piercedqt78

I am not at goal yet, that is Babs. I still get really full pretty fast and stay that way for hours. I had popcorn shrimp for lunch and I won't eat another full meal today. Maybe a piece of cheese and a slice or two of turkey lunch meat. ~Mandy

I love the sugar free fudge ones, but my favorite was the cream filled ones, they came in a variety pack of cherry, orange and grape with no cream center. They were by popsicle brand I think, but I'm not 100% on that. They also make a great fudge bar, and really good low sugar lemon ice. ~Mandy

In OZ can you get just soup or just a side dish? That is what I do, I will order a soup and a side of say veggies, or a soup and 1/2 sandwich and just eat the insides, I usually tell them I am doing low carb and they can leave the bread off, no sense in wasting it or tempting myself to try and eat it. I also have ordered and split the meal with someone else, usually my daughter. Can you split an adult portion with kids? That way you are getting something you want and the kids are eating healthier foods too. ~Mandy

I am only 20 or so pounds from goal. I was banded almost 20 months ago and have lost almost 70 pounds. I wasn't able to sleep on my side for about 10 days, and then I returned to normal sleep and activity. I think that everyone is correct, the closer people get to goal the more time they spend living life and less time hanging out on the WLS boards. The VG band is the VanGuard band, it is just a larger bnad made by Inamed. Feel free to ask and questions you may have and the people here are great about answering, or PM me and I will do my best to help. ~Mandy

I'm guessing you can have eggs too. ~Mandy

I am reading that you are allowed lean meat like skinless chicken and 95% lean beef, low fat/fat free yogurt, cheese, milk. Sounds like a fair pre-op diet to me. I had to do 10 days of liquids. Drink plenty of fluids and enjoy solids while you can. ~Mandy

these bands never cease to amaze me. I can eat cake with no problems, but 3 or 4 bites of bread and I am very uncomfortable. Strange how everyone reacts differently huh? ~Mandy

[ame= ] [/ame] This guy does it all, it is a long download but worth it, maybe this could be a workout routine??? ~Mandy

Rice, it is the devil. Rice seems to gunk up around my band and then make a surprise revisit later. My mother-in-law says I'm like a hawk, eating what I want and then spitting out what I don't need. Gross I know but that is how it works. I also don't chance bread, I do wheat crackers and oatmeal bars but no soft bread, it just isn't worth the effort to chew it well enough or risking the dreaded PB. Also when bread is properly chewed it becomes a playdough texture, yuck! ~Mandy

Glad to hear you are starting to feel better. I hope the gas also gets better each day now too. Keep your chin up, each day is a day closer to a thinner you~Mandy

I loved my dog, because I'm cool like that.

I get horible migraines from Equal and Sweetn'Low, I am ok with Slpenda and sugar is fine. I will look for them on Monday (grocery day) Mandy

Do they have splenda in them? If not what is the sugar substitute? ~Mandy

I am so sorry to hear about your troubles. I am sending warm thoughts and healing energy your way. Since I have been here, you have been the pillar, the most together person here. Now it's time to let us support you, be here for your time of need. Vines, I really believe that you will get through this, and then your weight will just start dropping off like you have been hoping for. You will be a total hottie, and have the strength and life experience to make you an even more amazing person. Like my signature says, the road is rough and the path rocky but you will make it. ~Mandy

Don't give up fighting the insurance. I was denied 3 times and was told that a snowball had a better chance in hell then I did to be covered. I was told that I could be approved for GBP that day if I wanted but the band was considered experimental and simply was not covered. I was covered 100% and so far my fills have also been covered 100%. You have to keep fighting and be prepared to take it to a state insurance review board. It is possible to win, I know I did. ~Mandy

We made an offer on a wonderful townhouse last week and they accepted. If it passes inspection we will be closing on or around the 26th of this month. It is 30 miles away and in a great very small little community. There are great schools and parks for my little one and there is a community clubhouse and pool. We will have 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a finished basement and a fenced in back yard. I can't wait. I am starting to pack and have bought paint so I can really decorate this place to match our styles. So, I would appreciate a prayer and good thoughts for us during our packing and our move. I know that this is the place for us, it is just a doll house inside and we will have sooooo much more room and a yard for my little one. I will keep everyone updated on our progress. ~Mandy

Thanks Susan, I know this is going to be a great experience for us. We decided on this place to make a better life for Abigale and for us too. I can't wait to have our first party there, and be able to host our families cookouts and such. I am also going to have Christmas at our place this year. I will actually have room for a Christmas Tree and guest. I am a little concerned about finding new doctors for Dave and I. We are going to continue to see Abigale's current doctors. With her problems, we want her to see the people that are familiar with her meds, and her conditions. They are worth driving for. Thanks again for the prayers, I am sure we will need them~Mandy

I was in pretty bad shape for about 5 days. I was walking but very slowly. When you look for gas-x if you can't find it, go to the baby section and get milicon (spelling?) it is a liquid for gas relief in babies. Tums also helps relieve gas. I put a heating pad on my back and shoulders and that was a great way to relieve back pain. Also try sleeping with an sxtra pillow to help support your back and belly. The back pain can be from the way you were positioned during surgery, they have to arch your body to do abdominal surgery and that can leave you in pain. Take the pain meds if you have them, if not take liquid tylenol or crush regular tylenol, every 4 hours, even if you are not in pain. It is easier to control pain then to stop it. If you keep the pain meds in you system it will keep in under control. Drink plenty of liquids, and walk as much as you can. I found that warm liquids made me feel better, they seemed to sooth the sore insides and made me sleep more soundly. I am here several times a day, PM me if you want to talk or have any questions. ~Mandy

We are told nothing but clear liquids for 4 hours before the fill and then liquids for the remainder of that day, then mushies the next day then regular food. ~Mandy

BigPaul always makes me feel really good about myself. He's funny and silly but really smart right when you need him to be. DeLarla TellyMelly keeps me motivated on days I think I want to slack and theres always a smile on my face when I'm talking to her, she just keeps me laughing. She brightens my day! Cutiern reminds me of my daughter. I love how she is young, independent, and willing to make financial sacrifices to change her life. Dawg is a great husband. Selfless and supportive. He lives a banded lifestyle, without the band, so that he may succeed along side his wife. Pennie always seems so level-headed and diplomatic. I really admire that. Jack cracks me up with the use of his warped sense of humour in the manner in which he offers practical advice. Humour and practicalilty...great match and I always appreciate his input. (I also like his avatar!!) The best me (Kathy) has one of the most loving and tender hearts I've ever seen. She is always caring and giving to others even when she's needing support for herself. Her love of God and her desire to be a better servant shows in every post. Paula is my sweet Band-daughter and I'm so proud of how genuinely sweet she is and how her caring heart and love of God shows by her actions towards all others Iluvharleys has a good heart and is always so thoughtful, kind and caring always thinking of others in their time of need. NJChick (Eileen) Cracks me up!!!! She brings a smile to my face no matter what the topic. Bandland would be a boring place without her : - ) VinesQueen reminds me never to give up no matter how bad things seem at the time and encourages me that I should dance my heart out no matter whos watching~and I wish she would hurry up and get back on LBT!!! Michelle, without a doubt the most inspirational person to me. Even while having her own family problems, she finds time to come here and offer her help. She's a great person! Susan (PhotoNut) is one of the most supportive and knowledgeable people I've ever known. EmileeKaye is the sweetest, most genuinely nice and wholehearted bandster and online personality I have ever met.. and I have met quite a few. The sun shines on her goodness and it feels really nice to surround myself with people like this. K@t has been my friend and support since the moment I joined this group. She listens and gives without asking in return and makes me feel anything is possible. DeLarla is my vision of independence, strength, wisdom and trust and has always been a person that speaks her mind and has gained a tremendous amount of respect from me as an intelligent and witty person. StrawartS is smart and funny, and she has the strong personality I admire, yet she's kind. Plus, her screen name is a Palindrome. It's spelled the same backward and forward. Very Cool. Kathy (best me) Jenna (princess n thep) is always honest and straight foward. And she is a great booty dancer.

We have one close to our current place, but there isn't one anywhere near the new place. My hubby says I should get a restraining order against them building one in the new neighborhood. LOL, maybe I will look into that. ~Mandy

I get the sinless vanilla and have them add only fresh fruit. I also order a kids size (around 8 oz) and eat half and take the rest home for later. It is a nice treat once a month or so. I am, however glad that there isn't one near our new home. ~Mandy

Let's see.... May - close on our new home and move in.....whoopeeee!!!! June - Abi is having surgery on the 8th July we are having a huge cookout ro warm our home and a belated b-day party for Abigale August - get ready for school and looking for a job Sept - Hubby and I are going back to Disney for 4 days just the 2 of us.... ~Mandy

If we were going to be in this school district when school started, my daughter was going to be home schooled. But we are moving to an area that has great schools and small classes. Abigale needs more one on one than most kids because of her medical problems, she seems to miss about 25% of what is being taught and she needs reinforcements. The seizure disorder and ADHD both take a toll on her attention span as well as her ability to focus and remain awake all day. I hope that she will outgrow this but the doctor says that is unlikely. Her teahcers will have to give her some extra time and I know that in the district that we currently live in that would simply not happen. ~Mandy

Bunny, thanks for the info on Cheddars. There's a Cheddars right down the street from our new house we will have to check it out. ~Mandy