littlefroggy

My incision is below my bra line in the middle of my upper torso. however, I discovered during my fill that the port is to the right of the scar and below it about an inch.

I don't think I would be able to drive home! Arrange a ride or take a cab!

My doctor requires an overnight stay, but I couldn't IMAGINE what it would have been like to go home! If given the chance stay overnight! I was pretty miserable for several hours, and it wasn't until probably 18 hours after the surgery (middle of the night) that I started to feel ok. By morning I was better, but walking was still tough. I think everyone should stay overnight and understand why my doctor requires it!

I agree about getting in enough calories. My doctor said 3 oz, 3x a day, and 800-1000 calories. Well, there isn't a food I have tried and like that is more than 200 calories for 3 oz. For example, my chicken salad is 160 calories for 3 oz. I have had some shredded bbq pork, and that's 90 calories for 2 oz. My meatloaf that I like is about 120 for 1 serving! I also like eggs, egg salad, grilled chicken, etc. All of that is low fat and low calories. So I am getting lots of Protein but not enough calories! I track on calorieking.com and am keeping track of everything I eat. The only days I get more than 1000 calories is if I eat something unhealthy!

I think as long as I am losing weight, I should be fine. Part of the issue is that I can't eat much in the morning (a few bites) and then have hardly any time to eat during the day at my job. At lunch today for example, I had about an oz of meatloaf and was full but also I just don't always have time to eat for very long. I tried to rush to get in some veggies but got a sort of stuck feeling. I am able to eat a lot more in the evening, so my "snacking" could be simply my regular eating? Who knows!

I burp constantly! Or at least it feels like it! I burp after eating or drinking. I used to burp quite a bit anyway, but they are very quiet burps (lady like ones someone said.) But I definitely notice it. One reason I got the band instead of gastric bypass is because I know people with the bypass and it causes them to fart a lot more-- and horrible farting! I would much rather have burping than farting! :bolt:

Didn't hurt at all! A slight needle pinch and that was all! Whew! I was worried! Also, right away I am filled to 5.25 cc. That really surprised me. She said a lot of people need 5 cc to even feel anything so now they are filling to 5 cc right away! I was very surprised. I was worried I would be going in every 6 weeks for 1 cc and it would take forever to get to 7 or wherever my "sweet spot" is. I am happy. Now it's liquids for 2 days. I'm excited because I haven't lost weight in 3 weeks, so I NEEDED this! How was your first fill?

I had my first fill today and she told me that I had about 1.75 cc in it already. I was surprised, but glad because that would explain a bit about why I haven't been too hungry!

Just an idea.. when it was my birthday (a week before my surgery) I told everyone the only thing I wanted was Old Navy and Target gift cards. Those are my CLOTHING only cards. I got about $300 and I figured at those stores it would get me a good amount of stuff. When the holidays roll around tell anyone who normally gets you a gift that you only want clothing store gift cards so you can get some clothes for your weight loss. I haven't lost much yet, but I scored a great little sweater at Goodwill WITH THE TAGS STILL ON! I have worn it several times and it makes me feel good just to know that I have something new. Also, do you have "skinny" clothes in other sizes? I happily fit into a pair of pants I haven't worn in about 4 years!

I would NEVER get it done! I have a friend who had it done and I uh, saw hers... her other friends make fun of her and call it "frankenp*ssy!" No way, never, ever, ever.

The yoga class was great. It was definitely more of a relaxation thing than feeling like I was getting exercise, though I stretched some long lost muscles and one thing was hard for my arms (holding them in a certain way out in front of me for several moments.) I am going to keep doing it, as I think it will help keep me focused, relaxed and limber. My class is called a "gentle" class, and everyone there was either overweight or over 60! My friend takes a class at the same place and it's a regular class. When the next session starts, I'll join her. I like this class though because the instructor is a bit chunky--- so it's not super intimidating! I took the same class a year ago and liked it then too, but it's different with the band. I had to do something where you lay on your stomach and lift your legs and arms up. It sort of hurt my port area, but not bad enough to stop. Unless you become a real yogi, I don't think yoga alone is enough exercise to really become your whole regime. It's more of an added bonus to whatever else you already do!!

I went to an Indian buffet today for lunch. I paid about $30 because I was also taking a friend out for her birthday, so I paid. I ate about 1/3 of a piece of tandoori chicken and a few bites of some chicken vindaloo or something (I can't remember the exact name.) Anyway, I figure I am at a restaurant as much for the company as for the food... it's ok. I have gone out about 3 times since being able to eat food, and the other two times had an appetizer. It worked for me. My doctor didn't give me a special card or anything saying I could order from the children's menu. Hey, do they have tapas where you live? It's Spanish food and comes in really small servings. Usually people all order 1-2 things and the whole table shares. That would be great for bandsters. There is a place by my house called Tidbit which I now want to try! :rolleyes2:

I am going to my first yoga class today!

I was having a hard time getting in more than 700 calories when I first started eating foods. Now I am getting in about 1100-1300. I will have to see if that helps, but I didn't lose any weight at 700 calories either! My stomach just couldn't hold more. try eating more!

Soup saved me! I would go to the grocery store where they have self-serve hot soups and scoop up soup but skip the veggies, noodles, etc and just get the broth. I would get 2-3 at a time and keep them in the fridge. Totally saved me!!! YUM!

If you can drink whey, look for something called NECTAR. It is clear and makes a sort of juice. I bought the lemon flavor, and it tastes like lemonade. I also added a to-go pouch of lemonade crystal light, but don't think it's really necessary. New! NECTAR - The protein that taste like fruit juice! It was very, very good, but I don't tolerate the whey, so only got to have it once! Try it! I found it at Vitamin Shoppe.

My calories range from 900-1300 or so. Sometimes I go under (like 700-800) and sometimes over (up to 1500) but overall it's within the range. My carbs are always very high, like 50-90 grams, but I eat a lot of soy products which have higher carbs that meat Proteins. I seem to be fine. My fiber ranges from 8-12 a day. I try to get to 60 grams of Protein, and am able to do that pretty easily by eating protein first at every meal. Fat is always high, and I really don't know why since I keep to low fat foods only! I have been having some avocado, salmon or olive oil, which I consider "good" fats, but still increases the fat intake. I keep track of it all on calorieking.com and am super happy with that website. I love calorieking because it organizes a lot of data for you. It organized my last two weeks and gave me my daily averages and breakdowns for two weeks. calories: 922 fat: 39 carbs: 75 protein: 67 fiber: 9 it also includes averages of Calcium, sodium, Iron, etc.

I wait half an hour. At work, I just don't bring Water or anything to drink to the lunch room. I have no restriction yet and have not had a fill. I don't want to lose weight too slowly, so at home I am very careful to watch the time. Twice I went out to eat since the surgery, and just pushed the water aside. BUT yesterday I was invited to a restaurant opening in my neighborhood and they had free wine and samples of the food... I'll admit, I had both- together. I am hoping it's ok once in awhile!

Count your lucky stars! I feel like I felt all of my teens and 20's overweight and lost out on a lot of experiences. When I turned 30 I decided to have it, and I finally had the surgery a week after my 31st birthday. I am determined, I may have been fat through my 20's but I won't be fat through my 30's!!! I wish I had this tool at 19. I honestly feel like my life would be VERY different if I had been able to lose weight and keep it off at 19! You can be so successful with this! Doors will open for you and you have a whole life ahead of you!! Try to keep positive. Soon you will be thinner, and ready to take on the world. The biggest regret I have is that there are so many things I have not done because I was embarrassed by my weight or unsure of how my body would do. I always wanted to travel abroad, but worried about being perceived as a "fat American." I skipped out on ski trips with friends, and other things that my friends did that I was afraid to do (water ski, snow board, etc.) I did those things as a kid, but in my adult life, never had the guts to do them again! I should have dated more, because I'm still single and haven't had a good, solid long-term relationship in about 6 years! (I do date, but I can't trust people much because I always wonder what they see in me so they are fairly short relationships!) Believe me, you are the perfect age to do this! Take on the world-- please, for me!!

Today was my first day of food. I tabulated my calories and was at 599 calories. My target should be 800-1000 according to my doctor and nutritionist. I want to stick to a healthy diet, but wonder, should I use real mayo instead of ff? Should I not worry about sugar free drinks? (The drinks would still be healthy of course.) I just don't know! Today I had: 3 oz of tuna w/ mustard and ff mayo 2 Morning Star Chik Nuggets w/ mustard Steamed veggies (like 2 pieces of carrot and 2 pieces of zucchini) 1 Turkey Meatball 3 mini whole wheat crackers w/ egg salad and no... I didn't stick to the "try one food a day" thing.... Um, how do YOU get in 1000 calories??

I kept to liquids, but the liquids I drank were not exactly on the list. I ended up having a lot of soup broth (instead of clear chicken broth, broth from chunky chicken soup- and no I was not straining it) and I drank Odwalla Juices. I was told not juice or drinks with calories, but I was hardly getting in enough calories anyway, and the 300 calories from the juice made me more normal (up to a whopping 600 calories!)

B- 2 Trader Joe's Turkey Meatballs (100 calories) L- 3 Morning Star Farms veggie chicken nuggets, mustard, 2 inches of a banana S- 2 mini tacos D- chicken salad w/ crackers, then some salmon on the side. Amazingly, that was 60 grams of protein!

Congratulations and good luck! I am in Seattle. I was self-pay and it was a lot more expensive than I see ads for on this board! But it has been completely worth it!

I totally over ate today, but not compared to before. I ate 1428 calories. That's about double what I had been able to eat up until now. I think my hunger kicked in and my stomach must have stretched. I'm still eating small quantaties but more often. Now I know I will have to watch it. Before I was worried about NOT ENOUGH CALORIES, now I need to make sure I get in GOOD CALORIES! B- 1 turkey meatball (50 calories) S- baked pita chips 228 (NOT A GOOD CHOICE!) L- 2 chicken Satay (left over from a Thai restaurant) 270 calories w/ peanut sauce 80 calories S- candy pumpkins (why oh why did I buy those?) 150 calories D- mini tacos 200 calories S- more candy pumpkins 100 calories S- more mini tacos 200 calories Now, I realize I am still way under my calories... but I ate too many times and I should NOT have had candy!! Ok, now I know I will go get a fill sooner rather than later! I am dumping them in the trash and pouring old Soup on top of them! Also, I didn't eat enough Breakfast (running out the door) and was hungry by 9:00 again but couldn't eat until my students had their snack at 11:00. That's when I pigged out on the pita chips.

I tried this stuff called Diet Viso. It's ok tasting but a bit strong. I have been mixing half with water. No calories, minerals, vitamins and electrolytes.