ThinSIstaSoon

If u can't chew gum without swallowing ...I'm sorry that's just funny to me! Lol I'm 35 and haven't swallowed gum on accident since I was around 3 or 4.

I live in a small town in Iowa. Email buddies sounds awesome if ur interested...

Reggjackson75@yahoo.com

Great! Glad to hear u did good! Happy new birthday!!! Mine was Feb 1st!

Lol Dave, I can honestly say I have no idea what u guys are talking about, but once I get off this elliptical - am gonna Google it! Lol

The 2 week liquid diet taught me discipline and I lost 13 lbs so that made me feel great! There is a video on you tube (several actually ) showing the surgery. It really helped me understand what was going to be done to me and helped me realize the importance of shrinking my liver. Also, I was really scared about going under but the nurses told me as long as I follow the doctors instructions I would be fine. They told me when a person has surgery your heart undergoes the same amount of exertion that it takes to carry 2 bags of groceries up 2 flights of stairs; So I opted to be in as good of shape as I could. I couldn't have asked for better nurses, a better bariatric center, or a better recovery! food is not your friend, food does not make you feel better, and food is not the key to a successful future so you can do this!

Congrats and my surgery went great! I hope yours goes well also!

I went to a Superbowl party 4 days post op and found myself sitting around a table with my friends thinking-i don't even like these people! Then I realized due to not being able to eat I was not having a good time. It was so weird to think that I can't have a good time with my friends without food. Really a testament to the severity of my food addiction.

Congrats to all! Surgery was great! Enjoy!!!

My NUT said we shouldn't drink before we eat because it lubricates our stomach which causes us to digest faster.

I have been told to eat 3 small meals and not worry about calories but find its hard to eat so much even though I'm only 12 days post op. I drink a lot of water but for the past two days have had low energy-sleeping a lot. I have also gotten dizzy while laying down a couple of times. I barely eat 2 cups of food at a time. My urine is light so I think I'm hydrated too. I have been taking (chewing) my flintstone vitamin but wonder if I'm getting enough carbs for energy. I start back to work full-time tomorrow so I'm worried a little. My boyfriend is diabetic and he checked my blood sugar two hours after I ate a cup of spaghetti and a lite yogurt. It was 86-which I think is low.

Lmao!!!! Too true! Can't wait til I can say I'm with ya!

My doc says he fills until water backs up and then he lets some out. When u feel it go down that's how much u get. Different for everyone that way. He also said do s fill based on a "recipe" type method and by doing that delay good weight loss by SEVERAL months. My first fill is scheduled for Mar 7th. We'll see and I hope I hit my sweet spot soon. He said most of his patients sit in the green zone for the first year or so by filling this way.

I want to be a b cup! Sooo jealous! I've lost 18 lbs since surgery on Feb 1st and my bras fit better already. I'm a DD.

I like EAS soy protein with 1/2 a banana and a cup of skim milk and ice. My bf likes it to! Keeps me full for 3-4 hours.

Wow! I am so glad someone asked this question! U all did a great job of explaining it to! I am only 11 days post op and am moving from mushies to "real food" next week. I am terrified of eating breads and other "bulky" stuff now! Sliming and stucks sound horrible! I've done great chewing so far but feel like eating is such hard work now. It took me an hour to eat supper last night-1 c. sesame chicken, 1/2 c. rice, 1 c. broccoli but it was such a treat from liquids the past 3 wks! I don't have filling yet, but feel a major decrease in my appetite! I'm almost worried I'm not eating enough but am enjoying not thinking about food all day long!

Dlynn, my nut said the body can only process abt 30 g of protein at a time...so I wonder about ur shake mix being effective. I'd love to get all my recommended dose of protein for breakfast! Did ur nut recommended that to u?

I'm a EAS soy protein with 1/2 banana and skim milk drinker...whey equals yucky! Lol

I have lost 18 lbs in the past 23 days and feel amazing still! I am really liking this new feeling! I am rocking it out with my band not even FILLED yet! I know I will probably get hit like a mac truck with the nasty hunger monster soon, but am enjoying my weight loss today! 286 lbs actually was on MY SCALE this morning! AMAZING!!! I haven't weighed that (less) since who knows when! I was always in the 300's or not budging below 290 when I was busy starving myself! Unlike now, I'm not even hungry. I am moving TO MUSHIES tomorrow! YEA!!! I'm going to have an egg white and green bean omelet for breakfast! Yep, you heard me or read that right, EGG WHITES AND GREEN BEAN OMELET! I have wanted BOTH of those things for about a week now, so I figured what the hell, I'm gonna have them together for the first time ever! I'm TOTALLY up for trying new and different ways of eating....starting tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. I may be crazy, it might totally suck, but if it does, I'll throw it away and make myself a protein shake instead. I'm NOT CARING about wasting food anymore...those days are OVER! If I don't like it, or I'm full, it's going in the trash....no questions or comments or GUILT will be allowed! I'm gonna try new things, be a new person, and throwing out that old bad habit of not wanting to throw food away IS starting my first day of mushies.... Food, I need you in MODERATION ONLY!!! You are NOT my best friend, you do NOT make me FEEL BETTER, and you ARE NOT IN CONTROL of my life anymore...sorry! You have been replaced with UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR MYSELF and my new best friend, the BAND...betta recognize....or in this case REALIZE!!!

Mel, ur probably hungry because right after surgery there isn't anything in ur band (for 5 weeks for me) but I wasn't hungry the first 2 days after surgery but am now at 7 days. I'm doing Protein shakes, yogurt, broth, Jello, and get to have mushies tomorrow! I can't wait! Lol Anyway, just remember nothing's restricting u but swelling, drink protein and Soups and call ur doctor for help!

Btw...I slept on my stomach the 2nd night I was home from the hospital like a baby! Also, having a port print under my shirt is waaayyy better than a fat roll or 3!!! Good luck on whatever u decide!

I'm two weeks post op, am down 18 lbs and surgery/recovery was and is going great! U have to be ready, no procedure will make u eat better, the best thing to do is attend a seminar, read a lot about it on here, and attend some pre op classes before making your choice. I was/am ready and I'd do it again even though I'm literally still scabbed over! Its hope and guidance I've needed for a long time! Be optimistic and u can change ur life for the better!

As many of u have mentioned my nutritionist told me not to worry about calories or exercise these next 4 weeks until my first fill. She said the focus needs to be on eating the right mushies, chewing very well, eatingg Protein first, and getting in the 64 oz of Water every day. I have lost 18 lbs (5 since surgery last week) but am finding I am getting more hungry already. My nutritionist told me 3 new things that I've never heard before...if u don't weigh about 5 lbs more at the end of the day-u need to drink more water, weigh urself bi-weekly because it takes 14 days for ur body to show real weight loss/gain, and don't drink during or within 30 mins after a meal or u are defeating the purpose of the band completely by lubricating your stomach - which speeds up digestion. I am going to therapy for my food addiction and really agree with Manning fan's second response/justification. If u can't make a commitment to do what ur doctor says in the beginning u should be concerned about ur future...BUT we now have a real tool/support to help us so being honest about our mistakes on here is a step to getting back on track! Going on a diet is something I am never going to do again. I'm going to be honest with myself, this forum, my doc, and my therapist. My food addiction will no longer keep me hostage around walls of fat! NOTHING TASTES THAT GOOD!!! Good luck to those of us needing our first fill and God Bless those who have finally found the "sweet spot" and are living-doing things as they should!

I have started adding powder (odorless, flavorless) Fiber to my Protein shakes. I am still in the liquids phase though, only 7 days post op. I am planning to continue having most of my breakfast's as Protein Shakes though since I love the taste and they are a quick fix in the morning. I was only going #2 every 4-5 days since I started my liquid diet but used to go every day before and was proud of that fact about myself. Lord knows I don't want to get constipated! UGH...Like the one person said, I don't want to gain poop weight! LOL Anyway, since adding the fiber powder to my shakes I have started going every other day which is way better! You could add it to yogurt, pudding, oatmeal, just about anything. When I get to move on the "real food" I was thinking I'd add it to my chili and even gravy or some sauces whenever I have them. I really can't even tell it's in there except what happens on the "other end" Good luck to you as taking care of your colon is so very important!