jjsmiles

Thank you muchly!

Fluffyinks, I think your best bet is to check with your dr and clinic as everyone has different rules. I actually got this recipe from my weightloss clinic. Even just to clarify what vegetables (if any) that you can have. I didn't put broccoli in (not my favorite veggie).

You have all been an inspiration to me. Andrew your pictures are so amazing and I am so proud for you and hopeful for me. I so totally understand your comment about emotional eating. I went to a 2 session seminar about "food and mood" and while it was really interesting and helpful, I left thinking that I am all about all emotions and all food. I don't have any one trigger (although evenings are tough), but I use food for happiness, sadness, anger, depression - everything and have done so for my whole life. Andrew you were mentioning the whey isolate Protein powder. Do you know of anything that is pretty good and can be bought somewhere in Calgary? I know you like the on-line stuff, but I am not sure if I am ready to buy things on-line yet (I know I am from the dark ages) :faint:- especially if I don't know if I will like it. Thanks Jacquie

I was also allowed non starchy vegetables and got a recipe for a tomato stew that made a huge pot and was quite tasty. 2 large cans crushed tomatos 1 large can diced tomatos 2 zuchinni, peeled and sliced thinly diced peppers (I used 1 red, 1 yellow, 1 orange) cauliflower (taken from the head) mushrooms broccoli canned green Beans Any non starchy vegetables that you like Throw everything in a large pot, spice it up (Mrs Dash has some great spice combinations) and cook until the vegetable reach the consistency you like (at least 20 mins). Tastes better on reheating. Makes at least 8 large bowls. If your family is around, you can thin it out a lttle and use it as a Pasta primavera sauce.

I got banded on Sept. 25. I continue to have intermittent gas pain (left shoulder), but the rest of the pain has been pretty tolerable. I am just taking advil and tylenol and am doing fine. I haven't been hungry, today probably the least hungry (isn't that weird). I am not sure why, but every different clinic has different rules. My first week post op diet says I can have thinned out fluids (no thicker than milk) so I have been having Soups (thinned out with Water or skim milk), Protein shakes, popsicles and diet Jello. I have probably been averaging about 600-700 calories per day.

I have and continue to struggle with that question, but I think for me (at least at this moment), the decision to be banded (I got mine on September 25) is about taking control of MY life in my own way and I need to stop my health and happiness being about others. I at first thought I would only tell a few people, based on my definition of need to know. I then thought about it and asked myself, what is stopping me? Am I ashamed of my decision? NO!!! Am I taking control? YES!!!! Do I have anything to be embarassed about? NO!!! Isn't it obvious to everyone around me that I am obese and have not had success in helping myself in the past? YES (they are not blind)!!!! I have told my friends and many of my colleagues and generally people have been curious, supportive and slightly hesitant. For me, part of the decision to tell felt like I was saying right from the beginning that I am ready for this journey and am not going to hedge my bets by not telling, just in case I don't succeed. I WILL SUCCEED!!! Do you truly have any ability to change the attitudes of those around you? I would argue that with education - maybe. Truly though, if those people need to be negative you need to take care of yourself and do what you need to do to be healthy and productive. This is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make and you need to do whatever it is that will be a support to you, whether you decide to tell or not.

I know that for my clinic (in Calgary, Alberta, Canada). I was required to use the Optifast 900 powders (high Protein as well as all nutrients). It only comes in vanilla and chocolate, but can be supplemented by sugar free, fat free flavored coffee syrups (I really liked DaVince Raspberry and Amaretto). I found that blending my shakes with ice made them quite bearable. I got my optifast from my clinic ($144 Cdn for a two week supply) and could buy the syrups in Calgary at a Diabetic supply store, but both are also available over the internet. Good Luck!!

Hi Everyone Malteasers are delicious malted balls covered in milk chocolate. They just melt in your mouth. Very addictive. Have you ever had a malted milk? Just a solid version with chocolate (can you tell I am having fantasies here?) :hungry:. The positive thing right now is I can have the fantasy and not need to actually get some - I hope that lasts!!!! Today is going quite well (4 days post surgery). I am probably the least hungry today of all, which I guess is positive. I have probably averaged about 600-700 calories per day since the surgery. My post op diet plan allows me thin fluids (no thicker than milk) for the first week, so I have been having thinned out soups, protein shakes, popsicles and diet jello. I had been advised that I might only manage 1/4 to 1 cup of fluids at at time, but I haven't had any problem drinking 2 cups (I had a full can of tomato soup reconstituted with skim milk) as long as I take my time. So far today I have only had water, a protein shake and a fat free iced cappacino (very delicious) and am feeling very full (it is now 6:40 pm) - so a total of about 330 calories. I am not sure why I feel so full today. Wishes 444 - sounds like you have everything under control. My only other suggestion is that if you have the option of staying in hospital the first night, take it since that is the most painful and at least you can use the bed adjusters to help you move. I am not having any difficulties getting out of bed anymore, so hopefully only the first couple of days will be a problem. Fat Free Iced Cappacino (for Canadians - as good as a Tim Horton's Ice Cap) 1 cup (250 mL) skim milk 2 tsp (10 mL) instant coffee 1 Tbsp (15 mL) cocoa 5 packets splenda 5 ice cubes Blend in a blender - makes 2 cups (and 105 calories) of heaven.

I just got banded on September 25, and was allowed 4 Optifast shakes and non-starchy vegetables for the 2 weeks before the surgery. I found a brand of syrups that are non-fat, non sugar, non calorie. They are called Davinci and can be found on-line and in at some diabetic type stores. I bought the Raspberry and Amerreto (almond flavoring, but not like the liquer). Both were excellent and really changed the flavor. I am an evening eater and I found that I would have one shake in the morning, some vegetables and a shake at lunch, same at dinner and the last shake at about 9 pm. I found the shakes best if I put them in the blender with 4 ice cubes and the flavoring (made a huge glass - pyschologically very helpful). The first week was the worst. The second week went much better!! Good Luck!!!:confused:

I am from Calgary, Alberta, Canada and was banded on September 25. I just wanted to say this has been a great thread and I will share some of my experiences. I have had numerous surgeries in the past, so wasn't really nervous about the surgery, but was very worried about the aftermath (ie being able to follow up on the lifestyle changes that I need to make). Don't beat yourself up for "cheating" on your pre-op diet. No one is perfect and you can only do your best. The biggest thing is to take a breath and get back to the rest of your life. IT IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT!!!! I think one of the themes I have noticed about myself, is that I tend to be an "all or nothing person", and one of the adjustments I need to make is that that attitude is not very healthy in a battle with obesity. I need to remind myself that every day is a battle in my own personal war- some days I will come ahead in the battle and some days I will be behind, but I need to find ways to not raise the white flag and surrender. I didn't find the surgery to be too bad, although apparently I have a very large, long liver, which made for difficult access and a 3 hour surgery, versus a 90 minute one. The most pain I have experienced (and still have) is intermittent gas pain in my left shoulder. Nothing really seems to help, although heat, movement and drugs don't hurt. I would suggest investing in a pill splitter (found in drug stores) and advil and/or tylenol. I kept hearing about people not being able to swallow pills, but I haven't had any problems if I split them in 2 to 3 pieces and take each piece with a sip of water. I was also told by both Dr. and Nurse that I could take both tylenol and advil at the same time (don't exceed maximum dose), which I found really helpful and relieved the worst of the pain. The hardest thing the second night (I stayed in hospital overnight) was getting in and out of bed, as your stomach and abdomen hurt and twisting and hoisting yourself up can be difficult (this is the same for all the surgeries I have had). To the person who has a water bed, I would really suggest sleeping elsewhere for a couple of nights, as the softness of the bed may make it very difficult to get out of bed. I have been told in the past to roll over onto my side, close to the edge of the bed and push my upper body onto my elbow as I swing my legs over the side of the bed and keep using my arm to help my body rise up. This has worked well for me. So far, on my 4th day, hunger hasn't really kicked in (ok watching the commercials on tv for fast food has created some "head hunger"), and I have been satisfied with liquids. I haven't had any problems tolerating liquids (including thin soup), although I am sipping, versus gulping. One thing I haven't read anywhere else - so don't know if anyone else experienced or if it is just me - I weighed myself the day after surgery - on the same scale as before the surgery and had GAINED 7 pounds. I am not sure if this is normal (really freaked me out), but I am assuming it is due to swelling and water retention, since I basically have had very few calories and nothing solid to eat. As of this morning, I am still up 5 pounds. I guess my advice would be not to weigh yourself after the surgery - just in case. Good Luck everyone and keep posting!!!!!

Not doing too badly today - a fair bit of pain, but I am taking drugs so it is bearable. I have been drinking quite a bit and it seems to be going down well. I had a bit of a freak out - I got on the scale and weighed 7 pounds MORE than the morning of the surgery. Since I have had nothing to eat and barely any calories, I am assuming that I am retaining lots of Water. Thats my story anyways and I am sticking to it!! Anybody else dumb enought to weigh right after surgery? Did any of you experience the same?

Thanks everyone, It is now done - I have actually joined the land of the banded!!:whoo: Surgery went well, although I apparently have a very large and long, though healthy liver, which made access difficult and for a three hour surgery. They kept me in overnight and then I had a fluroscopy x-ray this morning and got released at noon. As many of you mentioned I had an excrutiatingly sore left shoulder, but I have been moving a lot which has helped and it seems mostly better. Haven't been hungry yet - all I've had is Water, tea and 2 popsicles. I figure my "head" hunger should kick in about 3 hours from now. Thanks for all your support so far. I am looking forward, and with hope, to my journey.

Hi - I just fininshed my Optifast stage and had my surgery yesterday (in Calgary)!!!! You can buy the Davinci Syrups at the Diabetic Depot in Calgary ($10.98 a bottle). I bought the Raspberry and the Amerreto (tasted like almonds, but not like the liquer). Both were delicious. 0 fat and 0 calories. Diabetic Depot also sells a brand called "Walden Farms" - 0 fat and 0 calories - salad dressings and such. I bought the bacon ranch salad dressing - ok but not terrific, and I bought caramel and chocolate dips - OMG- delicious. My my optifast taste like a fudge sundae. Whenever possible I did my optifast in the blender with Water and 4 ice cubes and the flavoring or dip - tasted like a great smoothie. Diabetic Depot has a website: Diabetic Depot - Low Carbohydrate Gluten Free Products and they say they ship (start at the catalogue and go from there). Not sure if you would have time to get them - but also worthy of consideration for the future. Good Luck!!!!

Thanks so much Andrew (is that the etiquette?) am I supposed to call you Gaffer or Andrew (never been on a talk forum before). I have to be at the hospital at 6:00 am (surgery scheduled for 7:40) so I better get a good night sleep. Thanks for the support Jacquie

I have got a ticker factory slider, but how do I get it onto this board? Thanks!!!

:biggrin1:Thanks L and Gaffer, I went through the weight management clinic. Took me 6 months from Dr. referral to actually getting into the clinic and about 10 months from there. I heard they got approval to do more surgeries this year, so the wait might not be as long. One of the things I really like about the wmc is that they have Dr. dieticians and psychologists all attached. I have been seeing a psychologist for about 6 months now and it has been really helpful (much more than the dietician). I think I am much more prepared for what comes next, maybe not so much about the actual surgery, but for the lifestyle changes that I need to make in order for this to actually work. My biggest fear is that I won't have the mindset to make this work. I was seeing a dermatologist the other week and he told me "I can so see you at 160 with a tummy tuck" and I asked him to draw me a picture, since I can't visualize myself that way. I think the last time I weighed 160 I was probably 10. I am sure once I have the surgery and actually know what everything feels like, I will have lots of specific questions and I am really glad that you are out there and I hope to use the board to help me.