Luscious

Holly, I think most people are very paranoid, senstive to every little thing - I sure was - I was suddenly aware of every freckle on my tummy I didn't know was there before, every noise my body made (and trust me, there were plenty of noises the first couple of weeks :->). Everything will settle down just fine in no time, it will all feel very normal. Six weeks post op, I actually forget the band is there sometimes.

As far as I'm concerned, good homemade veggie soup will be my savour - both in terms of comforting me (its coming into Winter here) and adding some valuable fibre and nutrients - at very low calories. I read once that people who drank a cup of vegetable soup one hour before lunch and/or dinner, naturally ate less during their meal, and lost more weight long term. Works for me.

Yep, after a week on low sodium intake (<2400 per day) blood pressure is back to normal, and scales dropped 3.5 kilo (7 pounds) this past week.

There are so many things about losing weight that make me feel so good and positive - health benefits are the #1 priority for me. Having normal blood sugar levels for the first time in 10 years is great. I guess I always look within myself to feel good and positive about myself - I actually don't care what men think of me (well, except for my boyfriend).

Ouchie... you poor thing. I sneezed in the first few days after surgery - talk about ouchie.

Everyone is different, depends on how well/quickly your stomach settles after the op - remember, liquids go right past the band, so you shouldn't expect them to make you feel full.

Yes, it seems you learned the hard way. I expect the pain only happens when we don't treat the band with respect, or do the right thing. I'm sure you realise now that crackers and Protein bars, and bites of burgers don't really fall into the mushie food category. The mushie period is there for a reason - to help your stomach heal - you don't want to work it too hard - its likely still swollen from the surgery. Take it easy - good luck - and keep away from those non-mushy foods until your doc says its ok (no matter how good you chew). Also, eating too much at one time can cause the pain (so I've heard - haven't experienced it for myself yet :->)

I got the crock pot out this weekend ... this was DELICIOUS (and even better the next day). 1.5 kgs lean lamb fillet (cubed) 2 lebanese eggplants chopped (I like them peeled, personal choice) 2 onions chopped 6 teaspoons minced ginger 1 teaspoon tumeric 2 cloves garlic 2 teaspoons green curry paste 1 teaspoon minced chilli (or 1 chilli pod chopped) 110grams (1 cup) coconut milk powder 1 cup boiling Water In pan: Brown the lamb in batches, placing on paper towels to absorb Cook the onion until golden Add the eggplant and cook 1 minute Add mixture of tumeric, ginger, garlic, green curry paste, chilli - cook for 1 minute or until fragrant Add the contents of the pan, and the lamb to crock pot Cook on auto for 6 hours - one hour before needed, add coconut powder mixed with boiling water and stir through. YUMMY CURRY I worked it out to be around 350 calories per cup.

I had been tracking my food on fitday.com, but found it very difficult - all in imperial measurements, and no Australian foods were recognised. I was having to enter everything as a custom food. I have now found a GREAT Australian site, which you can modify to track your calories, Protein, carbs, sodium, fibre, fat, etc. (so everything that Fitday does, and more). I love it, and the food database is very extensive. For those that are looking for something local, and don't know about it already, it is www.calorieking.com.au

I'm so glad you are ok. I am (was) a total gum addict - and always swollowed without thinking. I can't trust myself now, so I've stopped buying it - have switched to Eclipse sugar free mints.

I'm not sure I agree with the Protein first rule, that seems to be a very North American centric guideline (certainly not what my medical folks advised). I realised I had to increase my vegetables, in the form of home made vegetable Soup to help me get through the hungers, and a good bowl of oats keeps me going in the morning. My first fill has been delayed - so I'm really working hard to continue to lose weight. I'm tracking my calories and keeping them at around 1200. I take in 70-80 grams protein per day, around 36 grams of good fat, and around 160 grams of good carbohydrates. I am steadily losing around 2-3 pounds per week. Don't get me wrong, still looking forward to having some restriction - I hear from my medical folks this likely won't happen until 2nd or 3rd fill - so I have to be disciplined for a bit longer. So I guess the short answer to your question is the good old fashioned, age old answer - eat less, exercise more :-)

Did anyone buy a present for themselves after getting banded (apart from the band itself of course :->) I bought myself a Pandora Bracelet. Silver with a Gold Clasp. I decided I would buy myself a gold/silver bead (charm) and a gold separator charm for every 5 kgs I lose. So far I have 3 gold/silver beads and 3 gold separators. I figure by the time I get to goal weight it will be nice and full, and will mean a lot to me. My Pandora, Fabulous Jewellery

I am always amazed by the different foods you can get overseas, What the ???? is "coolwhip" and "marshmallow cream". You Americans can never laugh at our Vegemite ever again :-) Out of curiosity, I looked up Coolwhip and Marshmallow cream on the internet. Some scarey ingredients.... Coolwhip: Ingredients: Water, CORN SYRUP, HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL (COCONUT AND PALM KERNEL OILS), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LESS THAN 2% OF SODIUM CASEINATE (FROM MILK), NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, XANTHAN AND GUAR GUMS, POLYSORBATE 60, SORBITAN MONOSTEARATE, BETA CAROTENE (COLOR). Marshmallow Fluff: (slightly less scarey, at least I recognise these). Corn syrup, sugar syrup, vanilla flavor, and egg white.

p.s. does anyone know how to update the weight tracker? Hi Stephanie, if you cut and paste the code text you are given on the ticker page directly into your signature block, it will update automatically here when you update on the ticker page.

My understanding is that it takes most people around 3 fills before they feel restriction (everyone is different I guess). I am carefully tracking my calories and keeping at 1200 a day - because I'm determined to keep losing - restriction or no restriction. Every time I feel hungry I choose to embrace it as a victory step towards my goal :-)

So many people misunderstand the difference between what your body weighs, and how much body fat you have. Yes, if you eat a pound of food, and set on the scales, you will likely be one pound heavier. If you drink a litre of water you will be 1 kilo heavier - but that is transient weight - in and out of your body. The only way you can gain a pound of body fat is to eat 3500 calories more than you use.

I have not been able to have my first fill yet due to infection at the port site :-( Yes, its a stuggle during this phase until you have some restriction - my dietician and surgeon told me this usually takes around 3 fills. In the meantime, I am continuing to lose weight by carefully tracking my food and calories at 1200 per day. No matter how hungry I am, I'm determined to not gain any of the weight I've lost so far since my surgery.

I have no idea what a gyro is either? You americans and your wierd names for food :-) I am assuming its like a Doner Kebab? That meat is pretty iffy at the best of times - I never like to think how long its been on the spit.

Well, I know what NOT to take... an Iron supplement :-( My pre-op blood tests showed my iron levels were low, and because not a lot of red meat, I bought an iron supplement - which has caused me 2 weeks of very difficult BMs. I just discovered the connection when googling for constipation relief. I bought some benefibre - and stir it into my morning Vitamins. Can't taste it or smell it - great stuff.

90-100 grams of protein might be a bit high. Recommended amount for your weight is 80 grams. Try reducing your protein and increasing your good carbs.

No... everyone is different. Please try not to have expectations, then you won't be disappointed. I lost only 2 pounds first week - was so swollen and bruised. My tummy was bigger post surgery than pre-surgery - took about 3 weeks for it to settle down.

I almost lived on cottage cheese mixed with tuna - and homemade vegetable soup (put through the blender).

I have always suffered from night time hunger. I find that a nice Jarrah Hot chocolate (around 40 calories) around 8.30pm gets me through until bed time. If I'm really hungry I will have some diet jelly (jello) with Weight Watchers Fruit salad and a splash of low fat thickened cream. I find the cream really satisfies me without being too damaging. Better to have that and count the calories, then be standing longingly staring into an open fridge.

As long as you count it in your daily calorie allowance, I don't see the harm. Why not buy the single serve weight watchers varieties (do they have those in USA?). That way you know exactly what you are eating. The calcium is good for you, and ice cream is relatively low GI.

It makes me so sad when I read so many posts on this forum from folks who don't seem to have had the proper education (psychological) on the band. So many seem to think that weight will magically fall off, without any effort. You still have to diet, you still have to watch what you eat, you still have to exercise, you still have to eat healthy food, you still have to have willpower. I see the benefit of the band as being nothing more than a tool that will help keep me honest - if for no other reason than it was a $17,000 investment. No donut will ever pass my lips again without me asking myself - "is this donut worth $17,000?" Perhaps your doctor can recommend a dietician or councellor who can help you through the changes? Good luck to you.