kittyforet

Hi Teresa!! I don't know that it was much of a pep talk, but you're welcome Yes, please, say a prayer for me on Monday!! I would really appreciate that, and will keep you in my list as well. Feel free to email me anytime kittyforet@yahoo.com. Good luck to you and let's keep each other going!!! kristi

Papillon Princess, Yes, the flavor extracts is what I was told I should try!! Can't wait to try some!! Do you have any flavors you recommend? kristi

GREAT email!!! I'm glad you got good responses. Good luck!

Hi Teresa. I am momma to 3 kids, ages 10, 8, and 4 (boy, boy, girl) and am 38....my date is June 20. I started out at 223.4 and have lost 10 pounds so far, hoping to lose a few more before Monday.... on the pre-op diet and HUNGRY all the time!!! But it's only for a short amount of time and in the end it will be worth it for me to be a healthier wife and mom! I'm currently reading "Bandwagon" which is very helpful, and coming to LBT daily to read about others' experiences. Best of luck to you!!! kristi

Hi Jessrosec3 and aroundthetown, YAY for June 20th!!! The start of our new lives!! Now there are at least 5 of us with the same date; we can be our own little group!!! Too bad we're not all in the same area of town!!! I've done ok on my pre-op diet....didn't do so great the first 2 days but have gotten better at it each day! I'm allowed 2-3 protein shakes per day plus 1-2 small low fat, no carb meals...that's been the hardest!!!! But I am doing ok, just HUNGRY all the time!! The protein drinks only keep my hunger away about 2 hours....I might try doubling up the powder and see if that helps. I am snacking during the day on either fresh fruit or lowfat cheese (mini babybell and laughing cow light). I don't eat green veggies, so that has been a hard thing for me to give up what veggies I do eat (corn and potatoes!!) Went out to eat last night and ate my salad and steak and did so good not eating any of hubby's stuffed baked potato, which looked so delicious!!! One more week!!!! Going to meet a nutritionist (not affiliated with my doctor) on Thursday and then getting fitted for my stupid CPAP machine that I have to take to surgery....... Looking forward to next Monday....can it hurry up and get here already?!?!?!? Good luck to y'all as well!!!

Thanks for all the info and advice. I know that once I am post-op, it will be a week at least before I can add any fruit to my Protein drinks, so I was looking for something to get me through the "no fruit in my drinks" period. Between now and then, I will continue to add strawberries when they are nice and fresh-looking at the store...I also have some frozen berries that I add when I don't have fresh. Wish I could grow my own fruit and veggie garden but it's too dang hot and dry in Texas!!! Ugh!!! I also hadn't thought of adding Jello Gelatin to the drinks....I've heard of adding dry pudding mix (will be trying that tomorrow, vanilla with SF butterscotch!!) but didn't even think I could do the same with gelatin....That will be my next attempt!! And I just might also have to get some of those flavor drops....someone mentioned toasted marshmallow and I started drooling!!!! I bet I won't be allowed to ever eat marshmallows again but would LOVE to be able to add that to some Protein Drinks, etc.!!!! And Jack, since you mentioned it, now I want to know about the lime jello and bologna incident!!!! Thanks everyone!! I'm getting closer to being banded!!! Can't wait!!! kristi

Thanks to everyone who has posted comments about what they wish they had known before banding. It is very helpful to me to hear!!! I'm not going into my surgery blind, but some things I feel got "glossed over" in the learning process, either by lack of knowledge on my part, or miscommunication on the medical community's/ people that have had the bands' part (not LBT people, just people I know) ..... I feel better hearing from those that have been there, done that, and I am very grateful that so many people share not only their successes, but their struggles as well. I'm not looking forward to the "why did I do this to myself?" struggle or Bandster Hell, but I am looking forward to a new life and know that with LBT friends I can find comfort, suggestions, and a cheering section. Thanks peeps!!! Keep me on track!!!!

It almost sounds like a version of "Watergate Salad" that I love!!!!

54Shirley, The cottage cheese idea actually sounds good!!! Might have to try that this week!!! Let me know if you try it with yogurt too!! Your other recipe sounds yummy!!! Can I blend the cottage cheese first to make it smooth or should I just leave it clumpy? Thanks again!

Thanks Cindy C!!!!!

I emailed the patient representative at my surgeon's office and asked.... "Do I need to remove my nuva-ring and if so, will it be ok to use a tampon during surgery?" and she asked the doctor and replied,"It's ok to leave the nuva-ring in during surgery." Glad someone asked this question! Thanks!

YES, please share recipes for making salad dressing!!!! Thanks!

54Shirley, Thanks for that idea!! I bought some SF pudding mix last night so I will have to try that!! Do you have any other mix combinations that you like? So far I have vanilla, chocolate, and butterscotch.....I was going to try the butterscotch pudding mix in my vanilla Protein shake tomorrow morning. And the cottage cheese, pistachio pudding mix....that's just eaten with a spoon or do you add that to your shake? I've never tried cottage cheese (it's texture looks funny to me!) but I've heard it's a healthy addition to our new lifestyle....I just bought some last night to try it but have to work up the nerve first!!! LOL

Spoiltmom, Thanks for the advice!!! Would you please send me the info on getting the flavor drops?? That sounds interesting and a lot easier to allow me to make shakes at work!!! Thanks!!

Befree11....... My surgeon is Dr. Reilly. I met him already for pre-op and he seems really nice. My insurance doesn't cover, so I too am self-pay. You can apply for Care Credit financing, but TR doesn't offer 0% interest or no monthly payments, so keep that in mind....I was approved for the Care Credit (was told by TR office to apply just in case) and THEN found out they (TR) doesn't offer any special financing, so my mastercard will take the hit. Anyway, best of luck to you!!! Keep in touch!!! My date is June 20! kristi

I am going through True Results Houston. Dr. Reilly is my doctor, and my date is June 20. kristi

Thanks Vickyd. Yes, I have the reduced sugar version....I just figured if I can use that without any ill effects, I wouldn't have to order the SF syrup online.... trying to use what I already have before buying more stuff. thanks!

Hi! I love the strawberry flavor of the Carnation Instant Breakfast!!! I like to add that to my Protein powder (vanilla or unflavored) to make it taste more like a "real" strawberry milkshake. However, I've only been able to find the CIB assorted packets that have 2 strawberry packets and a variety of others (I like all the others too except for dark chocolate)....anyway, my stores don't sell just a container of the strawberry flavor (only milk chocolate).... SO my question is..... Can I add Nestle Quik strawberry powder or syrup to my vanilla or unflavored protein to make it more tasty? My stores don't carry the SF Torani syrups in strawberry, otherwise I'd just buy that. They don't even carry regular strawberry Torani syrup, but while I was perusing that aisle last night, right near the Torani syrups were the chocolate milk mixes, hot cocoa, etc. and that's what got me thinking about adding the strawberry Nestle Quik when I want a strawberry flavor. My daugther wouldn't drink plain white milk when she was a little younger but would happily guzzle it when we added the "magic" syrup (strawberry nestle quik) to make it into "princess milk"....(whatever works to avoid a power struggle with a 2-year-old!) I know the Nestle Quik has lots of sugar and probably calories, but I'm talking maybe using a teaspoon or so, just to perk up the flavor. Any ideas? Thanks!

CONGRATS!!!! Keep up the good work!!!

I am on the fence.....I've only told my husband (since I'm self-pay I had to make sure it was ok to use OUR money to pay for it!), my mom (suprisingly supportive), my dad and step-mom, my sister, and my small circle of "best" girlfriends, who are all extremely supportive. That really helps!! I've only told one person at work (my closest confidante) but I'm debating telling the other teachers that I work with, but not sure that I want the entire staff to know. (Some I don't know that well and not sure I want them knowing that personal tidbit; others I know will be supportive no matter what) I've invited my lunch bunch over Monday night to swim and will decide then if I tell them or not. Having surgery during the summer break so no one will see me until they come back in August. I'm also on facebook but I don't think I will broadcast it to that dimension....I may blog about it on my personal blog IF the situation warrants it (mylifeisonesonglyricafteranother.blogspot.com) but so far my short amount of blogging has dealt with family. If I do mention it on FB, it will more than likely be very vague posts that only people that know will understand, but then again, who knows? I may change my mind and totally go public on FB..... I haven't told my in-laws for various reasons...1) my mother-in-law is MA BELL...you tell her something and within 5 minutes, the ENTIRE country will know (I am NOT kidding!) #2) my sister-in-law had bypass 4 years ago and lost a lot of weight but has since gained most of it back due to poor eating and no exercise and I DO NOT want to be compared to her, knowing people on my husband's side will watch me like a hawk and make any of my failures public fodder. I cry just thinking about that....I just can't handle that pressure. All of my inlaws are morbidly obese people, including my husband.....I feel like telling them, I will be under the microscope.....I'd like to be the poster child for lap=band so that maybe that would convince hubby and the gang to have it too and be successful, but I haven't even had the surgery yet. The accountability thing, to me, is a double-edged sword...I can tell people and get positive feedback when I lose, OR get harped on when I struggle or don't live up to their (or my) expectations....I already suck at having self-confidence and don't need others pushing me lower into the pit of shame. It is a daily struggle for me to decide if I should tell anyone else. I know there is no right or wrong answer though. My hope is that I am successful and will want to shout it from the rooftops!! Anyone know how to get rid of the little devil sitting on my other shoulder telling me I won't be?? Highest 223.4, at pre-op 217, now 214, on pre-op diet now, surgery June 20, 2011. Ready to gnaw my arm off at a moment's notice. Trying to see the glass as half-full is a challenge for me. Ready to make a change, and be the change I want to see. Ready to be a new healthier me. kristi

I've heard a few people mention adding Protein powder to their food, yougurt, etc..... Does anyone do this,like during the mushies stage or even at any time? If you add Protein Powder to yogurt, does it make it taste better? I'm not a big fan of yogurt, but if adding the protein powder to it will make the yogurt taste better AND give me the protein I need then I can try it?? I know there will come a time that I won't be allowed or encouraged to drink Protein shakes, so I'm trying to find out now what people have done to use the protein powder.... Thanks! kristi

THANKS everyone for the ideas, recipes, and suggestions!!! I am very thankful for your input!!!

Glad to hear your surgery was a success Roziecakes!!! A very interesting read!!! Hope you continue to recover well!!

DaddyD, Thanks for the info!!! Would you mind sharing the recipe for those pancakes??? Sounds pretty good!! Reverie, Thanks for the tip!!! Do you put a whole scoop of the Protein powder (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, unflavored???) and mix it right into the yogurt? Does it have to sit a while before you can eat it? Does the greek yogurt taste anything like any of the regular yogurts? To me, regular yogurt tastes a little sour....I've heard many people say that Greek is better, but I haven't tasted it yet. Will have to put it on my grocery list!! Dang I've got lots of questions!!!! Thanks!