Luscious

Well, first off I'm glad you were able to get your fill. Sorry it was not so easy for you. So, did the doc explain why your port is on its side? Any long term consequences for that?

When you have to sneak behind the clothes racks in the stores so you can reach in to pull up your undies that are only being help up by the crotch of your trousers.

Awwww Batkitty, so sorry you freaked out. I suspect you are very normal. I also feel like I could eat a rump steak (but I'm not going to test it :-) Dhal is very easy to eat - so imagine it went right on down to the lower portion of your stomach with no trouble. I think it just depends so much on what the food is you are eating. I'm one month out now, and scheduled for my first fill tomorrow (although I expect due to infection I won't be having it :-<). I had some chicken mince last night that filled me up after about 80 grams - and yet I can eat 120 grams of salmon with no trouble.

Hi Connie, unless you had a large pre-op weight loss, I would say your weight loss is excellent. I would think 10 pounds a month is at the high end of what people can expect to lose, whilst maintaining a healthy diet. Your diet looks well balanced to me.

I understand there are moments when liquid phase is very tough. However, a few weeks of toughing it out will be well worth the long term benefit. I'm now about to be allowed back on "normal" food. I barely remember the liquid phase now - a distant memory. In retrospect, I'm glad I managed to stick with it.

I've been using Ebay. I set up a "clothing fund" for my sales ($700 in there so far) and am using that account to purchase new items in smaller sizes - I plan to onsell them again as I drop in sizes.

My opinion is that it is useful to track food at least for a short while until you get the hang of what you need to eat to get enough Protein (usually at least 60-70 grams a day) and ensure you are not accidentally eating too few or too many calories. There are lots of online tools that can help you. www.fitday.com is one I use. I'm not obsessive about it (if I go out, etc) for for most days of the week it helps keep me honest.

I blend some berries or Weight Watchers Fruit salad with skim milk and use that milk to make my oatmeal for breakfast. Yummy. I also mush up some WW apricots or peaches with some LF custard and have that for supper. You could try mixing some fruit with cottage cheese for a healthy snack also. I always make sure I have at least 70 grams Protein a day, and my mid morning and afternoon "snack" is a cup of wholesome homemade vegetable Soup. For me, its important to have 2 serves fruit a day. I haven't had fill yet, so it may be challenging for me to get all this in after the fill. I try to have at least 1100 calories a day.

In addition to what Jack said above, there is also the issue of how your body stores Water and energy in the form of glycogen. This URL explains it all very well. Human Body Energy Stores and Losing Weight « Health Blog - Health And Fitness Tips

I have one of these for my "supper" also - its really delicious and satisfying (without too many calories). Keeps my chocolate cravings satisfied.

Perhaps you missed my sentance that said.... You are certainly entitled to your view to disagree :-) Like I said, more power to you - whatever you are doing is clearly working for you.

Actually, I just posted my favourite yummy Bircher Muesli recipie in the Australian forum a couple of days ago.... I love oatmeal for breakfast, but prefer it cold in Summer. This keeps for 1 month stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Combine 4 cups of rolled oats, 1 cup wheat germ, 1/4 cup linseeds, 1/4 cup sunflower seeds, 1 cup sultanas (or chopped dried apricots) and 1 cup chopped roasted or slivered almonds. To make the muesli, soak 1/2 cup of muesli with 1/2 cup low fat milk overnight. In the morning add grated apple and 2 tbsp low fat natural or vanilla yoghurt then fold through.

Baked Beans in tomato sauce on 1/2 toasted english muffin.... Mashed sardines in hot sauce on slice of soy/linseed toast Soft poached egg on LF cooked hash brown Bircher Muesli Oatmeal with pureed apple and cinnamon LF Cottage cheese, mixed with apricots or peaches and dried fruit

Hi Luluc.... seems like you have done very well with your weight loss. Congratulations. You are certainly entitled to your view to disagree with the majority on this point, however I think its important to help the new bandsters (like me) understand that the purpose of the band is to trigger full feelings, and satisfaction, with smaller quantity of food. The triggers that tell you that you are satisfied are in the upper portion of the stomach - which is why the smaller upper pouch works for long term portion (and therefore reduced calorie) control. If you are washing food down to the lower pouch by drinking when you eat, you are not reaping the benefits of the band. Now if you have been able to carefully monitor your food intake and keep it to 1100 calories a day, and exercise then more power to you for your success. I personally tried that and failed many times. If you are one of the small % of overweight people who can succeed via calorie control and exercise I wonder why you had the band? I just see the band as a tool to help me reduce my food intake without those feelings of wanting more.. more.. more.

food PORN !!! mmmmm Roast pumpkin - my fav. you know its great when you cut it into small cubes, and roast it (just lighly spray with olive oil spray) until golden brown. The roasted cubes are amazing cold, topped on your salad.

Hi Deb, I guess you just have to push on and hope that it all goes to schedule. This is not always a fast process, so some element of patience needs to be practised (very hard for me - I'm so impatient). If the hernia needs to be done first, then cross that bridge when you come to it. Just know that the banding will happen. Poor Judy (Jet) has had a hard time of it. I'm glad that you reached out to your doctor today, and I'm sure you will start feeling better soon. For Deb, my banding experience has been quite smooth. I had my surgery on 7th April and I've already had great improvement to my blood sugar levels (type 2 diabetic) and weight has been dropping off. Of course I expect that to slow down - my large weight loss has been because I've been able to halve my medications, and controlled blood sugars - I'm very happy. I have no restriction right now - and have already been allowed onto soft foods. Am scheduled for first fill next Tuesday - but still have a minor infection in my port incision - healing slowly, so might have to have the fill deferred. But I'm not really hungry, so I should be able to cope. Hang in there girls !!

Well I don't have kids - and I don't know how much help you have from a husband or partner, or if you are single mum. Everyone is different. I tried to go grocery shopping after 6 days and ended up having to have it home delivered. Things such as washing, housework, etc might be challenging. I would struggle caring for all those young kids even without the surgery :-) so pat on the back for you and all the mums. Personally, I think you should plan to have your mom for at least 1 week. I really didn't want to do much but sleep (snooze) for the first 4 days - but I had to stay on painkillers for a few days longer than some. Best wishes for your journey.

Hey Deb, great news. Your dieting history sounds so similar to many people's (including mine). Best wishes to you on your journey - and please ask any questions, etc. The people here are so helpful, and we can all learn from each others' experience.

Hi Ozygirl, welcome !! It will definately get better. I also had a lot of pain, lots of bruising, etc. I was feeling much better after about 5-6 days. I actually took 2 weeks off work, but could probably have gone back after 8-9 days. Please take it easy - Tuesday is quite soon to return to work. I hope your job is not too stressful or physical, you will probably have to take things quite slowly. Best wishes on your journey.

Band or not, restriction or not, post op diet or not... There is enough on here to encourage and support you, and enough to warn you to take the time to let your stomach heal. Going forward (long term) remember that the band is a tool to help us lose weight, the work still needs to be done by us. Regardless of anything else, McDonalds is not going to help you lose weight and be healthy (16g fat in the filling). Please take care of yourself and your band. Please take care of your body - healthy things in !!!

HELL YES !!! lol But it does get better every day. My bloating and gas had gone after 5-6 days.

Hi there.... well I don't know if its normal you are going crazy :smile: I guess everyone reacts to the post op diet differently. I was (am) very lucky - I've not really had an issue craving food, or feeling frustrated. I recovered quite quickly, and at each stage my dietician allowed me to move on a few days early (after consultation). I am only 3.5 weeks post op and already on the final week (soft food) before moving onto solids. So... is it normal you feel so good - I don't know what is "normal" here, but you are clearly recovering well, so this is a good thing.

Hi Lita, glad to hear you are doing well. I suggest you have a chat to your doctor/clinic/dietician. They let me move onto mushie stage a few days early because I was recovering and having no problem with liquids. Your folks may well let you move early also, but please don't do this without discussing with them. I have an infection on side of my port incision which is unfortunately starting to get me down (after having a brilliant time of this for the past 3.5 weeks). It just isn't getting any better, and the antibiotics didn't make much difference. Went to see my doc, and he didn't want to give me a 2nd course, saying it will heal itself now, but 3 days later its still the same :-(

Hi Jet, I understand the need for something with flavour. I'm not sure if you are up to doing any cooking, but I made a celeriac soup, to which I added some filleted sardines crusted with rock salt and cracked pepper (John West brand). This really got me through the final days of my liquid phase. If you like sardines (or smoked mackeral works too) it is perfect balance of protein and vege carbs. I love this soup. Search my posts and you will find the recipe for it. To post your ticker.. you should cut and paste the html code into the large square signature box (not in the URL field which I tried to do for a while till the penny dropped). You need to use a photo editing program to resize your photo.

Ok, so I admit that I didn't "cook" this so much as put it in the microwave for 5 minutes :-) In any event it was quite delicious, very healthy, and just the right serving size..... Birds Eye Steamed Fish - Lemon and Mild Chilli 125 calories