BringingSexyBackToTX

WOW WOW WOW!!! I haven't been on this Forum in weeks (maybe close to 2 months) and I am so glad to check back in. It seems that everyone that was banded around the time I was banded (07/17) is doing incredibly well. I have really not been doing the plan (or exercising) and I haven't lost any weight. I own all of it - and I own the silly though that maybe just by having the surgery it (weight loss) would just "happen". Silly, I know... but I thought after having done something so "extreme" and paying $10,000 cash that it "should" just happen, right? Of course, not, but I think that is what I was thinking. I have had three fills for a current total of 5.7 cc's in a 10 cc band (the surgeon started me with 4 cc's). I'm still not in the "Green Zone" yet but I know that I haven't been counting my calories at all and I don't eat until maybe around 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. I can list all the things I'm NOT doing and I know all the things that I MUST do in order to be successful - but I haven't. I went back to the TR nutritionist (who I originally saw and liked a lot - pre-op) and she gave me a great pep talk. I have about 40 pounds to lose and I just need a recharge/rewire to embrace this new tool that I've gone through great trouble to get. SO.... I just want to congratulate all of you July Bandsters who are doing SO well! You all are the encouragement that I needed to read tonight. I am so happy for all of you and I hope that I can celebrate the same great milestones with you all soon. I'm back on track today!

Banded = July 17th (during Op, surgeon put 4ccs in my Band) First Fill = August 19th (added an additional 1 cc for a total of 5 ccs in my Band) I'm confused. What is the goal? Is it that we are to eat three meals per day (a meal being 1/2 cup to 1 cup of food AND no snacking), be "satisfied" (not full) with each of these meals, and that we are to not be hungry again for about four hours? I have seen a few people post about "restriction" but I'm not sure what that is and if it is a goal? I thought that restriction was just a sign that we ate too much and we've overloaded our new smaller stoma. Thanks for any insight!

Any pointers for taking my medications (both pills and capsules) - I purchased a "pill crusher" from the drugstore and I've been crushing them and putting them in sugar-free applesauce - but honestly, it tastes ick and I can't seem to get the pills completely pulverized to dust. Thanks!

I've seen a few people mention on this forum about "Protein shots". What is a "protein shot"? Who makes them? Where do you buy them? I'm not getting in enough protein during the day - so the idea of these (if it is what I think it is) sounds like a great idea. Thanks.

Super helpful! Thank you, Mis73!!!

Very cool! Oh but I was only Banded on July 17th - so I'm only 7 weeks out. I'm in Houston and was Banded by Dr. Hollis (TR). I live inside the loop. Where are you?

GuyMontag: At first when I read your response, I admit that I thought you were being a bit flippant BUT I went ahead and tried to take my pills as I would pre-Op (the capsule were the ones that I was most worried about) and lo and behold - you were right! What a HUGE relief it is - I really hated having to ground them all and then take them in loose powder form. I am breaking the larger ones in half (or even quarters, just if I'm being super cautious) but I don't know if I even really have to go that far. Thanks for the insight!

Two things work great for me: (1) Blend in one heaping tablespoons of ground Flaxseed in your breakfast protein shake. [i buy a big bag at Costco, cheap.] AND (2) I take one probiotic capsule at bedtime. [i also buy these at Costco - the Philip's brand.] I do BOTH of these every day and it keeps my BMs healthy and predictable (as in, no diarrhea, no surprises, or anything.) Works like a charm!

I went in for my first fill post-Op (07/17) today and much to my (and the PA's) surprise, the surgeon put 4 cc's in my Band during surgery. Apparently, that's a lot! The PA was surprised that he went that aggressive with my fill during surgery since I have about 40-45 pounds to lose in order to reach my goal weight. This info was not only surprising, but also disappointing in that I should've lost so much more weight if it really is almost half way filled with saline! I have been hungry the last couple of weeks but was still satisfied with less food - but not the 1/2 cup they propose we should be full on, satisfied with every 4 hours. Also admittedly, I haven't been counting my calories (because I thought that the first 6 weeks were for healing and not weight loss since the Band wasn't full - or so I thought) but apparently that was a bad train of thought. Where I go (True Results) for my fills, they do the fluoroscope to determine how my Band is doing - which I'm grateful for them doing this extra step - and she said my Band was doing well and that the swelling was down enough that the Band was now in a good place but did let too much through for weight loss. Well, after learning this disappointing news, she put in 1 cc (she was going to put in 1/2 cc to 1 cc in, but I told her I didn't want to wait a month to see if I can start to loose weight now) and that is now followed by 2-3 days of a liquid diet and then I see how (or if) the new restriction is where it needs to be. I go back in a month for another check-up and maybe an adjustment. What is the "normal" fill amount for weight loss to be in the "green zone"?

I went in for my first fill post-Op (07/17) today and much to my (and the PA's) surprise, the surgeon put 4 cc's in my Band during surgery. Apparently, that's a lot! The PA was surprised that he went that aggressive with my fill during surgery since I have about 40-45 pounds to lose in order to reach my goal weight. This info was not only surprising, but also disappointing in that I should've lost so much more weight if it really is almost half way filled with saline! I have been hungry the last couple of weeks but was still satisfied with less food - but not the 1/2 cup they propose we should be full on, satisfied with every 4 hours. I also haven't been counting my calories (because I thought that the first 6 weeks were for healing and not weight loss since the Band wasn't full - or so I thought) but apparently that was a dumb train of thought. Where I go (True Results) for my fills, they do the fluoroscope to determine how my Band is doing - which I'm grateful for them doing this extra step - and she said my Band was doing well and that the swelling was down enough that the Band was now in a good place but did let too much through for weight loss. Well, after learning this disappointing news, she put in 1 cc (she was going to put in 1/2 cc to 1 cc in, but I told her I didn't want to wait a month to see if I can start to loose weight now) and that is now followed by 2-3 days of a liquid diet and then I see how (or if) the new restriction is where it needs to be. I go back in a month for another adjustment.

I'm glad I read these posts. I was Banded (3+ weeks ago - on July 17th) and feel great, but I am starting to get hungry and I am not feeling satisfied as fast as I was since the surgery. I haven't weighed myself in weeks because I had read here how many people were frustrated post-op/pre-1st fill that I decided to not get frustrated this early on as I was already in a weird post-op place. I have now had 2 "stuck" moments that were not fun but I was really relieved to know that I didn't panic like I thought I would - for some reason, I thought that if you had a stuck episode that you couldn't breath and that freaked me out. You can breathe but it is still really damn awful to have to deal with and figure out how to help it pass quickly. Both times it was because I ate too much/too fast - like a normal pre-op bite. It was miserable and not something I want to repeat but at least it was panic attack inducing which is what I thought would happen. Now my nerves are what to expect post-my first fill. I go on Tuesday morning for my first post-op appointment and then go to the other location for my first post-op fill. I hope that it isn't as miserable as some people had reported - but then again some people seem to report that once they get their first fill that weight really starts to come off (which is what were are all here for!) and that it isn't that miserable. Here's hoping! Thanks for everyone sharing their stories - this forum has brought me so much peace of mind and knowledge.

I was told no more carbonated beverages post-op. (Actually, they had us stop drinking them pre-op to start the pain of getting over them.) I used to ONLY drink carbonated water (no cokes, but no still water either) and I miss that. My friend (who is banded 3 years) drinks Red Bulls now after 2 years being off of carbonated drinks and she doesn't have any problem with them. Anyway - so far, no carbonated drinks and whatever... I guess it is just part of the "new normal".

My nutritionist (who was banded years ago) said that I should get a baby spoon/fork, take a small baby bite, put my fork down, chew chew chew, swollow, then repeat. She said a half a cup should take 20-30 minutes. Bite, chew (30 seconds), rest (30 seconds) = 1 minute. 20 bites = 20 minutes. 30 bites = 30 minutes. I haven't had my first fill yet - but from what it sounds like, I'm NOT looking forward to this learning curve.

Yes - many of us have either constipation or diarrhea post-op. It took 4 days post-op for me to have a BM. Go to the other posts about this - but I am 2 weeks post-op and started adding a heaping tablespoon of ground Flax Seed (you can buy it at Whole Foods and/or Costco) to my daily Protein shakes. They add no flavor to the shakes but they do make you regular and it is soft. It gets better.... hang in there.

As of tomorrow, it will have been 2 weeks since I was Banded. I'm on "mushies" now and wasn't having regular BMs. From what sounds like is common, it took me 4 days post-op to have my first BM. Some people complain about diarrhea and others complain about constipation. Granted, post-op we are on liquids and/or "mushies" which don't give you much to 'output' anyway. And everyone knows that being "regular" is healthy and helps with the weight loss. Anyway... yesterday, I added a heaping tablespoon of ground Flax Seed (I purchased a bag from Costco) into my Protein shake ('Gladiator' protein in Almond Milk) and this morning I had a "normal, healthy" BM - like before I had the Band! WOOHOO!!! I am going to keep putting this in my shakes. Just thought I'd share in case it helps anyone else out whose having this problem.

We must've had it on the same date (17th). I still have a swollen lump on my port site which look ugly but it has reduced a lot since surgery. As of the last two days' date=' the pain has reduced a lot and I only notice it once in a while when I move a certain way and/or lay down weird on it. I exercised today for the first time since surgery [i walked 3 miles today (slower than normal - maybe a 15 minute mile)'] and didn't notice it at all. I'm really ready for the weird lump to go away and I do not like being able to feel the port under there. Makes me think of the movie "Alien".

I miss the "regular" days. I realize we aren't eating as much (and/or just liquid) but I miss the good, healthy regularity... SO today I added a heaping tablespoon of ground Flax seed to my protein shake (that I blend with only Almond Milk in a Magic Bullet) and I'm hoping that doing this in every protein shake will quickly get me back to a healthy regular. Fingers crossed!

I was Banded on the 17th and I can't eat "anything" but I also don't "feel" like I've been banded most of the time - only reminded when I accidentally (and out of habit) forget to chew up everything a LOT. The one thing I have noticed is that I do feel "full" faster and if I allow myself to notice/recognize that - I just don't eat anymore more because I'm satisfied. Even when I'm at a table with friends (all un-Banded - and only one knew I had the surgery) and we are talking, drinking wine and such... even a friend commented "Aren't you hungry? You've barely touched anything?" Which once I realized it - I didn't even notice... but now I'm more aware. I'm SUPER thrilled about that part. I go for my first fill on the 13th.

I was Banded on the 17th and I found myself a little down too. I really handled the surgery well and had very little trouble post-surgery (knock on wood!) but when I tried to go back to my office last week I was surprised at how tired I got - even though I was doing fine to great while I was at home. I also started to get down and I think it was just a "What have I done?" and "This is going to change my life!" moments. But I get happy when I see the scale going down and see a change in my body. On Saturday, I put on a pair of cute pants and I (and my boyfriend) could already see a difference - I looked great in them! And I just started this process... that's exciting! Also, I went to see my friend who is a therapist and just talking it out has helped. Hang in there... it gets better.

Does anyone know why they tell you not to drink with your meal and instead tell you to drink 30 minutes after your meal? That is going to be a challenge as I'm so used to drinking water or iced tea in conjunction with eating my meals. Since I've always done that - its going to be hard to retrain my brain around that. Is there a medical reason for it?