flieaway

Hi Nicole! I am just south of Providence in Warwick. I would be more than happy to chat if you have any questions. I was banded just under 1 month ago. I still have had no major issues, just the routine troubles that arise. Maybe helping someone through this process would be beneficial for me by keeping my spirits up! My starting weight was 308 and I am down about 15 pounds so far. Overall, I think this has been the right decisions, though I have moments where its a bit challenging to believe that. You will do great though, and realize how great of a decision you made!

Do you have a story or experience that could be inspirational to others? Please share it here so there is a place where we can go doing rough times! Thanks!

I am looking for a mentor in my area. Is anyone available? I was banded Sept. 16th. No problems yet, just looking for a friend.

Hi All! I was banded Sept. 16th. I have lost 15.5 lbs so far! I am 26 years old and decided to get banded so that having children wouldn't be challenged due to the weight. At my heaviest I was 308, and have now hit the two hundreds which is refreshing. I have a lot of family support and spend a ton of time reading this forum. On Thursday I get to start soft foods, and tomorrow is my post-op appointment. After reading this forum I guess I am lucky that my husband's insurance covered everything. I am currently a jobless teacher in Rhode Island (one of the worst state economies), but that means I have had a lot of time to figure this new diet thing out. There is a possibility that I may get a part-time teaching job which would be just perfect. It's wonderful to meet all of you and I look forward to our journey together!

I am living in Rhode Island, but was born and raised in the Shire (New Hampshire). I am currently a high school science teacher.

Thanks everyone! I like those answers!

What about non-cream type soups like homemade chicken soup or hamburg soup?

I know we aren't suppose to drink for a bit before or after eating. My question is, after all the post-op diet is done can I still eat soup? I love soups but am concerned because its fluid with food.

Thanks, I have a bunch of addresses and a ton of support so far! I am excited to take something that can be so bland and put an exciting edge to it!

I am a huge gamer and agree that is part of my problem. We own all the game systems and play a ton of computer games as well. It is a demon I will have to battle...

Hey guys, I came up with a great idea that I wanted to share with you. Any distance sport would work well too. Below is the message I sent out to my family and friends, use it or chuck it, whatever works for you! I hope it helps someone out! "As many of you know, though some may not, I made a major life decision regarding m weight. On September 16th, two weeks ago, I underwent surgery to receive a lap-band. Now with the lap-bad in my body, the amount of food I can eat is restricted and therefore causing me to lose weight (15.5 pounds so far)! If I continue on this path I will continue to lose weight over a long period of time. Now, while losing weight like this is fantastic there is one way I can get more bang for my buck. All I need to do is come up with a way to exercise in a suitable and entertaining way. This is where you all come in. The reason you have received this message is because I trust you, and feel I can count on you to help me in this endeavor. I am only asking 3 things of each of you. Before I tell you the three things please let me explain my idea and goal. Exercise can be tedious and no fun for people, so I am trying to take what I have available to me and make it fun. I have in my home a recumbent stationary bike. Now I do enjoy it to some extent but I need to enjoy it more so I came up with a plan. Here is where you start to come in. What I am initially asking from you are 2 things. The first is merely your address. I need this because I will be virtually 'riding' from one home to the next. I plan to take your address and see how many miles it is from the next closest person, via google, and 'ride' that many miles to the next home. My ultimate plan is to make a circuit that may go something like this: 1. Home to JLP on the other side of town. 2. From JLP to my parent's house three states away. 3. From my parents to Maine (Auntie Di). 4. Maine to Montana....etc... The second thing is to select from the following list the terrain type you think best describes the area around your home. This will allow me to pick a bike setting and change up my settings throughout the circuit. Is your terrain (near you city/area/state): 1. flatland 2. a valley 3. a flat top mountain or hill 4. a steep (pointy) mountain or hill 5. a few consecutive hills or mountains 6. continuous hills or mountains If no terrain choice is to your liking choose the closest one or let me know and I will pick one no one else has picked because the point is to change up the routine. Now the third and last thing I ask of you is this. When I virtually get to your 'home', I would like to be treated as a guest and served a healthy meal. This means, from you, I would like just one healthy recipe. One that recipe is received (via Facebook is fine), I will then begin my trek to the next person's home. So as of right now, I need willing participants to be in my cross country bike circuit. If you agree, you will give me only three things; your address, your terrain type, and a recipe when I 'arrive' at your home. If you are game to help me out, please post your address and terrain type so I can begin figuring out my route. Thanks for the help everyone!"

Thanks so much for the help guys, after the feeling subsided I had horrendous stomach crams from gas pain. I could barely move, but today I feel better am am taking it a step back to full liquids for the da for the gentleness.

It took me 7 days post-op and a call to my surgeon. He recommended a stool softener and Philips Milk of Magnesia, it worked like a charm, and now if I feel like I am getting bound up all I need is a stool softener.