crabcake

Hey PineNut, Are you counting your protein? I'm trying to eat my protein first, but if I never have another gross protein shake again, it'll be a day too soon! I just hope my hair doesn't fall out!!! Like you, I'm just trying to make better food choices. I have noticed I eat a lot less. I was eating about half of my normal portion size, but yesterday at lunch I couldn't eat more than a quarter (I had my first fill on Tuesday). Then last night, the hubbling fixed dinner, lots of not-so-good food choices...I had to explain why a potato wasn't a vegetable. But I ate it anyway! Funny though, I'm not hungry at all this a.m. This whole band journey is really a trip! Never know what to expect next. Raqdollx19, there, there. It's gonna be ok.

Hang tight Anne! I had my first fill yesterday and ate very little last night. This a.m., I was famished when I awoke. I had some coffee (I know, I'm not supposed to, but I don't have it everyday, so I was bad!) and about a half hour later, an oatmeal b'fast cookie. That held me over until lunch time around 12:30. I was very hungry by then. I had a large cobb salad from Publix and split it before I started eating (didn't want the leftovers to get soggy). Well...I couldn't eat even the half. I'd say I ate maybe a quarter of it. I had some fruit and some sushi to nibble on as well (communal table at work), but never got to it. I just couldn't eat any more! Now this I like!! For those that were asking, I feel a little tight (I can still feel something that doesn't quite feel stuck, but almost. It's not terribly uncomfortable though.), but I'm not on liquids. Jsrico, try Activia. There's even a lowfat one. My hubbling swears by it! I tried it and it tastes pretty good, but lordy it gave me gas!!! (Sorry, I know, TMI.) And since my surgery (yes, still!!!) I've had plenty of that all on my own!! If this is what the band feels like when it's working properly, I have to say it's great!

Actually, no they didn't. And no, I'm not on liquids. I ate a protein bar a couple of hours after my fill and although it felt a little tight, by chewing it really well, I was fine. I'm gonna be extra cautious the next couple of days though and make sure I don't eat too fast or too much. Oh, and here's a funny thing for you banders that like to jump on the scales every 5 minutes (). This a.m. I weighed 206.5. I knew the doc's office scales weighed me a little heavier and I wanted to try and calibrate my scales as close to theirs as possible. At the office, several hours later, I weighed 211.5 and when I got home, I weighed 209.5 on my scales!!! The last time I weighed on their scales I thought they were about 4 pounds heavier than mine. Now they're showing 2-5 pounds heavier depending on how you look at it. So, that just goes to show you that you can make yourself crazy w/ these scales!

Well, I had my first fill today. I opted to go non-anesthetized, since I figured the needle to numb me wouldn't be any worse than the fill needle. I was right. There was a small stick, followed by a little pressure and that's all I felt until about 10 secs later when the nurse popped it out. I only got about .5 cc since I've been feeling fairly restricted since the surgery. The nurse wanted me to make my next appt for 2-3 weeks, but their schedules were pretty full, so it won't be until July 9th. Hopefully I won't need another fill before then!

Thanks, will do. I don't think I'm going to get the shot to numb it up. Someone else on the forum said that shot was as bad as the fill itself. We'll see...I may change my mind once I see the needle!!!

MB, it's taken me a while to recover as well. I'm 5 weeks out and have my first fill tomorrow. I called them and asked if I should reschedule because I still feel tight, but they told me to come on in so I could talk to the nurse and the dr. I'm pretty much staying off the scales as much as I can, 'cause my weight has been fluctuating and I start feeling stupid for spending $14 K when it might not work. I know, that's just a head game I'm playing w/ myself, but that's why I've stayed off the scales. When I get past that infamous 20 (the 20 I keep losing, gaining, losing and gaining) and drop into onderland, then I'll start feeling really good about this. Although, I must say, I'm bound to be losing some, even if only in small increments. I just can't eat like I used to!!! Yeah!!! Today was the first day I've exercised at all. My doc said nothing except walking for the first 5 weeks. So, tonight I went swimming. Not up to my usual speed, but I got more exercise than I've been getting. I think I'll try to head back to Curves next week. Unfortunately, I don't think I'm getting all my protein and water in, but I am making better food choices. One thing that's really bugged me, is I feel really bloated! :mmph: Anyone else having this problem? I don't have the TOM anymore, so it's not that. All in all, I'm happy I've done this. Even though the scales are only inching down, I know that's mainly because I haven't gotten into the groove w/ the diet and exercise. But bottom line, I feel positive for the first time in a long time.

Congratulations on your weight loss! As for the itching, Benadry makes a spray that I've found very helpful.

Season, best of luck tomorrow! We'll be thinking about you.

ah! The Montezuma's Revenge diet! Say no more!!! Hope you feel better soon.

Ok, let's start w/ the good part. I'm glad I'm banded. It was a tough decision for me, mainly because I hated the idea of surgery and elective surgery at that! Other than some dental work, I'd never been under anesthesia and had never had surgery. By reading on this site and talking to fellow bandsters, I made my decision. You learn real quick what to do to avoid Pb'ing (yes, that's the term. It stands for productive burping, which is a polite way of saying upchucking! Although, it's not upchucking like I've ever known it.) My doctor said there were some foods you'll never be able to eat again, simply because you can't swallow them. For example, white bread turns into a big dough ball and gets stuck in your esophagus! Getting something 'stuck' is no picnic either! But, if you chew, chew, chew, you'll probably be fine. I just had my surgery May 8th, so I'm certainly no authority and the first few days after the surgery (ok, 2 weeks plus) were bad. I had gas trapped under my ribcage and thought I was going to die! But suddenly at week 4, I realized I was feeling good and that rather than food being a driving force in my life, I was able to make good choices. I could finally ask myself am I hungry? and if not, ok, don't eat! It has put me back in control. I no longer feel like the sugar junkie who has to mainline/snort cupcakes to get her fix! The worse thing so far? The gas!!! Right after the surgery, you have trapped gas. To do the laproscopic (sp?) surgery they need to pump you full of gas to have room to move around in - kind of like blowing up a balloon. After the surgery, they push out as much as they can, but of course some remains trapped. Getting rid of that trapped gas is a trip!!! Not only that, but I think (and this is purely conjecture on my part) that my tummy is rebelling for some reason. I never seem to need to burp anymore, but ahem...:embarassed: how to say this,...I seem to frequently be looking for a private spot to rid myself of this nagging little problem!!! At this date, it's not trapped gas anymore, it's what my tummy is producing! :angry I'm hoping I'll adjust and at some point it will no longer be an issue. Hope this helps. Feel free to ask whatever you need to here, 'cause everyone is super helpful! We know it's a big decision to make and we're happy to answer your questions. Keep us posted on your decision!

You'll find that every doctor is different. Mine said to stay off red meat for 6 months (gee, I wonder if that includes that hamburger pattie I had last week???). Personally, I'm trying to just eat well and make good choices. I'm trying things and if they don't go down well, I'll avoid them for a while and then try them again later (e.g., that avocado which caused me to slime!!!). But then I'm all into breaking rules in life, so you'll have to do what works best for you!

Dare I ask what you're talking about? Will I regret this? Will your answer make me nauseous?

It's free to look up calories. Great for fast food items (I know, NOT a good food choice, but sometimes, the only choice there is). Anyway, if you put in sushi, you'll get a bunch of choices made by Tsunami, which is the brand I eat a lot. It's made fresh at our Publix. If you went to a sushi restaurant, you could use calorie king to get a ballpark idea. They have some other features that you can only get as a member, but a lot of their stuff is free.

Try calorieking.com It may not be the exact portions/calories, but it'll give you a ballpark idea. Sushi is very low fat/high protein, can be high in carbs though (can be, but not always, it just depends). But good for you I say! Congrats!

Ha! I know what you mean. The crabcake doesn't like to either! Although, there was a time...sigh, but those days are over! (And actually, I'm sooooo glad they are!)

Hey Green, I thought Italian men liked older women!

LauraP and Wenjea too, I know exactly how you feel. I've had people asking me 'how's that band thing working out for you' and 'how much weight have you lost so far?'. i'd like to swat them! i keep telling them that this is a healing stage for me and that i won't see the real weight loss until later on. I don't want to go into a lot of detail either. I've been on my scales and I have seen them move downward (and upward then downward too for that matter!), but I'm waiting to see how I do at the doctors office before I actually count the pounds lost. My scales and his are different for one thing and for another, there's time in between my weighing on his and not the daily jumping on and off that I normally do (does that make sense at all?). Anyway, I just wanted to say that y'all aren't alone w/ the food police deal. I go for my first fill next week and hope to see more restriction then.

I know how you feel. I've probably been on every known diet (or at least own the book!) there is. But you're working with your band now, so it's bound to work. My suggestion is for you to stay off those scales!!! It's only been 2 weeks since you're surgery and you're body is still healing. I'm not going to worry about it until after my first fill (next week - yeah!). I mean I'm trying to eat better and I have been weighing myself, but my doctor told me the real weight loss won't start until you hit your 'sweet spot', usually after your 3rd fill. So cut yourself some slack! You're doing really well. p.s., I had the same thing happen to me last week, there was about 4 pounds that kept moving back and forth on my scales. Like I said...don't worry!

Hi Bamalama! I had Dr. Schmitt. He's nice. In fact, everyone at the hospital was super nice!! I was also an outpatient, which was ok, 'cause I was only going to the Prattville/Montgomery area. The day after, I felt great and was up and doing lots of things around the house...the day after that, not so much! So, you might want to consider going to a motel after your surgery and making the drive the next day (you do have someone driving you don't you?). Others might not agree though. Best of luck. You'll be fine.

I had the same fears...bet a lot of us do! Anyway, I asked my doctor before hand and he said this was the safest surgery there was. I'm 2 weeks out and so far, glad I've done it! Good luck!

makes sense. i feel like i have a trapped bubble and it keeps shifting between my side and my shoulder. ugh!

does that mean you'll get your fills through your belly button?

My guess would be...yep, GAS!!!

Shar, I'm sorry you've been feeling down. I had my surgery on May 8th also and haven't bounced back the way I'd hoped to. Glad to hear you're feeling better. I've noticed that every day I truly do feel better.

huh...the same thing happened to me! they said I owed $7 thousand and some odd, but while talking to me, suddenly 'found' it!