Brandy

My Doc says to chew well and eat slowly, but not to take longer than 20 minutes to finish your meal. Guess, that's so you don't graze. I don't take that much time, except when eating out, anyway.

Hi everyone! Just checking in from Vegas. DH is in the shower getting ready for the day and I thought I'd see how everyone was doing. As to cards, I checked before I traveled here, buffets you know, and my Dr doesn't have any cards, so I was out of luck. Ate at a buffet last night, and although expensive, I did fine. Had a little turkey, a little chicken, mashed potatoes, a bite of a roll with a smidgen of butter, and then I was full. Not bad! And due to the time difference for us on the day we got here, that was at 3:15 p.m. LV time. Didn't eat again the rest of the day and got to bed early around 11:30. Shake this morning and I'm good to lunch time. So, I think there won't be any problems here.... I'm feeling quite a bit restriction after the first fill now, although I did not for the first couple of days. Never have had any problems that others have reported, just get a tightness in the upper, center chest, so know it is time to stop. I'm supposed to go back in three weeks for 2nd, but I don't know that we will really want to add anything. Still eating 500 to 900 caloies a day and don't know if one really should be eating less than that. What do you think? So, might have him only add a smidgen if he thinks he should or just wait another month and see how it goes. Lost 3.5 pounds last week and none this one, but think that was mostly due to Flo. She didn't use to come every month or stay more than 3 days when she did visit, but this month it was 7 full days.....houseguests should know when they should leave, don't you think? ) Take care and I'll try not to lose all my money....

Welcome, Lisa! Glad you have joined us! Sounds like you are doing absolutely great!

My port sticks out as well. It's funny, it's above my scar when standing, but when I lay down it's under the scar, so that's where he went in for the fill, so I have a small needle prick spot there....

Welcome back! I don't know everybody, either, but feel like I do, from reading their stories. I don't know if there is a list, but there's seems to be a whole bunch of us! Congratulations on your success!

Well solids are nice! I had canadian bacon and one piece of low cal wheat toast for b'fast, a salad with one and a half chicken tenders cut up on it for lunch. Then for dinner 4 oz of ribeye grilled to perfection by my DH and a small salad. Delicious. And even with a snack, calories were lower than before and I feel full. Can't really tell that there has been any difference since the feel, but I'm feeling comfortable, so that is all that counts, right?!!!

Peaches, Hi there! Looks like you and I are about the same weight. I started the pre-op diet at 209.5, but my highest weight a number of years back was 246. It is so exciting going down in sizes and going back through the old clothes, isn't it?

Well I got my first fill today and DH decided he wanted to meet me at the dr's office. So he came in and weighed himself too and he didn't like the doc's scale any better than I do....LOL! Dr came in and looked at my diet records and talked to me and then asked me if I really needed a fill. I said perhaps not, but I wanted one. He thought I was doing well without, but wanted to know if I was feeling hungry. I said that I was at times, but I was eating three meals and not snacking, etc., and although I wanted more, I wasn't really feeling hungry. Anyway, DH stayed in the room until the Dr started to get the needle ready and I told him he better leave. He doesn't like needles or anything with blood, etc. Then I took one look at the needle and joked that perhaps I shouldn't have seen it either. He laughed and said it's just long. Well he had me lay on my back and straighten my legs and then lift them slightly, a few inches, to tighten my stomach muscles. And I only felt the very tiniest of pricks. Couldn't believe how small. I give blood at work often, so expected it would feel like that, but this was nothing. I have the new band and he said it probably had 1.5 to 2.0 in it originally and he added 2 cc's. He told me he recommends liquids on fill days, but then I could move to solids. I had told him that although I had tried to stay with mushies, I was actually having a shake for b'fast, minced deli meat for lunch, and grilled chicken or eggs or potatoes for dinner. I'm pleased to move to solids, cause his diet actually calls for softs for the first 16 weeks.... DH was sitting outside and wanted to go to lunch and we were half way there, before I remembered and said I'm supposed to be on liquids today. But, then I thought if I could get a soft enough baked potato, that would be close enough. Had the best, soupiest baked potato in he world, but also ate a few bites of one of his chicken fingers. Very good! Now, tonight I'm hungry, because all I had was a shake. Definitely going to lose another pound by morning. Dr said 2 pounds per week is perfect. I go back for my next fill in four weeks. Have to say, I don't feel any more restriction yet, but I'll be able to tell more tomorrow with solid food, I'm sure. Congratulations to everyone else on your successes!

Thanks, Chimboree! I'm pretty excited about it myself!

Hi everyone! Lynette, Great news about Hunter's evaluation. I know this put your mind at ease. And I'm sure he'll do great in preschool. All, I've got my first fill tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it and the weigh in, although I don't like his scale compared to mine at home, but it's all relative. I wonder if he'll think I've accomplished as much as I do. I feel like I've done really well, losing 26 lbs in 53 days. I am supposed to be still on mushies, but I've been eating mainly soft foods, but feeling guilty. Although, I've kept the calories very restrictive, I still feel like I've been cheating. I'm anxious to see what the band restriction feels like and how it impacts my appetite!

Hi all! Just online catching up on what I've missed as I didn't get to get completely caught up last night. I'm surprised that some people in July are already up to their 2nd fill. My first is this Friday and that's only because I moved it up from next Thursday, since I'm Vegas bound on Friday and don't want to be flying out if there are problems! I hope there won't be any. Still doing okay maintaining control on my own, but I have been more hungry the last few days, but of course, Flo is on her way this coming week, so maybe that's the problem. I keep losing slowly, but I can't complain. I'm really going through the clothes now and getting so many complements at work! And I haven't had any problem with burping, other than some very soft ones in the a.m. after my breakfast shake. I'm real curious how things will feel after Friday....

Sunny, So sorry to hear of your loss. I have cats and have had to put two of them to sleep in the past five years and they had been with me for over 13 years. It is so sad, as these are my babies. Lynette, Sorry about the challenges facing Hunter. Never heard of such a thing as this kind of testing. Agree with whoever said that we've become way too competitive, too soon!

I didn't realize that when you update your ticker, it goes back and updates all of your earlier posts. Cool!

Hi everyone, just realized I forgot to update my ticker, thought I'd already done it. Was thrilled that I lost another 1 1/2 pounds. I'd been stuck at the same weight for awhile there. My fill is this coming Friday. I have never swallowed anything that made me hurt or feel the panicked feeling that some have described. I also haven't had any PB's. I've felt a little tightness, but realized I had lapsed into eating too quickly. But other than that no problems. I've eaten out successfully a number of times, and the only bad thing is that I'm probably eating too many mashed or baked potatoes, because of my limited diet. But, still seems to be working well. I should still be on mushies, but have eaten a lot of meats, etc., just making sure I chew properly. Seems to be okay. Should officially move to soft foods this week anyway. Went to Red Lobster on Friday and ate a biscuit, just one, and it was delicious!!!!! I think the best thing is that I seem to be in control. I was still hungry, but I didn't want to eat more than I should, even if it was something that I probably shouldn't even eat one of! Take care!

[quote name='NewCC;54379 Question: I have a fear! I don't want to need to "feel full" and I don't want to "be stuffed." Thats how I got overweight. I want that "need" to go away! I want to truly only eat enough to get by' date=' but now the band gets me to eat less BUT gives me the full feeling that actually fills an unhealthy need for me!!! A friend who had Gastric by-pass a few years ago told me that at about 9 months she felt that her "demons" (food issues) went mostly away. Do you all think this is possible?? Thanks, CC What an interesting question! I don't know the answer, but I do know that some people who are addicted to food, tend to have addictive type personalities and will transfer their addiction to something else. A friend of mine at the gastric bypass surgery and successfully lost down to 141 pounds, but then has regained back up to 180ish. She said that in her support group, that two of them were in twelve-step programs for alchohol addiction now, and a third was addicted to pain killers following a traffic accident. She, herself, became addicted to shopping, spending money on expensive purses, lots of online purchases, etc. And she even said that as she had regained some of the weight, she found that when she looked in the mirror, she thought there I am, where as before she had felt more like she was masquerading as a thin person. She's now wrestling with her weight on weight watchers....

Holly Sue, thanks! I'm looking forward to branching out from this phase of the diet as well!

Kathy, And actually been coping extremely well, but have only eaten 548 calories today, and now, I'm a little bit hungry, but don't won't to eat and go to bed as I haven't lost anything this week at all.... I know that will change soon, however. Been averaging pretty well per week. I may call and try to move my fill date, because I'm going to Vegas the next day and based on what I'm hearing here, I might have to go all liquid for a day or two. Hadn't heard that before, so I may call and ask tomorrow. Good night!

Kathy, I get filled on 8/30. He's got a reputation for being strict on the diet, but I expect good results because of it....hopefully!

Caolin, Congratulations on your milestone! I know you must feel terrific about it!

I've got the AP band, but I have to do two weeks of liquids, then pureed food for weeks 3 thru 6, then softs for weeks 6 thru 16,and then a regular diet at five months!

Hi there! It's just me. I'm still working at it, losing slowly. Been exercising regularly and tonight did 30 mins on treadmill, 30 mins on the ex bike, some situps and some reps with the handweights. My flesh is starting to hang on my upper arms and thighs and I'm trying to do all I can to keep it as tight as possible. I don't won't to have to have any more surgery, but a breast reduction/lift will definitely be in order when I reach my goal. I was also a picky eater. I refused to eat any vegetables, except for starches. Even now, I only eat potatoes, corn, lettuce/spinach, and onions. Didn't even eat pizza until ten years ago. No seafood, nothing exotic, no sauces, no gravies, no cheeses, no mexican food, no sushi, not many dressings, etc. Don't eat many sweets, etc. I'm boring, so the mushy stage has been real hard on me. My parents used to threaten me and I'd take a whole piece of white bread and wrap it around one bean and still I couldn't get it down without gagging....branched out a little since then, but not much. Very limited diet! I've got two more weeks until my first fill, but I'm still only eating between 550 and 850 calories per day and not really needing more than that. I don't know that I even need the fill. I just want to move on to the next stage of foods. DH is saying I could have done this all on my own as basically I have since the band isn't doing anything for me yet. Of course, I am very disciplined, but I think I needed the structure that this big expense and procedure brought me to.

Good morning! I lost a 1/2 pound again, boy is it slow going. Went to the grocery store this morning and then came back and helped my husband mow the yard. I'm in TX and boy, is it hot here! Took forever to cool back down. I'm still exercising, mainly the exercise bike and handweights. Haven't been on the treadmill since the surgery. Do my own housework and yard work, so that counts as exercise too. I don't think planning meals and logging calories is neurotic. I've done it off and on for decades and have been doing it since the pre-op diet started. Log in what I eat, how much water I consume, vitamins, grams of carbs, protein, fats, and fiber, etc. etc. I think it is a good tool! Keeps you aware of what you've done in a day, so you make good choices at night....