betzeebug

there's some yummy things you can do with cottage cheese. I add a scoop to my protein shake, makes it super thick. I add a 1/2 cup to my s/f/free pudding. You can add it to soup, put it in a blender with a cup of the soup and puree it and add back to the soup. You can add it to casserols. You can puree it with some splenda and a few drops of flavoring like what ever, chochlate and use it to dip fruit in.

Throw a scoop of protein powder into that Pumpkin Mouse and up the protein amt. I try to add the P. powder to various foods so I get more protein. you can't even tell it's there.

I think as long as a person is moving and getting heart rate up that has to do something? Especially if one was a couch potato before? I could hardly walk, let a lone exercise.

I think is someone is having a problem, they should talk this over with their Drs. Doctors know more than we do, I would think. I also was a "2/per day" kind of gal and always very, very regular, not any more. So I keep Milk of Magnesua on hand and try to get all my water in, and move as much as possible. Some times it's good and some times not. I never let myself go over 2 days without a BM. I will hit the seneca (natural laxitive). that's what works for me anyway. Also dried Apricots. Those will always do the trick for me!

how much water are you getting in? if you don't drink it won't move! also are you exercising enough? I eat a lot of raw veggies and fruite that helps. good luck!

i have bad knees/hips, I do water arobics and a lot of walking in the pool. I love it, feels like you are playing instead of working out. I go 3 times/wk and it is helping a lot. Soon I'll be able to walk around the block like a normal person! I am looking forward to that. Betz

You'r in good hands. Dr. Edwards (from the same office) did mine 5/8/09 and the whole staff there are awesome! Good luck and let us know you are doing! They have a support group the 2nd Monday of every month at 5:30 pm at the Surgery Center room 4B. Ask your Dr. about it, he can give you more info, or his office. You should go, it's really a great place to get more info. Betz

Yep you have no restriction but that doesn't mean you should eat what you want. The reason for the different stages is to let your stomach heal and shrink. So please, do yourself a a favor and follow all instructions to the letter! Good luck.

I know this is not anything new, but to me it's a light bulb moment!!! Am "I" hungry or is it just my mind??? Now before eating I have to think about it. Am I really hungry or is it all in my head? So when I open the fridge and grab for something, I stop close my eyes and think, is it real or in my head? I have stopped from grabbing many things I shouldn't. When It is hunger I stop again and ask myself should I eat this or this? making wise good nutritional choices. No I'm not perfect and when I really want something, like the new Truffle concrete from DQ, I have one bit and give the rest to hubby. I find now that most all of the time, sweets don't appel to me any longer. :thumbup: Gotta love it!!! My holes are healed and I'm finally walking without any pain at all! I'm so blessed, and soooo thankful! every morning before I rise, I place my hand on my tummy and thank God for this blessing! ya call me corny, but I am thankful! Wishing everyone here a smooth and educated journey! What have you learned today????

I know this is not anything new, but to me it's a light bulb moment!!! Am "I" hungry or is it just my mind??? Now before eating I have to think about it. Am I really hungry or is it all in my head? So when I open the fridge and grab for something, I stop close my eyes and think, is it real or in my head? I have stopped from grabbing many things I shouldn't. When It is hunger I stop again and ask myself should I eat this or this? making wise good nutritional choices. No I'm not perfect and when I really want something, like the new Truffle concrete from DQ, I have one bit and give the rest to hubby. I find now that most all of the time, sweets don't appel to me any longer. :devil: Gotta love it!!! My holes are healed and I'm finally walking without any pain at all! I'm so blessed, and soooo thankful! every morning before I rise, I place my hand on my tummy and thank God for this blessing! ya call me corny, but I am thankful! Wishing everyone here a smooth and educated journey! What have you learned today????

Today is the day I get to eat real food! No more liquids, ya! well I will continue to do the liquids when I just don't have time to eat. That does come up every now and again, this way I'm covered. Part of me is afraid to eat, but I know if I take it slow it will all be ok. Every day I wake up I'm so grateful for this procedure/process and I wonder if I can do this? You know how you have tried everything written and still fail. I wonder if I will fail at this too? I know it's all in my mind. Lately I find myself questioning what's just in "my mind" and what is real??? Like you think "oh how I would love to devour that jucy hamberger" but when you stop to think about it, you're not hungy...you're only hungery in your mind. ya know. Wishing you all a wonderful and safe holiday weekend. Remember before you bite, think about it. Are you really hungery???

Today is the day I get to eat real food! No more liquids, ya! well I will continue to do the liquids when I just don't have time to eat. That does come up every now and again, this way I'm covered. Part of me is afraid to eat, but I know if I take it slow it will all be ok. Every day I wake up I'm so grateful for this procedure/process and I wonder if I can do this? You know how you have tried everything written and still fail. I wonder if I will fail at this too? I know it's all in my mind. Lately I find myself questioning what's just in "my mind" and what is real??? Like you think "oh how I would love to devour that jucy hamberger" but when you stop to think about it, you're not hungy...you're only hungery in your mind. ya know. Wishing you all a wonderful and safe holiday weekend. Remember before you bite, think about it. Are you really hungery???

Good morning all you banders out there. Well my surgery date 5/8 came and went without a hitch! It was so easy, and I never have been sick once. Of course I've been follownig every instruction completely. So far since 4/22 pre op diet I'm down 24 lbs. and feel better than I have in 10 years. This is just to friggin awesome and I'd do again all over tomorrow if I had to. I'm walking better, already have gotten rid of one pill (acid reflux) and am working toward a few others. It's so amazing how just 20 lbs makes such a differents in a person's knees and back. I can finally walk without being in so much pain. I'm lovings this totally. So far no hunger attacks. I'm doing perfect. HOpe you all are having an easy time as I am. bb

HAIR LOSS, have you been getting enough fats? If you dont take in good fats you will lose your hair and sking, nails will suffer. I never go totally fat free...not good!

Since April 22, post op diet, and surgery 5/8 I've lost 23 lbs. I have ankles, I really have ankles and slender feet. My DH said last night, baby don't think I've ever seen your ankles before. I laughed. This is just to friggin wonderful! I love the part about not being hungry. My Drs. PA said it won't last??? may be it will??? I know, from reading all the posts here, that each person is different. I'm doing so well and am enjoying my new freedome of walking again. I'm so blessed and so glad I made the decission to do this. I'd do it again, in a heart beat! hope everyone else is having a great Monday! :cursing: Betz

Since April 22, post op diet, and surgery 5/8 I've lost 23 lbs. I have ankles, I really have ankles and slender feet. My DH said last night, baby don't think I've ever seen your ankles before. I laughed. This is just to friggin wonderful! I love the part about not being hungry. My Drs. PA said it won't last??? may be it will??? I know, from reading all the posts here, that each person is different. I'm doing so well and am enjoying my new freedome of walking again. I'm so blessed and so glad I made the decission to do this. I'd do it again, in a heart beat! hope everyone else is having a great Monday! :smile2: Betz

Last Friday 5/8 I was banded. OH BABY!!! :ohmy: Of course that day our area was hit with a really bad storm, 17 tornados touched down in our surrounding area. Of course I had no clue, I was in lala land! They said they had to postpone my surgery till the storm passed over but I still had no clue how bad it was. A few nights later I finally was able to see the news and asked my husband, "What the hell happened"? I'm just glad our home and family/friends were ok and feel so bad for the people who had damage. Ok, now for the trip so far. I handled surgery just fine, Doc said everything went very well, was in for 40 mins surgery and 1 1/2 hrs. of recovery. I wanted to sleep instead of breathing deeply, nurses didn't like that. I feel wonderful, no nauseia, not a great deal of pain, off pain meds after the 3rd day. Doing fine on full liquids. Even made a big batch of potato salad for Mothers day and didn't even want a bite! I have not been hungery AT ALL, so far this has been a walk in the park! Knock on wood! I hear the shoulder pain from the gas is bad, but it's not happened yet! I'm 5 days out and nothing, THANKS TO GOD! So may be I'm just one of the lucky ones, the blessed ones??? Yes I'm sick of liquids but it really isn't so bad! I add a lot of ice to my slimfast and I feel like it's a milkshake. I can do this. I've been walking every day, just a little, I get worn out so easy! I see out Doc on Thursday, can't wait to see how much I've lost in water weight. I lost 10 lbs. before surgery and I know I've lost more, my feet and ankles have never been so skinny and think! this is to friggin awesome!!!

Last Friday 5/8 I was banded. OH BABY!!! Of course that day our area was hit with a really bad storm, 17 tornados touched down in our surrounding area. Of course I had no clue, I was in lala land! They said they had to postpone my surgery till the storm passed over but I still had no clue how bad it was. A few nights later I finally was able to see the news and asked my husband, "What the hell happened"? I'm just glad our home and family/friends were ok and feel so bad for the people who had damage. Ok, now for the trip so far. I handled surgery just fine, Doc said everything went very well, was in for 40 mins surgery and 1 1/2 hrs. of recovery. I wanted to sleep instead of breathing deeply, nurses didn't like that. I feel wonderful, no nauseia, not a great deal of pain, off pain meds after the 3rd day. Doing fine on full liquids. Even made a big batch of potato salad for Mothers day and didn't even want a bite! I have not been hungery AT ALL, so far this has been a walk in the park! Knock on wood! I hear the shoulder pain from the gas is bad, but it's not happened yet! I'm 5 days out and nothing, THANKS TO GOD! So may be I'm just one of the lucky ones, the blessed ones??? Yes I'm sick of liquids but it really isn't so bad! I add a lot of ice to my slimfast and I feel like it's a milkshake. I can do this. I've been walking every day, just a little, I get worn out so easy! I see out Doc on Thursday, can't wait to see how much I've lost in water weight. I lost 10 lbs. before surgery and I know I've lost more, my feet and ankles have never been so skinny and think! this is to friggin awesome!!!:smile:

Just got a call from the docs office, I have to be at the surgery center at 7 a.m. tomorrow 5/8. Hopefully if all goes well with his first surgery I should be in there around 9 a.m? I'm his 2nd surgery of the day, so he should still be pretty fresh? :thumbup: I'm not a very patient person, but I have been trying to be calm about this all, all the waiting. I haven't killed anyone yet, so I'd say I'm doing pretty good. I just want to be on my way, ya know. I really thought I'd come out of surgery with some restriction, but I guess that depends on the person??? sounds like some have and some have not? Don't think Dr. Edwards does a fill during surgery? Wish they would have given better information about that. I'm not looking forward to "Banders Hell" but I can do this. If I have gotten thru the post op no food thing I can do this! well friends, tomorrow will be the 1st day of the "rest of my new life" and boy am I ready!!! :sad: Good luck all you banders and wanna bes out there! wish me luck! thanks Betz

Just got a call from the docs office, I have to be at the surgery center at 7 a.m. tomorrow 5/8. Hopefully if all goes well with his first surgery I should be in there around 9 a.m? I'm his 2nd surgery of the day, so he should still be pretty fresh? I'm not a very patient person, but I have been trying to be calm about this all, all the waiting. I haven't killed anyone yet, so I'd say I'm doing pretty good. I just want to be on my way, ya know. I really thought I'd come out of surgery with some restriction, but I guess that depends on the person??? sounds like some have and some have not? Don't think Dr. Edwards does a fill during surgery? Wish they would have given better information about that. I'm not looking forward to "Banders Hell" but I can do this. If I have gotten thru the post op no food thing I can do this! well friends, tomorrow will be the 1st day of the "rest of my new life" and boy am I ready!!! :thumbdown: Good luck all you banders and wanna bes out there! wish me luck! thanks Betz

Bmann, if you really want this then fight the insurance company. Once they deny you, you can write an appeal and if they still deny you, then go to your state insurance commission. Every state has one. go on line (google) and look it up and how to appeal your insurance denial. That's what I'm doing. First I got a loan for the surgery now I'm going to sue my insurance. Believe me I'm going to win!!! so fight for what you want!!!...betz

Oh my! I am being banded on 5/08/09. I am such a speedy eater, years of being a wiatress (many moons ago) I can scarf down a meal in 5 mins. or less. I know I have to slow down and I am trying. I'm so afraid of Earl! Lord I have to slow down! I even drink fast! I'm in trouble I think. Well wish me luck and say a prayer, I will need it all! Good luck to all here. thanks for the wonderful posts, they really do help...Betz:eek:

Hi Sprinfield Banders and those thinking about banding. I will be banded on 5/8/09 and can't wait!! I'm so excited and nervous at the same time. Dr. Edwards will be doing mine. The reason not many Cox banders are on here is because they JUST started doing this, before they began it was just St. John's doing the banding. Dr. Edwards has many years experience and in doing some reasearch he has the lowest rate of infection around. So I'm glad I have him. He and his staff are totally awesome, so helpful and supportive. I'm an employee of St John's and since I didn't lose 5% of my weight, they denied me, so I'm paying for this myself. I have sent in an appeal and if that doesn't result in a positive outcome I will take it to the Missouri Insurance Commission. It's discrimination what they are doing, I shouldn't have to jump thru hoops! Anyway I so enjoy reading all the positive words on here. Have gotten a lot of help from this site. Good luck to all and hope to hear from some of you in the near future. This place really helps....Betz

You have to try sphgette squash, it's to die for and it really does taste like sphgette. Small squash, cut in 1/2. Scoop out the middle stuff, cover w/surran wrap or place in large bowl w/cover. Add about 1/2 cup of Water, and microwave on high till tender. I start out w/5 mins. and go from there. When fork is inserted and goes in smooth/easy, it's done. Take it out and let sit for 5 mins. Take fork and scrap thru the the squash and it will ravel up like sphgette. Serve with favorite sauce. you will love this stuff.

Heather, thanks so much for this recipe, I'm portuguese and I so remember the wonderful soups my Grandmother used to make, now I have these wonderful recipes to make some of my own, thanks again, these are wonderful...bb