Chrisann

I was told no caffeine immediately after surgery, and during the first several weeks, but now I get in about 18oz a day, or two larger cups. IN reality for me, I actually don't get hungry when I am drinking coffee. I know that for every coffee I drink, I also drink an equal amount of extra water.

I realized this morning that my next fill is next Thursday, and I will be on a liquid diet for my nephew's birthday party on Saturday and on mush for Easter Sunday. I was on liquid for all the Christmas parties, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, and had my surgery on New Years Eve. So, I am missing another holiday....:angry_smile:. I am cooking for both the party and Easter.:cursing:

Been on solids since the first week of February. I get in 5-7oz of fish, 5-8oz meat, cottage cheese, yogurt, grapefruit, or other antioxident fruits, slimfast in the AM, vegetables, Protein shakes here and there, stuff like that. For example, I get Smart Ones frozen dinners with only meat and veggies. My favorite is Turkey medallions w/Mushroom Gravy and veggies, 200 cal, 10g fat, 18g protein. I get the greek yogurt, so that is 180 cal, 0g fat, 15g protein. You know full bodied Proteins. I try to keep my fat to 35-40g a day. I am losing about a pound a week, so I am happy with my progress.

I was scheduled for January 21, 2008 and I was moved up to December 31, 2007. I resisted it for about an hour, and then just accepted it. It turned out to be a good move.

Went through JFK, Tampa, Orlando, Newark, in last two weeks and had no problems.

Isn't it just the best feeling?:grouphug::eek: I went through my research mourning the food that I wouldn't be able to eat, and thought I would be under 1000 calories for the rest of my life. Just doing 1200 a day has done wonders to my psyche.

I have no willpower whatsoever either. I have had the band for 11 weeks. I do not have any of my trigger foods, which were Ice Cream, Mallomars, Girl Scout Cookies, Rice in my house. I have had one small piece of Ice Cream cake, and I got full, I ate 4 Girl Scout Thin Mints, and 1 Samoa, and got full. So yes, I cheated, but these were at work, and I couldn't eat any more than I stated above. Since eating these things, on seperate days, by the way, I have not had the desire for these since. I have not touched Mallomars in the store, and gave away the boxes of rice and rice a roni I had in the house. So what is my point? The band is working for me because I am working with it. I feel that by having those trigger items at my office made me not crave bigger portions later on. My past experiences were that if I didn't eat ice cream for even 3 days, on that 4th day, I would have eaten the whole half gallon. The band is a helpful tool, and always remember that. Its not the holy grail, but if you treat it right it will help you so, so much.

Jet you are down 21 pounds, who gives a damn what your family is thinking? Its just you and your body, and you know what to do! You had the surgery for yourself, take it at your own pace. Be positive with yourself. You are making the right food choices, so what if that carrot got stuck? Its the healthiest thing you mentioned in your post. See what I ate? The Girl Scout Cookies.:drool: We are all going to plateau, you have to stay positive. ANY Weight Loss is good.

I am down 37 pounds since my pre surgery phase, which I started December 17th, 2007. Since Surgery December 31, 2007 I have lost 13 pounds. I am so happy with that.

I am hoping that I lose slowly and consistently, giving my body the opportunity to respond to the weightloss so that I won't have to have surgery.

I found that when I upped my calorie intake to 1200 I started losing too. I don't care if its 1 pound a week either. I am down 13 pounds since surgery, 37 total since the pre opt liquid phase, and I am damn happy about it. :cool2::huh2:

Well today the Girl Scout Cookies are everywhere again, people buy them from the guy who was selling them for his daughter and then just dropped them in the kitchen. Someone else brought in a bag of chocolate eggs to go with the hershey kisses that were in there yesterday. So Satan is at work here too.:huh2: Good thing is that I am not tempted at all today, and have had a cup of tea and Chocolate Carnation instant Breakfast since 7am today. As far as pizza? I am at 5cc's in a 10cc band and was able to eat two slices of thin squares, called grandpa pizza on Monday. Fresh mozzarella, fresh tomatoes and fresh basil on thin crust. I cut them and it took 40 minutes to eat, but I was full. I go in to the doctors for possibly a 3rd fill on March 20th.

Came back from vacation on Sunday, and wore my old size 22/24 bathing suit from last summer. Went shopping on Friday because it rained and tried on a size 20, and low and behold, it fit!!:hurray::wink: The price was right too, at Bealls Outlet in FLA, $29.99 with 20% off, so total with tax was $25.68.:smile:

Well, I got the "I am stuck at the office Bandster Hell." I have no Protein things at my desk because I am just back from vacation. Trying to catch up tonite, and its now 9:20pm. So, because I was hungry, I found Girl Scout Cookies and chocolate in the office kitchen. I passed up the chocolate but ate 4 Thin Mints, 160 calories, 7g fat, 2g protein and 1 Samoa, or Caramel Delites (I think that is what they are called now) 70 calories, 4g fat, 1/2p. :wink: Good thing is that it made me full, so I am not feeling hungry now. But I ate them slow and they tasted good.:smile:

I am starting to feel sore now. Otherwise it was fun, but hard.

I have the Isopure chocolate powder. I haven't had it in a while since I have been banded about 10 weeks, but I used to mix it with sugar free Carnation Instant Breakfast chocolate, with the 8oz of milk, and 3 ice cubes. It came out like a thick chocolate shake. Very yummy. I got the Designer Whey brand in Natural to mix with the other flavors of Instant Breakfast and with the smoothie kits I got.

I am able to eat steak if I slice it really thin and chew it. It has to be on the rare side. I have had no problem with salmon, scallops etc. What I did have problems with was the turkey breast, it was ok for everyone else, but on the dry side for me, so I used alot of gravy to moisten it. I haven't tried pork, or lobster yet.

Don't be embarrassed. I wore my bathing suit all week in FLA, it was a size 22. I wore shorts with it. If you walk around confidentally, and everything isn't hanging out, you will not stick out in a crowd.

Can't help you there. I was walking all day at Disney on Sunday, so is that 10 hours right there? I was walking everyday in FLA, 1 hour a day. So that is 10 days, 10 hours, or the whole 600 minutes? If we add in Sunday, that would be another 600 minutes, right? I lost unofficially on my home scale, 6 pounds since my doc visit on 2/15/08. I don't go back until 3/20/08.

I don't look my age now and I do have that fear that I will look my age or older when I start to slim down. Right now, people peg me 8 to 10 years younger. I know its weird, and I should be worrying about alot of other things, but I always felt not looking my age was my best feature. I know once the weight is off I will have lots of nice features all over the place, I just don't feel it yet.

Someone I work with who knows me, but not really well, mentioned this question to me as I was preparing for surgery. It seems his wife knew someone who had gastric bypass and was a food addict. She did transfer her addiction over to cigarettes. It was something I never thought about, as I never identified myself as someone with a food addiction. I brought this up during my psych evaluation and was told that it can happen but that you have to be diligent in your desire to not only lose weight but to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

I am starting a Pilates class tomorrow night, that goes on for 4 weeks.

Great, how are you feeling now? I have 5cc's in my 10cc band, and go back on March 20th.

I have had a glass of wine every night since I have been on vacation with my relatives, as that is what they have before dinner. I have had no issues with it.

Well all, this time tomorrow will be on the way to the airport. Its a very chilly 20 degrees here in NYC today, so looking forward to the 70 degrees down in FLA. :wub: Since my relatives know about the band, activities have been planned around moving around alot. Mostly walking. My aunt wanted to know if I was offended that my uncle was planning all these things for me, as I am an adult. I told her no, its nice that everyone is taking an interest in my new lifestyle. Anyway, everyone enjoy themselves over the next 10 days, I am willing myself to stay away from the computer when I am away, not bringing the laptop or Treo. Talk to you when I am back!!!!:blushing: