Medge

The Portobello Ravioli (Ravioli de Portibello is the name I think) is superb!!! and squishy and easily cut into small pieces without making a fuss.

So hair loss can be attributed to lack of protein? I thought I was getting plenty of protein but this past weekend I was pulling hair out by the handfuls. It has slowed down now but it was rather disconcerting. :-( I have a second fill next Wednesday so I was just going to mention it then but if I need to do something about it earlier I guess I should call the office. Suggestions?

I'm glad I'm not the only one that has mourned the loss of a huge mexican food platter with lots of chips and salsa. :-( I'm a food addict as well and it is so obvious to me now how much I let food control my life. I haven't been banded very long and just got my first fill this week. I'm still trying to figure out my new relationship with food but feel at least little more control over it now than before the band.

<p><p>Hehe...I did that to my parents once too Hazel...:-) Ask my Mom at church one day, I'm sure she'd love to tell that story :-P

Hey Hazel - Yes, the fill was interesting. I kind of expected more restriction but then remember I'm only on liquids so there's not much to "restrict"...hehe. I thought I'd at least be tight this morning though and nope...nothing. So...just a side note and I'm gonna call it a NSV...hehe...sex with hubby is so much better without my big lower belly getting in the way. :-D He's lost his belly too since he's going to the gym with me...hehe. He'd absolutely die if he knew I was telling bedroom stories to ya'll. HAZELBUNNY...make sure you don't say anything if/when you meet him on Saturday. :-P

Had my first fill today...how weird is it to watch what you're drinking go down on the xray machine. It was neat to see how the band worked. Hopefully my weightloss will start up again now. I've been good about still working out at least 3 times a week and doing my water aerobics, but have been making myself keep a positive attitude even though I haven't lost any weight in the last 2-3 weeks.

Exercise is going well. Still doing water aerobics 3 times a week. I usually walk for 30-60 minutes afterwards. I started doing weight machines with the hubby tonight too. I don't think I'll be walking tomorrow. :-P I have my first fill next Wednesday...so hopefully the weight will start coming off again. :-D

Man Michelle that does sound like a crappy day. Sorry to hear it all fell on you at once..I'd be a little "negative" myself. I hope things get better for you soon and as for the weight loss...don't forget that muscle weighs more than fat, so all your working out is probably building muscle, which is good because then the muscle will work for you even if you're not working out because it will burn calories while you're just sitting around while the fat just sits there with you. :-)

Non-Scale Victory..!! I just put on some jeans I hadn't been able to wear in almost a year. They're size 28 (which I know is still really big) but it's better than the size 30+ and elastics I have been stuck with lately.

Nikki - I'm here with ya' chica. Bandster Hell Buddies!! I haven't "declared" my exercise intentions, but am kind of doing the challenge. I have challenged myself to attend at least 2 Water aerobics a week and a third if I'm lucky. I am also trying to do walking at least 4 days a week. :-) If I can just get these stupid blisters that developed on my feet from last weeks walking under control, I could do even more walking. :-( They hurt. I put mole skin on them tonight but they still started hurting at about 30 minutes. :-( I called for my fill appointment and I'm scheduled for May 23rd. My birthday is the 26th so I thought it was a nice bday present. :-) What's funny is I'm going home to see my parents that weekend and several of my friends are coming over for "hamburgers and hot dogs"...is what my Mom told people. Great..I'll be eating......??? hmm..I'll probably treat myself to ice cream. :-)

Happy May my fellow Marchies. April was a rough month, but May is going to continue to be tough for me since they won't do my first fill till the end of the month. I'm trying to keep upbeat attitude and have put the scale back in the closet for now. I can't face the fact I'm gaining again. I know it's muscle because I've been working out, and I'm not eating more than I should...it's just annoying!!!! Anyways, I love following everyone elses progress and knowing I'll be there in less than a month. Come on fill...come on!!! Afrykanvyolet - you're gonna love Water aerobics. I've really enjoyed it and even got up early enough on Saturday to go do it before going camping with the hubby and inlaws. Catch ya' later guys..have a great day. Medge

Hehe...smoked brisket...sounds wonderful. Pack me up some and mail it down to Texas please. :-P I'm going camping with the in-laws this weekend. I'm nervous about it because we're kind of on their food territory. I haven't had a hamburger yet and am nervous about having a hairball episode. Might just have to eat the patty. Luckily they all know about the surgery and have been very supportive so shouldn't be too much of an issue. I have to share this with you guys,...I had a very funny moment yesterday. Since you're like family, I feel comfortable telling it. So I was sitting on the toilet and use to when I sat there I couldn't see my lower belly over my upper belly fat roll. So yesterday I'm sitting there and I look down at my scars, like I normally do, and OMG..there's my lower belly. I can see right over the top belly!!! LOL I know this is a stupid story but I was so tickled over it, I had to share. Hope you all have a great weekend. :-)

Cat hairball is exactly how I would describe it. I feel the food get stuck...there is a tightness in the chest and almost a lower esophogus gagging if that makes sense. I've had time each time to get to a bathroom and then just sit there and wait for it to happen. :-( Usually 5-10 minutes and it's over. I'm like OHjuli though, I don't want to eat anymore and might never return to the food that made me do it even if it wasn't the food but the spped and size of the bite.

Tammyj - I've heard as we lose weight our hormones will change too. I.E. women who haven't been able to get pregnant can suddenly do so. Maybe the rapid weight loss has affected your hormones and the eating is a result of that. We're all gonna fall off that "good eating" wagon sometime but like you said, thank goodness for the band because it will only let you fall a short way..it's like the safty harness. You'll get back into it. You had some much discipline even before your surgery, I have no doubt you'll bounce right back. And speaking of snacking (cheetos/doritos/chocolate) I have a question about drinking. I've been really good at not drinking 30 minutes before or an hour after a meal, but forget during the day when I have little Snacks, i.e. piece of cheese. If I were to not drinking before and after the little snacks or my mid-meals (doctor suggested more small meals to help with hungry before my first fill) then that leaves very little time to drink the Water I need. Do you guys stop/start drinking everytime you put ANYTHING in your mouth? I'll have like 10 goldfish crackers for a snack and so wonder if I need to stop drinking before and after something even that small?

I was nervous about the swimsuit thing too but I checked out the class on Saturday...hehe..looking through the window and it was all older larger ladies. I'll probably still wear a shirt though. The pool at this club is only 4.7 feet deep at it's "deep" end, and they keep the water at 82 degrees constantly.

Joined a gym last week and walked 2 miles on saturday and 2 miles today. I totally shocked myself and my husband with this since it's been years since I've been able to walk more than 10 minutes without have back pain. I was totally stoked by this and it was so exciting I went out and bought new walking shoes and a new headphone set to wear while I watch tv on the treadmill at the gym. :-) I have my life time first water aerobics class tomorrow. I'm really nervous...hehe. I've heard it's alot harder than people think. I'm still waiting on a fill and currently feel like I wouldn't even know I had the surgery if I didn't have the scars. Always hungry but I know if I had more protein this wouldn't be such a problem. I'm surviving...I had to stop getting on the scales because they've started climbing again. I've gained back 3 of the 20lbs I lost after surgery. Come on fill date!!! Something interesting I've had to start learning is how to order food. Use to I knew exactly what and how much I wanted when I pulled into a drive through. Now I have to really think about it and alot of times it's trial and error. Today I stopped at Sonic on my way to a meeting and I planned on ordering the popcorn chicken bites. For some reason I ended up ording mozzarella sticks too. :-( Ended up eating 1/2 the chicken bites and 1/2 of ONE cheese stick. Threw the rest away. Gonna be expensive learning what I can and can't...do and don't...want. Anyways, just my thoughts on the day. :-) I love reading this forum and love all you guys. March on Marchies!!

I have the belly numbness but I also have numbness down my hips on the outside area. It goes about 1/2 down my thigh. Anyone else have this? Sometimes it's itchy and sometimes it kind of aches, but to the touch it's aways numb.

Ooh Nikki, I thought I had it bad with having to wait 8 weeks and being told the Dr. refuses to budge on this....90 days seems so long. I feel for you girl. I'm hungry all the time too and just know I'll be gaining some of what I've already lost back while I wait for the end of May to get here. :-(

Yeah, I'm in the same spot you guys are. I was banded on 3/30 and now I'm hungry all the time. I over ate at the movies on Saturday so I went back to liquid/mush yesterday and felt ok, but by the evening I was growling. Today I am trying to hard to be good at work, but again...the stomach just won't stop talking to me. :-( I'm not suppose to have a fill till May 25th and I just don't see how I'm going to make it. So much hate for an appetite..!! Someone suggested coming to the boards when they are tempted to cheat...I actually do that and it works really well. I need to start the walking thing, I think that will help too. It's so nice to have this awesome group to come and cry with. :-( I've been really snippy at my husband lately too and feel bad for that...but just had to remind him when he would "bite back"..I'm also going through an addiction withdrawl. This is hard. He agreed he hadn't thought of that and agreed to be more sensitive and understanding. I can't wait till this part is over and I've made it over this hump in the journey.

Oh man, that stinks Tammy. Sorry to hear of the mix up and yeah, I'd be disappointed and a little peeved that they didn't catch it ahead of time too. :-( Better luck next time.

I'm only a week out tomorrow but I'm still having some gas pain. It is only on my left shoulder side though. When it happens it causes pain all over my shoulder and radiates up my neck some...it also makes my fingers go numb. It also makes it hard to breathe. If I lay down or tilt myself back in a chair some it gets better. Does this sound at all normal? Again, it's only on that side. I'm used hot pad on it and massaged it but it's driving me nuts and really hurts. Suggestions?

Yeah, I've finally started feeling hungry and find that popcicles are great for that...as well as protein drinks. I'm suppose to be on liquids first 2 weeks and then move to mushies but I'm not going to make it...I can already tell. I'll probably stay on liquids rest of this week and then move to mushies this weekend and for next week. That's my personal plan at least...lol...shhh, don't tell my doctor. I've just really decided with all the different rules everyone has that alot of them are more like guidelines and if you are in tune with your body and listen to it, and be smart about your decisions, should be okay. If I have a mushy meal and it doesn't feel right I'll go back to liquids for another week. Anyways, that's just my personal opinion and I don't recommend it to anyone else, it's just what I am doing.

Well, the up side of not being able to eat it all at your outing was now you can have it again as left overs. I wanted some cereal so bad this morning, hubby was eating it, but I sat with my protein shake and was a good girl. I've been coughing alot, getting crap up out of my lungs and of course when I have phlem in my throat I gag so I'm a little paranoid I'm going to slip my band, but I can't help the gagging...it just happens. I hope all this crap gets out of lungs soon....oh and I remember someone mentioned diarrehea (sp?)...so how long is that lovely experience going to last? Started this morning and really hoping it's not too long cause it's WAY annoying.

Anyone know if the magic bullet cups are microwave safe? I don't see anything written on them about it and can't find my paperwork that came with it. Would be nice to be able to puree soups and then just microwave when I got to work.

Ok, I've survived the first few days now and things are finally looking up. I was banded on th 30th and was seriously regretting that decision that night and the 31st...BUT, I finally stopped hurting when I stopped taking the Lortab(vicodine). Mom said she thinks I might be allergic since when she takes it it makes her entire insides hurts. When I switched to just taking that Tylenol, things got much better for me. I actually slept most of the night last night. I've been doing Liptons Diet Green Tea berry flavor and Jello cups. I had my first whey Protein shake this morning and am looking forward to moving into other foods. I was hurting a little this morning and realized it was hunger pains. It was weird not being able to immediately recognize I was hungry. I'm still dealing with coughing up crap that was in my chest, coughing is no fun, but I guess it's something that can't be avoided...have to get the gunk out. Anyhow, thanks for the support when I was whining a few days ago and I'll be in touch.