liannatx

During week three I was on soft foods/purees. I was eating refried Beans w cheese, Dannon light n fit Greek yogurt, sugar-free Jello and pudding, ricotta cheese with marinara, chicken salad, cottage cheese. I think i ate chicken salad everyday, lol. It and cottage cheese were like heaven at that point, and seemed to be my favorites. All plans are different, but i was also able to have Tilapia. Dont buy or prepare too much of any one thing... you probably wont be able to eat more than an ounce or two per meal or snack at first.

I was doing that on day 3 when I got home. I went back to work full time (teacher) after 7 days. I had tiredness and soreness, but no real pain. I had a really easy uneventful recovery. Good luck with your surgery tomorrow!!! I hope you also have an easy recovery. I felt horrid the first 2 days, but day 3 I just started feeling really good and then each day after was exponentially better.

I have changes : ) Start weight is actually 220 Goal 210

Like @@AvaFern, I love it for Zuchinni noodles. I haven't been using it post-op, but we used it quite a bit before I had surgery.

You look great! Keep workin it!

That is great! Those NSV's are better than the scale number! I notice that mine aren't swelling at the end of the day like they were... still some, but not near as much. I really think all the carbs I used to eat made me retain Water too.

Those celebrations have become about the people and the conversations, not what or what amounts of food I can eat... that is actually liberating in a way. I haven't felt awkward during work lunches at all. Everyone knows I had the surgery, but even if they didn't it really isn't that odd for a person to just have some yogurt or something small for lunch. I really don't pay that much attention to what others bring for lunch, or how much of it they eat... so I assume they don't really care much about what I am eating! If you are with people that don't know you had WLS you can always just say "I'm not very hungry, I had a late lunch".

I take 2 Prilosec a day, one in the morning and one in the evening. I was told to take them for 3 months. You can get the OTC ones... I think the generic Omeprazole is the same thing.

I think I read that when you lose a chunk of weight pretty fast that the hormones those fat cells were holding can throw your body out of whack.

@NewNewMe I was banded in 05 also. I also had a lot of damage from scar tissue, my surgeon couldn't even do the Sleeve revision at the same time as band removal. I am so thankful he was able to clear enough out, and that my stomach healed enough, that he was able to do the Sleeve. I hear that a lot of doctors wont do the lapband anymore... I am surprised that any still do knowing the complication rates.

I like your positive reframe of a smiling face! Don't let the picture fool you though. I can grab handfuls of skin and it looks like I could whelp a litter of puppies when I bend over! Then you found a great bathing suit! It looks great on you!

I rarely drink anymore, I only know that when I had Lapband we used to go out weekly. I drank Vodka and Water with lime, and when the "tubes" of crystal light came out... I did Vodka and lemonade. It never ever hurt my loss. I am losing so slowly now that I am afraid to drink, lol.

What is your BMI?

You will learn so so so much here! It is a great site for support and reassurance!

There is no way to predict that. I am 48 and went back to work on day 7. I felt miserable the first 3 days only, and then pretty great after. I never took a pain med after I left the hospital, and just tried to sleep and get fluids in. We all have different experiences and recoveries. If you have never had any other surgery I think it will be harder to deal with....

I think you look fabulous! Are you kidding???? Your stomach is NOT frowning at you, it is smiling as you look down at it!

Are you taking a PPI or anything for stomach acid?

I have the little fitbit Zip and clip it to my bra or pocket. I think it is a big motivation to walk more and to see the steps accumulate through the day. We stopped at Lowes and my DH said he would be right back, because I used to wait in the car and play games on my phone.... I instantly said "Wait, I want to go in too". I just didn't want to waste all those steps I could be getting, LOL. Of course it also works great to track your steps like a pedometer if you taking an actual walk or jog. it makes me happy when my fitbit is smiling : )

I would have a RTD one if there was nothing better available. There are much better options for a Protein supplement. Premier Protein have ready to drinks that are much better protein-wise, and are pretty easy to find. A tub of Protein powder is probably more economical... and there are some very good high protein options out there. I looked up the data for Slimfast High Protein Creamy Chocolate: 190 calories, 25 g carbs, 10 g protein. By comparison I had a Syntrax Nectars, Cappuccino flavor, for Breakfast that has 100 calories, 0 carbs, and 23 g protein. edited* Actually looking at the amount of carbs in a SlimFast, I would not drink one at all. Way too high in carbs for my plan.

Stalls are real. The body may be pausing before resuming weight loss, but they do happen. All these people that stall around 3 weeks post op, on 500 calories, aren't making it up or making excuses.

Like @@jane13 said, the color of your urine is a good indicator of getting enough fluids. If Water makes your stomach queasy, which happen for some people at first, find something that you do like to add to it. Mio, water flavorings, Some lemon/lime. I found that I don't like an entire tube of Crystal light in my water, but half of one is delicious to me. And you are right that you should be sipping pretty much "FT"! If you are drinking enough all day you will be still be thirsty after working out, but not have a risk of dehydration! It might be enough to just make sure you drink a full bottle of Gatorade just prior to your workout!

I had the band done in 05. Of the 15+ people that were in my original support group from that time, I was the last one to have my band removed. Every one of experienced some form of erosion, slippage, or complications from scar tissue. I had the older Inamed band, but the complications have remained the same with the newer bands. I personally would not recommend it to anyone. Many doctors have stopped doing the band because of those exact issues. I chose the band originally because it seemed "less invasive" and less drastic. However, I have now had 1 surgery to have the Lapband, 1 to have it removed, and 1 more to be Sleeved. It is great that you are doing your own research!

We went to eat at a really nice restaurant yesterday. I ordered an appetizer as my meal, 3 bacon wrapped grilled shrimp, and I was only able to eat 2 of them! I have noticed when we go out to eat that the bill is literally less than half the price we normally spend... I have become a cheap date, lol! We used to split an appetizer, order 2 meals, and have a glass of wine. This "half-price bill" is a nice little bonus of my new way of eating! Also surprised when I logged my shrimp in, and found that it was only 85 calories and 6g Protein. I was worried about the bacon calories/fat, but really didn't even have to adjust my dinner to keep my goals good.

@@LisaPunkinHead Our grocery bill is also much smaller, even though we buy better quality foods now. Gone are the days of cooking 4 chicken breasts or steaks... we used to cook enough for one each, with possible seconds or leftovers. Now we really just cook enough for 2, which still leaves leftovers lol! One of my big savings has been rarely drinking coffee anymore. Those K-cups are stupidly expensive, and I have gone from 14-21 a week to having a cup maybe once or twice a week.

I would say I had a late lunch and wasn't very hungry. Then order an appetizer only... or maybe a salad with grilled chicken, and just eat the chicken and pick around at the salad.