Astrasmom

This is normal. Many people stop losing or even gain a few pounds back when switching from liquids to solids. Your body has to adjust to the different stages. This is ok. You lose so much in the beginning because most of it is Water weight. If you stick to the amount you are supposed to eat and not WHAT you can eat, you will start losing again. You may want to increase your exercise. Maybe walking a little further if you can. I can not promise that you will lose weight after your fill because many people don't feel restriction for at least 2-4 fills. Don't be discouraged. 18lbs is a wonderful loss. Keep up the good work. And try not to step on the scale if so much because it tends to discourage more. In the beginning I waited to see my weight when I had my doctors appointments. Keep up the great work. :thumbdown:

CONGRATULATIONS on taking the first step in your journey. You have made an important decision. This is probably one of the best things that you could do for yourself. At this stage make sure you read as much as you can and ask MANY questions. I'm sure if Matty could say so she would say, "Thank you mommy." Please feel free to add me as a friend if you like. I would be glad to answer questions that you might have. Please keep us posted on your journey. :thumbdown:

I took mine about 3 months in when I was down about 40lbs. You can take pictures whenever you like. It's very hard to see your progress. That is mainly why I take pictures so that I can actually see what is going on. There really is no set time on taking pictures. You do it when you feel comfortable doing it. CONGRATULATIONS on your weightloss. Your doing awesome.:thumbdown:

Trinity, CONGRATULATIONS on the start of your journey. This is probably one of the best things that you could do for yourself. What you are feeling is perfectly normal. Make sure at this stage that you ask alot of questions and you read as much as you can on here. We are all here to help you. Please feel free to add me as a friend. Although I am only a little over 6 months in from my surgery if I can't answer a question I will be glad to point you in the right direction. Please keep us posted on your progress. :thumbdown:

When you go through the different phases of food you may lose weight you may even gain a couple of pounds. Don't be afraid to move up in the phases. Your body is still also healing. And it's also going through it's starvation mode. You will even out soon and you will start losing. Sometimes you will hit a plateau also. Don't be discouraged. Also this is not a diet. This is a lifestyle change. Diets fail. If you drink your 64oz of fluids a day and increase your exercise you will lose the weight. Start out slow by walking. There are also many exercises that you can do in a chair if you aren't able to walk around, that will raise your heart rate. You also want to watch the soups as someone state, they are loaded with sodium. They do have low sodium soups.

Could be the browser you are using. Try a different web browser. I personally like Firefox. The chatroom is working so it has to be on your side.

Hi Jill. Congratulations on your surgery date. I hope you do well and please keep us posted. The pre-op diet is pure hell. I hated it. It does get a bit easier after surgery. The first week you probably won't be that hungry but you will have to force yourself to drink the fluids because you will dehydrate and from what you have already experienced I'm sure you don't want to go through it again. Around the 2nd week the swelling starts to go down and you will probably find yourself getting hungry again. Just stick to the plan that the doctor gave to you. Make sure that you measure everything. And even if you feel that you can eat more, don't. Until you actually have restriction (which really doesn't start until your 3rd fill) you are running on pure will power. But it is alot easier after you are banded. Just drink alot of fluids. At least 64oz a day. Good luck to you. You might want to get yourself some Gas-X strips for the gas after surgery. And make sure that you walk as much as you can. Listen to your body and don't over do it.

Some doctors do it and some doctors don't do it. It also does depend on your weight. I would suggest asking your doctor about that one.

Unfortunately her company isn't the only one that I have heard of that has that clause. But they at the same time don't want to promote obesity. Go figure. But having that clause honestly doesn't save them money. In the long run with so many people being over weight they get sick more, therefore requiring more sick leave..so it's a vicious cycle. Hopefully you are right and things will change. I would tell her to start putting in some resumes. And that would be one of the first things that I asked during an interview. 'Does your company have a WLS clause.' I can only imagine how disappointed she must feel right now. So sorry this had to happen and I hope that things work out. As for you, good luck on your surgery. Keep us posted.

Oh my gosh. That is HORRIBLE.

Wow first Sandi I have to say CONGRATULATIONS. You are an inspiration. As for my exercise this is what I did.. After surgery I gradually started increasing my walking. 6 weeks after surgery I started in the cardio lab walking on the treadmill, using the lifecycle and the other machines. Now I walk at least 4 miles (sometimes more) 3X a week. I go to the cardio lab 3-4x a week. I have increased my walking to an almost running pace. I also use the Wii Fit Plus at home and on my cable TV there are several exercise videos that I use. I have also incorporated weights into my workouts. Let me say the best place to start your walking if you don't want to do it outside is in a mall because there are plenty of places that you can sit and rest if need be. Just remember, listen to your body. It will tell you when it's time to rest. And don't push yourself.

Hi Ally. Congratulations on your surgery and your weightloss already. You will find it pretty hard to get all of your liquids in until your swelling goes down which is about 1-2 weeks. Just do your best to get them in. It sometimes helps if you set a timer for 15 minutes. In that time you should have drank a shot glass of Fluid. You can also use sugar free Ice pops as your fluid too. It also helps with the swelling. Not to mention they are YUMMY. I happen to live on them. Just so you know and everyone else that has replied, everyone's weightloss is different. You can not judge yourself by someone else. I am 5 months in and have lost 72lbs. At first my weightloss was faster but now it has slowed down to 1-2 lbs a week. But that's great. And I feel great. It's amazing what you start realizing once you lose the weight. You miss the smaller things in life such as being able to cross your legs, tie your shoe laces in the middle of your shoe instead of on the side, being able bend over without your insides getting mushed inside of you because your pants are too tight, being able to walk longer distances without getting winded. I have one piece of advice for everyone. As your move along in your journey, listen to your body. Don't push yourself too hard. And remember as you progress into the different stages in foods, to chew your food. Be aware of your old habits and try your best not to fall into them again. I wish all of the new banders much luck. And Congratulations to all of you. :tt1:

First off. Obama didn't crash the country. Bush SR. crashed the country. It will take many more presidents to pull us out of this hole then just Obama. I am not sorry at all that I voted for Obama. What I am sorry for is having to watch the tears and listen to the complaints of those that voted for both the Bush's because as I said then and I will say now, "You will be sorry". And now everyone is paying for it. And it's NOT because of Obama.

It totally depends on how bad my 'stuck' is. If it's just a little episode then generally I am ok to eat for the rest of the day but I don't eat that much. If it's a stuck where I am in the bathroom throwing up afterwards, then I do liquids for the rest of the day.

30lbs in a week? Wow bless you. If your doctor feels that you are doing ok then I wouldn't worry about it. I was banded in Oct. 2009 and I'm down 72lbs. You might lose it fast at first but you will slow down eventually. Don't get upset when it slows down.

Hi Daphane. Nice to meet you. Good luck on your journey. Make sure you read and ask many questions so that you are well prepared when your surgery day arrives.

I also have BCBS of NJ and really had no problems at all with the process. Once my 6 months was up and all of my info was sent in I got the approval REALLY fast. Congratulations on your surgery date. Please keep us posted.

Congratulations!!! You can also use Gas-X strips if you can't do the chewables. The more you walk (without over doing it) the more it will move that gas out of your system. You have done great so far with 23lbs. Keep up the great work.:cursing:

Congratulations. I wish you a speedy recovery. Make sure you walk as much as you can.

Yes this is restriction. Make sure you eat smaller portions and chew as better then you did before. You will find that you won't be able to east as much as you did before. And yes you probable should lose some weight. But again, everyone is different. Stick to the plan that your doctor gave you and you should have success.

I had a consultation within 2 weeks after the seminar. In fact my doctors secretaries were at the seminar and I made the appointment that night. Meanwhile I would suggest reading as much as possible on here until your surgery.