ElizabethAnne

What a great story! The fact that he was a challenging student last year, and he's now complimenting on your weight loss tells me you are the type of teacher who touches students' lives. Way to go on your weight loss as well!

I appreciate your encouraging post! It's wonderful that your post-op time is going smoothly. Best wishes for the remainder of your journey.

I "get" the popcorn craving. I've been wanting a bag of popcorn on and off since the weekend. I buy the natural kind from Walgreen's that has only 100 calories a bag. Normally I don't eat much popcorn, so a box generally lasts a long time. When I emptied the box a few weeks ago, I didn't bother to buy more since I knew I wouldn't be eating it in the future. Tonight, I walked extra miles to get my mind off of food, and the minute I stepped back in the house, I was craving popcorn yet again! I this craving to be very strange. Freshly baked Cookies or chocolate candy, yes, but popcorn?

I'm sorry it was a rough day. I was struggling yesterday, but today has been much better. I hope it's better for you, too.

I'm required to limit my calorie intake to no more than 1400 calories per day.

Yay for you!

I'm excited for you, Deb, and hope you get a positive answer soon! Though I understand why you were feeling discouraged, I've missed you and am glad you're back!

Welcome to the group, Sarah! Thanks for posting and for offering to share your experiences with us. I appreciate your encouraging words.

Thanks for posting this! I am eager to read it.

I have been struggling all day with wanting to eat more than I should. Reading the posts here on LBT does help me get through the toughest times, though. I hope it's been a good day for you!

Although my insurance has approved my surgery, I have these very same thoughts every single day, with one exception; I was originally interested in gastric bypass. I try to mentally work through these negative thoughts each time they enter my head, and fortunately, as my surgery nears, the thoughts are much easier to push aside because I know definitively this is what I want to do. I may not be successful with the band, but I am going to work my hardest to follow the rules. If I am not successful, it will not be the first time I have failed, and I will evaluate what went wrong and move on to Plan B. However, there are many individuals who have been successful with the band, and I am hopeful that I will be able to join their group, too. My surgeon says that band will work for me, and I trust he has the experience to make the best decision with the facts I have provided. Research shows the odds are in our favor. I'm confident we can do this, but I think it's only natural that we have doubts because of our past histories.

How exciting! You're doing a great job!

Great news---thanks for sharing!

Mine is the same way.

Thank you for all of the helpful information posted here. I can hardly wait to go shopping!

Hope you receive a fast approval!

Good for you! Best wishes!

You're right---we can do it! Today, when I was struggling with wanting to eat more than I should, I went walking. I still wanted to eat when I returned but at least I burned calories instead of consuming them.

I hope you get your date soon! I didn't have to do the EGD.

Your smoothie sounds delicious! I appreciate all the information you share with us.

Do you plan to add additional protein to yours?

Found these recipes posted on another LBT forum. I don't remember who posted it. Here are two recipes for protein jello. High protein jello using Isopure 1 small box Gelatin powder 1 cup Isopure 1. Stir 1 cup boiling water into gelatin in a medium bowl at least 2 minutes until completely dissolved. 2. Add 1 cup Isopure to dissolved gelatin water and mix well. 3. Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm. High protein jello using protein powder 1 small box gelatin powder 2 scoops protein powder 1. Stir 1 cup boiling water into gelatin in a medium bowl until completely dissolved. 2. Add 2 scoops protein powder to 1 cup cold water 3. Add protein water to gelatin water and mix well. Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm.

Today, is the first full day of my pre-op diet, and I've been incessantly hungry. I have been counting calories daily since January, so I'm really not doing anything differently today since I chose to count calories for my pre-op dieting method. I have tried to determine if my hunger is psychological but with my stomach growling at various times throughout the day, I've pretty much ruled that out. Maybe it's hormonal but I don't know. Is anyone else going through the same thing as they prepare for surgery? I went walking tonight, thinking that might help reduce my desire to eat, but it didn't. However, it did keep me out of the kitchen.

April 10

I am being banded in April, too, and can hardly wait. There's a group called Springers for people having surgery in March, April and May. I don't know how to send you an invitation to join, but if you are interested, click on "Groups" at the top of this page and look for the Springers group.