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Jennifer - April 12 1975

Does anyone else have an AP band? I have the APS band and I think I read somewhere that it takes longer to get to restriction with this new band. (I know every doctor does something different as far as fill amounts go) I have felt no restriction at all since day 1. As my hunger seems to return more and more each day, I'm starting to get pretty anxious.

Clear liquids for 2 days Full liquids for 2 weeks Mushies for 3 weeks

30lbs is awesome!!!! Saturday will be one month from when I started my pre-op diet - I should be right at 25lbs!! I'm thrilled! My doctor's support group meeting is next Tues. My next appointment is on the 9th as well!! I'm jealous - I want a fill too! Which band do you have? I just found out I have the APS band that holds 10cc. I'm pretty happy I got the new band. It sounds like they've made some good improvements.

Me too! Thanks!

Hey Sheilli: I'm here - work has been a little crazy this week so I haven't had much goof off time. How are you doing with mushies? I'm doing pretty good. I'm losing again too - I think it was definitely that time of the month that caused me to gain a little. I had my first follow up since surgery on Mon and they said everything looks great. I have another appointment next month and we're going to "talk" about a fill. I'm going on vacation to FL 10 days after my appointment, so I probably won't get my first fill until after I get back. They don't want me to have any complications while on vacation. I'm disappointed but I do agree it's probably best to wait. Especially since I'm going on vacation w/ my sister, who didn't really want me to get the band. (she's a nurse and knows 2 people with it, who have both failed) I had something REALLY yummy last night: 2ozs canned chic a little fat free ricotta & a little red sauce 1/2 slice melted Muenster cheese to top

Worked for me. I did the EXACT same thing.

I had my surgery 2 weeks ago. It was on a Mon afternoon and I was on clear liquids until that Thurs, then full liquids. On Thurs I had a one of those drinkable yogurts, a Protein shake, and maybe some broth or Soup. I had your exact problem that night and it lasted like 3 days. I had to take Imodium. (it comes in liquid and chewable) Just make sure you are getting in extra fluids to compensate - I think you just have to ride it out.

Damn! It's really hard not to drink while/after eating. This is something I didn't practice enough! For mushies I only have to do 1/2 hour too - when on to regular food my doc says 1 hour!

You're doing awesome! Thanks for the words of encouragement! You've had no fills? Do you have natural restriction or did the Band just get you into the right mindset and you don't really use it?

I don't think you are going to hurt yourself as long as you aren't eating steak, pork, etc ... My diet is 2 weeks liquid and 3 weeks mushies. I switched over to mushies today. Oatmeal and potato are carbs though ... they are just going to make you crave more food. (at least for me) Try some cottage cheese, tuna, or something high in Protein.

Thanks Shelli. What do you use to track your food? I've been using fitday.com and I really like it. My calorie goal for mushies is also 800 and I have to do 3 weeks. I was just at my neighbor's house checking out their new Honda Civic - it's sooo cute!! Now is the time to buy. All the dealers are trying to push the 2007 models off the lot to make room for the 2008's. I bought my first brand new car in Sept of '03 - a leftover 2003 Subaru Outback Wagon. I love love love that car!! I have 3 payments left :whoo: Think about it this way Claramae - since your insurance came through for the Band you can put that money towards a new car!! What are you thinking about getting?

metoo - Was your surgery in March or August? (since you are in the UK, maybe you write your dates differently?) By your post, I was thinking March. Which is why I asked about your fill. 6 months is a lonnnnnnnnnng time to have to wait for the first fill!!

Wow Shelli!!! You are doing awesome!! Sadly - In the last week, I've only gained and lost the same 2lbs. I don't really see how that's possible. I've not cheated AT ALL. I expected my loss to level off but I'm still eating A LOT less than I was before all this started. Hopefully it's because it's that time of the month. (I do feel pretty bloated) It was due on Wed and I still haven't gotten it. I'm assuming it's just from the stress of the surgery.

About 45 minutes. (I think 45-60 minutes is average)

My boyfriend took two days off to be with me. It was nice to have him there when I got home. He did a lot of little things for me but I would have been ok without him. You should be fine! (note: I never really had any pain or issues. Everyone is different)

How have you been Claramae? Seems like you are doing sooooo much better!!! I have to do mushies for 3 weeks too. You're going to pass us all by :heh:

I lost 12lbs on the 2 week liquid pre-op diet and 9lbs since surgery. About 3 weeks before surgery, I started walking 45 minutes a day with my dog. I think that helped a lot in the 12lbs. It's 2 weeks since surgery and I am just getting back into walking. I'm just switching from liquids to mushies right now too. I was consuming 575-650 calories per day and with mushies going to bump that up to around 800. We'll see ... I'm sure I'm about to even out. You're doing great too!!

Peanut Butter is listed in the mushy stage for me. I was banded on 8/27 and suppose to do a liquid diet for 2 weeks. I experimented with a little chicken salad today though. You'd probably be ok with peanut butter but I'd be careful because it is awfully sticky. (and high in FAT)

Well ... I officially moved myself up to mushies today :thumb: I went grocery shopping today and I just couldn't take it any more!! Yes, I made egg salad with the pulverized egg. It was pretty much egg salad paste :heh: I put some canned chicken in the Bullet today and had 2 ozs of chicken salad (paste :heh: ) I'm not going to lie to you - it was reeeeeeeeeeally good!!! I'm going to do some cooking tomorrow and just make a bunch of stuff to keep in the fridge. (My boyfriend is traveling this week anyway) Mashed: -Potato -Sweet Potato -Carrots -Butternut Squash Salads: -Ham (low sodium from the deli) -Chicken (canned) -Tuna -Egg Salad If I get really brave I bought some imitation crab & lobster meat. I also got some low fat Ricotta, Cottage, and Munster Cheeses, refried Beans, oatmeal ... I went crazy! The chart from my nutrionist says I can have a few crackers with the salads or thinly sliced deli meats but I'm not sure if I want to try them yet. What kind of guidelines did you guys get for mushies? Mine is < 800 calories, > 70 Protein, < 75 carbs, < 25 fat

Only 2 of my steri-strips have fallen off so far but both had stitches sticking out. One fell out already and one I trimmed myself. Annoying!!

You should buy a Magic Bullet. I have one and it rocks!!

I haven't seen my doctor since surgery - I have an appointment on Mon. Then I can start mushies!! (sorry to rub it in Claramae :heh: ) I had a little nibble of egg salad that I made for Joe tonight. It was good!!! My Magic Bullet blender reduced 2 eggs to dust :heh: I'm a little scared to eat too. A little scared of fills and restriction too. I wasn't expecting to feel this way.

Not all doctors do a liquid diet but it seems most do. Some just a strict low fat diet. Some no diet at all. Mine required 7 days but I did 13. (I had many LAST MEALS at that point.) It's to shrink the liver mostly. The liver sits on your stomach and they have to move it for the surgery. Watch a Band surgery on or-live.com and you'll see them have to pick up and move it - that was enough to scare me - lol. It also helped jumpstart my weigh loss (14lbs), cleaned me out, and made it easier to transition to liquid AFTER surgery - everyone has to do that. I have to do 2 weeks, almost done. I'm dying for real food at this point but I'm glad it was required.

I've been weighing every day - I just can't help it. (I always get obsessive about it when dieting - I know it's not good) My boyfriend has threatened to hide the scale :heh: