pandagirl

I think heat may be a problem. I know the unjury Protein powders shouldn't be mixed at 130 F and above. I wonder if this is why you got clumping?

I love Unjury. The unflavored has no aftertaste( at least to me) and the chocoalte and vanilla are super creamy in milk.

I am not banded yet, but have been working on the emotional aspects. I try to think of my body as a machine and realize food is only needed to keep it going. As for the emotional eating, I write, read, draw, do anything to take my mind of of wanting to eat. I think for some of us, eating is like and addiction and we should look at it that way. Of course, I am not banded yet and my feelings may change. Right now though, I have already replaced one meal a day with a protein shake and have been teaching myself to understand that it is okay to feel hungry, it is not the end of the world.

Hi! I am still at the pre-approval stage. (Blue Shield:California.) (Quickie background) Today was my last day of a six month long supervised diet. This program is new to my medical group; I was literally one of the first set to go through it. I have had many issues with this program, but being the guiney pig means my feedback will make it easier for the next group. My main concern right now is coordination between my insurance, my medical group and my Surgeon (Laura Machado). My dietician seems confident that I will be approved for surgery, yet she doesn’t have the final say. She has to send up my paperwork to another office and they will approve things. I am assuming they will speak directly with the insurance company for approval guidelines. Once they approve me then I can go see my Surgeon. My Surgeon won’t see me until they get a referral from my Doctor/Medical Group. What annoys me about all of this is that I really don’t know what I should have been working on. I don’t know what my Surgeon will require of me. I only have communities like LBT and books for reference. I am hoping that I did okay. (Actual question) :hungry: These last six months I have worked on my motivations for eating, getting in at least a little exercise a day, not eating fast-food, not drinking carbonated drinks, and finding a Protein powder that I like. Reading everything here, I do not know what to expect. Every Surgeon seems to have their own guidelines. If you had to do all over again, is there anything you wished you had prepared better for? Would you have eaten less, gotten rid of fried foods, got more exercise, tried to lose more pre-op weight? Would you change a single thing?

Thank you for your support. What you say is true and I logically understand it.(now) It has taken me some time, but I am here and ready to make the changes for a healthier life. :clap2:

I am fearful of being thin, but not for the same reasons. I have always been told that I was beautiful, even "for a fat girl". This sounds awesome to most, but I was raped at a young age and it took me until recently to realize that I have been using my fat as a from of protection. I have this silly fear that I am soo pretty that I will be raped as soon as I am easy to heft around. I know it is arrogant. I know that the fear is unfounded, but that unfounded fear has kept me fat since the rape. I wasn't fat before then. I was a little chubby, but very athletic. I have let go af that fear for the most part. I get that I may be attractive or not. It doesn't matter if I am.( I may actually be dog bag ugly.) What matters is that I am healthy and happy with myself. I am happy, but not healthy; I will get there.

I'm in California and I know 6 people who have had either the Lap-Band or the gastric bypass. 4 of those people had to jump through hoops for at least a year and one for almost two years before she got her surgery. Of the other two, one had to wait 6 months as you are and the other had to wait 3. I think the time factor depends on your insurance and medical group. Your Surgeon may also have his/her own time tables. Me, I am on my 6th month. I could have gone to a Doctor that would have had me in surgery in less than 3. I chose to go through the 6 month supervised diet program that my medical group requires for several reasons. 1) I wanted to make sure I knew as much as possible before allowing someone to cut into my body. 2) I wanted to make sure that all of the medical authorities were sure that I was ready for such a drastic surgery. 3) I was hoping that my insurance would cover Lap-Banding before I went under the knife. ( They do now and I am soooo happy I waited.) 4) I wanted to assess my lifestyle, my motivations for eating and the surgery and use the time to prepare for an absolute, no holds bar change of lifestyle. 5) I wanted the use the time to make sure I wanted the surgery, that I felt that I was ready for it, and give my family time to adjust to my choice. If you think 6 months is too long it might be, but some people would kill to have to only wait that long. Like most things in this life, it is all up to you. You have to decide what is best for you.

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's good to hear about people doing well with the band. I haven'thad mine yet. I hope I am as successful as you.

I suppose you can sip it slowly. :cool:

Are you asking if you can swallow?

Good luck, I hope all goes well with your surgery. And you are right, all of this will take great dedication and work.

I get that. I have been wondering if gatric bypass is easier because of the Grehlin(sp) effect. My friends who've had the bypass say they are, in general, not hungry. That aspect seems desireable though the other issues bypass brings about are not.

What was your pre-op diet?

How was the chicken cooked? I have a friend who had the bypass who can't eat chicken unless stewed and only the dark meat. Are there any other foods you have trouble with?