FLORIDAYS

I use the morning number ....always have. Like today. I had a dr appointment. I weighed myself naked in the morning like always . I was 157. I weighed myself dressed I was 159. I went to the Dr at 10am. I had only had Water to drink. I weighed 159 with the same clothing on as I did at home (jeans are heavy evidentially). So this month mine and the Dr's scale was the same.

I weigh more in the evening than I do in the morning. You may want to pick a time to do it the same day... maybe morning before you eat or drink anything.... then you will have a good benchmark. Also... I have a $20 scale but its newer. I had problems with my old one because it wasnt for people over 300 lbs...

Every day I eat 3 meals of 3 oz pf Protein, 1/2 c veggie and 1/4c starch. When you are in the green zone that should hold you but sometimes I need a snack in the afternoon and evening and sometimes I do not. It depends on the day and what I ate for my meal. However I most always get in my 1000 calories and always try to get in my Water. I do not feel hungry very much and would skip eating if I didnt make myself eat so eating when hungrey doesnt work for me.

I weigh myself every morning and every night. Its different than the Dr's scale by 2-3 lbs. Its different than my GYN dr by 5-6 lbs..its different than my friend's scale..... but I dont care. Its a good measuring tool and it will tell me if weight goes up. I spent my lifetime ignoring scales. I was 377 lbs at surgery. That will never happen again.

I feel like its my mission in life to share my story now... of course like Mis said ... you cannot exactly go up to anyone and offer advise.. but I sure want too. I NEVER noticed fat like I do now... Even on the young girls... who seem thin but then they have a muffin top... I just want to go up to them and say... do you know how this looks? Do you oyu know what this is going to look like in 20 years? LOL And for seriously overweight people its all I can do not to want to go up to them and say...do you realize there is a way out? But just like I dont preach religion or discuss politics.... Unless someone asks... and then... its Katy bar the door. .. I will blab for an hour

I had my gall bladder removed laproscopically when I was 30... some 20 years before being banded. I can tell you that recovery was WAY worse than the band. I was out of work for a month. With the band it was 5 days! I also was on my preop during the holidays and had a pretty glass of Water with lemon with me at all times. I didnt cheat either and had a great time sans the food and alcohol! You can do it!

Look at my before and after pics if you need any motivation.... It was the best thing I ever did for myself. Best wishes for a successful surgery!

I have been banded 24 months and have lost 220 lbs and am headed to the Dr this morning for an unfill in preperation for my Tummy tuck on Tuesday. I am confident that my new learned eating habits and the support of this forum... will keep me from gaining weight during this time of being unfilled.

I was told today I have to have an unfill before my tummy tuck next week....so I made an appointment for Friday since the surgery is on Tuesday but I have several questions for those of you that have had to do an unfill... I am in the green zone now and am a little nervous about messing with my fluid..... I plan on eating my normal bandster way but... Did you feel differently? more hungry? Did you gain weight? when can you get the fluid put back in? Did it take a few fills to get back to the green zone? anything you can add is appreciated. Thanks so much...

TO answer your question I have not used it. My thoughts are....If you are banded I dont know why you would use it. Sensa is intended to work with your sense of smell, fooling your brain & stomach into thinking you're full. Evidentially The flavors may make people focus on the sensory characteristics of food -- smell and taste -- and can actually cause a change in eating habits and behavior," In my opinion the lap band offers so much more. Of course if you used it combined with portion control you would lose weight.. without I dont see how it is beneficial.

If you hang around long enough you will meet great folks on this site.... feel free to post your questions.... you will get lots of replies. welcome!

FOr the first year of my journey I had the words FOOD IS FUEL written everywhere... on a post it in my car, on my bathroom mirror, my phone background, on the fridge and on my computer.... it helped.

Every weekday morning I had a Sausage Egg and cheese McGriddle @ 540 calories , hash browns 150 cal and diet coke... Its never seemed like that much food. Imagine that?

thanks...even tho hate there isnt grammer and spell check on this site...LOL

So I recieved a call from my plastic surgeon's assistant this morning.... I have my pre op appointment late this afternoon as my tummy tuck and breast lift is next Tuesday.... She wanted to remind me to bring in a picture of how I would like my girls to look after surgery. I told her I found a pic online and will bring it with me. Of course what I didnt tell her was that it was hysterical doing it.... I have never looked at so many breasts in my life... I never realized how weird it was to analyze them, try to imagine how they will look on my body etc... And of course I had to incluide hubby in my quest for the perfect breast.... who really thought it didnt matter as long as I was happy. So he was no help. LOL I narrowed it down to 2 pics of people who had lifts after weight loss, who were over 45, over 5'7 and about 157 lbs..... basically ones I thought looked natural and were about my size and shape... we'll see what the Dr says. One more chapter in this fun journey.....

Ditto...

Still happens to me when I am where I cannot weigh and measure my food....

Sorry I have no idea...but might suggest you ask a military recruiter....

for me i felt restriction on the first fill but becaus ei was losing so well they just didn't last.... So it took me about 3-4 fills to find what the green zone meant But remember you must keep up with fills and know your band. Just because you are in the green zone today doesn't mean you will be next month...which I yield to my original post.

Mine doesn't either.. And I went to pre op today and he said i could wear it but in his experience it makes zero difference in the outcome. Best of luck tomorrow

What's a fitbit??..oops never mind I see AJ had got the technology bug.

Fill or no fill if you eat the following portions Three times every single day... You will lose weight. However you will know that you need a fill because those portions will not keep you satisfied for 4/5 hrs at a time 3 oz of protien 1/2 c veggies 1/4 c startch

I am 2 years out and I have no idea other then I have read there may be pain and vomiting,,,,

Thanks to you all for your support... Had my pre op appointment this afternoon... dr looked at my boob selections and said... "Well this one is photo shopped and the other one is actually not going to work with your shape....". I was like great....now what? He said you need to trust me. I said... Well I am paying you enough and you are the highest rated guy in Tampa and his facility is the ONLY JCAHO certified non hospital unit in central Florida so ok.... My boobs are yours on Tuesday!! LOL. Now about my new belly button...

I can eat bread but whole wheat only as per my drs instruction. I have not tried white sandwich bread but I have tried a small bite of roll or biscuits and they seem to be fine but I don't want to push it Rice... I can eat it but it will come back up about 30 minute later so I try to stay clear Pasta again wheat only.... I can eat the regular stuff but it usually comes back. That said.. My starch intake is VERY limited at 1/4 c per meal... So bread doesn't find it's way to my plate often. I do eat pasta a few times a week but it's limited quantity