without further delay... here are my figures for the month.... B4 Feb. 3rd 335 Feb. 10th 325 Feb. 17th 321 Feb. 24th 318 March 2nd 319( TOM in full swing) So for the month I lost a grand total of 16lbs for the month and 33lbs since I've been banded!!!!!! My goal for next month is to exercise cause that was definitely lacking in this month. Thanks for readng and check out my before and after pics for the first month. I would greatly appreciate your comments. Thanks for posting about your journeys cause when I get stuck or lost I run unto the site search for posts related to my problem and I'm on my weigh again! Til next month......

I had my surgery on Monday, February 27, 2012. Admittedly, I've had a couple of fleeting moments of regret. But again, they were fleeting. This is not a decision I entered into lightly. Not to mention the lengthy process required to even get approved for the surgery. The initial pain and discomfort following the surgery had me wondering if I've made the right decision. I know that as I heal and get past this rough part, I will welcome the weight loss and all the other changes I look forward to, like not needing a seatbelt extender when flying and being able to wear the "gimme" t-shirts people handout and never have the plus sizes. Today is the first day that I have felt like I can move around without my innards hurting. The gas pains are horrible, though. I knew I had a lactose intolerance but it was mild. I was able to drink protein shakes before my surgery and drank them quite a bit throughout the liver shrink diet. But post-op, I tried the same protein shakes and the gas is unbearable. So I had to switch to soy milk. The soy milk still gives me a little gas but nothing like the protein shakes. I am starving but can only do liquids. I'm a little worried about not being able to consume enough protein during this phase since I can't drink the protein shakes. I can't wait until I move to the soft foods stage. In addition to it all, very few people even know I've had the surgery so there aren't many people with whom I can discuss the aftermath and how I'm feeling. I'm glad to have found this forum and although I've never blogged before, I'm going to give it a try -- not only to document this journey for myself, but also because it might give others some insight into what this journey is like. I'm usually a very private person, so this is really new to me. However, I've decided that I'm going to be open and honest and just put it out there. From reading some of the other blogs and posts here, I feel like I am among the right community to do so. Thank you all! Sleeved 2-27-12

I have been heavy up and down all my life. I had thought about the RNY but it seemed to drastic and way out of reach dolllar wize in the states. I recently just 2 years ago saw a dr. in Bend Oregon who before he would see me had to have cash up front of $2500 just for some simple tests and exam. well that was a waste of cash! well tax return came and went...other things are always more important than yourself. I finally had a visit with a local girl in Burns who had Dr. Aceves perform her lap band...she was excited, happy with the care and services. The hospital was clean and quiet....she could not boast loud enough about the care she recieved, So I did some research and this is when I made the decision...this year was gonna be my time to shine. My knees are going to feel better when they are not packing 354 lbs of person on them. This grama of 4 is gonna be a cool grama, one that can kneel down and kiss the babies and get down and play on the floor with them. My babies will never again say "Grama why you so tired all the time"....I am excited to start my new way of living. I have lost my love life relationship with my husband, I want this back more than anything. He is not so supportive and over the years has become more of a roommate than a husband. I want this to change aas well, I want to rock his world again like I did the first time we met. I love him more than he knows. I have very supportive friends and family during this time, so I am praying for a fast recovery and quick weight loss. I will post more when I get home.

Now if you are from Texas or Houston, you know that it is Rodeo time here. Rodeo brings the cowboys, good times and lots of good food. Last night my hubby and I went to see Kid Rock and I had to walk through all the yummy smells. Barbecue,pizza, fried sweets, tamales, etc. While everything smelled wonderful, I had no desire to eat any of it. I am on mushies, so there was plenty around there that I could have eaten if I wanted to but it felt so good to not do it. This is a major thing for me. Whenever I think about the carnival and the rodeo, I want to eat a corndog, lemonade and a funnel cake! It feels so good to be in control of myself at a place like this. I also was able to by a large t-shirt instead of a extra large. I was pretty pleased about that! I am going to try the gym this Sunday and see how it goes. When I was out last night I had to walk about 4 miles to get the center and back around everywhere. At sometimes it was a pretty quick pace and I was not worn out,like i was when I first started walking. I will skip any ab exercises but I will be doing some cardio. I am also going to clean out my closet and take the clothes that I really can not wear out and donate them. I once had someone tell me that they never get enought plus size clothing in when people donate.

Another day in which I am just thankful to be alive. Even with the thought of knowing I was approved and haven't heard from my surgeon had me depressed; however my husband said it best by saying you are waiting now but the end result is sweet. It will be a sweet day when i can start the life i always wanted. i will not allow this weight or waiting on surgery to change my life. On today, I will start eating healthy in preparation for the lifetime committment that will be before me. Right now I am thinking about a bucket list once i get healthy and skinny. Any suggestions?

Saw my surgeon today and he said I am doing great. My cycle is here so my body is holding on to water and that little pesky fact has me still at my pre-surgery weight! Grrr!! I guess that it is better than gaining any weight. He said to continue my liquid diet and move right along to mushies next week. On a funny note, why did I gasp out loud when he took the steri-strips off and I saw the incisions??? I was shocked at the look of them. I mean I know I had these holes cut in me, but it freaked me when I saw them!! LOL! Today was my first day back at work and man I am wiped out!!! I was ready to go at 10 and i got there at 7. I left early to get to my appointment at two.So it will be a early bedtime for me tonight. I also can not express again how great the Body Fortress Protein shots are!! The New Whey has more protein (42 grams) but it is nasty!! Body Fortress has 26 grams and I am again super happy to have found them!! I bought all they had at wal-mart and they are 1.97 each!! Each day for me gets better and better for me and I am excited to be on the path to a new me!