sweet_liberty

I was just saying to my husband the other day, I am 7 weeks post-op and have dropped 40+ pounds. Even if I never lose another pound, I would do this again in a heartbeat. It has been SO worth it to feel better and conquer my co-morbidities (sleep apnea and joint pain). -Libby :peace:

I went with mashed potatoes, egg salad, Hormel turkey chili and pre-made Manwich. In fact, 7 weeks out and those are still staples for me. But you know, after 6 weeks on liquids (2 weeks pre-op Optifast, 2 weeks post-op clears and 2 weeks fulls) ..ANYTHING would've tasted good. -Libby :peace:

I have not lost interest in food, but I do know my tastes have changed. I will cook a meal for the family that I would normally really like, but after sitting there for a half hour chewing and chewing and having the same flavour in my mouth ..I just get bored and don't want it. Its funny ..now that I can't wolf things down and I REALLY have to work at breaking the food up before swallowing, so I have to taste it more and for longer.. I just don't like many of the things that I used to. -Libby :peace:

I taught myself to knit a couple of months before my surgery. I had always wanted to learn, but reading how to do it never helped me, I am a visual person. I am not affiliated with this site, but if you're wanting to learn and you're visual, like me, the videos on this site were a big help. KnittingHelp.com | Learn How to Knit and they're free. I thought it would be something good to take with me while sitting and waiting in the doctors office. The funny thing is, I almost never have to wait at my surgeons office, I'm taken in within 5 minutes of getting there ..but, it has proven to be an invaluable skill as I have excelled very quickly and have made a good deal of money with the colder seasons upon us and the holidays ..which is great because I NEED money to buy new clothes, I have nothing to wear. -Libby :peace:

I was on Optifast for two weeks pre-op. I was not allowed anything else ..except loads of yummy Water. Nothing. I thought it was going to be really hard but it really wasn't. I only used the vanilla shakes as I knew I wouldn't like the chocolate or strawberry. They tasted just fine and I never altered them with other flavours or anything. One tip I was given is to drink it fast.. fill up faster, stay full longer. Don't sit around and sip it for a long time. I also lost 18 pounds in those two weeks. Good luck! -Libby :peace:

I had my first fill today ..it ended up being 4.2 cc's in a 10 cc band. For those wondering, its an odd experience, a little uncomfortable from all the "kneading" the doc does to get the port where he wants it (which for me was a good 3 inches away from where my port naturally sits LOL ..wtf?). Anyway, it wasn't painful, just kinda weird. I have to be on Clear liquids for 2 days and fulls for two days and then can resume cautious eating. Right now I feel the same odd feeling in my throat that I felt after surgery, its like a lump in my throat sort of feeling, like its hard to swallow past it. It's not a bad feeling, sort of a slight reminder to behave, I guess. When I first had the surgery the feeling would start when I was eating and I would decide that that must be how I feel my restriction and as soon as I felt it, I stopped eating. The feeling went away as soon as the food passed thru the band. Right now the feeling is constant, but I imagine the tissue around the band may be responding to what happened today and is maybe a little swollen. With luck, it will release in the next couple of days, otherwise I may go in for an adjustment to see if less of a fill will make it go away. Anyone else have this experience? Doc was also very happy with my weight loss :-) -Libby :peace:

No more weird cramping in my feet. My feet used to ache so bad just walking around the store and would cramp up when I laid in bed. They haven't hurt in weeks! Even after walking a couple miles ..still A-OK! -Libby :peace:

I've never tried the flavoured unjury ..but I think the unflavoured is yucky! I can't get past the smell of it and I have tried every trick about stiring it and leaving it to sit and coming back to it. Maybe I just have really picky taste buds ..or sense of smell.. or something ..because I just can't handle the stuff. Thankfully I'm just on the edge of being able to eat "normal" food and I can get my Protein elsewhere. -Libby

Banded 10/12 ..so far I've lost 36.5 pounds. I am looking forward to my first fill on 11/27 as I feel constantly hungry. I'm trying to stick to a 1000 calorie a day diet til then (which is hard when you have no restriction). In one more pound, I will have lost 1/4 of the weight I need to make my final goal! woohooo hoooo! -Libby

I'm so glad someone asked about popcorn. I have been wanting some but was not sure if it would be a good idea or not. I am not on "real" food yet so I won't be trying it for a few weeks, but I sure would love some every now and again.

I've had these before, not since surgery tho, and I was surprised that they didn't have any sort of weird flavor or texture. They are quite good.

OK ..I know this is going to sound bizarre ..but I like lite french dressing on mine. We used to eat at a lot of salad bars when I was a kid and I always put cottage cheese on my salad and that orange french dressing was my fav. So now, as an adult, thats how I like my cottage cheese. It's like having my salad ..without the salad LOL. -Libby :peace:

I've gotten the "you're taking the easy way out" a couple of times. That drives me insane. Don't they understand that I still have to work hard to lose the weight? It doesn't just come off by itself. This week was my birthday and Halloween. I ate zero candy, had no birthday cake or special meal. I am still on full liquids, so my birthday dinner was Soup. Do NOT tell me that I am taking the easy way out when I am altering my lifestyle and sacrificing things I would LOVE to have but cannot. -Libby :peace: