Luscious

My experience was mostly fine - the only problem I had was they were telling me to take deep breaths, but the tube was still in, so I couldn't take a deep breath - that horrible choking feeling. I remember trying to put my hands up to my mouth to pull the tube out. I heard someone say "get that tube out", and after that I was fine.. just like being woken up from a nice sleep really.

Hi there... my port is also RIGHT under the incision. I went for my first fill 4 weeks post op, and doc. was not able to get the needle in because of the scar tissue. I have had an infection, which he believes has made the tissue around the incision a bit tougher to get through. I had to leave it for 2 weeks to see if it settles down :-( I go back next week. I don't even want to think about what happens if the 2nd attempt fails. I am keeping my calories to around 1300 a day, but it feels like the old days of white-knuckling through a diet.

I had Salmon Ramen tonight from Wagamamas.... they have several restaurants around Australia. This was VERY good (and enough for me to bring half home in doggie bag for tomorrow night too). Ramen is very healthy.

My port incision has a small area on the left side that got a bit infected, and its taking its time healing fully. I finished a course of antibiotics and it got a little better, but still needs some more time. Doc has warned me he won't do my first fill next Tuesday if its not 100% - I totally understand that position, but my problem is I have to go overseas for work for a little while end of May, which means I would not be able to get my fill until I return 20th June, and those who have travelled to the US will understand that the food readily available when doing the hotel thing is not exactly healthy and in small portions. I am coping ok NOW, but I'm not too thrilled about having to wait 7 more weeks till my first fill. Please keep your fingers crossed for me next Tuesday.

Can you buy "no added sugar" varieties in America? Or maybe squeeze your own? OJ is very good for you when you choose a healthy version of it. Watch the calories though.

Since I got my food processor, I don't really use the blender anymore. The food processor totally rocks. I always use my scales.

I have 2 very close female friends. The "slim" one is very happy and very supportive of my choice. The "slightly larger" one went on a crash diet the day I told her about my banding, and seems to want to turn this into some type of competition (although Its very one sided - I'm not really into game playing of any kind). I think there are probably a lot of "friends" out there who would have a similar thought process to your friend. In the case of my friend - I guess it made her feel like she wasn't really overweight when compared to me. My way of dealing with it is to not expend any energy concerning myself over it. I figure she is doing enough thinking for the both of it. I have no problem, and am focussing energy on myself right now.

What you need to look at is body fat loss (inches). Its quite normal for scales to go up and down (even by several kilos) when you are switching from liquid to mushies, and in hospital you probably lost a lot of Water weight (not necessarily fat cells). I don't agree with the views of many here that you gain weight if you restrict your calories. Sorry to hear about all your gall bladder problems.

The area where my needle marks were left after my unsuccessful fill attempt last week started getting inflamed, and the infection flared up as angry as it looked 4 weeks ago. So I went to visit my local GP on the weekend and he immediately put me on another course of antibiotics, and need to go back and visit him next saturday so he can check progress. I am getting seriously stressed about this wound - its been 5 weeks since my surgery, and it really doesn't seem to be getting any better. The infection is at the far left end of the incision, and is not very big, only about 1/4 inch around - but enough to be causing me grief. Hopefully these stronger antibiotics will help. Until I'm all healed up I can't get a fill - and the longer the incision is angry - the more scar tissue I'm going to have. I am seriously worried how this is going to impact my ability to get fills. My port is RIGHT under the incision scar :-( Sorry that my usually cheerful and positive outlook is a bit challenged at the moment. I went to see one of the surgeons 2 weeks ago and showed him the wound - I asked for another course of antibiotics at that time, but he said it would heal itself up :-( I totally understand that they don't want to overdo antibiotics these days, but I think its so important to ensure this gets better.

Yep, a couple of troubleshooting tips. Check if you have a pop up blocker activated - that will prevent PMs from opening. Also, try deleting your Cookies.

Or, you can use one of the many online calorie calculators.... like this one.... Calorie Calculator

Try this calorie calculator - will give you an idea on what your body uses each day. 3500 calorie defecit is needed to lose 1 pound - so the calculator helps you keep your intake at healthy levels. Calorie Calculator

I had to take this horrible licorice tasting drink when they did my post op x-ray. I was told to expect this will give you the runs big time. It will clear itself up. Just make sure you keep your Water intake up.

I'd love a treadmill.... I have a Curves across the road from my home - are they good? What is the concept? Best wishes for your mini-goal. I have to go to a wedding also in mid-June. I am going to wear the beautiful red / jewelled pashmina I bought when on a business trip to India last year. The great thing about the pashmina is that it will "fit" no matter what size I am.

I think it would be ok to suck on a sugar free sweet or mint (I have the eclipse mints). Try some V8 juice heated up with some cracked pepper. I've started having this instead of my mid-afternoon coffee.

My dietican for banding told me to make sure I get 70 grams Protein a day (which is the correct, healthy amount for my current weight). That is what I do - rest of my calories are made up of good fats (about 25% of my cals) and remainder are low GI carbs. I don't follow the "protein first" rule that many follow here - in fact, I don't have any protein until lunch (Breakfast is oats). I did the Atkins diet many years ago. I lost a lot of weight - about 30 kgs over about 6 months. I was even a moderator on a low carb forum. HOWEVER, you cannot sustain this way of eating for life - its just way too restrictive and in my humble opinion very unhealthy to follow for any period of time. I lost A LOT of hair - masses of it (despite all the protein). My breath was horrendous, and I developed kidney problems and was told to reduce my protein quick smart. No doctor or dietician I have ever seen here in Australia has recommended this as a healthy way to eat. I am very educated on low carbing and can say without any hesitation that I will NEVER put my body through that way of eating again. I do limit my carbs now to low GI, that just makes good sense, and I do tend to focus on my carbs early in the day, just because I find that my blood sugar levels react better to that (I'm type 2 diabetic).

Yes, Vegemite is one of those very odd foods - I can objectively understand why those not weaned on it will hate it. Last night I tried the weight watchers frozen cottage pie - it was OK for those times you need a freezer emergency dinner - just the right size, around 250 calories, satisfying and easy to eat. Tonight I stir fried some chopped chicken thigh with some fresh basil, chilli, light soy, honey and some broccolli, capsicum strips, carrot strips. Yummy !!!

We went out for fancy dinner 3 weeks post my surgery. I ordered atlantic salmon fillet, and side of mashed potatoe. The salmon (when good quality, cooked well) flakes very easily, and was approved by my clinic.

The multiple needle puncture wounds (:>) are almost exactly above my incision, so I am guessing that means my port is right under it.. I hope that doesn't lead to long term challenges. I do feel like I could eat whatever I like. I don't want to test myself though - I've gotten used to a restricted diet, and will try and keep it that way (no bread, no sweets, or rubbish, etc).

I would take it as a positive sign that your body has adapted well to the band and is not stressed by it. Regardless, you need to take care of your investment. Also... please don't take this wrong way (anything I write is meant with kindness and support)... children in Africa are starving - I like to remind myself that my body has enough stores to keep it going for some time without starving:)

45 grams of Protein doesn't sound enough (depening on what you weigh). Here is a calculator that can help you understand how much protein you need. Also, after weight loss the body tends to shift things around inside. I just convince myself this is my body losing the fat cells permanently. Remember, its normal to slow to a weight loss of between 1 and 3 pounds per week. You probably won't see movement on the scale for days at a time - that is normal. You have lost 36 pounds - you are doing great.

I think most of us are here because we can't stick to 1500 calories long term (speaking very loudly for myself here). I'm hoping the band does 2 things: 1. Makes me feel satisifed on 1500 calories (or 1200 is my goal) 2. Warns me and makes it harder for me to eat more than i plan.

No problem for me... from 1st night I was able to find a comfy spot.

Hi there hope2behealthy.... Your post made me feel sad, and concerned for you. Only 5 weeks in and you are already having multiple days of pizza and sugar cookie dough? Please don't take my response as mean - but as an act of concern and hope for you to succeed - and reach the goals that your Profile name suggests - that you hope to be healthy !! You really should go and talk to nutritionist. You may not like what she might tell you, but it will be constructive in that it might help you. Losing weight is a science - the body works in mysterious ways - consuming Protein helps to store Water weight in your muscle cells, eating carbs helps to store glycogen in your liver - the bottom line is that you need to expend 3500 calories more than you consume to lose 1 pound of body fat. Anything else up or down is really just "water weight" Best wishes to you. Luscious.

Went to the doc today for my first fill... he tried hard (twice) but was not able to do the fill due to hard tissue from my incision :-( I have another appointment in 2 weeks in the hope the site will calm down. I am going to have to apply some serious willpower over the next couple of weeks.