Sharpie

I have a little cooler bag I bought at Academy...it has a styrofoam liner and canvas like on the outside...anyway it's lightweight and easy to carry.. If I know I can't stop and eat or will be somewhere where I can't get Wendy's chili or Chic Filet chicken tortilla Soup..(these are my fast food choices), I pack a few Protein bars (Quest), hard boiled egg, some tuna in the pouch, sometimes I pack yogurt (greek) a few veggies, carrotts, celery etc. or some wheat thins and cheese wedges.. in a real pinch pack a Protein shake.. muscle milk is good, GNC has Lean shakes that are good too.....I hope I helped you.

Another thing you can do with Quest Bars is pop them in the micro just a few seconds..it will soften them.. oh I am now loving the chocolate Chunk... they are better than candy or something unhealthy... I also found some Protein bars are funky tasting because they have sugar alcohol which really wrecks my system , but Quest does not have it... GNC has them on sale most of the time you get 4 for the price of 3... I have a gold card too which gives me discounts...They have a new white chocolate raspberry I haven't tried yet but I am sure I will get it soon...

I gotta ask my surgeon about this.. when I have had a fill he gives me cold water to drink ... I have not noticed any difference when I drink warm or hot drinks as opposed to cold ... I will put that one on my list of questions and report his response.. it's always good to know anything that could help ...

Almost 1 year.. on the 15th.. So happy I decided to have band surgery... Best decision I have ever made. down 55 lbs and hope to get to my goal in the next few months.. I feel wonderful, have tons of energy and my health has improved dramatically. I am having a great time with the new me.. signed up for Zumba classes starting Sunday... I have had no complications and have had 2 fills...

I get Quest bars from GNC. they are good Protein and low calories and less than 5 grms sugar... The best one is chocolate chip cookie dough.. but they have a variety of flavors.. I only use them for a quick snack if I am out and about.

Southern Cooking can be lightened up.. it takes some work though.. I go to emilybites.com and she has some pretty good recipes that she has reworked... however, when I make chicken and dumplings for husband and kids, I eat the chicken with some veggies and a small dumpling.. fried chicken I try not to do often.. if I do I eat a thigh without the skin.. Part of the beauty of the band is it tells me if I am eating too much.. so I can eat some of my Southern foods but not near as much as I used to.. I had some blackeyed peas, collard greens and a tiny piece of cornbread yesterday... it was very good and I was happy.

yes I think it's common.. I even started gambling years ago while on a Rx diet pill.. it made me crazy.. I still like to play poker but am in total control.. smoking is another past habit.. quit cold turkey and hate the smell of it... My husband still smokes even after having esophageal cancer (duh) but I can't control his health only my own... You can quit again you just have to be really strong..

oh yes .. we went to a Irish Pub in Pensacola last week.. they served a pumpernickel bread covered in butter and honey I think.. I really thought about eating some but I knew I would get stuck.. I had ordered salmon -and a salad.. I have been stuck on bread before.. it hurts.. so glad you were able to clear it B52..I seem to have more issues with scrambled eggs (real) than anything. don't know why.. I can eat eggbeaters okay.. people ask me what I can eat.. I tell them anything that my band likes...

Yes I am overweight not obese anymore... looking forward to being normal this year...Good feeling to be just "fat" and not obese..

Seeing my son in law for the first time in a year... He was onboard Ship for this past year in the Persian Gulf or somewhere over there... He was so surprised and told me several times how great I looked.. He is a triathlete, he runs all the time and for a 45 year old guy he's in great shape... He is also a Command Master Chief in the Navy.. We are very proud of him and him feeling proud of me is a big NSV.. He never said anything about my weight before but said he was worried about my health... Hope everyone has a great New Year and I am looking forward to a year of health and happiness..

yes I'm afraid we are being duped here.. nobody with an ounce of sense would think eating pizza and chocolate are part of the banded life... this is a waste of time...

I would trust Jean McMillan's opinions any day of the week... she has been there and done that.. There are many long term banders on here and some with complications.. I do not want anyone to be rude and negative about the band ... If you like the sleeve that is fine, but don't degrade and be negative to anyone who wishes to have lapband.. That is the very reason I almost left this site because too many sleeve patients were bashing the banders.. We all have our own issues and demons otherwise we wouldn't have had to go to drastic measures such as surgery to lose weight so as TMF says get off your high horse and trot on back to the sleeve forum...Thanks

Hey everyone.. I was banded Jan 15, 2013.. I have lost 55 lbs so far.. I have been stalled the past month.. but I am going to do the liver shrinking diet I did before surgery.. I lost 10 lbs in 2 weeks .. christmas cookies and candy have been kicking my butt .. I got up this morning with the resolve to get back to business.. I have been happy with my progress so far and don't want to get back into bad habits... Happy New Year to everyone...

Shelly like so many others have said, it was a decision I made to get healthier.. I did not want the dumping syndrome and malnutrition issues associated with the bypass or sleeve... The band was a easier surgery, in and out.. I had very little recuperation time.. it's not permenant so if something happens I can get it removed or replaced.. once your stomach is gone it's gone... I don't find the fills that big of a deal.. I enjoy seeing my surgeon and it keeps me motivated to check in with him .. I did have to realize that I would eat differently and have a slower loss but I have not regretted my decision at all... I hope you will do what is best for you and will be totally successful...

Very Nice... Keep up the good work...

Good Job.. Keep up the good work...

2013 was the year that I changed my life.... I was overweight, unhealthy and unhappy... I was slowly eating myself to death.. I made the decision to get the lapband and had my surgery last January... This year has been one of the best I've had in a long time.. My diabetes is under control.. no medication.no high cholesterol or high blood pressure.. arthritis in my knees is so much better.. I can walk easily through stores and parking lots... I am thankful for my Surgeon and his team who have helped me along the way.. I have another 15 lbs or so to lose to reach my goal and I am confident I will do it soon.. I am not miserable thinking about how much weight I will gain through the Holidays.. I am more active with my grandkids and that is priceless.. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a healthier New Year...

I saw this report on yahoo or somewhere the other day but forgot to get the link...It is indeed good news for us .. That is exactly why I chosse the band.. less complications, long term good health.. I no longer have diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.. Thanks to my band... Merriest of Christmas to all of my band friends.

You got this girl.. Have a wonderful Christmas and start the New Year with new resolve... You will be successful I am sure.

I love being able to shop til I drop.. buying regular size clothes,, actually petite sizes love keeping up with my grandkids crossing my legs shaving my legs easily wearing skinny jeans riding my horse no more diabetes no more high blood pressure no more high cholesterol

sharpie, nice pictures, congrats and Merry Christmas! Thanks Hope you have a wonderful Christmas..Had to go to 3 places to print photo's.. finally went to walmart and got them done.. they are framed and wrapped.. those kids should be happy...lol

My kids wanted pictures of us this Christmas.. probably been at least 25 years since I had any pictures done of me.. but we did it and I am so pleased that I look "normal"... gotta go today and get frames for them... Another NSV cause without my band I would not have had pictures taken...

Banded last January.. 55 lbs lost.. absolutely the best decision of my life... no issues whatsoever.. It works if you work with it.. love feeling good again and shopping for new clothes is a plus..

a year ago I was getting prepared for my surgery.. I had 2 weeks of pre-op diet to do.. I started right after Christmas... I was so ready .. My weight was at it's highest ever.. @ 5' 0 " tall I weighed 200 lbs.. I was steadily ruining my health.. My diabetes was out of control, My blood pressure was climbing daily and I could not walk, or do anything physical without pain in my back and knees. I lived in my recliner. Most days I ate myself into oblivion and slept in my chair.. I would walk back to my office (in my home) and do what I had to but that was my only exercise... Today, I have lost almost 60 lbs.. I am so happy about the Holidays this year.. I have shopped in every Mall and walmart in our area.. walking all day with my grandaughters who are 18, 14 and 8... This past week I went to San Antonio with my oldest grandaughter to see her boyfriend graduate from basic training @ Lackland AFB.. it was bitterly cold and we walked everywhere.. I could never have done that a year ago... The band works folks, if you work it... I have some more lbs to lose and I am staying on track but I am truly happy today after many years of being miserable... I wish everyone a very Happy and Healthy Christmas and New Year.. My New Year's resolution will be to keep doing what I am doing and add some more walking and encourage my family to get healthy....

okay this sounds crazy but I was wrapping presents today.. I use my dining room table so it's wide.. last year I had to sit down to wrap them and just move the chair around.. holy cow I was wrapping standing up and could actually lean across the table to cut the paper without my belly in the way ....I actually leaned all the way over the table and cut the paper evenly...I have not sat down once... This year will be totally different from the years before.. I used to be so tired from shopping and wrapping I could hardly make it through Christmas... I am so looking forward to Christmas this year.. shopping is done.. wrapping is getting done and I am not tired.. yahoo..