umterps1

Hi Everyone! Sounds like everyone is doing great! I'm pleased with my progress so far. Banded on October 20th, lost 22 pounds so far. Got through Thanksgiving without losing my mind. I've felt great pretty much since the beginning. Pain after surgery wasn't so great I couldn't deal with it, was walking for an hour at a time within 3 days after surgery and went back to work in a little over a week after surgery. I go for my first fill on December 20th but have felt a bit of restriction - I have definitely experienced the "stuck" feeling and it hurts a bit so I have learned a lesson from that. I am looking forward to the first fill but am a bit apprehensive because it is right before Christmas and I haven't told my family (with the exception of one brother) about the surgery. I am hopeful I will at least be able to eat "mushy" food by Christmas so I can continue to keep this my business and not that of my entire extended family - which would happen if my dad knows! He's a terrible gossip! Keep up the good work October Bandsters!

I just hit the 1 month mark and got clearance to start jogging again and to lift small hand weights - nothing that engages your core. The surgeon told me I could start ab work in another month. I felt great pretty much right after surgery and if you have the same experience you'll probably want to "push the limits" as I did. Just be careful. You will have several incisions across your stomach. Plus the band will be sewed to your stomach and the port to your abdominal wall and you don't want to tear any stitches. Start walking right after your surgery - like later that day or the next morning if your surgery is late in the day. And walk every day. Slow and steady to start then pick up the pace. I was walking for almost an hour at a decent pace less than a week after surgery. Re-gain your strength then get on the snowmobile and assess whether turning the handles is going to cause too much strain on your core. If you go fast and make quick turns - you might engage your core too much. Bottom line - talk to your doc.

You've lost 25 pounds in 9 days! That is amazing! I'm experiencing a similar situation. I lost 19 in first 2 weeks but now in mushy phase and gaining. I have had some responses to my post that folks can and do gain weight then but tend to then lose again on solids. Do you have any fill in your band yet? That is an issue for me. I was banded on 10-20 but won't get my first fill until mid-December. My surgeon won't fill until 8 weeks after surgery. Also, I am having trouble getting to 1000 calories. I think if you just "soldier on", continue to do what you have been doing and walk, walk, walk, the weight will eventually start to go down again. Don't beat yourself up over this. I think we are in the same boat and once we are on solids and easily getting the right amount of calories as well as exercising a bit more vigorously we will find the weight will start to move. Slow and steady is the reason for getting a band and not bypass, right? :rolleyes2:

Has anyone had the experience of no weight loss during the mushy stage of food? I lost 19 pounds the first two weeks (all liquid stage) but now the scale isn't moving. I am having trouble getting to the 1000 calories my surgeon wants me to be at now. Is it possible my body is kicking into "starvation mode" at this point? Or any other theories? Others experience this?