ripcityrenegade

Greetings to all,

I am scheduled for my first fill on the 18th of May. It will have been about 8 weeks since surgery. I have had days when it seems I can eat almost anything, but other days I have to be very careful. I guess I just want to know how different bansters knew when it was time for a fill. I do want to go to OCC in order to make sure everything is in the right place and doing what it is intended to do...but fill? I guess the doctor will be able to tell me after telling him about the foods I eat and the amount of weight loss. I realize everyone is different, but I really don't know if I need a fill. I would like to lose weight faster...but then again, I want to do this right.

If anyone has any information and/or suggestions, I would really appreciate hearing from you.

Thanks to everyone who has given me advice and encouragement in the past. Hope all is going well for all of you!

All My Best

Apprehenisve

Appy Good Luck on the first fill. Please let me know how it goes. I get my first fill on June 4. Have you had any PBing? I have had 1 hard one and 1 easy one. I still feel good and have not lost my resolve. TC Kevin (RCR)

Great post I am going to copy this and put it on my fridge. There is so much truth in it. I will use this everyday Thanx Kim. TC Kevin (RCR)

Got your attention didn't it! Wow! Let me tell you, the band teaches you so much along the way. When I first began to come to this board, I would read about how members cut there mean in small pieces. It seemed so....I guess unreal. Like really.....you cut your food up real small....?? That small. Guess what, I do that now. It took me a while to get to the tiny pieces. Slowly but surely, we transform. We chew chew chew like crazy. With more restriction each time comes the new learning curve to eating. It's not drastic, but one episode, and BAM it gets your attention.

I am a bit over a year out and I have not had the "heart attack" like chest pain feeling I read about. I have had a tightness in my chest, and a few time I felt like I have a weird pulse in my chest too. My biggest struggle was the one bit to many game, that I would loose......The good thing about me is that I tend to bring up the "one bite to many" and the rest remains in my pouch or stoma. I have freinds who bring everything back up. That would suck!

I've also learned the severity of productive burping. For me, if I have a PB, I tend to have a "soft PB's." A soft PB to me is when I go to the sink, lean over and the blop of slim/food particles come up. Vuala! Done. Then, there is the HARD PB. This is when I actually heave like I am throwing up. With the hard pb I normally feel like everything comes up. There is a slight level of discomfort in my band area. When I have a soft PB I don't go on liqiuds for swelling. The hard pb I do not continue to eat hard protiens, I go to either mushies or liquids to give my stoma, band a break. Gotta take care of "Hope" so she can do her job. Swelling and inflimation can cause more troubles then good.

Sorry.....I tend to go off on a ramble from time to time...HA!

Hang in and on, as this journey will teach you tons!

Welcome to the land of the band!

Thanx Angie. this is one of the reasons I added you as a friend. I always noticed when I first started to look in here that you are very proactive. I seem to learn something new about being banded everyday. I have tried to help people newer to this than me because we are all in the same boat and can usually only talk to someone who has gone through it. There are several people here who's post I always read because they share a lot and seem to be the ones offering their help and understanding when people post a question or problem. Thanx again for your help. Take Care Kevin

Oh my goodness, I am soo glad you shared this embarassing moment. I am sorry but it is funny and what make it worse is it did happen in a mens prison. You are so right, we all need to laugh at ourselves. What an awesome embarassing moment.....at least it was cuz your butts getting skinny!!!

Thanx Angie, When I told my wife she laughed too and said your doing something right then.

Hi all, I had my first PB episode today. It was my own fault I made some boneless pork chops and some garlic mash potatoes. I wasn't paying attention and I did not chew well. so after less than half a pork chop and two small bites of potato it started. Wow is that an experience, no wonder we lose weight cuz that out and out SUCKED. I won't be doing that again. The good thing is now I know and won't be trying that again any time soon. TC RCR

Hi all, I haven't had a PB episode yet. I am still on my first week of solids, but I thought I would share this with you all. Yesterday I was at work and carrying some boxes down the stairs and my pants fell to the floor when I got to the bottom. I should probably tell you that I work in a prison. I thought I would die, but if you aren't the reason for people to laugh at you once in awhile then you should not laugh at someone else. TC RCR

Congats on your decision. I was banded April 19. Best thing I have done yet. TC RCR

Hello, my name is Terri. My surgery is scheduled for June 3rd and I will be staying at the Lucerna Hotel. I am nervous about traveling to Mexico.

Terry I had my surgery in April. I can't say enough about what a positive experience it was. We actually had a great time. I will be there on the 4th for my first fill and am also staying at the Lucerna. Look me up I would be more than happy to share my experience. I am scheduled for a fill at 1:30pm then I am going to check in at the hotel. I plan to go down to Revolution Ave getting some Cuban cigars and coming back to the hotel and having a dip in the pool. I leave the next day. You will do great and soon you will be telling people how easy it was GoodLuck hope to see you there. TC RCR

Hi Jill I had a two egg omelet with one piece of bacon, some sauteed spinach and a little cheese. That lasted til about 4 when I had two slices of lunch meat. At 7 I had some broccoli and about three oz of chicken. Everything went down ok. It felt a little weird when I first ate, but that went away. I stopped drinking 1\2hour before and 1 hour after. It was not that hard and I hope all the rest of my days go as well. TC RCR(Kevin)

Hi, I just finished the post-op diet and I ate all cream soups, but strained them before eating. Get a good protein powder that really helpe me. Good Luck on your journey. TC RCR

Hi all today is my first day back on solids. I have lost 46.7lbs since I started the pre-op diet on April 9 2010. Yesterday I lost my pants coming down the stairs. I have punched 2 holes in my belt and need to punch another one . Thanx to all those who answered my post for support and encouragement and a special Thanx to Dr. Ortiz and the OCC staff.TC RCR

Does anyone have a recipe for Cornish game hens that's quick and easy. I start solid food tomorrow and I bought a couple of these to tryout. TC RCR

Hi all I will be there June 4 and 5 for my first fill. I am staying at the Lucerna. Look me up. This time I am going to have a nice drink in their bar and might even take a swim. Oh and maybe a couple of Cuban cigars. TC RCR

Thanx for the encouraging words Mac. I have lost 50lbs since starting the pre-op diet at 353lbs and I now weigh 304lbs. TC RCR

Help I have two more days until I can eat solids. The last two days I have been hungry with yesterday being the worst. I know that I should feel hungry sometimes, but it has always been manageable with some water or gatorade. Lately though I'm like starving hungry 5 minutes after I eat. I have come so far and do not want to cheat. I told myself that I wouldn't and have not, but I have not felt like this since I was banded. I don't know where all that energy went. Any suggestions?

You will do great . I was banded 4/19 and regret nothing. Good Luck on your journey. TC RCR

Thanx Angie I really appreciate your help.

Good post Angie. I sure hope that happens to me . I am struggling with these last three days of liquids and can't wait til solids TC RCR.

This is too funny I watch the food network too. My wife says I'm torturing myself, but since I'm still on liquids I eat vicariously through them.

Hi all, I'm sitting here on my coach it's 3o'clock am and I can't sleep. I just feel like doing something,but I don't want to wake anyone up. Does this energy glow last? I have not felt this good in years. God I can't wait to start lifting again. I sure hope it lasts. Thank You again Dr. Ortiz and your awesome staff. TC RCR

I don't know if you peel them, but that may help.TC RCR

Had a similar discussion w/ some friends that run and thought i'd start it on here. Here are some of the songs on my ipod that really get me going. I have a workout mix and these are just some of my faves.

Feel free to share yours too - i'm always looking for ideas!! As you can see I have a wide range of taste when it comes to music!!

Believe - Cher

Dead & Bloated - Stone Temple Pilots

Grown Man - New Kids on the Block

Is There Life out There - Reba

Perfect Day - Legally Blonde Soundtrack

Rude Boy - Rhianna

Shook me all Night Long - AC/DC

Circus - Britney Spears

Chicken Fried - Zac Brown Band

Rock With You - Michael Jackson

Imma Be - Black Eyed Peas

It Takes Two - DJ Easy Rock

Mamma Said Knock you out - LL Cool J

Thunderstruck - AC/DC

In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins

I put this in the wrong spot the 1st time.China grove Doobie Brothers. All Summer Long Kid Rock. Any Aerosmith and any AC/DC. They work for me cause of the fast beat. Great for the bike. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for your hard work as an inspiration as I made my decision to get banded looking at your posts and progress. Keep up the good work you look great. TC RCR

What I do is.. Listen to pandora radio on my iPhone. I set it to "pitbull radio" and I get a bunch of club music. It reminds me of when I'd wear my size 5 dresses. Just thought I'd add. I have to warn you tho' VERY EXPLICIT!

But my fav work out song... Stronger- kanye west

China grove Doobie Brothers. All Summer Long Kid Rock. Any Aerosmith and any AC/DC. They work for me cause of the fast beat. Great for the bike. TC RCR

Hi there. I was banded exactly one month ago yesterday. I've lost 15 lbs since surgery and am doing well with eating solid foods. I remember reading that exercise can be resumed at 3 wks post op but not abdominal exercises. The DVD I use (Slim in Six) works the abs quite a bit so it would be impossible to separate the ab stuff from the rest, so I just havent been exercising

I am having a fill @OCC in a week, so I will ask then, but I was curious, when did everyone resume ab exercises? I still have some twinges of tenderness at my port site but otherwise feel normal again.

Thanks.

Hi Dama, I was told 90 days til abs could be exercised. I used to lift a lot and most exercises will work your abs a little. I use a program called Barrys Bootcamp. I like this one because it's pretty quick and harder than it looks when you start. It to has a lot of ab work so I;m just going to walk until 90 days are up. I'm just walking a lot. Also, There are these things called kettle bells that are really great for just about anything especially abs. We were banded 17 days apart(4/19 for me). Good luck on your journey and keep us posted. TC RCR

Oops stronger than you think.