cakegirl

I got a fill just over a week ago, and that was the first time I've felt restriction since the surgery. This feels like what I thought it would feel like to have a lapband.

What a lovely post! Thanks for sharing!

I was told 70g of protein and to aim for about 1000 calories. I use myfitnesspal, and I aim for my "net" calories (i.e. my calories minus the calories I burn exercising) to fall between 800-1000. Sometimes that might mean I eat over 1500 calories, on the days when I'm doing lots of exercising.

I remember my first mushy - scrambled eggs, which also tasted so good after all the liquids - but I have no idea what my first solid food was.

I wouldn't lie about the reason you're off - what happens if you actually need an emergency appendectomy in the future?!?! If you're sure about not wanting to tell them the specifics, you can always just ask for the time off and say it's for surgery of a personal nature and that you don't want to discuss it.

I found standing up, walking, breathing deeply and raising my arms above my head moved it along.

Checking in... Weight on January 1st ~ 84.9 Weight today ~ 84.9 Exercise ~ I've been on the exercise bike. Did 3 minutes last night, will aim for 4 tonight.

How exciting!

Also, I've had AF since Monday night, and Tuesday and Wednesday (and today too but not as bad), it was honestly like I didn't have a lapband... I was starving, thinking about food, fantasising about potatoes, etc etc etc. And the volume that I could eat amazed me - much more than I'd be able to get down normally. Strange!

I periodically go through my clothes and bag up anything that is to big, but also almost everything that fits me comfortably. I might keep 2 outfits that fit me well. That gives me motivation to continue losing weight!

I'm so glad about your good news NCGG. You must be relieved! For me, my exercise bike is looking at me accusingly.... I've set myself the goal of losing 5kg in January. It's going to require me to actually get on the bike! My little girl starts big school at the beginning of February, and I'm going to start doing what I did before she was born - some sort of wacky exercise each day. It will be much easier while she's in school for me to go down to the pool and swim laps, or to a wrestling school to do a day class, etc

I can eat most of the things I could eat before the band. I have only been stuck twice, and it was more about the timing and *how* I was eating those things rather than the things themselves... For me, having the band - and reaching restriction - has released me from the hold that food had over me. I no longer think and obsess about food, because the hunger is gone. Because I'm not starving hungry ravenous, it's easier for me to make a healthy choice when it comes time to eat... I do allow myself "cheats". Like last night, I was PMSing and craving carbs etc. I had fish and chips - probably a whole day's calories in one meal! But I can do that guilt-free because I'm following everything so well all the rest of the time.

I've had it a few times since banding, but I had it before banding too!

I'm so sorry for the loss of your mother and your friend I hope Onederland continues on a better note for you in 2012.

Name, real or screen~ Cakegirl Age~ 34yo Goal weight for January 29th~ 79.9 Weight on January 1st~ Today (30/12) = 84.9 Dietary goal for January~ Stay under 1000 Calories per day, choose nutritious options always Exercise goal for January~ Ride my exercise bike 5 nights a week - work my way up to 20 minutes by end of January Personal goal for January~ Spend lots of quality time with my daughter before she starts Big School in February Date banded~ 15 August 2011 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 13.1kg What is your goal weight for the coming year~ Get to my goal of 58kg! Hopefully by my birthday in July!

I think I'm five foot four - 165cm anyway. I was 214 pounds when I had my surgery.

You must have felt great!

The first couple of days of the pre-op diet were horrible for me. I had headaches, moodiness, cramping hunger pains, couldn't sleep, etc. However by the night of around the 3rd day, my body was over the "withdrawal", and stopped expecting such large volumes of food. I'm glad I did the pre-op diet and stuck to it, because then my body didn't go into that withdrawal shock while also trying to recover from surgery!

In all honesty, there is no way I could have done the post-op diet before having the lapband. If I'd eaten so little (and most of it liquid) beforehand, I would have been WAY too hungry. As it was, my 1-week pre-op diet was horrible - I couldn't sleep, I was in pain, hunger cramps, feeling starving hungry, had a headache for nearly the whole week, and I was grumpy and miserable! The only thing that kept me on track was knowing that I only had to do it for one week before the surgery!!! Good luck with your experiment! At the very least, if you throw out all unhealthy foods and stick to simple basics like plain meats, salads, vegetables, etc, and maybe go a Protein shake for Breakfast or something, it'll certainly get you on track for February!

Congratulations

With anaesthesia, I've been told that it takes about a week to leave your body for each hour you were under. Give your doctor a call - if you can't see your surgeon, at least get in to see a GP. In the meantime, see if you can getsome sunlight because that can help with body chemistry. And walk as much as your recovery will let you - walking will help to process the anaesthetic out of your system, and the exercise will also be a mood enhancer.

I agree - bring protein powder and powdered soups with you. A couple of times I was out and about, and I'd just go to a coffee and order a cup of hot water, and put my soup into it to drink. You can always get juice, milk shakes, etc, and most cafes and restaurants have a soup option. There's always yoghurt, and of course a jar or two of baby food in your bag won't hurt just in case!

I get the feeling my port is going to stick out like that too soon.

I've been stuck twice. Once was on a hash brown, and once was on a chicken schnitzel that I was trying to eat early in the day. (Had no problem with chicken schnitzel at night, when the band is a bit looser.)

I didn't have a bowel movement for over a week after banding. And then it was only every few days. (Prior to banding, I could pretty much set my clock to my daily BMs!) It took a while, but 3 or so months later, things are settling into more of a routine again.