vlp1968

Congrats to all you newbies! You are in for a wild but wonderfull ride. I was banded 11-16. I am a diehard stomach sleeper. I asked and was told I could sleep on my stomach. I was able to do it right away with very little pain. The only thing that could have been an issue (but wasn't) was that the surgery glue stuck a little to my pjs.

Wow! You sure know alot for someone who had surgery fairly recently. Thanks for stating all those issues so well.

I have burping while I am eating as well. Usually it is paired with a pain in my chest that goes away with the burping. I think it's perectly normal. I have seen it mentioned on various threads in this forum.

I agree, you are doing great. Your following doctors orders and that is so imprtant to success. I don't know how often your weighing yourself, but I suggest you do it only once a week. Otherwise the flucuations will drive you crazy (at least that's what happens to me). It's always tempting to step on that scale more often but it's a nice surprise at the end of every week.

I agree with changing up your excersise routine. If you are doing weights keep it up. If not, you may want to start (muscle burns fat). I would change up the cardio your doing. Like mentioned, try to do a different one each time you workout. Also interval training is suppossed to burn more fat. Thats when you go really hard for a few minutes, then ease off for a few minutes during the whole workout. Hope this helps!

You are doing great! Keep up the good work. Like your surgean said, be carefull when you get to solids. Eat very slowly, small bites and chew chew chew. For me, I get a slight pain in my chest as I'm eating. I stop, and sometimes burp and am able to return to eating. Other times I am not. I have learned the hard way that if I eat beyond this point I vomit.

Included in the 6ccs if probable the tubing and port itself that needed to get filled. From now on I would expect about 1cc added at a time. Sorry it was such a rough time. My doc. injects a local before a fill, and I don't feel a thing. Maybe you can ask for that next time.

Welcome! One piece of advice I have is that you may not notice a difference after this first fill. Seems it takes most people several fills before they reach restriction. It took me 3 fills. I also advise you cut your food in small pieces and chew chew chew. At least for me, this was a very tough thing. I was so used to shoveling food in my mouth. Also, drink lots and lots of water, at least 64 oz. Starting an excersise program would also be great. It took a couple months for me to get started on working out. Now it's a matter of habit. Congrats on your surgery! Keep us posted on how you are doing.

Thanks for sharing your story! It was very insperational.

As already stated, every surgeon is different. I had 1 week on full liquids (shakes), one week on soft food (egg beaters, yougurt, cottage cheese, apple sauce). As far as dinner, broiled fish is probably your best bet. My nutritionist told me to start with fish when I went to solids. No bread or fried foods for sure. Rice may be difficult as well. On the other hand, you may not even have restriction yet, takes a few fills usually. The food may go down with no problem at all. Congrats on your surgery and enjoy dinner.

I walk on the treadmill for 40 min. or do a step aerobic routine at home. I workout 5-6 times a week. I also do weight training with a trainer 3 days a week. It was very very tough to get started but now I actually enjoy it. Congrats on your impending surgery. Hope you love the band as much as I do!

hang in there! I thought my band was never going to work, but after 3 fills it finally kicked in.

I keep track of calories and protien in a journal. I use a page a day and just list what I eat, the protien and the calories. Then I total it up for the day. If I am not sure of the nutritional content I look it up online. You may want to try a few different things and see what works best for you.

I have some gurgling too- usually when I'm eating. Seems like it's my stomach "settling". As far as fullness, it is a way different sensation for me now that I'm banded. I get a slight pain in my chest and feel like I need to burp. Once I burp I'm usually fine. I have learned the hard way not to eat beyond the slight pain in my chest. If I do, I vomit. I never really feel "full", just not hungry.

Hang in there! I felt the same way about the band the first couple months. It was way harder than I thought it would be. I was wishing I had done gastric bypass. Anyway, once you get some fills and restriction, you will LOVE your band. Be patient, it will happen.

That's great you are snacking on healthy options. Do you keep track of what you eat (calories et...)? Maybe you can just factor in a late night snack into your plan of eating for the day.

My doc. said if the band slips you cannot keep anything down. I'm not sure if that includes fluids or not. I hope this didn't happen to you. I too am self pay and hate the thought of needing another surgery. You are correct, they don't do it for free.

I would add change up what you do for cardio. Bike one day, treadmill the next, swimming, aerobic dancing- whatever you are into. This keeps your body from adjusting to the same routine. You have done great, I'm sure that stubborn last 20 to 30 will come off!

I find looking at pictures really helps too. The psyc. involved with my surgery told me to take a pic. of myself once a month. I do it in my bathing suit. I have seen tremendous difference every month. It's starting to mean more to me than the scale- which is going down as well. It is a tough thing to have our minds catch up with our bodies.

Super Job! I am also a shorty- 4'11 (I think I win lol). Every pounds seems to show- going up or going down.

I like to eat 1/2 cup of cherrios or fiber one (both 100%whole grain) and a serving of canadian bacon. About 150 cals and 15 grams of protien. Sometimes I add 1/4c of strawberries or blueberries.

I had an infected incision from a suture hanging out just a little. The doc took care of it by cutting the suture and squeezing (TMI I know). Anyway, he did say if it had been a port incision he wouldn't have done a fill. I would call the doc asap and maybe he will prescribe an antibiotic. Just want you to be prepared you might not get the fill.

My nutritionist has said 130 carbs. I don't think I am getting that much, but it's more than 20 for sure. I don't count them, just calories and protien. I believe what's really important is getting carbs from the right sources. Whole grain cereal and bread, brown rice, beans, fruit and dairy has some good carbs too. As far as why it's important to keep carbs low has to do with blood sugar. When you take in carbs (espcially refined carbs like white bread or rice, cake, candy et..) your blood sugar rises, and that causes your body to produce insilin. When your body gets the insilin it stores the sugar as fat. Whole grain carbs are better because they contain some fiber that slows down this process. Hope this helps!

Atkins shakes are high in fat (I think) that could be what is causing it. I would switch shakes for sure. I drink myoplex lite 20 grams of protien and 170 cals.

I would say you have restriction, but it is probably due to swelling from surgery. I have restriction and get that burpy feeling too. Thats when I know to stop eating or at least take a break. As far as cravings, I still have them. The band doesn't take them away. However, by not feeling hungry they are much easier to resist.