JustDoIt130

You will be fine. Just go back to liquids pronto! You did not do permanent damage, but you need to back off "real" food. I would do clear liquids for at least 5 days, then full liquids (like creamy soup, pudding, yogurt) for at least 5 days, then mushies- add in things like refried beans, tuna (or other flaky) fish, mashed potatoes, etc. for at least 5 days. The reason for this is to let your stomach heal. It shouldn't work hard digesting anything for awhile. So just go back and suck it up (I know it's hard, but it's worth it!). Good luck! And stay here on the forums, they're so helpful!

Chrissy, LOL, thanks! That was so cute, my kids loved it too! Down another 1.5 lbs. I hope to be in the 2-teens next week! We'll see! I took pictures last night- I was doing weekly, but that's fallen off, but I compared last night's to my pre-surgery pix, and boy, I can tell!! It was nice to review. I'm not feeling great today- some lower stomach cramping going on, and it's killing me. Fireworks are tonight, so we'll see how I'm feeling. I can kind of tell I'm tighter, so hopefully more restriction from my fill on Tuesday, we'll see today as I can eat regular food! Nicki

Hi there, Savannah, all right! Another July b-day! Okay, my Savannah birthday goal is to be down at least 67 lbs- so that will be a 5 lb loss. Consider me on the bandwagon!! Good luck getting your scale to work. I too have my scale on my hard bathroom floor. Meredith- LOL, all my Firm workouts are DVD's, but I have plenty of other VHS tapes. I wonder if there's a way to convert them to DVD!! I really like the Firm, it's a good workout and goes fast!!! Good for you getting back to the official workouts, I still count in my outside work as exercise in myfitnesspal, though . Chrissy- good goal! Down 80 lbs!!! Awesome!! Erica- I'm with you for excuses- but let's make a pact to not make them, k??? I had my fill today, and of course they had birthday cake for me at the office (carrot cake). I took a piece of cake and ate a smidge of frosting and threw the rest out. I will also be on mushies for my birthday (I'm making DH do shrimp for me on Thursday instead). I'm hoping this will get me to the sweet spot! Of course no issues with water or protein drinks, we'll see tomorrow what more restriction I feel. I asked the doctor if this was normal, to not think I"m feeling restriction after almost 6 months. He said I was doing great weight loss wise, that if it were hard to eat that is way beyond restriction. I said that I was eating well over a cup of food, and he said that was fine, that I should be eating a salad plate size, and if I get full before I eat that to just stop eating, but if I do eat that much because I was hungry, that is okay too. Also to eat the protein first. So now I feel better. They're happy with what I've lost, but I just feel like it's kind of slowing down. SO talk to you later, all, have a great one!!!! Nicki

Okay, a back to school goal- would that be the end of August? I'll think about what I want to accomplish and get back to you! Amica- congrats on the ONEDERLAND!! And new clothes! And green zone! I too need to do my 6 months blood work. I hate having my blood taken. Good for you eating well on vacation. I can't wait to have more restriction!!!! Okay everyone, what is YOUR back to school goal???

Hi Nicole- good for you! I think this is a big change for me too- eating something not good for me doesn't send me into a total eating frenzy where I undo anything good I'd already done. I would try a sugar free diet for a couple days, it will get out of your system. I do know that when I eat ice cream (my nemesis) I want more sugary stuff. So I have to be strict with myself Good luck, and you have lost over 50 lbs and we're not perfect! So- everyone, did we decide what our next goal is? Wasn't someone's b-day at the end of the month? Or what is the next milestone someone has we can all make goals around? I really like goals! I do the summer challenge on the general board, but I like our group goals too. Anyone have any ideas????

Name, real or screen~ Justdoit130 (Nicki) Goal weight for July 31st~ 215 Weight on July 1st~ 222 Age~ almost 42 (in 2 more days) Dietary goal for July~ eat slowly!!! Exercise goal for July~ Get into the Firm, get elliptical fixed Personal goal for July~ Get a schedule to get the house cleaned Date banded~ 1/26/12 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 62 lbs What is your favorite 4th of July activity~ My birthday!!! LOL

Hi B-52! Where ya been?? Someone said on here once that there might be some slight evaporation that happens with the saline in the band after time? Perhaps that's part of what is going on with you. When was your last fill?

get some papaya enzymes, those help with a stuck episode and not as gross as meat tenderizer and you don't have to open a bottle of pineapple juice. You can get them at Walmart in the vitamin aisle.

Chrissy- we had gotten a letter from the HOA to get our back yard mowed, LOL- my dd does the front for me. The back is lots of weeds and dirt (and 2 black widows that I killed). I had just gotten home from zumba and was hot and sweaty anyways! Now that it's short, hopefully the heat will keep it from growing for awhile, LOL! I have my fill tomorrow, thank goodness!! Of course, I"ll be on mushies for my birthday, didn't think of that! I have to go home early today as my dh is having another appointment, we'll (hopefully) find out if he needs a new pacemaker today. Sigh. Hope all is well for all of you!!!!

Hi Krolso - you've been through a lot!! We've all had the "I should be able to do this on my own" refrain. I just figured for me I needed help. I have a medical condition that can be treated medically! So I finally opted for it and I am so glad. I'm not perfect, by any means, but someone posted here once that we need to be good bandsters, not perfect. I started at a size 24 (tight, if I were honest with myself and 284 lbs. Banded on 1/26/12. Now I'm down to 222.5. I wear a size 20, but not for long. I exercise, log what I eat on myfitnesspal (even when I occasionally cheat), and enjoy life. Not quite to the green zone, but close. I have a VERY sedentary job. I had surgery on a Thursday, back to work on a Monday. Tired, for sure, but doable. Good luck, keep asking questions and looking at the forum, you will get lots of info!! Nicki

NJ2NC- have fun shopping! I'm in the raleigh area. Whenever im in charlotte I make sure I go to IKEA, lol. Don't be too hot. I just did a super sweaty zumba workout and a 1 mile walk beforehand. Feeling good!! AC is still out, we camped out downstairs. It wasn't too bad. I need to mow my backyard but not sure it will get done . Nicki

Last check in, final 222.5. Beat goal by .5 lb.

You won't like this advice- but it is- Keep moving forward. (that's from the Disney movie Meet the Robinsons, one of my favorites). You've heard it before - it's a marathon, not a sprint. Keep on doing what you've been doing. Are you logging your food? Consistent with exercise? Maybe try to shake up your workouts by doing something different, or up your calories one day every 2 weeks just a couple hundred calories to shake up your metabolism. You have lost a lot of weight- remember it gets harder as you get thinner- and you will do it!!!!

Hi everyone! Good zumba class last night, plus zumba toning. Have I mentioned I love zumba? Oh, and our AC is out (our upstairs unit),and it is supposed to be 103 today, 105 tomorrow (I'm in NC- so NJ2NC is suffering right along with me!). It was so freaking hot last night, no one slept well- well, I would have except the kids came in, DH couldn't sleep...we will figure out how to camp out downstairs! The guy who does our AC is on a cruise (lucky guy). Oh well. Where was everyone yesterday! I hate to be the only one posting, but oh well, you're stuck with me Mags- go for sexy, btw!

So can i wear it during something like a zumba class to see how many calories I burn during that particular activity? I'm on the fence about it, as I have SUCH a sedentary job that I never get in 10,000 steps or whatever, but would love to know how many calories I actually burn doing zumba or my Firm videos...

Congrats, you mean July 18, right- or else you're late

Okay, I just read an article in taste of home about this, LOL. Take eggs (and older eggs are easier to peel), cover with water until just covered. Bring to a boil, then cover, take off the heat and leave for 12 minutes. Then rinse with cold water, and put in the fridge. This has really worked well, no over boiled eggs!

Thing is, the requirements are different depending on your insurance or if you're self pay. My insurance (BCBS of TX)had me do a 6 month diet with my regular doctor, meeting once a month. I also had blood work and an ekg. Nothing too bad. I didn't "have" to lose any weight- I did lose a couple lbs but nothing much. Then surgery. I started at 284 on 1/26/12, now at 222.5. so far no loose skin, but as others have stated, I'd far rather have some loose skin I can hide than being super obese and die of something preventable.

I don't watch this too much, but it is good "guilty pleasure" TV. So sue me, all the good soap operas have been cancelled!! LOL. Lauren is the daughter of Caroline Manzo, one of the main "housewives." I didn't know Lauren had the surgery- I knew that the dad (Caroline's husband) had it about 4 years ago. She's lost about 30 lbs. There was a good article on Yahoo about it, very realistic about expectations and that it's not a magic bullet. I hope she stays successful!

oh, and I don't mean just right after the surgery, I'm 5 months out and still have a lot of gas, etc- I think it has to do with not as much stomach to aid in digestion. This is my theory, not medically vouched for, LOL.

I also wonder if a lot of bloating just happens with the surgery, if you know what I mean- I've had more but not particularly associated with a particular thing that I've noticed. I use unjury, and actually if I just have protein shakes I have less gas/bloating. I also agree with Carole to ask your surgeon. Good luck!

Hi Kathie- what your looking for is a sticky topic at the top of the POST-Operation Lap Band Surgery Questions & Answers forum. It's the surgery day stories thread. That is where people have posted their experiences. As for me, it was a pretty easy go. I have had 3 c-sections and an ankle surgery. This was BY FAR easier than all those. I was in and out same day. I was in surgery about an hour. Before the surgery, I was nervous (I hate needles and always stress about the IV) so they gave me a little shot of somethin' somethin' (I can't remember what it was, but it was good stuff) and next thing I know I was in recovery. The anesthetic was not super heavy, I was able to "get out" from under it quickly- where with my last c-section where I had to be put completely out it was tougher. The big thing is the gas they pump you full of to maneuver around your guts. Walk, walk, walk is my big advice!

yah, it's such a crazy thing! Look at it long term like Cazzy says. Really the best way.

Mags!!! I missed you and Prudence! Glad you're in a sweet spot. Your back will feel better with weight loss, just persevere and it will come. Wow, NJ2NC- that is great! I have yet to hit that- I'm still hungry every couple hours, though I don't eat or snack until it's "time." I can't wait to get where I just don't think about eating. That unwich sounds good! I like Jimmy Johns anyways. I want your opinions- yesterday for lunch I had 2 small soft tacos- one pulled chicken, and 1 crispy shrimp. I was able to eat the whole thing, no issues (no side items like rice or beans, just the tacos). My question is- does this still seem like too much "volume" of food? It was within my calories, and it held me til 8 pm, after zumba, where usually I'd have a greek yogurt in the later afternoon. I just can't wait for another fill!!!! I did eke out a 1/2 lb loss for last week, so 61.5 lbs lost. I miss my elliptical, but our upstairs airconditioner is on the fritz and the elliptical is on the third floor, so it would be waaay to hot anyways. I like the Firm videos I"ve been doing, I just worry that they don't give me as much as a calorie burn. Everyone have a great day!!!!

Oh, and i log every single thing I eat and I exercise almost every day.