CaramelDiva1922

I drink protein shakes every morning for breakfast because I teach, and refuse to get up early in the morning to cook. I have been eating healty choice meals for lunch, unless I forget it, and then I have another protein shake for lunch, and usually fish for dinner. I walk, and have a membership to the gym although I haven't been going, and chase my 2 year old around in the sun. I find myself more active now that it is Spring, and I'm 36lbs lighter. I have been tracking my calories and usually eat about 1000-1100 a day. Before I was banded I was eating once a day, and exercising 2 hrs a day, 4 days a week and didn't lose this much weight. This makes me know that the band was the right choice for me.

Today I wore a Spring sleeveless sweater in a size 18/20. I haven't worn that size in over ten years.

Okay Okay I know tht I am posting way late for his thread, but I am expeciialy down. Have no problem posing for nude pics, done a little posing in college, personally of course. Anyhoo. I want to be in the pic too for June as my birthday is June 6th. What I was thinking was that we could have group photos ( I already know that this has been discussed) with people wearing what the month represents from where they are from, or to them. Like somebody from may can be wearing a ky derby hat from ky, or sitting on a horse, someone frm new york can have the staue of liberty crown, and torch etc. I WANT IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was just babded on 3/2/05. The liquid phase is a hard place to be for all of us at some point or other. The things is. It is really mental, you go by what you are used to eating, and what you are restricted to eating now, and you feel starved. But in all acutality you aren't. It's like have ing a friend come play at your house, she comes and snatcheds a your favorite doll out of your hands, and you fight to nsatch it back, and hold on to it too. The same with food. You want to hold to what you used to be able to eat, have , enjoy. This phase is part of the life change that you will have to make it. I am down 36lbd without a fill, and was told by my Doc to postpone it until next month, because the weight loss has bben so good without one. The band is not going to make you lose weight on it's own. You have to make a conscious effort to follow the rules, and be patient. This to shall pass, and before you know it, you'll be eating solids thinking I remember when I thought that the liquid stage would never end. My advice is to please be patient and follow the doctors rules.

Patty, Don't worry. I was banded on 3/2, and went to the Doctor on Monday excited about a fill as well, and was told the same thing. I have lost 36 lbs since then, and was told. "IF it aint broke don't fix it." I was encourages to wait until I had two weeks no weightloss to get a fill. He said when I got to that point he would tkae me the same day that I called him. I feel lucky to have a DR that listens and cares. I was like o.k. your the Doc. I am just amazed at this band, and at myself. My doctor is happy at my loss rate. I am really proud of myself. I can finally see the results really well, and am excited for more to come.

Anyone on here get banded in Louisville, Ky or surrounding area at Caritas? Looking for a nabd budy close to me.

I have been banded for 3 weeks now, nad have lost 26 lbs. My BF was concerned before the surgery that I may leave him. Which I couldn't fathom. We had a discussion and talked about our fears and concerns, and I understood him, and he understood me. I was really surprise to think that he thoguht that I would leave him, because he is a hunk. He's 6'2 and about 200lbs all muscle. He has like 6% body fat, and I was just so shocked that he thought that he would be left out in the cold. He always tell me that he loves me and he doesn't care about my weight, and I believe him. He is always the first to notice nsv's too. He'll say that he noticed that my fingers are smaller while we were walking and holding hand, and things like this. It really surprised that he notices things that I don't notice. I think that you should ,really discuss this with your bf, and get eveything out in the open. Communication is the key to any relationship fat skinny or anything otherwise.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I went to GNC yesterday, and got some 100% whey protein choclate caramel. Don't know about the taste yet, I have it on ice. I like mine real cold iI dirnk it better that way. No, my Sarc Doc didn't say take the band out. In fact he said that it was a good idea considering that I've gained all my weight from the years of steroids, nad haven't been able to take it off until now. He just said my labs were good, and that I just need to make sure that I have a high amount of protein in my diet, and that should eliminate the muscle breakdown. I also bought a protein bar yesterday that had 30 gms of protein in it, ate half of that for lunch instead of meal, and had the other half for breakfast on my way to work. Minus the 2 bites my 2 yrs old begged for. I can defintely tell the difference in the amount of protein intake. I am way less sore today almost to my normal self. So I think that this was the right choice. I ma also lucky that I have a good sarcoid doc that listens to what I have to say, and not just dump the steroids back on me.

I was banded on 3/2/04 and have lost 26 lbs so far. I think that I am, losing muscle instead of fat, I talked to my muscle disease Dr., and we discussed me having the band, and as I have a pre existing medical condition. I have sarcoidosis it affects my muscles, to where they break down, and the Protein from my muscles breaks down, and it turns my urine black like a cup of coffee. It is usually treated with a massive amount of steroids and a couple of weeks in the hospital. My dr. thinks that I may be losing muscle instead of fat, and that I really need to increase my protein intake. I have only been drinking slimfast shakes, and he thinks that is not enough. He told me that I need at least 50 gms of protein a day. I was not given a specific amount by my band dr, so i am assuming that he knows what he is talking about. I need some suggestions. Give me some advice on what to get/ where? taste is very important, because i know if it is nasty i will not use it, or want to spend my money on it. My labs aren't that high right now, even though the urine is dark, and i don't want to go on steroids because of band erosion, so we decided to see if this would work first? any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. thanks

I am sick with the flu. And I have been coughing alot. just wondering if this can make my band slip. I've heard that a lot of pbing can make it slip, but I'm not sure about coughing. I am 2 1/2 weeks post op, and doing quite well by my dr.s opinion.

Okay, I was banded on 3/2/05. At he pre-op vist I weighed 321lbs, day of banding 315lbs, and 3/9/05 was my 1st official week. I weighed in at 305. Is this right. Ten lbs in 1 wk. I am shocked. i wasn't expecting that. Everyone else says that they can see the wieghtloss in my appearance and attitude. I look in the mirror and still see the same thing before preband. I notice small differences. How long was it before you saw the difference?

Lisa, I know what you have to got through with packing the incision. I had to have it done when Ihad a c-section. It heals up pretty quickly, and you can see the amount of gauze used getting smaller, and smaller.

Hey everyone had my band surgery today, and am now back at home tonight. I must say that I feel pretty good. Besides the gas, and burping. I have no complaints. I walked briskly out of the hospital. I was ready to go home. I said "Wheelchair, unh unh. I'll be to my car by the time you get one, I'm outta here." I think my recovery will be quick, I am so excited. Can't wait to start seing some results.

I had my band surgery yesterday, and feel great. I gave awa y my whole entire closet. I am currently a size 24, and once i started going through my closet almost everything that I owned was in the 30's, so when i started tossing, tossing, and tossing. When I got done all I had left were 24's that I can wear now, and some elasricized pants, everything else went to my best friend who will also be banded hopefully soon. My other best friedn just gave me a entire wardrobe of 18's, and 16's. So, I'm eager to get into those. Bye bye superplus hello regular. I am eager to have to buy a new wardrobe, for the firdt time ever I won't have to pass up all the skinny stores that don't have my size to run to lanybryant or the avenue. I can pass them up to get to the skinny stores.

I Have My Band Surgery Tomorrow. The Question That I Have Is How Much Weight Did You Have To Lose Before You Saw A Change In Clothes Size. My Best Friend Has Just Given Me A Lot Of Clothes That Are Size 18. I Am In A 24 Now, As Long As It's Stretch. My Goal Is To Be Wearing All Those Capris, And Skirts This Summer. Is This A Realistic Goal, Or What. Tia For Any Advice

Well it's here !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My surgery is schedueled for tomorrow. I'm so excited. Everyone at works keeps asking if I'm nervous. I reply no EXCITED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait

I texted my vote in, and I voted for the black boy who sang #08, and BO. I am not into rock at all, but I think Bo does everything right. I liked the song choice, his appearance, and his enthusiasm

I just ad my preop labs, and was told to start a liquid diet 7 days before my surgery. To shrink the live(something I was aware of from the post on here). This liquis things is going to be really hard for me as I am a meat & potatoes type of gal. I wanted to know if you had any suggestions recipes that helped you get through this stage before, and after surgery. TIA

Did all the women who are married, or have boyfriends have to do a lot of reassuring to their husbands/boyfriends about the surgery. My boyfriend is unsure about me having the surgery. I'm sure that part of his concern is for the riskability factor, but one of the first questions he asked was. "Are you going to want to go out to clubs, and be out on the town alot? I think he's jealous thinking about all the attention that I will receive once I start dropping of the PHAT. Everything that I told him about the surgery I don't think that he really received fully. I felt like I was given a LapBand presentation. So, what I did was write him a letter explaining to him about all the things that I have dealt with while being over weight. What his response is I am eager to see. I don't think that he will leave me or anything, I am just asking of ways to reassure him that this is a good choice, and the best choice for me in my life. Did you coupled women have the same problem? What did you do?

I just went to my intial visit, and was told that my insurance request would be sent in, so now I am just waiting to see what happens next. If anyone out has had the band done with Unisted Healthcare. Please give me some insight on how long it took you to get approved?

I got my surgery date. Labs on 2/18, Dr. visit on 2/21, and surgery on 3/2. WOW!!!!!!!! I never thought that it would happen this fast. I'm excited.

I got my approval letter today in the mail. I thought that it would take longer. Whooo hooooooo. For all the United Healthcare insurance people there is hope.

I GOT MY APPROVAL LETTER TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought that it would take until like March, and lucky me, my letter was in the mail today. I haven't contacted Dr.'s office yet, ofter office hours when I got the letter or otherwise I would have. I am very excited