Lauren_Dew

I'm another yo-yoer so i haven't really had anyone at the office say anything yet, which is fine with me because frankly I AM NOTICING and that is enough for me right now!!

I just started taking liquid Source of Life (vitamin) and sublingual B12 complex. I knew i should be taking a Vitamin and just couldn't stomach my chewables in the morning (more a mental thing than a physical thing.) I saw both of the ones i mentioned above recommend on this site and checked them out and thought i'd give them a try. I can't say i love the taste of the Liquid Source of Life, but the sublingual B12 is a breeze. I haven't felt a difference yet, but it's only been 2 days!

Hello all, I am originally from NJ but have been living in Northern Virginia and working in Washington, DC for the past 5 years. I have been married a little a year and have a black lab puppy who just turned 1 yesterday.

mariduke, I am from NJ but live in VA. Were in NJ were you banded?

No, i haven't just been on liquids this whole time. My schedule went like this: Pre-op 2 weeks Liquids (low carb) Post-op 2 weeks Liquids (w/o carb restriction) 2 weeks Mushies 2 weeks Solids I lost just under 20 lbs before my first fill and almost all of that was lost during the liquids phase. I lost a little more during mushies and then just maintained during the solids phase. Since my fill 2 days ago i am on 48 hrs liquids, then 48 hrs mushies, then solids food (very carefully). I go back for my second fill (if needed) in 2 weeks. I'm pretty sure i'm feeling some restriction, but it's kinda hard to tell during liquids.

I just wanted to join in and say hi. I was banded by Dr. Eric Pinnar on 3/21 and just got my first fill yesterday from Dr. Phil. I opted for the Allergan AP band (10 cc) and yesterday i got a 4.5 cc fill. Didn't have much restriction before so i'm interested to see what happens when i start eating solids with my first fill. I just love the staff over at Dr. Pinnar's office. They are such wonderful people! I feel like i couldn't be in better hands!

needtolose, Sounds like you are doing great so far! I have lost 20 lbs so far though most of it was lost in the liquid stage (2 wk pre-op and 2 wk post-op). Tomorrow is my first fill and i'm excited for it because as far as i can tell i have zero restriction. Mentally i knew i was in recovery when i was in the liquid and mushie stages, but now that i'm in the solid stage but still pre-fill i am feel a little more like i am somehow failing since i'm not really losing. My brain tells me that it's still the healing time and that weight loss starts once i get my fill, but my demons are creeping in just a little bit. So i guess you could say i'm hanging on and looking forward to my fill!

I was banded on 3/21/08 and am scheduled for my first fill this Thursday 5/1/08. I have lost 20 lbs so far but most of it was lost during the liquids (2 weeks pre-op and 2 weeks post-op) and a little more during mushies (2 weeks). I have been on solids now for just under 2 weeks and i have basically been maintaining but i am definitely in bandster hell!! I am trying to listen to my body's "full signals" and have been trying to chew, chew, chew as practice. Though to be honest i am still eating much larger portions than i expected and i do not have any problems even if i let a large unchewed bite slip by. I am a very all or nothing kind of "dieter" and i am trying with all my might not to be that way with the Lap Band. For me this journey is all about moderation. To me, the time between my surgery and first fill is time for healing, not losing. Any loss is a bonus. I am following my doctor's rules. He has not said to restrict myself to 1 cup or less or anything like that so i eat approved foods in the quantity i am able to and leave it at that. I eat when i'm hungry and try to stop when i'm full. Doing that has kept me pretty steady at my current weight which itself is a victory since i NEVER MAINTAIN! (It is always either up or down... i'm very all or nothing, remember!) But i will be honest. I am ready to lose. I am ready to see this band in action. I am ready for my first fill. I have faith, but i am ready for some reassurance that the band will help me to eat smaller quantities. Good luck everyone. It's been quite a journey so far!!

I can completely relate! I was banded on 3/21 and then celebrated my birthday on 4/2 and my first anniversary on 4/14. For my birthday i was on full liquids and we did manage to go out but i can't say i really ate, but i did enjoy the company! For my anniversary yesterday we didn't go out to eat but we did have the top tier of our wedding cake that we had saved for the first anniversary. I cut my husband a nice sized piece and then stuck a small bit in the magic bullet with a some skim milk so it would blend. The first 2 bites were good and i got to share that moment with my husband, but honestly blended cake is not something i'd recommend to anyone. :thumbup:

My surgery date was March 21st, so today I'm exactly 3 weeks post-op. I've lost about 20 pounds since i started the pre-op diet. (2 week liquid pre-op) Ups: Weight-loss, knowing i'm healing, feeling like i've taken charge of my future, no heartburn, no "stuffed" feeling, food seems less important Downs: shoulder pain and gas pain made worse by the hiatal hernia i had, avoiding lunches at work (easier in mushie phase), got a bad rash near all my insisions (itchy, swollen, red, and mean lookin'), sitting up at work used to hurt, using up lots of vacation to recover. Things to stock up on: I got Protein shakes but bought WAY more than i needed. In mushies i've survived on cottage cheese, hummus and creamed Soup, but the newest thing i've started doing is pureeing Lean Cuisine meals. They don't look great, but they make me feel like i've had a meal so i don't keep grazing. I'm not worrying about limiting myself right now but i the scale continues to move in the right direction. I'm a strong believer in "now is the time to heal".

I'm also getting banded on March 21st. Just set the date today! Started the liquid diet this past Saturday. Had planned for a surgery date just a little before the 21st so that's why i started liquids a little early but now that i've started i figured i might as well keep going. I'll have to put up a signature soon, but my basic stats are: H - 5'2" Pre-Op - 199 Goal 1 - 136 (Normal BMI) Goal 2 - 125