crikkit

I haven't been checking in lately, but I was having a VERY hard time getting through week 4! After three weeks, I still wasn't able to make it through all of the run cycles. Finally last week I started running outside instead of on the treadmill at the Y. I'm in Houston, so I waited until 8pm to do my outside run. I think I'm more relaxed when I run outside (exercise equipment intimidates me!), plus I'm able to have dinner before my run now that I've pushed the time back. I think I was running out of gas when I was running at 6:30 without eating much during the day. Anyway, I was able to make it through week 4 just fine, and just finished day 1 of week 5 tonight. I'm finally back on track!

I've mostly been lurking, but today had a scare and thought I wouldn't get banded this month after all. Everything worked out, so now I'm especially glad to be an October bandster! I'm getting banded in Mexico and was just notified today that there has been a problem for all doctors in Mexico getting the Allergan/Inamed band ... some customs issues. I had the choice to either reschedule the surgery or go ahead for Monday and get a Johnson and Johnson band instead. I have already taken a week off work, booked my flight, made arrangements for my pets etc., so I decided to go ahead with the J&J band. I'm not happy about the last-minute change, but I want to get this over with! I haven't been able to find much info about the J&J band, so if anyone knows much about it, please share! All I know is that it was just FDA approved in the U.S. a couple of weeks ago but isn't being used in the U.S. yet, but it's basically the Swedish band that has been used in Europe for several years.

I'm in the middle of week 4 now, but it's good to see everyone's progress in week 1! Just keep at it. I missed a run a few weeks ago, and somehow that ended up snowballing into two weeks off. I just started back up again last week ... let's just say I could not pick up where I left off! I'll probably be repeating week 4 next week, but right now I'm just committed to running my 3 days a week and making progress each run.

Good luck to everyone starting tomorrow. If you have an ipod, here are a couple of sites where you can download music mixes made to fit with the 5k training program: Podcasts I started with this one. Problem for me was that the guy who created the music mix talks to let you know when it's time to run or walk. I would be running my heart out, praying he would hurry up and tell me to start walking. Finally I would hear is voice and start walking, and it turns out he's just trying to be helpful ... "ok, you just have 30 more seconds to run" or whatever. Podrunner: Intervals - Free Workout Music for 5K Training This is what I'm using now. I'm starting week 4 tomorrow. I like the music a little better, and he uses a special tone sound to let you know when to run or jog. I don't think this one follows the couch-to-5k times exactly, but it's still a 9-week program based on walking/jogging to get you to running 5k at the end of the program.

I've made this twice with marinara, spinach and mushrooms and served it over whole wheat penne pasta. Very easy and tasty!

Dr. Robert Davis posted a message on the TLC forums that the network has cancelled the show. They had 4 new, unaired episodes that they ran back-to-back a few days ago, and that's it.

My surgeon gave me the booklet that came with the band that includes the instructions for the surgery and fills. The booklet recommends 4cc for the first fill, which is what I got. I have 7.5 cc now and am going back in a couple of days for another fill, probably a small one.

I wouldn't normally wear skirts, but a friend of mine who is also losing weight gave me a bunch of her skirts that were too big on her. I've found that skirts are much better than pants during this weight loss phase. My pants get baggy in the butt and look pretty unflattering when they start to get too big, but the skirts still look fine when they're a size too big ... they just start to ride a little lower on the waist.

I get my fills under flouro, so I'm standing up with the needle still in me when they do the x-ray in case they need to add more saline. My first two times I got very light headed and they had to get me to lay down a couple of times before they could finish. During my last fill I actually did pass out while standing in front of the x-ray drinking the barium. I spilled barium all over my first normal-people-size pants in years! And now we know ... barium does leave a stain. :drool: I do fine when I have blood drawn, I guess because I'm sitting down. And I do fine with needles at the dentist. I really don't even feel afraid of needles. I'm very afraid of passing out though!

I was banded with the Johnson & Johnson band in October in Monterrey, Mexico. I've had no problems so far. My first fill was after 6 weeks, 4cc. My second fill was one month later, 2cc. I have pretty good restriction now, but probably not at that elusive sweet spot. I haven't had any PBs, just some tightness in my chest a couple of times that let me know I needed to slow down and chew better.

The inner balloon on the J&J booth is smooth, which is different from the new Allergen AP band. As far as I know the J&J band just comes in one size, 9cc I believe. And it comes with a low profile port standard. And yes, the port is attached differently. The J&J band comes with a port applier tool that attaches the port to the muscle instead of stitches.

This is a huge goal for me too. I was wearing 18W when I had the surgery. A 16W is probably what would work best for me now, but I am NOT buying any more plus-size clothes! I tried on about 10 pairs of regular size 16 pants at Stein Mart the other day and I'm not quite there yet, so I'm just going to be wearing baggy pants for the next few pounds.

I have a J&J band that was applied with the special tool that comes with it, and my incision is only 1.5". My surgeon gave me the box my band came in along with all of the surgical instructions. It states for the surgeon to make an incision at least 3cm for the port applier. My incision is a bit larger than that, but still no larger than what many have with the Allergan band.

The Johson & Johnson band isn't new ... just new to the U.S. It has been FDA approved for use in the US recently, but I don't think it is being used in the US until the beginning of 2008. It will be the same band that has been used in Mexico and Europe for many years, where it is marketed as the Swedish band. I had my surgery Oct. 22 and have the Johnson & Johnson band. I just had my first fill today, under flouroscopy. The placement is still fine, and I have not had any problems. I was really worried when I found out my only option was the Johnson & Johnson band because there was a shortage of Allergan bands in Mexico because of customs problems. But I feel really good about it now. It comes with a low-profile port, which I would not have gotten with the Allergan band.

Hey redfox, I was banded by Dr. Zapata too, on Oct. 22, so I was probably there the week after you! I just tried a little bit of shredded iceberg lettuce and salad dressing last night and did fine, so I had a chopped salad at lunch with a coworker today ... my first post-banded meal with anyone other than my husband! No problems, but that might change after a fill. I don't feel like I have any restriction right now.

I just started mushies phase, and I bought some cottage cheese. I'm not a huge fan. Any suggestions for some mix-ins that will still work for mushies?

The post-op diet has been fine, but I think my doctor is more lenient than most. I only had to be on liquids for one week. I'm in the mushies phase this week. Are you going to be banded soon FlaLMT?

I was just banded with it last week, because there were some shortages of Inamed bands in Mexico, where I was banded. I wasn't sure about switching bands, but now I'm glad ... my doctor won't do low-profile ports for the initial surgery for Inamed bands, but the J&J band comes with a low-profile port, so I got my wish!

Ok, I've figured out that cottage cheese just isn't for me. I tried salt and pepper ... no. Peanut butter ... sort of ok. Applesauce ... no. Rasberry spread ... no. I'm glad I tried though!

Thanks for the suggestions .... several things to try!

I've never liked sashimi as much but it might be worth a try. I've never really chewed on sashimi like I'll need to now that I'm banded though ... might be a little weird to chew, chew, chew on raw fish!

nhanson ... I'm with you on missing the sushi. I realized right after I was banded that I forgot to eat sushi on my farewell to food tour! I'm hoping I might be able to have some before my first fill. I'm guessing after I start with fills that the sticky rice is not going to go down!

Today is my first day on mushies, and ever since reading this thread I knew I wanted taco bell refried Beans on my first day. I had full liquids at work today because I didn't want to try anything new at work. Finally got home and and to wait for the computer tech guy to fix my computer. Finally my husband got home as the computer guy was finishing, I was out the door to Taco Bell! I get all the way back home and open my little tub of refried beans and find myself looking at some weird pototoes! I didn't even know Taco Bell had potatoes! My husband could see the meltdown coming, so he grabbed the crappy pototatoes and headed out the door to Taco Bell. I'm still waiting for him to get back. :frusty:

I have to make a correction to my previous post ... I don't want to cause any confusion for anyone about the type of bands! I said that my J&J band reminded me of the Inamed AP band because it has a smooth inner surface, but someone on another forum pointed out to me that the AP band does not have the smooth inner surface. Sorry about that! I'm glad to hear the others in the 22nd club are doing well! Midwife, I'm so sorry you had to wake up with a catheter though. I'll second that "blech!" I don't have a follow-up appointment since my doctor is in Mexico. I'll be seeing my fill doctor here in the U.S. in 5 weeks though, and she is banded herself. I kind of wish I did have a follow-up though. My soreness is still lessening every day, but last night I started to feel nauseated and my mouth started filling with lots of slobber all of a sudden. I only had liquids yesterday and some Jello that I actually chewed well about 30 minutes before the slobber session. Never in my life have I imagined myself chewing jello. Anyway, it wasn't the thick saliva that people describe when they are having a PB episode. Just copious amounts of run-of-the-mill saliva. It stopped after about 5 minutes, and I went to bed soon afterward. I woke up from a dead sleep at about 5:30 this morning and it was happening again, but much less. I drank some warm tea, which I hate, thinking that maybe that would soothe if I still have enough swelling that my small stomach opening is closing off and my own spit is building up. I'll call the doctor's office today so they can check with the doctor just in case.

Oops ... thanks for the correction Longhorn. I definitely don't want to be putting any incorrect info out there!