Lindsay

I have to eat one of those nasty-ass dry Metamucil 'wafers' every single day, or I never poop! I think the longest I went was almost 6 days! and when I did go, it looked like rabbit poo. sooo tiny.

Dr B uses them, because his clients don't take in enough 'real' food to get everything your body requires. You can do vit b shots at home. When I was dieting & bodybuilding, I used to administer them myself once a week.

I personally didn't, because I knew if I didn't have the self control to even pass this 'first step', I wouldn't have any will power for the rest of the journey.

no

definitely one of the glide products. and, Gold Bond food powder. It's amazing stuff. And I use it all over my body, including my dog. It keeps moisture away. Clothing Lululemon (http://www.lululemon.com/) clothing. Totally worth the extra $$. They're made not to chaif, and they have great sizing. Go with longer fitting (more of a crop pant) that's breathable, but will hold everything in nice and snug. AND MEC - http://www.mec.ca/Main/home.jsp I find the cheap (old navy, walmart, target) stuff doesn't keep it's stretch or tightness after a few washes. Waste of money. And I don't even bother buying the crappy clothing anymore. Hydration, I've been drinking a bottle of G2 (the gatorade low cal stuff - http://www.gatorade.com/default.aspx#product?s=g2) just to ensure I'm getting electrolytes. You could also go with Pedialyte (http://pedialyte.com/). It's made a world of difference. BIG BIG difference, actually. No more head aches & I'm not very lethargic anymore. Because I can't drink a tone of water anymore, without getting the burbs badly, I rely on this stuff. Just make sure you go with the lower sugar stuff & not that vitamin water, that's full of crap. Also, invest in one of these. A hip pouch that can carry water. I use this one. http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442621094&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302700103&bmUID=1279206856847

I know people that have gotten it placed under the bra line, and it causes incredible discomfort. Don't so it! I know I have nothing under there now, that my bodyfat is low. I can feel bone. Dr O put my port on lower left side, so it rubs against my ribs basically every time I move. I also know people that have had it placed on the hip, which is another very bony spot, once your BF goes down.

I question how much the pain can really be prevented, if your body fat is low. There's nothing there for it to be covered under. I can see my abs, so I'm thinking ... unless they put it under muscle (which I don't think they can), it will be something I'll have to live with?

So weird! I just had this conversation with my boyfriend last night, about probably needing to get my port replaced deeper ... It rubs against my ribs most of the time, and it's getting annoying. It feels like I'm sleeping on a rock Keep me posted with your recovery!

Oh, you can cheat it. There are MANY MANY people in this forum that do that, and aren't successful because of it.

I'm shocked at the pre-packaged food list. Turns my stomach. Please remember all of the preservatives that those products contain!!!!!

We live in a society where food is used as a social excuse, and therefore most of our 'social' gatherings happen around food. I am honest, and tell people I'm watching what I eat. For me, breaking the social excuse to go out to eat is what attributed to my weight gain in the first place. I didn't lose all of this weight, eating garbage .. I know how to hold my own, and I'm honest in terms of what I'll eat - I would never eat pizza or a burger for lunch. The calories make no sense to me, and obviously, not that healthy route .... I don't even need to get into the details of WHY I can't eat it. Just telling people it's part of my new eating is usually enough to keep them quiet and off my back. If anything, you'll have people re-evaluating what they eat. Quite honestly, who cares if you 'hurt someone's feelings' because you didn't go for lunch with them at a restaurant that probably have very few (if any!) choices for someone who's really watching what they're eating. i'd re-evaluated my friendship with said person!

This has been a god sent for me. Once I wrapped my head around what the band can and can not do for me, I was able to focus on the more positive, and work towards my goals.

..yesterday my port incision was tender. Every so often, when I'm not feeling well, it gets tender! so won't worry about it. you're still very new!

I paid cash. I didn't want the debt.

NO. You should be able to keep down protein. EXTREMELY important. If you can't keep it down, it's probably a sign you're too tight.

i've been using this, Bio Oil (http://www.bio-oil.com/) Mine are slowly fading, and they're so small, it's really only something I'd notice. Here's a very interesting article on scaring, and prevention, from CBS News.

Debbie, I'm so proud of you!!!

The scale won't tell you everything - I suggest sticking with a 5 or 6 point measurements, so you can see if things are moving along in the direction you want them to be ... Just keep in mind that exercising like a Demon for a week isn't enough for weight loss. It really is consistency. I know I've said this before, but I think everyone forgets how long it took us to gain that weight, and how much energy is required to actually lose a pound. I've also said this before: it's going to take more than just a few days of clean eating for your weight to reflect a change. Again, long term consistency. Diet is more than 80% of your results. Exercise is just the 20% 'bonus'. Keep that in mind. http://www.livestrong.com/ is a fantastic resource website! I started my more 'serious' food tracking on here, to ensure I was keeping myself honest. This is when I started to have real success with losing weight. Doing it 'free' wasn't working, so I decided to try this. There is also a section where you can enter your measurements, and update them. This is where I've seen the most change!

Take it as a lesson: a Gyro is basically a fatty piece of meat on a processed white 'pita'. I don't eat white anything, so no, i don't eat white rice nor bread.

I'm a dog walker, and I was back to work 3 days later.

I know I was told by the OCC not to have anything carbonated for the first 6 months (i think?) and I followed that to the T. I do find drinking carbonated drinks very difficult now, and just don't have them like I used to. Too much burbing, and it's too uncomfortable with the restriction I currently have. I know I was drinking it fine prior.

Did you watch the saline go in and out of the need during your fill? This is very important. My fill nurse made me watch, to ensure I knew what she was doing ... She clearly showed the emptying of the band, then the re-filling to the proper amount. Please be very clear with your fill dr/nurse that you need to see what's going on.

Probably. OR, you're eating foods that you may have to drop .. ie. rice, bread, pasta. Fullness feeling comes from your brain - So that's something else to think about ..