KYBrownEyes

Thought I would make a thread for the November 2013 Bandsters to check in. I was banded on November 7th and had my first fill last week. I am still getting used to my new lifestyle. I have lost about 20 pounds since my pre-surgery prep. I haven't had anyone ask me if I have lost weight, but I can tell a difference in my clothes. I had an incident yesterday with getting "stuck" while eating some baked fish. I think I was eating too fast and maybe had too much on my fork. It was not a pleasant feeling. We were in a fast food place, and I felt like I wanted to throw up. I tried not to panic, took sips of water and finally got over it. I need to step up my exercise, I have a DVD for "walk in home". It is for beginners and has 5 different miles you can do. You can do 1 or up to all 5 depending on your comfort level. All my incisions are healing nicely except for one, which split open on one corner after I had my staples out. I showed it to my doctor at my first fill and he did not seem to feel it was a problem. I've been putting peroxide on it and Vitamin E oil on the others. All the rest of you November bandsters, how are you doing?

Good to hear from you Smpin and Forward! I agree this is hard. My doctor says I will be on the same diet forever. Not quite sure I agree with him. First 2 weeks after fill: non carbonated diet beverages, two Protein shakes per day Second 2 weeks after fill: Same as above, plus 3 60 cc Soup meals per day Third 2 weeks after fill: beverages, 2 Protein shakes and three soft meals per day 60 cc per meal. Forth 2 weeks after fill: beverages, 2 protein shakes and 3 Proteins per day, 60 cc per meal. Repeat after next fill...Thats IT. Maybe it will change after my fills are complete? The not losing alot after first fill is my fault. This time I am doing better, but only into week 1 after my 2nd fill. I did try a yoga class last week and I am getting in more exercise this time.

How are all you November bandsters doing? I had my 2nd fill today. My weight was pretty much unchanged from 6 weeks ago so I hope this fill starts some movement!

Thank you Bandista! I started tracking on MyFitnessPal and I think being accountable to my food and exercise journal is going to help. Holidays are over...getting on the wagaon and yelling "Ya!" to the horses pulling it LOL

You are not alone! Yesterday I did good. I am really going to try going forward. It is hard. Learning to take smaller bites and chew more is hard, afterall we have been eating with bigger bites and less chews for a long long time. I am hoping by the time I go in for my 2nd fill on 2/25 that I will be down some more. Keep trying and hang in there! Coming here for support helps me!

I have gained as well. So hard around the holidays, and I have NO will power! Finally, all the celebrations are over (not counting tonight NYE), and I can get back on track. I have had more stuck episodes, and I am learning that I need to take SMALL bites! Happy New Year Everyone!!

scale is still up this morning! UGH I am not giving up. I've already got my mile of exercise in for today and 1 Protein drink. Wearing some jeans today a size smaller than I had been able to wear, so that is an accomplishment!

I know I am struggling even as a new bandster. I have to keep reminding myself how depressed I was when nothing I tried seem to work and then I just went into an abyss of being overweight and over-eating. I do not like that feeling. I do feel a little lighter even with only 20 pounds lost. I LOVE that feeling! food really isn't that important to me now. I eat to keep myself sustained and get in my Protein drinks. I need to continue to exercise and work in more of it. I need to drink more Water. The holiday goodies really do not appeal to me. The stuff from work I brought home to my husband. My downfall is carbs! I am a work in progress, and it is ok to mess up every now and then, I'm only human. Each day I need to find positive motivation and I get most of it from reading the posts here! We can do it!

Merry Christmas everyone! I know I shouldn't be a scale watcher, but the past two days I've been up! I think I will try and do two miles today instead of one. And drink more water! Hope Santa was good to you all!

Hi smpin! good to hear from you! You are doing fantastic! Thanks for checking in! I like your idea with the muffin tin, I will have to try it! I had another stuck episode tonight while eating some roasted chicken. UGH. I guess the more dense meats really get to me. I have got to remember to chew, chew, chew!

Hi Dottie! Congrats on your success! I have been trying to do better at eating slower myself. Thank you for checking in!

Thanks for checking in forwardlooking! I did another mile today. I am having no problem getting my Protein drinks in. Most of the time when I want to snack...I'm not even hungry...but my mind thinks I am! Have to learn to deal with that!

Good luck! Be sure to keep us updated on how it's going after your surgery! It is natural to be nervous but everything will work out fine!

I got motivated and walked a mile! I feel so much better that I did it!

yaya you are doing great! You really have the exercise thing down. That's what I need to hear to motivate me! I could use some breakfast ideas too. Just because it's breakfast, doesn't mean you have to eat breakfast foods! Switch it up and eat something you would eat for dinner. Maybe some turkey sausage crumbled into a scrambled egg? Maybe a quiche that you fix ahead of time and portion out to eat during the week? Cottage cheese with fruit? Turkey and cheese rollups is another thought. Thanks for checking in!

It is hard during this time of year! But if we can get through it, then we are golden! You are doing great too and I love your positive attitude! Good luck with your fill today, I don't go for my 3rd until February. It is nice to have others at around the same stage as me. Sorry you had a bad stuck episode, I really don't want to have another! I like my Protein shakes too, just starting putting in some fruit in mine, first fruit cocktail (sugar free), and then another batch with a banana.

I'd like some suggestions of foods so I don't get bored with the same thing. I just got some roasted chicken, and some frozen cod fillets. sugar free Popscicles for my sweet tooth. Light Yogurt, Apple juice.

Hey everyone that has been banded in November, I made a check in thread for us: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/291888-november-2013-bandsters-check-in/

It is hard as a newly banded person to adapt to the new lifestyle! Many of us had tried dieting and had no success. Around the holidays is much worse! I have no willpower! If I did, I could have done this without the band. Yes, I have my doctor's instructions on what to eat and how much, but when my lack of willpower takes over....all that goes out the window! I need to keep coming back here to get motivation!

I think it looks great! Congrats on your success!

Just my two cents...not all newbies are internet savvy. They might start new threads not knowing how to search for their question. They might not even be used to a computer. They might not know forum "etiquette". Many people may not have had any kind of surgery before. Speaking from my own experience, even though my doctor gave me information, most of it really didn't sink in until after my surgery. My first pre-op visit I had a whole list of questions for him. I joined this forum to get additional information from people who already went through what I was currently experiencing and hoping to learn from their mistakes, and also any tips or advice. All the vets were new once, and since they are now experienced, may tend to forget what it is like to be new. Obviously this place is meant to be informative and fun. When it no longer meets your needs, then it is time to move on. You will keep in contact with those you have gotten to be close to.

Why not start a thread or folder for the vets to hang out and discuss their progress, questions, etc. just for those already banded? Those vets that wish to participate in the newbie threads can do so, and those that don't....don't. If this place was just for newbies it would not be very successful!

Had my first fill today. He put in 5 ccs. It stung a little bit but I really couldn't feel it filling and had no problem drinking a cup of Water after. I am on strict low cal liquid diet for 2 weeks plus two Protein Shakes per day. After 2 weeks I move up to 60cc of Soup three times a day plus the liquids and Protein shakes. After 4 weeks I move up to mushies plus the liquids and protein shakes. At 6 weeks I can have 3 Proteins per day at 60cc per day plus the liquids and protein shakes. I had lost 5 pounds from the last visit. This morning my scale showed a loss too, I keep track on my ticker of my weight just right before my pre op prep. So by my records, it's almost 15 lbs!

I have been at a stand still also. My first fill is next week! I know the stall is my own fault...I am eating less but not the right foods...and not getting in the exercise. I really need to get my act together! I hope with the fill things start moving, this will keep me motivated!

Just checking in. It's been a rough couple of weeks. Had to put my oldest cat down-she was 18. Then we lost a good friend suddenly to a heart attack. All this with the Thanksgiving holiday! It has been hard on me emotionally and I've been just drained. I go in for my first fill on Dec. 17th. I will go in every 6 weeks thereafter. Basically, I will be on liquids for 2 weeks after the fill, then mushies for 2 weeks, then solids for 2 weeks before the fill. My weight has remained much the same since my initial loss from pre-surgery prep, but I haven't gotten in any exercise until yesterday. Yesterday I felt good for the first time since surgery. The holiday dinners were a little rough, I did eat too much I know, but I know for sure I didn't eat as much as I would have before surgery! I have also been using the app called "Eat Slower". You take a bite, then start the clock and let it time down until a minute has passed, then time for another bite. That has been a big help. My plan is to get more exercise in...I have a "walk in home" DVD that is very low impact and can be done no matter what the weather is. Hope everyone is doing well who had the surgery, and good luck to everyone with upcoming surgery!