thin2bme

Fenton, that's great that you're down another belt notch, keep up the good work. I went to see my pschologist a couple of days ago and she asked me if I'm weighing myself everyday and I told her "of course" and she wants me to weight just a couple of times a week since our weight fluctuates so much, so she set a mini-goal for me this week to just weight myself every other day til I see her again at the end of the month. Today was weigh day and I was down a couple of pounds since day before yesterday so that was good to see. I know others of you have the same problem as I do with the scale so thought I'd just share this with everyone.

Lynn, that's great that you're down almost 10 pounds since surgery. As of today, I've also lost 10 pounds since surgery on March 19, congrats! Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

I just wanted to toot my horn a bit and let everyone know that I'm now feeling much better after having surgery on March 19. As of today, I'm down 10 pounds since surgery, total weightloss including what I lost pre-surgery since the first of the year is 30 lbs. Woohoo!! I go back to work Monday and seem to be building up my stamina more and more each day. Thanks in part to my daily vitamins and the fact that I'm getting up and moving more than I was. Anyway, it's just a desk job but I'm glad I've been able to take off this long since surgery, I feel so much better.

Erika, I am so glad to hear you are feeling better after having the 2nd surgery, it will only get better!! I will be going back to work on Monday, and I'm glad that I've had this 2 1/2 weeks off from work to get back to where I would say that I feel somewhat normal. I have a clerical job but have found that I've been very tired and am just now regaining some energy, thanks in part, I think to the fact that I'm remembering to take my vitamins daily. I still have a hard time remembering to take all of them, but I think the vitamins and walking are helping me to build up my stamina. So remember to walk, walk, walk when you start to feel up to it.

Erika, sorry to hear you had to have surgery again. I didn't get on the site yesterday so I had no idea until today. I know you're in good hands with Dr. H. So far things are going well for me, for the most part. I've had some gas pains the last 2 or 3 days that have lasted all day long and not sure what's up with that. I've also noticed during the nite when I roll over in bed I've noticed some pulling sensation on my insides like stitches pulling or something. My DH says I need to call the doctor office and tell them, so probably will. Anyway, keep us posted and hope you're feeling better soon.

I would suggest the CMA Festival in Nashville for all country music lovers. It's a reasonable costs for 4 day long music filled events that includes the 3 1/2 to 4 hour concerts nightly with all the big name artists. They hold the nightly concerts in the Tennessee Titans football stadium so you get a reserved seat and have the same seat every night. We've been sitting in the club level which has access to an air conditioned concession level that has TV monitors that you can watch the concert on if it happens to rain or if you're going to get a bite to eat. The cost this year and the last 2 years has been only $135 but next year for the Club level it has gone up to $155, but is still a great deal for everything that is included. If you want to sit on the ground level it is a bit more pricey but DH and I prefer to sit on the club level just in case it rains since this is a rain or shine event and we can go inside and see the show in the nice cool air conditioning. The daytime concerts are held at the Riverfront and also have other big name artists but you have to sit in the hot sun with no shade but these are also included in your ticket price. They also have a convention center where they bring different artists too where you can go and get autographs and pictures taken with the stars that is also included, however, some of them are now charging for a photograph. I didn't used to like country music until a few years ago and I just love coming to this, we now make it a yearly event.

Oh good news, I also found out today that my disability group approved my additional time off of work this week so I won't return to work until next Monday, April 7. I'm still really tired and will try to start walking on my treadmill tomorrow since I need to build up my stamina to return to work. I just haven't been able to do much lately. I'm on day 13 post-op and don't feel too bad except that I'm pretty tired.

Janet I'm jealous, I want to go with you. I love Trace Adkins, I am a BIG country music fan and have seen him in concert twice now. My husband and I have been RV'g to Nashville the last couple of years for the Country Music Festival which is a 4 day music event they hold each year. He has performed both years at the show. We are going again this year in June and hope to see him there again. We've already bought seats for next year. Anyone who is a country music fan should go to this event, it is fantastic. They hold nightly concerts that last 3 1/2 to 4 hours with at least 7 to 8 big name country artists performing nightly plus hold daytime concerts every day that last all day long. It is so much fun. The festival begins June 5 so I'm hoping to have had a couple of fills by that time so I can have some restriction before I go. I'm also hoping since I've lost some weight and hope to lose at least 20 more before we go that I will be able to walk around and enjoy more of the activities this year than I have been able to in the past.

Erika I am so glad you went into see Dr. H, I'm sorry to hear about the band being too tight, I guess that's one way of losing weight without a fill,lol. Sorry you're having such a rough time. Please keep us posted. I found out today that my disability group at work approved my extended stay off of work til next Monday, April 7. I've been extremely tired and Tim told me last week it was because I don't have enough calories going in right now but when I got on "real food" I should start feeling better. Well, I'm here to tell you, "real food" is giving me a better variety of things to eat, but still I'm not getting in more than 400-600 calories in any one day and I just don't have much stamina to do anything. I'm going to make myself start walking on the treadmill tomorrow, in hopes that I will be able to build up my stamina to get some energy back before I go back to work next week.

Well, I can't believe the end of March is here already and we have all been officially banded. I'm glad to be on this journey with all of you!! Go Shamrocks. Well, Day 13 post-op for me, and I'm still getting tired very quickly. I found out today that my disability group at work approved my extended stay off of work til next Monday, so hopefully, this week I will get some of my stamina back. I need to start walking, I have to admit that I have just not been up to it and maybe that's part of my problem. I'll try to bring myself to do some walking on my treadmill tomorrow, I have to try to get some energy back. My port site is a little sore but the other incisions feel pretty good unless I press on them, lol.

Lynn, I am currently scheduled to go back to work this Tuesday, however, when I went for my post op appt last week, the doctor said that I could stay off another week and return Monday, April 7. I have his ok, but now I'm waiting for the disability group at work to approve the extended time, otherwise I'll be returing to work Tuesday. I've been really tired and the doctor told me once I started getting some more protein in the form of "real food" in me that should help, well since I've been on the first stage of mushies since Wednesday, I haven't improved much in the way of being tired, so hopefully, I'll be approved for another week off. It's kind of hard to take a nap at work, lol. Look forward to being support buddies.

Erika sorry to hear you're still not feeling well and being nauseated. I hope you're feeling better soon, it does get better.

Yvonne, how terrible is that. Goodluck on your next go round. I'm on Day 12 post op and love my band already, this is the best thing I have done for myself in a long time. Hopefully, your's will come soon.

Amanda, Thanks for the info from your nutritionist, I'm going to print this out for a guideline for down the road.

Busy, I have the same concern as you about the amount of calories that I'm taking in and my weight not budging in the last few days. I know right now it's all about the healing process and I'm only Day 12 post-op, but my calorie content is only between 400-600 calories a day and I just don't think that is enough to keep my body out of the starvation mode. I'm in the mushy stage now for another couple of weeks but the types of food that I get to eat are very limited and low in calories so not sure that I'll get too many more calories in either. I asked this same question on the fifties thread that I post in and one of the veterans told me she keeps her calorie intake at least 1000 a day up to 1200 and has some weight loss every week. But I think, in my case, at least, I am going to have to be eating a more variety of foods that even my mushy stage allows in order to get that many calories in my meal plan, so I'm just sitting back and enjoying the little bit of restriction that I currently have and eating what I can when I want and if it means no weight loss for now, I'm ok with that. After 6 weeks, I can have pretty much whatever I want, within reason, trying to avoid high fat foods since this is a weight loss tool, of course.

Janet thanks for the information about the calorie amounts, maybe after I get to eat a more varied menu my calorie content will rise. I agree with you and feel that I lose better with at least 1000 calories but right now with trying to get all my liquids in and waiting 30 minutes before eating and 1 hour after eating to get my liquids in, that doesn't give me a whole lot of time to eat, which is a good thing, but even more so the liquids also keep me somewhat satisifed. I also want to get volume for my calorie content but find that kind of hard to do seeing that I am only supposed to consume 2-4 oz at any one setting right now. Maybe that will change when my menu changes again in a couple of weeks. Lynn, I guess I'm lucky that I got to start mushies on Day 8 post op and I just want to tell you that I doubt that you will have any problems with the mushy stage. So far everything I've eaten has gone down really easy with no problems. Just remember to chew, chew, chew and think about every bite you put into your mouth. I was a little apprehensive the first day but now on Day 12, same as you, I feel like an old pro already at chewing, lol. I'm even able to make my 2-4 oz last at least 20 minutes which is a good thing to help keep me satisifed. Since you and I had our surgery on the same day, maybe we can become support buddies with each other and compare notes on what we're getting to eat and such, I would love to have a support buddy.

I have a question, I'm Day 11 post op and started mushies a few days ago. My question is, what is the average calorie count in 1 day for everyone who is banded. I'm only supposed to be eating 2-4 oz of anything right now and most of the time it is keeping me satisifed and I'm only eating 3 or 4 times a day so my calorie counts including my protein drink has only been between 400-600 calories a day, is this normal or should I be getting more calories in than this? I'm eating deli sliced meats, eggs, string cheese, refried beans, tuna, baked fish. I can also add some vegetables and canned fruit if I have room, but so far have just done the protein foods. I'm just concerned that since I'm not getting too many calories, I don't want my body to go into the starvation mode.

Christine, I'm on Day 10 post op also and was noticing today that I'm not as bloated as I have been, but I think that's just happened today. I've also been pretty hungry today, so I can tell the swelling is gone down in my stomach also. I'm still behaving and have done better getting in my fluids today which is a good thing.

I'm not sure what the big deal is with scrambled eggs, my DH fixed some for me yesterday and I ate them without any problem, I just made sure to chew, chew, chew before I swallowed them. I read someplace elese on this site that scrambled eggs were a problem for other folks, I hope since it wasn't for me that it doesn't mean that I don't have much restriction because I feel like I do.

Hi everyone, hope all of the recent bandsters are feeling better after surgery this week, being a little over 1 week post op, I'm hear to say, it does get better. I had my staples removed yesterday and feel so much better, today is Day 9 post op. I'm enjoying my new menu that started yesterday that includes eggs, string cheese, deli thinned sliced turkey/chicken, tuna some vegetables and canned fruit. It was great going to Taco Bell and getting a bowl of pintos & cheese, it was so delicious and filling, I never would have believed it. I'm scheduled to go back to work Tuesday, but asked the doctor yesterday if he could keep me off til Monday, April 7 to give me a few more days to get over being so tired, he ok'd it, now if my job will just approve it I'll be in business. If I have to go back Tuesday, I'm sure I'll survive, but it would be nice to have a little more time off. My incisions, especially, the port site are still pretty sore even after the staples have come out, they still seem to pull some if I move the wrong way, but nothing to unbearable. Fenton, going to talk about bra's now, just letting you know so you can go somewhere else, lol. My port site is right at my bra line and it hurt so much putting it on yesterday to go to the doctor's. I've been holed up in the house every since surgery last week, so not exactly sure what I'm going to do about this situation when I go back to work. Might have to unhook my bra while I'm at my desk, lol..... Oh well.

Welcome to the Shrinking Shamrocks StephieNana, this is a fun group and you can get lots of useful and not so useful information here.

I started mushies today and what a treat after being on liquids the last week and a half. I had a poached egg this morning for breakfast, then went to the doctor's office to get the staples removed. I feel 95% better since those are out. I am feeling better as each day goes by. After we left the doctor's office, we went to Taco Bell and got me an order of refried beans, mmmmmm, delicious and I was satisifed with just the 1 bowl, I would have never believed it. Not only that for dinner tonite, I ate half a can of tuna with a little bit of light miracle whip and couldn't believe that, that small amount also satisifed me. I also hope this feeling stays with me, I don't get a fill til April 25, but I'm loving this band already. Erika, so glad you're surgery went well and hope we can meet up at a meeting soon. I'm going to the one at SMMC tomorrow night, but I doubt that you'll be up to that one yet, but if so be sure to let me know, so we can hook up with each other.

I've got staples and go tomorrow to have them removed. It's a week tomorrow for me, I'll be glad to get them out, I think that is most of my discomfort right now.

Fenton, you might also be retaining Fluid from excess sodium that you are probably taking in now. I have found that my average sodium intake during the day is normally around 1000-1500mg and much over this amount causes me to retain fluid. Do you track your sodium contents when you're tracking Protein and calories, this might be something you could watch out for. We women, need to help keep you encouraged, just the same as you do us, so I'm here to tell you that you have done so well and you're so awesome to help keep us on track with your words of encouragement and advice and I just want to send you some encouragement and kind words and support your way and let you know that we also care about how your journey is going. We will get through this, we are the Shrinking Shamrocks.

Well today is 7 day post op for me and I have to say that I have actually been hungry today, first time since surgery. I've been sticking to my menu of liquids and soups, yogurt and protein drinks, but I am so ready for tomorrow to come when I can add some different more solid type foods, i.e. the mushy stage, yippee!! DH went to the store and bought some lunch meat type turkey and chicken for me even though the dietician's book that I was given shows deli sliced thin meat which to me is meat such as Buddig brand paper sliced meat. I got mad at him for not getting what I asked for, but I just don't want to hurt my band. Does anyone know if the regular sliced luncheon meat is ok for the mushy stage? He also bought some fresh pears which I absolutely love, but my book says only canned fruit beginning tomorrow and that I can't have fresh fruit for 6 months. Anybody else have to wait 6 months for fresh fruit?