raedelicious

Jack, you rock:)! Thanks for the positive and dead on thoughts! This is one hard journey;some days I have smooth sailing and some days rough seas. BTW, those dragons of Habit, Gluttony, Sloth, Desperation are mighty fierce. I even printed out your reply.

Tracy...weird...we were banded the same day by the same doctor...you had 4 holes...I had 5.

I think I needed some Protein, so I went to Wal-Mart and bought Slim Fast's low carb chocolate shake and EAS's chocolate shake...Gonna do a taste test...they are pretty even in the carbs and protein categories, but the Slim Fast fat content is 3 times higher. I had half of a Slim Fast last night...it was tolerable... I had half of the EAS this morning...it was tolerable...

I am going to type exactly what the doctor's packet says... Weeks 1-2 "We strongly advise that for the first six weeks after surgery you should consume liquids only...Furthermore, we feel that hydration is the only important function of oral intake for the first few weeks after surgery. So your main intake should be thin liquids (zero calorie) i.e. Water and other sugar-free liquids and you should only consume small amounts of liquid Protein (no sugar drinks) if you are hungry. Even at this early it is important to minimize sugar, so milk shakes and ice cream are definite "no-no's."" Weeks 3-6 "If you are tolerating the clear liquid diet after the first two weeks and you feel like your appetite is not controlled with sugar-free liquids then add thicker liquid foods to your rapid weight loss plan. Also remeber warm foods create a sense of increased satiety so high protein fortified creamy Soups are a great option. High protein low sugar creamy shakes are another alternative if you are hungry and wanting a quick alternative." How in the F*&% can hunger be controlled with zero calorie liquids? I am 12 days out and starving...I did do soups...didn't realize that I had advanced the diet already. The packet neither gives requirements for calories nor protein.

Congrats! Traditional...who needs it!

Gas-X works for some...I am 9 days post-op and they lasted for 5 days...I was at my parents' house the first 2 days...I had my dad burp me:)) like a baby:)...sometimes that worked.

Ha! I frickin' love my doc now...No pre-op diet...just don't gain any weight...No bowel prep either (i.e. colon cleanse)...no food after midnight...that's all folks...surgery went fine...recovery sucks...lol

The school district I work for carries BCBS of Texas...the school district has an exclusion policy and they say that the reason is that the insurance company recommends that they exclude all bariatric services...what a crock of #$%^!!!

Where does it go....well I am thinking that fat...is energy...when you burn energy you give off waste products...(like exhaust from a car)...human waste products are CO2, water (when exhaling) urine, poo, sweat, and heat...

I was told on March 21st that I would have surgery on March 31st. I was self pay...so it was quick to get everything ready...or so I thought.... That next week was pure hell...trying not to gain any weight and having the "last supper syndrome" and add to it the following: 1. 3/21-sheduled 2. 3/24-rescheduled...different time 3. 3/25-rescheduled...different hospital 4. 3/26-rescheduled...different time 5. 3/26-financing cancelled because "hospital wasn't on approved list"...settled with in a couple hours 6.3/28...literally the day before surgery...it was Friday and surgery was that next Monday...they told me that the amount quoted was incorrect by $3,000 dollars...from $12,150 to $15,150. and yes...one more...lol 7. 3/28-rescheduled-different time I was in the classroom when I received this call, #6 on the list, (had the phone with me at all times that week due to all the screw ups)...I started crying in front of my students...pathetic. So, I left the classroom (thank God I have a student teacher right now). And called and cried on to the phone the WLS center and remembered that anger would solve nothing.... It was all resolved, but it was so stressful.

Since depression is an assumed chemical imbalance in the brain, I guess losing weight doesn't exactly help:) At the LB seminar, the doctor reinforced that is does not alleviate depression and other mental illnesses.

I am a foodie, too...and I have to recommend the most fascinating book...Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky. I read this book in 2002...every night I would come home from work and I couldn't wait to read more. Mark has written Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World, too. It was an interesting read, also.

Woo-hoo! Kat!!...take it easy and rest...I didn't and now I seriously regret it. Rae banded 3/31/08

Hey there...I have been readin the forum and posts for about a week...wish i would have been wiser and started way before. Got banded on March 31st by Dr. L. Stegemann in San Antonio, TX. Down 9 pounds already! Mucho, mucho gas pains. Tried to go to work today and had to come home early...TGIF HW/Pre-Surg/Current/Goal 277/250/241/125