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I only lost 2.5lb in the last month, which I was initially disappointed about. Then I realised that I don't think I've ever LOST weight over Christmas in my life ... so I've decided to be proud and pleased that I went down and not up over the holidays! Total of 47 down now and I'd like to get back to a loss of about 10 a month. If I do that I'll be half way to goal by Valentine's Day :smile:

I DID IT!!! :clap2: 8 weeks today since I went into hospital and I couldn't be happier. I've achieved my Dec goal this morning, five days before the Christmas function so hopefully I'll be another pound down by then As of today I have passed my second 'mini-goal' weight. 10lbs lost this month!! I was so scared stepping on the scales, I've had two functions this weekend so I thought maybe I wouldn't have lost this week. Thankfully my efforts to be careful about what I chose to eat at the parties paid off and I gave a little squeal of joy. Hope everyone else is doing well and look forward to seeing your updates

Well done Saintluver, great effort! I can't wait to be able to buy clothes because I like them and not because I can get into them! I'm in the middle of a big clean out ... lot's of stuff doesn't fit anymore so it's going, and I'm moving down through the size rack that my wardrobe had become! My NSV this week was on the weekend I took part in a women's triathlon event. I did the swim leg for the team and despite not breaking any speed records I was so excited to actually be there taking part. Several months ago I wouldn't have dreamed of being seen in public in a swimsuit, let alone running from the pool to transition area in one :faint: I am so excited about the new life I am creating, sure the weight loss is great, but even better is the feeling that I can be a part of the 'normal' world. I left with a goal that next year I would enter the small event as an individual ... better get training for that bike and run leg! :whoo:

Hey bandster and cQQlgirl don't make me lecture you both!! You should both be proud of yourselves for your LOSS!! Remember the first weeks are about healing, not about losing, so any loss is a great effort! I don't know about Ben but I have a LONG way to go! I am really glad that my surgeon gave me a 'headstart' by putting some fill in on the table, I'm sure that's been a big contributor to why the scales have been going down for me. Once you guys get some restriction happening you'll be dropping pounds all over the place! Stay positive, we're in this for the long term! I'm sure there will be times on the journey when you guys will be doing great and I'll be needing you to encourage me along! Susie

Hi Shar1 I had my first fill 4 weeks post op. From there my surgeon gets me back every two weeks until we get to the 'sweet' spot. I don't think it will take too many more fills though as I'm already feeling some restriction. I've currently got 5ml in my surgeon put 4.5ml in on operation day. When I go back next week I think I'll get another 0.5ml, and at this point I think that may well be enough. I'm not having trouble eating any foods (except the silly white bread mistake) but my portions are reasonably small. My surgeon likes to get to about 1/2 cup for a meal and I'm currently eating about 3/4 - 1 cup. Good luck on the 28th! Take it slowly after your fill, I was fine the day of my fill but the next 48 hours seemed to tighten up. I just took it easy with soft foods and gradually moved back to solids over a couple of days. Others seem to be really tight after a fill and then loosen off over a couple of days, so I guess we all have to discover how our band will work for us. Susie

Congrats Ben, you're doing a sensational job!! You must be noticing a great difference in how you're feeling? The change in insulin dose is brilliant, what a fantastic change to make to your health :clap2: I'm five weeks out now and I know with the 31lbs I've lost moving just seems so much easier. I had resorted to lots of 'stretchy' clothes so the change there wasn't quite as noticeable, although most of those clothes need to go through a very hot dryer now to be wearable, and some pants have been relegated to the 'donation' box as they simply fall down now :scared: I am now back wearing pants that are properly fitted which were too uncomfortable to wear before. I've had one fill, next one scheduled for next week. The only food issues I've had was a bite of garlic bread (dumb move) which felt like I'd swallowed a whole orange ... won't be making that mistake again! Look forward to hearing how things continue for you Susie

Had my first fill this week, four weeks post banding. Didn't think I would need it as for the first 3 weeks I wasn't hungry and could only managed small portions, but things really changed over the next week! Found out when I saw my surgeon that I had 4.5mls added in the OR ... which explains why I hadn't been hungry! He increased my fill to 5mls and I go back in two weeks. I didn't have to go back onto fluids, he said to just be cautious and if I had any troubles go to mushies. I was fine the night of the fill ... but then over the next 48 hours it was like I tightened up .. went back onto thick fluids and now feeling good again. Hunger gone, and back to small portions. Yippee, I love my band :clap2: Susie

Hi allamess, no wonder you feel miserable if you're hungry and lightheaded all the time! I 've been banded for a month and found in the early days I needed to eat more than three meals a day because I would get so full from a small amount of food. I'd have a LITTLE healthy snack between meals to stop that horrible low blood sugar feeling. As for recipes, if you are wanting to stay away from breads etc maybe you could try some vegetarian recipes. I have found recipes with lentils and chickpeas, and tofu to be fabulous since being banded. They help with your Protein intake, and tend to be nice a moist so I haven't had any problems with them going down. If you do a google search for dahl, vegan burgers, 'neat' balls, chickpea stew you will find zillions of recipes that I've found are perfect for bandster eating because they are so nutritious, and very filling. OH, and they tend to be low fat, low calorie too .... how cool is that?? Susie

Hi all, I haven't been around the board for a while but I think this is a great idea to keep us motivated. I've lost 31lb in the month since my banding :whoo: Had my first fill this week so in the learning curve again of what works and what doesn't food wise. My goal for the next month is to lose 10lb. That will bring me to my next 'mini goal' which was my highest weight from the last time I lost heaps of weight (only to put it back on with interest!) I'm really excited about getting back there again ... and it will be in time for a Christmas function which will mean I will be able to choose something half decent to wear! Goodluck everyone Susie

Hi nicnaknut, I'm sensitive to the dressings too and have some nasty blisters. I called my surgeons rooms the day I came home and was instructed to take the sticky dressings off and just leave the steristrips on. I've covered them with a waterproof dressing to shower, and left steristrips only at other times. It might be worth a call to your Doc, if the dressings are causing you irritation they could interfere with your wounds healing well. My wounds look great, but the skin around them looks awful and is driving me crazy with itchiness! LOL Susie

Fluffyinks, welcome to the band side! The gas is a pain isn't it? I found a heat pack really helpful when I wasn't up and walking around. It seems to soothe the pain and help move the gas. Carrot, have fun with the free fluids, it really is fun trying out all the 'new' flavours Nic, you sound like you're doing so well! Hope your recovery continues to be fuss free. Glad you had such a good experience with your Doc, I know it makes me feel really safe that my Doc is so lovely, we have a long journey together so it makes a difference to feel comfortable with him. new me, that sore throat sure reminds me I had surgery. I didn't have much wound pain, and have been able to manage the gas pain pretty well, but the sore throat .. I'll be glad when it goes away! I'm day 4 now and feeling good. Am able to get more fluid in today, although still not hungry really. The gas has settled down a lot and I'm really excited to have started my new life! Struggling to stay away from the scales, but I know I'm not supposed to be weighing at the moment so I'm being good :mad: Congrats to all the new bandsters and wishing you a smooth recovery

Hi to all fellow bandsters, hope you are all healing well. Day 2 for me today and doing well. Just the gas that is bothering me, a little port pain on op day but nothing much since. The strangest thing for me is a complete lack of interest in drinking. I'm on fluids for a week, and I'm struggling to take in anywhere near enough. I'm supposed to be getting nearly 2 litres in, but am not even making it to 1 litre. Not worrying about it too much though, it' s not that the fluid won't go down, just that I feel so full. I'm sure as the swelling decreases I'll be able to cope with more fluids. I'm just so excited to have my band, I know it's early days but I already feel like this is the best decision I've ever made. Bring on my new life!! Susie :whoo: