phowell

Today I didn't do as well. I will get moving tonight on my overnight shift and at least do a little walking, but I have a really bad sinus infection and am not feeling so hot. I had a fill today, though and am doing well with that! Dance Dance Revolution IS a video game. It is a lot of fun to do with kids around and it really keeps you moving! You have a dance mat with four arrows on it and then a song comes on the TV and arrows scroll across the screen and you have to try to step on the same arrow that is on the screen. It is a challenge, but you don't even realize you are working out! My kids love it and I like that it gets them up and moving without knowing it!

I had my second fill today and she put in 2cc for a total of 5 in a 10cc band. I can already tell a difference just with the liquids! I am doing pretty well and am excited because over the last week I felt NOTHING. I was eating everything in sight and before was doing fine. I wasn't really craving anything up until last week and then it was a free-for-all! Good luck and stick with it! I think that once you get close even those .1 adjustments make a difference!

My port is on the left, just about even with my belly button. It is the only major incision. I have 4 small ones. All were closed with steri-strips--no stitches or staples.

My doctor just used x-ray on the first fill to be sure that everything (including the band placement) looks ok. I am glad they don't numb (although I know some people that have been asked if they wanted it) because it is just an extra needle stick and sometimes the lidocaine can sting. Otherwise you only have the one stick and it is over. It is really not too bad, and shouldn't make you nervous at all.:cheers2:

Okay Ang....so far since we started this I have been on the Bandwagon! Every day I have done exercise. I did Dance Dance Revolution on workout mode for 1/2 hour and that = 2 miles of jogging (boy was I sweaty!) I have done that for 3 days and one of those days I did it twice! Then at work every night I have been doing leg lifts and walking. How are you keeping up? It has been tough, but I told you I would do it!:cheers2:

Congratulations to everyone getting close or already there! I go in for a fill tomorrow so hopefully it will be soon for me!!!!

I am planning on walking around the hosp at night(I work overnights) and I also do the Dance Dance Revolution on workout mode. I have several exercise DVD's but don't really enjoy any of them....10 mins of walking today! Also do some leg lifts while I am booting my machines at work! I am excited to be doing something with someone who dislikes exercise as much as I do! LOL! Good luck---MOTIVATION!!!:biggrin:

Here with your first fill they do it under fluoro guidance (x-ray) and you have to drink that nasty stuff again. I didn't like that more than the needle. Some people's doctors numb them at the port site first--they don't here and I am glad because then that would mean 2 sticks instead of one! Here is how my fill went. I went to radiology and checked in. They called me back and I changed out of everything on top, but I got to leave my pants on. Then I went into the room to wait for the doctor. I laid down on the table and pulled the gown up a little and my pants down a little so the doc could feel the port. She pushed around a little (it tickled) and then she made a dot with a marker and scrubbed the area. She said "Okay, little stick." but honestly I didn't even feel it. Then she said that I had 1.5 cc in my band (she drew all of it out to see) and then put in 1/5 more. They stood the table up a little and I had to drink more of that gross stuff like after surgery--only 2 swallows this time--and that was it. They wiped off my stomach and I was done. I had to take a couple sips of water to make sure it felt ok and then I got to change and leave. I wasn't feeling bad from the fill, but I was pretty nervous, too. It was a piece of cake--hope this helps!

Ang....how about a challenge. That is what I always need to get going and, like you, I haven't been exercising like I should even though I know it will help and make me feel better. I challeng you to one week of exercise, at least 10 minutes per day. I will check in and see how you are doing and we will try to keep each other motivated--sound like a plan? Usually if I tell someone I will do something I feel guilty if I don't.....what do you think?

When I was on liquids I put my drinks into a water bottle with a screw on lid. Then I would unscrew it, take a sip, screw it back on and set it down, then I would just repeat the process. It gave me a little while in between sips and I never had any problems. With solids I chew each bite until is liquid. The advice I was given is take your normal bite of food, then cut it in half. Eat that and chew 15-20 times (after you set your fork down). Then swallow, pick up your fork and repeat. Try not to pick up your fork until your food is completely swallowed. It works for me....hope it helps! :scared2:

I tried to eat mandarin oranges out of a can yesterday. After 3 wedges I knew I was done and that I wouldn't be eating those again for a while--if ever. I also had the bright idea to try a donut. Bad idea. 2 bites into it and I was up walking around hoping it would go down. It did, but it made me realize that no donut is worth that! I will stick to my oatmeal.

It has been about 6 wks since my surgery and I gain and lose the same 2 pounds. I will be glad when they are off for good. I go in for a fill on the 18th and boy do I need it. I get so hungry in between meals. Up until last week I was sticking to my 3 meals and that was it, but now I am so hungry I can hardly stand it! My stomach growls all the time, too! It can get so embarassing and my whole family laughs! And this too, shall pass......lol!

Hehe....I didn't mean drinking alcohol with my meals--sorry if it came across that way...LOL! I meant anything. My whole life I have grown up drinking with my meals and now I am not supposed to. It has been a hard transition for me!

Congrats to everyone that has made it!!! I was just thinking to myself how long it has been that I have lost weight and kept it off. Every day that I get discouraged I just have to tell myself that it has been a long time since I have seen these numbers on my scale and they don't go back up quickly!!! Good luck to everyone that is so close! Hope to see you there soon!:glare:

I am not supposed to lift, push, or pull anything for the next week, and then I have to start slowly. Just pay attention to your body. If it hurts, stop! :eek:

Sorry, Sarah....didn't know it was you. I really miss our meetings and wish that we could figure out a way to keep a regular meeting going....let me know of any ideas!!! I was banded 1/2/08 and just had my first fill last thursday. I feel great and am glad that I had this done. I am so thankful every day that I have it. I feel like I have a chance to lose the weight and keep it off this time!

I had a fill last week and did my liquid stage again, then mushy and yesterday I had regular food. I am feeling good and I get a full feeling. I eat really slow so that as soon as I start feeling it I stop because I really don't want to get sick. I guess it is the "eat until you aren't hungry, not until you are full" saying that sticks in my brain. It helps me. I had dinner at halftime tonight (ate my protein first) and am still pretty full. I love not being hungry all the time. Liquids DO NOT fill me up at all.

I eat out a lot because we are always so busy. I love to go to Applebee's. I have my daughter get the new 3 choices with French Onion soup to start, then Jack mac and cheese, and the new mousse shooter. I have a couple bites of soup, then the chicken off the mac and cheese with maybe 5 noodles, then 2 bites of the shooter and I am great!! It cut our bill by a bunch and then we aren't wasting food! Sometimes we still bring stuff home! My hardest thing was not drinking with my meals. I am doing much better, but it was a struggle!

I am finally within sprinting distance!!! Only 12.6 more pounds to go! Every time I step on the scale and it has gone down I just about burst. I never thought I would get so excited. Don't get me wrong--I am so excited to see onederland again it has been a long time--Mama I'm coming home!!!! LOL

eenerms--Your doctor won't give you a fill because you haven't lost enough, or because it is too early? If it is just because you haven't lost enougg that doesn't make sense to me--isn't a fill supposed to help you lose weight not be the reward after weight loss? Just wondering! Trish

I had my first fill today and I feel pretty good. 1/4 cup of soup filled me up at dinner and I have been able to drink water. Other than that I feel great. It was really fast, but I was pretty anxious about it before I went in. I changed my top into a gown (got to leave my pants on--thank goodness) then I went into the room and laid down. The Dr. felt for my port site and they used the x-ray machine to make sure. Then she marked it with a pen, put the needle in (which suprisingly to me, didn't hurt at all) then she drew all the fluid out and put it + some back in. I now have 3 cc in a 10cc band. I had to drink a little more of the lovely gastroview and they said everything looked great! Nothing to worry about!:party:

I was able to go on full liquids the day I came home from the hospital (the day after surgery) which included yogurt, pudding, cottage cheese, and scrambled eggs. I just took it really slow and made sure that I chewed it (even the yogurt) I did fine and was eating regular foods 1 week post op (with the Dr.'s ok). I haven't had any trouble since and had my first fill today so I am on liquids today, soft foods tomorrow and regular food on Saturday. I would check with your doctor, though, for what he recommends. I know that compared to a lot of post op diets mine is pretty relaxed!

Right after surgery I just tried to get as much liquid in as I could. In my little pamphlet that I got from the doctor it says that it will probably be a while before you can actually get that much down, but just to work towards it. If you are still in your liquid stage I wouldn't worry too much about it. Ginger....great job on the weight loss!!!

I was banded on a Wednesday and was driving me and my kids to WalMart on Saturday because we needed toilet paper! I felt fine and every day after that I drove the kids to school and then went to some store and walked around. I didn't lift anything and did fine! I was told not to drive while I was taking pain meds, but they were nasty so I quit taking them 2 days post op (I think)! I can't stand liquid meds so I started gagging trying to get them down. YUCK!!! You should ask them why they don't want you driving.

I have told more people now that I have been banded, but before I just didn't think it was everyone's business. I work with some catty women that like to talk about everybody and I just didn't think they needed to know. I did tell my family and my sister has been the one that I have problems with. She just can't understand how you could have WLS and then go out and eat a cheeseburger to ruin it. I said "Oh, so since I had this done I am only allowed to eat carrots and celery forever?" She has a problem with this because she thinks she is fat and has about 5 pounds to lose! She just doesn't understand the struggle I have gone through in my life so I know that is where a lot of her attitude toward this comes from!