donna450

That's alright ....got it. Now we can figure out how we want to exercise and record food intake. It'll be fun.

Barbee that would be great. It's always nice to have someone who helps keep you on track. How do you want to begin?

Oh you asked how old I am...will soon be 64. Hope this next year I can get back into size 6 or 8 or less if I can lose that last 50 lbs. See ya!

Forgot to mention I have most of the symptoms you have. I have to drink a hot drink to help my throat become less restrictive. I take about 30 pills in a day and getting them down isn't easy sometimes. I'm going to start drinking something hot so maybe they'll go down easier. I'm not real good at doing my exercise but I try to talk myself into it. I see the doctor next week maybe a small fill will help. I have diabetes, low thyroid, fibromylgia, bipolar dis order and other chronic problems even though right now I'm at a standstill I wiuld do this again. It has kept me from over eating and that was my problem along with meds and medical issues. I have a scedule for exercise and try to stick to it but if we're out somedays I just want to crash when getting home. Well I've taken up enough of your time. Good luck hope to hear from you soon...Donna

Hi again I try to cook a bunch then freeze the leftovers. I freeze bananas peeled and bag them and stick in freezer so I can have frozen strawberries and banana in a smoothie with Protein pdr. I use Water to fill mu magic bullet glass a little under half with a handfull of strawberries ans either a half or whole banana and whirl it. I usually have to add more water to thin it down. But it's great...cold smooth and does the job for something sweet. I make the meat sauce and potato soup, french toast, chili, veg beef soup, beef stew, almost anything can be frozen. If you want I can send you some receipes and freezer ideas thru email or mail them to you. But I cook most anything and just eat a cup or so of it then after everyone eats I put the leftovers in the freezer and mark how long or when to use by on it. I eat tilapia fried in olive oil usually if thick I put foil over it and cook 4-5 minutes each side if thick less time if not. I have a salad with it cut in very small pieces add whatever and use ranch dressing I make myself. I don't know the refrig. life but next time I make it I'll make only half a receipe. Don't know if it can be frozen but probably can. It's made with plain greek yogurt milk and spices. My email address is donna@cusave.com Don't hesitate to use it. I'll be happy to share. Us banders have to stick together. Take care and hope to hear from you.

Barbee here's what I usually eat. I eat alot of foods that I maybe shouldn't but they taste so good. I usally try not to eat them but sometimes they creep in. B-i have started to make a very large breakfast and divide into 7 days in containers put in freezer then I heat it up in microwave. I either take a pkg of sausage turkey lowfat etc. Or turkey bacon. I use all of each. I brown the ssusage until crumbly. I use a handful of frozen red, yellow, orange peppers that I have bought in bulk and clean them and slice them put in freezer after frezing them on a cookie sheet so they don't stick. Next I use olive oil to fry the peppers and lg diced onion. Then I take 5 eggs w/ yolk and 5 whites add a little skim milk fry those up. Take each bowl and add several spoonfuls in 7 containers. Cool then stick in freezer. I drink a cup of hot tea b/c my throat is tight after that I can eat my breakdast fine. Btw if using turkey bacon instead of sausage I cut the whole pkg into small pieces and fry them until slmost crispy. L- Cottage cheese 1/2 c. To 3/4 c. With half a cup of crushed pineapple with some peanuts D-usually a casserole and noodle mixed in cream soup with cheese. I use crockpot to make up chili, meat sauce, veg beef soup usually have a full cup maybe a little more. Iwas banded august 2013 and havent been filled yet and take close to 30 pills a day. It's hard to get them all down divided into 4x a day. I've lost only 25 lbs. I go 2-3 lbs up and down. But with fill I might make some progress. I don't know if I get enough Protein but think I do. Right now eating more than suppose to. I hope you can find foods you can eat. Just go on facebook and get receipes friend Karen White who sells skinny Fiber which shouldn't be good for us we need food to fill up on. Or go to receipe sites. Good luck.

I'm failing. Gained a few lbs. Exercise eod and eating too much. I need a fill...haven't had one yet. But I feel so depressed and like a bump on a log. I'm bipolar and it's hard getting out of a deoressive mood. I see dr next week so maybe if he gives me a fill ill start lising and feel better. I am well aware I have to exercise just have to really talk myself into it but my butt stays in the couch. I sometimes wish I could afford gym fees. But social security is tight. Maybe tomorrow later

I am swinging from 2-3 lbs up and down. I know I need a fill...see my dr next week. I haven't had a fill yet. I take quite alot of medication...up to almost 30 pills a day. I have to find a way to take pills if I get a fill b/c this morning got alot of pain in chest and a severe headache pbing saliva. I feel so sick. I ate breakfast this am and drank a hot cup of green tea first then ate good. How can I get over this and not be scared to get a fill b/c I might not get my pills down? Any suggestions?

by Christy have you found anither doctor? It can be very frustrating. I hope you find someone soon.

Hi I'm Donna. Live in Hudson Fl. About 45 min north of Tampa. My band dr is in Zephyrhills. I don't know how far that is for you. But if not too bad as in miles...his name is Dr. Grossbard at Florida Surgical Weightloss Centers. This His number is....813-877-6000. He's been banded himself and knows alot about the ins and outs. I got banded 8-23-13. So far only 25lbs but no fill yet. I'm fighting exercise but do what I can...I am 63 and have alot of chronic problems. I walk outside on treadmill and stationary bike. But will be starting my strength ex. With bands. I need to focus too. I'm trying to stay away from frozen yogurt my downfall....it's like icecream but low cal. Anyhow give dr a call and see if he will or knows of one closer to your area. Good luck. Would love to stay in contact too.

I have to agree with some of you doing so much...I say that b/c I'm not doing a whole lot. I have to see my bone dr to take xrays of my rt hip. I believe from all the symptoms that I might have bone knashing. I might not need an operation but try the shots. Will have to wait and see. Doing a little bike and treadmill right now.

Thx for advice...I also have a problem of pbing. I can't seem to eat like 2-3 bites of whatever it comes up then most of the time the rest will go down. But this happens more than 2x a day almost everyday. I'm thinking I may need a cup of hot tea about 15 min before eating anything. Any ideas? I do eat small bites and chew carefully. I speak to the doctor in a week or so.

I'm 63 got banded 8-13. I was 210 lbs. Now I have lost 25 lbs. I haven't had a fill yet I think I need a small one. I have many chronic diseases and chronic conditions. I take 22 pills a day but was on 33 before banded. I exercise as much as I can do but working toward doing them longer at the 1st of each month. I need to get more protein in and veggies eating too much of sliders. But I'm cooking more so I am making progress.

Hi girl......I have made the same committment....I am exercising to the best of my ability right now. So hopefully in Feb. I can add some extra time to my routine at the beginning of each month and get to an hour to each one...only two now but I'm hopeful. Take care.

I've recommitted beginning the 1st. Doing 15 min treadmill 15 min stationary bike and will be working with my band and to my wii just dance 4. Grandaughter 14 loves to do the dancing so we do it about 3x a week until my knes give out. I'm using the jawbone wrist band to track movement. We'll see if it works. Good luck to all.

Ditto! New year new me as the year progresses...thx to all for info, help, and motivation. The best to all of you.

It feels really good to be yourself and know you're doing what's best for you. The game was maybe important but so are you in many more ways. I believe you made the right decision. If it were me I wouldn't have gone but if I had all I would do is worry about staying on plan...waiting and watching everyone to see if they're judging me. Not too self absorbed. Lol But in the long run no matter what happened I would've been miserable because I'm not at that stage where I feel comfortable with myself let alone other people.. you did good!

"Ditto" to almost everthing said here . Mine is a little different in that I spent many years in a mental institution for depression, cutting, completely unbalanced for being molested between 2 thru 14. It was physical and emotional abuse and family members doing the molesting but I put on weight conciously so I wouldn't be attractive to anyone. Then after 20 years of hospitals and doctors got diagnosed with bipolar disorder rapid cycling. I didn't care what I looked like I was in a very deep abyss. Me nothing...my family....well...they were there but I wasn't mostly mindfully but alot of hospitalizations. After the diagnosis a few years down the line I couldn't get over my depression it was severe. I had shock treatments over 25 in under a 2 year span. I began to make progress I was on many pills. I woke up to an obese person I didn't recognize and didn't want. I had a family that was still with me that I did want. So along with getting mentally healthy I tried many times to do the same with my weight but by that time I was in a habit of eating whatever and that is hard to break. I've reached nice goals and I started liking myself a little better but then would gain the weight back. Thus the band...health reasons first but weight loss and hopefully no regain second. So that is where I'm at. I have 50 lbs to go til goal and I'm looking forward to it like a beacon in the night....but it turns into daytime and I seem to lose my way. So slow and steady and readjusting my thinking and motivation and trying to do this with weight gaining pills, diabetes, low thyroid and a host of other problems...like depression and self loathing. It all keeps coming back at the wrong times or should I say just too damned often. My journey is no different than any of yours we all ended up about the same place but by different paths. I'm doing better mentally inbetween bouts but I know I look terrible but will feel better when reaching goal and with the band help keep myself at that weight and not regain ( hopefully ). Thx for letting me tell my story.

This has been going on for awhile "bitchin" there's no real advice just a sounding board for those who are unhappy with any newbies and their stupidity. Now where I am in my banding I still have questions but not from here. This is a war zone. And everyone seems to be war weary but still complain about the same old thing. I do come for any new advice skip over what I've learned already but I do take everything with the concept will it work for me. But no banding advice is coming from this forum.....just complaints about complaints! How does that help anyone? Yes vent but move on. And thats what I'm doing.

I'm willing...don't or hardly ever exercise but getting the motivation to start first of year. I too have 50lbs to go. I've been banded since 8-23 and have lost about 25lbs. But the last month or so go up 2 then go down to so basically staying the same. I've not had a fill yet dr says I'm doing good but I've been getting pretty hungry inbetween and I taje about 22 pills a day and very concerned that with a fill I won't get my meds down. But willing to try. Are there going to be any rules? Or just post what we've accomplished? Count me in and let me know. Thanks. Donna.

Since the holidays are basically over I have made a resolution to get myself to exercise. I just need to start. I take 22 pills a day and concerned about a fill that I might not get them down. I am hungry inbetween meals still pbing so have to address that.. I di need to go over and commit again. I'm not gaing but not really losing. Today I made atkins like breakfasts and put them in the freezer. lunch is hard but usually try to eat greek yogurt or cottage cheese and fruit. dinner lean gr bef, tilapia fried w olive oil. I can only it it if its very most although the crispy outside makes it appealing. I've tried baked tilapia and salmon but both times at a restaurant I had to send them back.. I try to stay away from protein smoothies but sometimes food just won't go down no matter what I do. But it's seldom. I will continue to stop snacking (once-in-awhile) and very little. But I do need to talk to my dr about getting a small fill. I see him 1st part of Jan. We'll see if he will. Thanks for listening and responding.

What was your normal self before the band? All I can say is what I went thru. I was eager to have the band. I had doubts with each new pain or difference that wasn't what I was use to. I had gas pain 2 weeks; I took 33 pills a day and spent a fortune getting it in liquid, dissolvable, etc. That lasted the first month couldn't continue paying that much each month so had to learn how to take my pills(required) and learning how and what I could eat drinking enough getting enough protein. It's a process...just like gaining weight was a process. Sure it's scary...but it does get better. I look back 4 months ago and I was going thru what questions and worries...but I sought help and info. Taking what I needed and tucking other advice away in case I needed it. I downloaded receipes to help me keep on track. I don't want to be my normal self...I want to do and feel better than before. I had my doubts but kept my perspective. I'm happy that I had it done..would do it again. There are times I can't eat because I eat too fast or didn't chew good enough but overcame that. And have come to terms that if I don't follow the rules I pay the price. I've lost 25lbs. I have no fill...dr says I'm doing very good, losing slowly and no fill yet if ever. I eat anything I want just have to chew good eat slowly. There are some things I can't eat but you will find that out by trial and error. I feel great. I don't get hungry between meals. I do eat low cal snacks once inawhile. Attitude is a big hill to get over if its negative. You may have it relatively easy or it may take awhile. But it took awhile to put the weight on..remember the band helps you have to do the rest of the work. You'll get over your fear and doubts in time as you learn..this site has many vets and middle banders and beginners but you have to do the research and take what fits you and your lifestyle. You'll never be normal...you'll be better. Good luck and remind yourself that this does work if you work with it.

Whereabout in N.P.R? The gas pain is usually usual. They say walking helps alot taking gasx helps. So far so good. Do u like dr. Grossbard? If any pain gets to be too much be sure to call dr. Or talk with Barbara, I think. Talk to you later...sounds like your off to a good start. Donna

Oh btw I do live in Tampa or Hudson just an hour north and I go to Florida Surgical Weightloss clinic in Zephryhills I see Dr Grossbard...he's banded himself.

Iwas banded 8-23-13. I had an easy surgery hard time getting approved b/c I take 22 pills a day...used to be 33. I've lost 25 lbs. I've not had a fill yet. Dr says I'm doing real well. Slow and sure. But I take psychiatric drugs that are weight gain...have diabetes...and low thyroid. You would think I'm a failure before I began...but I would do it again. I've learned some things others take awhile. If you don't have my sort of problems...and you follow the plan...you'll probably lose weight fairly fast. Mine is going to be slow...but I did it for health reasons first weight reduction second. I have 50 lbs to go to meet my goal so I'm happy the way I'm going. If you have questions I can try to answer but going to general lapband support groups then lapband support groups alot of vets are on there and many are willing to help. I go there with my problems and they are very supportive. But always consult your lapband doctor. Good luck.