MissBS

Hello and welcome!!! April 7th is just right around the corner. LBT is a great place to come and read, ask, vent, and share. I've made some very good friends here. I am lucky and have a lot of support from my family and friends, but the support I get from people here has helped me so much. Glad you're no longer a lurker :thumbup: Good luck with your surgery and I hope to see you around. If I can help you in any way - let me know. Take care!! Becky

Nobody can decide what is best for you except you... but.... I LOVE MY BAND!!! I've heard good and bad about both the RNY and the band. Just decided the band was best for me. It's working out well and I feel like a million bucks. Good luck in your research and in making that decision. Take care. Becky

I have had some milk issues since my surgery also (exact reaction you are having). I can take small amounts ok, but not a glass. I drink the Atkins Advantage shakes and they don't give me any problems. I have one every day for breakfast. I like the chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. They are not cheap... but we are worth it!! Good luck to you!! Becky

Hi Tiffany and welcome to LBT!!! Congratulations on getting your band. Never thought you'd be dreaming about scrambled eggs, or be so excited at the thought of cottage cheese... right? That 11 pounds is a great start.... keep up the good work!! I love coming here and reading other people's posts. I get plenty of answers and it's nice to "talk" with people who know what this weight loss journey is all about. Also, the time I'm here reading, asking, and posting, I'm out of the kitchen and not thinking about food. Take good care of yourself!! Becky

Hi jazie. I've always wondered about changes in altitude and the band. I will be watching the replies to your post. I also wanted to tell you that I LOVE Red River. We have gone up there in the summer for many years. It is so beautiful and such a fun little town. I used to ski there too. Your post brought back many RR memories. Take care!! Becky

Hello Emily and welcome to LBT!! Do you know when your surgery will be? Feeling excited, nervous, and scared is perfectly normal. I think it is wonderful that you are doing this now - you have so many years of fun ahead of you and how nice it will be to feel good and be able to do all of the things that you want to do. My advice is to keep coming here, keep reading, and keep asking questions. You will make friends of all ages who can help you through your weight loss journey. The more infomed you are, the less scared you will be. Keep focused on your goal and always try to follow your doctor's instructions. If I can do anything to help you, please let me know. Good luck to you!!!!! Becky

I am a chile lover. Made sure I could continue to eat it before I made the decision to get my band. I put hot salsa in my chicken and beef broth right after surgery while I was on clear liquids. I make my own chile con carne because I like it HOT. I haven't had any problems with it - my body needs it!!!! I love it!!!! Becky - another Spice Girl :confused:

Hi Stephanie. I met you today in the chat room. Nice to see you again!! When I began my journey in August 2008, I had 135 pounds to lose. I've lost 68 and have 67 to go - so I'm about half way there. I know I will have loose skin once I get to goal, but.... I would rather have loose skin and be healthy than have tight fat filled skin and be unhealthy. You are MUCH younger than I am and that might make a difference with the skin. I have not noticed any difference in exercising since I now have restriction. I do know that I can exercise better, and for longer, now that I have lost some weight. I feel so much better. I am up and moving a lot more and it is much easier. I was/am an emotional eater and a binge eater. I still struggle with these issues, but I know that this time it is different. Getting the band was such a big step for me, and kind of the final step, and I am determined to do it this time. I know I will have slip ups, but when I do now, I pull myself right back up and get right back on track. I think it has something to do with how I felt right before I made my decision to get the band. Being here on LBT, I have made some really good friends, and when I need support and encouragement, I talk to them about it - they know how I'm feeling, where I've been, where I want to go, and how to help me get there. I wish you all the luck in the world and I'm here if you need somebody to talk to. Take care. Becky

Hi. We must be sisters.... or twins maybe. I could have written your post - well - except for the almost to goal part. I too can do great all day, and then blow it at night. It's like I just lose my mind. I'm sure knowing you are not alone is not the help you were looking for, but... thank you for the post, and I will be anxious to read the replies. Maybe we could live together and keep each other out of the kitchen at night :confused: Good luck!!

The paperwork that I received from my surgeon states, "White flour products, carbonated beverages, and overeating can potentially cause slippage, which is normally corrected through an additional surgery." My doctor says regular coffee and tea are fine. I drink a cup or two every now and then. Every doctor, and their instructions, are different - always best to do what your doctor says. Good luck with your surgery. I'll be thinking about you on Friday. Take care!! Becky

I chew gum every now and then.

Hi. When I was on mushies, I could have baked fish, mashed potatoes, chicken salad (but it had to be mashed up very well or put through a food processor) with light mayo, scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, cream of wheat, oatmeal, refried beans, cooked veggies, soft fruits (mashed up), and sf jello, pudding, and popsicles. Much easier to do at home than in a restaurant. I think your best bet would be to order soup - but you still need to be careful about what is in it. I was only on soft foods/mushies for a week, so it wasn't too bad. Good luck to you!! Becky

Hi momster. Congratulations on getting your band. I am excited for you!! Becky

Like many of you, I got my band to improve my health. I have been on high blood pressure medication since 1996. In December, I had the dosage cut in half and today, my PCP took me off of them altogether!!!!! I feel great and am VERY excited. Just thought I'd share my good news with you all. Taking baby steps to get to mini goals that will help me reach my big goal. Good luck to you all!!!! Becky

My doctor said that coffee is just fine - good thing because I have a cup or two every morning - I need it!! Can't have carbonated beverages. Best to do what your doctor says, but I've never heard of caffine hurting your band - have heard that it might stimulate your appetite.... just brings me up to the human level in the morning. Take care!!! Becky

Since you are self pay (I was too), you don't need anything from your PCP to have the surgery done. If you have done your research and feel that the band is right for you, then you should go ahead and do it..... right after you find a new PCP. I love my band! Good luck to you!!! Becky

Hi. I'm sorry you are confused and that you don't seem to be getting much clarification from your clinic. Every doctor is different and so are their pre-op diets. Mine was a protein drink (I like Atkins Advantage) for breakfast and lunch, and dinner was lean meat (chicken, turkey, fish) and veggies. I was on it for 4 weeks (was supposed to be 3) and I lost 16 pounds. Some people do not have a pre-op diet, but from your post, it sounds like someone wants you to lose some before your surgery. I would try to contact someone else (even your surgeon) and try to find out what they want you to be eating/drinking. Good luck to you!! Hope your surgery goes well. Becky

Hi momster and good luck with your surgery tomorrow!!! I purchased the pasta at Whole Foods and it is their own brand. I bought the elbow macaroni, but they had different kinds. Let me know how everything goes. You will be in my thoughts tomorrow. Take care!!! Becky

Hi momster. Yes to some of the things on your list.... no to some... and some I don't care for I LOVE chile... red and green and HOT!! I made sure before I got the band that chile would not be on my forbidden list. Mexican food is still a part of my life. I also have no problems with chile, like at Wendy's. I have eaten popcorn and had no problems with it either. I don't like steak or Japanese rolls, so I can't answer about those. White flour products are on my list of things I'm not supposed to have ("A dilated pouch can occur by consuming white flour products, carbonated beverages, and overeating. This can potentially cause a slippage, which is normally corrected through additional surgery"). I have tried, and had trouble with, bread, flour tortillas, and cannot eat pizza because of the crust. After 3 to 6 months I could incorporate whole grain and whole wheat products. I first tried whole wheat pasta from Kroger's and didn't care for it, but now I have found some that is yummy - not much different from regular pasta. I can now eat toasted whole wheat bread too. For sure everyone's doctor's instructions are different and so are our bodies and our bands. It is trial and error and I am still learning to live with the good restriction that I finally have. Good luck to you!!! Becky

Hi amanda. I am mathmatically challenged, so maybe you can help me. How many pounds is 12 kilos? I got my band on September 19, 2008. I am so sorry that you, and fatmommyslim, are not having the results that you were hoping for. With your 3 fills, do you have any restriction? Many times I don't think real good weight loss begins until you have real good restriction. I hope that things get better for you both - if I can do anything to help, please let me know. I'm certainly no expert, but I am a good listener. Take care!! Becky

Can't see or feel mine..... and that is fine with me :wink:

Got my band on September 19th, 2008 - almost 6 months. I LOVE MY BAND!!!!! Becky

I can finally keep up with my 4 year old granddaughter Dyllin!!! I spend my days with her and before getting my band, just surviving the day was hard. Now I'm jumping on the trampoline, taking long walks every day, doing yard work with her, and even roller skating at the local rink (it isn't pretty, but we do it)! After a long busy day with her yesterday, I came home and walked for 30 minutes on my treadmill - that is a record for me!! I don't think I've felt this good since I was 4!!!! My BMI was 47.2 when I began this journey in August and it is now 35.6. I've lost a tiny bit more than half of the weight that I want to lose in 6 months. I feel great!!! Becky Right now, "I AM FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT GIVEN A CAPE AND A NICE TIARA, I COULD SAVE THE WORLD"!!!!!!

Hi. I decided I was going to get the band, and went for my initial consultation on August 13, 2008. I had my surgery on September 19, 2008. I was self pay. September will be here before you know it. I think most people have to wait 6+ months for insurance guidlines, so they can probably give you more tips on the waiting than I can. Just keep busy and stay focused. You are so right... the backpacking trip will keep your mind off of the waiting and maybe you can even lose a little bit before you get your band. Good luck to you!!! Becky

Hi. My post-fill diet is the same as kdlee's - liquids for 2 days, soft foods for 1 day, then advance to solid foods. 10 days on liquids????? That seems VERY extreme to me!!!! Maybe you should contact your surgeon and make sure that is correct. If he says it is, then I guess that is what you have to do. Maybe the radiographer got confused - that sounds more like a post-OP diet, not a post-FILL diet. I wish you luck. Take care!! Becky