jvinciguerra1

A friend of mine did die ... but it was the full gastric bypass. I feel confident with my surgeon. He has done hundreds with no deaths with lapband.

I don't know what the criteria is ... but I do know your liver will thank you if you do loose 10-15 lbs. before surgery depending on your weight. The surgeon has to move your liver in order to get to your stomach.

My old scale lied and maked me discouraged. We just didn't get along and so I put him in a yard sale and was happy with the dollar I got for him. I'm sure he is spitting out more lies to his new owner ... but as least he isn't pissing me off anymore!

I've been calling it my "divorce" dinner. Me and food are (finally!) splitting up! I love it !!!!!

If you mean the other; I'll eat my LAST meal right before I die, I'm guessing. Now that is funny ! Thanks for the laugh.

I use fitday.com and free and so easy. Lots of extras with no cost.

You just wouldn't believe how it changes your mood. I started out extremely slow and added 5 minutes each walk. I'm now doing long walks twice a day. I can go for hours (when and if I have the time) and it really didn't take me that long to build up my endurance. I try keeping my mind off the exercise by really noticing my surroundings (the little details) or little sounds you normally don't hear. It really makes the time go faster and before you know it ... your done and may even want to go farther.

I like July Freedom Fighters 2009 !

Well you're one of the first honest people here, lol, because you know very few will admit to it and naturally it's why I lost 100 pounds twice in my life(in my 20s) but now I'm at the point where the lap band didn't work like I thought it would, does it mean I need to kill myself no, I'll just go on as is and it's not the end of the world. I'm tired of struggling and focusing on being thin all the time, it's not worth it anymore to me! Good luck to you, Nancy.:cursing: It's half and half ... but when you hit 50 years of age all those medical issues creep up .... which I never in my life thought they would. So honestly, I just want to get under 180 lbs (more is icing on the cake) and I don't want to have my toes cut off from diabetes or my life cut short from high blood pressure ....or even worse ... a stroke that leaves me depended on people I love. Jan from NH

I'm always cold... I'm so cold it seems from the inside out. Everyone around me is now boiling and I'm freezing my butt off. Could it be more than loosing weight? Maybe I'm lacking a vitamin ?

I love my CPAP - I've had it for 7 or 8 years and I can't sleep / live without it.

Our "Team of Experts" here in Portsmouth, NH requires .... Initial group seminar. Fill in paper work. Meet with RN a few weeks later and she tells you to loose 10% of body weight. Diet ...Meet with RN again, go see Shrink one on one and then once a week for 5 weeks with a small group. Meet the nutritionist twice, go to physical therapy twice. THEN .... if you have met all the requirements you finally get to see the surgeon. Go for an upper GI testing, EKG, chest x-ray and tons of blood work (that is where I am). Then it gets insurance approval, meet with surgeon again and get surgery date. I bet in a few years this procedure will be so common that all these hoops you have to jump through will be cut in half ... or they will come up with a magic pill that does what the lap band does now. This is the second time doing this. Last time I was just not committed enough and didn't know what I was getting myself into with all these appointments. How can people with a full time job / family get all this done? It's like another part time job. This takes many months depending how long it takes to loose the weight and when you can fit all these appointments in. I started again in March 2009. Surgery will probably be sometime in July. I'm one of the "quick" ones cause I worked my ass off to loose weight and wasn't made to take the 5 week course again.

Saw this online - shakes, pudding & mousse DOUBLE DELUXE chocolate FUDGE mix one chocolate Protein supplement according to directions. Then, add one packet of Swiss Miss fat free and or sugar free hot cocoa mix and three ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds. Cookies AND CREAM - mix one vanilla or chocolate protein supplement according to directions. Next, add four drops of peppermint extract and three ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds. Then, add four low fat chocolate Nilla wafers, blend at low speed for 10 seconds. FROZEN FRUIT DREAM mix one vanilla protein supplement according to directions with 3/4 Water and 1/3 orange juice. then add 1/2 ripe banana, three frozen strawberries and three ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds. NANA SPLIT mix one vanilla or chocolate protein supplement according to directions. Next, add 1/2 ripe banana, 1/4 cup chopped pineapple, three frozen strawberries and three ice cubes. Blend at high speed of 45 seconds. CHOCOLATE MINT MOCHA mix one chocolate protein supplement according to directions. Then, add 1 1/2 Tbsp. of General Foods Coffees Swiss Mocha sugar free, fat free instant coffee, 4 drops of peppermint extract and three ice cubes, Blend at high speed for 45 seconds. KEY LIME PIE mix one vanilla protein supplement according to directions. Next, add two tablespoons frozen lime juice, one graham cracker (four small squares) and three ice cubes. blend at high speed for 45 seconds. CHOCOLATE Peanut Butter CUP mix one chocolate protein supplement according to directions. Then add one tablespoon of all natural peanut butter and 3 ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds. CINNAMON ROLL SUPREME mix one vanilla protein supplement according to directions. next, add 1/2 tsp. of ground cinnamon, 1 tsp. fat free Butter Buds, and three ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds. PROTEIN CUP OF JOE mix one vanilla or chocolate protein supplement with 50% prepared decaf coffee and 50% skim milk. Next add 2 tsp of sugar free coca and 3 ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds. BROCCOLI SOUP MAKES THREE SERVINGS. 1 1/2 CUPS OF CHOPPED BROCCOLI, 1/4 CUP chopped onion, 1 cup chicken broth, fat free,1/2 cup of grated fat free cheese (cheddar or Swiss), 2 cups skim milk, 2 Tbs. cornstarch, dash of pepper, three scoops of designer Protein (natural flavor). Boil vegetables and broth in large saucepan. Reduce heat and cover until tender (about 10 minutes). Add milk, pepper and cornstarch. Stir until soup thickens. Remove from heat and add cheese, stirring until melted. Cool, then add Designer Protein. ORANGE DREAMS mix one vanilla protein supplement according to directions, less 2 ounces of liquid. Then add 2 ounces of no pulp orange juice, 1/4 teaspoon of orange sugar free Tang and three ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 30 seconds. VANILLA- MAPLE DRINK mix one vanilla protein supplement according to directions. Next add one teaspoon of pure maple extract and 3 ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 30 seconds. LEMON CRYSTAL Mix one vanilla protein supplement according to directions, substituting water with crystal light lemon flavored drink. Next add three ice cubes blend at high speed for 30 seconds. RASPBERRY TEA CHILLER mix one vanilla protein supplement according to directions substituting water with sugar free raspberry flavored fruit tea. next add 1/2 teaspoon of rum flavoring and three ice cubes, blend at high speed for 30 seconds. PROTEIN PUDDING mix one vanilla protein supplement with approximately two ounces less liquid than directions call for. next add three tablespoons of your favorite sugar free fat free instant pudding and five ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 60 seconds. ORANGE PUDDING 3 ounces of boiling water 1 1/2 teaspoons (2/3 envelope) orange flavored sugar free Gelatin, 7 ounces of sugar free tang and your Protein Powder. Mix well and chill. SLUSH recipes designing your own- Mixing instructions pour 6 oz of Fluid into a measuring cub add ice until fluid line reaches 12 oz marker. pour ice mixture into blender add flavoring and protein powder. blend on low speed 2 to 3 seconds with quick pulses, then blend on high speed until tio mixture is the consistency of a slush. RASPBERRY SLUSH 6 oz of sugar free raspberry flavored fruit tea and ice to 1/2 teaspoon of rum flavoring and protein powder. Blend and serve. HOT beverages COCOA mix 1 teaspoon of cocoa to 2 packet of equal sweetener, a dash of cinnamon and9 ox of water to chocolate or vanilla protein powder. PEPPERMINT COCOA 1 teaspoon of cocoa, 1 teaspoon of chocolate flavoring 1/8 teaspoon of peppermint extract, a dash of cinnamon and 3 packets of equal sweetener to 9 oz of water and vanilla or chocolate protein powder. MOUSSE designing your won- Mixing instructions. Mix 1/2 cup boiling water into gelatin. Stir vigorously with wire whip until desolved. Add remaining ingredients to gelatin mixture. Mix well. Pour into container with tight fitting lit. Put in freezer until set and very cold but not frozen. Mix with electric mixer on high speed until peaks form and mixture is lightly fluffy. Serve at once Due to the increased caloric content of these mousse recipes, limit to one per day! CHOCOLATE MINT MOUSSE 1/2 CUP boiling water, 1/2 envelope Knox unflavored gelatin to 2 packets of equal sweetener. A dash of cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of cocoa, 1 teaspoon of creme de menthe extract to a 1/2 cup of water and chocolate protein powder. CHOCOLATE ALMOND MOUSSE 1/2 cup boiling water 1/2 envelope Knox unflavored gelatin to 2 packets of equal sweetener. A dash of cinnamon 1 teaspoon of cocoa 1/2 teaspoon of pure almond extract to a 1/2 cup of water and chocolate protein powder. Protein Supplement Recipes The recipes may be used to increase the taste of your protein supplement and may prevent taste fatigue. DOUBLE DELUXE CHOCOLATE FUDGE mix one chocolate protein supplement according to directions. Then, add one packet of Swiss Miss fat free and or sugar free hot cocoa mix and three ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds. COOKIES AND CREAM - mix one vanilla or chocolate protein supplement according to directions. Next, add four drops of peppermint extract and three ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds. Then, add four low fat chocolate Nilla wafers, blend at low speed for 10 seconds. FROZEN FRUIT DREAM mix one vanilla protein supplement according to directions with 3/4 water and 1/3 orange juice. then add 1/2 ripe banana, three frozen strawberries and three ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds. NANA SPLIT mix one vanilla or chocolate protein supplement according to directions. Next, add 1/2 ripe banana, 1/4 cup chopped pineapple, three frozen strawberries and three ice cubes. Blend at high speed of 45 seconds. CHOCOLATE MINT MOCHA mix one chocolate protein supplement according to directions. Then, add 1 1/2 Tbsp. of General Foods Coffees Swiss Mocha sugar free, fat free instant coffee, 4 drops of peppermint extract and three ice cubes, Blend at high speed for 45 seconds. KEY LIME PIE mix one vanilla protein supplement according to directions. Next, add two tablespoons frozen lime juice, one graham cracker (four small squares) and three ice cubes. blend at high speed for 45 seconds. CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CUP mix one chocolate protein supplement according to directions. Then add one tablespoon of all natural peanut butter and 3 ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds. CINNAMON ROLL SUPREME mix one vanilla protein supplement according to directions. next, add 1/2 tsp. of ground cinnamon, 1 tsp. fat free Butter Buds, and three ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds. PROTEIN CUP OF JOE mix one vanilla or chocolate protein supplement with 50% prepared decaf coffee and 50% skim milk. Next add 2 tsp of sugar free coca and 3 ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds. BROCCOLI SOUP MAKES THREE SERVINGS. 1 1/2 CUPS OF CHOPPED BROCCOLI, 1/4 CUP chopped onion, 1 cup chicken broth, fat free,1/2 cup of grated fat free cheese (cheddar or Swiss), 2 cups skim milk, 2 Tbs. cornstarch, dash of pepper, three scoops of designer Protein (natural flavor). Boil vegetables and broth in large saucepan. Reduce heat and cover until tender (about 10 minutes). Add milk, pepper and cornstarch. Stir until soup thickens. Remove from heat and add cheese, stirring until melted. Cool, then add Designer Protein. ORANGE DREAMS mix one vanilla protein supplement according to directions, less 2 ounces of liquid. Then add 2 ounces of no pulp orange juice, 1/4 teaspoon of orange sugar free Tang and three ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 30 seconds. VANILLA- MAPLE DRINK mix one vanilla protein supplement according to directions. Next add one teaspoon of pure maple extract and 3 ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 30 seconds. LEMON CRYSTAL Mix one vanilla protein supplement according to directions, substituting water with crystal light lemon flavored drink. Next add three ice cubes blend at high speed for 30 seconds. RASPBERRY TEA CHILLER mix one vanilla protein supplement according to directions substituting water with sugar free raspberry flavored fruit tea. next add 1/2 teaspoon of rum flavoring and three ice cubes, blend at high speed for 30 seconds. PROTEIN PUDDING mix one vanilla protein supplement with approximately two ounces less liquid than directions call for. next add three tablespoons of your favorite sugar free fat free instant pudding and five ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 60 seconds. ORANGE PUDDING 3 ounces of boiling water 1 1/2 teaspoons (2/3 envelope) orange flavored sugar free gelatin, 7 ounces of sugar free tang and your protein powder. Mix well and chill. SLUSH RECIPES designing your own- Mixing instructions pour 6 oz of fluid into a measuring cub add ice until fluid line reaches 12 oz marker. pour ice mixture into blender add flavoring and protein powder. blend on low speed 2 to 3 seconds with quick pulses, then blend on high speed until tio mixture is the consistency of a slush. RASPBERRY SLUSH 6 oz of sugar free raspberry flavored fruit tea and ice to 1/2 teaspoon of rum flavoring and protein powder. Blend and serve. HOT BEVERAGES COCOA mix 1 teaspoon of cocoa to 2 packet of equal sweetener, a dash of cinnamon and9 ox of water to chocolate or vanilla protein powder. PEPPERMINT COCOA 1 teaspoon of cocoa, 1 teaspoon of chocolate flavoring 1/8 teaspoon of peppermint extract, a dash of cinnamon and 3 packets of equal sweetener to 9 oz of water and vanilla or chocolate protein powder. MOUSSE designing your won- Mixing instructions. Mix 1/2 cup boiling water into gelatin. Stir vigorously with wire whip until desolved. Add remaining ingredients to gelatin mixture. Mix well. Pour into container with tight fitting lit. Put in freezer until set and very cold but not frozen. Mix with electric mixer on high speed until peaks form and mixture is lightly fluffy. Serve at once Due to the increased caloric content of these mousse recipes, limit to one per day! CHOCOLATE MINT MOUSSE 1/2 CUP boiling water, 1/2 envelope Knox unflavored gelatin to 2 packets of equal sweetener. A dash of cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of cocoa, 1 teaspoon of creme de menthe extract to a 1/2 cup of water and chocolate protein powder. CHOCOLATE ALMOND MOUSSE 1/2 cup boiling water 1/2 envelope Knox unflavored gelatin to 2 packets of equal sweetener. A dash of cinnamon 1 teaspoon of cocoa 1/2 teaspoon of pure almond extract to a 1/2 cup of water and chocolate protein powder. __________________

Something with "Journey" in it ..... ( song could be "Don't stop Believing) ..... This is a life long Journey. :thumbup: From Jan in Portsmouth, NH

Name could have "Journey" in it (and we can pick a song from them also) since this is a life long journey.

thebestlifenow .... you had no support from your surgeon ?

keep us up to date ! Hope you are on the road to recovery.

Get ready, get set ... Let's Go !!!! ..... just waiting to clear my calendar with all the Summer Company. Anyone else have a date yet for July ?

No way .... excellent ! All went well ?

Whatever you choose ... doctors & dietitians recently have upped the requirements for best nutrition. Shakes should contain at least 20 mg of Isolate protein and less than 9 of sugar per serving.

What about GNC's Ultra Mega. It's multivitamins & minerals in a protein shake. Has anyone heard of it ?