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Somehow I forgot to post this - but I got another .5 cc's added to my band on September 3rd.

I am about to go back to get a slight unfill as I've been experiencing the 1st bite tossies.  Most of my meals that I'd have, I'd lose the first bite.  So, RN thinks maybe I'm just a smidge too tight.  I'll update on stat when I get back from the doctor's office.  Gotta love Dr. Singh and his team!

I got another 0.5 CC of fluid, totalling 5 CCs in my band on June 1st.  I lost 18 pounds since the last time I was at Dr. Singh's office - so there's progress SMILES

I got my second fill today of one additional CC.  So I'm running with 4.5 ccs in my band.

I'll know if there is a difference when I get back into solids again in a couple of days.

I noticed a difference when I first got the fill the last time, but as the end of the month of February started rolling around, I realized I was hungry sooner and sooner and could eat more.

I'm told it may take a few trips to get into the Green Zone but that I'm on my way.

Got my first fill today - wasn't as bad as I thought it would have been.

I think I heard him say he put in 3.5 CC's.  I kinda feel like I have something in the back of my throat and I did feel my stomach get moved during the injection process.

What I have to watch for is if I'm able to eat more than a cup of food.  And when I asked him how much time do I give this fill or others, he said 7 to 10 days. 

He did say to be very careful - with liquids and solids, and I'm on liquids for the next two days.  Cheddar cheese soup, here I come!

Saw the surgeon on the 30th, and he told me I lost 18-19 pounds since the pre-op.  Whew hew!  And he gave me the blessing to go pureed for the next two weeks.

I celebrated the change over by getting a bare burrito from Baja Fresh.  I already checked the carbs and protein and was definitely good to go!

Yummy it certainly was - although it didn't look as enticing.

The next day - I stuck with the cream soups knowing I had a big day the next day.

New Years, I cooked a whole ham topped with pineapple and cherries; homemade collard greens, blackeye peas, and devilled eggs.   

For lunch I had pureed greens with bits of ham in it, and a devilled egg.

For dinner I had pureed greens again with a little more ham in it, and a side of black eye peas.

January 2nd, I had scrambled eggs for breakfast - whipped them with milk so they'd be of a moist consistency.

Lunch, I had pureed ham by itself (looked like catfood) - and black eye peas on the side.

Dinner, I had more pureed ham this time mixed with greens, and black eye peas on the side.

January 3rd, I had scrambled eggs fro breakfast,  V8's southwestern corn soup with 5 saltines for lunch, and for dinner, I had pureed ham and the remainder of the Southwestern corn soup.

January 4th, I had a protein shake for the morning breakfast, had a Baja Fresh Bare Burrito with extra cheese for lunch, and then for dinner, I had the v8 Butternut squash soup with saltines, with a side order of black eye peas.

Today, January 5th, I had a protein shake, cup of coffee for breakfast - with cottage cheese to follow for mid snack.  Lunch will be the rest of the V8 Butternut Squash soup with a slice of cheese, and dinner will be a trimmed ribeye pureed with mash potatoes on the side.

I'm heading into the end of the month long saga of liquids.  Just kidding, it wasn't all that bad once you maintain some variety, and treat yourself to those you liked once again, or twice.....

Holidays wasn't too rough on me, but my Mom did something so soo sooo special for me, it was a great Christmas gift!  Keep your eyes peeled for something "homemade" in my food diary below - maybe you can figure it out...........

If not, I'll let you know what it was later on!

The 22nd -

Campbells Cream of Mushroom with Garlic - UGHH (breathing in hand, sniffing, ughh!  MINTS PLEASE!)
Chike Strawberry Nutrition mix - not bad!  Like Nesquik Strawberry Milk!
EAS AdvantEDGE French Vanilla Shake
Sugar Free Jello - Cherry Flavor
Ocean Spray - Ruby Red Grapefruit water mix.
EAS AdvantEDGE Chocolate Fudge Shake


The 23rd-
EAS ADvantEDGE Strawberry Shake
Sugar Free Fruit Punch Mixed Water
Progresso Natural Chicken Broth
Lean Body on the Go Chocolate Ice Cream Flavor (Wowser - this was great!!!!! but 3.99 at 7-11 for one bottle?....emergencies only next time)
Campbells Cream of Chicken with Herbs  (what herbs?  dumping pepper, onion powder, sea salt ....sip, eh - never mind - gulp.)

The 24th -
Atkins Advantage Milk Chocolate Shake
South Beach Tide Me Over Natural Tropical Breeze water mix
Campbells Creamy Tomato Parmesan Bisque (watch out for those parmesan particles!)
South Beach Tide Me Over Strawberry Banana water mix
Atkins Advantage Dark Chocolate Shake
Collards soup

The 25th- Merry Christmas!
Milk with Moo-Magic Bubble Gum flavoring (yep sugar free!  Found it at Big Lots)
Campbells Cheddar Cheese Soup (you can tell I really like it  :) )
South Beach Natural Tropical Breeze water mix  (fighting hunger pangs)
Atkins Milk Chocolate Milk Shake
PowerADE Zero Strawberry 32oz
Left over collards soup
Jello's sugar free White Chocolate Pudding
Atkins Mocha Latte Milk Shake - yummy!

The 26th -
Campbells Cream of Chicken - with lots of onion powder
2 of the EAS AdvantEDGE French Vanilla shakes
South Beach Tide Me Over Strawberry Banana water mix
Orange Jasmine Tea
Cranberry Apple Tea

The 27th-
Atkins Advantage Mocha Latte Shake
Campbells Cream of Chicken and Mushroom Soup
Raspberry Zinger Tea
PowerADE Zero Grape Flavor
Mint Medley Tea
EAS AdvantEDGE French Vanilla Shake


The 28th -
Campbell's Cream of Asparagus (YUMMY YUMMY)
EAS AdvantEDGE Chocolate Fudge Shake
PowerADE Zero Mixed Berry
Atkins Caramel Cafe Shake (it's alright---)
Jello Sugar Free Butterscotch pudding
PowerADE Zero Grape

The 29th-
Atkins Caramel Cafe Shake
PowerADE Zero strawberry
Campbell's Soup at Hand Creamy Tomato Parmesan Bisque
Sugar Free Raspberry Jello
Atkins Caramel Cafe Shake
Campbell's Cream of Shrimp Soup
Jello Sugar Free Chocolate Pudding


So, what did my mom make me?

Well, my husband and I absolutely love her collards.......she saved me juice after the Collards were done, and it tasted so much like her collards - it was the best thing I've had throughout the liquid diet. 

I had my surgery on the 16th, and wasn't really allowed anything until they got the word from the contrast imaging, so I say I only had water on the 16th.

I didn't go home until noonish on the 17th, and when I got home, I cracked open and enjoyed the following:
Cup of tea
1 32 Oz of PowerADE Zero Strawberry
1 EAS AdvantEDGE French Vanilla shake

I was really nervous waiting for the nausea and signs, but I didn't get either.  Still terrified, I went to bed and slept.

The next day, I ventured a little further, and did the following throughout the day in this particular order:
Atkins Mocha Latte Shake (somebody please let me know where you see this flavor - it's yummy and I want to buy more!  It was in my gift basket [see previous blog about gift]
1 32 Oz of PowerADE Zero Grape
Winky Jilly's Sugar Free Gelatin cup
EAS AdvantEDGE French Vanilla Shake
16 ounces of water
(Afraid to drink more - I had an Ice Breaker Cinammon mint to help my thirst)
16 more ounces of water - with Cherry Limeade flavoring (Walmart - yummy) in the afternoon
Later, when I couldn't stand it anymore, I fixed a cup of tea in the evening
For late night, I had the EAS AdvantEDGE Chocolate Fudge shake

On the 19th, I had 5 golden rings, 4 calling birds, 3 french hens, .....just kidding!
I had the French Vanilla shake for breakfast
Did a 16 ouncer of water with the Fruit punch flavoring (prior to surgery, I bought just about every flavor Walmart carries for the water bottles)
For Lunch, I had the Strawberry (EAS brand) shake
Later in the afternoon, I had another gelatin cup.
For dinner - I tried the Campbell's beefy mushroom soup - not bad.   Yep, I drank the whole liquid part of it. 
******Note, if you are doing the cream of ???? soups, don't strain before you cook, strain afterwards - it tastes more real.  And always strain if you're supposed to be on liquids!  Sometimes the strainer will stop passing fluid, I'll just tap the sink and rinse out the strainer from the outside, so that I can pour more.
I had a sugar free fudgesicle for dessert.
Later in the evening, I made some sleepy time tea.  Eh....okay.

On the 20th, I tried the Tabatchnick Gourmet Beef Broth - yummy but don't drink to the bottom of your cups/bowls - the particles will get you coughing.  It passes through the strainers, and it's basically pepper and seasonings, whatnots.  But it really tastes good, almost like prime rib. I felt like I could drink approximately 2 cups of this in one sitting - so I'm still nervous, I'm not sure if I'm not supposed to be able to take that much liquid in? 

(and the weird things that happen is when I use that breathing tool that helps prevent pneumonia, I feel air coming up through my stomach/esophagus area, and I gently burp, but can't figure out how I got gas in me, unless this is the operative gas, and I'm still expelling?)

I had the usual protein shake for breakfast
Was still kinda hungry but got smart, I have the South Beach Tide Me Over water mixes, and Special K makes them also, so I had one of those and that knocked off the hunger a bit.
Chike Nutrition sent me their sample package on this day. I had a sample each of Banana, Chocolate, Orange, Vanilla and Strawberry.  These are half serving sizes, and I planned to try one flavor a day,  so I tried one of these for a snack, the Banana first, and it wasn't too too bad.
I had a creamy tomato soup for lunch - and I think I'll eventually knock this out of my food cabinet because the carbs are rather high.  POUT  I love tomatoes!  It seems to stick to my ribs a bit better, so I'll ask the dietician about that when I see her.  Milk is the same way - high in carbs - and I only buy the fatfree milk.
More water this afternoon - this time with the Ocean Spray Cran-grape ( sugar free of course!) this was really yummy!  I'm not  a big fan of grape stuff (or banana artificial flavors)
Then I tried that gourmet beef broth for dinner, and fell in love with it.  The one container has about 6 servings to it.  So I poured it into three bowls one for then and two for later.
Dessert was a sugar free popsicle.

Today, I had the Strawberry shake for breakfast, did a Tide Me Over protein water mix for the morning, and then did the prime rib tasting beef broth for lunch and had a gelatin cup later in the afternoon.
I finished off a 32 ounce PowerADE throughout the afternoon.
For dinner, I tried the cream of chicken & mushroom soup - that was delicious. 
For a snack, in lieu of drinking more water, I ate some Sugar Free Jello that I made the night before - Raspberry flavor - that was about 2 cups worth - pretty delish!

I will sign off this evening to watch a Christmas movie, and will pop back on to check up on a few friends of mine tomorrow while I'm working from home.

If you are one of those who does not visit often, I wish you a Happy Holidays!

If you have any questions, suggestions, or comments, just send me a bit of mail.  :) 

I have suspicions as to who and who all may have been involved in creating a gift basket.  I hope I didn't make them work hard in determining what to get me when I expressed concern about receiving flowers that could wind up being toxic to my cats.  I did suggest that if it had to be a plant, let it be cat grass, so that my cats could enjoy it.

What my office did was something so out of the ordinary that it caught me off guard. 

My boss, who got the GB on 09/02/08, stopped by to visit and brought a basket.  At a quick glance, you recognize the topsides to Atkins Advantedge and the EAS Advantedge protein drinks.  You also recognize that there are two PowerADE Zeros in the bottle.  GASP!  There's something purple!  (For those who haven't figured it out yet, I love purple, and not only that, I am a Ravens fan)  There was a pair of Ravens gloves in the basket.  Wait, there's more stuff....

A double deck of playing cards - as if the hospital will let me play solitaire in peace, might as well be the 52 card pickup the way they kept waking me up just as I'd fall asleep.

4 puzzle books!  Not all the same, but all the better for the variety of non-spice in your life.  Search a word, crossword, Sudoku, and another word search (Movie & TV theme)

A pack of pencils, a pencil sharpener, a pack of eraser heads, and that's not all.

There were several bags of tea.  Different flavors - like the Lipton Mixed Berry, Orange & Jasmine, Earl Grey.

Ooohh...check this out - Crainium Grab and Go for Super Sudoku, oooh, a gift card....hm...when can I order a smaller sweater...I think I'll use it for when it's time to get a belt..

And that's not all.... I hear they forgot to put a beer in the basket for my husband, who has been absolutely wonderful throughout this ordeal.  So glad I am married to him.  And there are a couple of soups waiting for me at work.  AND, since I mentioned my cats, the basket came in two paper bags - so everyone has a little something.

But wait - get this, I have a magazine too in this basket.  It's the O magazine with Oprah Winfrey headlining, "How did I let this happen again?"... a story about her battle on weight gain.

I gleefully remind myself that I have THE TOOL to not let that happen to me.   Have I just created a monster in my own mind?  EVIL LAUGH.

But aside from all of that, this was the best get well gift I ever received. 

So big thanks to those who contributed at MES.  A very big thanks! 

After much excitement of waiting, I have officially become a loser.  I went under around 10 or so AM and got 'er done on the 16th.  I was feeling kinda lousy at first, but after a while, I didn't feel too bad.  Either I'm a tough cookie or Dr. Singh did an awesome job because I didn't need any pain medication and was up and around shortly afterwards, even though I was darn thirsty!  I almost was gonna go home the same night but after doing the barium test, the Xray tech had some "concern" which Dr. Singh said was no big deal.  But that concern left me in the hospital overnight being awoken every hour or two.

It'd be nice to have one of those Do Not Bother signs that you can hang on the door when you're really tired  LOL

I came home yesterday just before noon, and boy, all I wanted to do was sleep.  Forget drinking anything, sleep.  But, being the person I trained to be in this life changing event, I drank first.  Then slept later.  :)

I had a roommate who had the same procedure done on the same day, but by Dr. Averbach, who I recognized because I attended a seminar that he was instructing.  She was in quite a bit of pain, and I really felt for her.  She had a wonderful friend who stayed with her the entire time, helping her and everything.  That was truly admirable.  I hope that she is feeling much better now that she went home yesterday.  So, Ms. Room 417-1, I hope you are doing great!

I am sorry, I promised I'd have this out there on Monday, but with it being the eve of my surgery, I was ripping and running - getting a pedicure so the nurses wouldn't freak out at my ugly toes.  They did a good job on my little piggies.  I thought they turned out really cute! 

I have about 45 minutes to go before I have to leave for the hospital (fortunately for you all, the hospital is about 5 minutes from my home) so I am going to throw it all up there.

Day 8-
Nectar Fuzzy Navel - yick - too fuzzy going down, and not the kind of warm fuzzy I was looking for - but hey it was a 23 g of protein in a shot glass literally - 5 ounces of water with one scoop - bada bing! I bought a sampler collection from Enjoy Health so I figured I'd try one each day and let everyone know what I think. 
Atkins Dark Chocolate Royale Shake
Kraft Handi Snacks Sugar Free Chocolate
South Beach Tide Me Over Natural Tropical Breeze water mixer
Campbells Soup at Hand Creamy Tomato
Atkins Milk Chocolate Shake
Campbells Cream of Shrimp Soup (THIS WAS AWESOME!)
Sugar Free Double Chocolate Pudding

Day 9-
Solid food smells good but then I think about what I've got coming my way - and I don't feel so bad -
Flavor of the Day Nectar Lemon Tea - GAG - Splutter, ugh - tasted like wet cardboard with lemon seasoning. 
Drowned out the cardboard with the PowerAde Grape Sports Drink (the Zero brand, of course)
Made sugar free double chocolate pudding with skim milk - ate the whole dang thing - Milk gave me 33 g of protein  :)
Campbells Soup at Hand Classic Tomato - it was a busy day - and I wasn't really hungry but got my water in!

Day 10-
Flavor of the Day -Nectar Strawberry Kiwi - vaguest hint of those flavors, like a perfume almost, went down okay.  Not estatic about it.
Cream of Shrimp soup - Oh my goodness - I want to thank the cook for this!  Campbell's Soup!  Thanks!
Creamy Tomato Parmesan Bisque - totally delish!
Atkins Milk Chocolate
Orange Jello

Day 11-
Flavor of the Day - Nectar Carribean Cooler - very odd flavor, as if someone put the wrong alcohol in this drink.  Inserts nicely, but going down the hatch, you feel like you're tasting / smelling like a nail salon. 
24 ounces of water down the hatch quickly - shudder!
Atkins Milk Chocolate
EAS Strawberry Cream
Special K Strawberry Kiwi protein mix
Black Cherry jello

Day 12-
My boss wasn't at work so I didn't do Flavor of the Day - she had her Gastric Bypass September 2nd by the same doctor I'm seeing today.  We'd try the flavors out together, so we can figure out which one we would buy a super duper container size of based on our individual preferences.  For those who don't know, I had bought a sampler pack from EnjoyHealth.com of all the flavors that Champion and Nectar make.  It made a whole heck of a lot of sense to get that, considering that the smallest size container I could find was 2 pounds for almost $12 a pound!

I will return with the Flavor of the Day on December 29th, which is when I expect to be back at work.

Cheddar Cheese Soup - still da bomb!  :)
Special K Ice Tea Protein - this is good for knocking out the hunger pangs.  I think it's a fiber thing.
Strawberry Jello (any pudding or jello I put in here is definitely sugar free - not trying to cause anyone to stray)
Atkins Milk Chocolate shakes for breakfast and lunch.

Day 13- Getting Nervous....My day is coming!
Tried a cup of lemon puddin - eh
Tried a cup of white chocolate pudding - WOW!  Jello has this flavor - along wiht sugar free Butterscotch and Cheesecake -(pssst...if your hands are getting tired of whipping up the pudding and jello and you don't have a mixer, Walmart has one of those hand blenders for like 10.88 - they work great! - BZZZZT  schlorp BZZZZTT  done!
Atkins Milk Chocolate (yeah, I bought several 4 packs  - working through them)
Classic Tomato Soup
Water got boring, so I dumped some Fruit punch mix in it - finished my fluid quota for hte day!

Day 14- the evening before
Campbells Green Pea soup (not the one with the ham in it.  I found this at Giant on Crain Hwy)  - looks gross but tastes pretty good!  Carbs too high, so it's not going to be on a shopping list anytime soon.
Dasani Strawberry Kiwi water - gagg but I was thirsty and worried about catching anything - and it supposedly has vitamins and whatnots in it.
Powerade Zero Grape
White Chocolate Pudding
Lots of Water - knowing I can't eat or drink anything after Midnight.

Everyone - have a wonderful day.  I'll be back to update when I get home from the hospital on Wednesday.