PaulaA

Good Luck Baylor mom- let us know how you are. I was banded on July 5. I have lost 22lbs so far. I started at 226, and want to get to 150. Here is what I eat: Breakfast- one cup coffee- one Adkins Advantage shake. Lunch- Jimmy Dean Frozen omlet with Ketchup- yuummmm Dinner- 3oz of Tuna mixed with 1 tbl of light miracle whip, sliced sweet gerkins, and about 10 wheat thins- chewed really well. 64 oz of water- and that is about it. I went to San Fran last week, and ate out every meal, and still lost two lbs. I have had some trouble with feeling "stuck" when I eat chicken- and it hurts, but I think it is always on the last bite- that I shouldn't have had! My menu isn't very exciting, but satifys me, so maybe give someone some ideas! Good luck to all us July Bandsters~:hungry:

I was also only in for day surgery with Dr. Spiegel in Houston. I went in at 10:30am, and was home by 3:30pm. I think it is quite common, and Dr. Spiegle does ALOT of them! ~Good luck

hey KariK- I did the surgery center with Dr. Spiegel. I was banded on July 5th, and feel GREAT, and down 20lbs. I was supposed to start my "solid" foods tomorrow, but cheated a wee bit and had chicken for dinner tonight- just 4 oz, and feel fine. Don't stress, everyone was great at the surgerycenter- but I could NOT pee afterwards, they did a cath...yuck...but once they started the flow- it wouldn't stop. The nurse told me that the meds make EVERYTHING go to sleep- so had to do a wee wake up call! Good Luck to everyone!!

I'm in the same boat as you Christa- I lost 18lbs, banded on July 5th. It was falling off, then started my mushies, and keep gaining and losing the same 2 lbs.....I start hard food tomorrow, and I hope that will help. I don't think a diet of mashed potato has been very helpful. Hang in there~

Ready to be THINK , and JMO- it isn't bad at all. Don't be stressed. I WAS, and now it was all for nothing. Steph- I get to eat real food TOMORROW- but I'm really digging my Tuna for lunch and eggs for dinner thing- so might stick with it, I really feel great. I'm going to take my son to San Francisco on Mon for a week, just to get away from the TX heat- I teach also- and don't go back to work until Aug 14th, so ...Gonna live it up! -just not eat it up, like I used to! Good luck to everyone~HUGS:girl_hug:

My favorite food at this mushie stage are EGGS, baked beans, potato soup and Tuna Salad. I've lost 18lbs so far! I was banded on July 5th! I feel GREAT- and some of my shorts are falling off already! Keep up the good work all us July Bandsters! :clap2:

Hey Paula in Houston here. I went to my post op yesterday, and I'm down 13bls in ONE WEEK!! I'm so excited. My pants and bra are already looser! I did clear liquids only-the first week-with 2-3 Adkins shakes per day for protein. Now I'm on thicker liquids. I took my son to the Cheesecake Factory and had a cup of potato soup- it was so yummy, and not too thick, and it went down fine, and I was not hungry the rest of the day. I have also had some tomato soup today, and it does stop that rumbling in my lower tummy. I am so surprised how well I feel. I was a big chicken before the surgery- but so far- so REALLY good. It wasn't that bad. Only had incision pain for a day or two, and had hard time getting up from recline position for 2-3 days. Now, I'm running around, and have really resumed my regular life, and it has been 7 days!! Good Luck to all us July Bandsters! :clap2:

I have lost weight, but my Dr. didn't have a pre-op diet, he just had me start liquids the day before surgery...you have to have protein- so keep up those shakes- and you will lose, there is no way you can't! I am 5 days out of surgery and am feeling fine. Went to work this am, took son to dr. went to "eat" at sweet tomatoes (I did the broth from the chik soup)- and now am watching the kids swim in my pool- from my desk! So hang in there- I still have the gas pain in shoulder, but it isn't constant- and I started at 226, and am now 211!!! :clap2:

WEll, I went and walked Target, but the gas is still there. I went to Quiznos and got Chick noodle, and drained the soup- and ate the broth- it does help clear my head- I like that we are all able to share what is going on with us. I would be much more freaked out if you all weren't out there listening to me! THANK YOU. We are gonna be so healthy and CUTE, I can't wait!

YES- I was sent home with this incentive breathing thingy. I'm supposed to suck on it 8 times, 4 times a day- to "prevent pnemonia". It measures your lung volume, and it is hard, but has gotten easier each day. So- practice! I think it is the gas in that left shoulder that makes it difficult- but I definatly have a hard time taking a deep breath- so it must be "normal"- hang in there~

Okay- I was banded on the 5th too, and this morning, I'm feeling WAY better. I hope you are too. I can't believe I have lost 12 lbs since Monday!!!! I know it is mostly water, but WOW! I'm still a little freaked that I went to this extreme to lose the weight. I was 226- with a BMI of 37--BUT -I have lost the same 75 lbs 4 times in my adult life, and never keep it off- plus 10!! GOOD luck to all of us! ~

The surgery itself didn't seem so bad. I was out of it day one, day two was a bit better, and today is day 4- I drove myself to work, and then came home and took a nap, and then went to visit a friend- so it isn't really that bad, just all this churnin in my belly- it's kind of noisy, but I know it is going to be worth it, and I can't wait to look and feel more fit~

:phanvan Okay- that makes sense- less calories, light headedness- the tight chest feeling is gas, right? I'm just a little freaked out. I hope I feel "normal" soon! Thanks!

Okay- Now I have this thing...I am scared at what I have just done to myself. I have already lost 12 lbs this week- no hunger, just a bit dizzy. I think that is from the meds still in my system. My tummy is rummbling alot, and that gas...well, the walking does help. I will feel like my regular self soon, right? I can handle the pain, it is the fuzzy headed feeling that is getting to me.

I have lost the SAME 80lbs 2 times in the past 8 years. I was a professional DANCER!! Not in "gentleman clubs" -but in musical theater. I have owned a dancing school for the past 18 years. About 9 years ago, I had to have ACL reconstruction on my knee. Now most people recover fully from this, but I NEVER did (it still gives me problems)- After the knee surgery, I decided I was offically old (35) and time to have a baby- got pregnant 1st try! Well, got put on bed rest at 7months and did nothing but eat. I had pre-eclampsia....and gained 60lbs!! I hit 200 when I delivered, and almost had a stroke-literally. After the baby, I thought I would go back to my normal- 140-150....well...guess what. I'm now 226 (at pre-op on tuesday- almost had another stroke-NOT litearlly-)- but WOW a 226lb dance teacher....not cute. I think the combo of cutting my excercise to nothing, and then being a "geriatic mom"-and now...I'm getting the lab band on Wed. July 5th, can't wait to get the help I need to finally get back to the PaulaA- I know, and like....:clap2:

My surgery is July 5th, I started to watch, and tried to fast forward- but had to stop......eeek. Sometimes what you don't know-won't hurt ya~P

I have so many pictures of my Husband and my 8 year old son together, and I won't let anyone take my picture. I'm embarrassed to have lunch with old friends. My feet hurt all the time, and I need naps on a a daily basis, because I have no energy. I have a heavy set secretary, who is about 20 years older than me. She is always having weight related healthy issues. We were talking one day, after I had a doctors appt. I said- well everything is a-okay. "I'm the healthiest fat person I know"- and she said- "I was too when I was 40". That made a light come on in my head, and I realized that I couldn't keep abusing my body this way. food is not going to fall off the face of the planet. I can make this sacrifice, and try to get back on track, and be around to watch my son grow up. And he is getting heavy too, so I need to set a better example. I'm getting banded on July 5th! ~ PaulaA in Houston:typing:

Thanks for the welcome. I keep obsessing over this site, trying to find an answer...to what? I don't know. I have made the decision- just nervous. I know that I'm addicted to food, and scared that I will feel so deprived- and be sad, but then-I'm so sad that I'm so heavy. I have conflicting emotions. I guess I just need a few days to get used to the idea that I'm actually going thru with it all. I guess it is like having a baby- no one can really prepare you, and you have to experince yourself to get the answers. ~Thanks for letting me just vent~Paula in Houston

I'm in Houston, and having surgery with Spiegel. My friend had her surgery with him, and has been very successful. I need to lose about 80-90lbs. I DO excercise quite a bit. I had knee surgery in the past, and after I hit 40 and had my first kid, everything slowed way down. Does that port thing interfer with bending and stretching? Do you feel like you are having sugar lows from not eating enough? I'm just a bit nervous- but also excited- ~Paula in Houston:nervous

Hi Everyone. I've been looking at posts for about 6 months, but finally joined. I'm scheduled for surgery on July 5th. My ninth anniverary present from my hubby. He is great. I'm 43, weigh 225 and am 5'4". I have one son, aged 8. I'm not telling anyone except my hubby, and best gay guy friend. Don't want the pressure of "how much have you lost this week". I'm really excited to get my weight back under control, and to have more energy. I'm embarrassed to see old friends because of how fat I am. I always start a conversation with-I know I've gained alot of weight, so lets just get that out in the open so I'm not so self conscience about it. I am self pay, and nervous. Dr. Speigel will be my doctor. Paula from Houston