rondapooh1

Try Chicken soup from a mexican restaurant. It's savory with great flavor! Remember to strain first though. :tongue_smilie:

I love love love spanx. :tongue_smilie: I've had one pair for at least two years and as long as you hand wish and air dry, you should have them a long time. I know they look small, but they definetly will fit comfortable with no problem. They smooth and really hold you in. Good Luck with the Graduation.

Has everyone every heard/tried the liquid protien? My nutritionist gave me a sample. Two TSB equals 15 grams of protien.!I'm wondering if it's worth getting for after surgery or if I should just stick with shakes. Best wishes everyone!

Confession-Day 11 of the 14 day pre-op diet. I got bored. I admit it!!!! I've been really good...but tonight we went out to dinner at a mexican restaurant. It was the first time on this diet except for a Halloween party that I drank lots of soup and ate protien pudding at. :smile2: I decided that soup was the best thing and ordered a large bowl of chicken soup with lots of broth. Let me tell you...I got my straw out of my water....and sucked up every single bit of broth in that bowl. It was so tackey of me...I know. I can tell you though...I just don't care. I'm glad it was busy though and no one was watching. I may have sucked up a few grains of rice, but all in all...a successful dinner out. So...when you are DESPERATE for something other than the usual clear broth or creamy soup...give it a shot! Next time though, I think I'll do take out and have the hubby strain it first. :thumbup: Surgery is only a few days away (Oct. 21st) and I'm getting really excited. Best wishes to all!!!

I supose if you said I have a ballon in my tummy it might be taken that way. If we as parents show them the annimated version of the band(not the gross one), took him to my doctor with me!!!...and Yes...I described it as a rubberband that can be filled like a ballon....then the whole swallow a ballon issue isn't valid. My point is this....My son is almost 4...and I will not tell him that OBESE is wrong...or bad or unhealthy. Instead of focusing on all that is wrong in the world, I choose to focus on what is right instead. This will help Mommy feel better, faster, etc. Kids learn by experience and example. I supp0se if I blew up a ballon and put it around his stuffed bear to show him, then I see an issue. Annalogies are something my kid personally gets particularlly with a video and trip! It's like saying that if he watches buzz lightyear jump off of a building,he will too. Not going to happen because we discuss what could happen. So...dont' take what I said as advice. I'm just sharring. You as a parent know what works for your kids best. I personally didn't want to explain that "fat" was bad. I never want him to be a judgemental person who judges anyone based on their body. To me...it's not about being thinner. It's about being healthy and active.

Hi everyone! I only have 5 more days left (Oct. 21st) and I'm getting nervous. Today, I have all of my pre-op tests. Then, it's just sit tight and hope for the best. So far, I've lost 14 lbs on my pre-op diet which is good I know. I should be thrilled at the 14lbs. I guess I'm just thinking "Why didn't I do the liquid thing before I got so big?" It's crazy because I know that when you stop eating liquids, it comes back. I'm amazed that I'm still beating myself up over this. Sign. On a positive note, my almost 4 year old son is asking everyday "mommy, do you have the rubber band yet?" I told him that I was having a ballon like rubber band put on my tummy so that I would feel better and get smaller so that I could run really fast. He wants to be ready to put on his "boosters" so that he can out run me. HA! Best wishes to those pre and post op this month! Keep up the good fight!!!!!

My son will be 4 next month and my surgery date is Oct. 21st. I told him that Mommy was having a rubber band that blows up like a ballon put in her tummy. The rubber band will help Mommy to get a smaller so that I can run just as fast as him and go down slides and jump in the jumpy houses with him. I also told him it would make me feel better and have more energy. I even took him to the Doctor with me when I had to get a weight/vitals check done. Needless to say, he asks every day if I have the "rubber band" yet because he wants to turn on his boosters and outrun me when we race. I keep reminding him how many days until surgery and remind him that he can't jump on mommy for a few days after because my tummy will be sore. I hope this helps. I always make sure he eats healthy and have since the day he was born. He get the occasional chocoloate or chip treat, but he loves fruit, fish, chicken and peas! He still isn't a big veggie fan though. I'm working on that. I didn't want to go into the "healthy weight" think because I hope he doesn't have the hangups that I do!!!! Good Luck.

Quick question everyone...why can't we (on full liquid pre-op diets)have soups that are low in fat and calories instead of liquid soups? I'm just curious. A lot of them are lower in calories and fat and are probably better for you. What's the deal with that. Does it have to do with how it breaks down in the body? Ronda

Hi! My surgery is on the 21st and I have made a couple of soups (potato and veggie) that I have pured and frozen in 4 oz containers in the freezer. I figured that at worst (hoping for the best) hubby could grill a chicken breast or fish and then blend for me after the first two weeks. I also bought some protien powder to add to the soups during the first couple of weeks. If it gets dicey, I also have a couple of the protien bullets handy. Good Luck!

Sandielaw, I tried the unjury chicken soup today. It's broth and has 20 grams of protien in 8 ozs. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's not bad. The smell isn't appealing, but the tast is pretty good. It's definately better than canned broth. Maybe you could try one of these to get some protien in? I'm having a hard time with the protien too. Good Luck!

Hi gang! It's the end of day 4 here on my pre-op diet. So far, I'm lost 11 lbs. I know...water weight. I felt a little better today. I was definately not as tired. Thank god!!!! I'm finding that if I just eat every 3 hours or so, then I'm ok. My calorie intake is about 1000/ 10 grams of fat and about 60 protien. How is everyone else on this? CyndyDG...I would kill for 3 oz of meat and 1/2 a cup of vegies. LOL. I did make some Soup today though. Yes...I'm still obsessed...but at least I'm getting better. I made one pot of very thin rosemary potato soup (no added fat though) and one pot of veggie soup. The Soups were great. SOOOO much better than canned. I just pured everyting up and mixed it thin. It definately as healthy as one of the canned soups and without all of the salt. I made enough of each soup to put some in the freezer for after surgery and to eat on it for a few days. whew. I don't know where that burst of energy came from. Best of all to everyone!!! Ronda

Hi Sandielaw! I'm on a very similar diet too. Day 3 here of a 14 day diet. I'm hungry. Around 4pm...I'm starving. My calories have been around 1000 - 1200 calories per day and I'm on "Full Liquids" with very low fat. I think today I've had 8 grams of fat all day. I'm eating every three hours. At least...100 calories of something. Anything!!!!! I've tried the following: 1. French Onion soup-Blended-Cambell's Healthy select or something-0 fat and hardley any calories. It was very satifying. 2. Try a protien powder mixed with one package of sugar free/fat free Jello instant pudding with skim milk. Blend and chill. It's filling...and high in protien. (Try the pudding with your premade protien shakes too. It works and gives it a really rich satisfying taste for 35 calories) 3. Can you have strained cream soups? Make your own. Purred potato with lots of chicken broth. Blended carrots with a little fat free 1/2 and 1/2 or skim milk. 4. I can have really loose cream of wheat or grits. Call your doctor and ask him/her if you can add this. It's filling. 5. Try special K protien Water between meals. It has 5 grams of protiens and it seems to help a little for only 30 calories. 6. Try the V8 soups. They are Awesome...and filling. All low fat and an entire container is about 160 calories. I was suprised at how filling these were. 7. Jello? Lastely, call your doctor if you are really dying and having physical reactions. He/she can add more to your diet if you really need it. Hope this helps. We can do this!!! Ronda

Hi everyone! Day 2 on the pre-op Liquid Diet. I think I might have been a little overconfident yesterday. I'm finding that I'm STARVING at about 4pm every day and late at night too. I'm also finding it weird that all the stuff I can eat (excluding soup/tomato juice) is sweet. I don't like sweet things very much. It's been weird. I'm relying on very thin cream of wheat a couple of times a day which the nutritionist said was fine. Thank Goodness!!!! Other than my liquid obsession, I'm doing good. I don't have a whole lot of energy in the afternoon, but the mornings seem to be really good. My surgery day is on the 21st and I'm getting so excited. It's less than two weeks away. Best wishes to all of those banded and those to come! Everyone is doing great!!!!!

Hi everyone....today's the first day of my 14 day pre-op all liquid diet. I started off the day with coffee and a scoop of chocolate protien powder. Not bad when I put it in the bullet. It make a cappachino like coffee. Then, moved on to a fat free Light Yoplait yogurt at around 10am. The creamy one is delicious. Lunch is V8 Butternut Soup(suprisingly awesome), water and a Fat free pudding. So far....and i know it's only been 6 hours, not horrible. lol. I bet I won't be saying this in a few days though. I'm not allowed anyting but what will fit through a straw. My doctor told me NOT to pureee any meats and add it either. Sigh. So, I'm to keep it as low in fat as possibly and I'm going to do my BEST to succeed. So, day 1....here I go. Best wishes to all of those being banded this week.

I found these...thought they might be helpful. It has to taste better than canned soup! Cream of Vegetable Soup (Low Fat Cream Soup Base) Source: Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Favorites : Flavorful recipes for Healthful Meals Servings: 6 Think of this recipe as the basic template for making a low-fat creamy soup. We've given specific ingredients for making broccoli, spinach, or asparagus soup. The soup base is also good for carrot, celery, and zucchini soups. SOUP BASE: 2 1/2 cups chopped onions 1 garlic clove, minced or pressed 3 cups diced potatoes 1 cup chopped celery 3 cups Water vegetables and herbs of your choice (see below) CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: BROCCOLI: 5 cups chopped broccoli (florets and peeled stems) 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh thyme (1/4 teaspoon dried) 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (1 teaspoon dried) 1 tablespoon fresh marjoram (1/2 teaspoon dried) SPINACH 10 ounces fresh spinach, rinsed, tough stems removed 1/4 teaspoon nut meg 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (1 teaspoon dried) 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh thyme (1/4 teaspoon dried) ASPARAGUS 5 cups chopped asparagus (about 3 pounds in the store) 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill (2 teaspoons dried) 1/2 teaspoon ground white or black pepper 2 cups buttermilk salt to taste In a soup pot, combine the onions, garlic, potatoes, celery, and water. Bring to a boil, then cover, lower the heat, and simmer for 20 minutes. Add your chosen combination of green vegetable and herbs and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes more, until the vegetables are tender. Working in batches in a blender or food processor, purée the soup with the buttermilk (can use powdered cooking buttermilk or fat free buttermilk if needed). Return it to the soup pot. Add salt to taste, reheat, and serve. CREAM OF GREEN VEGETABLE SOUP WITH BROCCOLI PER 10-OZ SERVING: 126 calories, 5.8 g Protein, 1.0 g fat, 25.1 g carbohydrates, 5 g saturated fatty acids, .2 g polyunsaturated fatty acids .2 g monounsaturated fatty acids, 3mg cholesterol, 141 mg sodium 3.5 g total dietary Fiber CREAM OF GREEN VEGETABLE SOUP WITH SPINACH PER 10-OZ SERVING: 122 calories, 5.5 g protein, 1.0 g fat, 24.1 g carbohydrates, .5 g saturated fatty acids 2 g polyunsaturated fatty acids, 2 g monounsaturated fatty acids, 3 mg cholesterol, 158 mg sodium, 3 2 g total dietary fiber CREAM OF GREEN VEGETABLE SOUP WITH ASPARAGUS PER 10-OZ SERVING: 132 calories 6.4 g protein, 1.1 g fat

Hi all! My appointment went really well. I like Dr. Crawford. He's fun but still serious if that makes sense. I also saw my nutritionist today. She was very nice and told me to call her anytime. My pre-surgery bloodwork is on the 16th and surgery is the 21st. They said I won't have to even stay overnight probably which is great. Dr. C compared it to gallbladder surgery (which I had a couple of years ago) in regard to recovery time. That's great since I was back to work the next week. I start my full liquid diet next Tuesday. I did convince them to let me have home made vegestable Soup at night. Dr. Crawford agreed as long as it was meat free. YEAH. I think I'll survive now. :tongue:

Thanks for the support ya'll. Tomorrow I go see my Dr. Crawford and my nutritionist. Still nervous. I'm ready to get this show on the road.

The WII Fit is actually really cool. It doen't give your weight unless you click on it. It also doesn't say outloud that you are obese. It does give you your BMI and shows a moveable scale of underweight...average...etc. It also gives you your fit age, but it's very dependent on your balance and changes consistently. I do know that you can also LOCK your particular setting with a password so no one else can see it. You can also skip this part every time you do it except for the first time. I am REALLY impressed with the wii. You get a really fun workout and don't even realize it until you are dripping with sweat. The Yoga is awesome and the hula is so fun.

I'm wondering what you guys are doing for your "liquid" diet. I see my nutritionist on Thursday and my Doctor too. I'm wondering if we can have soups (blended I guess) or what? I'm guessing the protien shakes begin too. I'm already been having one for breakfast for the past few weeks. They aren't too bad.....but...for 3 meals a day. Yikes. How are you guys doing this? LOL...I should be so ashamed. I don't sound grateful at all do I? I am though. I'm lucky to be alive and have the opportunity to be banded. I've got to keep reminding myself that two weeks of liquid before surgery isn't a big deal. right? :thumbup:

Hi everyone! I'm in West Georgia...grew up in Carrollton and live in Temple now. I'll be having my surgery on October 21st in Anniston by Dr. Crawford. I'm a self pay and will be paying $13,500 for the surgery including an overnight hospital stay and 1 year of fills. I know a lot of people have asked about pricing so I thought I would give an update. I'm kind of getting nervous about the surgery. I start liquids next week, see Dr. Crawford and the nutritionist on Thursday of this week. YIKES! It's happening really fast. I would love some support and any hints that anyone can give me.

Hi there! I'm Ronda and I just found out my surgery date will be October 21st! I'm so excited. I start my 2 week liquid diet next tuesday. It's so funny. I dread the pre-op diet more then the actual surgery. :biggrin: Weird huh. I just don't get it. Anyone else dread this?