NJ2NC

Hi Nicole, I'm 4 weeks post-op and I am hungry after about 2hours too. I'm scheduled for my first fill 2/24. I'm exercising about 4-5x's a week. I'm also losing very slow but I realized I'm burning a lot of calories and not balancing with the proper amount of calories coming in..I slowed down my exercise a little by doing 2 days toning 2 days light cardio (I was doing spin class and hi intensity cardio classes and run/power walk treadmill). I realized I'm still on the "soft food" stage and definitely not intaking the calories I need to work out that hard. After I slowed down my intensity at the gym I dropped 5 pounds in a week. I know that will level out real soon. I've realized I have the rest of my life to pick up the intensity so right now I'll enjoy light steady workouts to build a routine. My day is something like: Slimfast low carb protein shake for breakfast, 2% cheese & 98%fat free turkey lunch meat or tuna/light mayo for lunch, slimfast mid day and either chicken/fish with a veggie for dinner and water throughout the day. If I need extra I'll mix in a sugar free chocolate pudding or jello or eat a yogurt. The pudding seem to fulfill my sweet tooth believe it or not.. I'm a Girl Scout leader and have about 20 cases of cookies in my living room right now...TORTURE!! but I just say "not know, I can maybe enjoy a sweet cookie down the road, just not now" BTW I tried a higher calorie/low carb protein shake from the gym and it tore my stomach up..gas pains all afternoon and night (lesson learned big time)

I understand where you are coming from. I have 2 very (sports) active kids and I'm active in a few organizations which result in lots of picking up food on the go and Fridays are normally dine out or order in nights. I thought long and hard about how surgery would allow me to fit in with all of that. I realized my health was more important than fast food and making adjustments will be well worth it. I'm almost 4 weeks post op and on soft foods and ts been ok, on family sit-down meals I cook healthy for everyone, we choose KFC for Friday dinner out (I had some grilled and pulled off the skin w/ green beans). So far all is well.

I would love to get out this size 11!! I hope I could be so lucky. A nice size 9 would be perfect lol. I'm only 3 1/2 weeks post op and I seem to be losing in my waist so I'm really not complaining... as time goes by maybe it'll move down through my thighs and hit my feet! Isn't it funny how everyone lose weight in different places.

I was banded the 17th, I had 2 weeks of clear/full liquids up to TODAY!! yay. I see the nutritionist today at 4pm for the next phase of my diet. The nutritionist is great! today I'll find out what I should be eating, calories, portion sizes, food choices, and all that good stuff. I'm not sure what your program recommends (it seems they vary greatly) but I'll share if your interested.

My husband and girls tried real hard to be careful not to eat in front of me, my husband would call and warn me he was bringing pizza or chinese food home LOL funny thing is I didn't want any of those things. I had to convince them it was fine to eat in front of me. I began cooking for them again about the first week after surgery. The hard part is I've been cooking nice healthy meals for them that look and smelled so good. So tempting but I had a mind set that I wasn't going to eat anything until my 2 weeks of clear/full liquids was finished. I'm starting to feel the hunger a little but know I'll be cleared for solids real soon!! Saturday after i picked up pizza and made the kids plates, my mom said "I don't know how you can watch us eat this and not pick up a piece, you are 1 strong woman" I took that as a compliment but it's my new band-mindset.. 3 weeks ago I would have been 5 slices in!

Hello Everyone, checking in from Greensboro!

I know everyone's program is different. I had to do 2 weeks of clear/full liquids to allow my stomach to fully heal before dealing with solid food. The goal was to get up to 32oz clear and 32oz Full liquids per day including shakes. I've been able to tolerate about 8oz Protein drink from day 3 post-op I do 2 or 3 slimfast shake 20g Protein, 4g Carbs, 2g sugar per day. I drink broth once a day, cream of something (chicken, mushroom, etc) and yogurt, Jello, Water as fillers throughout the day. My nutritionist will alter my diet tomorrow for soft foods. I don't think drinking a watered down shake will mess you up at all. I had to start drinking 2oz of a Protein Shake every 4 hours the next day in the hospital. Good luck.

Hello Nicole1, Sound like you are doing great. I am just coming out my liquid post op diet. Tomorrow makes 2 weeks POST! I was banded on the 17th, I see the nutritionist @ 4pm tomorrow to start my next phase of what I should be eating. I never looked so forward to soft/pureed foods in my life lol. I got on the scale yesterday then I went to the YMCA to walk the indoor track and got on the scale again just to verify mine is correct (I had it in the closet for MONTHS) it was still pretty accurate I've come down about 14 pounds since starting the pre-op diet. Today I feel great I've been getting my walking in (about a mile each walk) today I think I'll just speed it up just a tiny notch. I don't want to burn too many calories since I'm still on liquids. I was thinking of getting a trainer once I'm fully cleared by the doc to lift weights.

Good Luck!

I'm on day 9 post op and I'm JUST having the mental thought of "I'm hungry" but not really feeling hungry its very weird. I think I mentally know its just time to eat. I haven't had any stomach growling yet. I drink a 10oz Protein shake for Breakfast, 8-10oz broth at lunch, maybe Jello or yogurt mid-day or a Protein Shake. Then head home from work cook dinner for the family then make a can of cream of something Soup for me. Before bed its another jello, yogurt, popsicle or protein shake. I also stagger Water throughout the day. My goal is suppose to be 32oz clear liquid AND 32 oz full liquid.. Cooking for the family is a task..the smells of food is what starts to get to me but so far so good with the will-power!

Absolutely! and I know that will be my biggest hurdle. I started practicing prior to the pre-op diet and have my entire family reminding me "don't drink, your about to eat" I'm still on liquids (9 days post op) so I haven't been able to put my practice to real band-life use yet. food makes me very thirsty too and I know it will take some getting use to.. Good luck!

Hey there, Last year when I began my journey around March 2011 I grew out my perm and did the "Big Chop" I wore my hair short and curly a few years back and wore it very light brown almost a blonde color I really liked it. This time it is was more for exercising with no excuse! I didn't want a lot of color so I could swim and exercise, wash and go! I was banded Jan 17th and I still have it short and curly I work across the street from a gym and will really begin to use it properly after I heal up. I would love for it to grow out and maybe do some natural twists but I'm not sure, knowing me I'll perm it back out by the end of the year and wear it short and spiky so it won't interfere too much with working out, guess I'll just see where the journey takes me.

Hope that cough get better, I did a lot of coughing too and it hurts! My surgeon used what's called (I think) Durabond on my incisions some sort of surgical glue..every nurse that came in said "Oh that will heal nicely with Durabond you'll barely have scars." I've had no bleeding, no band-aids, no mess! I hope you feel better very very soon. I went back to work on Monday, 6 days post surgery and it has been ok just really tired when I get home. I'm 9 days post op now and just starting to get a little appetite and starting to get tired of liquids, Jello and cream soup!! but I'll hang in there and keep my on the prize!

Hello Everyone, Tuesday Jan 17th is my big day to get banded I'm so excited it's been a long "well worth the wait" journey. In addition to my family I've shared my lapband journey with my closest friends and a few close co-workers. All through the journey everyone have been very supportive but now that I'm down to final week I'm hearing comments from people like "well I guess I better get to the gym now that you're gonna get all skinny" and "I've joined the gym so I can keep up with you" or "you really don't need a lapband if you stay on the diet you're on now (the pre-op diet)" and the best one yet is "don't get to sexy". I'm not sure how take those comments and I know there will be more. Now I just laugh and say It's not a competition! Has anyone experienced any of these kind of remarks? How did you respond? Its truly not a vanity thing and as people in my closest circle should know but they now only see the 'skinny' aspect of it and not the improved health aspect, could they be possibly jealous?? Has anyone had friend issues since getting banded?

Life2Short, Tomorrow's the big day.. Your in my thoughts and prayers for a smooth journey into the next phase of your life..

Wow so many similar stories I guess I should wait and see how people adjust and they will see how hard I'm working and be ok with it..if not..OH WELL as you all said if they dont, they weren't really friends. OK 5 days after surgery I'm doing great I even went to Church today..liquid diet isn't so bad I never actually get the feeling of "hungry" I just drink a shake/water or sip on some Soup when I realize its been a long time since my last drink LOL I get sort of a tightness after I have the creamy Soups I guess that the band telling me I had enough so I stop eating at that point. I am a tiny bit sore but moving around very well. I will try going back to work tomorrow..Luckily I can do my work from a desk and I have a great team!

Wow thats beautiful..thanks for sharing your story, you are a great sister.

Thank you, I'm staying on top of everything. I've had very little gas, no nausea and the soreness is maybe a 2 on a scale of 1-10 very manageable. Everyone at the hospital was great and encouraging.

Yes I did have my surgery Tuesday morning..Day 2 isn't so bad. I haven't had any nausea and very little gas. Soreness is getting better I actually skipped a dose a pain medicine by accident. Guess I really didn't need it lol I'm taking it easy and walking a few times throughout the day, sipping Water and Protein shakes without issue. I feel great and have no regrets. I'm looking forward to a healthier and more active life! Everyone is so supportive! thanks.

Hello everyone, I was told I did great in surgery no complications. I did stay the night..thank goodness for that the inclining bed was a life saver. I was afraid of how much soreness I would have post-op but I have to admit it was manageable, I did ask for pain meds several times tho. Walking was good seem to help a lot I walked the halls each time I was disconnected to use the restroom. Now I'm home on the couch with everything I need within an arms reach. Everyone is so supportive on this site. Thanks to you all.

Hello all..everything went great yesterday morning. I'm glad I spent the night. I'm home now resting and watching the boob tube. walking is no problem and pain is easing up some. Thanks for all the support.

Thank you...Good Luck to you too on Thursday!

Thanks for the support! and God Bless you too..