o2bthin

I'm definitely in limbo....that place that's neither heaven nor hell right? I'm not losing, despite my best efforts. My fill will be on 8/1 and I can't wait. I'm going back to Dr. Ortiz, even though it's a hike (3 hrs to Seattle, 3 hr flight to San Diego, bus, trolley, taxi, overnight, trolley, bus, 3 hr flight back to Seattle and 3 hr drive home) because I want an aggressive first fill in my 10cc band. It BETTER work too! I have been trying to stick to low fat, Protein first, greens second, fruits third and my carbs last. I've had ice cream too, believe me. It's not like we can't have it after our fill either, so like Cheryl is saying, you have to get good foods in and get the good habits too. I'm discouraged too, not losing anything, and eating less and dieting and depriving myself......and I have done my share of griping. I finally decided that I be losing much until my band is working. Try not to sabotage your success though. Try drinking more, and keeping yourself busy. That's been hard for me. What do I do the 28+ hours a week I am not shopping for food, talking about food, preparing food or eating food?? LOL

You want a maid, nanny and sex slave. You don't want a wife. Own it and stop making excuses. Bleeeech!

I'm sorry I'm such a big whiner. I'm sure I'm not the only one having trouble before the first fill. By "full meal" I mean eating until satisfied, not measuring portions, not calculating calories, not restricting carbs, fats. I mean a REAL MEAL! LOL I know muscle weighs 4 x more than fat, but my clothes fit the same. I'm the same. I don't feel any different. Even some port pain would be welcome. Until I get that first fill, I'm just going to be fretting. Has anyone else felt that same way and how did your first fill change that? Has anyone had no weight loss after their surgery and then had a fill and started dropping? Please tell me there's hope!! Chicken pot pie sounds good, but I could eat a whole lunch sized mongolian beef, egg drop soup and crab pot appetizer. Ooops, sorry if that's making anyone's mouth water like mine!

Hey guys. I'm so frustrated I could scream. It's been 3 1/2 weeks since banding. I did the liquids for 3 weeks, and this week started on solids. My eating is small amounts, low fat, low carb, low calorie. I've been working out on my eliptical trainer, drinking water, taking my chromium. In other words, doing everything I can to lose. And my weight loss since banding.....ZIPPO! My thought....I could be eating! My prebanding days were fairly healthy food, but I could eat between meals, snack, have ice cream, candy, go out to a restaurant and have a full meal. I haven't had a full meal in six weeks. Why why why?

Congratulations, I've lost NOTHING since I was banded.

LMAO Heather! I'm thinking the song "I'm Too Sexy For My Shirt" might work for ya too!

Miss Jess, I did good on solids. I had some tuna, and that was fine. The only problem I had was wanting something to wash it down. I ate some bran muffin for breakfast and it felt like dried bread crumbs doing down. I needed to generate more saliva for it. It's cool that I can actually eat a small amount and get no physical hunger. Only head hunger. I did eat a few nibbles of this and that before my 3 weeks were up....actually all of us 6 that were there at OCC at the same time did. I'm sure it's best to stick out the 3 weeks though. I haven't tried to eat to capacity yet, I'm just eating until I'm comfortable or had that 1/2 of a fist size of food and trying to get in some veggies and fruits along with protein. Lean Cuisines work really good for me. I can't wait for my fill. I just want to know how this little sucker is going to work. I hope this fill will take me through the year. If you can come 5 days earlier, schedule your fill on 8/1. One of the other girls from 6/18 and I will be using the trolley. Good luck! Email me if you like @ notime2qlt@aol.com. Your boys are adorable! Suzzie, I thought I was doing good sleeping on my stomach....I have a novafoam mattress. Well Friday night I went camping and slept on the hard ground and couldn't even lay on my stomach. I stole dh's pillow and slept 1/2 on and 1/2 off! LOL

I was banded on 6/18. I went to solids yesterday. I have had no problems. I feel exactly as I did before surgery. No restriction! My only reminder is this little button sticking out of my upper tummy! Yesterday I had 1/2 can tuna with 1 t mayo and some watermelon. dinner was a Lean Cuisine and I had a 1/2 bran muffin. I'm eating small amounts to see if I can stay full on that much.

My doc had me on liquids for 3 weeks, so I've just progressed to solids today. Gosh how mind mending. I'm afraid to eat anything. I had some tuna at lunch. I will try the regular meal thing tonight with the family---they are going to faint when they see me cooking......I've had a 5 week vacation from it. I thought I'd try chicken parm with spaghetti. My nutrition guidelines are use a plate with protein serving, greens, fruit, carb and fat and eat them in that order. Pizza.....NO NO NO!! I'm actually missing my shakes and soups! HA! Is anyone else doing the same thing? What are you eating? I thought about doing some Lean Cuisines. My incisions are healing nicely, but slowly. They are still reddish with the slightest scabs on them. I'm a slow healer. Wow, that's some bruising you got there. I scheduled my fill today. I can't wait. 21 days to go.

I got some bras and matching underwear at Walmart called "the most comfortable" or something like that. They are like t-shirt bras and I've been wearing them since surgery. They are great. I wore pull on capris and a cute t-shirt before and after surgery. You will definitely have some swelling in your belly area.

This is what I have. There's also supposed to be a new fill center in Poulsbo, WA very soon. WASHINGTON - Arlington/ Kitty Carmichael or Robin 360-435-5365 Phone msg will say "Diabetes Mgmt NW" - leave your name & phone # and someone will call you back ASAP. $150 for first fill. $125 after that 540 West Ave., Arlington, WA 98223 Fax# 360-474-1394 diabetesmgt@yahoo.com or roblynn54@yahoo.com WASHINGTON - Seattle/ Ballard/ Dr. Joseph Chebli 206-784-3300 206-782-9232 fax $250 first visit $200 after that No fluoro unless there is a problem with port. 1801 NW Market St, Suite 301, Seattle, WA 98107 WASHINGTON - Shelton & Olympia/ Dr. Neal & Dr. Ogle/ Pacific Bariatric Surgery, PLLC 866-426-4142 or 360-426-4142 Fills for non-patients is $350 $150 for facility. Always done under fluoroscopy. 200 Lilly Road, NE, Suite C-2, Olympia, WA 98506 info@pacsurgical.com WASHINGTON - Tacoma area/ Dr. Fox & Dr. Srikanth 253-472-9850 $300 NO 3716 Pacific Ave., Suite B, Tacoma, WA 98418 WASHINGTON - Adrian Heap, MD 509-943-8535 $100 - $150 1201 Jadwin Ave. #104, Richland, WA 99352 WASHINGTON - Medical Imaging NW 253-841-4353 Please call to find out.

Nina, I got the NordicTrack Elite from Costco. Good price I think. I also saw a bunch of them on CraigsList, but I wanted mine now!

Dawn, I love the elliptical trainer. At the gym, I warm up for 10 min on the treadmill, not any more because the heel striking aggravates my heel spur. Then usually 20-25 min on the elliptical. I got my own now, so no more 2 hour trips to the gym. My doctor recommended starting exercising 2 weeks after the surgery. I haven't had much pain or discomfort from the surgery or gas, but I've been walking a lot.

Just checking in. We are now all officially banded! I am still on liquids.....I am at the "add protein" stage, but I've had it all along because of hunger. July 9 is my "solids" day. I got an elliptical trainer and started out on that yesterday, with 10 minutes and boy am I sore!

Isn't that a great feeling? I can't remember when I didn't wear size 22. How about if you offer the clothing if *they pay the shipping?

It's a piece of cake...you'll do great! I think you're not nervous because you are resolved that it's the right thing for you! Good luck!

I took almost everything on every list I could find. I found the only things I really needed were toothbrush, hairbrush, nightgown (for hotel), change of underwear and my purse.

Any Imagine or Trader Joe soup (my favorite is corn and pepper) with a bit of feta cheese sprinkled on top.

rcorn, I have 4 weeks of liquids to do. My understanding is, this will allow the band to heal in place, so I figure the longer the better. It sure is difficult to do......variety makes it easier for me.

Danielle, what a coinkidink....I am 6 days out and I had a couple tiny bites of tuna today. Having liquids only sucks! Like Toni said, I don't think you should beat yourself up.

I used the EAS from Costco mixed with water and it was fine. Also mixed it into smoothies. Yogurt based smoothies are good too. I make my own. Soups are a good alternative. Some have around 50 calories in a cup. Then you can mix some protein in there. I have miso a couple of times on my preop. The sodium count is high though, so it may make you retain water.

I forgot to post...I have the AP band also. What do you mean by "remote control" Serena? My diet is 1-7 days of clear liquid, add 1/2 c yogurt on day 4, tomato soup on day 6, protein drinks on day 10. Begin food on week 4, which is July 9 for me. Joy!

Annie, the ticker thing is at TickerFactory.com. It has instructions how to do it. You'll have to paste the code in your siggie when you're done.

I'm not very bloated, a little swollen around the largest incision, but I think it's because I take a small dose of HCTZ as a diuretic for blood pressure. That usually keeps water off me. I did drop 5 pounds overnight, for a total of 10 since surgery, so I'm thinking that was the bloating I had from the antibiotics I was on prior to surgery (bronchitis/sinus infection) and all the junk they give you for surgery. Keep the faith though....Carla Drink lots and lots and walk walk walk. I am having 1 cup amounts of soup and liquids at one sitting. Does anyone think that's too much? Gosh! I feel no restriction at all....or so I thought, but 1 cup seems to be all it takes to feel full. I'm starting to get more of a sense of what my body is telling me when it's full. It's good not to have so many hunger pangs....they seem to be lessening, but I'm remembering to get some sort of soup or protein drink in every couple of hours. Still dropping the weight, so it's all good. I do have a funny though...I told my friend I wanted to chew something so bad it was driving me crazy. So she suggested a dog chew toy! She was serious....she said a doctor had given her a rubber mouth piece for stress before surgery. LMAO! So I make sure to say "I want to CHEW and SWALLOW" now!

BigTrain has a low carb mix. I have seen it at Cash n Carry or you might try Googling it.