JazzyJude

Yes you can babe. Remember during your first 21 days, you are not counting calories. I had puddings and fudgsicles dring this time as well.

Thank you Dapzilla! And to tell you the truth, it was easier done than said. I have been listening to other's experiences and I had expected some the same for me and it wasn't. Everyone is different. So, basically, don't judge on your fill til afterwards. You will NOT experience the same as anyone else at all.

If it ws my choice, I would do protein shakes for breakfast and lunch, and then have your Thanksgiving dinner with your family. Have a big green salad and one of those spray Wishbone salad dressings Dr. Miranda suggests. OR - think and be like a bandster now...pretend you were banded already. Eat 3oz (1/3 cup) of fresh turkey, 1/4 cup of veggies (greens beans), 1/4 cup of grain/carb (stuffing and/or yams) and a few bites of a dessert, and no more than 1200 calories for the whole day. Try it and see how you do! This is what I am doing with my family. Remember to cut up your food in tiny pieces and chew several times (practice makes perfect!). Serve on a smaller plate - a salad or sandwich plate is perfect, would make you feel you have a whole plate full instead of a regular dinner plate and all the extra room for more temptations. Keep us posted and let us know what you've done...

Donna...here's the link to OCC's video library if this is what you were looking for? http://www.obesitycontrolcenter.com/about_video.php

Thank you Mindy for your message! I would love to share my progress with everyone. It's amazing how one's journey can be so fulfilling as we thrive to go forward!! ((HUGS!))

Thanks Amy...but I am not THAT famous...YET! LOL!! I am glad to have met so many friends here. I know I've said this before but there are so many people here on this forum to support us and it just feels so great you are being cheered on by all. It actually thrives me on to keep going on my challenge to reach my goal safely and to be consistent and on track. I know I talk a lot but I am a people person...what can I say? ((HUGS to you all!))

Exactly...it's sad, really, when you want to enjoy your day and you start to read the violence in your own hometown. Like Lisa says, I am not going to stop going places because of it. Just be prepared and be alert, no matter where you go and I don't create a 'center of attention' in unfamiliar places. Don't put yourself in a position you can't get yourself out of.

You know, you are going to think me CRAZY! But my grandmother, bless her soul!, had used Preparation H and vitamin E on her stretched marks! YES! I used to remember her using PH for EVERYTHING but never for the true reason! LOL I know, I know. But seriously, she had used it and it seemed to help and eventually she had smoothe skin. I also know she had used something else, but I don't recall at this very moment...give me time to think and I will respond again.

AWESOME Susanna...you won't regret this at all. I am like you...pictures? NO WAY! But hearing all of these successes like Cathy, Denise, lisal. Linda, Kimmy, MamaMichelle, Heidi, Tanya...oh so many more, I thought I had to take some pics as well. GAG is right. And I had already measured myself too, another GAG! BUT, in spite of all of this, I KNOW I am going to be MUCH thinner in one year's time and I want to SEE the results. I am also going to take monthly pictures (thanks LInda for suggesting more than one or two!) on my 'anniversary' day, the 8th, since I was banded last month on Oct 8. This way I can see my progress as I go along. Do a special photo album of your journey. I started one and I am actually having fun with it! I also added my journal notes too...so, yes, BRING IT ON! Good Luck and have fun watching the pounds and inches melt away!

Yes...Kim says it right! When you get your fills, start right away to stay with the guidelines of eating and exercise more than ever. By the time for your next fill, you will get a more "sweeter spot" and you will have a more perfect fill. ] As I mentioned in my post yesterday, your first fill is like a 'primer' to get you really ready for losing the weight. Well, the band had a fill now YOU need to do your work. You eat within the guideslines, which is 3oz meat, 1/4 cup veggie, 1/4 cup of grain/carb/fruit per meal, 3 x a day and no more than 1200 calories a day. Plan your exercises every day. I walk every day and then do the light aerobics 3 times a week. Since I just had my surgery last month, I can't do any hard core abs yet...but I can do simple, easy twisting, stretching, etc. My plan is when I get my fills, go on the full liquids for the three days and then exercise like crazy! So far it's working!

OH PLEASE make mine a kitten sound instead of a lion!!! I heard that if you keep your proteins up, you wouldn't have this problem...so guess what! I am packing my proteins!

Goodness me! I had a round-table meeting last Friday and, of course, right on cue before the supervisor said anyting, my stomach just did this LOUD growling, gurgling noice. EVERYONE was looking at me because it was so long of a sound. I KNOW I turned beet red!!! I just shrugged and the guys were hiding their smiles...! OOPS!

NICE post...thanks for sharing and perfect timing for this!

Kristy! Don't forget to browse thur the Recipe section...LOTS of ideas!

Cara is right, schedule for your next fill and get that going. I had my fill yesterday and had a 1cc fill for ME and it was perfect. Not everyone is the same. BUT, your weight would fluctuate for several reasons: your monthly, plateau, change in exercises, stress level and so on. Everything is accountable. The main thing to remember is to stay focus with the guideline and choose your food wisely and appropriately. Be strict with yourself. Also, don't let that darn scale get to ya! I didn't weigh myself over over 30 days, and in that time, I've discovered I lost 2 pants size and I now can wear my jeans!!! Talk about being surprised! I knew I was losing inches vs pounds, due to my own life's everyday struggles. But, in the end, oh I LOVED to see the number go down yesterday! So, put up the scale and go 'blindly' and listen to your body. If your gut feeling says 'Uh-oh!'...then do some kind of an exercise to 'discard' it. Make sure of your daily protein intake and your drinking your water too. At least you didn't gain!!! WTG guys!

I agree with both Maggie and Julie. I started using Benefiber powder in most of my liquids, included the drinkable yogurt and that helped a lot. Since you are not eating any food right now, what BM you have inside you now is just waiting for another food push per se (sorry, TMI, I know). So, to 'assist' the benefiber aids in place of the food but it will take a little time for the body to treat Benefiber as 'food'. When you start using it regularly, daily, you will see a change and your rotor rooter problem will be fine! Continue using the powder form until you start your solid foods on day 22, then alternate between the chewable Benefiber. I use the chewable Fiber Choice for the hunger pangs; one at 10am and one at 3pm. Hope this helps!

Like Gas X Strips...different brand name...for gas

Anne...the $500 is included with the fee, not extra. If in doubt, contact OCC for clarification. And GOOD FOR YOU to think of yourself first! YOU is what important...WTG!

Thanks Kristy! Look at you! You will be banded soon and will be sharing your successess too! WTG on your decision! Keep us posted!

Maggie! Yes, it really went well and I worried for nothing! Also, it was total surprise for me to see the weight loss because I don't go on the scale! I hear of others being so disappointed when they see their weight go up and down or on a plateau. I didn't want to see that at the beginning of my weight loss. I didn't need to have that darn thing 'weigh' me down, hoping I would jump on it 2 or 3 times a day. No thank you. I figure if I weigh myself monthly, on the 8th of each month (since I was banded on Oct 8) I would have a nice NSV to add in Jazzy's Journey Journal and to share with others. It is a challenge to stick with the guideline and to reach my goals...but it is so worth it! Thanks for your message ~ ((HUGS!))...it means a lot!

Thanks Julie! I appreciate your message and I do try to help others. I love the fact that everyone IS different and they share THEIR suggestions or tips. I like to know there are other options out there for me to TRY. It may not work for me, but would for someone else. I feel fine today...and oh yes!...I know I have restriction because as I start to swallow the food or drink, I can feel it go down slower than when I didn't have restriction at all. So, again, I am re-learning to drink slowly as well as swallowing slowly too. Also, after each food goes in my mouth, that fork or spoon is laid down as well!

HA! Thanks Darlin'! Hang in there Shelby! KEEP with the guideline! Measure your foods because I was having a heck of a time that last week. But I am strict with myself and stuck with it. I've never cheated ONCE. Just make sure your protein intake is up high beyond 60 grams and you will be fine. I have a little restriction - not a whole lot but that is what I want. I need to control myself and learn to eat properly. This is a good thing for me. Keep me posted on how you are doing!!

Taz is right. Walk your heart out! Movements will move those gas bubbles around and eventually, they will pass. Even twisting your body from side to side may help. Just don't sit all the time. When taking teh gas x strips, take 2 at a time...they won't hurt you at all...just trust me on this! Keep moving and you will blast those gas suckers out of ya!

Good point! I wouldn't be true to myself, if I had to 'hide' something. This forum made me be so true and honest with what I am doing, I find I can really 'talk' to you all.

Hi Everyone! My first fill was yesterday and it was AWESOME! Like the song, "I had my fill....on "strawberry margarita" hill! Although my experience was quite different than most, it seems. My appointment was scheduled at 10am, of course, got here early ~ JUST in case there would be anyone I might know from this forum or meet up with new prospects or newbies. I was to meet up with Salena, but she was still sitting in the dentist's chair when I left! LOL I didn't wait too long after signing in, when Dr. So was waiting for me and onwards I went! I walked a little taller as I walked towards the back room to have your fill. (This was my 2nd time in this room, as I was lucky to 'view' a live fill when I signed up). Dr. So was impeccable in explaining what he was doing AND he didn't speak like a running log either. He knew what he was doing every step of the way and he EXPLAINED before each process. He answered any questions I had in between, which, of course, if you knew me, I had a million! But he was paitent, listened and explained and made sure I understood. He studiously retrieved all the packaged items he needed from the drawers for my fill. I watched him put his gloves on, put iodine solution on some gauze for my tummy, opened the syringe package and add the saline into it, set up the fluroscopy, all the while he was explaining what is to be done today. He said, they don't do a aggressvie fill the first time. Your 'first' fill is meant to be first time for your stomach to progressively prepare for a 'tighter' fit later, yet have a slight restriction. Cara says it good...like a 'primer' - getting ready for the 'big one'. And this is true and I totally agree with this process and personally would want only that, otherwise, it would be a shock to your system and your body and your mental state wouth repel this, thus causing an 'unfill'. He did say, they start aggressive fills with the 2nd. So, I have something to look forward to! I saw my stomach on the fluro screen and it was an insight! My port was RIGHT THERE! Big as it can be and just waitng to be injected! Dr. So said my band looked great and we are ready to get started! I have to be honest here, I was starting to get nervous of the thought of that darn needle! BUT, what he did was simply placed his hand on my tummy, where the port was, and then gently stretched out my skin area and he announced he was going to insert the needle and I may feel a little sting. GASPS! I was totally surprised! There were NO pain, not even a 'bee sting'. NOTHING! All I felt was the pressure he applied and that was it! Also, for your info, I have a 'thick hide' and I always had to have a 'sharper' needle to get through my skin. But THIS experience was great! THANK YOU Dr. So! I sipped the pink "strawberry margarita" barium, he so graciously gave me, and watched the screen as I swallowed it. Really cool to see! He started off slowly and I kept drinking the barium until he thought it was good. Then I sipped on some water to 'wash' down the barium. Again, I drank the rest of the barium to see how the flow was. It was perfect. He put 1cc in my 4cc band. He gave me a piece of paper titled, "CAUTION: Is your band too Tight?" GREAT reference to have when getting your fill. So, if you get your fill here at OCC, make sure you receive one, which would assist in any of your questions about your own fill. As I got off the table, he was cleaning the countertop off and changing the 'bed sheets' with new sheets, in readiness for the next Bandster! I was thoroughly impressed on the whole procedure and now that I know what having a fill is, I will NOT hesitate at all to go for one when needed! Now comes the interesting part of my day... When I fist came in, I filled out my 'first' fill form and made my $100 payment and sat in the lounge area until it was time for my appt. Hubby sat with me and when I was to go do my thing, he was going to shop around for items we needed to take back home. In the meantime, people were strolling in, signed up, and the lounge area was starting to fill up. Then my name was called in to get my fill. After the fill experience, I went back to the lounge to sip on water to make sure my fill is ok and wait for hubby to come back. George, one of the admin staff and who actually signed me up for the surgery, saw me and came right up and hugged me and we chatted for a bit. He said, "Boy, you are really popular here!" (Heads were popping up and leaning towards my way by now)...I am thinking, "O-kay...it's probably because of my son, daughter in law, and grandson's banded experience and TV popularity, etc". But, no, this wasn't the case. It seems as though newbies are coming on board and reading the forum's posts and I just happened to be the topic of serveral discussions. Right on cue, Dr. FeelGood (oh yeah Baby!) came into the lounge area and came right up to me and shook hands and gave me a hug too! I just beamed! By now, these people must were staring at me wondering if I am a star or what! The three of us chatted a bit of how am I doing, etc. and soon enough they needed to get back to their work. Then all of a sudden, one gal asked, "Are you JazzyJude?". I was slightly aghast and said, "Yes" and she just smiled and rambled on about the forum etc. Other people around were into the conversation and so forth and so on. My point to all of this is this...YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU WILL MEET! People DO look at these posts to gain information for their own journey. It's the support and successess that people are looking for and if one person is willing, all will receive in ten thousands fold. Sorry for the long post, but it's MY experience and I so hope all of you will have this too! OH, forgot to mention...I've lost a total of 42 lbs since my decision date ~ YES! I haven't weighed since Oct 18 and this was all so worth the wait to weigh. So this is my little NV as well! Check my stats below. HUGS!