Saraboo

I can leavee my scale in the exact same place, and get 2 completely different numbers. Sometimes it's because i didn't realize something had gtten under it thanks to the dogs, and sometimes it's just tempermental. I tend to go with the higher number, that way if it stays at that number for awhile, i'm not going to be bummed thinking I gained.

At three weeks out, it is very common to have not lost anything, or to even gain a couple pounds. YOur goal during this time is to let your body heal. The weight loss will come in time. Just follow your Dr's instructions, and make sure you're getting your water and protein in.

Your body is still healing, if you were banded on march 7th. Even if you feel all healed up, chances are your body is still healing. It's also going through the shock of a lot of changes. Has you Dr scheduled you for a fill yet? From what I've read, teh average for a first fill is 6 weeks after surgery. You need to make sure you aren't getting dehydrated, andd since everybody is different, you're going to have to find what works for you, food wise, and excersize wise. YOu need to make sure you're onsuming enough calories though to counter balance teh calories you are burning.

Congrats!!!!!!!!! I made it there myself last week, and the numbers are moving down again. It's a great feeling isn't it?!

Welcome to Hell. Pretty much sums it up. THose weeks in between surgery and getting your first fill are pretty much hell. Especially when you're starving and stuck on liquids. No joke, to get rid of salty cravings, I hewed on a piece of garlic bread and then spit it out. i got the flavor, and teh sensation of chewing, but I didn't actually eat it. THat's pretty much teh only thing that got me through. But here's the good news. You will make it through. YOu are strong enough to do this, and it's just a small step in your journey. Good Luck!

I wish you much luck in your journey. This was the best thing I could have ever done for myself. I feel so much better than I did, and I am a lot healthier. Remember taht even though it can seem tough, in the end it's worth it.

Because of my job at the time, my Dr actually took me off for a full 4 weeks. I was working a job where I lifted 50+ pound bags every shift, and I my Dr said i couldn't lift more than 10lbs at a time. So, I ended up with a lot of time off. Which worked out for me because, as my mom puts it, I am a "sissy la-la" meaning I don't do well with pain. I slept for a good 3 days straight after surgery.

If you just got your fill yesterday, you're probably still swollen. Was it your first fill? Try to sip at liquids. Everytime you get stuck, your stomach is going to swell even more. You need to give your stomach some time to rest, and heal up.

7 days of liquids after a fill seems a bit extreme to me, but you always want to listen to your dr. You also need to take into account that if you do get stuck, you will have some swelling which will make you tighter. Personally, I have to do 2-3 days of liquids after a fill, but that's my own choice. My Dr says only 24 hours, but my stomache is pretty sensitive, and I'm more comfortable with closer to 3 days. When was your fill? I also can't do extremely cold liquids. They will not go down the week after a fill. i do better with room temperature, cool, or warm, but not cold. Make sure you're trying to get your Protein and fluids in, when you're dehydrated you get tighter also.

Actually,as of this morning I'm at 100 #'s even, so I was waaay excited. Meal wise, it all depends on what I'm eating, though the past few weeks it seems like at night I can eat waay too much. But if it's something with carbs, I can't eat as much. I can eat about a cup, maybe a cup and a half at dinner time. It's funny, the things that you would think of as slider foods, I can't tolerate them at all. Doritos are now my enemy. I tried eating one of my sister's and I was miserable for hours. I had a bite of cookie dough, and was sliming 5 mins later. But I was able to eat an enchilada wth chicken cheese and jalepenos last night. Go fig. I do know what it's like to gain wait after an unfill though. I had an unfill back in September and put on 30 pounds, and had to relose it all over again. I was annoyed to say teh least, but I got through it!

Sara checking in at 198.6 Down .4, but I have officially lost 100#'s so I'm happy!

They did a complete unfill and sent me in for an emergency Upper GI. We had some issues with the actual images; they didn't have the program at the one office to open up the documents, but it did show I had a slight slip. I lost my job not too soon after, so we decided to take it really easy with the fills. It took awhile to get back up to restiction again. As soon as I have insurance again, I'll probably go for another. Just to be sure.

It could have be that you didn't need 1.5 for your last fill. It seems a bit aggressive to me. You may need to be somewhere inbetween those two points.

*ooops* Sorry bout that. Changed what my goal weight says. My bad, lol. Name, real or screen~ Sara Age~26 Weight on April1st~199.0 Goal Weight for April 29th~193 Exercise Goal for April~ To get my butt to the gym more often, and stop making excuses Dietary Goal for April~ focus on getting my Vitamins in Personal Goal for April~ figure out where my relationship is going Date Banded~ 11.9.2009 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~ 99.6

You can try blending up some thicker soups. One of my favprites is potato soup blended up. you almost get a baked potatoe feel to it. There is also in the Food and Nutrition forum, a whole section dedicated to pureed foods. Anotehr favorite is ricotta cheese and spaghetti sauce cooked together. Yum Yum

I feel that way all the time when I look in the mirror. I started out at a tight 26, and I'm down to a size 16 pant/14 dress, and I feel huge all the time. My belly seems like it is the same size. It really is vey frustrating. And it is very much a head thing. Because I have also looked in the mirror wearing certain clothes, and thought," wow I actually look kind of skinny."

Name, real or screen~ Sara Age~26 Weight on April1st~199.0 Goal Weight for April 29th~199 Exercise Goal for April~ To get my butt to the gym more often, and stop making excuses Dietary Goal for April~ focus on getting my vitamins in Personal Goal for April~ figure out where my relationship is going Date Banded~ 11.9.2009 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~ 99.6

I feel your pain Pattie. I had a slight slip due to the same things, but my dr was extremly sensative to doing fills after that. After we did a complete unfill, we went very slowly. Which has been the best thing possible. Just make sure you're getting your water and exercise in. You can try swiching up your calorie intake. Have 1 or 2 days a week where you up your calories, and like 1 day where your drop them. It will help keep your metabloism guessing. And switch upi your exercise. If you usually take walks, use the elliptical, or try some weight training.

I think he most basic way to explain it is, weight loss causes horomone changes, which in turn mess with your cycle. For some, it's a good thing, for some it's bad. Personally, my cycle has gotten shorter, and my last period was a light 3 days. That is a big big difference from how it was before. Your cycle will eventually even back out again, but it may ake some time.

I haven't quite reached that point yet. But I would say take pictures of the rashes, print them out, then mail them to yourself. Don't open the envelopes until you need to show the proof. That way the pictures are dated, and show that it's been an ongoing thing,

Her blog is one of my favorites, and I use her recipes all the time. They're great!

My band always gets tighter when I get sick. Coincidentaly, I woke up feeling cruddy today, and I can barely keep water down. Though, my sister made me mashed potatoes, which normally I can't do, and they are staying down. But, yes, when I get sick, I am normally on liquids for a couple days at least.

Congrats!!! I'm jealous, lol. I've been stuck at that same place now. I've been bouncing between 200.4 and 205. That 199 is so close I cann almost taste it, lol. But again, Congrats!!!!!!!!!!

You aren't really going to have restriction at first. your body is still in the healing stages. Unfortunatly, until you start getting fills, you are going to be hungry. This is when portioning out your food ahead of time is key. Measure out your food, focus on your protein, fruits and veggies first, and then carbs. If you are still hungry an hour later, drink some water. You only want to eat if you are truly hungry. It's hard to realize sometimes what actual hunger is, and head hunger. A year and a 4 months out, I still have issues with that sometimes. When you are portioning things out, if you have to, use a measuring cup. Or, weight watchers has some serving spoons that are peasuring cups added on. I'm not sure if they have them any more though. When I need to portion stuff out onto my plate, I use my measuring cups I use for baking. Good Luck.