mamakatken

I'm so glad your second fill experience was better!

I started in the gym 4 weeks after my banding. It was so hard to get going...only lasted 5 minutes on the elliptical!! After only 3 weeks I'm up to 30 minutes on the elliptical and 30 minutes of resistance training. I only go 3-4 days a week, but I feel sooo much better!!! The days I don't go I feel so guilty and look forward to the day I go back. I'm in for keeping each other accountable and seeing how we progress!

There are some really great threads in the food and nutrition forums. I've gotten lots of ideas there. I eat a lot of shredded chicken salads with different flavorings. Hormel has a 5oz small can that I mix with black Beans, cumin, and cheese for a tex mex taste. In the chip aisle you can get tostitos creamy spinach dip. It has fewer calories than mayo and makes a great chicken salad with a few chopped up green onions and pecans. Eggbeaters omelets with laughing cow garlic and herb cheese and chopped mushrooms. At dinner I eat whatever the family is having on a small plate. The best thing is that I don't deprive myself of anything. I eat Cookies and ice cream...not everyday, but sometimes. The great thing is it's so easy to stop with one or two bites and feel completely satisfied. Be sure to visit the food and nutrition forum....it's addicting!!

This fill I can definately tell a difference. I'm being really careful and not testing it too much...no bread or fruit yet. I am not hungry all the time anymore and have to remind myself to eat. I can't drink down a 20 oz water in a few gulps anymore either. Breakfast this morning at 7am just a CIB because I really wasn't hungry. I took about 30 minutes to get it down slowly. Lunch at noon shredded chicken and black beans heated up with a little cheese to make a great tex-mex chicken salad. I'm sure this won't be my last fill, but I hope it works long enough for me to get off my weight loss plateau! I have 90 days of free fills after surgery to get to my sweet spot. My doctor's office is only 30 minutes away and they do fills every Monday and Tuesday. The NP that does the fills says she wants to get me to my sweet spot before the 90 days are up, then hopefully just a few maintenance fills later as I loose a lot of weight.

The day I got under 300# was so wonderful. I called all my friends to share it with them! At that point how much I weighed and keeping it secret really didn't matter anymore. I know I'll never see that number on the scales again and it's a great feeling! I tried out a Protein for supper....mashed up a boiled egg with a little mayo and cajun seasoning. It was just enough. Then had 2 mini chocolate chip Cookies with the kids tonight. So far the restriction is great! It's so different from the last fill. Now I hope the scales start moving again. It was hard to go through my first plateau. Keep up the good work everyone!!!!!!

My first fill I only had restriction for about 3 days then it was wide open! I told the NP the only reason I didn't gain weight was because I was working out. I didn't eat bad, just "normal". I took a few bites of anything if I wanted it and relied on willpower for the rest. I've been on full liquids for 24 hours after the 2nd fill. I had potato soup for lunch yesterday around noon and wasn't hungry until 8pm when I had a CIB. I work nights so about 2am I ate 1/2 cup mushed up baked Beans. I didn't feel hungry which was great! I only ate because my head hurt from cutting back so drasctically on calories that suddenly. I'll ty out a Protein tonight and let you know how it goes. So far I think this one will be much better....

Hey gals! Had my second fill today. I had only lost 2 pounds in 2 weeks, but at least it's down and not up. Especially since I was BAD over mother's day weekend! I now have 5cc in a 10cc band. I had very little restriction with the 3cc from last fill. I work out 1 hour 3-4 days a week, so I'm staying active and I can tell the inches are melting. I hope with 5cc I won't be so hungry all the time. How's everyone else out there?

so.....how'd it go?

Hello April Fool's Avengers!! I had my first fill today. It went really well. I arrived at the surgical center around 10am was taken to a room around 1015. The same NP that sees me for my regular appointments does the fills, so I was happy to see her! They had me lay down on a bed and felt around on my port side and cleaned my site really well with alcohol and betadine. The NP put her fingers on either side of where she felt the port. A quick xray confirmed she was in the right spot, then she inserted the needle between her fingers. It didn't hurt like I thought it would (Just like someone pinching you with their finger nails). I felt a little pressure as she pushed the needle through the port then she injected the saline and the needle came out quickly. I have a 10cc band and she injected 3cc. I sipped a little water without problems, and was back on the road by 1035! Quick and simple!!! I've had some unsweet tea and cream of chicken soup without any problems. My first 3 months of fills were included in my surgical fee, so she said to come back when I notice that I'm eating more than 1 1/2 cups of food or not staying full for at least 4 hours after eating. I hope everyone else had a great experience like mine!!

I found a great new use for Tostitos creamy spinach dip! 1/4 cup eggbeaters cooked into an omelet warm 2 tbs creamy spinach dip and cheese of choice in microwave (I love laughing cow garlic and herb) to use as filling My new favorite breakfast! Would be great with chopped turkey bacon and mushrooms when on solids for added Protein.

B: eggbeaters omelet with laughing cow herb & garlic cheese wedge L: baked salmon and cabbage D: turkey taco meat wrapped in spinach leaves S: handful of almonds nightime: decaf coffee with caramel devinci syrup

I'm stuck at 22# loss and banded April 1. All was well the first 2 weeks, then I hit a wall and I haven't lost a pound since. I'm not too discouraged right now because I haven't had my first fill (going this Tues!). I did get back in the gym this week and really feel good and have a lot more energy. I think I'll just ignore the scales until my fill day so that's not all I think about (LOL).

You could try just a small snack in the midmorning such as a few nuts, a tsp of hummus, or a tsp of natural peanut butter to give you some calories and energy then get back on track with a family meal for lunch and supper.

I painted my own toes yesterday (my girls didn't have to do it!) and didn't get out of breath...and didn't have to fix all the mess ups afterwards. Went to the waffle house after workout this morning (ate 1/2 cup plain grits with my workout partner) and fit into the booth!

Welcome Nortone! The April Fools Avengers are a great group!!!! 15# is great!! My weight loss includes my preop diet, but I'm also 15# from day of surgery. So we're both doing great and staying right on track. I know it's hard to be on the full liquids for so long, but looking back this will seem like such a short time in our lives. I'm also a L&D nurse in Louisiana. Just went back to work past Saturday. THankfully only did 3 triages and 1 admit, so I had time to get back in the swing of things (ha ha).I'm working hard on my NP degree and will graduate in October (whoo hoo!!) Be sure to keep us all posted on how great you're doing! I have found sooo much info from all the great bandsters here, and really feel supported!

B: CIB with skim milk S: (after 45 min workout) sugar free jello with cool whip L: 1/2 cup spinach chicken salad (thanks georgia girl!) S: 12 almonds & colby jack cheese stick D: 1/2 cup mashed potatoes with shredded beef gravy

Thanks to everyone for all the great ideas! B: creamy spinach omelet L: 1/2 filet tilapia, 2oz shrimp, wedge laughing cow garlic and herb D: other half of seafood salad mixture from lunch S:CIB with skim mild

Thanks for the tip! Has anyone had their first fill yet? Mine is scheduled for the 29th and boy am I ready. Mushies are fine, and I get full, but I'm ready (mind wise) to feel the restriction everyone always talks about.

you crack me up! Like I said...i'm not a computer genious! My kids show me stuff when I'm screaming at the screen! I know whatcha mean about low calories and trying to function!

I love mushies!!! Oatmeal, chicken salad, baked fish.....I feel sooo satisfied!! Anyone else? How have the post op check ups gone? I go tomorrow.

I'm laughing myself out of my chair!!!! I just told my best friend that yesterday and swore her to secrecy!!! It is about the simple things! Just wait until you "mow the lawn" so to speak....it's great to be able to see what you're doing!! I'm soooooo happy to know you guys!

neato....there are usually several different format codes offered. Make sure you copy the one that says it's for forums...if that doesn't work another not so computer genious instead of me may have to help! LOL

Ok....anyone else getting hungry?!?!? I'm still on soups and liquids..can start mushies on Tuesday according to my doc's protocol. I've been soooo good at sticking to my post op diet so everything 5 years from now will be great. BUT, I'm starting to get hungry more and more. I know that this is a short time and before I know it I'll be back on real food. Just need some encouragement from my April Fools sisters and to know I'm not alone!

Boy......what a bunch of loosers!! Congratulations to us all!!!!! Keep up the good work!!!