miarn

My name is Michelle, I am a Registered Nurse who had my band done a year ago here in Batesville, Arkansas. I have been obese for about 14 years and have tried every diet on the market only to lose and then gain back the weight plus some. I suffered from sleep apnea and severe hypertension(requiring 3 pills a day) as well as back aches and leg aches constantly. I didn't want the gastric bypass for fear of malabsorption and malnutrition as well as the permanency of it. Knowing that the band didn't interrupt the GI tract at all and it was reversible if need be, I chose this route. I am so glad I did, if I had it all to do over again I would in a heartbeat. I have lost a total of 88 pounds so far, going from a size 2x (22/24W) to a Medium scrub and (12/14's) in clothes. I don't have any sleep apnea problems and I only take 1 blood pressure pill a day now, I am hoping to get off of it soon. I need to lose 28 more pounds to be at my goal and I am hoping to have it off by mid June when I am going to Mexico. I have had 4 fills so far on my journey and will most likely have one more to get to my goal. The band has been a very positive experience for me. I have had the occasional "clogging up" as I call it when I eat too fast or don't chew properly. And you learn that things that seem harmless such as rice just won't go down! But it passes on its own after some discomfort and you learn from it. I haven't had any complications and I just love it. :biggrin:

I don't remember being that hungry but then I kept something readily available all day such as water and protein shakes. I had real thin cream of wheat for breakfast, thinned tomato soup for lunch and protein pudding at supper and drank about 100 ounces of water a day and had the shakes a little throughout the day. You will really really be surprised when you start trying to eat. I would have never believed that such a small portion of food would ever fill me up but it does. I remember getting a cup of mashed potatoes and mashing up a few carrots into it one day at work in the cafeteria and I couldn't eat the whole cup. Amazing.

The shakes are a bit drab, I liked the Myoplex the best though. For protein have you tried making a pudding out of protein powder, 1 small box of fat free sugar free pudding powder, and skim milk? I put like 3 scoops of the protein powder in it. I top it with a dab of fat free sugar free cool whip and it is great plus gives me the protein grams I need for the day. I also put in some fibersure powder as I have constipation frequently. Just a suggestion. I also lived on healthy request tomato soup in the early days because like you I was terrified of throwing up and dislodging the band.

You will do fine, just keep your goal in mind. I too felt that it would be just awful, granted it was unpleasant, but not awful. The pride you will feel in the end will make it worth while, I promise. Good Luck.