Cindy C

My BFF had her surgery in 2003. She started out over 300 pounds and got as low as 140. She honestly looked unhealthy at that weight and gained a little back. She has maintained 165 for 5-6 years with little if any restriction.

Milk has 1 gram of protein per ounce. Carnation instant breakfast has 5 grams plus alot of vitamins. Protein powder usually has about 16 grams per scoop. So 12 ounces of skim milk, 1 carnation and a scoop of powder is about 33 grams of protein. If you want more than that add a little more protein powder or milk. I use chocolate Carnation and Vanilla Creme Muscle Milk Powder. It tastes like a chocolate malt!

It's not rude at all. It's something you need to know. At 203 lbs I was about a 14 or 16 but I'm 5'9" so you can't really go by that. If you want to order clothes online, you should probably take your measurements. Most online stores have a size chart. Good job on your success. Keep it up!

Good for you. That is exactly what we all should do.

Congrats!! What a great compliment! Compliments from our closest friends and family are nice but sometimes I think they are just trying to be supportive and make me feel better. When you get one from a casual acquaintances you know really mean it!

Visine. My eyes got so dry in the hospital they hurt. If your hospital is anything like mine the pillows feel like cardboard. Bring a nice soft one with you. Bring a good book or something to kill the time. It gets very boring. Slippers and a bathrobe. They are going to want you to do a lot of walking. You don't want to do it in slipper socks and a hospital gown. Don't forget your cell phone charger. When you make your broth, freeze it in small containers. You won't be able to get much down at a time the first few days. You might even want to freeze it in a ice cube tray. Get some s/f Popsicles. Get some s/f lemonade. Minute maid light is good. Only about 10 calories. It comes in half gallon cartons in the dairy section and 12 pack cans with the Coke products (It's non carbonated). It works very well to get rid of the dry mouth that you will have from the liquid diet. So does s/f lemon hard candy. Good Luck on your surgery.

Because during the surgery everything is sewn into place. The body needs time to heal. If you start sending food through before the body is ready for it you risk popping the stitches.

Mine were too. I assumed that it had to do with the rapid weight loss. I would have a period that lasted several weeks. It would stop for a day or two and start back up. Since I'm over 50 and have no intention of ever becoming pregnant again I went and had endometrial ablation done in December '09. I had a very mild period a few weeks later and haven't had another one since!

You can't let yourself worry about the "what ifs". You need to take everything as it comes. The stress of the unknown is probably contributing to your binging. You can't change future events, the only thing you can control is how you respond to them.

You can do it, Sparky! That's only 2-3 pounds a week. Good luck!

Standard. I honestly don't see the point of doing it under fluoroscopy. If the doctor is experienced he shouldn't need it. I also don't see the point of numbing the area either. Give a shot so you don't feel the next shot? Really???

It doesn't have to be water. Anything caffeine free and sugar free counts as water. Try caffeine free iced tea, s/f Koolade or vitamin water. I keep a glass of something handy all day long and just sip it occasionally. I wouldn't worry too much about the time between beverages and meals. My doctor say half hour before and after but honestly, I haven't followed that rule in a long time. I drink with my meals but usually only a couple sips to avoid getting stuck.

Sounds like your body has gone into survival mode. It's hanging on to every calorie because it's afraid it isn't getting enough. You need to do something to jump start your metabolism. Try upping your calories for a couple days. You should also change your workout routine. Don't do the same thing every day....mix it up.

I think we all understand your fear. I know I do! You know exactly what you have to do. Now, take a deep breath and go do it!!! Don't let yourself fall back into your old habits. If it helps (it helps me)...make copies of an old "fat" picture. The one that disgusts you the most. Put one wherever you will see it when the old ways try creeping in. Take a good, long look at it and remember. Remember how unhealthy you were...Remember how people treated you...Remember how you felt when you saw your reflection. You DON'T want to go back there! You did a great job losing and maintaining for SIX YEARS!!!! You can do it for the rest of your life!

Try drinking coffee in the morning. I always get them if I skip the coffee!

AWESOME!!!

I'm sure all you need is a little fluid taken out. Reflux usually indicates that you are too tight. You probably have a little swelling.

My Shih-tzu did the same thing to me shortly after surgery. Hurt like heck for a few days but no damage done!

Absolutely! Eating slow and taking small bites helps. The reason they tell you to do so is not just so you don't get stuck. It's also because it takes 10-20 minutes for the brain to get the message from the stomach that it is full. Eating slowly gives the brain the time to get the message so you will stop eating. Don't kick yourself about binging. We all are guilty of that, that's part of what brought us to this point in the first place. The band and following the program will help you get passed it. If you slip up just get yourself back on the bandwagon. After 3 years and 145 pounds I still catch myself doing it periodically.

It never ceases to amaze me what different doctors tell their patients to do. My post fill diet has always been liquids for 12-24 hours and then eat what you want! I can't believe that some doctors post fill instructions last for several days. I would still follow the doctors instructions and NO...flour tortilla are not a soft food!

That's great. Good for you! Comments like that from causal acquaintances and people you don't see often can give you more incentive than the ones you get from your closest friends and family!

I had a tooth extracted yesterday morning and didn't eat ANYTHING the rest of the day. Just a Protein shake and about a gallon of iced tea since it was 106 degrees out. Well guess what???? I gained a pound! Are you kidding me? So here I am checking in back at 179.4!!! OY!!!

I think my favorite was the time I stopped at my girlfriend's house on my way home from the gym. I was wearing shorts and a sports bra kinda thing. As I pulled up in front of her house her son (just home from Iraq) was getting in his truck. He knew I had had surgery and lost weight but we hadn't seen each other since his deployment. As I walked up the driveway I could tell he was checking me out in his side mirror and I heard him say "WHOA!" kinda under his breath. I stopped and said hello and welcomed him home and he just stared at me with his eyes bugging out and his chin down to his chest and didn't say anything. I leaned into the window and said "Hey, Adam," He said "Yea?" and I said "You can close your mouth now!" LOL!! Poor kid was so embarrassed! He may be a 6'4" lean mean fighting machine now but I've known him since he was 4 years old and afraid to go potty by himself!!!

Are you sure you're not pregnant?

All these threads for sunglasses and asking for donations for someone's surgery are really starting to annoy me. That's all!