jhawkchick75

He can also call the OCC and get any questions answered as well. My mom was on board but after talking to the ladies there she was ready to go the next day! Not sure what they said but she felt completely comfortable with it. As for me, I read so much in here before I went that by the time I left I was so mentally ready to go. Never had a day of regret even on day 18 most op when I wanted to jack someone for their slice of pizza! I have terrible willpower but i've been successful. Have I fouled up on some days? Oh yes! Tater tots for breakfast one day, ate a frozen pizza (small, but the whole damn thing) for dinner once, you get the picture. But I keep that at a minimum and when I foul up I move on. Read lots in here and you will be just fine. Congrats on your decision!

Not getting enough calories in will result in you not losing weight, so i'm sure that was your issue. Good idea to get the slight unfill and I hope it keeps up!

The doctor I see for fills said either liquids or at least really mushy soft stuff for a couple of days. Had me a really bad episode last night so i'm on soft stuff and liquids. Give it time to heal - especially if it is a bad episode.

Protein protein protein!!!!! That will help that out a lot. Very typical side effect of the weight loss.

I was just at a BBQ the other night and I also took 1/3 of a chicken breast and cut it up real good and put it in the salad. It was perfect. Since my last fill I was worried about BBQ chicken b/c it didn't have a lot of sauce on it, so the salad dressing helped. I also will take a whole burger patty and then just what I don't eat I don't eat. If i'm a little tight i'll do no meat and eat baked beans or stuff like that. I also get weird looks and questions, but just say i'm not really hungry or that I had just eaten recently and that suffices folks usually.

I don't sip, but I definitely don't chug. I take smaller, but fairly normal drinks, but do take a few seconds between each to make sure its had time to go down. I still do OK with cold drinks, but am weaning myself off really cold stuff, but it is tough I love a really cold ice water. But I know as my restriction gets tighter that won't be an option. I'm sure your band is OK, but they do say do not chug your drinks b/c it can hurt you.

I'm doing OK and trying to hold strong, but have a lot of external factors hurting me right now. I'm about to lose my job and have been having some house and personal stuff going on. But i'm trying to stay positive and keep my eye on the prize. I am upping my protein b/c i'm training for a 5k and trying to watch out for slider foods since this last fill. Am losing so that is good!

To stretch your pouch I was told you would have to sit there and chug water pretty fast. So before you have several fills as long as you are sipping and not chugging you will be just fine. Drink up!!!!

It's been a while for me, but from what I remember I was starting to feel better and then those first two days back at work really sucked! You are pushing your body harder and it is gonna revolt. As far as gas everyone is different, but mine didn't subside significantly for quite a while. I went back to work looking pregnant and still had bruising, but my bruises seem to take forever to go away. If you are really lethargic and hungry you are not drinking enough. You should not be counting calories and should be drinking if you are hungry. Gotta really be working on your protein as well. My healing process seemed to be more difficult than most others, but I got through it and you will too! I am a wuss and if I could do it then you all definitely can! Good luck!!

Unfortunately those first few days really suck and there aren't a lot of options. I tried to do just regular broth and it made me want to puke, so I started taking soups like chicken noodle and veggie and straining them so all I got was the broth. That broth was much better than the canned broth. I also did a lot of special K2O water as well. I heard a lot of folks put spices, hot sauce, etc...in it. I didn't do that and just suffered, but many did this and will hopefully chime in and give you some ideas. Also make sure you aren't counting calories at this time. If you are hungry then make sure you are drinking! I was pretty much drinking all the time. Once you finish the 21 days you feel like you can climb Everest - it is a great feeling!

So glad to hear that it worked for you! I also lost almost all my weight in the first three days of it. But if it helped get you back in good habits then it is all worth it. Great job! =D>

Hi Simone! People do the test for a variety of reasons, but I did mine b/c I was not losing as quickly and also was slowly sliding back into some bad eating habits. This did help tighten me up a bit and also got me back into good habits. I've also heard that if you have stretched your pouch slightly that it can help repair that, but I have nothing solid to back that up.

Don't let the idea of PB'ing freak you out. It's not fun by any means, but it's not that terrible. The pain and discomfort is really when the food gets stuck. The PB'ing itself at least for me is a relief! Isn't nearly as bad in my opinion as vomiting. Don't stick with liquids just because you are afraid. I was doing that after my 5th fill and I caught myself eating slider foods. I broke that today and am back on track with my solids. I do still take is easy at breakfast, but I know that is something that has to be done. But otherwise stay away from those slider foods! You will just get hungry later. Take your chances - restriction is a hit and miss thing and it is going to take you eating the wrong things to know what you can handle. Just make sure you are eating slowly and chewing well. Good luck!

Ohhh scary! Yeah, i'll leave it to the experts. I also can get into my doctor if I really need to and would not feel comfortable letting someone else do that to me. I'll be interested in hearing what they say.

Thanks mam! So how did it go!? I can't wait to hear!! Like you said, more than weight loss for me it just got me back into good eating habits. But the weight loss sure was a perk! Can't wait to hear how you did! Make sure and post!

Sorry you are going through that! I am going through a lot of work drama and can appreciate what you are going through. I also when i am stressed get really tight. Stick with protein shakes, soups, cottage cheese etc...until you feel better. No need to PB and make it even more inflamed. Also, I know for me working out helps with stress so keep with the dancing and any other type of workout you can do. I've started running and work out all my aggressions on some certain people that i'm having issues with at work! Good luck and I hope it all clears out! Shelby

Congrats!!!! Welcome to the other side!!!! Yeah, with gas it is so hard to say. I had it for almost two weeks and I still get it now and again. For some reason I woke up Friday night around 3am and had it bad in my left shoulder. One of those quirky things with the band! Best of luck and keep us up to date on your progress! Shelby

Totally agree with Angie. If you have either hand weights, toning bands, or just cans so some arm exercises. Also, I now for me just walking around on my crutches was quite a workout! So walk around your house or outside if you can. i bet if you google it there are quite a few great exercises out there. Also, find ways to keep yourself busy. I know the week I was on vacation my head hunger killed me! Not sure if you like sudoku, crossword, knitting or anything like that to keep you busy. As odd as it might sound, I love lottery scratcher tickets! So I buy the ones like the bingo ones and crossword ones that take a while to do. I have a 3 year old niece that lives with me part time and we color and I love it! Very theraputic! Good luck!

Yeah, the tots were really not a good idea but I was craving them and wanted to try. From my tightness at breakfast so far, I can pretty much assure tots are out! You know I really never thought about how much running works your core - always just think about the legs. So glad you mentioned that. Thanks!!!

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but most people feel nothing on their first fill. It only took away my ability to eat bread. I really didn't have major restriction until the 3rd and 4th fills and that was only for a couple weeks. Just got my 5th so hopefully this will last a while. Everyone is different though so don't let me discourage you but I want to be honest. Start focusing on all the positive things that are changing in your life. Hang in there!

I understand being pretty tight in the am, but not to the point where it hurts. You should not have any pain especially with liquids. I would ask about just a slight unfill. You don't want to do any permanent damage.

I did it and it was a BIG help! I feel like it tightened me up a bit, but even more so it seemed to really help me get back to basics and back on track. I lost 4lbs in those 5 days and that also helped me with my motivation and determination as well. Good luck! Let us know how it goes!

I agree I think the upping the protein will help. I have started running and that is exactly what my fill nurse told me was to up the protein so now that i'm back on solids i'm gonna really up it. Protein makes all the difference in the world i tell ya! Good luck!

Wow...she looks sooo pretty and just very very happy!!! What a great blessing for her to have the procedure and to be able to enjoy her younger years. Great choice on the dress!!! So very princess!!!

Yeah i've heard that from quite a few folks that the same thing happens to them. I agree i'd schedule one for 2 weeks out jut in case. Some people for some odd reason have theirs tighten back up all of the sudden. Right before my surgery Dr. O told me this band is a bitch and will do what she wants and sure enough he was right!