Amanda2008

It is really hard to start eating and drinking very slowly. Do you have any tips or rules you follow? Do you count a full minute between each bite, etc?

I am pretty sure Dr. Miranda said no strenuous exercise for three weeks, except for walking.

Can I have pudding and softserv frozen yogurt when starting on creamy soups and yogurt? Pudding really helps me when I crave chocolate so I hope I can have some soon.

I think it must be gas. If anyone knows any tips for eating slowly (even broth) I would appreciate it. I've tried but I think I am still eating too fast! I even sip my juice or broth and swirl it in my mouth before swallowing.

Banded last Friday 11/21... I have been feeling better each day except today I have had pain since having some broth for lunch. Ever since then I have had rumbly tumbly stomach pain and noise. Each time I let some gas escape I feel relief. Is it gas? Did I eat too fast? I also had a big sneeze for the first time since being banded and ow that hurt! I've had about six chewable Gas-X tablets today! And lots of walking... I just had a grape popsicle and again lots of noise. Is that normal?

Banded on Friday 11/21 I need to lose about 125 lbs. and am wondering about loose and hanging skin, particularly on my arms and stomach. I know weight loss is slower with LB, but just wondering if anybody had any advice. Does weightlifting help skin improve elasticity? Any recommendations on lotions, or is that a waste of money? thanks!

After 9 hours of misery at the San Diego airport, I had the nicest sleep ever at the Quality Inn in Denver. Oh well my fault for screwing up my return flight! Anyway finally got home this morning and slept all day. I had some chicken broth all day. Not too hungry. The pain in my shoulder is decreasing fortunately.

Banded on Friday! I was down 8.5 lbs on my pre-op diet... not the 13 Dr. Miranda wanted but still not bad. Unfortunately I've been stuck at the San Diego airport ALL day today Sunday... Ouch! I really have a sharp pain in my chest and especially my left shoulder, and I had to take my bra off. I am trying to walk as much as I can but it's hard with all my stuff with me. I've been walking around the gate in circles. I wish I would have stayed an extra day at the Lucerna... I've had a bit of juice. I am not hungry at all, even with all the airport fast food temptations. But after chugging water during pre-op, it's been hard to remember to sip. I'm paranoid my band will slip! OCC experience was wonderful. No problems at all! I am flying to Denver in an hour and will have to overnight there. I have already reserved a room close to the airport. I took the little pain pills they gave me, plus some Gas-X. Is it OK to take Advil? Amanda

I am coming tomorrow! will post and blog from there for my university paper :-) everyone has been so supportive... it is really amazing.

I'm down 2 lbs from yesterday. Yay! If I can lose 6 more by Friday I will be in the range where hopefully they won't turn me away. I have a calorie counter on my iPhone where I put in everything I eat. I can also add exercise, though I haven't been able to do much except for some walking. (I have a back injury and have to take it easy). By the way, I'm also a journalism student and an editor at my university newspaper. I am going to be writing a first-person report on my experience. Dr. Ortiz has already agreed to be interviewed. I will send you the links so you can read it too.

how much do they charge for the zoom whitening?

Today I ate 800 calories two Optifast shakes two all-bran bars one Ensure shake (I was starving) I really really really hate calorie obsessing...

Ugh... five days before I arrive I'm stuck at 10 lbs above my target pre-op weight!!! I will be on a very strict diet of three Optifast shakes only per day :-( I think a problem is that I'm definitely retaining water and waste... I've eaten a couple All-Bran Fiber Bars to get things moving but nothing so far. I'm SO afraid of getting there and getting sent home without a band because I haven't lost enough weight ( ( (

That has been what I've been eating pretty much - Ensure shake for breakfast and lunch (250 calories each) and a Lean Cuisine for dinner. I also eat sugar-free Jello (10 calories each) and have been taking a few chewable fiber tablets (16 calories each). I only lost three pounds last week. I will switch to the Optifast shakes though they aren't as good as the Ensure ones. Dr. Miranda said it was OK to take a diuretic for water weight if I think I am bloated.

Like I said in my other post, I haven't been losing as quickly as I should. I've been a yo-yo dieter for 25 years, so I don't lose weight quickly. But I figure almost everybody else was too! So can you tell me what did you eat? Did you also exercise? Am I eating too much/not enough at 900-1,000 calories a day? My surgery is this Friday, Nov. 21, and I need to lose about 9 lbs by then. thanks!! Amanda

this is so cool to hear! I'll be there next week :-)

Unfortunately it's a very bad time to try to get financed if you don't have good credit. The credit industry is not lending to risky borrowers right now. My credit isn't the best but it's not the worst, and I couldn't get a loan. I had to borrow from family - they said they would rather loan cash than co-sign with someone. Can you get a loan from anyone in your family? This is a life-saving surgery!

Thanks! I will ask. So why isn't there a pre-op forum?

Hi! I'm scheduled to be banded Nov. 21 by Dr. Ortiz. I'm very very excited! I've been reading a lot of messages and I'm glad this board offers so many answers. I was just wondering why there is no pre-op forum for people doing the pre-op diet. It seems like people really need support with that since it is the first step. I'm on my seventh day of the pre-op diet and I haven't been losing weight as quickly as I need to. At first I dropped a few pounds and then suddenly yesterday and today I gained! I think it might be PMS coming. Is it OK to take a diuretic to flush water weight? thanks!