waitingpatiently

the low carb thing worked wonderful for me. Let me know if you need info on how to get started....inbox me. I would join myfitnesspall as well...great site to track food and exercise plus you can add your LBT buddies Feel free to add me same username:waitingpatiently

My hubby stayed with me....I think they figured if he was there it was less work for them. You will sleep a lot the first 24 hours. Let me correct that...You will try to sleep a lot the first 24 hours....But a nurse will make sure that dosen't happen. haha Expect to have some pain..but nothing unreasonable. You will be given a liquid diet..I had a couple blood draws...but for the most part it was uneventful.

I gave up trying to find a Protein power I love and went to doing stuff to cover up the taste. I have fell in love with the SF syrups. A good generic recipe I use is 1 container of carbmaster vanilla yogurt 2 oz Almond milk 2 oz SF Syrup 1 scoop protein power I change out the Syrups to make different concoctions example: 1oz pineapple, 1 oz coconut you have a pine a coloda 1oz french vanilla, 1 oz orange-tastes like a dreamsicle Sub the yogurt for 3 oz of your favorite coffee + 1oz carmel+ 1oz vanilla blenderize with lots of ice and its a starbucks iceed coffee If you want it thicker (like a milk shake) put the yogurt in the freezer for a little while

I would definately stick to the liquid diet. Try having a Protein Shake. You probably need to get some Protein in to ward off the hunger. My doctor actually wants his patients on a liquid diet for a whole week after a fill!! Occupy yourself with something else. Go for a walk or go clean something. Try to get your mind off of it. I went window shopping the other day....left all forms of money at home. Drove 30 mins to get to the mall and another 30 min back plus made myself stay for an hour and a half.-with no way to purchase food, by the time I got home half the day was over. (i did take a large protein shake with me)

Try to find a Protein shake you like now...it may take you a few before you find the one that you like. I like jililian Micheals from walmart. Also enjoy the New whey...they are like kool-aid...i mix them with crystal lights. I also found that I enjoy mixing the protein powers with SF syrups...I never even know its in there. Heres my favorite to get you started. 1oz Carmel SF syrup 1oz vanilla SF syrup 3oz Favorite coffee (mine is keurig's butter toffee) 3oz Almond Milk 1 scoop vanilla protein power Blenderize with lots of ice 130calories/16protein/6carbs I have a Stock My Pantry list. If you would like for me to email it to you just inbox me your email address. Oh I also liked unjurys chicken broth. It was pretty good and helped get the protein in those first few weeks.

Are you tracking your foods? Getting enough Protein? Not too many calories? Maybe you need to shake things up a little. if you are doing a traditional diet...try a low carb one for a few weeks...see how your body responds. If you are keeping a very low calorie count...try adding a few and exercise a little more. Try substituting one meal with a healthy high protein/low carb Protein Drink. I can understand being tired at the end of the day and not wanting to exercise....so how about getting up 30-45 mins early and doing it before work.You can also use your 2 days off (assuming thats how it works for you) exercise those two days and add in 1-2 morning exercises.

First off , It sounds like you are on the right track. Not eveyone has it all figured out before surgery, and I'm glad that you are educating yourself. I would definately track your calories. I would recomend Myfitnesspal.com it is a great site with a large data base. You can also add friends to encourage you along the way. Feel free to add me...same username:waitingpatiently. If understanding good food choices are an issue, I would recommend making your diary public to your friends...they will be able to offer suggestions to help. Plus its great for you to access other peoples diaries for healthy food ideas. Secondly, Everyone is different...some may say the weight fell off in the begining.....but as you loose, the weight loss will get slower, since you are starting at less than 200 lbs...I'm sorry to say you probably won't every feel like "Wow...I lost 10 pounds this week"....it will be more like that 1-2 pound range...which is where I'm at. Thirdly, These beginning months will take some time to figure out what your body wants from you. Some people feel we are pretty much all built the same and that a calorie is a calorie....I dissagree. Some will maintain 1200-1500 calorie diet and exercise 5-7 hours a week and do wonderful....This is not me. I choose to keep my calories down to about 900 and I only exercise about 2-3 hours a week. This works for me. I also try to eat a low carb diet my goal is about 35g daily....but theres a couple of days a week it will be higher..maybe 50 This is my magic combination...yours will be different. The goal is to just keep trying things untill one works better than others. I will tell you that although I am strict on myself, It isn't as hard as it used to be. Some days it will be 2pm before I get the urge to eat.---so although it is a strict diet....it doesn't feel like it is. I am satisfied at the end of the day and I only have 3cc in a 10cc band. Exercise!! you are young and your metabolism is strong....even it is only for 30 mins a day. Its good to esablish a routine early. Fourth, Not sure way your doctor didn't give you guidlines, I have heard others say that as well. Did you use an actual bariatric doctor or a general surgeon...sometimes general surgeons don't give a lot of rules. For the most part most doctors want 3 oz Protein first (at least 60-70g daily), followed by 1/2cup healthy veggie, then 1/2 cup starch (if needed)........or something similar. At almost 4 weeks out (close to where you are) I was in the mushy stage...not sure where you are at. Hope this helps....feel free to inbox me if I can help you any. Good Luck!!

I have 3 in a 10cc band...and I'm definately NOT in the "green zone".......now where did those cookies go? --jk

I don't think I have ever felt the actual band...but like others have said....ican sometimes feel my food slow down as I eat and swallow. As for the port...I am able to feel it when I touch it. It is about the size of a half an egg. The only time it causes any discomfort is when I where certain pants (jeans) that cross over top of it...I will sometimes get a little sore by the end of the day. But other than that i wouldn't know I even had a band.

Hi ladies. Congrats to you both!! Everyone is a little different when it comes to the healing process. A lot of bandsters feel great just 3-4 days out. Some even have went back to work the next day!! (crazy)...This was NOT me!!--haha It took me a good 10 days not to be in pain. and about 3 weeks to feel some what normal. However, I did have other stuff done (2 hernias and some adhesions removed) so that definately added to my discomfort. But just keep asking yourself if you feel better today than you did yesterday...usually the answer is yes. Stay on top of your pain meds that way it doesn't get out of control.Walk, walk, walk...it really does help with the gas pain. Julie-don't be stepping on that scale right now!! I know how tempting it is! this is your bodies time to be healing. They pump you up on a lot of IV fluids while in the hospital to help you keep from dehydrating the first few days...thats why you probably have gained weight...it will go away over the next few days. Save stepping on the scale for at least 2 weeks..then you will be pleasantly surprised!!

I was on liquids for the first 2 weeks post-op. You shouldn't have to worry about being sick (as long as you follow YOUR doctors rules). If you are talking about a reunion where everyone is sitting around talking and relaxing, then I think 9 or 10 days out you will be fine for that...if you are talking about a reunion where you are constantly on the go and swimming and hiking.......then I would not have been up to that. I felt very weak the first 3 weeks after surgery. I guess a month of liquids will do that. I would not have had the energy to be very active. I was still sore and would take a short nap during the day. However, I did have a couple of hernias repaired and some adhesions removed at the same time, so I might have been a little more tired and sore than the average bandster. If you will constantly be around other people, you may want to decide if you are going to tell people....if not they may ask what is with the liquid or mushie diet....So you may want to be ready for their questions

Cazzy did I read your ticker correctly? Have you really lost 237pounds!!! That is absolutely amazing!!! You must have really worked your butt off!! great job!!

Feel free toadd me to myfitnesspal..my username is the same: waitingpatiently

Name, real or screen~ waitingpatiently Goal weight for June 30th~189 Weight on June 1st~197 Age~40 Dietary goal for June~ Keep those carbs low!! Exercise goal for June~ Work on the abs Personal goal for ~Get organized Date banded~3/19/12 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~41 What is your favorite summer activity~ Anything at the lake

Hope you were able to stay away!! I know its tempting but its important to follow the rules....if you cheat and something goes wrong.....it will be hard to forgive youself. Stick to the rules.

You are probably in ketosis. When you deprive your body of carbs the body will switch and start turning fat into fuel the body can use for energy. This will sometimes cause a taste in your mouth. Fowl breath too. Enjoy the ride...you will start to drop weight very quickly. I would weight myself in the morning and go back at lunch and would have lost weight...I averaged a pound every day for the 2 week pre-op. It was worderful!!! But if you eat too many carbs...its over. Keeep the carb low and it will last all the way until your surgery. Then post-op is different, because you will need to drink things that will have carbs in it.....then the body will switch the ketosis off. I will put myself in ketosis every now again to boost my weight loss. Works like a charm.

Thats a hard one. That seems like an ackward place to have put your port. I have been doing a whole regiment of ab workouts lately...I'm loosing weight nicely, but it seems to be coming off everywhere but my abdomen. There are a few exercises I'm doing that might work for you. 1. step ups find a step in the house and simply put your hands on your hips and step up and down. Hold in your tummy muscles as you do them 2.leg lifts lie on your side on the floor an lift your leg up and down but don't lower it all the way down. stop about 3 inches before touching the other leg. 3.double leg lift lie on backplace your hands under the small of your back; then lift both legs together straight uptoward the tv. lower both legs but don't let them touch the floor. hold for 5 count and lift them back up. All the other one seem to involve some form of twisting or bending at the waist. Hope this helps some.

That is so awesome!! I know you must have worked hard to have numbers like that!! keep up the good work!!

Now for the real though Love..... This is about you and only you. You have got to get your head in the game. I hate that your family is treating you this way!!! Its awfull...BUT there will ALWAYS be SOMEONE or SOMETHING blocking your road to success!! You just need to kick them out of the way!! If you kick hard enough they move!!! You are only 2 weeks postop!!! Why in the world are you self sabotaging yourself!!! I call it that because it wasn't a small infraction in a weak moment....but you spent 5 HOURS working to get down a sonic sandwich!!! Thats self sabotage---not just hunger!! So why are you self sabotaging? If your family insists on eating stuff you can't have in front you ....so be it. They didn't make this decision...YOU DID!! Now Stand by it!! My family was considerate of my feelings....too appoint. But they would still eat the good stuff without me. In fact it was all homemade because I prepared meals ahead of time for them. But I would have to be in the other room whole they ate. The first few weeks are hard..I was still on liquids after 2 weeks. I was starving too.I understand being hungry but you don't need to be eating sonic sandwiches.......at least find something that won't cause premanent damage!! Try some puree's or some thin mushies..... I know it sounds like I'm fussing, I don't mean too. I just know that you probably want this as much as I did and I would hate for anyone to mess something up before they even get a chance to use it. Hold your head high!! You have been given a chance that has the possibility of changing your life!!---IF you do your part!!! So forget about yesterday there is nothing you can do about that....start right now!! Recommitt yourself to this journey!!! To follow the rules!!!plug into this site for your encouragement.....find someone on here that is willing to encourage you when you need it and hold you accountable when neccesary!! You can do this!!! You are not a failure unless you say you are!!! Inbox me if you ever need to talk.

He is amazing!! We have been together since we were 14 (thats 26 years ago)....so we BOTH have changed along lifes road....he lost his hair and I found 70 pounds!! But he has always told me I am beautiful...I tell him he is blind!! He has supported me through this whole process....he doesn't undertand the whole thing but he justs wants me happy and healthy.

Did you really just have surgery May2?!! That is awesome!! You must have been working hard before your surgery!!Keep up the great work!!

It does seem a little unreal...............clothes that fit one week, won't make it through the laundry the next week. I laughed and told my husband for the last 8 years everything I put in the dryer shrinks--------now I tell him its like the dryer is stretching everything out for me.

With 140 pounds down between the two you.............thats a person!! You have lost a person from your family. Way to go!! I'm sure it has been nice to have someone on the same journey as you are at the same time!! Great job to both of you!!

6 for me...including one in the belly button.