hastalabyebye

Question for ya's! How much do you eat for one meal portion?? My doc says 2 oz. at a time... that's exactly 4 tablespoons. 3-5 times a day. In fact...because i don't think 2 oz. is enough... and yes... that's suppose to be for life. ugh! :cry I've heard of other people eating 1/2 cup to a cup. So it'll be interesting to hear what people have to say. Thanks! Kayla

Ok... I'm sure I can read read read for all the answers to these questions, but I'm lazy so I'm just gonna ask :tongue: haha. I don't feel all that educated about the whole "fill" process... which is probably my fault because I have not attended any of the support classes my hospital offers... but that's what lapband talk is for right? haha. K so, I've had one fill. I don't feel any restriction... can eat bread, can eat beef, can eat just about anything. I can eat plenty too... and I have been eating well beyond the 2 oz. i'm suppose to stick to. (i sure sound like a defiant lazy slob right now dont' I haha?) Old habits die hard and I'm having a tough time not eating more when I can and want to. eek. So I have no idea what size band I have (no one told me)... and I don't know how much they put in the first fill (again no one told me) apparently, you have to ask you doctor questions eh? haha. So my questions are.... how do they know how much to fill you with? aaaand after so long do you lose restriction?? or does it just get tighter and tighter?? how do you lose restriction if you get it filled up to a sweet spot... why would you need another fill after that?? Hope this makes sense.. thanks so much for the feedback yall! Kayla

Hey thanks! I appreciate your reply. That helps a lot actually... let me ask you. How was your experience after your first fill? little restriction? Did you find yourself eating too much with little restriction like me? how did you handle that?

I've been eating for one month now (had surgery 2 months ago)... i have had one fill... and i can still eat so much!! and I HAVE BEEN!! EEEEEEK!!! I'm really worried that I'm stretching the pouch or doing some damage... i haven't felt any pain or anything... and I haven't felt sick full. But my doctor specifically said drink your 3 Protein Shakes a day and eat your 3-5 2 oz. meals a day... and you should be fine.... but I got this surgery so I couldn't eat this much and I still can! wah wah. :tongue: I have another fill in a week and half... I just wanna say filler up doc! do they just give you little tiny bits so they can make more money each fill... or what?! i feel kind of jipped right now man. haha. Not too mention I now am paranoid of having a flipped port because i'm getting pain and hardness in a higher place (higher than where he said my port was with the first fill). I sound like a paranoid freak.... but I'm just worried I paid all this money and it's not gonna be effective... ya know? any words of encouragement!?! :smile: thanks, Kayla

Ok... i've been paranoid about my port flipping because I've noticed that my abdomin feels hard a new spot and it's sore... I already had one fill.. and it was not flipped at the time. I go in for my next fill in 3 weeks and I'm really praying that it's not flipped.. my question is... could you tell it was flipped?? did you have any signs or symptoms?? how does it flip??? thanks a bunch. Kayla

Hi! I am one month post op and I just had my first fill on Christmas Eve actually... two days after that I was graduated to "soft" foods. I am so happy eating anything after that awful liquid diet!! Howeverrrr... I find myself feeling like I haven't had any type of surgery! I can still eat more than I should! I am suppose to stick to 2 oz meals and I have been pretty faithful to that until today.... I tested the waters a little. eeek... I found myself able to eat WAY beyond 2 oz! I fully intend to stick to the 2 oz... but knowing that I can physically consume more than that I might push it... isn't that why I had this surgery in the first place?? so my questions are... -is this normal? am I just not restricted because I've only had one fill?? -am I just able to eat more because I'm eating just mushies and that digest quicker??? -did my doctor just forget to put the band on my tummy??? haha just kidding... I would definetly demand a refund if that were the case Thanks for the support! Kayla

That's awesome! I actually had my surgery the day before you... and I've lost about 28 lbs. so far! It is exciting... i have a question for you though... have you already had your first fill? and also do you feel restricted? I just had my first fill at my 4 week follow up appt. and I'm suppose to stick to 2 oz. meals... however... I find myself still able to eat way more than that... and I keep catching myself testing the waters a little and going beyond my 2 oz portion size. Just wondering how your experience is going. I'm still on mushy foods for the next 2 weeks... and then I graduate to "textured" foods. thanks for the post! Kayla

Hi there... question... Should I be concerned?? I had surgery 3 weeks ago... was feeling fine... healing well. And i know I'm not supposed to do any strenuous things for a couple months.. however i had to move out of my house. I got some help... so I didn't lift very heavy stuff but I was lifting and packing a lot and going up and down stairs. And then i was getting something up high out of a cupboard and I felt a little pain when I stretched really high. and for the last couple days I've been feeling a little pain right by the port area. It feels kind of like it did the first week after surgery. I'm a little scared... i have an apointment in six days for my 4 weeks follow up. should i call the doc. I hope I didn't do any serious damage!!! what do you think?

Ok... I have been on Clear liquids for exactly one month now! I had my surgery 2 weeks ago. I had to be on clear liquids 2 weeks before to prepare for the surgery... and now I'm suppose to stay on them for 4 weeks after.. which... ahem means I have 2 more weeks left! (6 week total liquid diet for me) So I've been watching people eat around me... smelling food all the time... seeing it on the t.v. everyday... for one month now. It's killing me! I've done it all... popsicles, Jello, broth, Protein shakes... BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.... Yes, I've tried everything to make it interesting and I'm just having a hard to surviving this. I've made it this far but tonight I started to slip.. DUN, DUN, DUN... Everyone went to sleep and I shamefully started tasting the condiments... haha. ranch dressing, bbq sauce, even ketchup! There's an apple pie half eaten on the counter and I picked an apple out of it and sucked the glaze off! HOW PATHETIC! haha! Man, i have to admit, I'm really struggling with these last two weeks. I want to eat so bad. :phanvan Kayla

Hey all,<br /> <br /> I'm looking for a little encouragement. I had my surgery one week ago today... I haven't eaten in 3 weeks. My doc is a little more strict, he keeps you on liquids for 4 weeks following surgery, and 2 weeks prior. So I'll be on the liquid diet a total of 6 weeks! A couple people have asked me if I'm glad I did it, there's no way I can answer that right now, it's only been a week, but I'm really hoping i can say yes in a few months. Right now I'm tortured by food commercials, and I have constant churning and rumbling in my tummy, (icky constant diarrhea.. sorry to be graphic) and I'm started to feel really achy, weak, and sore. Somebody please tell me this is the worst of it!!?! <br /> <br /> I'll be graduated to "soft foods" after my 4 week follow up appointment... and then I'll be able to eat 2 oz. of it at a time. (3-5 times a day) I really hope that will be a joy for me and not another small form of torture! haha. After not eating for 6 weeks you would think 2 bites of anything would be satisfying. Can anyone tell me how it was for them? I'm just looking for some advice to get through the holidays!! I just want December to be OVER! <br /> <br /> Thanks.

Hey John, Thanks for the encouragement... this site has already helped me so much! I'm really glad I found it. My doctor is quite strict on the diet... and I know it's for the best but MAN... it's hard. I cried last night.. haha. It's funny now... but I was getting a little sad. I think partly because it feels like an eternity, and I can't imagine how life on the band is gonna be. I have now already lost about 23 lbs and it's only been 3 weeks since I started the liquid diet (with 3 more weeks to go). But that's pretty much from starving myself. Question for ya... how much do you eat for one meal portion?? My doc says 2 oz. at a time... that's exactly 4 tablespoons. 3-5 times a day. In fact... I think I might post a thread asking this question... because i don't think 2 oz. is enough... and yes... that's suppose to be for life. ugh! :cry I've heard of other people eating 1/2 cup to a cup. So it'll be interesting to hear what people have to say. Thanks again! Kayla

I went to Dr. Oh at St. Francis in Federal Way... you?

Thanks Val. I appreciate it.

I looooove love love coffee.... and I was told no more coffee or tea after the band. Is this just because of the caffeine? I'm getting banded in two days and I'm in the mourning stages... missing all of my favorite treats... like my coffee. what do you all do???

Hey thanks! I will try that. Is the egg drop soup something you make? or is it just something you can order at like a teriyaki resterant? I'm noticing that I'm feeling pretty good today... I wish I had til Dec. 11th! I have to go to Dec. 26th!! woe is me! just kidding... sort of. looks like chicken broth on Christmas for me! The one thing I've enjoyed is Vietnamese noodle soup called "pho"... This soup is becoming very popular over here in Washington. (it's kind of like glorified Top Ramen... with noodles and spices and a meat of your choice) I like to drink the broth, it's pretty satisfying... kind of an acquired taste though. Everyday is a struggle... I've been trying to read books and go to bed early and stop watching the food channel. I just went back to work today, and it was good to be busy to get my mind off of the misery. On a side note, I'm just so irritated with my doctor's office... I went for my one week follow up appt. today and actually waited for 2 hours! I had to leave to get back to work and did not even see the doctor. This office is suppose to be "the best" in Washington state... and it just seems like they're more concerned with numbers than quality... I'm a little dissapointed in them. Man I sound like a complainer!! Sorry... I'm usually so upbeat and positive. I want the next 3 weeks to go by so bad! Thanks for the encouragement... today wasn't all that bad. Kayla :waytogo:

Thanks so much for the encouragement! I really appreciate it. I go through waves of thinking... this is a piece of cake (sorry no pun intended) to feeling like a prisoner of war! O.K.... that might be a stretch... but not eating for this long is definitely a small form of torture. No, I can't have creamy soups... nor can I have sugar. My doctor doesn't believe in sugar. but I'm sure after all we've gone through... a small treat now and then is well deserved. As long as you don't over do it. I'm feeling pretty good tonight, but everyday is different. I have read that a lot of people feel much better 2 weeks post op. I sure do hope so... my family feels so guilty eating in front of me. I went with my sister to the movies the other day and she just had to stop at taco bell and eat on the way because she was "starving". haha. Puh-lease! Thanks again! Kayla

I clicked "edit" and it turned my thread all weird and I don't know how to fix it. sorry!

Hello everyone, My name is Kayla I am 25 yrs old, I live near Seattle. I joined this site a couple of weeks ago and it has already helped me out a lot. I just got banded yesterday morning, and so far I'm feeling pretty good. Just hurts to get up from a lying position. A little bit about me-I've been heavy since about age 7 or 8... and it's always bothered me. Never been comfortable in my own skin, no matter how many times I've been told I have "such a pretty face". I've always been very much confident with the person I am on the inside just never really been happy on the outside. (you probably wouldn't even know that if you met me, I hide my insecurities well) I'm an artistic person that writes and records music, I draw, I'm a hair stylist. I am very much looking forward to my new start! My whole life, my weight has always been on the back of my mind, no matter where I was or what I was doing... which is why I finally chose to do something more drastic and something that I know will be effective. Looking forward to making friends and finding support through this site. Thanks Kayla

Hi Marissa... nice to meet you. Glad to meet someone on here close to my age and close to my surgery date... I'm still getting used to this forum so I hope I'm posting things correctly. Kayla

Hi Heather... nice to meet a fellow hair stylist on here! Very cool! I'm still getting into the swing of things on here... i'd like to put a "ticker" haven't quite figure out how. Any advice? Good luck on your surgery by the way. Kayla

Today is my second day out of the hospital, and I'm still feeling really well. (I had on night stay in the hospital) Still on liquid diet... and then liquids go down very easily. Lots of rumbling in my tummy... and mostly only pain by the port incision, which is a lot higher than I expected it to be... just under my ribcage... which is probably a good spot. Thanks for the encouragement, I feel pretty good about my decision, I was with my mom and I cried going in... just because it's such a life changing event. I've had a lot of encouragement with friends and family... however my primary physician thought I was a little young for this procedure... Isn't it better to take care of the problem now instead of waiting until I have a lot more health issues? should I continue to dedicate my life to diet and exercise, and not even be able to enjoy what's left of my youth?? I feel like I've wasted enough time and I'm ready to move on with life. Thanks again for your support and wish you the best of luck with surgery... feel free to message me with any questions you may have about recovery. Of course I'm still learning myself. Kayla

I just read up on what my doctor says about drinks containing caffeine... coffee, tea, sodas etc. Apparently they stimulate the appetite and inhibits the absorption of iron. Also can cause dehydration and kidney stones. I had the same question the other day... cause I love my coffee.

Hi to all! I just got banded yesterday and I'm browsing "threads" just getting motivated and learning the new fun lap band lingo. like "bandiversary" and "onederland".... I take it "onederland" is passing the 200 mark? no? or is that just meeting your half way goal? just "oooonedering" hehe. Kayla

Hey there, I think everybody has different orders according to their doctor. My doctor said that I should wait 6-8 weeks before doing anything other than walking. Not to lift anything more than five pounds up until then. But walking is definitely encouraged! This is just to make sure everything heals nicely... the walking is to help prevent any blood clots and to clear out any pressure build up from the air they pump into you for surgery... which can cause some discomfort. With that said, after my 8 weeks of healing is up, I fully intend on working out big time... just like any other diet, or lifestyle change, you will ALWAYS benefit from exercise... having a proper blend of cardio and weight resistance regimen. You will look and feel healthier... and will be up strength. In my opinion a thin person with muscle definition looks so much more healthy and sexy... but that's just me. Good luck to you!!

I'm sure this question has been asked before... but I'm new on here and I'm so curious about the "dining out" experience. I love to eat out and now I'm really curious if everyone just orders off the children's menu. How do you partake with family and friends and not feel a little bit like an outcast? Right now I'm on my liquid diet (day 12)... I went out with some friends to a concert in Seattle (we've had the tickets for months) we spent the afternoon out there, so of course they got hungry and I sat there and watched them eat mexican food while I was starving and my stomach was just growling. Talk about torture!! haha... that was very difficult. Any suggestions on what to order? I really appreciate the feedback! Kayla (getting band in 2 days)