Maddysgram

Awesome! You go girl! Congrats!

Thanks again for another informative newsletter, Alex. I adore Love aka Diane,LoveTheNewMe & LadyDi. She has been a continued source of inspiration and support to me. Great choice for the spotlight!

I was told the same thing as Bayougirl, and like Chez, I said "yes sir". Its one of those things that go along with carbonation or no carbonation. Since I have to answer to my Dr, I will follow his rules.

You're only a failure if you quit. Its way to soon in your journey to quit. Dust yourself off and get back on the wagon. So you made a mistake, learn from it. Stay off the scale. If you're hungry, eat something full of Protein, I found drinking something hot helped a lot. My go to is Diet Hot chocolate, enjoying a cup right now. Its hard at first and its mind over matter. Right now, your mind does not matter. Tell it to shut up! Do you want to lose weight? If you want to, you will. You are not broken, we've all wanted to gnaw our arm off. One thing I kept telling myself is, I knew I had enough fat on my body to keep me going for weeks. Prisoners go on month long hunger strikes. I went on strike against my own head. You can do this and you will do this, b/c I know you really want it. Like Nike, just do it!

protein,protein,protein, water,water,water. Mt Dew, bad.lol I was addicted to The Dew pre banding. One suggestion, protein keeps you fuller longer. I'm expected to eat at least 60gr a day of protein, so I try to break it up so I get 15 gr per meal, breakfast,lunch & dinner and the rest in snacks. One sausage patty has only about 7gr., not enough, add an egg or high protein yogurt. Wishing you all the best! Today is a new day and you'll do great!

Bout time everyone caught up with us, we've known you are awesome from the get go. Some ppl are just slow.lol Congrats!

I'd weigh, log and journal everything you are consuming and take it to a nutritionist. Have you lost inches? Clothes getting loose?

I had to do a week of clear fluids and then full liquids for another week. If you are like me, the first week will not be a problem. The swelling kept me from drinking as much as I wanted. Like Carolinagirl said, sf popsicles, broth,water,I drank Diet Gatorade too. Its only a week, you can do it. Just drink all day long. Good Luck!

Amen, to the title of your thread! Sounds like you have an excellant attitude. You'll do great!

If you can'tkeep fluids down and you can't phone Dr, you need to go to the ER. Dehydration is a serious matter My Dr also makes me drink 1cup of wated right after each fill.

I agree with CarrieBrownsville, but if you have to snack, make it something full of Protein. Protein shake, Plain FF Greek Yogurt mixed with reduced fat Peanut Butter or PB2 and a little Splenda,yummy, Boiled egg, ff cottage cheese, String cheese etc. Are you eating high solid Proteins for Breakfast,lunch & dinner? Keeps you full longer. Maybe have a later dinner. You are not suppose to lay down with a fulk stomach, so wait 1hr after eating before going to bed. BTW, hate to burst your bubble, but it may take a few fills before reaching restriction. Best wishes

I didn't do the shakes pre op, but did diet for the 6mths before surgery, trying different Protein shakes along the way. Also ate by the bandsters rules, smaller bites, practice chewing everything down to mush, drinking my 64 oz of Water. Practice makes perfect.lol At least thats what they say. I only lost 20lbs, but was able to avoid the 2wk nothing but shakes diet before surgery. I do feel it helped to have all the sugar and bad carbs out of my system. While others were crying b/c they were" so hungry", I really had no real problems. Nothing like getting your body into the best shape possible, before surgery. Wishing you nothing but the best

Best wishes on YOUR weigh in! This whole journey is about us, no one else. They might benefit from it, like the grandkids, but uts about us feeling healthier. My 3mth weigh in is Thursday.

Missy answered your questions quite well, so I just came on to say, Welcome to the banded side. Stick around for great support, inspiration and knowledge regarding LBS. We're all friends here.

Pray it doesn't last long and becomes unstuck. If its a bad stuck, you might have to call dr for a slight unfill, or for a few days go back to Protein shakes and fluids until swelling goes down. Whatever you do, do not drink something to try and get it to move. My Dr told me that and I didn't listen. Bad mistake. My stuck episodes have only lasted 10-15mins, lots of spitting slime and a few PB(productive burp). Good luck

It is hard at first and to get through it, you have to crank up your WANTPOWER. I too, have a hub that can eat anything, but I decided I wanted to live and live well, way more than I wanted to eat junk. The post op diet doesn't last forever. When you're hungry, drink water, Diet Hot Chocolate, decaf tea and keep yourself so busy, you don't have any time to sit around and think of food. Clean closets, drawers, the yard, anything.... You need to tell yourself, "you are not going to die", " I can do anything I put my mind to". I never heard anyone say here, that it was easy. In the beginning we call it "bandsters hell", but it will get better and dropping size after size of clothing feels soooooo good. You can do it! Find your want! Best Wishes

That is an awesome NSV, congrats!

You've come to the right place for info, inspiration and support. I've only been banded since Oct 2012 and very pleased with my results so far. Most of us have been right where you are, fighting weight all our lives, trying so many diets. I yoyo dieted so much that I got to the point my metabolism came to a complete stop. What I've noticed with LBS is you never stop learning. I spent 7mths on this forum learning all I could, and I suggest you do the same. My lifestyle has changed by way of being able to do things I couldn't do before, not having any cravings and happy with eating what I want, but smaller portions. I still count calories. I don't exercise to much b/c of arthritis of my knee's and I love my band. Its not always easy, but it is doable. If I can do it, anyone can. So stick around and ask questions.

Ditto Alex, always enjoy your articles. You're always keeping it real.

I was thinking of you when I said it.lol

Above posters gave you great advice. Do something while they eat. Chew gum while preparing meals, keeps you from tasting. While they eat, enjoy the outside, go for a walk and meditate hiw good you're going to feel being thinner. We've all been there and done that, you can do it too.

You one smart dude. You're right, 30 to 24 is 3 sizes, womens sizes go by two. 30-28-26-24 etc.. OP, congrats! Don't it feel good and a great motivator.

BTW, there are no silly questions on LBT.com, unless its "I was just banded and drank a Coorslight, did I hurt myself?" So if you have a question, just ask.

I was one that had my port flip at 2mths out. My Dr said that there was nothing I did to cause it to flip. He said it was very rare for this to happen. So according to him, I think you will be fine. Check with your Dr before you go. Good Luck with your journey!

Dr. Stevens is my Dr too. I love him, but I hear he can be very hard on you, if you don't do as he says. I've never pushed him to that point.lol Best wishes to you!