Sharpie

If you have a GNC around you you can buy them 1 at a time.. I usually buy 3 and get 1 free. sometimes I get a case when they are on sale. The chocolate chip cookie dough, chocolate chunk and oreo are my favorites. I only use them for a quick meal if I am traveling or going somewhere where I can't eat good .

okay, Best of Luck on your surgery and I hope to see you next month.

HI Blondie, I received a notice from the Bariatric Center yesterday about this. They also have a support meeting on the 16th. at the Bariatric Center @ 6 PM. The Lake City group will not meet in February .

no bath until incisions are healed.. I could shower if I did not let the water run directly on my incisions. I think it took about 4-6 weeks .

I used to love Chinese food. Since being banded I cannot tolerate it. I cannot eat rice at all . Every time I have tried I get stuck. I can pick around the veg's and meat but like you said it's very high in sodium and I just don't need it. I really have learned to listen to my body and try not to eat things that are not good for me. It amazes me some days what I really don't want to eat anymore. I used to love pizza too but I ate one small piece on Sunday, Super Bowl and it was okay but I can live without it .

I have had problems with iceberg lettuce , I can tolerate a little romaine. I rarely eat salad only if I got out to eat where the options are limited for healthy eating. grilled chicken ceaser is okay . digesting it I think is the problem.

me too liz, I had liquids and protein bars before surgery for 2 weeks. But I lost 10 lbs. didn't think I would ever get to eat again either but guess what I can eat just not as much and I make better choices.

I love B52's response.. When I am wearing my skinny jeans to my doctor's office and they tell me all of my tests are perfect, I guess I shouldn't care either. I'm concerned that statements like the Doctor made on TV will discourage people who otherwise might consider getting weight loss surgery.

I think some people have changes in their taste. I no longer care about pizza or Pasta dishes and I cannot eat rice . I have developed a taste for hot and spicy where before I never ate it. I still love some bad stuff like Ice Cream and anything with sugar.. sugar is my "crack". I try my best to stay away from it. Don't know if I will ever lose my love of sugar and ice cream.

honey take it from an old married woman of 39 years. This guy needs to grow up. You should not be paying all the bills, this should be a joint effort. The weight loss thing is a minor problem. You cannot be responsible for his success or failure with his weight. The more you nag him about going to the gym and eating right the more resistant he will become. He is not ready to be responsible for himself in many ways. My ex husband was the same guy, I tried to 6 years to help him grow up but finally gave up. I re-married the most wonderful man in the world who helped me raise my daughter and supported me in everything I did 110%. He and I discussed the weight loss surgery and he said if it will be healthier for you I want you to have it. Since then he never mentions what I eat or what I do. It goes both ways, he was a smoker for many years although he had cancer and heart disease he refused to quit, no amount of my asking him to made a difference. He finally had a Dr. who prescribed Chantix and he quit but it had nothing to do with my nagging. You take care of your health first and foremost because if he doesn't love you enough to step up and be a man now he never will. You deserve way better. Best of Luck Sweetie.

I posted and response was so mean. people called me lazy and too dumb to be able to stay on a diet . It is really sad but, I get the last laugh . Ultimately those people normally re-gain all and then some of their weight. I've seen it over and over and I myself have lost hundreds of pounds in my past. so, even though we all know weight loss surgery is serious business and a drastic step to take to lose weight most people who hear people like Dr. Putz on tv believe him.

I will definitely lodge my complaint to them. I was appalled at his comment. I hope the weight loss surgery community let's them have it. While I am at it I might tell them what a fake show I think they have and how they are trying to psychoanalyze these people without the benefit of qualifications.

yes that is what he said.. I was so mad when I heard that.. the nerve of that pompous ass. If he was so damn smart why are most of these people re-gaining their weight after losing so much? The other thing that bothers me about this show is how these personal trainers all have psychology degrees? they constantly are counseling and the contestents are crying throughout the show. It's so fake. Obviously obesity has many causes and these people are not trained to analyze the people psychologically. I never liked the bullying and the whole game show atmosphere.

anyone watch the biggest loser finale last night? the man who won lost like 175 lbs I don't know in what time frame. anyhow, the Doctor who is on the staff made a statement that they all did it the right way and didn't take the easy way of weight loss surgery or dangerous way can't remember but it was a rude thing to say. I think the fact that 90% of them will regain their weight says that they don't have all the answers . He obviously is making big bucks on that show so he would deter anyone from having surgery . Just made me mad. Obesity is a huge health problem, it doesn't matter how you lose as long as you lose .

I had forgotten that I watched big women big love..yes Jessica is a nasty piece of work. that other gal Kristi is heading down a bad road. She sleeps with the guy she just met . Maybe I'm old fashioned but with a little girl to raise she needs to be more careful who she drags into her house. I like Mar and Jenn (quirky) and the other girl Savanna? they are nice gals .

We have so many wonderful people on this site. We should do a honest show on weight loss surgery. Show the before and afters and the successes and struggles. I would tune in every day. Some of the characters we have right here could be the stars. We have many long term band patients on my forum that could show the "real" side of band life. I think 600 lb life tries to do that and follows the patients for several years but they are drastic cases.

I want to see that too. I have a good friend who has lost and gained at least 100 lbs in the past few years. She did it with HCG.. Now her metabolism is so messed up she can't do anything but gain even if she looks at a cracker. I know I had lost about 50 lbs on HCG but I felt like hell. No energy, skin and hair looked terrible. yep the lapband was fairly easy as far as surgery goes and the recup time was quick but afterwards when you have to learn to eat all over again it becomes a challenge. I am still learning. This morning I made low fat corned beef hash with 1 egg on top. I could not finish it and I'm getting better at recognizing my signal. The people on the Biggest Loser work so hard at losing and they are badgered and beaten down in the process . I give them credit for making it through that torture. I would not do well in that atmosphere. I feel sorry for them if they re-gain. Some of them even had previous weight loss surgeries and still re-gained after their big loss. I think you have to be constantly on guard to avoid falling back into old habit. Been there and done that.

Bobby you are correct in your statement. The misconception that surgery is the easy way out for obesity is worldwide. I noticed that even some in my family have discounted my success because they assume it has been easy. I too had been on every weight loss program and gimmick on the market. if I had all the money I have spent on those things I would be extremely wealthy. In reference to the Big Fat Happy girl , Whitney, she knows she is obese and has tried to accept it but is actually trying to lose weight. I give her credit for dancing and trying to keep moving. I am not sure what her diet is like they do not show her eating so I wouldn't judge her. I do believe there are medical issues that cause weight gain. I went through menopause and hormone therapy in my late 40's and put on about 50 lbs in the process. But I still believe that limiting your intake and choosing healthier foods will get you where you need to be. this is the first time since I started trying to lose weight that I have been able to maintain . I am happy that I made the right decision for me. My health has improved drastically and I am enjoying life much more. We would all like that "pill" but I know from experience with pills that they don't work long term and do damage to your health.

my husband was a smoker for 65 years , he absolutely loved smoking. Even after esophageal cancer he refused to quit. Then he needed knee replacement surgery and his ortho doc told him he would not operate on him if he smoked because the healing is hindered. he suggested Chantix and wrote him a script. My husband was reluctant because of the commercials talking about the side affects such as suicidal thoughts, depression, etc. I told him he would be real depressed if he couldn't get his knee fixed . He got Chantix , he quit in one week. It was miraculous. I have never known him not to smoke and I hated the smell, the constant cough and smelly clothes . so, don't know how bad you want to quit but this seems to work. several months after his knee surgery he had to have open heart surgery and I know that if he continued to smoke he wouldn't have survived . Ask your Doctor about Chantix.

okay I am officially addicted to my 600 lb life show. I watched the where are they show last night. both people have had remarkable losses. Chuck had gastric bypass I think, he has lost from 600 to 248 I think. His wife left him during the process and he was devastated but he regained his focus and actually met someone else. I was inspired by his story and there are others who lose massive amounts of weight and undergo huge skin removal surgeries. So, I am determined to lose my little 13 lbs in the next few months . I have been bummed because after 2 years I'm still not where I want to be and I think my apron tummy is ugly but after seeing how much these people have to go through and the determination it takes for them to even get mobile I am embarrassed to complain about my little problem. I think it shows that even the most obese people can be successful in changing their lives if they want it bad enough.

you can do it. You don't have to be perfect. Try your best and get to your surgery date. I know I was scared too. You will be able to eat things you like again, just not as much. pizza will probably not appeal to you . I don't like many of the foods I used to eat . The alternative for me was gaining more weight, becoming unhealthier and being miserable. It is a gamble but if you lose your health you have lost everything. Climb over your fear and hunger and focus on how great you will feel getting the burden of weight off of you.

oh Steve that is a true statement. I find sometimes successful weight loss brings out all the "experts". I tell people who ask me questions about dieting that if I were such a great dieter I wouldn't have needed surgery. I only know what my doctor tells me. But, sometimes I catch myself looking at a obese person and thinking wow they should do something about that weight. I think it's human nature an part of the process is that we sometimes think we have found the answer. In reality we all have had the same struggle and I have the fear that I will fail every day. I guess that is why I read posts on here and watch all the obesity shows on t.v I have recommended lapband surgery to several people who have asked but I don't offer advice without them asking.

wonderful nsv. I also had a hump neck for years. It would get so bad that my neck ached all the time. I am so happy for you to get rid of that. Mine started shrinking after a few months as well. keep up the good work.

welcome to the banded world. your pre-op diet is extremely important because I am sure as your doctor explained, your liver needs to shrink. I know it was difficult for me too, what you are experiencing is like withdrawal. It will get better after a few days. I had to do shakes or Protein bars 4 x a day then 1 light meal in the evenings. it was about 1000 calories or so. My surgery was several years ago and I believe it was the best thing I have ever done for myself. My diabetes is under control (no medication) no more high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It was a life saving surgery for me. Not to mention the mobility I have gained. I cannot tell you it was easy because it still requires control and focus. My ability to eat small amounts and stay away from junk food is helped by the presence of the band. It still will be up to you to follow your doctors instructions and call him if you have any problems. I have not had any complications and I am one happy woman. I was 66 when I had my surgery and I'm getting younger every day. Bless you and keep us up to date on your progress. We are here to help you.

the pain from lapband surgery is minimal. use a heating pad on your shoulder pain from trapped gas. stay hydrated. I only took Tylenol and walk around as much as possible. You will feel fine in a week just don't overdo it. Best of Luck and congratulations.