ADJL

Congratulations! I'd say that you recognizing your smaller size is a bit of a victory. Like Jim said...it takes awhile for our brain to catch up. I'm fairly new, but I put on a pair of capris that have been too tight for years the other day completely prepared to take them off because I'd have trouble breathing. i wore them all day with no issues. Its such a good feeling!

I'm 6 weeks post op and I still have those fears even though I'm down 21 pounds! Those are the head games that come with being overweight and struggling to lose it for many many years. I think about my goal weight and laugh...it sounds ridiculous to me that I am going to lose 135 pounds total. So instead I focus on my next 10 pounds and shorter term goals. That will see me through. As for you...You are going to do GREAT! You sound like you are prepared...you already are part of a support network...so maybe now its time to rely on us and give us a chance to cheer for you! Good luck!

Bad lab results and looking at my young children and thinking I could be really sick or die before they grew up.

Yay! Great job. I love success posts...keep me motivated and inspired.

I love the idea of new clothes! I've got boxes of smaller sizes I can't wait to get into. For major milestones I might choose a bigger reward, but otherwise I post it and reap the good jobs, and atta girl comments and feel pleased as punch.

I love progress pics! So inspiring! Great job!

Thanks for all the good advice. I do think a lot of it is head hunger...not actual hunger. I'm going to dedicate myself to a no eating past 8 rule, but I can have some tea or Water if I'm feeling unsatisfied. I also need to go to bed earlier...even if its just to read so I'm out and away from the kitchen. Anytime, Connie. This support network has been so great!

I'm 3.5 weeks post surgery and do great during the day with food and choices, but I'm having trouble at night. I get hungry around 8pm and it's like a snack just doesn't do it. I'm overeating and end up feeling stuffed/sick right before bed. I don't get my first fill until June 7 so right now I don't really have restrictions. I'm afraid I'm going to start gaining and know this is key to getting under control if I am going to succeed with this lapband. I should also mention I'm a type 2diabetic so a pre-bed snack s recommended right now for my blood sugars... Any suggestions? Tricks? Motivation?

Yes! But I'm right at the same stage as you. I saw my doc last week and he said its normal to be able to eat more pre first fill. He didn't seem too concerned...just reminded me that this is my chance to learn to eat right and to remember that my body is still healing. I also talked to my nutritionist who said if I need to eat 2oz meat every 2hours then to do it. As long as I'm getting in the 60 grams of Protein... Don't be too hard on yourself. I don't see this as failure, but part of the learning process.

I'm surprised you can only have 1protein shake...can you add protein powder to your soups? That will help a little with the hunger...? I know how you feel. I quit liquids after 9 days because I was starving and moved myself to mushies, but I'll echo the other posters that if you follow your post op diet your body will start to figure it out and the hunger will be tolerable.

GREAT suggestion. I'm 3.5 weeks out and found myself stuck and hungry one day. I chose to starve until I got home...why didn't I think of a 7-11 or grocery store!! **duh!** This whole changing your mindset takes awhile. @sweetpea...chicken AND chili is probably too much. Eat just some chicken...you'll be happier for it in the long run.

So true! You start looking like a different person! Great job. Thanks for sharing! It's stories like your that inspire!

I'm 2.5 weeks post op lapband. On day 3 post op I had a horrific dry heave episode where I was literally vomiting the gas and air out of my stomach...lasted 4 hours. Doc tells me to walk and take gas x and use a heating pad...same advice I got here.... Well, it's not stopping. I've dry heaved air and bubbles every other day. Never food. It's only air. And its happened daily for the last 4days. Doc is mystified...can't figure out what is going on. I'm scheduled for tests next Friday, but can't imagine another week of this. It starts with severe pain building in my left chest and under my shoulder blades. When I feel that I know what's happening so I stop eating because the nausea sets in. This is usually around 2-3pm. Between 6-8 pm I will start vomiting. Lasts usually 30 minutes or so because I know how to get it over with now. And then my body is exhausted. I'm barely eating...not getting enough calories or Protein, but I literally cannot eat after noon because I'm daily sick to my stomach. By the next morning I'm feeling just fine. And then that afternoon it starts again. Has anyone had this experience...? I've walked and walked. I'm asking gas x. I have heating pads and hot baths. None of it is working. I'm thinking maybe the Vitamins may be causing it? I don't want this to be the new norm for me. I'm miserable right now and frustrated that my doctor has no clue how to help me...I'm desperate for any advice or wisdom!

So just in case anyone ever has this same issue...it's the Vitamins. I quit them all and dairy four days ago...no more pain and no more vomitting. I added dairy back in (small amount) today and I'm still fine. I see a nutritionist tomorrow so I'll be figuring out a good way to eat my vitamins in my food choices.

Thanks for the update, Charles. I've got 3weeks until my first fill, but I wish it was sooner. I have zero restriction right now and can eat whatever...whenever. I suppose the good news is that I don't think about food as much these days so I'm still losing, but it's definitely slowed since the initial big losses.

You look fantastic and I love your dress!

Awesome! Looking great!

Thankyou! I actually do have an anti nausea prescription and it does not affect this. I am not taking any pain killers, I was thinking maybe I've "suddenly" become lactose sensitive? I've never had this problem before, but I'm putting together a "try this" list and no dairy is one item on there for me to try including no Vitamins. Doc says there was maybe 4ml in band at the time of the surgery so I don't think it's that either. I am currently taking B12 and a children's chewable...multivitamins also make my stomach hurt which is why we went with a children's but maybe that's too much also? It just doesn't make sense with the vomiting air thing though...I've never had that side effect from vitamins... <sigh>

I actually started to feel sick around 2pm yesterday so no...i havent been eating hardly at all...maybe 1/4 cup of Protein shake...I'll be getting GasX today to see if that helps. I dry heaved for 4hours last night...finally it stopped around midnight. I can't stop the heaves...I tried, but they are coming up regardless. I'm going to call doc today too. I feel great this morning, but anything I can do to prevent a night like last night again I'll do!

Question! I have had the worst time with air bubbles. I've been vomiting air all day...not burping, like actually vomiting. I just got banded last Wednesday and I'm worried the retching is going to hurt something. Anyone else experienced this? I've been walking and trying to get it out, but it's not helping....this is the worst!

Good luck! It will go great!

This is the best thread. I can do cream soups and these are the best ideas. I was lamenting my boring old cream of chicken.

Well, I've been coming here for months pre-op to find answers and inspiration and as of 4/24/13 I got my band placed and today decided I needed to stop lurking and get more involved to help insure success! 5days post-op and the terrible stomach gas pains are finally mostly gone. I'm still getting used to the weird chest constriction feeling that happens randomly and every time I eat. I'm still on a full liquid diet until May 16th...that feels like forever, but I know it's a drop in the bucket of healthy years I'll have in my life if I can do this. I actually heated up a piece of homemade pizza today thinking if I took small bites... Then I jumped on here and kicked myself after reading encouragement for others struggling with solids too soon. I heated up my cream of chicken and feel much better about that choice! So many new habits to learn... Looking forward to more interaction and making friends!