cissy

I have really good insurance through my employer, and they allow WLS where there is a diagnosis of MO -- united health care -- and I didn't have to pay one thin dime.

barium swallow under fluro 2 hrs after surgery sipped on water and ice chips, and walked around the hospital floor until I was discharged 3 hrs after fluro

I had 2 last suppers: 1st one was 2 days pre-op (the day before I had to do liquids to prepare for surgery): double cheeseburger & fries from McDonald's. I had to wait around for someone, I don't even remember now, but I ended up having a crappy last supper. I wanted to go to Saltgrass to get a steak so badly! 2nd one was they day before my first fill: grilled chicken sandwich (with the entire bun), fries, lemonade from Whataburger. I paid for it later though- chest pain, shoulder pain, horrible headache. Let's just say I have dramatically limited my fast food intake over the last 3 1/2 months.

I usually drink a bottle of water.

1/3/06: 210 lbs NSV for today: I put on one of my husband's undershirts that used to be kinda tight, and now I have breathing room.

congratulations! I can't wait till I get into ONEderland. Good job!!

I'm in, since I didn't quite meet my personal goal for the '05 challenge. I agree-- 1 NSV per week-- till March 1.

I was fine for like 2 weeks after my 1st fill, after that I could eat anything I wanted. I just got my 2nd fill about a week ago and just started eating normal foods again today. I think this one did it for me. Before, for example, I could eat a whole chicken breast, now I feel like 2 wings is too much.

I sipped in the beginning, just because I couldn't take any gulps. Now I drink as normal.

YOU GO GIRL!!!! I'm pleased to report that I, too, am in 16's (down from 22). I think we are around the same weight??

The only sort of "cheating" I have done is to eat a fun-size candy bar with no nuts or caramel. Other than that, I have been using the rules as a guideline. Sometimes I have been able to eat more than I should, but I snap back into reality and ask myself why did I undergo surgery in the first place? It takes time to adjust your eating habits.

Yep- water weight. I lost 15 lbs the first week.

Thanks so much!!!

My fellow September bandsters: I bit the bullet and went for my 2nd fill today. I admitted to the doctor that I can and a lot of times do eat way more than I should. (ex: I can eat a full chicken breast no problems) He gave me .6cc for a total of 2.4cc and advised me to be careful when I start eating. And hopefully, my scale will start moving again!

Welcome to bandland Joe!!!

I'm at exactly 1.8cc as well, and I don't feel as restricted as I should. I can eat WAY more than a cup of food, even when it's that time of the month. Sometimes *sometimes* I can eat as much at one meal as I could pre-banded. For the most part, though, I stop either when I feel satisfied, or I get that tiny burp. Then I usually burp 2 or 3 more times after that.

Does anyone else feel this way? I've lost 15 1/2 inches total since being banded, but I've mostly lost them in my boobs & hips. My butt is totally gone (being Black, we like to have big booties... think of Beyonce) Anyway, I really wanted to lose my stomach, and it's just not happening. Even though my pants fit like clown pants, I can still wear them because if I pull them up over my stomach just right, they will stay there. In the hips & thighs, way to big.

I just talked to my friend who also has a big butt, and her response was: "Big butts are not all they're cracked up to be!" Get it, butt... crack...

no bread no drinking while eating (although I have broken this rule. shh don't tell anybody no foods made w/ white flour (bread, tortillas, etc) avoid fried food as much as possible

Keri, can you give me a "south beach for dummies" version of the plan? Is it similar to Atkins?

Yep, me too. I decided to start eating lunch a little later in the day so that I won't be tempted to eat in the evening. So far I've been getting by with not eating anything after 6PM unless it's yogurt. That has helped me be able to eat something for breakfast as well because I don't go to bed with a half full pouch of food that won't pass through when laying down.

I'm a new bandster too, so my BMI has only moved one category (from morbidly obese to severely obese)

Paula, there's one on Inamed's website: http://www.inamed.com/products/obesity/us/patient/bmi.html

Oh my god! That's awful!! I hope you are better now. I'm sitting here right now eating some chick-fil-a chicken tenders.

Please let LSasha know that I'm praying for her speedy recovery. That very same thought crossed my mind the other day, if it is possible for the tubing to come apart? Now I know.