A Super Weight Loss Blog!

[Super]

Hello All
I'm Super and I had the Orbera Gastric Balloon inserted on 10 November 2011. I was issued with a pack of anti-nausea drugs and all went pretty well. I took pretty much everything that was prescribed for the first three days because I figured prevention was better than the cure and the first three days passed quite well although I was a bit zonked out by the drugs (really just wanted to sleep most of the time). Cut back on them at three days and went well for a week. Had started moving to solid food when on the Monday (11 days post insertion) I ended up vomiting. After that I came good for another week but the next weekend I had constant, low-level nausea and again on the Monday, I vomited. I spoke to my gastroenterologist and she suggested reverting to a liquid diet for a few days and then progressing again which I did.
Yesterday, I went out for lunch and ordered a goat's cheese and quince salad. I only managed to eat about a third of it but I think the goat's cheese and salad oils were too rich for me and I've not felt well since. Vomited twice yesterday and once today. I'm trying to take in a bit of ginger to help with the nausea and to keep the fluids up (I'm only really interested in water) but I'm really hoping I feel much better tomorrow. Fingers crossed!
I'm weighing myself once a week on Saturday mornings. In three weeks I've lost four kilograms (I think that's about 8.8lbs).
I'll post again next weekend.
Cheers!

[Obesity Discussion]

Hello All
I'm Super and I had the Orbera Gastric Balloon inserted on 10 November 2011. I was issued with a pack of anti-nausea drugs and all went pretty well. I took pretty much everything that was prescribed for the first three days because I figured prevention was better than the cure and the first three days passed quite well although I was a bit zonked out by the drugs (really just wanted to sleep most of the time). Cut back on them at three days and went well for a week. Had started moving to solid food when on the Monday (11 days post insertion) I ended up vomiting. After that I came good for another week but the next weekend I had constant, low-level nausea and again on the Monday, I vomited. I spoke to my gastroenterologist and she suggested reverting to a liquid diet for a few days and then progressing again which I did.
Yesterday, I went out for lunch and ordered a goat's cheese and quince salad. I only managed to eat about a third of it but I think the goat's cheese and salad oils were too rich for me and I've not felt well since. Vomited twice yesterday and once today. I'm trying to take in a bit of ginger to help with the nausea and to keep the fluids up (I'm only really interested in water) but I'm really hoping I feel much better tomorrow. Fingers crossed!
I'm weighing myself once a week on Saturday mornings. In three weeks I've lost four kilograms (I think that's about 8.8lbs).
I'll post again next weekend.
Cheers!

Congrats on the weight loss so far; hopefully you are feeling better soon! How have you been feeling the past few days?

[Super]

Hi again
The week hasn't been wonderful. Ended up taking a couple of days off to increase anti nausea drugs and try to settle myself down but it doesn't seem to have been too successful. Off to see the gastroenterologist on Wednesday evening so hoping she may have some answers for me.
The balloon certainly works in that it is impossible to eat large amounts and anything too rich but all indications point to nausea being over within the first week and that certainly hasn't been the case with me.
The good news is I've lost another 1.2kgs or about 2.6lbs.
Thanks for encouragement from my 'weight mate' (we're officially the same weight) in the BIG chair - sorry I don't know your name.
Until next week...

[Obesity Discussion]

Hi again
The week hasn't been wonderful. Ended up taking a couple of days off to increase anti nausea drugs and try to settle myself down but it doesn't seem to have been too successful. Off to see the gastroenterologist on Wednesday evening so hoping she may have some answers for me.
The balloon certainly works in that it is impossible to eat large amounts and anything too rich but all indications point to nausea being over within the first week and that certainly hasn't been the case with me.
The good news is I've lost another 1.2kgs or about 2.6lbs.
Thanks for encouragement from my 'weight mate' (we're officially the same weight) in the BIG chair - sorry I don't know your name.
Until next week...

Name is Matt. Glad the progress is going well for you this past week! This balloon seems to be working great for you! We'd love for you to track your progress with us as you go. Feel free to start a topic in the weight loss blog section for this; it's where everyone goes to post their eating/exercise/life happenings, so our community can provide support and advice, and our members can better hold themselves accountable.

[Super]

Oops, a bit late posting this week. Yay the nausea has settled down. Have reverted to two liquid meal replacements a day and a small meal with a little fruit and yoghut. It's easy to follow as my appetite is about 'zilch' and I just have to be careful to get a balanced intake and keep up the hydration. Loss for the week was 0.8kg or 1.8lbs. Still going in the right direction! I'm off to New Zealand on Wednesday to spend Christmas with my family so my next weign in won't be until 7 January 2012. I hope you all have a safe and happy time with family and friends and enter the New Year with renewed determination to make it the brightest and healthiest year ever.

[Obesity Discussion]

Oops, a bit late posting this week. Yay the nausea has settled down. Have reverted to two liquid meal replacements a day and a small meal with a little fruit and yoghut. It's easy to follow as my appetite is about 'zilch' and I just have to be careful to get a balanced intake and keep up the hydration. Loss for the week was 0.8kg or 1.8lbs. Still going in the right direction! I'm off to New Zealand on Wednesday to spend Christmas with my family so my next weign in won't be until 7 January 2012. I hope you all have a safe and happy time with family and friends and enter the New Year with renewed determination to make it the brightest and healthiest year ever.

happy holidays to you too! Glad the nausea has settled down! Having a small appetite is sure going to be a blessing considering all the holiday food that is abound! Congrats on the weight loss, and keep us posted how your holidays go with the family! Happy new year to you too!!!!

And another .8 kg down, awesome! Did your doctor give you an approximation of weight loss expectations?

[Super]

Balloon is supposed to stay in for six months but may be able to extend that to about nine months by taking a stomach acid reducing tablet once a day. All the 'blurb' I've read about it suggests around 15kg (33lb) over the six months. I'd like to lose about 17kg minimum and if it's a bit more I'll be happy. Then it will be down to keeping it off! Your can learn all about the procedure by just googling orbera gastric balloon.
Cheers for now Matt. I hope your Christmas and New Year is blessed with lots of good things.

[Super]

Back from holidays and while it was great to catch up with family and friends, I've decided this losing weight is best done when my routine is normal and the food decisions are mine alone. For all the change to routine, I still managed to lose 2.2kg (4.9lb) so I'm happy with that. Still struggling with occasional nausea and vomiting but not as bad as it's been. Saw my dietition on Wednesday and she was thrilled that I'd lost 10% of my body weight - I've never thought of kilograms as percentages before but certainly a morale boosting way of looking at things. Back to work tomorrow and the return to routine will be complete.

Catch you next week.

[Obesity Discussion]

Back from holidays and while it was great to catch up with family and friends, I've decided this losing weight is best done when my routine is normal and the food decisions are mine alone. For all the change to routine, I still managed to lose 2.2kg (4.9lb) so I'm happy with that. Still struggling with occasional nausea and vomiting but not as bad as it's been. Saw my dietition on Wednesday and she was thrilled that I'd lost 10% of my body weight - I've never thought of kilograms as percentages before but certainly a morale boosting way of looking at things. Back to work tomorrow and the return to routine will be complete.

Catch you next week.

Wow, congrats and I'm happy you had a great holiday! Sorry to hear about the nausea/vomiting but that's great it's getting better. you've hit a great goal; you should be proud of what you're doing? Any more changes planned to the ol' regimen?

[Super]

Down to 67.6kg (or 149lbs). It's been good to be back at work. Much easier to stay on track when my routine is normal.

[Obesity Discussion]

Down to 67.6kg (or 149lbs). It's been good to be back at work. Much easier to stay on track when my routine is normal.

Wonderful to see the progress continuing! Would you mind if I broke out your posts into a new thread just for you in our weight loss blog section? You'll get more positive feedback that way instead of posting at the end of someone else's older topic.

[Super]

That's fine if you want to do that Matt. Just make sure I can still find it okay

[Super]

Another week gone. Can't believe how fast the time goes. Lost 0.8kg this week (about 2lb). Over 10kg all up - yahoo! Already I'm walking taller and is it my imagination or is the odd bloke looking twice? Had a bit of a spewy day so have gone back to liquid meal replacements - the good thing is it's still easy because I just don't get hungry - truly amazing. My dietician says I need to get a bit more calcium so when I go back to solid food I'll include a couple of glasses of milk. Lucky I like milk. It might help lift the energy levels so I feel up to the odd walk with my dogs.
Catch you next week if Matt hasn't hidden my posts from me

[Rue]

Glad you're losing the weight and starting to feel more confident!

[Obesity Discussion]

Another week gone. Can't believe how fast the time goes. Lost 0.8kg this week (about 2lb). Over 10kg all up - yahoo! Already I'm walking taller and is it my imagination or is the odd bloke looking twice? Had a bit of a spewy day so have gone back to liquid meal replacements - the good thing is it's still easy because I just don't get hungry - truly amazing. My dietician says I need to get a bit more calcium so when I go back to solid food I'll include a couple of glasses of milk. Lucky I like milk. It might help lift the energy levels so I feel up to the odd walk with my dogs.
Catch you next week if Matt hasn't hidden my posts from me

Maybe it isn't your imagination!

If you don't want the extra calories, would supplements be another alternative? Must be a nice feeling not being hungry. Awesome.

Almost 1kg is another great week in my book. Keep up the amazing work!

[Super]

Damn. I'm not sure how but I put on 400 grams (1lb). It's one of those times when pounds sounds better than grams/kilograms. I do know I've had more bread this week than I would usually so that could be the problem. I haven't been taking much notice of calories but don't think I would have gone over about 1200 in any day. I'm not going to get upset about it or analyse it to death. I've had enough experience with trying to lose weight to know sometimes there doesn't seem to be any reason at all! Next week is sure to be better. See you then...
PS: Thanks Matt and Rue for the encouragement. It makes it all so much easier.

[Rue]

Have you been adjusting your eating habits at the same time? Frankly, I think the maintaining is harder than the losing of it...

[Obesity Discussion]

Damn. I'm not sure how but I put on 400 grams (1lb). It's one of those times when pounds sounds better than grams/kilograms. I do know I've had more bread this week than I would usually so that could be the problem. I haven't been taking much notice of calories but don't think I would have gone over about 1200 in any day. I'm not going to get upset about it or analyse it to death. I've had enough experience with trying to lose weight to know sometimes there doesn't seem to be any reason at all! Next week is sure to be better. See you then...
PS: Thanks Matt and Rue for the encouragement. It makes it all so much easier.

Our pleasure! If you're staying stagnant and not dropping, it might be time to start logging your calories for a few days just as a double check that your calorie intake isn't off more than you think it is. Happens more than you'd think to people.

Bread, especially bad quality bread will make a difference, but like you said, could just be a random fluctuation. If you kept your calories in check and overall ate decent then I wouldn't sweat it. Keep on pounding this week, and way to keep those portions in check!

How are the side effects treating you? Hopefully better!

[Super]

That's better, another 800gms. I think I have the answer to the increase last week, I'd picked up the wrong cordial mix and had been using the full sugar one instead of the 'no cal' one - duh! Easy enough done I guess when the labels are so similar. Anyway, back on track now - onward and downward!

You're so right about doing a food diary, Matt. I'd done that before I saw the dietician last and she has this cool program on her 'puter that measures if you're getting sufficient of everything. Hence the pickup on the need for more calcium. There were a couple of others that looked a bit dodgy - potassium and zinc but we figured that would be covered by the multivitamin I take each day. There really are some clever people out there to work all this stuff out.

[Rue]

One pound still isn't a biggie...you can 'gain' that just by having extra water...and water gain just comes and goes...but I'm glad you figured out what the issue was...