Allcdngirl

Congratulations Kimmie... you look awesome! Keep up the good work. =D>

You'll be in good capable hands! Have no worries! Looking forward to hearing all about it when you get back.

Hey you know what Dawnie... I just remembered.. weight watchers has a great vegetable soup that's 0 points, and it's full of veggies. I think I'll make that and just put it in the blender. Thanks for the idea of making my own. I would never have thunk! A cook I am not!

Hi all,,, I'm 13 days post op and since I was able to start creamy soups, and about the same time, I was able to drink a whole can of Slimfast, I always feel full, and am having trouble getting my water in. My weight loss appears to have stopped as well. I usually have a shake for breakfast, and soup for lunch and dinner. If I'm hungry in between I will have a liquid yogurt. Soup is so high in salt, that's probably making me retain water. Should I stop the soup? I don't want to keep only at 600 calories a day (liquids only), but I also know I need to increase my water intake. Any suggestions? Any body else facing this problem? Your thoughts and suggestions are always appreciated. Thanks, Anita

Hi Robin, Look in our discussions under "Patient Testimonials" and "Newly Banded" . You'll get a good feeling and understanding of exactly what your looking for. And by the way... that is Dr. Ortiz I'm hugging! (And I sooooo... didn't want to let go!!) lol

www.shrinkyourself.com. Some good reading. Enjoy.

Michelle... look at the back of your dress!!! Next month it will be fully closed. What a great way to show off your huge accomplishments. Congratulations! Keep it up!

The reason they don't want you exercising for the first 3 weeks of post-op, is because you're calorie intake is so low. You need to keep the energy, otherwise you'll get dehydrated and could faint. So be careful.

Hi, I'm from Western Canada as well. Vancouver! Walk, walk, walk. That will definitely help you pass the gas. The tongue strips are Gas X.

Isn't that interesting that Dr. O told you that. He told me that the average weight loss between banding and first fill should be anywhere from 20 to 30 lbs. I mentioned to him that I was reading on the forum, that alot of people were struggling just to keep the weight off they had lost during the liquid only phase, as your calorie intake was so low. He said, with regular exercise, and eating only 1/3 of what you normally eat, you should continue to lose weight. And yes.. congratulations Snowbird! You're almost there!

I'm not available the 28th of June. I have a dragonboat festival in Whistler. Was planning on heading down the 5th, so that would work better for me. Anita

Hi.. found this while searching the net.. http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/i...ntquestions.php

I've had it before and it's got alot of sugar (especially if you the whole container in one sitting!! lol), so be careful. One of those where fat free is not always better. I am 10 days post-op and had a Wendy's frosty today. It was sooooooooo good!

Excellent.. thanks for sharing. Keep us informed on how you're doing. Go kick some serious ass off that new scale of yours!

I had some watermelon for dessert tonight. Small bites of course, chewed well, and they went down really well. I'm only 9 days post op, but I figured watermelon is just that, alot of water.

I would love to meet everyone.. sounds like a great idea. I'm planning to get a fill July 4th weekend in Arlington. Do you know if they do it on Saturday's?

Thank you so much Hanna, that was excellent. Definitely puts it more into perspective. I knew their had to be an explanation, but I had no idea what it is. Anita

Excellent posts all of you. I did start counselling Alana, one week before being banded, and just had my 2nd appt yesterday. A few of the things she told me was, that it takes 20 minutes to reach the peak of an addiction craving. If you can get past that, the craving will go away. You can't just sit there and let it pass, you must do something to take your mind completely off the urge. Change your activity, phone a friend, etc. Also... she said that any food that's not healthy for you, I must look at and say to myself (even outloud), look at what that food did to me. No way I'm going to do that again. That food is bad! When I walk through a grocery store, I have to look at the packaging of the "bad" food, and say.. I can't believe I used to fall for that flashy package. How dare they try to lure me that way. I'm a much better person than that now, and I'm not going to let them ruin my life again! I have to really think about the food that I have in front of me, and make the right choice. A donut or an apple. I have to think about how I am going to feel eating the apple. It's juicy, crispy, mouth watering, and good for me. The donut is good, but I'm going to feel so tired and yucky after eating it, and look at what it did to my body. No thank you. I find she's going to be really good for me, and it was my doctor that recommended that I see someone, as I needed to find out what I was going to replace food with, and why I was using food to comfort me all the time. What was missing in my life? What void was I filling? Hope this helps... Anita

That helps Michelle thanks. I think I understand. And oh... our Canadian Silver Dollar, eh, .... is worth more today than your yankie dollar honey. lol

Oh Reneej... you are my new BFF!!! > (I think you should tell Dr. Ortiz that too!!!)

WAY TO GO DAVE !!!!

Hanna, thanks so much for the information on your fill, and the ladies at Arlingotn. I have decided to go down there for my fills. First one will most likely not be until the 1st weekend in July. It is comforting in knowing that they have so much experience, and are getting a great recommendation from you girls on the forum. Anita

I totally agree with the take out box, but what I plan on doing is asking for a side plate, and putting only as much food on that plate that I can fit (without stockpiling any of it) and putting the rest in the box. I'm hoping that by the time I chew, chew, chew, 20 min. will have past, and I will be full. Now keep in mind, I'm only 7 days into post-op, but this is what I'm going to try really hard to do. When I was speaking to my counsellor today about emotional eating, we also discussed my favourite food pizza. She said.. how many pieces could you put on a side plate, I said one. She said... that's right, and that's what you're going to eat.. One. I hope with her support, and all my new friends I have made on here, that I will be successful. I will keep you all updated on how it works once I hit day 21.. June 5th. Anita

Sorry for asking what I think is a stupid question, but I keep trying to figure this out. Okay .. here goes... I understand that the band is there so we now have a way smaller stomach so we feel full faster. But what confuses me is... we are told to chew, chew, chew everything really well, so it doesn't get stuck in the band. Okay.. so if it's supposed to sit in my "new stomach" why am I wanting it to go down? If it goes down, am I not going to be able to eat as much as I used to?? If I don't chew it as well, won't it stay on top of the band, and that's what will fill my new stomach up? Does this make any sense? Thanks for your replies in advance. Anita

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