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So I eat a LOT of Greek yogurt, but there's only a handful of flavors that I like and you gotta admit, eating the same 3 flavors day after day for breakfast and sometimes lunch gets a bit redundant. I have heard that mixing a 5.3oz package of Greek Yogurt with 1/4 package of sugar free jello pudding makes a yummy snack, especially if you are having a sweet tooth craving. I think I'll try this, but from what I've read it turns the Greek yogurt into a mousse almost, light and fluffy in texture, but not as bitter, so for everyone who doesn't like Greek Yogurt because of the bitter aftertaste, this may be for you! I also read that some people freeze the mixture to make a type of healthier high protein ice cream. I just found a recipe for mixing blended banana into a cup of greek yogurt, add a bit of lemon juice, and a bit of honey and freeze to make pops. Has anyone tried any of this?? Or have any suggestions for healthy high protein snacks?? For lunch today I took a slice of turkey breast, a slice of provolone cheese, and a pickle and made rolls with them because I can't handle bread on my sandwiches it fills me up too quickly. I think tomorrow I'll try a piece of avocado with the turkey and cheese. Night all!

How did a former athlete who was 9% body fat in college get to this point? Well I was born with a bad heart valve that wore out faster than my body did. In my early 40s suddenly I was gasping for breath, by my late 40s I was type 2 diabetic, at 50 I had surgery for diverticulitus and lost 4" of my colon which slowed me down more. At 52 I had open heart surgery where they replaced the valve and found a aneurysm which would have killed me. However, I came out of this unable to lift weights, play softball or baseball, with a right arm and shoulder with nerve damage in it and a bad knee and hip. Then the meds quit controlling my diabetes, the new meds added weight and now it is out of control, I have nerve damage in my feet and my wife has to look at them every night to make sure I don't wind up with an infection. I was approved as a metabolic Weight Loss Patient on the first go around. I am now on my second doctor because the staff of the first one frankly was incompetent. I was lied to when they told me that they had filed FMLA, and I was pre-approved by insurance, they hadnt submitted either one of them. So being the analyst that I am I checked and found out everything. Added to that the hospital that they wanted to have the surgery in didnt have the best reputation. I should have had the surgery two months ago to keep nerve damage to a minimum. I am very nervous, from my major surgeries I live with pain every day. I was told that while they can do the sleeve that the results are better with bypass. However, the horror stories with malabsorption worry me. I am doing this to be able to have a life again not just to trade one set of issues for a whole other set. So any feedback is appreciated.

You're not alone. Food addiction is very serious...trust me, I know! When I first looked into the band I wondered to myself and worried...could I actually be THIS committed?!? You are correct in that it is about retraining the mind...learning new eating habits and just making better food choices. The band is no easier than a diet...it is just an additional tool, as you said. You can do this...you know what you have to do. No more excuses. I play guitar...not well, but I play. When I feel the urge to eat or I get mind hungry...I pick up my guitar and practice until my fingers are sore. Placing the focus elsewhere is what helped me. It might be able to help you. Take a up new hobby or revisit an old one. Something that you can focus on when those addictions come knockin on the door again......most importantly.....drink your water! I wish you success and joy on your continued journey. It's not too late to do it right.

I agree with the above comment, the fact that you are realizing what you are doing is half the battle! Get back to your good habits and try to remember how you felt at your heaviest that always helps me when I get to feeling like I just want to eat what everyone else is.

Congratulations to you and thank you for posting this. This is a great source of inspiration for those of us who are just beginning our journey.

My husband had stage 4 bladder cancer. It went to his lymph nodes and he was put thru much chemo. He slept a lot He took the medicine that keeps you from getting sick(vomit).This went on for 6 months and he has been cancer free for 6 years. Do what they say, eat no time to diet (he was 100 lbs overweight and nobody knew how sick he was). I cooked everything for him in cast iron with a tomato in it to leach the iron out of the pot. Not the tastiest but it helped to keep his blood counts up. He did not loose his hair. Everyone doesn't. You don't believe them at first, then you get very angry, then you accept it and fight like he*#$. Best of luck and you are in my prayers.

Best of luck Lila.. I too am waiting. I have my second appointment the same day you have your first. I have been through a lot of the before tests. the only thing I have left is the heart doctor (wanted to wait closer to surgery for that). It has been kind of a whirlwind trying to get it all done. Many tests and doctors visits, Now I found out that my PCD is leaving practice and now I must find a new one. Something else to consume my time finding a good Dr, It took 2 months to find the doctor for the sleeve surgery. Went to many meetings and researched for hours and finally found an experienced one on the sleeve. My insurance makes you wait 90 days from the first appointment which puts me at the end of september. Then the dr office said 2-4 weeks after that. Hope it is sooner and not later. Getting too close to the holidays. Best of luck to you and keep us infomed.

Remember that your weight will vary up to 5 lbs either way, up or down. This is due to fluid/water wt in the body so you could weigh in at 195 in the morning, go workout for 60 minutes return and step on the scale and weigh 200lbs. This is normal so don't let the scale stress you out. Put it away and weigh yourself once per week so you don't have to deal with the dissipointment often.

That was the response I got at Olive Garden today when I said "no thankyou" to the complimentary garlic bread. pat pat pat myself on the back. Seems like small potatoes, but it was a HUGE triumph for me. I love breads, rice, pastas...oh and the delicious mashed potatoes made with cream cheese!!! I am a not just a food addict, I am addicted to starch. So, I orded the soup (pasta fagioli) and salad...yes with the dressing. But I did not order anything carb loaded. I thought about asking the waitress to remove the bread, but my friend was enjoying it sooo much, I just didn't have the heart. ooh ooh ooh....and you know that little mint they give you at the end, I gave it to my friend. New plan, I am going to feed all of my friends so they get fatter to make me look skinnier. Just joking. The will power is getting easier....but no bueno on the shakes 2 times day. It's too much sweetness. I bought some jerky, string cheese and yogurt to get the full amount of protein needed per day. I also eat fish or chicken and green veggies or salad for dinner. I am only down 2 lbs for the first week of preop diet, but I am still limited on my excercise with my broken toes. Note to self....stop falling down stairs. Tomorrow starts week 2 of preop. Phew....can't wait for this week to be over with. I am so excited to get banded next week.