legnarevocrednu

Thanks so much!!

My doctor told me to progress the post op surgery diet day by day. For instance, the day I had my fill, clear liquids. Next day, full liquids, next day, pureed, next, soft foods. Depends on the doctor I suppose!

All I can say is that it was the best decision I've ever made in my entire life! I'm only 36 pounds down, and I already feel so different! You sound like the perfect candidate for this surgery. I feel like it's one of the best things we can do for ourselves. We shouldn't be ashamed of caring about our health, or wanting a better lifestyle. Good luck!

I had my first fill last week (4CC's) and I felt it immediately. I eat at least half of what I did between the surgery and my first fill. And that's saying a lot, because it was rare for me to even reach 1000 calories then. It's been a week, and the fill is still going strong! It's strange how it's different for everyone. I've already lost 4 pounds since then!

Weight at beginning of challenge: 229 Weight as of today: 223 Pounds lost: 6 LBS

Okay so this week has taken a lot of adjustment for me. Although I still haven't felt restriction, I definitely am feeling SOMETHING when I'm eating. A tightness in the chest area. I've posted about this on the board, so this may be a bit repetitive to those of you who have read that. Anyways, I've decided to let it go for now. It's not painful, it's just uncomfortable. If I still feel it at my next appointment, I'll let my doctor know. For now, it's bearable and I've lost 3 pounds since Tuesday so I'm good with that! lol. As far as hunger goes...very little. I felt my stomach growl for the first time since Tuesday at 11PM last night while I was laying in bed. It was not pleasant but I just ignored it and went to sleep. Yesterday I had a SF Carnation Instant Breakfast, my refried beans recipe for lunch (about 1/2 cup) and for dinner, about an ounce of halibut which I chopped up real good and it took me about an hour to eat lol. I would think that would have been enough but I guess not!! I also want to give kudos to myfitnesspal! I am in LOVE with that app and I truley believe it's part of the reason I've lost so much weight without restriction. It helps keep me accountable for everything I put in my mouth. Also, seeing my progress is encouraging. If any of you would like to add me on there, my sn is legnarevocrednu. The picture I'm attaching is a body shot of me in my bridesmaids dress (wedding is a week from today). Again, crappy quality, but I think the dress looks well on me! I'm 35 pounds down as of today and couldn't be happier!

Thank you guys so much! It's been a while since I've felt pretty, and it's amazing what losing 35 pounds can do. Not just physically, but emotionally. This site has been a huge help and I feel very blessed to have found it! Thanks again for all of your kind comments!

I was banded on November 21st, and although my situation isn't the same as yours, I have heard that people may not lose at first. It takes a while to get into the zone, so to speak. It really is work...I have yet to feel restriction and the only reason I'm losing weight, is because I'm making better choices. You need to really WANT to be healthy...and WANT to stop eating badly. The band will help but you still have to work at it. Good luck!

I would definitely keep going back for fills. However, the band won't stop you from eating what you want. YOU have to stop YOU. I haven't even felt restriction yet, but I'm counting my calories and making healthy choices. You really have to be in the correct mind set to do this or the band won't work. Good luck!

So I went to the doctors office yesterday for my first fill. Actually, I wasn't sure if I would get a fill or not as I've lost 19 pounds since my surgery. However, I told him I had yet to feel restriction so he gave me a fill anyway. 4 CC's. He had to feel around for my port for a few seconds, I felt a pinch, and then it was over. Painless. It took me about 20 minutes to drink 4 ounces of water though. I could literally feel the water going down which is a really weird feeling. I was told to follow the post op diet, 1 day per stage as tolerated. Last night I had chicken broth and I sipped it slowly and it went down okay. This morning I'm drinking my carnation instant breakfast and it's taking a while. I can DEFINITELY feel a difference. Not that I'm going to be sick. Just that I can feel everything. It's very odd. I'm hoping it passes because not sure how I'll manage real food at this point. Everyone was real happy with my progress. I am too! The band is a wonderful tool! Just gotta work it!

I thought it was a lot too. But so far, so good!

I'm not sure what the original posters reason is for not telling everyone, but I have also made the decision not to tell certain people. However, MOST people do know. There are two key people that I have decided not to tell because they have expressed their negative opinions to me about other people who have had WLS. I just did not wish to have the negativity in my life. I went with my gut and told people who I knew would support me, and they have. I think it's a personal decision for all. Not all people are kind and/or supportive and I believe it's smarter to just not include them.

I'm a bit concerned. I'm hoping someone can tell me this is normal. I just had my first fill on Tuesday of 4 CC's. I've been progressing through the post op diet daily and today, am on pureed. Every meal (no matter if it's liquid or pureed) causes tightness in my chest. I won't say it's excrutiating, and it's not making me feel nautious. It's just uncomfortable. And it happens from my first bite all the way to the last. Is this normal? If so...how long does it last? If it's not normal, guess I'll have to give the doc a call :/ Thanks!

Figured I'd post a couple of pictures...they are not good ones at all. I don't think the side shot is accurate. The shirt I'm wearing flows out so it looks like my belly is making it do that, but it's really not lol. I figured I need to keep pictures posted somewhere so I can visualize my progress. Anyway, these pics are me at 225.

This is me after losing 33 pounds My weight before starting my post op diet was 258 now I'm 225. Yay! Thank you!

You may want to call your doctor. I haven't been nautious since surgery, but I know before when I was feeling sick to my stomach, I would take some pepto and it would help. There is tons of anti nausea medicine over the counter. I would stick to the liquid or chewables. Hope you feel better!

I blame everything on gas lol. I suggest some gas x strips. See if that helps. I have back pain sometimes, and someone told me it was gas...so I take gas x strips for my back pain. Who would have thought? I definitely think it has something to do with air getting into your stomach and the hiccups is your bodys way of getting it out. Just an idea!

1. I was on a 10 day pre op diet. I was told to stick to protein shakes and if I was starving, I was allowed to have some non starchy vegetables. I think the amount of time depends on your doctor and your BMI. The day before surgery, just clear liquids which includes chicken broth, SF Jello, SF popsycles, water, gatorade etc. 2. My post op diet progresses as follows: 2-3 Days of clear liquids, 5 days of full liquids (you can add in protein drinks and anything SF and non carbonated at this point), 1 week of pureed (you can basically puree anything to a baby food consistency. I ate a lot of FF Refried Beans mixed with ricotta cheese at this stage...super yummy and full of protein), 1 week of soft foods (i.e. tuna, chicken in a can...anything that can be easily flaked with a fork), then regular food. If you find you are unable to tolerate moving to the next stage, stay on the current one until comfortable. 3. Follow up care was excellent. I'm a very low maintenance patient as I have had zero complications. No complaints whatsoever. 4. The best thing about this experience so far? Definitely losing the weight! I'm happier, I feel better...everything is just better! It's been pretty easy for me thus far. I've been tracking everything I eat, keeping my portions controlled, counting calories as I had not felt restriction. I've still lost 33 pounds!! I just had my first fill on Tuesday so that might even boost my weight loss even more. Anyways, good luck on your venture! The Lap Band is an awesome tool!!

I just had my first fill yesterday. I want to make sure that how I'm feeling is "normal". Right after the fill, they had me drink 4 ounces of water. It took about 20 minutes to do that. I could literally feel it going down and it was making me burp. That night I had chicken broth and although I sipped it slowly, I felt okay. This morning I am drinking my carnation instant breakfast and it's taking forever. I am feeling a "fullness" feeling in my chest. It's not painful, and I don't feel sick, it just feels awkward. I've only had about 3 or 4 sips so far so I don't know what's going on. Does this feeling pass? Is this normal? Thanks for your help!

Update on the carnation instant breakfast...it's been 2 hours and I'm still sipping it. Just now getting to the end of it. NOT fun!

Yikes! Face shot came up huge! Sorry for the scare! lol

I debated on whether I was going to use frozen dinners, lean cuisines, and lean pockets and such. I decided to have them. Why? Because I am a single girl who lives by herself who HATES to cook. I'm tracking calories, fat, carbs, and protein and I'm sorry, but I just don't care about sodium right now. I can't be expected to keep track of EVERYTHING. I also like it because everything is portioned out so I don't have to measure. I know that once it's gone, I'm done. I've been losing weight pretty good (15 pounds since surgery on November 21st) so they haven't really hurt me. I keep everything portioned controlled and within a good calorie limit. These packaged meals are all under 300 calories. I say it's a personal choice. Also, someone had brought it up at a nutritionist meeting, and they said it would be okay. Obviously it's not IDEAL, but it depends on the lifestyle of the person. Especially if it's for only one meal a day. Who cares?? Good luck!

Ooppsss...forgot my pureed stage in between full liquids and softs...that was also for a week!

I was only on clear liquids for 3 days, full liquids for a week, softs for a week, then regular diet. Each doctor is different I suppose.