Melinco

Amy, you may also want to try Miralax. It is what my surgeon recommended to me to take daily. You can either buy it in the singles packs (10 to a box) or in the bulk containers. I buy the singles so I don't have to measure, but I think I might switch as the singles can be costly. But I use it every other day now and it keeps me going every 2 or 3 days. I'm sure if I took it daily it would have me going daily. I'm sorry you had to go to the ER to get your issue taken care of, but now that it is, I hope you are able to keep on top of it and keep things moving.

I take it you didn't read where Elfie said she is at restriction, or where she said that normally these foods aren't considered sliders, but for her they are. Each person may have a food that works differently for him or her than it will for someone else. That is why each person needs to listen to his or her own body, and adjust or act accordingly. Just like some people are so tight in the morning that they can only tolerate liquids, but others are able to eat solid foods for Breakfast. Each person is different. Elfie, I'm sorry your lasagna didn't turn out to be a good food for you. I do like the suggestion that another poster made of using thin slices of zucchini as the noodles (eggplant would work too but that is an icky food for me! . Maybe I'll do that this weekend. My hubby never gets lasagna from me as I'm not a big fan, but I think I could handle the zucchini lasagna.

Yay Elfie! When you're finished with your snow, can you come over and do mine too? I know my hubby won't! I go this afternoon for another fill, my third. I'm really hoping that it gets me close to my sweet spot, because I'm eating too much and too fast, almost like I didn't have the band at all, and I've got 5.6 ccs in my 10 cc band (which can hold 12 ccs). Although I did lose 2.2 pounds this week, I think it was because I exercised 5 days last week.

I'm down 2.2 pounds this week. New weight, 247.4. I can't wait for my fill this afternoon. My husband remarked upon how quickly I ate lunch yesterday and it's true. The restriction seems to have flown the coop! (Maybe I can find it on farmville since I just expanded my chicken coop! lol) I think this weight loss was truly from exercising five days last week. ETA: I use Mondays as my official weigh in date so my figures on the spreadsheet reflect that.

I made this recipe this week and like JM said, it is quite salty. You probably should cut way back on the marinade.

I've never been on a cruise so you can skip my suggestion if you'd like. However, what if you eat a healthy breakfast and lunch, then allow yourself a richer dinner? That way, you're having two healthy meals, and one extravagant meal. Keep up with your exercising, maybe add a bit more, and I would imagine you'd be okay. Just watch your alcohol intake so you're not taking in too many empty calories. Most of all, relax and have fun!

I had my surgery on a Thursday, saw my surgeon the following Tuesday for my post op where he removed the strips from my incisions and cleared me for driving. My surgery center (as my surgery was out patient) called a couple days after surgery to ask how I was doing. I then saw my surgeon at the support group a couple of weeks later (he attends each one monthly), and then at my first fill, my second fill, and will see him again when I go in for my third fill on Monday, then again in early March at that support group meeting. So assuming I attend the monthly support group meetings, I will see him at least once a month. More often depending on how many fills I get.

I'd say you probably could use a fill. I know that we shouldn't be getting hungry before four hours or so if we're at the sweet spot, or green zone, especially if you are making wise food choices and getting your protein in.

It probably is time for another fill. After you lose a significant amount of weight (which I'd call 50 pounds), not only are you losing fat in your legs, butt, breasts, arms, etc., but also losing fat around your stomach. Therefore, when your band was originally installed, it was not only around your tummy, but around the fat that's around your tummy. As you've lost weight, that fat around your tummy has shrunk, therefore making your band looser. Give your doc a call and schedule another fill. If after the fill you're still not losing weight, then I'd suggest taking a serious look at what you're eating and how much you're exercising. Perhaps you should journal your food for about a week so you can see exactly what it is you are putting in your mouth. Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

I voted no as I'm just not in to showing off my lady bits. In fact, if we went by the finger tip rule, I'd be showing off not only my lady bits but my assets as well! lol I must have really short arms. However, I would wear a skirt that comes an inch or two above my knees. But not much more than that.

Last week I only lost 0.4 pounds. But I didn't exercise at all. I was so frustrated by it that I swore I'd add back in my exercise and I have, four days in a row now. It will be interesting to see what the scales say on Monday. Have you had any fills yet? I still think that I can get some more restriction, although I'm eating good, for the most part. I go Monday for my 3rd fill. I'm ready for it. I want to be one of those who gets full after eating 1/2 cup of food. I'm easily eating 1.5 cups of food, if not more, for most lunches and almost all dinners. Breakfast I stick to my yogurt and cheese stick. We'll get there Michelle, one way or the other!

I joined the Easter Challenge, forgetting that the April Fool's challenge was here. However, I'll set the same goal. 230 pounds That's where I want to be come April 4. I'm currently 249.6 (actually as of this morning I was 248.6) but I use the weight I am on Mondays as my official weight. So 19.6 pounds.

I've had several of the Morning Star products, and I like some better than others. I don't think they are sliders at all as you have to chew them just like you would normal meat. However, I have an issue with the texture of some of their products (at least the Italian Sausage) as it seems kind of soft for me. I'm really weird when it comes to texture. If it feels "odd" to me, I'm not going to eat it. That's the reason I can't stand cottage cheese. Ugh, that stuff is nasty to me (due to texture - but if I blend it and mix it with ranch dressing mix - it's okay). I like the Morning Star BBQ riblets, they are sort of like McDonalds McRibs. Be very careful not to over cook it because if you do, it's like eating rubber, it just ain't going down!

I'm two months post op and you will eventually get to where you can drink regularly. Maybe not guzzle (although some are able to) but take normal amounts. Sometimes, you just need to experiment and see how you can react. I was scared to do that at first, but I thought that I would never know unless I tried. And now, while I certainly can't down a 16 oz bottle of Water in just moments, I can drink one (sometimes two) in the morning or afternoon. However, this morning after working out, I mixed about 2/3 of a bottle with Miralax and Crystal Lite, and drank it in minutes. I was thirsty! But keep trying to get back up to the recommended 64 ounces of liquid a day. You will get there.

Once I made the decision to get banded and started my pre-op diet, I started exercising two or three times a week. Then, last week after my second fill, I thought I'd experiment and see how much weight I'd lose if I only relied on watching what I eat. I only lost 0.4 pounds, which was way down from what I had been losing. So this Monday I started a new regimen. I have been exercising daily for at least 30 minutes. Also, I've told myself that I can't get on Facebook unless I exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes. Tuesday through today I've done my 30 minutes at 6:15 am, before getting ready for work. If you know me at all, you know I hate getting up in the morning, usually I hit my snooze until just after 7, then am rushing around like a mad woman to get ready for work. So the fact that I'm actually getting out of bed at 6:00 to work out is huge for me. But while I'm losing weight to get healthier, the main reason is so that we can have a baby. (Back story is on my blog). So that is the main motivator for me to exercise and lose at least 2 pounds a week. It doesn't make me like exercise any better, but at least it reminds me why I'm doing this in the first place.

I had my surgery December 17 and due to the Christmas holiday where our offices were closed Dec 24 & 25, I was off a total of 11 days, going back to work on Dec 28. I felt well enough, though, that had we been opened on Dec 24, I could have gone back then. I'm glad I timed it that way as making the transition of foods was easier to do at home than it would have been at work.

I've got a first, no last yet. I immediately started seeing it in my face and neck, and surprisingly my breasts! I've gone down four inches and 2 cup sizes, which for me is awesome! Normally my breasts don't lose at all. I'm also seeing it in my waist, down 4 inches. I'm sure other parts of me too are shrinking, but I'm not seeing it as much as the other areas I mentioned above.

I have the adult extra-strength liquid Tylenol at home and it says that 2 tablespoons (or one cap full of the little caps that comes with the bottle (not the lid itself)) is the same as 2 extra-strength Tylenol caplets or capsules. That is what I take currently for headaches and such. Immediately following my surgery (meaning the first 10 days or so) my instruction sheet told me to take less, so I'd ask your doctor what his recommendations are if he hasn't indicated already.

Hi Bird, Where are you in Colorado? I'm thinking perhaps Leadville? I'm down in Pueblo.

Mine eventually went away a few weeks after surgery. Don't get me wrong, I still get them on occasion, but no more than I did pre-band. Unfortunately, I think that time will take care of it.

My surgeon said it was totally normal to gain weight from the time of surgery to the time of first fill. He told me not to worry about weight loss during this time, but rather the healing of my stomach. I'd recommend just concentrating on good food choices, cutting back on your portion sizes, and starting an exercise program, such as walking or light aerobics, whatever your doctor has said you can do at this point. Once you start getting fills, that is when you will start to feel it and your portion sizes will go down even more. Most importantly, do not feel like a failure because you're not! You are in that time zone of Bandster Hell! You'll get through it. We all do.

The thing that "hurt" the most was the shot of numbing medication, only because he stuck it in so quickly after rubbing the area with alcohol, so it was the alcohol sting. After that, nothing hurt. I could feel the pressure of him pushing around my port, but not the fill needle. Once putting the needle in the port, he had me stand up, he took out any Fluid that was in there, then filled me full. He had me drink some Water until I could feel it at the base of my throat, then he let out the fluid until the water was able to go through. We went back and forth until the water could quickly go through but there was restriction. I've had two fills so far and go back for my third fill a week from today. I think you will be fine. The sheer nerves the first time is worse than the actual fill.

Day of surgery I was 268, as of this morning I'M 249.6, so just shy of 20 pounds. Yesterday it would have been 20 pounds, but unfortunately, a combination of bad eating yesterday and an inability to use the restroom, popped me up another pound. I've joined the Easter Challenge to lose the 19+ pounds which would take me to 230 pounds. I will begin as soon as I finish my coffee with some exercising using my new Champion Fit shoes (like the Sketcher's Shape Ups).

Okay, I'm in too now that the Valentine's Day Challenge is over. I'll add a new ticker tomorow. My current weight as of today is 248.4. My goal weight loss is 18.4 pounds, which would put me at 230. I can't remember when I weighed that low. So that will put me at just over 2.5 pounds per week to lose as of today. Which means I best start busting my butt and getting my exercising in. I did an experiment this week and didn't exercise and only lost 1.6 pounds. So I definitely have to add in the exercise if I want to meet my new goal.