Jenny Hinson Dodson

Hey there everyone!!! Hope all you March Banders are doing well. I am getting closer and closer to my goal but with the rain that came into my area recently I am suffering so bad. All the sinus drainage is making me unable to keep much down. Anyone else dealing with this??? Any suggestions? I have tried fruit juice like orange and pineapple because I was told the acid would help break it down and warm coffee neither did much. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks, Jenny

Sorry about my rant yesterday I was so frustrated. I am enjoying losing weight but having a hard time with the consequences. I started taking biotin I hear that it really helps. We will see. I have just started with peanut butter as it goes down easier than I thought, I think this will be a new staple for me. The tilapia my husband made this week stayed down for the most part. I have a hard time with nuts because I eat too many and do not chew enough. It is such a learning process. Thanks for the input.

So I am officially losing weight were people are starting to see the difference and now I am falling apart. I think I am at the point where I need to kick my own but into learning not to wait until I am hungry to eat and eat smaller bites. I have the hardest time with this. I had to start taking biotin to help because I am not getting enough protein and my hair is falling out. Good thing I have tons of it. I feel better in my own body but seem to be feeling run down as I cant seem to get enough protein. Any suggestions for easy protein other than protein shakes?

I am definitely being able to tell a difference now that I have had my 2nd fill but it isn't what I thought it would be. Not to mention I actually started losing more weight when I wasn't eating just the healthy stuff. I think our bodies need some fat intake or it holds on to what we are putting in thinking it is not going to get more. Eating olives and avocados or using olive oil when cooking can help add fat. Sour cream, cheese, and such... I don't know what it is but I started eating regular foods again instead of restricting what I eat and I feel better and am losing. I cannot eat a lot of any thing so i am still staying low on calories and such I have found that pretty much all meat other than hamburger meat in sauce and such will not go down. My husband (who had lap-band 2 years ago) lived on tacos and tortilla chips for a while because they broke down easier for him. I cannot eat a taco to save my life. I got 1/2 of one down and felt like it was stuck. I am sure if I take smaller bites of anything it would be easier but I am still learning. My biggest battle is not waiting until I am starving to eat. This seems to be when I hurt myself the most. I get so hungry that I eat too fast and then it will not go down. It usually takes about 15-20 minutes to get down so I can continue to eat slower all the while I am still starving but now starving and in pain. Oh the learning process... lol even after 2 years my hubby still has a difficult time with eating small bites slow. Good luck to you...

lol I am so right there with you. I am not sure if they put anything in my band to begin with but I have already had 2 fills. The first one they put in 2cc's they tried to do another 2cc's last Wednesday but I didnt even get to the parking lot before I lost the water I had drank. I had to go back in and have them take some out. No fun at all. I am finding it difficult to find the right balance of food and remembering to eat slow small bites. This is what always gets me. I get too hungry and then eat too fast. I am starting to see the scale move now. I go back every 3 weeks for a fill so hopefully I will start to see a greater difference soon.

I am so in the same boat with you. I had my surgery also on 3/12 and have lost about 22 lbs. I have been so hungry the last week and am so ready for my next fill. My first fill on 4/2 they only did 2/5 cc's not really enough to do anything. The only difference I have seen is the inability to eat most meat and bread. Veggies have become my friend. I was thinking of trying the pre-op diet again for a few days until my next fill and asking them to go a little more on the fill this time. I am so ready to see something come of all of this. I am leaving for a trip to California in 5 weeks and would really like to see another 20 lbs gone. Crossing my fingers!!!

wow you had to wait along time for your first fill. I had my surgery March 12th, and first fill April 4th. I have noticed some difference but still seems to be only about 1 lbs a week lost. I have my second fill on the 24th too hopefully will see a bigger difference. One of the girls that I work with said she had to ask them to be more aggressive so that she could see the weight come off faster. Plus everyone I know that has done it says that the 2nd or 3rd fill is when you see a difference. Good Luck!!!

Thank you so much or the info on egg face so many great recipes!!!!

My scale moved and then I went out of town for the weekend and went to family for Easter yesterday and the scale moved the wrong way. I was so good and didnt even touch the desserts or items that I wasnt supposed to have. This is so not fair. I have my fill on Wednesday so we will see what happends then. I am ready to start seeing a change.

Has anyone had a fill yet. My doctor scheduled my first fill for the 3rd. I am ready to get started on banded life. I had the iband so they did fold in and sew my stomach to make it smaller I cant eat much but I am eating. I just want to be able to lose weight. I know the 3rd isnt far away but man this mushy stuff is for the birds. I am ready for some sort of regular food even if it is only a bite. Hope everyone is having a good day!!!

Ok so I am not losing weight which is so frustrating right now. I am on mushy foods not eating hardly anything. I havent gained any weight but not losing is making me just as crazy. I cant wait until the 3rd for my first fill. Anyone else going through this.

I had a little bit of this it felt like charley horses in my calfs which usually means dehydration. I drank water and stretched them and it got better.

I completely understand the mental hunger. I want to eat something so bad but my stomach says no way. I find as I am eating that i get to a point where the food feels like it doesnt want to go down (like it is stuck or going down the wrong way) I had the iband (so stomach is smaller) no fill yet. I am really looking forward to getting my first fill though so that I can start seeing more weight loss. I havent gained since the surgery on the 12th but havent really lost much either. I lost 10 before surgery and I have lost 8 since. Not too bad. I wish the hunger would subside though. When my stomach growls it actually hurts. Got to start mushies yesterday my doc is also letting me have canned tuna or chicken, soft cheese and soft eggs. I had an egg over easy yesterday it was amazing. Tuna salad today with fat free mayo was not bad either but tasted so salty. Anyone else have mushies that they are enjoying?

I am 4 days post op and have to say I am not hungry at all but keep having stomach pains. They feel like hunger pains but at the same time I feel full???? Not sure if I should eat or not. Any ideas?

I am 4 days post op and feeling much better although still very sore. Most of the bloating and gas are gone but not sure what is going on. It feels like hunger pains but I also feel full. They come on strong like stabbing pain and then go away. The Gas-X seems to help but not sure if it is gas or if I am not eating enough. Any one else gone through this???

Good Luck to you!

I am feeling so sore and full of air so bloated. How long does it take before this feeling is gone? Ready for anything but broth and jello. Lol I am so happy surgery is behind me!

I am getting so nervous. My surgery is tomorrow. Anyone else going in tomorrow??? I am so ready for this to be behind me. Hope everyone here is doing well!

Not really hungry but feel like I haven't had food in a month. I still keep having thoughts of I want a hamburger or Chinese and am like where did that come from... I have been drinking the Premiere protein shakes they really do not taste too bad at all. The SF Jello, pudding, and popsicles help with the sweets cravings. I just miss chewing my food. 5 days to go I know I can do this. I am just ready to be on the other side.

Day 5 of pre-op diet and I am feeling much better. I am not starving like I was yesterday. I am actually feeling like I can do this. Anyone else getting through the diet ok or is it a struggle. I cheated and ate a creamed based soup last night which I was told not to do but I only had 1 cup so I think it will be fine. I only work 3 days a week but they are 12 hour shifts. It seems that I have a harder time when I am at work rather than at home. Hope everyone is having a good Sunday.

I can only have protient drink (Premier) for 2 meals and soup for one meal SF Jello, pudding, or popsicles for 2 snacks a day. No juice, carbonated soda only SF drinks like water or tea. I am on day 4 and not as hungry as day 1 but not happy. the good thing on mine is that I can eat any soup for meal except cream based. So chicken noodle, chili, and such is ok as long as it is only 1 serving. If you ask me though the serving sizes are crazy. I hope it gets better soon. My husband was eating chicken nuggets last night and I wanted to kill him... lol not really. But they did smell amazing.

March 12th is my day!!! I am so excited!!! I start my liquid diet (Protein shakes for 2 meals and soup for one meal) on the 26th. I am a little nervous but have been through this in the past with my husband. He had lapband 2 years ago and has gone form 350 to 225. Yes he weighs less than me now. That is a hard pill to swallow. The good news is I sort of understand what I am getting myself into the bad news is I sort of already know what I am getting myself into... lol I have seen him go through it all and it didnt look too fun in the beginning. I will say he says he wouldnt change a thing and it was the best decision he has ever made. I cant wait to lose some of this weight and have more energy. I hear that guys lose it faster so I hope I dont get discouraged. I look forward to keeping up with everyone here.