teacher

Praying for your husband here in Texas. I can't answer any of your questions, but I feel sure tomorrow will be better. I had lots of pain the first few days also. God bless and keep us posted, michele

Hi everyone! I was jumping around and reading and I'm really glad I came to your thread. I was banded on Valentine's day 07 and have lost 23 pounds. ONLY 23 pounds!!!! I know you think that's great....but after banding you will lose quickly for awhile and then it slows down until your 1st fill. This is the time called bandsters hell. A weight plateau..yuk!!! My 1st fill will be on Thursday..yea. Good luck to all of you with your surgery and new life!!!! Michele

WOW Kathy!! You are doing great!! You are having some awesome willpower!!! Congrats!!! Keep up the good work. We started at about the same weight but you have passed me up on the going down side. Thanks for the motivation!!! Sunnysea, I went to McDonald's when I first started eating mushy foods,too. I ordered the fish filet with no bread. I was mad when I opened the box because the cheese was slapped on the bottom and stuck to the box. I guess I looked pretty stupid trying to eat the cheese off the bottom of the box!! (hope no one was looking). Then, a few days later I talked to the nutritionist. She wanted to know what I was eating . When I told her about the fish...she said, "oh, I hope you took the crust off " hahahahahah I told her," oh of course I did, I knew not to eat that crust" ARE YOU KIDDING ME??????? What's do you have if you don't eat the crust???? So...I'm just going to stay away from filet of fish....box and all!!! michele

I'm a singer....I'd say you should be fine by the 21st for the gig. After my surgery they gave me this thing to blow in for a week. If you get one...really use it, it helps to get those deep breaths going. If not, just practice breathing deeply everyday. You'll be great in no time!!! Good luck!!!! michele

Hi NurseAmy!!! I'm glad you're doing OK!!! I was so hungry, too...still am. I was banded just about a month before you and will have my first fill on Thursday. From what I understand this hunger is normal. Right now, as your stomach heals and the swelling goes down, you will feel like you can eat more and more. The thing to do is to practice chewing a million times and try to eat small portions. The thing that helped me most was to season my food a little more than usual. I also cheated a little by eating a cheese enchilada...tortilla and all.It was very soft from a great Mexican food place. I could eat one for lunch and bring the other one home and eat it in 2-3 hours. See what you can do to add more variety into your diet. I thought I would gag on another cup of soup!! Hang in there...it does get better.

Don't misunderstand me....I'm not about to give up!!! I just think I need a new scale!!!!! I have not come this far to give up.

susannah...you are beatiful!!

:faint: :faint: Well, it happened again today. I stepped on the scale after yesterday's drinking water, eating right, walking,etc, only to see the same (*&^&*$ number on that scale. I'm beginning to think my scale is broken...maybe I should get a new one. SURELY this can't be right~???? THree weeks on the same number??? I'm going to throw the scale away. (Don't tell me not to weigh......have to do it every morning) Any suggestions on how to jump start this losing???? I'm going crazy here. 1st fill will be next Thursday.........thank goodness.

BUbbleButt.....You absolutely crack me UP!!!!!!!!!

I hate it when people walk off from their shopping cart in the grocery store. They leave it right in the middle of the aisle and go look for something!!! I always watch them... and while they aren't looking, I push their cart as far away as I can and then move over and watch the fun!!!! They sure feel silly when they turn around at their cart is missing!!hahahaha

My first meeting with Dr. Spivak and the seminar was 6 months before my surgery. I forgot all about the diet thing. I ate everything I've ever loved...things I knew I shouldn't be eating. I gained 20 pounds in that 6 six months....somebody in the office really fussed at me..don't remember who it was...I was so embarrased. So I dieted like crazy for 4 days and lost 6 of those extra pounds. (Still glad I did it!!..I won't make you hungry by listing all of my no no foods). Haven't craved any of those foods since surgery 4 weeks ago.

Hi Kimmie, My first fill is next Thursday. I hope they go slow!!! I'm going to be watching out for the fast fill lady!! I requested Dr. Spivak do the fill, too. I'm at the age where I say pretty much what I think, so if I see that he's not actually doing it...I might embarrass myself!!! I'll let you know!!! Also, let us know how you do with that newfound restriction!! Michele

I'm so glad I looked at this thread. I am an AI addict. Now, for my opinion.. Lakisha is the best. Melinda is fabulous. Jordin is wonderfullly talented. I usually don't vote until the finals...but I'm voting this year. What are we going to do???? Sanjaya needs to go home..he NEVER should have made the finals. If Howard Stern's plan is really what's working, here, I am just disgusted.:angry :angry :angry :angry :angry music teacher:faint:

What does it mean to slime???

OH Helen...so sorry about today's experience for you. It could be any of us. Don't feel bad. This is a hard thing to do. We're trying to eat in a completely different way than we've done for years...and HOW??? There's nothing to restrict us. I'm having trouble eating too much also. Don't be discouraged, just try to look at it as another chance to work on those small portions. The bites I take are too big and I know I'm not eating all the right things...This is definetely not the easy way out. I feel your pain. Keep your chin up....it's not your fault...we're all in this together...we're all learning to eat these little "pencil eraser" size bites.......it's very hard. Good Luck and let me know how you're doing. Michele

Hi Terri....Got my first fill appointment for 3/22!! I'll let everyone know how it goes! I am so hungry today...I could eat the horse and the pony as a side dish. I finally feel better...not alot of pain. Some of you youngin's got over the pain part so quickly....it's taken me a month to feel better. But, finally, I feel like myself again. YEA Question for you Sunnysea...if you drink the protein shakes..do you substitute them for meals or drink in between meals???

It must really depend on your Dr. ...My doctor only has us do liquids for 24-48 surgery. Sorry you're hungry. Maybe you should call your doctor and see what they say.

I'm going to call tomorrow for a fill appointment. I finally feel better. It's been a month today since surgery. It really took me longer to get well....maybe because I'm so old.... But, I'm ready for a fill...I'll let you know when it is>>>>I'm a little scared!! Michele

Johnathon...Your story of going to walmart and buying a t-shirt made me cry happy tears. I too have always just wanted to be able to run in and pick up a t-shirt or something quick to wear. Always having to go to the specialty shops is so sad. What a Great Day it is for you!! Congratulations....I feel your happiness!!! Michele

Hi LeeinDe and Synicalchick!! I'm having the same appetite stuff going on!! I feel like I could eat a horse....I just keep trying to stop at the first sign of tightness. And compared to what I used to eat....it's amazingly LESS!! I am just shocked at myself when I stop eating with food on my plate and feel full!!! WHOOHOO!!!! And, Thank Goodness most of the pain is gone, but my incisions still are tender. Glad to see everyone is doing OK!!! Michele

The Central Market meeting is this Saturday...I believe at 2 pm upstairs.

Thanks for your answer gonnabe!!!!

Does anyone out there eat popcorn???? My banded friend gets it at the movies with an empty cup...she chews it up and spits it out....just wondering if any of you do this or actually eat it... Michele

I ate oatmeal the third day after surgery..per Doctor's OK. Call you Doctor...don't understand it either!!!

Hi Synical....So glad to hear you are feeling better. You've really been through it!! I think we should all just be honest about how we're feeling. It helps to know we're not alone. This is no piece of cake. Some people (unintelligent people) think we are taking the easy way out. WRONG!!! But, still, no regrets. My surgery was on the 14th of February and I'm just now able to sleep on my side...carefully. yea! michele