changing4me

I also drink the EAS carbsmart Shakes. TO get that extra packed protein shake in,One thing I started doing for the mornings is taking one cup of frozen strawberries, 1 half banana, and 1 container of greek yogurt and pour in 1 whole Eas Protein shake,and 2packets of splenda! .I blend it together until smooth and it is DELICIOUS!!! Its extra creamy and reminds me of a milk shake! the first one I made I used strawberry bannana greek yogurt and a strawberry protein shake. but the second one I used the Plain Greek yogurt (which by itself really is like a sour cream substance! lol) and the frozen strawberries and banana and a Vanilla shake! both were REALLY Good!! I had to keep recalculating the nutrional info bc I was convinced that something that tasted that good had to be not so good for you! well I did a rough estimate and it has about 32g of protein,22g carbs (6 from yogurt 3 from the protein shake and 13 from the half of banana) and roughly 260 calories. It isnt the Greatest nutrution wise, but its not the absolute worst either. I think I will work on making it a bit healthier. Maybe using banana extract instead of a real bannana since thats where a lot of the calories and carbs are coming from. or maybe add in sugar free banana pudding mix! that will bring it to about 31g protein about 9g carbs and 210 calories.either way it is a delicious way to get fruit servings,protein and the benefits of yogurt! and it is SUPER satisfying! I stay full for hours! and bc it tastes like a milk shake,I feel like IM cheating but im not :-)

I am 35 days POST OP. I have lost 22lbs so far! I was banded on August 12 with a starting weight of 252lb I am currently 230lb. This is the lowest I've weighed in about 5years! they say during bandster hell , a lot of ppl gain weight, but that was not my experience. I actually Lost 2lbs!I just got my first fill on Wed and I am still feeling very positive about my decision! any other questions you have just let me know!

Congrats! your still doing great!! from what I understand, the Doctors dont even expect weight loss at this point. Not until your first fill! so dont worry!..

Hey everyone! Today makes a month since surgery and I am feeling great! I am down 23 pounds (including my 7day preop diet). Is this an ok number? do most people lose more? Or am I pretty average?I started at 251 and I am down to 228..I haven't seen anything under 240 In about 5-6years!! this has me feeling pretty optimistic! Overall It has been going good so far! I have been doing pretty well with eating the right things even though Im technically in "Bandster Hell" The worst I have done is suck on a few pieces of hard candy ...I know its not the best but Hey Im human! lol... I go for my first Fill on Wednesday and Im a little nervous! I don't really know what to expect afterwards. Also I think Im nervous because My weight loss will "officially" start once I am filled! But all is Well..at this point I am Feeling really good that this was the best decision I could have ever made for myself! Thanks to everyone here for being supportive!

thanks so much!! Congrats on your loss as well!! your doing great!! remember..every bit counts!! I will Def come visit and tell how it went! Thanks again

Mmm crab legs sound delicious!! I have been eating a lot of Lean Ground turkey. Its pretty soft not really a rough food at all! I have done all types of things with it. Some days I mix in spaghetti sauce and a little parmesean cheese for some noodle-less spaghetti (or meat sauce if you'd like to call it that). Some days I have a little bit of ketchup and mustard to dip it in..(almost like eating a burger lol) at a family BBQ I brought some ground turkey and mixed in a little BBQ sauce and ate a little bit of (mashed potatoe salad (just like reg potato salad just cook the potatoes softer) made w/light mayo of course! other days took a little bit and put it over mashed potatoes and poured a little bit of low calorie vegetable Soup over it...almost like shepards pie :-) I also eat Crab Salad (again made with light mayo), Chicken salad (canned chicken). and actually just yesterday I made me a new meal. I took 2 slices of the thin shaved roasted turkey breast, spread on 1/2 wedge of the laughing cow LIGHT cheese, and 3 turkey pepperonis and rolled it up..OMG it was the best think I've eaten in a while lol! its so good I limit myself to 2 rolls which calorie wise is only about 75 calories per roll and its VERY filling not to mention DELICIOUS!! everyday for Breakfast I have a pack of Quaker Weight Control instant oatmeal. it has 7g of Protein which isnt too bad. I also just became a fan of Greek Yogurt! Im not a huge yogurt fan but it actually tastes pretty good! I am still exploring and learning my foods though But I hope I gave you at least one Idea to use! Congrats ON your weight loss!! that is great!! I know your excited!! btw... I had my Surgery August 12

WOW! your right I didnt think about it that way!! Thanks so much for your well wishes!

Im shante Im from upstate ny. IM 23 (will be 24 in december) I was banded on August 12th. my weight on day of pre op visit on August 4th was 251. 20 days later on August 24 I weight 231. 20lbs lost!!! I havent seen anything under 240s in a longggg time!! superr happy! Im single no children!

OK so here it is the night before (well early morning of..) my pre op testing!! to be 100% honest, I am a Nervous wreck!! I have literally made myself sick in the last 48 hours. I could not figure out why all of sudden my stomach is nauseous and I had diarrhea..(sorry for the tmi)...but I just figured out..its my NERVES!! I am a nervous wreck and didn't even realize it. I just got off the phone with my best friend who had to remind me to breath bc I was beginning to have what I THINK is an anxiety attack! I know I have made the right decision to get banded, after a lot of time and research,but now as I lay in bed the night before Pre Op testing,I am having second thoughts !I know deep down its the best decision but right now Its not so clear!! I was always a "strong" person,so right now I am surprised at how much In freaking out on the inside! I know a lot of people start feeling like this a few days before surgery,but I still have 10 whole days! Im not scheduled until August 12th. is this too soon for me to be freaking out? has anyone else experienced these feelings this far away from surgery day?? my stomach is bubbling,I feel like I have a lump in my throat, my chest is heavy and overall I think I might just sh*t my pants before surgery day arrives!! LOL MY NERVES are SHOT!!! I only told a handful of people about my surgery plans,so I think the fact that there are ppl close to me whose shoulder Im used to leaning on when I need support,that dont even have a clue as to what Im in the process of doing is also playing a role in my Pre surgery Jitters.(they dont know bc I dont think they'd be as supportive as I'd need them to be) So pretty Much this site is my NUMBER 1 person (people) to turn to! SO I NEED ALL OF YOUR HELP!! PLEASE tell me about your pre op jitters stories. I would like to hear from any and everyone. any advice,tips,stories etc are greatly appreciated!! Also I would REALLY LOVE to befriend other August banders..ESPECIALLY those of you with the same surgery day of August 12th!! Also anyone else who is pre or post op that would like to be band buddies I would love that too! I need as much support as possible!!

OMG I am being banded august 12 and im on day 4 of liquid pre op diet and I have been doing very well!! haven't cheated at all..(well maybe except for having about 1.5-2cups of veggies at night instead of 1cup) but other than that I have been good! but TODAY?? OMG Today has been hard!!!! I feel soo hungry!! I am determined not to cheat at all,but I am so hungry!! I had 2cups of broth and a popsicle..but my stomach is talking very loud ughh!! 3 more days of this! I need encouragement please! I am having a weak moment right now and I dont want to cheat but I am soo hungry!! I really can use some positive words/advice

had to post here, as I am having my last supper tomorrow!! I am going to a buffet for all you can eat grab legs...(which aren't actually bad for you...except the butter) but I dont plain on over doing it at all. I don't want it to be a Complete shocker to my body on Friday when I start my liquid diet bc I had just ate so much food the night before. I plan on enjoying my meal moderately tomorrow!!

GOOD NEWS!! I had my pre op appointment yesterday and I must say I feel 1000 times better!! WHEW!!! I really was a nervous reck! before they took my bp I was like warning my stomach has been doing flips and my heart has been racing so the reading you are about to get please dont hold it against me, i am superr worked up! the nurse laughed and then was like umm yea your right you are kind of high. I knew my bp would be up since I was stressing out so much! anyway the appointment went great..the Nurse practitioner told me that it is completely normal for me to feel the way I do and that if I had come in and said I feel absolutely fine, then she would have been worried! I start my pre op diet on Friday so umm yea tomorrow will def be "the last supper" lol but oddly enough,for some reason these past few weeks my stomach has not been able to tolerate really greasy or heavy foods. so I actually have been eating decently. but tomorrow let me just say that I am going to enjoy eating a nice meal..I wont over do it tho I promise!! Im sooo ready to start my life over!!

CONGRATS ON YOUR APPROVAL! I GOT APPROVED ON JULY 2ND AFTER A DENIAL FOR BEING 2LBS SHORT OF MY REQUIRED WEIGHT LOSS. I HAVE SURGERY SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 12! I AM SUPER NERVOUS!! WHAT DAY IS YOUR SURGERY? I JUST DID MY PRE OP APPOINTMENT YESTERDAY AND I MUST SAY I FEEL MUCH BETTER. I START MY LIQUID DIET ON FRIDAY (MY DOC ONLY REQUIRES 1 WEEK OF LIQUID DIET.WHEW!! LOL)

thanks so much!!! I needed that! August 12th surgery date and pre op testing this morning August 2nd

I am going for my pre op testing today (August 2nd) I will start liquid diet tomorrow. mine consist of liquids for breakfast and lunch and for dinner a small piece of lean protein and veggies. no carbs no sweets....my nerves are shot this morning im superrrr nervous!!

Heyyy me and you are also being banded on the same day!! I have been searching and searching for someone who has the same exact day as me! it seemed like everyone had the 11 or 15 lol Im so happy to find someone who is going to be going through the same EXACT thing as me at the same exact time!! I love this site so much! hopefully we can be band friends and keep up with eachothers progress!!

HEy We are being banded on the same day!! I have been searching and searching for someone who has the same exact day as me! it seemed like everyone had the 11 or 15 lol Im so happy to find someone who is going to be going through the same EXACT thing as me at the same exact time!! I love this site so much! hopefully we can be band friends and keep up with eachothers progress!!

mine is August 12 Im going through the same thoughts!

Yes I agree!! I am getting banded the day after you on August 12! I need lots of help from all of you too!! I am anxious to make "band friends"

Congrats!!!! my Surgery date is August 12!! our dates are very close to eachother! I am looking to interact with people having the surgery done around the same time as me. So I can feel like I have someone going through it with me lol (I know that sounds crazy) lol but I swear this forum is going to be my lifesaver!! well actually the band will be..but this will be runner up!! lol

Finally Got my surgery date!! this has been a longgg journey! but finally I am getting what I want! I started this process back in late November. I got denied by the insurance company once because I was about 1.5lbs short of the 12lbs I needed to lose! YES! 1 and a half pounds!! I was very upset! luckily for me I was able to lose the weight by the next week and was able to resubmit to the insurance company! I finally got my approval letter on July 2nd! I have pre op testing on August 2nd and Then Finally after about 20 years of Obesity I am scheduled to have surgery on AUGUST 12 2011!!!!! I am super excited!! I am also very nervous. I am filled with all types of emotions, depending on what day it is! I am one of the people who choose not to tell many people. I decided this early on because I am not the type of person who can handle peoples slick comments or funny looks and any negativity right now! So here I am less than a month away from surgery. I cant say I will miss the body that I abused for so many years,but It will def take me some time to get used to not having it. because at this point,its all I know! I am ready to let my body as I have always knew it GO...for a much leaner,healthier one! who else is scheduled for surgery in AUGUST?? Anyone have the same date August 12 2011?? I would LOVE to talk to someone going through this on the same exact day!! I havent been very active on here in the last few months, but that is also about to change! this site offers me support that I feel I cant get anywhere else! being able to talk to people who are going through the same thing Im going through is a sigh of relief!! I am ready to commit myself to my new life and with the help and support of everyone here I know I can do it!! I do have a few questions though... 1.) Where can I get the weight loss tracker thingy from? I would like for you all to see my progress once I have my surgery. I see people with all type of different trackers and info about their start weight and surgery date etc and I wanna join the club! 2.) I am still confused as to which Protein to buy and suggestions on this would be great! (not much of a plain vanilla person) 3.) I was told I will probably be able to go home the same day. Well I have a problem with that, I think I would rather stay in the hospital and let them monitor me. I would feel MUCH more comfortable knowing there is doctors watching over me. has anyone else felt like this? if so did you get to stay? or did they make you leave? 4.) when you get to the hospital,what do they do to prepare you for the surgery? 5.) the Most debatable question...LAPBAND VS REALIZE BAND??? 6.) how much weight did you lose on the pre op diet? 7.) if you could do it all over again..would you?? Any advice, opinions, motivation ANYTHING is Welcome! I am like a sponge right now trying to soak up as much last minute info as I possibly can! I