claricey

Thanks Jen! Love the ideas and your great attitude!! I am taking pics every month but haven't looked back at them yet. I think I will wait for the next ones in Early April to really compare. That in and of itself will be a mini-goal! Take care and here's to a great start to the week!! Claricey

Hey Sawyer! I really like that idea, thanks. Congrats on your success and keep up the good work!! Claricey

Hi everybody, I am reposting this as I didn't get any replies on the other January Bandster thread. wanted to put out a question to anyone that would like to answer. I'm trying to set some reasonable goals pertaining to the scale. I have other non scale goals set already which I'm doing great with. However, I'm horrible with setting goals for weight loss. I always over estimate and then feel bad for a day or two if I don't meet them. So I'm looking for a good solid approach to setting some shorter term (1-month, 2 month, holiday target etc...) weight goals. How are you all doing it? I'd love to hear! Thanks! Claricey

Hi everybody, I wanted to check in here with you all and put out a question to anyone that would like to answer. I'm trying to set some reasonable goals pertaining to the scale. I have other non scale goals set already which I'm doing great with. However, I'm horrible with setting goals for weight loss. I always over estimate and then feel bad for a day or two if I don't meet them. So I'm looking for a good solid approach to setting some shorter term (1-month, 2 month, holiday target etc...) weight goals. How are you all doing it? I'd love to hear! Thanks! Claricey

Hi Kelly, Yes I had a 2 week and a 1 month post op appt. At the 1 month we discussed a fill and with the rate that I'm losing combined with me not being hungry...he said to wait. He told me to call the office when I was ready...he said he can't decide for me when the time is right and doesn't want to do one for the sake of doing it. I just recently noticed I could eat a little more at dinner time and that was what worried me. (Still not hungry between meals though.) So I signed all the paperwork and when I'm ready I can call to schedule the fill without having to have another appt. I'm not scheduled for another post op till mid April which will be my 3 month bandiversary. :wub: Take care! Claricey

Hey Chicago winter...good to hear from you. Thanks for the reply. I might wait on that fill a while longer since I really am never hungry between meals. I am also going to see if my weight plateaus...a sure fire sign that I'm eating more and not realizing it. (I'm the first to admit that I am not 100% perfect with weighing and measuring.) Are you exercising? If so...what do you like to do and how often are you doing it? I just can't seem to get back to the gym as I work full time and have 2 toddlers. My husband and I are going to talk this weekend on how to get me 2 gym nights per week so I can get really moving. Did your doc have you do a pre-op liquid diet? Mine did not and now looking back wish I did...I could be 10 pounds ahead of where I am now. Sigh. Take care! Claricey

Hi Everyone, I have a quick question. I was banded on 1/11 and I haven't had a fill yet. I'm doing great with my band and I'm down 32 pounds so I'm very happy with my progress. Just wondering if anyone else is like me (not had a fill yet) and if so are you hungry at all between meals? I'm not but I'm finding that I am able to eat more than my recommended 5-6 ounces per meal. So I'm thinking maybe it is time that I start thinking about scheduling that fill. Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks, Claricey

Thanks for the replies! I am pretty good at getting daily fiber in and I take a liquid Calcium supplement that has Vitamin D and magnesium. (kind of like milk of magnesia) So I thought that would keep me going. I will give that tip a try. Thanks again! Claricey

Has anyone else had any "issues" with going number 2? Sorry if this is TMI, but I'm starting to get really concerned. I have not had a normal bowel movement since the day before surgery on January 11th. I thought after a month or so it would return to what was normal for me but I seem to always have very bad gas and explosive episodes when I go. Again, sorry about the TMI. Anyone else have and peculiarities? Thanks, Claricey

Congrats Jen!!! Keep up the good work. You are doing fab!

Hey Cherielynne...don't worry one bit about that mac and cheese. It was necessary! (and i'll bet it tasted yummy!) I have actually taken mini bites of some of my kids food..(I usually do this to entice my 2 yr old daughter to eat.) So I have had tastes of pancakes, a small bite of brownie and a nibble of cheeseburger and peanut butter and jelly. I have never sufferred from these baby indiscretions as I'm down 25 pounds and still losing at a great rate. I know how you feel though...when I have done these nibbles I have felt great guilt...but it has helped my kids to eat and it hasn't negatively affected my weight loss. OH and as weird as it seems...I journal every little bite...so I can see in black and white how the calories etc...play into my overall day. Hope this helps you to still feel great and empowered to go the long haul.. You are doing GREAT. Keep up the good work! Claricey :redface:

I was 4 weeks out last week and had a small glass of red wine. It didn't bother me at all and it didn't get me drunk either. Bummer :sad:

I haven't checked in for a while and wanted to say hi to the group. It's been a tough couple of weeks. I got strep throat when I was 8 days post-op and was on antibiotics for 10 days. Then at 16 days post-op I was diagnosed with LOW blood pressure which gave me NO energy whatsoever and I was lightheaded most of the time. I have taken a BP pill once per day for HIGH bp for about 9 years. But my primary physician is weaning me off of my bp pills now slowly. I am feeling stronger everyday and am thankful for this huge non scale victory. (I thought it would take about 6 months before that would occur.) I also lost my dear Uncle this past week and have been on an emotional rollercoaster. So the moral to this long story of mine and the reason I'm sharing this is because even through all of this I was able to stay on track and I'm still losing. I just want to try to encourage anyone that is going through any times of difficulty post surgery. We will always get on the other side of our problems and keeping a positive attitude and keeping your eye on the prize has helped me tremendously. I'd also like to thank everyone on here for their updates and words of encouragement. It really helps to have you all to go through this with. Take care everyone and I hope you are all doing GREAT! :thumbup: Claricey

You know, I thought the no drinking while eating thing would be the hardest and to be honest...if I need a sip here or there as I'm eating I take it and have not noticed any problems. Of course I won't overdo it, but a sip here or there to help the food go down...seems fine so far. What I have found difficult is the timing of my vitamins/minerals. I have to take Calcium with D but you can't take that within 3 hours of your multi Vitamin. I take both 2x per day. So it goes something like this...AM before Breakfast calcium, lunch time I take 1st multi...then dinner I take the second multi...then before bed I take the calcium again. I guess now that I wrote it down it doesn't sound very difficult, but practically as I'm going through my hectic day...it's hard to remember. :bored: I am very lucky as I am on day 17 and I am not hungry really ever. My meals of refried Beans, pureed chicken breast, cottage cheese etc...really keep me full. The 1st week there was a day or two that I was very hungry...then I transitioned onto pureed/mushies...and it went away. I am logging all of my intake on thedailyplate.com so I can go back and reference and document this whole crazy journey and if I have any pitfalls it will be there in black and white to tell me what i did wrong (or right!) Hope everyone is doing well. Take care! Claricey

Hi Jennifer! Just wanted to wish you GREAT LUCK on Monday. You've overcome so many obstacles to get to this point...you are truly committed and I know this will work for you!! Can't wait to chat with you over on the other board when you are officially a bandster.

OMG, I hate those burps...the good news is...they definitely do go away. Best wishes! Claricey

Heck yeah. I had it bad for the first 4-5 days and then it slowly dissipated. But then on day 8 i got a bad neck/shoulder pain out of the blue and was in considerable pain until i took some liquid tylenol. It helped and it hasn't reared it's ugly head since. Maybe it was the last of the gas making it's way out. I sure hope so! Claricey

Hi KIKOman, I'm on mushies too and yes, my band is unfilled as well. I see my doc in 4 weeks when I am back to all solid foods and then we will discuss if I have any restriction at all or need a fill right away. I agree I too get full pretty quickly due to the food filling up the pouch and slowly moving through it. Glad to hear you're doing great! Claricey

1.What is your current and goal weight? 296/165 2.What is your surgery date? 01/11/10 3.What is your age? 44 4.Where do you live? New Jersey 5.Where are you having surgery? Virtua 6.Who is your Doctor?? Dr. Adam Goldstein 7.Insurance or self-pay? Insurance (They pay 90%) 8.What was your "deciding factor" for having this surgery? I have finally had it with being so big. I want to be able to do more with my kids and enjoy better health once and for all.

AWESOME NSV!! And how lucky you are to be able to cross your legs too. I can't wait to be able to do that on ANY chair. Congrats and keep up the great work! :thumbup:

You GO GIRL! I can't wait for that either!!! No more Lane Bryant, Avenue, Jessica London or Romans shopping for us!! :w00t:

Hi Phil! Wow, even though I'm not on the exact same post op regime I sure can relate to the boredom. And "head hunger" when cooking for my family. I have been able to have very loose eggbeaters and oatmeal and cottage cheese/ricotta cheese in addition to what you listed so I have been able to vary things a bit to keep me from going stark raving mad. (I've had enough Cream of chicken Soup to last me a lifetime) Before you know it you will be on the other side and it will get much better! I found adding some spices and small amounts of ketchup or salsa to things really gives it some flavor and makes it a little more tolerable. Good luck and let us know how you are doing. Claricey :w00t:

Hi! I'm so glad you went and got something that could help you. Been thinking about you and hoping you are feeling much better really quick!! Claricey

Hi Tabitha, congrats on becoming a bandster!! :w00t: How do you feel?? Check back often...this is a great group. Lots of information. Take care, Claricey

I have a few questions for those several days out from surgery. Although I feel good pain wise with just some minor gas and neck pain from time to time, I wake up in the middle of the night with bad rumbling gas...very odd. Anyone else? Also...Is anyone else just tired...like beat? I have to lay down and rest for an hour each day. Several times a day I feel as though my legs just wont carry me any further. Going up and down steps, I get so tired I have to sit down immediately. I know this will get better...but I'm 5 days out and thought I should be feeling back to normal by now. Anyone have any ideas/comments on this? Thanks in advance! Claricey