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The first week is hard, but then it gets easier everyday. The pre-op diet may be challenging as well. You aren't suddenly going to lose so much weight that you look different. It will be over a few weeks and months. You won't want to pick up your children, since that could rip your stitches. Maybe talk to them about that ahead of time. Let them know that you have to go see the doctor and when you come home you will have to rest a lot. Kids can often rise to the occasion. It may be useful to have some help for the first week or 2.

Hi Alicia: I was at a Chrias seminar on 1-9-08. I had my consult with Dr. Peters earlier that day. My insurance requires 12 weeks of documented weight loss attempts, so I have to wait until about April to get the lapband. I am doing all the other stuff now, so I can hopefully have the surgery in April. Chrias requires you to see various types of physicians to ok the surgery. It depends on your health. I am in good physical condition, just "big". as several doctors have told me. Chrias will make you go to "life classes" which teach you what to expect and how to plan menus for the various phases. (liquids, mushies, food, etc.) Did you meet with a surgeon yet?

I take iron as a separate pill as whatever iron they may use in a multi is the cheapest least absorbed form available and you will likely need to supplement it anyway; likewise any calcium in the multi I consider to be a throwaway. I take Iron with the multi (when I take the multi - they're only a 2-3 per week thing for me now, the iron is daily) and then calcium citrate at lunch (if needed) and dinner.

Happy Holidays, Check out my one week YouTube video!! Sexxy0219 add me!!!! TTYL

Kind of a loner and don't really reach out much on these kind of things. Feeling a little bit challenged and have been sticking with the diet and doing well. Kind of annoyed with not being able to get back to the gym right away and lift to be honest. Having mild to moderate gas pain but I suppose in due time it'll get better from what I read. I kind of already had this feeling, not in relation to the sleeve, just about life in general, but lately that seems to be changing. exulansis n. the tendency to give up trying to talk about an experience because people are unable to relate to it—whether through envy or pity or simple foreignness—which allows it to drift away from the rest of your life story, until the memory itself feels out of place, almost mythical, wandering restlessly in the fog, no longer even looking for a place to land. Hard to explain without going into the fact I'm a cancer survivor, and that feeling I have is prevalent when it comes to relating to most people and expressing myself. Don't mistake it for a lack of caring or that I'm depressed. it's just that I'm enervated with trying to explain things that are not just simply understood and people think that a heart to heart is going to allow them to experience the sum whole of my life and get it. I am feeling detached a lot lately, you eat and consume one way your whole life and now that's changed. This feeling I'm now having sounds like one describes as withdrawal, I've not the desire to attempt to break the diet and blow out my staples or cause a leak, but that doesn't mean I don't have the acute awareness that I'm having a bit of an existential crisis with the changes. I've been actually talking with family and friends about it, which I was happy to keep this as much to myself as possible. Kind of weird for me to be sharing this much, but I suppose there is a first time for everything or maybe at this point I am ready... I noticed one thing that did improve my bleh was having some bullion (salt) because my BP was disastrously low and the nurse that works for my surgeon agreed. Anytime I stood up I was nearly passing out. I never usually sleep this much either. Never really had depression before, but from the sounds of it I have a lot of the symptoms as well as physiological issues that are causing this general feeling of ennui toward life. Working from home and being in the swing with that has been a good distraction at least. I'm a little moody and it's hard to provide tech support over the phone to idiots, I mean cx... lol Can't wait to get approval to exercise properly again, this waiting and listlessness sucks.

I don't think juicing would be all that useful one week-post op, since you should only be thinking "protein, protein, protein" right now.

@gaudjosl.......I received a call from the patient coordinator from the hospital following up on my progress and that is exactly what she told me too. @@Miss Mac......I have read a ton on here about stalls, they don't sound very fun but I am hoping to work thru them when I reach them. @Luna222.......I'm so glad to hear you are doing well with your recovery too. I guess after being on these threads for so long before surgery I was expecting so much more to go wrong. I feel so bad for some on here especially when I am doing so well. Good Luck with your follow up apt!!

I buy a lot of clothes online since the plus selection in many stores has three styles in 10 colors. Can't wait to walk into a store and have options!! High end, low end, even Target LOL

I have been training for 4 months. I finally with the help of my trainer did the grouse grind in vcr bc. I took 1:45 min, thought I would die, but like child birth, am going to try again nextweek. I am really lucky to have a personal trainer (2xweek) and go on my own 4 days a week. Grouse is a 35% grade, 2.9 km up the moutain. also nsv, I went dancing that night, a people that have not seen me since my surgery, did not know me. I feel great!

My doc says restriction is when you are eating 3 small meals daily with no snacks and losing one to two lbs a wk. I am yet to be there I have had three fills but I think I am close

Okay so after a month or so we got together with my in laws about a week ago to do Christmas. Due to my surgery being just before Christmas and then they had the flu etc so we had delayed it since they are in Connecticut and we are in Massachusetts. So, they got me the misfit shine. Well for those who dont know it is a fitness and activity tracker that wirelessly syncs to your phone. It doesn't require any charging or cables to connect to anything. It comes with two ways to wear it. One is like a watch and it looks like a watch sort of. It also tells time, if you tap it twice it shows lights that mimic the hands on a clock. Which is nice. It also tracks your activity including just general walking. The best things I have found so far is its waterproof so you can wear it while swimming etc. And you can set it up with your phone to measure swimming since the action differs from walking or running. You can also have it track, basketball, soccer, running and cycling. The second way to wear this is a rubber band like clip that you can put anywhere, i put mine on my shoelaces ( it weighs less than an ounce) for when i use the bike at the gym and it tracks my cycling. It also has sleep tracking. The app it comes with keeps all your data and it lets you set daily goals for walking or exercise etc, and it ha a direct link to my fitness pal and other sites so you can have it send right to your account. You can also set the same goals as your friends on the appp and see who can get more points than the pther if you want that competitive thing. Now also i have seen on ebay they make other ways to wear this including a really nice looking necklace and a real watch band etc. All in all I have to say I am impressed with it and while I dont know how much I would rely on one, this thing add a bit of fun to an otherwise semi monotonous task. Easiest part is it automatically dumps info to your phone, or you can just open the app tap the screen and bang, info syncs right up. I give it a 9 out of 10 because nothing is perfect.

Yogurt Smoothie: Blend 1/2 cup Fat Free Greek Yogurt with at least 20 grams of protein per cup, 1/8 C. orange juice, 1/4 C water, a couple of frozen or fresh strawberries, and Splenda to taste ( I like three tablespoons). Split Pea Soup: Andersons Split Pea with Bacon has 5 grams of protein per half cup Decaf Soy Milk or Skim Milk Latte: 8 grams of protein per cup of milk Lynda

i was also banded on 2-3 and i have to admit i am confused. the lap band web site talks about thin liquids for one to two weeks. my docs dietician allowed me to do half full liquids on post op day two. she said i can start mushy food after seven days. the web site is way different. i need help.peggy

You go! So happy for you. I do know exactly how you feel. I put on my three sizes smaller clothes and stand in front of the mirror and just stare. I just can't believe that I am changing so fast. It really is amazing. Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hi all. I have done a lot of griping and obsessing on this forum. I had my 1 week post-op appt today and it was very reassuring. Here's what I came away with. I share it because I hope it might help reassure some of you: 1. I only lost 6 lbs in one week. Response: That's fine. You're body is adjusting. Don't pay much attention to the scale at this point. Your 2 mos post op will tell the tale. 2. I'm scared I'm stretching my sleeve because I can drink Fluid with no limit. Response: Don't worry to much about that. 3. I seem to do better getting my fluids with a straw. Response: Then use one. 4. I'm scared that I'm stretching my sleeve because I can already eat a 5.5 oz yogurt in one sitting. Response: don't worry about it. But make sure you aren't drinking fluids before or after meals (30 min). Once you get to solids, you won't do that. 5. I'm worried about having to track Protein, calories, carbs for the rest of my life. I can't do it. Does that mean I will fail? Response: Not at all. Everyone is different. Some patients track religiously and that's great. Many patients say that after a few months, they don't need to track because they already know what they can and cannot eat and what it means to get in adequate protein. That is certainly true at 6 mos to a year post-op. You'll be fine. 6. I'm exhausted. I read about people exercising at my stage post-op and I just cannot fathom it. I sleep during the day and then sleep again at night. Is this normal? Response: Yes, totally normal. Everyone is different. You had major surgery. You'll likely turn a corner when you start eating more solid food (starting this week w/ refried Beans, eggs, cottage cheese, tuna, yay!!!) 7. I am weepy. I am prone to depression and I'm worried that surgery has been a trigger. Response: Don't worry yet. Many people report their emotions being all over the place as the hormones stabilize post-surgery. This should subside with time. That said, stay on your medications. That's all I can remember, but the bottom line is that he was very reassuring. I got the impression that there is just a lot of variation among patients and that's ok. Feeling much better, Angela

So I am a week out of surgery. First couple of days it felt like I did 10 000 sit ups. Today it feels like only doing 500. Got my walking down, sipping my liquids but need to sip a lot more to meet my goal. I know it doesn't happen overnight. I start each day with a Boost Diabetic Protein drink. Nice to see there is an app for this. Hope I get to know others here. Cheers manitobamama

I had to be on a supervised diet for 12 months and while it really stunk, it also gave me time to really think about what I was doing and how it would change my life. Now, with surgery being 4 weeks away, I'm just anxious.

I have submitted mine - It was received last Wednesday. They said that it has to go through review and then review by a dr. So - it will take 2-3 weeks. I am praying that it will be sooner though. I want it done before by 5-25 birthday! If you go to bcbsil.com and don't log in - go to procedures - then find surgery for the morbidly obese and then you can print it from there. I am going to go back and try what I typed in, hopefully I got it right! If not I will repost!!! Good luck!

Food is my best friend too. Made me feel better when I was sad, entertained me when I was bored, shared in my happiness. I'm on my two week liver shrink diet (surgery scheduled for april 8th)and it's been very difficult. I know it will get easier with time but my every waking thought seems to revolve around food right now--especially the stuff I can't have. I know this is part of the process, but it is quite a struggle.

I am also 9 days out and have had enough of protien shakes and water to last a lifetime!! I have decided that this is more about aversion therapy than surgery. I'm so sick of putting nasty-tasting things in my mouth, I would rather just not eat at all. However, last night I was hungry. Since I was given the okay to eat cream soups this week (not potatoe or corn) and since I'm a vegetarian, I decided to make a little something else. I make split pea soup. I ate about 3 oz. and it was the best thing I have ever eaten in my life. I'm ready to get to the soft diet and leave these nasty shakes behind!!!

My sleeve surgery was 1 year ago tomorrow and I have to tell you one of the hardest part was the pre op fasting. The 1st week was the hardest, the 2nd week for me was the 7 day countdown, which helped me alot when I was struggling and sleeping helped too. Hang in there, the best is yet to come. I waivered back and forth up to surgery date and even felt a little off balance from the pre op diet because I was hungry and everything I saw looked good, even food I really never cared for. I look at myself today and can't believe I actually did it, all I can say is you have reached the top of the hill and now its downhill from here on out. You will do great, just think a week from today it will be all over and a new you is evolving. Good Luck, hope my words helped a little.

When you reheat, do it in broth. I buy the boxed kind, which keeps on the fridge for 2 weeks.

13 pounds down.. pretty excited! Must say was a good week. Pain was tolerable . Another week of liquids then can move on to yogurt . Hope everyone is having a good week.

I was allowed to start soft foods after 2 weeks of liquids. 1 of my favorite things is scrambled eggs with salsa and cheese. So yummy! I also like the refried beans with cheese salsa and fat free sour cream. Clearly I really like salsa lol. Good luck and get creative with it. You don't want to bore yourself with the same old thing everyday. My doctor told me to spice things up.

You will probably not go down steadily. You'll go down then up then down a little more, up a little, etc. You will especially see this if you are weighing every day, and you will figure out what your pattern is. Also, your period will likely cause you to jump a few pounds... it's all Water. Keep in mind that just because the scale goes up a little bit doesn't mean it's fat gain, it could be water, muscle, etc. Plus, you haven't even been banded for 2 full weeks yet, give yourself a chance to heal!