tonya66

Yay - I finally get to move to mushy food! I'm so happy. Yesterday my menu was the following: Bfast - 1 poached egg, some grated cheese Lunch - 1/2 cup of refried beans with cheese Dinner - 1/2 cup malt o meal with a little splenda, and soy milk Snack - 1/2 cup of refried beans. I need to work on getting my water in, I need to work on getting my protein in.

Make sure you come back and tell us how you are doing!

I've added you to the master list, I usually send Angy an email of the master list and she updates her post. I will be sending her the list on Monday. Welcome!

Well everyone, its over! Thats right January is over and we all survived! I know the anticiaption leading up to surgery was a killer for all of us, especially those of you who were just banded. I was banded on the 18th and it was killing me, the waiting game, so I can't imagine how you late month bandsters did it. Today I get to start my mushy foods! I just cooked me 1 poached egg, with a little grated cheese, I was able to eat about 1/2 of it. I can't believe I'm FULL, off one egg. I remember when 2 eggs, 3 bacons, hashbrowns, biscuits was a big breakfast for me. I would eat it all and practically lick the plate. Now, I'm pushing the plate back after 1/2 an egg? hmmm, I like the new me! I got some exciting news, my friend who entered the Body For life challenge last year just found out SHE WON! She won 1st place in her age division. She ended up winning $40,000 in CASH, $5,00 in EAS supplements, a new home gym, and a cruise in May for her and her DH. I'm so thrilled for her. The amazing part is, she only lost 20 lbs, but she worked out 6 days a week, and ate 5 small meals a day and changed her body shape in just 12 weeks. She has some awesome abs now. Below is a link to her before & after picture, you need to scroll down to see her after picture. Is this inspiring or what? Makes me want to get to the gym! http://www.bodyforlife-tracker.com/showphotos.cfm?id=15910 She was also featured on our local news on how she won. She is so excited because she entered the contest to change her body, and she really never thought she would win, but now she is $40,000 richer. I really don't want a hanging stomach, and I'm wondering if I bust my rear at the gym every day, will I have one? Have you guys ever watched "The Biggest Loser"? Well, I'm totally addicted to the show, and those people lose tons of weight, the winner lost over 200 lbs in 8 months and he was ripped. He started off weighing over 400 lbs, and by the end of the show, he had major abs. I'm wondering if it depends on working out at the gym? Anyhow, as soon as I'm able to lift weights, (3 more months), I really want to higher a personal trainer and get serious. I've started on the treadmill, but I think you have to build muscle too in order no to have sagging skin. I'm still off work, but I think I will go back on Monday. I'm scheduled to be off until the 12th, but I'm getting bored now and feeling guilty about being off so long, so I am going to the doc and pick up a realease form. Talk to you guys later.

Yay - today is my day! I get to start eating soft mushy foods!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh Yes, I'm cooking me a poached egg right now!

Yes, I understand. I was on this site ALL THE TIME at work, I finally noticed my work was suffering. I am still off work right now so I can get on it more often during the day, but once I go to work, I will probably only get on it during the evenings myself.

After I read your post, I lifted my shirt to see where my holes were and I don't have one above the belly button. Your port might be there, is it the largest incision? If so, that is probably where your doctor placed the port, and it is the sorest of them all. I have mine placed on my left side, under my rib cage and it still is a little sore, but not that bad. I notice when I sit, I kinda lean to the right to ease the pain a bit.

Welcome to bandland! The weight being up is from surgery, I too was up 3 lbs after surgery, but lost it in a few days, don't worry about it. Being on liquids, it will come off! PS - I added you to our January Master List :clap2:

Today is my 12th day post op. I am feeling really good now. There was one point I was thinking "what have I done to myself". I was not prepared for so much pain because everyone says how easy it was. Well, I guess everyone is different. I made it to the gym last night, I didn't do much, but I did do a little exercise. I got on the treadmill for 20 min at 2.4 MPH and did .78 mile. I am starting it slow per my doctors instructions. I plan on doing 20 min all this week and hopefully next week I can move up to 30 min. I won't be able to do any weights for awhile, however, I plan on kicking some butt with cardio during the next 6 weeks. I'm still eating very little, if any. I am having a hard time getting protein in and I am hoping once I get to regular foods it will be better. I ordered a cup of french onion soup from Paneras yesterday and that lasted me 3 meals. I just sipped on the broth and not the onions. It was a nice change from BROTH. yuck. 1 more day until I can have refried beans!!!!!!:clap2: Well, I'm off to the gym..........

Renee - I know it probably won't last, I'm expecting my hunger to sneak up on me. I'm sure I will enter Bandster Hell with you guys - lol.

I finally had my DH hide my scales, I told him don't let me have them no matter what. I was freaking out when I would step on the scale and it showed a 2 ounce gain. So, out of sight, out of mind. I am just focussing on eating right and healing. I did make it to the gym last night, only to do 20 min on treadmill. I'm trying to start out slow. I can't lift weights either for 3 months, but he did give me the go ahead to get on the treadmill, just don't over do it. I really didn't start feeling good until yesterday, now I feel like I am totally back to normal. Every now and then my port side reminds me I had surgery - but its not that bad, I can live with it.

I have added you to the master list, the next time we update the list, you will be on it. Welcome!

That makes sense. I really hadn't thought about us "not have a pouch" until we get a fill. I know I probably have one now, because I feel so much restriction. I just looked at the time and realize, I haven't eaten since 8:30 am, and I'm not even hungry. Weird to not think about being hungry all the time like I used to. I love my new tool!

enterprise - I totally agree with you about telling so many people. Here is who I have told so far - my DH, my mom, my sister, my cousin, a friend at work, my sister-in-law - and they are all sworn to secretcy. My mom is already calling on a daily basis, "how much have you lost" - I have to tell her over and over that the loss really won't come until after a fill. I had to tell my mom because she had to drive me to surgery because my DH had a meeting that afternoon. Or trust me, I would not have told her a thing. People do not undertand that this is not gastric bypass, this is not a quick fix, THIS IS A TOOL. We still have to diet, period. When I say diet, I mean watch what we eat. We can't eat ice cream everyday and expect the weight to fall off. About the fill, my doctor won't let me get a fill until 6 weeks. I found out at my last appointment, before I can get a fill, first I have to go to my primary care doc and get a malabsorption test, (which I think is a total waste of time and stupid), then I have to bring that test back to my lap-band surgeon. They will then decide if I get a fill. If they decide I can have a fill, they notify the hospital, who then will call me to schedule it. It sounds like a huge mess, but thats their proceedure.

Audree - question for you, I heard even though you could eat 1 cup of food, you shouldn't as it can stretch the pouch. I don't know if this is true or not, but curious. I haven't asked my doctor about it, but was wondering, do you eat until you are no longer hungry, even if its 1 or 2 cups of food? Or do you just stick to 1/2 cup of food no matter what. I'm really confused on this. My dietician said to measure 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food and eat that, so that is what I'm doing. So far it is very filling and I can't eat the entire 1/2 cup. But I'm sure as the swelling goes down, 1/2 cup will seem like nothing.

I notice I'm more hungry around that time too. I have read where some experience the band to be really tight in the mornings and lose in the evenings. I was hoping this would not happen to me, however, I'm afraid it might be the case. I do try sipping on water during this time to help and it does seem to help.

Sherilynn - Your day has come!!!!!! I'm so happy for you and ALL the January 30th bandsters! I can't wait to hear from all of you to let us know how you are doing.

Today is my 12th day post op. I am feeling really good now. There was one point I was thinking "what have I done to myself". I was not prepared for so much pain because everyone says how easy it was. Well, I guess everyone is different. I made it to the gym last night, I didn't do much, but I did do a little exercise. I got on the treadmill for 20 min at 2.4 MPH and did .78 mile. I am starting it slow per my doctors instructions. I plan on doing 20 min all this week and hopefully next week I can move up to 30 min. I won't be able to do any weights for awhile, however, I plan on kicking some butt with cardio during the next 6 weeks. I'm still eating very little, if any. I am having a hard time getting protein in and I am hoping once I get to regular foods it will be better. I ordered a cup of french onion soup from Paneras yesterday and that lasted me 3 meals. I just sipped on the broth and not the onions. It was a nice change from BROTH. yuck. 1 more day until I can have refried beans!!!!!!:clap2: Well, I'm off to the gym..........

Susie - I'm glad you are doing better. Sounds like you had some horrible pains, and I'm glad the band didn't slip, that would have been a nightmare for sure.

Kim - I added you to the master list. I have updated on the list on the first page under my name. Sunnysea - sorry you didn't get to have it done in January, but February will be your month, hang in there!

I'm only 11 post op and still have restriction, but I do get a little hunger, usually after 4 hours after I've eaten. So, I think that is normal. I know the reason I have restriction is my tummy is still swollen, and I expect that when it goes down, the hunger will come big time. I'm sure hoping I can get thru it withou gaining any of my weight back. I've takent the scales away from the house so I won't weigh again until my 6 week check up.

I'm laughing out loud for sure. That is funny. Your not a dork - just funny. LOL

I've lost 33 lbs so far, and no one has said anything except my DH. I'm thinking another 20 lbs and I'll be below 200 and people will start to notice. I really don't care, because "I" notices the difference for sure!

Thanks for the article, interesting statistics.

I had my surgery at 1:30 pm January 18th, I was released from the hospital the next day around noon.