Debbieduck4

Sounds like maybe getting back to basics is the key! You said you walked before 4 miles, but maybe just starting with a 20 minute lunchtime walk at work and another 20 minutes after work you could get a couple miles in. Also, I think tracking your eating is a great idea because that's back to basics when you probably wrote down everything you ate... a lot of people really like My Fitness Pal. I have several friends who use it regularly. I'm more old fashioned and just use a paper and pen. I'm also thinking if you post this message on the LapBand message board you could get some insight... I had the sleeve so don't have a lot of experience with the workings of a LapBand. Good Luck to you!

Oh my gosh...so inspiring and encouraging! Thank you so much for posting.. Congratulations! You look wonderful! Blessings on your continued success

My surgeon explained it as a food that "slides" through the stomach before you are able to feel full. He said the reason they can do this is because they dissolve too quickly and said to consider what they would do if placed in Water. So if you placed a chip or cracker in water it would probably dissolve right away versus a vegetable or Protein. Slider foods are dangerous because if you don't feel full eating them you will eat too much before you realize it!

It doesn't look like my weight got updated this week... I'm at 181. Thanks again Susan!

181.8 this week

Can you try some different flavors of liquid soups? I bought roasted red pepper, tomato, Thai sweet potato, and mushroom, cream of broccoli just to break up the monotony. I also had pudding, sugar free Popsicle and fudgesicles, yogurt, broth, sugar free hot chocolate, G2 Gatorade.... It will be over quickly... hang in there!

I submitted a year and a half of Weight Watcher records where I had weighed in weekly and had it recorded, only to have them decline them because this effort had not been followed by my primary care physician. The fact was, it HAD been followed by my PCP, just not at the exact incremental appointment schedule my insurance required. It was a crock. Every insurance is different though and I did not have the same one you have. If I were you and you have a relationship with your PCP, I would get him or her to sign your WW records before submitting just as an extra push. Weight Watchers is a wonderful program and 4 years should definitely be recognized! Best of luck to you!

"The World According to Egg Face" has a great blog and Pinterest site... you HAVE to check her out! I also find myself getting kind of bored and sometimes just adding something a little different to the usual is enough to change it up and feel like enough of a variety to break the boredom. For example, I've been eating either oatmeal or Greek yogurt for Breakfast with a scoop of Protein powder every ... Last week I added chopped pecans and a pinch of shredded coconut in my tropical fruit Greek yogurt and it was delish! I felt like I was eating desert for breakfast. Ended up having it every day haha! I'm also always scouring recipes and try to make something new every weekend... here's the one I did this weekend. It was amazing.. very light and yummy... will definitely make it again and put it in my usual rotation. Have fun trying new things! Lime Shrimp and Avocado salad 1 lb jumbo cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined, chopped 1 medium tomato, diced 1 avocado diced 1 jalepeno, seeded and diced fine ¼ c chopped red onion 2 limes 1 t olive oil 1 T chopped cilantro Salt and pepper In small bowl mix onion, juice of the limes, olive oil, and pinch of salt and pepper. Let marinate for 5 min. In a larger bowl mix other ingredients and then toss lightly with dressing.

I think it's a great idea too! I might freeze a few things separately as well just so you can try each food individually first to be sure you can tolerate each one on its own before you eat them together. It's really interesting what things your new tummy won't like after surgery. I always hated iceberg lettuce and made salads with any other lettuce but that... now its the only kind that doesn't upset my stomach. Weird huh? It's great that you're thinking and planning ahead!

I swear by Rodan and Fields Reverse Line... I'm 53 and think I look pretty young for my age... Their cleanser and moisturizer (step 1 and 4) are Amazing! To be honest, the products are a little more expensive, but I think I'm worth it!

It was 10 months for me.... a 6 months supervised weight loss effort with my PCP, while doing insurance requirements... then I got denied and had to go another 3 months to PCP, then another 1 month for surgery appointment.

182.2 for me this week

The regrets I have are in my head and related to food addiction... period. I miss being able to pig out on oh-so-yummy but horrible-for-me food that I used to love... for example this weekend is the Superbowl and our team is going to WIN.. GO HAWKS! My hubby will be making his famous nachos and I would love to chow down on some of those with everyone, along with all the other things that will be available but it can't happen because I will eat a tiny taste of a couple of things and feel completely full. Not to mention, no alcohol... so it kind of leaves me feeling left out sometimes I guess. But this feeling feels WAY BETTER than the feeling of being the fat girl in the room and self conscious and embarrassed and sick and tired and in pain and all of the medical conditions I dealt with so... that is what I remind that food addict when she creeps into my consciousness because I am going to look so cute in my new smaller size Seahawks Jersey and feel great while I watch my team take the Superbowl 2 years in a row! The regrets I do have are much smaller than the joys I have every day. I feel so blessed to have had this surgery and would do it again in a heartbeat!

I'd say do the best you can between now and Monday and try not to let your slips ruin the rest of your pre-op diet... Shrinking the liver is the main reason for the pre-op diet so be sure to admit to your surgeon before you go under what has gone on. You want him or her to make the best informed decision possible for the safest surgery. Best of luck to you!

I haven't had hair loss but want to follow this topic because I'm interested too... this is a great topic. I've heard about others who've experienced this. Hope you aren't struggling with this.

Well I didn't have to have more tests but my insurance company denied my first submittal because they said I did not space my appointments far enough apart during my 6 month supervised weight loss program with my PCP. Two of the appointments occurred 2.5 months apart instead of 3 months apart... arrrghh!! I had to wait an extra 3 months before being able to resubmit everything and felt like it was the end of the world at the time. I too was just so ready and had tried everything. I literally wanted to just chuck it all and just give up. But I'm so glad I just kept going with the process. I hope you will too. Just remember that it WILL happen and when it does, you will probably figure out there was a reason for this delay that worked out okay in the end. For me, I ended up having my surgery in December when I had time off for the holidays and people around me to help out and I got to begin a new year on a new journey. I know it's so hard to wait but we are here for you. Don't give up. Your time will come!

I absolutely could not tolerate Water at all for the first 3 weeks for some reason! It felt "hard" when it landed in my new tummy for some reason. Things that worked better for me were G2 gatoraide, broth, crystal light, tea, and apple juice. I found that room temperature and hot liquids went down easier too. Even now almost 3 months out I still prefer room temperature which is crazy because I used to be queen of the ice cubes! lol... Hang in there.. you didn't make a mistake.. you will get through this and find things that work for you and this will be a fabulous journey!

184.2 today. Thank you!

I'm at 184.2 this week.... Have a good training!

So if you had surgery Jan 4th, you're only 3 weeks out of surgery right? Every surgery clinic does things so differently but for me, I had 3 days of just Clear Liquids, then 1 full week of full liquids, then 2 weeks of soft foods, before I could even think about any other foods. If you've already been on soft foods and been throwing up, maybe give your new tummy a break and go back to just liquids for a week or so? Try creamed Soups, yogurts, Protein shakes, puddings, broth... just take it really slowly... but truthfully my doctor says throwing up is not okay, it's really bad for the staple line, so you might have to get a little pushy and advocate for yourself if you continue to be sick. Hope you feel better soon!

I'm at 186.4 this week. Thanks again for keeping track!

You have to do what is right for you... If you change your mind later, I'm sure the surgery would still be available. Best of luck to you!

For eating you can set a number of times to chew each bite (we're supposed to chew really thoroughly) and then count the number of times you chew each bite as you go which will slow you down. I don't have a suggestion for drinking though... I often forget because I used to be a big guzzler and will take a big gulp of something... I remember when it hurts!

Welcome and congrats on your success! I hear others say to go back to the basics when in a stall... high protein, lots of water, journal your food, etc... Maybe that would help you get to where you want to be