my_friend_amber

Yeah, the consistency of the liquid is the biggest thing - I even blended up some ravioli really well and had that one night! Another thing to consider though is to make sure you're not having really high fat things like that very often. Your main objective right now is to heal the stomach with liquids, but you also sure don't want to gain weight! Also, I remember Dr. Miranda saying that Dr. Ortiz does not do a "mushy" stage - you to to full solids after the 21 days so that your band can work properly - only solids can really be "blocked" by the band - mushy stuff can often slip right through, which makes the band virtually useless - so stick to solids.

You are living my dream, girl!!! Way to go!

Anita, I'm feeling you girl!! I went shopping for "real food" last night and was so overwhelmed walking through the aisles of the Super Walmart! It just about made me want to just run back home to my Slim Fast Optimas!! Looks like there's some great advice on your post here though - I know we'll do great!!

Thank you both so much! I had a kid-size lunchable just now and I'm doing fine! Baby steps!!!

So today I'm 3 weeks out from surgery and I can eat solids again...but I haven't yet. It's almost 9am my time and I had a slim-fast for breakfast because I'm freaking out about solids!! A) I know liquids won't hurt my band or stomach and I am terrified of old cheeseburger loving habits to come back!! Aaarrrrggggghhhh!!!!

Happiest of Birthdays, Dr. O!!! >

Any idea of the date this will air on? I want to set my DVR and cheer Cassie on!

I'm loving Vegas, Band Camp 2009, and a later spring date - like March or April. I do like the idea of combining w/ a holiday, but I'm guessing most people will want to spend Feb. 14th with their "significant other"...not that you guys aren't significant!! You know what I mean! > I have a bachelors in Pyschology and am working on a masters in counseling and would be happy to do a short presentation on psychosomatic factors, body image, realiting with others as bodies change, or whatever. Just let me know if I can be useful. I'm excited guys - I think this will be so fun!!! =D>

So for about the past week, I have woken up in the early morning hours (between 4 and 5 am usually) with horrible tightness in my chest. It almost feels like bad heartburn, but a little different, plus there's no way I'm having heart burn on slim fast shakes and creamy broccoli and cheese soup. Anyway - it feels like crazy tight restriction and it feels a lot better if I sit or stand up. What is this about? Is something happening to me overnight that is making my band restrict? Anyone else heard of or experienced this??

Thanks for those suggestions. I am taking a liquid multivitamin - Centrum.

So I'm just over 2 weeks out from being banded and have been doing fine up until these past few days, but yesterday and especially today I feel like I am starving to death! My body physically hurts in my stomach and even kind of into my back, as odd as that sounds. I also feel a weakness in my muscles - like they have been so overworked that they are sore, but all that I've been doing outside of the normal day is taking a 30 minute walk in which I don't even break a sweat! Ahh!!! Does anyone have any advice? I am eating creamy tomato soup at hand soups, some 1% milk, jello of course, juices and V8 Splashes, and the Dannon Frusions (liquid yogurt basically.) Any/all advice is appreciated!

I'm with mona-camille - staying an extra day made such a difference for me. I was able to walk out almost all of the gas in my tummy and a lot of the soreness in the incision sites (specifically the port site.) I didn't take anything after I got out of the OCC - not phazyme for gas, not pain meds, nothing - and I think the reason is because I totally stuck to drinking only what we are allowed to and a lot of walking around while in Tijuana. Staying an extra day will cost $92 total (at the Lucerna anyway) and it was a $92 well-spent.

Holy moly, lady! Awesome! And I swear your boobs are just getting perkier and perkier!! (Oh may the goddess of boobies, please, PLEASE let that happen to me!!) Thanks so much for posting these - we ALL look forward to them so much!!

I talked to Dr. Miranda about this and here's what she said: No breaking a sweat for 3 weeks out (b/c calories are too low to sustain the exertion without fainting.) No crunches for 3 months out, BUT you can beging to exercise fairly rigorously after the 3 week mark as long as you're not doing anything that causes pain or discomfort to the port. Lifting weights is fine as long as you aren't doing things that cause your body to twist at the waist too much or that cause your knees to have to come toward your abdomen (which is basically the crunch movement.) Arm weights are fine, just so long as you're not hurting at the port site from the muscles used in your abdomen. Hope this helps!!

Yay for you! Welcome!!!!

I saw lots of kids and even a few adults swimming when I was there 2 weeks ago, so I'm sure it will be fine - if a little cool at first. Enjoy your time!!

Congrats to you!!! Wa-hoo!!! We all feel the same way about not being able to thank board members who've been so helpful enough - but before you know it, you will be one of the ones giving another newbie great advice and support!!

Awesome!! Enjoy your trip there and enjoy your time in TJ as well!! We'll all be here to hear your story and welcome you to "the other side" when you are done!!

Good for you for getting to the gym and kicking your own butt like that! One thing to realize is that you are depleting your body by working out - tearing it down so that it can build itself back stronger and leaner - that's just the way it works. So, of course, your body doesn't want to change - our bodies tend to want to stay the same and hang on to fat in case a famine comes, so you are having to battle the natural urge to replace what you've worked off. Also, this might be a good time for a hard-core look at exactly what nutrients and how much protien, etc. you are getting since you are taxing your body harder. Make sure you don't have a legitimate need for something (because sometimes hunger in general can be your body saying, "I'm low on calcium!") and if you know your nutrition is where it needs to be, then you'll know you're just dealing with psychological hunger, and can go from there. Kudos to you!!!

I love OH, too!! Very helpful site (though not the same as being able to talk to you OCC bandsters here!) www.obestiyhelp.com/member/my_friend_amber - it's me!

I brought $200 and I spent $200!! So be sure to bring no more than you're willing to part with - lol!! DO be sure to bring lots of $1 bills for tipping (the doorman, the bellboy, your servers, the cabbies, etc...anyone who does a service for you is working for a small wage and earning most of his/her income off tips) and definitely don't bring anything larger than a $20. Revolution Avenue is a blast - just don't pay more than $5 for the cab ride there or back and don't ever pay the initial price you're told for something. You can usually get any item for 1/2 or maybe even less than what they originally quote it to you as - be ready to barter!! Have fun!!! We'll all be here to welcome you to 'the other side!' LOL!!

I'd say as long as your sugar isn't crazy high and you're not eating and eating and eating it, it's a fine suppliment when you feel like you're going to burst if you don't get the tast of some kind of "real food" in your mouth like we all do!!

Congratulations!! Enjoy that Chicken Cousumme from the restaurant in the Lucerna!! Ask for Pedro if he's waiting tables there and have him tell you his band story -very inspirational!! Welcome!!

Happiest of Birthdays, Dave!!!

Maybe I'm odd, but I feel this all the time - since the day of my surgery!