PattyGirl66

18 days post-op here. I am still very bloated, swollen on one side more than the other. Feels like i am going to give birth. I already had my first post op vist and surgeon said incisions look great.I have dermabonding. Sleeping a lot better on my belly now! I can feel as the days go by I do feel a lot better. I am in the mushy stages now

Hi Memphisfan, Firstly, you have a difficult job with a tight hectic schedule with mimimal breaks. You really need to plan your days accordingly with food in order to make the band work for you. Vomiting is not one of them,and as everyone has said you are going to do more damage,possibly losing your 'lifeline',your band. I am almost 3 weeks post-op and I can honestly tell you that every time I look at my incisions or feel my soreness its a reminder of what I had done to take drastic measures to lose weight and keep it off. I am following my surgeons orders to a tee! It scares me to think if something happen to my band due to my own fault and wind up in surgery again! You should not be throwing up, this is an idication of something is wrong, like your band being too tight. You have to take control of your own body and well being, no matter what! If you don't like your surgeon, find another there are tons of bariatric surgeons all over this country. Lastly, preparing your lunch and Snacks home daily for you to be ready to eat and take your time to enjoy your food. You can bring items such as sugar free puddings or Jello on your short breaks. your lunch can consist of your own homemade meals put in a container ready to eat or if your area has a microwave you can heat up Soups and such. The possibilites are endless to making your weight loss a success, it really is up to you... Best of luck,

Hi Harmony, I am 2 weeks post-op and my entire stomache is swollen, bloated,and tender. Especially around my port area. Tender to the touch even! However, I noticed it is getting a tiny bit better as the days go by. Oh, did I mention I feel as though I am ready to give birth to a 10 pound child, LOL Hang in there!

Wonderful to hear your success story! Thanks for sharing, and Congratulations!!

O wow,I didn't know they stil sell Alba77... i use to have that when I was on the weight watchers program. I loved that stuff. I remember making candy bars with Alba 77 chocoloate..mmmmmmmmm good!!

OHH this is so normal! I am 2 weeks post-op and still swollen,bloated,and have discomfort. I especially have bareable pain near my port side. Its still sensative to the touch, but every day its getting better .... Hang in there!!

I love homemade fruit smoothies, packed with Protein.. Every morning I have one. Not only is it healthy,but I am getting in the important nutrients in naturally.. Here is my morning plan: 4 fresh strawberries (I alternate with 1/4 cup fresh blueberries) 1/2 of a small banana 1/4 cup of low fat vanilla yogurt (this stuff is packed with protein) 1/4 cup of skim or almond milk (I perfer almond milk) 1/2 scoop of Protein Powder (unflavored) (ice cubes optional) **be creative, you can add peaches, mangos, etc.. remember to always remove the skin from these fruits! Calories: 178 / Protein 16 grams

Hi Mara, This site is the best ever! You are going to learn so much and it will be prepare you for before, during, and after surgery to become a successful bandster. Look forward to hearing about your progress along the way

Ingrediants: 2/3 cup of Tomato Soup (condensed) 1/4 cup of skim or almond milk 1/2 scoop of Protein powder (unflavored) 1/8 cup of Part skim Ricotta cheese Parsley for garnish Directions: Warm in the microwave the milk (about 12-15 seconds) , add Protein Powder and fork mix thoroughly until powder is disolved. Stir in the tomato soup and put back in microwave (about 40-50 seconds) remember to not bubble. Pour into small serving bowl and add the ricotta cheese, parsley or whatever you like for garnish. Calories: 145 / Protein 15 grams Enjoy!

OHH btw that bowl looks big in the picture, believe it or not its a 'dipping' bowl that holds exactly 4 ounces of food. This is my eatting bowl. Its a beautiful dinnerware set I got 2 years ago from Kohls, Oneida, came with over 40 pieces. Nice deal!

Thanks hon, it actually we very very good! almost taste like a baked ziti without the Pasta. I mean the possiblities are endless, you can doctor it up to your taste, maybe adding a sprinkle of parmasagne cheese, etc...

Your good!!! 2 weeks post op here and have almost the same feeling. My surgeon told me I am tight because after surgery the stomache swells and many times air gets trapped under the stitches where the band is (causing a tight affect) Keep up the good work

Amanda, don't feel bad hon this is very normal. Every day, every hour we show different numbers on the scale. My advice to you is this, please only weigh yourself once a week,first thing in the morning after you have went to the bathroom. Make it a special "weigh in day". I can't imagine the torture everyone had by weighing themselves every day, every hour. Its hell! why do that to yourself. Also, remember sometimes during our menstral cycle we gain, too much salt can lead to Water retention, so many factors. Main thing is to not get discouraged. Track your meals daily so you can see what your calorie index looks like. get in plenty of water and you are going to lose those pounds girlie!! Hang in there!!

I was just thinking about my favorite black cardigan in my closet, I can't wait until it falls off of me. You look amazing hon, Look at you a completely different person stands before you in that mirror! ^5

Michelle, also since you mentioned you are drinking very little water, I think you might of answered your own question..increase your water intake. You will be surprised how much drinking lots of water helps during weight loss. You can buy one of those measured water bottles so you can see how much a day you are increasing your water. I think between your calories and water you will start to see the results you are looking for.. PS: Just as Mis73 said, speak to your nutrionist about how many calories you should have at this rate... Let us know,

Like your posting says, 'Never going to give up" ((Hugs))

if you feel you are getting stuck I wouldn't get a fill. I think you are doing absolutely great, and just as Karen said above you just need to be patient and calm down This is very normal to happen when one is in the lower numbers and getting close to goal. Hang in there!

Ingrediants: 1/4 cup of 2% cottage cheese 3 Tbs. of a fresh avacado (blenderized or hand forked) depending how soft the avacado is 2 Tsp. Guacamole Seasoning Directions: Add 1/4 cup of cottage cheese, add 3 tbs fresh avacado, sprinkle 2 tsp. guacamole seasoning. Calories : 130 / 7gms Protein Enjoy! *** Perfect for mushy stages, or any part of a meal ***

Don't panic you are fine,just go back to your liquids as per your surgeons instructions. I was to be on a 2 week liquid phase after surgery but because I couldn't get my protein down the surgeon said get right on to the mushy stages but make it liquidy. Its 2 weeks today and I am on Mushy stage for another 2 weeks. I am finding new recipes, making my own fresh fruit smoothies adding protein powder to my foods. Remember your pouch is healing.

I am a tummy sleeper too! It took 5 days post-op to get on my stomache to sleep,even now I am tender and sore. Every passing day gets a little bit better.

Ingrediants: 1/4 Cup Low-fat cottage cheese 1 egg 3/4 cup all purpose flour or whole wheat flour 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. baking powder 2 tbsp. granulated sugar or sugar substitute 1/3 cup of skim milk or almond milk 1 cup of fresh blueberries Directions: Preheat oven 350 degrees (top rack) Fork blend cottage cheese and egg. Add flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar (stir). Add milk (stir) add blueberries (gently stir). Spoon into 9 Muffin cups, bake for about 15-18 mins. Calories: With regular sugar/ 68 With substitute sugar/ 58

Your favorite drinks after being banded should be Water and gatorade. I can't express how important both of these fluids are to your healing process. Water you should be drinking a lot of, as much as you can possibly can get in. Gatorade helps with replenishing any loss of fluids through this process, gaining back electrolites, such as sodium, carbs, and potassium. I am 12 days post-op and drink about 60 + ounces of water and about 12 ounces of gatorade. NOOO soda of any kind! Speak with your Surgeon about carbanation drinks for a better explanation. Best of luck,

A little tid bit for ya on the dark meat.... Dark Meat is NOT All Bad For You Take a look at the nutrition. Most dark meats tend to contain more zinc, riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, Vitamins B6 and B12, amino acids, Iron than white meat. Dark beef meat contains about 11 times more zinc than tuna, and about 3 times as much iron than raw spinach. chicken and Turkey dark meat contain vitamins A, K, B6, B12, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, minerals as selenium, phosphorus and zinc. Here are the nutrition facts about white and dark meat chicken. One 101 g. chicken leg has 12 grams, 18 grams of Protein and 3 grams of saturated fat. 141 g. serving size of roasted chicken breast has 5 grams of fat, only 1 gram of saturated fat and 43 grams of protein. Both white and dark meat chicken are high in cholesterol, but dark meat contains a higher percentage.