MeredithMcFee

I love my FitBit! I only found out about it from being on this wonderful site. It keeps me real, I never journaled my food before lap band and I think the FitBit encourages me to do it as it offers so many features to help us lose weight. It's typically sold for $99.00 on Amazon, Fit Bit.com and Best Buy but I just looked at Amazon and they have them on sale for under $95.00 for a short time only. Although it's just a few dollars, it's a save. Many of us got on the bandwagon, if you will, around the same time after someone mentioning here and we all love it! Nicki823: That's great that you're getting ready before your surgery. All I could think about at that time was what foods, or shall I say liquids I should have on hand. Pollywog: Seeing your ticker tape, you obviously are doing something to keep the "sun" going down on your daisies. :-) Good luck!

Ironically, I'm 6 weeks out this Friday. My first fill is this Thursday which is my birthday. I contemplated rescheduling it for next week but decided to not to. I'm thinking of it as my gift to myself. I don't want to make any more excuses to go out for a birthday dinner and order one of my favorite meals, Mac&Cheese with Lobster before I'm restricted. I've made too many excuses in the past. Happy Birthday to you Shap

Do you have a Barnes & Nobles nearby or county library?. I go to B&N and take a table, bring my laptop or just read a book. You don't even have to buy anything at the coffee shop there. Bring water, a snack, etc. and bring a book or magazine and relax. We have a county library close by that also encourages people to come in, have a cup of tea or coffee, and relax on one of their comfy couches and chairs. Cell phones off, peace and quiet and come out regenerated.Same goes for movie theaters if it's during the day. Matinee's are pretty reasonable, I think. Of course, taking a walk in a nearby park, boardwalk, etc. Put on a pair of sneakers, Ipod, and take a nice walk in a nearby mall. Good luck.

Allison kudos to you for your weight loss and a great idea from you and other's here re: thrift shops while we go through this ever evolving transformation. Having said that, I think I have a "treasure trove" of clothes in all different sizes in the back of my closet, my attic, and who knows where else. :-) I might have to spend some time rummaging through and sizing them accordingly as I slowly melt down in sizes. I, too, have a goal set for spring to see a hair sylist/colorist for a new "do". Back to the thrift shop, I can't wait to drop off my larger sizes for someone who can use them and make room in my closet for my thinner clothes.

I thought the same thing when I originally quoted your post. Let's keep it going {down.down, down} and share our next few week accomplishments or as they say here, NSV's.

A friend of mine shared this with some friends and myself back in November as she has a hair loss problem. She was taking the 500mcg daily for some time. I decided to do it as I have thyroid issues and noticed my hair falling out {prior to surgery}. I went to the drug store and found Biotin 5000mcg and decided on buying that. Of course, the old mentalitiy, whether it be eating or anything, bigger is better. I've been using it up until the last two weeks or so as I've noticed my hair drying out. I'm not sure if it's from the biotin because my Dr switched me from one anti-depressant med to Cymbalta around the same time I started with Biotin. I'm actually doing a process of elimination to see if it's one or the other, or perhaps the two together. Who knows. But I will say, I did notice an improvement in my hair in thickness even after having the surgery in late January.

Same applies here. My husband is scheduled for mid March too. He's getting excited and making sure he does everything right for his pre-op liquid diet next week. I had mine 5 weeks ago and am so happy I did. Like you, and many of us who have had the surger,y had tried over and over on so many different diets over the years and finally said, "enough"! I am learning alot about my bad habits from the past and working on changing them day by day. The band is a tool, not a panacea or miracle. You have to work with it and it will work with and for you. Listen to your doctors & nutritionist as they are the professionals. Having said that, this is an awesome place to ask, find and get answers to many of your questions. Good luck to you and hope to see you on more oftne.

So happy to read this. I too was banded the same day you were. I very rarely wear my robe but I put it on the other day, and noticed the same thing as you Littlerlou. I wake up in the morning and the swelling in my stomach area has gone down as well as some inches, I presume. I know I have a ways to go, but so far, the little changes, as you say, add up to bigger ones if we stay on track and do what we're supposed to do. Getting on this site during preop, reading posts from people who were nearing their 6 week PO, I couldn't wait. Well, I'm here now and it'll only get better if I continue to do what I'm doing. I love the feeling and seeing a change in the new me.

Great topic here. I'm 5 weeks out PO and although I'm close to losing 20lbs, I can see it in my clothes big time since I'm working out at home. I don't like going to gyms either. I have a library of VHS tapes, yes, I said VHS tapes, as I've used them over the years and got lots of great workouts with them. Now I'm into the DVD's and love Leslie Sansone's Walk away the Pounds. I'm stuck at the 3 mile mark of her 5 mile DVD and hoping to move onto the 4th mile one of these days. I try to do it 3-4 times a week, alternating with the treadmill. I like the treadmill as I have a good playlist of music on my Ipod to keep me going but for some reason, Leslie seems to be winning hands down these past 2 weeks as she gets all aspects of your body in motion where the treadmill is limited. Thanks again Violet for reminding me that I had this particular tape, I mean DVD, as the original 4 mile one I was using wasn't cutting it.

Thank you all for your input and advice on this subject. When asking the question I was asking with my former mind, prior to lapband surgery. A snack, with all those calories, carbs? You all helped to bring me back to reality here. A protein bar would replace a meal, not a snack. :-) Thank your "readytogoforit" for reminding me about the amount of carbs we can eat. I'm 5 weeks out and still re-programming my mind to the outside world of WLS. When going out on errands and such, I make sure I have a protein drink in the car with me but now that I am a week away from being filled, I am looking for something more then just liquid to drink. Although the drink is my first choice, I don't want to be stuck out there in fastfood land without one or the other. Since the pre-op diet, I've noticed I've driven by many a fastfood eatery and never once felt a need to get into the drive-in line an I don't want to start now.

I'm now starting to look for protein bars to have on hand when I'm out and about. My DH brought home Pure Protein bars from Costco today. Calories are 180, total fat 4.5g, Carbs 17g, Protein 20g Is this ok?

I have 11 more pounds to go to make my 1st goal of losing 30 lbs. I am cutting up my Lane Bryant charge card and calling them to please take me off their mailing list! haha

Elizabeth, don't beat yourself up. You've been doing wonderful and still are. Remember, the first 5-6 weeks are for healing, albeit, we want to lose weight while we're doing it, but we are in bandster hell. There can be many reasons for this, one being the obvious, bandster hell, the other, being a woman and it being your "time of the month". I had a total hysterectomy when I was 36, but that didn't mean I lost my hunger for cravings at that time of the month. I call it my phantom period and I'm in it as we speak, but for some reason, I'm doing ok this month. Unfortunately, being that it's leap year, I have one more day hoping the cravings don't attack tonight at 10pm, my bewitching hour! :-) Be kind to your self, it's a journey we're on.

It may be short, but it is oh so sweet. Congratulations!

If you have a Trader Joe's near you, that's a good place to start. Like cocoabean mentioned refried beans. I add TJ's guacamole/hummus to it and some of their salsa. Just had it for dinner.

I just had a major scare re: my Fitbit. I thought I lost it this morning. Clipped it to my bra strap as usual and ran to the pharmacy and came home. Went to sync up info and realized it was gone! Back tracked my steps and even called the pharmacy to notify them if someone found it. In the big scheme of things in life, it's not the end of the world, however, "she" has become my new BFF and lifeline on this journey. I looked around again, and lo and behold it had fallen into my bra!!! Thank God. That'll teach me not to rush & be so careless when putting it on.

I've always found this to be true anytime I've lost weight over the years. The good thing I'm finding is since the surgery, I've yet to have one hot flash and I'm on hormone replacement!!! I'm happy about that. Also hoping this summer I'll see an improvement in my handling the hot weather. It's all good.

Kim, I'm short waisted so my port is right under my breast and right above my waist. What you're feeling is normal. It will be sore and or tender for a few weeks. I like sleeping on my sides too but couldn't for the first few day. I ended up plopping up a pillow on my left side to be able to sleep on that side but if I turned on the right, I felt the weight of the port pulling, or perhaps it was all the swelling from the surgical site. I didn't wear my bra the first few days either since I wasn't going anywhere which actually felt good not to wear one. Again, the swelling and tenderness, for me anyway, just took some time.

My sentiments exactly. All my doctor shared with me Pre-Op was the surgery itself. Nothing at all afterwards. I've had 2 PO visits and all he does is weigh me, check my incisions and listened to my heart. God forbid he asked how I was doing for fear I might tell him. haha I f/u with the nutritionist who is in house which helps to some degree but I have to say how lucky I am to have found this particular website as I have learned so much from all those who are here thinking of, or going through the lapband process. Someone recently wrote they were on some other WLS sites and found them to not be so friendly. I have yet to come across anyone on here who hasn't been friendly. We're all in the same boat, and appreciate help or suggestions one might give to make life easier on our journey.

Thank you so much for sharing this info with me. I'm hoping in a few weeks, I will start this. Working on doing 3 miles of powerwalking and running on treadmill and working up to 5 or 6 miles a day at some point.

Violet, you got me thinking this morning after reading your post here. I decided to work with the 5 mile DVD instead of the 4 mile one. The 5 mile one is a little more advanced and I got to finish 3 miles. Was hoping to do the 4 mile but decided, I'm older, I'm wiser and listen to my body. Give me some time, I'll do that and then onto the 5 mile finish. It was a great workout. Thanks for mentioning it.

Since this hot discussion started a few days back on this site, there is not a FitBit to be found. LOL

Nice to see someone else here does Walk Away the Pounds. I alternate days from the 4 mile video to treadmill and elliptical 3-4 times a week. It's a nice mix and change as well as incorporating different muscles doing her video. So far, I'm up to 3 miles but will probably finish 4 miles today. I also have her 5 mile video. For those who wonder how you can get a good workout from a walking video/DVD, like you said here, she does kick your butt! Time to get into my gym clothes and get walking!

What a great subject! Our love life had been suffering for some time due to me not feeling sexy. My husband came home at lunch as he has a half day today and suggested we have an "afternoon delight". I was shocked but said yes, and like Monique put it, "I too feel sexy losing close to 20lbs although I have a good 60lbs to go, my husband thinks so too! What a nice feeling it is. So if I feel like cheating on food down the road, I 'll have to remember today and how I feel.

Deb, it doesn't sound silly that you would like to look better, choose nicer clothes {costumes} etc. Aside from the benefits of being more healthy, enjoying life to its fullest, to look and feel good is just as much a great feeling. I think we're all doing great on here and I already have my Boston Proper catalog on my nightstand with the outfits I'm hoping to wear again.