Kathy473

If you want to add a little variety to your bananas (I got tired of bananas too) add a little fat free whipped cream to it and it makes it seem like you are having a little sundae and you can even add a little chocolate or strawberry syrup (Nestle Quik) and it makes it better! I still eat the applesauce but you can also try some of the flavored sauce to add a little variety to that too! And one of the best things that I found that goes down easy is watermelon. I would eat that in the beginning too. Hope this helps!

Everyone's stories are just freaking me out! Sorry, but that is the only way to explain it! I didn't have any problems with my incisions except for one had a little piece of stitch sticking out and my doctor snipped it off. I still feel soreness around them and the port area itself but I expect that. Reading how some of you had staples instead of just stitches and Stery-strips just made me wince with the thought of it. I had the staples with my 1st c-section and the the Stery-strips with my 2nd and I so preffered the strips to staples. I am so sorry for those of you who had a hard time with your incisions, my heart just goes out to you all. Best of luck in your healing.

I love Lane Bryant and I have the charge account to prove it! But I cannot wait until I can shop somewhere else. I did go there a few day ago and got into a 16 skirt! A change from the usual 18-20! There is also a website that sells plus-size clothing that is for a younger age if anyone is interested for now (I know we want to get away from the words "plus size". That is the agenda for us right!?) www.alight.com or www.torrid.com Both of these websites are great for younger women and I haven't had any disappointing purchases from them at all! The clothes are great. Hope this helps the younger girls.

Well, pizza is a hard thing to deal with...I ordered pizza the other day for my kids and I picked off the cheese and that wasn't that bad. I noticed how much milk that you drink in a day, have you tried eating cottage cheese instead of maybe a glass of milk? I know some people do not like but it could be a break from the milk just to have a change and still get some protein in, or maybe even a piece of cheese. The weight that you loss is great...keep up the good work!

If you have a rocking chair or a computer chair that leans back...rock, rock, rock and take Gas-X...that is the only thing that helped me....Hope this helps!

The only diet I follow is really what was on the sheet that my doctor gave to me. The liquid diet for the 1st 48 hours and then after that for this 1st month I only eat: Breakfast: 1-2 eggs scrambled 1 package of grits omelette (no meat) 1 package of oatmeal (any of the above) Lunch: Soup at Hand 1 can of tuna or one of the flavored packages w/mayo, salt, pepper small salad or any fish Dinner: Any baked fish or salmon steamed veggies Snacks: Jell-o w/fat free whipped topping fat free pudding cottage cheese applesauce popiscles/fudgsicles (sugar free) fat free frozen strawberry yogurt w/whipped cream This is just a example but check with your doctor...He told me for the 1st month to stay away from beef, veal, pork, chicken and to try salads 2 weeks after. No bread, pasta, rice, corn...even though it is a starch I stillhave mashed potatos since they are soft. I also found that Viactiv makes a multi-vitamin now and that is alot better than drinking Centrum! It's like having a chocolate! Plenty of water and hot tea has helped me....and NO sodas! juices are great but you might want to dilute them in the beginning. Hope this helps! Good luck on your band!

well I am glad to know that there is someone like me!! I love pastries and anything sweet and being from south Texas and growing up with Tex-Mex and having the little Mexican grandma making tortillas and beans and all that good stuff it is realy hard. I actually went to a Mexican restaurant last weekend and had an enchilada and refried beans! I was able to eat the whole enchilada and half the beans and it was wonderful! Since I haven't had a fill and my doctor does not want me to for awhile it is good to know that what I am doing is actually working without one or even the thought that I need one soon. Not to say that I will never need one...I am sure I will, but it's nice knowing that I have more control in my choices and I know what is better to eat and what isn't. I know that everyone with the band is different but so far I am very happy with my decision. Especially since I went shopping the other day for an outfit for a wedding today and I got into a 16 instead of the normal 20!! This has made such a big difference. Congrats on your weightloss and keep up the good work!

I know how you feel. I so want to just gorge myself right now because I happen to be on my first period after having the band and I have the munchies so bad it is killing!!!! I want choclate so bad and I know that I could have a chocolate protein shake or some fat-free chocolate pudding but that is not what I want. I want a handful of Reese's or a Snickers...anything full of crap that I know that I should not have. I am going to a wedding tonight and I have already told myself that I will have that piece of wedding cake but only a few bites! Just enough to get a taste and put me on the verge of guilt and that should be enough. I have done pretty well and I am so shocked that I have done well but I too can remember eating 3 slices of pizza and a coke...pushing away the thought of a salad and having the dessert pizza instead! My daughter had a cinnamon roll for breakfast this morning and I had a small bite and actually felt bad for that but it was just a taste and I got over it. Don't feel bad for what you ate just know that it is ok to have a few things that you want as long as you do not over do it and make a better decision the next time. My doctor put me on a low-carb diet before the surgery and I am so anti-bread it is not funny. I also go to McDonald's and get the Filet-O Fish sandwich and I take off the bread and have part of a salad with it. So next time just don't eat the bread and if you go to a pizza place just take off the cheese and meat off the pizza and leave the bread. There is no harm in eating the toppings, just the bread. How did you feel after you had the bread? I bet you were so full...I couldn't imagine eating it now. But like everyone else is telling you...don't beat yourself up over it remember what you could put down before the band...I do...and it is still hard to believe it!

The one question that I haven't seen asked is...What has your doctor said about it? I know that I haven't been banded that long but from what my doctor told me is that he made my band towhere I might not need a fill for at least a year unless I feel I need one. There may be a possibilty that I might not ever get one, it is up to me. If your doctor is not helping you then maybe you need to seek help or get a 2nd opinion from another doctor. I hope everything works out for you but don't give up, especially if you have children...they need you more than you need the Cheetos or bowl of pasta. My children are the only reason why I had my band done...I want to be around for them and only them.

Fellow Texan here...Glad to hear that you are doing well. Congrats on the weight loss. We need to do some Voodoo on those hurricanes!!! My house is still boarded up! Not chancing it. They are staying up until the end of the season! Take care.

I named my band, Nike. She is recognized as the Goddess of Victory in Greek mythology.

Is there any reason why the chat room is always empty. I was just curious because sometimes it's nice to just strike up a conversation with someone and share your thoughts, fears, accomplishments and just daily life with someone that is going through the same thing that you are. Not that I sit at the computer all day but sometimes at night I do sit and read the message boards for awhile and click on the chat room and I am the only one there. Like I said, just curious!

I know where you are coming from. I was banded on 9-7-05 and I was at 219. Now I am at 207. Those 12lbs can do alot for you. I was able to put on a shirt that I was never able to wear because I never tried it on before I bought it (duh). Plus, this past weekend my husband and I went out on the motorcycle and I used to feel like I was wedged in behind him and the back rest and I felt different on the bike Saturday night. He even told me that he was able to sit back a bit more and that made me feel good. I carry most of my weight in my tummy and that has gone down and I feel more confident that I can do this and get to where I want to be. Congrats on your weightloss!

That was so sweet of your mom to do that! You are very lucky to have a mother who can do that for you.

I paid cash for mine. My insurance doesn't cover this surgery, even if it is medically necessary. So I had a loan that I had been paying at the bank and I had it rolled over again and added the $15,000.00 to and it only made my monthly payment go up $4.00...so I couldn't beat that! I should have asked for more money and saved the rest for a new wardrobe!!!! Darn!

I am so happy right now that I have to share. I bought this really cute shirt online about 6-8 months ago and I decided to try it on yesterday and it fit! That is the problem with buying clothes online....no dressing room! So i figured it would fit..NOT! So, it got tucked away in the closet until yesterday! I didn't think that this much weight loss would be such a major thing until that. When I met Dr. Spivak I weighed 223lbs and then I had the surgery at 219lbs and I get on the scale now and I see that I have lost 11 with the band's help I throw the other 4 back on...isn't that silly? But it makes me feel ecstatic. I am so happy that I got that shirt on and it actually looks really good on me. I am afraid to wash it now because I don't want it to shrink! LOL I just hope that these 'happy days' keep on coming and that everyone on this website can have the same feelings and share the same types of stories!! Good luck to all!

My doctor never said anything to me about it but I did get a small glass (about maybe 3oz) and added ice to it and left it and it watered down some and went flat so I had the flavor but not the bubbles! And I did sip it...don't guzzle it down! Hope that helps a little but I would for sure ask your doc first.

What a beauty! I bet she had the time of her life that night! And you must be so proud. Congratulations to you both.

You know, I was actually thinking the same thing because of the fact that I can put down more food now when I eat. I figure it was because the swelling has gone down since the surgery...could that be why?? My family and I went to eat the other night at IHOP and I had a veggie omelette, I had half of it and took the rest home but while I was there I was able to eat some grits with it...Does that sound right? I mean, I am still losing but I am eating more than before. I guess when I see my doctor this week I'll find out if I need a fill or not...we shall see!!!

Ok...here's the deal. My husband's ex-wife had the Gastric Bypass when they were married and she lost the weight and then she left him. I am in no way going to do the same as she did because I actually love him, she obviously didn't. But do I tell her that I had the Lap-Band surgery or just keep it to myself? I see her all the time when we pick up his kids and they know that I had surgery but we didn't tell them what kind of surgery that I had. But I really don't care if she knows but I think my husband might not want her to know. I think he doesn't want her to be judgemental towards me. She knows that I have been struggling with my weight since I had my daughter in July 99. Her attitude was after she had her surgery was to lie to people and tell them that she did it the old fashioned way and I don't want that to be the way she is going to think that I am by not telling her that I did it too. Maybe I do care what she thinks....I don't know...any advice?

Thank you for your advice...I think I might tell her.

I had bananas mushed up with fat-free Cool Whip...Yummy! I just started sleeping on my stomach about a week ago. So you don't have that long to wait but try using a pillow when you lay on your side. I slept with about 5 pillows and I was propped up a little by the pillows. Once the liquid Lortab kicked the pain was gone! I am to the point that I don't really feel anything except for the port and that is only when I feel for it. So you will do fine and on your belly before you know it!! And just FYI, when it came down to getting intimate again...be prepared to do all the work that way you know how much you can take as far as being comfortable and able to stop when YOU need too!

I am so sorry for the loss of your friend...My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.

Yes...If your grocery store carries the tuna pouches...they will be with the canned tuna.

I have had the tuna packets also but I tried the frozen Gorton's Grilled Salmon and the Cajun Blackened Salmon and those are YUMMY! You should really try them. I had some steamed veggies with it and it was very filling!