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Wow! That is enormously helpful!! That is very similar to what I have been doing-- with regard to breakfast- I did not know it was 1/2 - 3/4 cup of chewed food. That changes things quite a bit! LOL I have tightened up quite a bit since my fill on Wednesday. Really concentrating on chewing and eating slowly. It is helping. Now if I could figure out how to email you inside this site! LOL What is your name, by the way? Look forward to hearing from you! Tracy

Thank you so much for your quick reply! LOL, well let me be clear........ while I had taken to lots of soups and yogurt............ I certainly found that much of the time I could also eat many other things (poor choices) fairly easily. Which is part of what is so confusing to me. You mentioned that sense you have been loosened you can eat a slice of thin crust pizza-- I could eat thin crust pizza pretty easily during the past several months. But I never eat any bread-- I love bread......but I am terrified of it getting stuck! LOL As I think back over the past four months, I think I had no significant restriction at all. I have heard/read that intake at a meal should only be about 1/2- 3/4 cup of food. Would you say that is about what you are doing? Another question, I notice you say you have a Protein drink and yogurt for breakfast-- do you drink the drink and wait an hour before eating the yogurt? I plan to work up to thin sliced deli turkey and eggs this weekend. And will really focus on small bites, chewing and going slowly. I am sure those things will make a difference. Like you, I really really do not want to waste the time and financial investment I have made to wls-- Please know that your encouragement and answering questions helps so much! Tracy

Thanks so much for your reply & encouragement! Unfortunately, I think that you are probably quite right-- my "head" has gotten into a weird spot & I need to be working on that-- as much as making different food choices! I do feel quite anxious about eating solids-- and I think here is the thing........... I was wanting to not have to think so much about eating-- I just wanted to get to that "eat to live" kind of place--- Not "live to eat" So doing things like smoothies and yogurt and Soup, made it easier to do that. Now I will be working on that element much more. Since my fill on Wednesday, I had just clear liquid on Wed; Protein drink and yogurt yesterday. Today I successfully added some almonds and very soft cheese and about an once of roasted chicken.--concentrating very much on chewing & small bites. I have kept everything down, and drank plenty of water-- so I am hopeful that tomorrow I can add a bit more solid. Thank you so much for your reply-- it helps to hear other peoples thoughts and experiences. I will be in touch! Tracy

Wow, thank you qtney for your blog-- I have been surfing around on this sight, looking for inspiration and encouragement and understanding! YOur post was so similar to my story in several ways-- and I could so relate! I also am 8 months out (10/07/2010), and have lost a little more than 50 lbs since surgery. I have now had four fills. However the first and third I had to go back in within just 4-5 days and have it taken out. Yesterday was my most recent fill. I am wanting restriction so badly, and yet with my other experiences I am also afraid. With the last fill, even after it was taken out, I got into bad habit of soups and smoothies-- not good solid proteins.. not enough water... Just not good-- and the weight loss has slowed significantly. (To my credit, I haven't gained!) But tonight, I am just trying to work through being hungry, before I can get back on track with regular foods tomorrow--- and hoping it all goes smoothly. Thanks for your post! Tracy

Hello to any & all that read my post. Thank you! I am at just nearly 8 months since my surgery...... and my life has changed... improved in so many ways. I have lost nearly 100 lbs since I started this journey, and I am thrilled and thankful. And here is why I am posting. I have so far to go still to my goal.. and need to find others who are on this same journey. Guess I am needing a sort of buddy/accountability partner. My deal is that I had a fill on Mon Jan 31. Just a 1/2 cc the doctor said. It was terrible! I couldnt keep anything down & lost like 12 lbs before I could get back in to see him on Friday Feb 4. He took out the 1/2 cc he put in just five days before. Loved the weight loss, but clearly that is not how to do it! So idk, I think the experience sort of messed with my head a little bit.. and I took to eating Soups and yogurts and smoothies..... and in the four months since, I haven't lost any weight......... and I feel like I have returned to some bad habits. I want to do this............ I want to get to my goal........... I really do! I got a fill yesterday. Another 1/2 cc in. I also got a reminder about doing solid Proteins. Of course today I am still on mushy... but I am trying to think and plan for tomorrow and the days after...... and find my self worried.......... Could I have stretched the pouch to the point that it wont work? Would I know if the band has slipped? What if I cant eat solids... and I cant lose on liquids? Do other people have these experiences? I am looking for friends who I can walk along with on this journey-- and am open to helpful insight & would love some encouragement! Thank you for "listening" Tracy

It has been almost 4 months since my surgery & overall I feel incredibly fortunate to have had this procedure, and have adjusted well. I have had very good weight loss and feel so much better.... However, I am am confused about fills! I had my first fill just about three weeks after surgery.. and within three days had to have half of it taken out. I was so uncomfortable. Second fill, about 5 weeks after that went fine. Third fill was yesterday. I drank the water exactly as instructed while in doctor's office. No problem. Drank another couple bottles of water during the rest of the day, without any problem. Had a bit of broth yesterday evening, and that seemed to go fine. But over the course of the evening-- and overnight-- I started to feel increasingly uncomfortable. Throughout the night, burping, hiccuping, and spitting up. Now 24 hrs after the fill I still don't feel good. I am afraid to even drink anything. Is there that much swelling that goes on after a fill? Will this subside? Do I need to get an unfill? And if so, how do I manage thru the snowstorm until doc is back in his office? Any tips for managing this?

Thank you all for some very good points. So far, my exercise has been only a stroll around the block about 3x/wk. (Now I am not very fit-- so that stroll was a bit of a challenge....) but I am sure I need to step it up a bit. Also struggle with getting enough Water. And as for bowel function............... ugh! Let's just say it was a challenge before surgery........ and it still is. Been considering a daily stool softener. I will start walking tomorrow; and I see the doctor on Monday, so I will hope to get some perspective from him as well.

How can I not be losing? I was banded on 10/07, and lost 15 lbs by the time I saw the Doctor on the 18th. I was very pleased. Now I have been stuck........ I mean the scale has not moved one single ounce!!! for the past 10 days!! It is crazy maddening!! I am keeping a food diary. Not eating anything off my approved food lists. Calorie intake typically between 850-1000 daily. What am I doing wrong? I am feeling so frustrated!

Good morning all! It is so reassuring to see other people describe the exact same feelings or emotions! I posted yesterday, and went to my first wls support group last night. Good insight, and from the other folks there and the Doctor, I learned that absolutely I am still tired/drained/exhausted. Body is recovering from major surgery and affects of anesthesia are powerful and long lasting. Also, not enough protien! Protien is the bodies fuel-- but for now what it fuels is recovery. So I am working on those ideas today! Mind feels better this AM. Will keep u all posted! Tracy

Hi everyone- Newbie here. Just banded on 10/07. So it has been one whole week! Been reading alot of threads about pain levels, effects of the gas, advancing the post-op diet....... and I am seeing many similarities, and it is reassuring. However, I haven't seen much in the way of how others are doing emotionally. I have a ton of printed info, much of it contradicting another source... on what to eat, how long to take to eat it, etc..... and believe me I am overwhelmed with that process......... But, the mind and heart part of this journey so far has thrown me for a loop! I am on the verge of tears multiple times each day.. and I can't really put into words why!!!!!!! But it is freakin me out!!! Anyone out there able to shed any light on this ?? Is it just me?? Am I crazy? (crazier than I thought?) Tracy

OMG! Yes!!! Between being exhausted and an emotional wreck, I am questioning whether doing this was a good idea. I suspect I am not getting enough food for my body to operate--but I just DO NOT even feel like eating. I was banded on 10/07....... don't see Dr til the 18th..... when will I feel better?

My Doctor ordered three days of clear liquids pre-op, which I started on Monday 10/04. Surgery was on on Thurs 10/07, and I am suppose to only have clear liquids for this first week. It has been very difficult for me. At times I feel very hungry... and yet often I feel like I just cannot injest any more... broth, or protien drink or sugar free jello!! Week Two begins officially in a few short hours, and according to my Doctor's orders can include Cream of Wheat & yorgurt. Since I am so hungry this evening, I decided to have a 1/2 cup portion of cream of wheat. It was good. No problems. Can't say I am less hungry-- but it is a step. Right now trying to keep focus on one little step at a time. I very much appreciate being able to sign in here and read other people's experiences -- it does help.