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Hi, I just got back from Myrtle Beach last week. My hubby and i went and what worked for me was I let him order and I either ate a small portion of his (sharing can save alot of $$), or I ordered the soup and salad. My hubby was very considerate and ordered things he knew I could eat. I ate broiled seafood (very good protein source), soups, veggies and mashed potatoes. So, maybe youcan talk whoever is going with you into shating with you. Good luck and have a great time. We go to MB about 4 times a year, so let me know if you have any ?s.

I'm not sleeved yet so I can't answer to my own experience. But search the site for hormones and acne and you'll see a ton of people who discuss the hormones that surge the first couple of weeks as your body breaks down the fat where they are stored. People break out for a few weeks, cry for no reason etc.

If you're only 2 weeks out, those foods are probably too heavy for your stoma to have more than 3-4 bites. Maybe stop at 3. You'll get more down. Also, when you're about a month out, start taking Vitamins. You're NOT going to get malnourished in those few weeks. I know my body has enough extra weight to survive for a month! Just kidding. But seriously, you'll be fine. The first few weeks just try to get in Protein. That's the number one thing to be health conscious about. liquid Protein will be your best option. And good luck!

today I'm just over 2 weeks since surgery and I feel great. In fact, probably too well since I've been eating regular food. If I don't get a fill soon, I'll probably start to gain weight. So far I'm down 15 lbs. but have stayed at 15 lbs for the last week. I'm feeling a little discourage but I know that I'm not doing all of the things I'm supposed to. I NEED that fill! This is definately harder than I ever thought it would be when I started this journey. I haven't been too hungry since the surgery so I can definately tell a difference. Since the surgery, I've had Thai food once, spinach dip and sandwiches at a party (Ashley Lissy's baby shower), potato salad at another party (Maryanna's 1st Birthday), and 6" chicken salad sub at my mom's house. But on a positive note, I've exercised almost every day at least 20 minutes. I feel physically better. I just wished it showed a little more. At first, when I lost the weight really quickly, people that I work with noticed but that has really slowed down. Actually, the thing I think about most is "what if I paid 17,000 and lose 20 lbs?" First, that would make me feel like such a failure, second, I would be so embarrassed, especially because some people like Donna and Brent know how much it cost. I would feel like a fool. yesterday, we went out on the boat w/ my family. At first, I was excited to take pictures, by the end of the night (after I had seen a couple of them on the digital camara) I didn't want to be in any more. I looked so fat. That was really discouraging. Anyway, I'm still glad I did it, I just want to make sure I don't waste the money or the opportunity. I'm joining the chat forum. The next support group meeting is 4th Thursday in Sept. Anyway, thanks for listening. Love, Sarah

I did not do liquids, as he didn't ask me to. I lost 20 lbs in the two weeks of pre-op, but I cheated like there was no tomorrow (and if you think about it, that was reality). I had pizza four times, Italian sausage twice, clam chowder once, Belgian fries with all the dippings twice, and fell for Chipotle once. The rest of the time I had high-Fiber Cereal with greek yogurt, or else some extremely lean meat. I was sure to workout like hell while this occurred, because exercising was a lot easier for me than staying under 1000 calories a day (which was the requirement...and by the way, that is still hard now three months out, but I am losing weight just fine). There were no problems with my liver, and I was 286 (44 BMI) at my final pre-op appointment. Instances of cancellation are rare and occur in extreme cases (hundreds of pounds heavier than you or me), so I would take this day to relax and get in the zone...you've done it, and psychologically, you should be on the other side already. Congratulations.

I bought a Wii Fit this last weekend. I figured that even if I can't exercise now I can show that I am willing to make an effort and have a plan in place for when I am able to exercise. WHO INVENTED THIS MALICIOUS TORTURE DEVICE? I plunked down nearly 100 dollars of my DH's hard earned money on this atrocity. That cute childlike little voice is so encouraging and makes it seem so easy. It told me it was just going to do a simple Body Test on me. I picked my cute little Mii and followed the directions. All the sudden my adorable little character starts to blow up like a balloon! I thought she would explode! I think I saw bits of chocolate flying into her mouth. No one told me they were actually going make her look like me . Like I can't look in the mirror and see that I am fat--now I have a fattie mii to workout with. Then it reminded me of the fact that I am beyond overweight. After my balance tests it told me that I probably trip over my own feet when walking. So as of right now this vicious device has told me I am an obese klutz. And I PAID for it to tell me that! I have a mother and children--I can get that information for free whenever I want. And it has told me that it expects me to come and visit it every day. Why? Cause it hasn't told me I dress frumpy, wear too much makeup and could use a new hairstyle? Then I found out that it is going to be stalking me if I don't show up for training? I can just imagine my phone ringing and that childlike voice "Mom (my wii's name), why hasn't your obese klutzy butt been up here to play with me? I am going to raise your Wii Age to 60 if you don't come see me. I have all of your Carnival Game tickets and you can't have them back until you run 10 miles. I am taking over your Sims house and redecorating it with Country Chintz. I WON'T BE IGNORED!" I knew I should have been scared from the moment I started to open it and the first warning on the box was "CAUTION: Everyone in the room will be able to see just how old, fat and klutzy you are when you use this" (I paraphrased a little. . ) Some skinny game developer is laughing his butt off all the way to the bank. I would love to get my fat klutzy hands around his scrawny little neck. . . But who would have thought that trying to gain 5 pounds would be so hard???? (stop throwing things at me!!!) I have been eating nonstop. And eating crap. I am afraid to do anything else on the Wii Fit cause I don't want to screw up my chances when I weigh in. Yeah, it groans when I step on it and says "that's obese!, in that so cute little voice, but apparently that little girl doesn't work for the insurance company. I was going to reweigh this week but I realized I can't get my insurance paperwork together until next week and I figured that I would give myself a better chance of hitting the magic number if I waited a week. When I weigh myself with clothes and a full bladder at the end of the day I am just barely making the 40 BMI. At the beginning of the day I am still around 228--not enough to qualify. But just enough for my evil little Mii to take up most of the screen. I swear when I was watching my skinny children play I could hear my Mii crunching away on a bag of potato chips. Or maybe that was me.. .

My Dr said 8 weeks. I'm 14 weeks post op and I still have burning at the port site during some really difficult crunches. When that happens I switch to a less strenuous crunch.

Well, that's ridiculous, so maybe your NUT isn't as educated as I'd hope. But I don't think it's unreasonable for you to be aiming for 800-1000 calories a day. You want to keep your metabolism up and stay out of starvation mode. And if you are doing ANY sort of exercise, you need to be eating more calories in order to sustain your activity level. Definitely don't worry about this 2.6 pound "gain". It can only be Water weight and there is no way you are actually GAINING real weight eating under 1000 calories a day. Stalls and slow-downs are common around the 3 week mark post-op and things usually pick up again a few weeks after that, so just hang in there. Yea, I am working on it. I did end up starting my period, and today I was down 2 of the 2.6 I was up Friday. So I am definitely working on eating more, although yesterday I barely ate much at all, I just wasn't hungry. I got the all clear last week at my 2nd follow up.

It makes total sense, and I know the feeling completely! It kind of makes me teary to read your story, because it's a very powerful experience for those of us who have been through it. That's why I find this site helpful. I've had my band for 7 years. I had really started to take it for granted and forget what it's like. I've maintained 100+ pound weight loss (although I lost more than that and have gained back - but I'm on my way back down). It can be emotionally overwhelming at times - fear of failure, fear of success, pride, freedom, power, helplessness, excitement - all of it at the same time! Good for you! If you can, print out your post or copy and paste it into a private journal somewhere. Down the road when you stall or become discouraged (because it happens to all of us at some point), go back and read it. Remember why you are doing this and just how amazing it is!

Hey all newly banded here just a little over two weeks and I have not stayed on my diet much of that time I am extremely worried about my band and pouch. I keep trying to eat right and the start of the day I keep on it the later it gets the harder it gets I really need the feeling of fullness I had when I first got the band I stuck to my diet perfect when that happened. I am not sure how someone with control of portion issues is supposed to get the will power all of a sudden to be able to do this eat 4 oz every thirty minutes stuff any ideas or help of any kind. Any stories of support or hope I really want to lose weight for my family but I am sooo worried that I am doing more harm than good please any one with anything helpful please respond getting desperate here .

I too was not prepared for the hunger that I am feeling already. I was banded one week ago, and find that the hunger at times is overwhelming! My doctor has me on liquids until the end of this week, but I have had a little cottage cheese and some yogurt to try and squelch the hunger. I have not heard of the 4 ounces every 30 minutes - sounds like a good plan if it is a good food for you Maybe you should give your surgeon a call and tell them of the problems you are having......

I am so happy for you. I am just beginning my journey (I have been to a seminar, and my first class is next week) and have a similar start weight as you. It was really inspiring to read your post! I'll have to come re-read it when I let those little doubts and fears about surgery creep into my mind as it does sometimes. I hope that sometime this coming year I can write such a happy post as you have done. Thanks!

I spoke with my doctor at my first post-op appointment and he suggested 3-4 weeks and strictly 6-8 weeks carrying anything heavier than 8 pounds. I did go the full 8 weeks without picking up anything heavier than my purse and it broke my heart to not pick up my grandson who weighs 20+. I had the kids pick up everything for me since I was terrified about port flip, band problems, etc.

I just have my revision from the lap band to sleeve a week a go. And so far looking good.. To many problems with my band .

I have my band date set at March 7th. My Dr. decided to double check my thyroid since I had been off of medication for a few years due to some bad side effects due to the high dosage I was on earlier. So the TSH test came back a little high. Dr. said I need a letter of clearance from an endocrinologist or my PCP that treated me before. To me this surely signified a postponement of the surgery date. So today I contact my PCP and leave him my test results and his nurse said she will get back with me later after the PCP has time to look things over. So today at about 5:45 I get a call back from the nurse. She tells me the doctor is calling in a prescription for the thyroid medicine, and as long as I start taking it right away, he will clear me for surgery and write the letter up for me next week. So right now I am overjoyed!!!! I had been eating light and preparing myself for the surgery so now my work is not in vain like I thought. I just hope something else doesn't come up-because things like this make me so nervous as I like to have a controlled and scheduled life-lol lol.... YAHOOOOOOOO--- I sure hope my Band Doctor is ready--becasue I sure am!!! T

track your intake of everything that passes your lips. Empty out the house of the junk tell family that is how they will be helping you. Most people seem to do well when their bands are just over half full (10cc/6.5cc) if you get hungry b4 4 hours get a fill. I did and life has great after that its been 3 mos and just this week I have been hungry and have to watch myself from hunting. If this keeps up this week I will go in for a top off.

Well...Im almost 1 month post op 6 days til post op anniversary of one month. I can't believe everything that has happened to me already. Healing from surgery was not pleasant, and I really do believe that I did recover more slowly than others because I am a smoker. Since then after two weeks of recovery, I got bronchitis and a head cold....they are finally leaving my body now. I also have had a bout with more depression and anxiety and I have seen my psychiatrist and she has increased my meds for now. The depression is getting better. I have found that I am more in a "funk" when I stay home all day and do nothing. It's those days I want to nap or feel down....So, I need to get out of the house daily. Even if it's just to go lay by the pool or go to the tanning bed...anything to get me outta the house is good for me. The last 2 days I have been walking. Saturday, I walked for 45 minutes and today I walked for 35 minutes. It really does feel good to get my body moving....a few weeks ago, exercise was just taking the dogs out. Now, when I do take them out I go for a longer walk with them then just the amount of walk for them to "get down to business" I can't believe I AM WALKING...ME the one who has so much pain in her knees...ME the one who hates to sweat, ME the one who weighs still over 300 pounds is walking. ME ME ME!!!! It is such an awesome feeling to know that I CAN start taking care of my body....that I CAN be physically active. 4 months ago, I would go to wal mart and get a motorized chair to shop with.....NOT ANYMORE!! I CAN WALK. I still have 2 weeks before my first fill and "bandster hell" has not been too unbearable. I guess because I drink a lot of water between meals and I'm getting in a lot of protein....some days over 100 grams. I feel so excited that I may possibly be getting my life back....It scares me though to think "well maybe this still wont happen for me"...I do still have those thoughts but they are getting less. I have been in the fight for my life for years and I had given up. Until Jan 4th 2010 when I attended my lap band seminar. Then the wild ideas about having a life again were just so amazing...amazing that MAYBE, it could happen to me.....I think it finally is.... I am so very proud of myself and I know there will be bumps ahead but dang this feels so good....it feels better than a reecees peanut butter cup would taste, or even chocolate mint ice cream.....this feels better than that!!!! I hope and pray that it continues.... Meg:unsure:

Well...Im almost 1 month post op 6 days til post op anniversary of one month. I can't believe everything that has happened to me already. Healing from surgery was not pleasant, and I really do believe that I did recover more slowly than others because I am a smoker. Since then after two weeks of recovery, I got bronchitis and a head cold....they are finally leaving my body now. I also have had a bout with more depression and anxiety and I have seen my psychiatrist and she has increased my meds for now. The depression is getting better. I have found that I am more in a "funk" when I stay home all day and do nothing. It's those days I want to nap or feel down....So, I need to get out of the house daily. Even if it's just to go lay by the pool or go to the tanning bed...anything to get me outta the house is good for me. The last 2 days I have been walking. Saturday, I walked for 45 minutes and today I walked for 35 minutes. It really does feel good to get my body moving....a few weeks ago, exercise was just taking the dogs out. Now, when I do take them out I go for a longer walk with them then just the amount of walk for them to "get down to business" I can't believe I AM WALKING...ME the one who has so much pain in her knees...ME the one who hates to sweat, ME the one who weighs still over 300 pounds is walking. ME ME ME!!!! It is such an awesome feeling to know that I CAN start taking care of my body....that I CAN be physically active. 4 months ago, I would go to wal mart and get a motorized chair to shop with.....NOT ANYMORE!! I CAN WALK. I still have 2 weeks before my first fill and "bandster hell" has not been too unbearable. I guess because I drink a lot of water between meals and I'm getting in a lot of protein....some days over 100 grams. I feel so excited that I may possibly be getting my life back....It scares me though to think "well maybe this still wont happen for me"...I do still have those thoughts but they are getting less. I have been in the fight for my life for years and I had given up. Until Jan 4th 2010 when I attended my lap band seminar. Then the wild ideas about having a life again were just so amazing...amazing that MAYBE, it could happen to me.....I think it finally is.... I am so very proud of myself and I know there will be bumps ahead but dang this feels so good....it feels better than a reecees peanut butter cup would taste, or even chocolate mint ice cream.....this feels better than that!!!! I hope and pray that it continues.... Meg:unsure:

Hi Guys im ready to book asap for my sleeve. as in next couple of weeks i want it before march is out. been consulted in UK- Dr Alan Li £8000 UK price private- tempted to have op in Prague as is £3k cheaper £4950 inc travel and insurance with Dr Micheal Vrany through Prauge Beauty? has anyone been with either surgeon? options please? thanks in advance

Wait is short if not wanting the surgery on nhs. 3 weeks or less from consult to surgery for many of us who go private in UK. Sent from my Vivo 5R using Tapatalk

Kayleigh are you having any luck finding your surgeon? See it has been a week,since we have heard from you. Any more gains on your weight loss? Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

I had my surgery on July 26th and so far I feel great! Still on my liquid diet for a week, so after today I will get to move to the soft food phase. I lost 18lbs prior to surgery (2 week pre-op diet) and so far I am down 6 lbs in 6 days (since surgery). I know this will eventually slow down, but after my post op appointment and my first adjustment I plan to hit the pavement and walk-jog 5 fays a week. I am excited for the jourmey and I appreciate all of you who are here in support of this surgery! Any advice is appreciated!

I was cleared to do "whatever my body will allow" after my post op visit (day 8). My only limitations were to not lift more than 15-20 pounds for a couple of more weeks. I went for my first bike ride on day 8! I did find that my muscles were CRAZY FATIGUED!!. That I was not expecting. Now on week 4, I'm still biking, but still working at increasing my endurance and stamina.

This is good info to know. I'll need to tell my trainer he won't see me for a few weeks. I'm going to add it to my list of questions for the surgeon too.

I was technically cleared to do anything at 6 weeks, but was told to focus heavily on cardio and building up fitness, and not worry as much about weights.