kossde

The exact same thing has happened to me! It's kind of like quality over quantity. We can't eat as much anymore, so why not really savor it, right? Salsa has become my best friend; I've discovered that it goes with just about everything and has flavor to boot. The good old fashioned 'comfort food' just doesn't do it for me like it used to.

I dont know if the 25 g of protein thing is accurate or not, but I do know that I don't drink my new whey protein test tube thingy all at once. I put it in my purse and take swigs of it throughout the day. This way, I get a continuous supply of protein and not just one big dose.

Each Doctor is different- mine was two weeks of liquids followed by two weeks of mushies. But some people have doctors who dont have any kind of after surgery diet at all. Best of luck to you and congratulations on the surgery :thumbup:

I'm trying not to laugh, but that last reply was pretty interesting but hey, seriously- my psych eval said that I was a narcissistic liar with a superiority complex and sociopath tendencies who suffers from chronic mania. Yeah- it really said all that. When my psych-dude (psychologist? Psychiatrist? Counselor?) read it out to me, I just sat there and nodded- yep, sounds about right. Fortunately for me, my psych-dude decided that with all those qualities, I was a perfect lap band candidate! YAY! By the way, my psych-eval also said that I tended to exaggerate the positive in an attempt to make things seem better than they are- hence the ‘chronic mania’ LOL. Like you, I also tend to be extremely optimistic- I’m a narcissistic liar with a superiority complex and sociopath tendencies who suffers from chronic mania and likes to look on the bright side J

If you live in DFW and know computers really well - I'm looking for two new help desk agents. Trust me when I say there wouldn't be time to worry about food:closedeyes:

I -was- a major emotional eater. Anytime I got bored, I instinctively searched out something to eat. I still find myself heading for the fridge when I have nothing better to do. Things are different now; eating just isn't fun anymore - it's becoming a chore really.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Before I had my band, it was so bad that I would think, "What am I going to do when I can't really eat anymore??" It really bothered me. However, now that I have the band, have lost 70 lbs (officially today!), and am able to exercise without being miserable, things are much clearer. I’m happier, healthier, and more motivated than ever!<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> There are time, however, even now that I find myself grazing- looking for something to stick in my mouth even though I’m full or just ate. That always happens to me when I have PMS or didn’t get enough sleep the night before. Which leads to a very valid question – have you spoken to your doctor about the desires you have to eat all the time? It’s possible that this is very physical. For example – do you get enough sleep? Exercise? (exercise is more enjoyable when you begin to lose weight). Sometimes overeating can be caused by your body’s attempt to raise your metabolism. Could that be the case here? <o:p> </o:p> PS: Why I was writing this, I forgot that I was eating lunch and by the time I remembered, I didn’t want to eat anymore so I threw it away – I would NEVER have been able to do that before the surgery.

Like you, I'm the type of person who loves to eat fast food. I work in downtown <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dallas</st1:place></st1:City> where just about any fast food restaurant I'd want is within easy walking distance. Before my band I ate out everyday. I spent about $200 a week on food alone. I would estimate that I ate at either a restaurant or fast food about ten to twelve times a week.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> For me, eating out was still a very real problem immediately after being banded. I would have to constantly remind myself that eating fast food was no longer something I wanted to do. I caved fairly regularly and continued to eat McDonalds, KFC, Taco bell, and whatever else I got my hands on. Then, after I began to get fills, things started changing. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> At first, it was what I chose to eat from fast food restaurant. Maybe I’d pick a kids meal instead of supersizing or have something a little healthier- grilled chicken sandwich instead of breaded. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Then, after the second fill, I began to develop a method of ‘left overs’ where I would eat what I could and take the rest home in order to eat the second day.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> After the third fill, however, all bets were off – I absolutely refuse to spend even $3 on a meal from which I can only take three bites. Left overs would last a week before going bad. It’s a waste of money, food, time, and calories to eat fast food. This wasn’t something that I had to work incredibly hard at either; it became more and more easy as time went on just to say ‘no thank you’ to the fast food. IN fact, I don’t even want to eat out anymore.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p>

I also have a thyroid problem and am on Synthroid. However, I was on it for nearly a year before my surgery and it didn't cause me to lose even a single pound. I think I initially began to gain weight because of my low thyroid back when I was a child, but once I became overweight, food had become such an addiction that resolving the original problem did not resolve the current problem. If you do decide to go with the surgery, though, make sure you stay on your synthroid. The thyroid can really impact your metabolism and after banding, keeping your metabolism up becomes very important

Every-Single-Month during my period, I do not lose a pound. For six days, exactly, I stay at the exact same weight. On day 7, I lose about two pounds and spend the next week losing about a pound a day before things settle down to about .7 pounds daily

I don't get tight before-hand, but toward the end I do - I'm really tight right now; can't hardly eat anything

Geez, I can't wait until my butt hurts too!!:biggrin:

Oh man, those Jenny O' Turkey roasts are really good, aren't they? And low in calories, high in Protein. Thanks for the dinner idea! :smile: As far as the weightloss goes; if one thing doesn't work, try something else. You say you guys eat mostly out of a can or box - I did the same thing for a long time. You probably don't have the time to cook every day, but why not try it on the weekends? Make a big to-do of it and go for something really delicious like fetta spinich stuffed chicken breasts. Turn it into a five-star meal and exercise for dessert. Any small change may be just what you need in order to start losing. Also, don't forget to keep an eye on your calorie intake - boxed, canned, and frozen meals can be pretty calorific. Good luck and don't lose hope! It takes us all time to adjust to the band :thumbup:

I havent finished reading this post yet, but I wanted to say- AS OF ONE WEEK AGO- I NO LONGER DAM UP THE BATH TUB!! i can officially FIT!!! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY :thumbup: :cry_smile: :blushing:

You know, I can understand your husband's concerns. Children can easily get the wrong impression. But at 6 years old, I think if you and he explained it to her - your surgery and how much food can fit into mommy's stomach- she would understand well enough to not take it the wrong way. That said, if you continue to eat too much and get sick, it could have very serious consiquences. Does your husband know you are getting sick? Have you explained to him that this could cause you to lose the band or worse? Being healthy for yourself, your husband, and especially your daughter should also be a priority

Dr Jayaseelan at Medical City. I had insurance cover mine so I don't have the actual cost. Dr Jayaseelan's office is busy though and fill appointments should be made PLENTY in advance (a month or so). They do keep room on the schedule for emergencies and pre-op/post-op visits and such, though. From what I read on here, I think Dr Jayaseelan did an excellent job with my band. The discomfort after the surgery was minimal - much less than I had expected. I was in and out of the hospital within about two hours on the surgery day and went home to relax. Dr Jayaseelan also has a wonderful, kind bed-side manner and most of his staff are bandsters so they understand 100% what you're going through. And most importantly, the fills are done using fluro and are generally painless. He's also openminded and works with you in regards to your fills instead of just telling you flat out when you need a fill like some doctors will.

Oh I've gone through a list of cravings since being banded in early April: Wendy's Frosties (immediately after being banded) DQ chocolate dipped ice cream (after first fill) Chipotle soft tacos with corn (after second fill) After my third fill, I can't really eat enough to warrant snacking (it's a waste of good hydrating opportunities) But, since my third fill, I've really begun to crave flavor- anything really strong in flavor. I've been putting salsa on a lot of things to add flavor. Salsa goes good with rice cakes or chicken, btw :thumbup:

In 5.6 lbs, I’m going to six flags. I will have lost 71.6 lbs and decided by myself and family several months ago that once I hit 250 lbs even, we’d all take off and spend an entire day at six flags. It’s a goal I will probably reach before the end of September. Of course, because I’m in Texas and summer tends to last until winter, we probably won’t actually go until the beginning of October when it cools down enough to really enjoy being outside all day. This is a big step for me. I haven’t been to six flags in almost a decade because of how terrified I was to get on a rollercoaster and not be able to fit. I LOVE rollercoasters! At 250 lbs, I will still be quite heavy compared to the average person, but at least I’ll be small enough to get a seat on the Texas Giant (huge wooden roller coaster). I’m so excited! So, here’s the question I have for yall: What goals and rewards have you set for yourself ? I need a good one for when I hit the 100 lbs weight loss target :thumbup:

You know, I've been thiking about permanent make-up. I dont wear make-up now because I really hate putting it on and it makes my skin oily, but I look really pretty with make-up, so I'll have to consider this

Congratulations on the weight loss! And you know, buying new things is definitely a reward, but it's more than that too. I can't tell you how happy I was when I tried on a size 24 (previous size was a really large 28, almost 30) and it fit! And it didn't just fit, it fit well, not too tight at all and was very nice and shapely

I know that 'gobble it down' feeling very well. It usually hits me between 3:30 and 5 PM. I use the Protein that I have to drink to counter that. I can't STAND Protein shakes, so I get these IDS New whey protein test tubes from GNC instead and drink one throughout the day. I usually drink about a third of it at around 9 AM - when I get my first 'cravings' of the day. I then drink another small amount about 30 minutes before lunch because I dont get enough protein with my lunch. Then, I finish it off on the way home from work. By the time I get home, I'm not longer ravenous and am able to prepare dinner without eating it all before it's even cooked!

I think the correct URL is www.texaslapbandcenter.com I used Dr. Jayaseelan with the TX Lapband Center for my surgery. It's really hard to get a fill appointment quickly, but he does use fluro and has excellent bed-side manners. Most of his team has had the surgery themselves so they are familiar with the prcoess and always very understanding. I highly recommend him - just make sure you have an appointment well in advance :smile:

When you get a fill, they pump liquid into your lap band to make it tighter around your stomach. They do this in increments because as you lose weight, the fat around your stomach decreases and a tightened band can become loose again. I gained weight after my surgery because my lap band was loose at the beginning. This meant that I could pretty much eat anything I wanted. On top of that, I didn’t follow my pre-op and post-op diets properly (I didn’t drink protein) and this caused my metabolism to shut down which meant everything I ate for several weeks turned right into fat. But once I started following the doctor’s orders, I started losing and losing quickly. Right now I’m losing approximately 5 lbs a week – I know this is more than we’re supposed to lose, but I’m in exercise hyper-drive. I never realized how insanely hyper I’d be once I started losing weight – everyone has commented on how much excess energy I have now! It’s such an awesome feeling!!

You certainly aren't doomed I think if the band slipped, you would know - in theory you wouldn't be able to eat or drink anything at all without getting very sick. Just try your hardest follow doctors orders and you should be fine!

You know, I feel your pain. I tend to panic over things like that too. When I had to go in for my (whatever it is where they stick all those little Patches to your chest and legs and such and check out your heart??) anywho- when I went in for that, I was sure I'd fail! I kept thinking, "My heart is going to have a hole in it or something." You see- I've never had any heart work done. I never really needed any, my heart always felt normal. well anyway, I assume everything was good because they called and scheduled the surgery the next day Good luck with your band

I can understand why you're embarrassed completely. I was 321 lbs when I had the lapband surgery. I carry my weight all over so I didn't look quite as large as I was. Now, I've lost 64 lbs - about 1/3 of my total weight loss goal. I don’t have a problem when people ask me how much I've lost - I’ll announce it to the world - it's quite an achievement. The problem I have is when they ask how much MORE I intend to lose- "um, 120 lbs give or take." C'mon, that's 180 lbs of weight loss!! That's more than an average person weighs! So, mostly (especially with nosey bosses and co-workers) I just don’t answer. Those closest to me- family and friends – get the hard, honest truth. They all know how much I’ve struggled with my weight and they have all been incredibly supportive of my decisions so I use that as a crutch to lean on. They know the journey I have to take – they know how hard it has been and will be – and they will support me. That’s all I need As far as everyone else goes – they can just keep guessing! Geez