Onnie67

Glad i could help!!! Just a suggestion...add in 1/3 cup of dry powder milk to the kashi...you get 8 more grams of protein and it does not change the taste. Made it more "creamy"... I also make a shake using 8 oz of skim milk, 1/3 cup dry milk, and 1 package of sugar free carnation instant breakfast...23gms of protein...and tasty!!!!!

that is awesome!! I have just finished up all my requirements and am now waiting for my approval!!!! Meeting with the nutritionist will be very helpful...let her know that you don't like meat, she will give you lots of suggestions (well mine did anyway!) if you need any support feel free to email me!! TonyaGarst@comcast.net it is always good to have someone to sound off with!!!

i am not yet banded, but my nutritionist and surgeon both said to start working on drinking my shakes and getting my required protein! I feel better!! I have more energy, and i have lost a little bit of weight too!!!! i never thought yesterday to make fake lasagna...ricotta cheese, a bit of sauce, and motz cheese...bake it in the oven for 20 minuets...yum! How far into the process are you???? Do you have a banding date yet??

i totally understand where you are coming from!! I drank 12-14 cans of cola a day (MAJOR carbs!!!) love breads, pasta, ect. I have started drinking a protein shake in the morning...Kashi has a great one...and having a carb master yogurt with it. I have another protein shake (not kashi because it is higher in sugar) and a carb master yogurt...what i have noticed...that after doing this for 3 days my carb craving was almost GONE! Yesterday, I decided to have order lasagna and breadsticks for the kids and i had a slice...guess what...the darn carb cravings started and i wanted everything...chips, bread, cookies...GRRRR! I drank my water...and really worked hard not to binge on the junk....this morning i had my normal protein shake/yogurt and i have been fine... For dinner, I have been having about a cup of veggies and lean protein.... I don't know if your nutritionist has told you either..you can add 1/3 cup of dry milk to soups, protein shakes, puddings, ect to up the protein... My nephew uses tofu (silken i believe) and adds that to his smoothies and shakes (he is vegan) I have a gag reflex and don't like a lot of textures and the kashi has not bothered me at all... i also make a shake with 8 oz of skim milk, 1/3 cup of dry milk, and 1 sugar free carnation instant breakfast...that gives me 22gms of protein. my daily requirement is 70-80 gms per day!!!! :cry_smile:

you headaches...i am wondering if you drank a lot of soda or coffee/tea? you could be having caffinee withdrawls? My nutritionist and nurse told me to get off soda way before being banded...the headaches are awful. within a few days (4 for me) the headaches were gone... Try some liquid motrin or tylenol. You could also call the surgeon/nurse and ask for something.... Also, if you are not getting enought liquid you can become dehydrated and that also causes headaches.. hth!!!!

honestly, i have only told those very close to me and who matter a great deal to me what i am doing. I have not discussed it with many many of my family member for the reason you have said...i don't want to hear the negative comments nor do i want to be told again that if i had the will power this i would not have this weight problem. My brother nor most of my inlaws have no idea. I did tell my best friend, my sister in law (she loves me unconditionally) and a couple of good friends.. is there any reason anyone at work would need to know?? If not, then NO i would not tell... :smile2:

they broke mine up into 2 appointments...the first appointment we talked about my weight issues, how and why I "felt" the band would help me, answered questions about life and how it can and would effect me...then they had me take 3 "tests" or quizes...they were multi choice and on my second appointment they went over the results...things like using food for comfort, over snacking...there were other more "personal" things that were part of the questionaire and we have been addressing those issues in sessions. I have had 5 sessions and every week i feel stronger about my choice to be banded! My paperwork was submitted today so hopefully i will have a surgery date within a couple of weeks!!!!! Good luck to you!!!!

my understanding from my doc/nurse is that having drinks with your meal can cause you to vomit and it could also stretch out the band... They actually recommended that i start practicing before being banded..that being said..i have been practicing but it is hard. I am better, but i still reach for a glass!!

What about trying to go back to eating like a bander eats? I have started (i am not yet banded!!!) drinking a protein shake for bfast with a carb master yogurt... lunch i have been having a protein shake and salad with protein dinner will be protein and veggies... The shakes have been keeping me feeling "full" and i have been loosing some weight too!!! Wishing you lots of luck!!

I have a horriable gag reflex and most protein shakes really gagged me...this was good! My nutritionist also said that i could do 8 oz of milk, 1/3 cup dry powder milk, and a sugar free instant breakfast which gives you about 21 gms of protein depending on what instant breakfast you use. I have also been told to add the powder milk to 8 oz of skim milk and use that to make puddings and soups...

Acutally my best friend is a diabetic nurse educator and a diabetic herself... The carb total on my can is 32gms...the fiber is 7gms so you can subtract the fiber from total carbs and that gives you a net carb of 25gms.

Wahoooo:thumbup: i am done with all my insurance requirements! Now, the waiting begins. My paperwork is going to be sent out either today or monday...I don't know how long my insurance company will take to get back to us, but I am excited!! I have been working on "personal" food issues, and I am proud proud proud to say I have not had a soda since last week Thursday!!!!:thumbup: That is a BIGGGG deal for me...i was a 12 can a day cola girl!! I also have started experimenting with foods that I will be allowed to have. Another big deal...i am outside my comfort zone! I have some carb master yogurt (store brand of atkins) and I really like it. I am ordering Kashi shake mixes as they are high in protein and have fiber in them!!!! I plan on replacing my breakfast with a "shake" next week. The following week, I will replace my lunch with a "shake"... All this to get my mind/body ready for the pre-op and post-op living!!! The one thing i really have to get on the ball with is my water intake. If i drink crystal light does that count for water intake???? I really don't care for plain water, though if i have to have it i will!!:thumbup:

OHHH MY GOSH THAT IS FANNNTASTICCCCCCC whooot whooooooooooooottt thanks for sharing and letting us all know it CAN be done!!!

Here is the thing hon, you have to want to do this...today is a new day, call the surgeons office and find out what you have to do to keep the process going. If you have your 6 months of dieting done you are almost there!!!! Have you met with the physc yet? maybe that can be your next step. The Dr. i met with is super! I feel very good about my decision because I have had help along the way. I have had support. You can do this!!! What requirements do you still have left to do???

i am not yet banded, but i thought about the same issues.. first, my understanding is this is a "tool" it will help you eat right...it won't force you, or make you..but if you eat "wrong" it will tell you... i am practicing my chewing, my drinking (and lack of it at meal time) and searching out recipes that will work not only for me, but for my family...i am also going to go to support meetings, and I will continue to meet with the nutritionist. I guess it is a mind set. If you are will to work at it, the band (tool) will be there to help you. My surgeon has told me that not everyone is successful. you can cheat (ice cream, milk shakes, ect) and you won't be successful doing that... OHHH i am also working with my physc. regarding my eating issues...i know that i overeat for a reason, and we are working toward changing that.. good luck to you!!!!

Your letter was very well written...I can tell you of my experience...I have just started the process... I did the seminar and met with the surgeon that day (in the Q/A session) Second appointment I met in PRIVATE with his nurse who handles ALL of the insurance....we went over what my personal insurance required, answered ALL of my questions...and has kept in close contact with me VIA email/phone. I next met with my PCP to make sure that he would be on board and support me...NO ISSUES there. I had to have cardio clearance...again met with the cardio in PRIVATE and did what he required for clearance (stress test, echo) I had to meet with the pulmonary doc, he required a sleep study and i meet again with him next week. I met with the nutritionist for class 1 and 5 in a group (knew this up front) Have a chest xray, upper GI, and also blood work scheduled.. I have also had 2 pysc appointments...both scheduled by me..and in PRIVATE...no one else was in the room. I have also met with the surgeon in his office to check my belly (I had gallbladder surgery) and scar placement...he required this to make sure there would not be any issues with my scars and he also checked to make sure that there were no hernia's. ALL of my appoinments have been very respectful and handled very very very professional... I am glad that you are looking for a different place to have your surgery...this place does not sound very professinal

UGHH i am sorry! I thought you were in IL... It bites having to go through all the hoops...i hope you get the answers you need!!

Hang in there!!!! it is a pain in the butt...but try calling BC/BS and asking them to send you the requirements in the mail....i called my insurance and they did that for me no problem...this way you have your ducks in a row... I am from IL too...where are you having your surgery at??

my doctor will NOT do the surgery unless someone is there...plus with all the medication, i don't know if it would be a good idea to try and drive yourself home...

walmart has a chewable multivitamin that is supposed to be good, this is what my nutritionist suggested. I should be ok on calcium with the amount of dairy i will be eating, but she also mentioned that tums are a great way to get the calcium in. I am going to have a "daily reminder" pop up on my calendar so i don't forget!!! :smile:

I can only say this...i have 3 boys...my middle son is overweight..the other 2 boys are "average"...by middle son is 6'8" AND 360lbs. he is going to try eating what i eat and how i eat. Now, I realize that it may be hard for him with out the band, but we are going to try. he will do the protein first, veggies, then carbs. We are also going to walk nightly together. Maybe, by doing this my son can loose weight. I am hoping so.

I will be on the same diet as Lizalee.... :thumbup: they really stress the protein..i am supposed to have 70-80gms per day...and they prefer 23-24gms per meal...

i am NOT yet banded, but my nutritionist has me eating some stuff to get ready... i make power protein milk, (8oz milk 1/3 cup of dry milk mixed=16gms) and for bfast i add 1 sugar free instant bfast...that is 23 gms of protein in 8oz.. she suggested that the power protein milk can be added to anything that calls for milk to up the protein...things like creamed soups, mashed potatoes, puddings.. also cottage cheese is good...and ricotta cheese (there is a recipe called "fake lasagna" that is very good... scrambled eggs....refried lowfat beans with a bit of cheese on them and salsa... those are somethings that i have tried..

my nutritionist suggestion making power protein milk (8oz of milk either skim or 1% mixed with 1/3 cup of dry milk =16 gms of protein. Use this to make puddings, creamed soups, mashed potatoes, whatever you would use milk in... I also use the power protein milk with an instant breakfast for 23gms of protein in 1 8 oz serving. Do you like cottage cheese or ricotta cheese?? they are also high in protein...there is a great recipe here for "fake lasagna" that is very tasty...

I have used spanx and assest (sold at target..made by maker of spanx) and they have helped me... :blushing: