honk

Try spacing out your eating may help with head hunger. So don't neccesarily eat more just smaller meals spaced out during the day. If you do eat snacks make them chicken breast (plain with mustard), or low fat cheese sticks.

Do not use GetThin. Call you insurance and find out what their requirements.

I have to disagree Junior I do think she said it to be mean. She's an adult in control of her faculties. She knew what she was saying and she said it. I can't tell you how many times I've read comments on internet articles that said "Well great you lost 50 pounds but you still have TONS to go." REALLY. If you can't say something nice don't say it at all. Expecting someone not to be dismissive of you efforts (and that does'nt mean gushing over your loss. Just not demeaning it.) is reasonable.

I made omlets with egg whites only due to my cholesterol problems. I second using salsa. Low fat laughing cow cheese is easily spread on egg whites as well.

I can tell you what I have for breakfast. For work I put the contents in small baggies and carry them with me until I want to eat (I used to leave my house at 7 so was'nt hungry had an hour drive and would eat breakfast at like 9). Individual container of Chobani Greek yogurt 0 or 2% with fruit. Baggie 1 half a scoop vanilla whey isolate, 2 tsp unflavored benefiber, splendra to taste. Baggie 2, 1-2 protein scoops of Kashi Go Lean High Protein Cereal, couple walnuts. It mixes better if you do Baggie 1 and then add in Baggie 2. Depending on whether you add walnuts about 300 cals and 25-28 g of protein. Walnuts do have fat but it's a good fat. Adding the protein powder makes a thicker substance.

Have you considered water based exercise? It is much easier on your joints. Anytime you are not sitting on your couch is good exercise.

Screw her! She needed to take the energy to trivialize your work rather than just keeping her mouth shut.

"Belly fat" I have section of torso right above the waist that is so annoying.

AlleyKat, As someone who works in Human Resources I have a suggestion for you. I would go to your manager or HR and say "I am having a surgery (you don't need to tell them what due to HIPPA regulations) on X date and plan on returning to work after the weekend. If I am not feeling up to it I may need to take a few days off". The fact that you will be taking the Friday off can and will lead to bad impressions if you can't be in on Monday. I can guarentee you that someone in management/HR/coworkers will infer you were so drunk/stoned over the weekend now you can't make it to work. I know you are thinking "no one will think that of ME". Yes someone will esp. someone who is a gossip and mean spirited. I work in HR and have heard it allllll. I sure your doctor will write you a note that you may need to be out of work for up to 5 days. Free advice worth what you pay for it!

My questions are: 1. How many times do you have to get a fill? I got my first fill about a month out. I got fills about every 3 weeks. It took me about 6 months to get restriction. I wish my doctor had said how long it would take Not that I would'nt have gotten surgery; I just was frustrated that it was taking so long. 2. Does anyone get side effects like Nausea etc? No. Knock on wood I have never vomitted or PB's since surgery almost two years . 3. How long does the approval take? Approval took less than 2 weeks. 4. How long is the procedure itself? Procedure is about 1 1/2 hours. 5. Is this outpatient procedure? Or in patient? My doctor does "inpatient". I put quotes because my surgery was late afternoon and I left before noon the next day so not even 24 hours. 6. Do you have to prove sleeping disorder? No. But I had a BMI of 57, high cholesterol. 7. Do most insurances approve the operation? This really depends on your employers insurance. Call them and ask. 8. once the operation is done - do you have follow a strict diet? Like shakes? if so what kind? Immediatley post op I had a stricked diet. First 7 days clear liquids AND Protein shakes, next 7 full liquids (tomato soup) and Protein Shakes, next seven soft mushies (cottage/ricotta) and Soup (like tomato), next 7 firmer mushies (shredded chicken or tuna) and soup; then finally solids. Once healed my doctor just wants me to eat healthy foods. Low fat/cal solids protein, low fat/cal veggies. I personally eat crackers/chips mindlessly so I just don't keep them in my house. I also don't buy candy, cake, Desserts of any kind because I live alone and I would be the only one eating it. 9. Can you go back to work the next day or in my case Nights? once the procedure is done. Including weekends I was out for 11 days. I would try to buy my own protein shakes instead of getting them at the doctors office they are always more expensive. For powder shoot for less than 120 cals, at least 20 g of protein, less than 4 g of carbs. My doctor wants whey isolate which is a higher quality off protein. PreMade shakes I like Premier branch available at Sams and costco. FYI the band is not meant to stop you from eating unhealthy foods. It will NEVER do that. Some people write " I wish my band was tight enough to stop me from eating X, Y or Z. Well that's not the plan. I needed to create a new lifestyle where I don't eat bread because it is high in cals. for limited nutrition. I personally don't think having a 6 month weight loss period is bad for you (many insurances require it). This gives you time to create a new relationship with food before the band is even inserted.

I would ask about their fill philosophy how quickly do patients normally hit restriction (different for everyone but interesting to hear their answers). How long do they normally have you wait between fills. Which band brand and size do they normally do. How many incisions do they normally use.

I was told two weeks before returning to swimming. 10 hours is a long drive. Soon after surgery you may need to be concerned about blood clots sitting for long periods of time. I did find holding a couch pillow in my lap between me and the seatbelt made riding in the car more comfortable.

The protein shots I bought at walmart gave me HORRIBLE gas.

Check out the carbs. My Whey isolate powder has 114 cals for 24 g Protein only 2 g of carbs.

I've noticed some strange looks when I need to give my license to enter a secured building. I was about a 160 pounds heavier in that picture. I would rather be thinner.

Sal, you should not be full on 3 mouthfulls. You can not get all your nutrition in that amount of food. You should be able to eat 3 oz of solid Protein (at 5 weeks I'm guessing you are on solids) and some veggies. That is a lot more than 3 bites. Did you doctor put in any fill during surgery? I read alot on these boards where people think the band means only being able to eat a couple bites but that is NOT what my doctor recommends. People whose bands are so tight they can't eat solids end of relying on liquid calories which in the end causes them to gain weight (becaus the liquids are reallly high in calories).

There is a difference between sugar free and no sugar added. If a product contains natural sugars (such as fruit or milk) it can be marketed as no sugar added. I do consume sugar substitutes such as Splendra or nutrasweet. Some people say you should not. I like Mio (liquid you add to water), Vitamin Water Zero, and a VWZ like product from costco, Ice coffee black with Splendra. As to foods with "sugars" I would try to only consume foods in their natural state. Plain fruits not something in a bar like Nutragrain bars. I really prefer to eat my veggies raw (though now at restriciton I can't eat baby carrots raw). I don't worry so much about the carbs in plain veggies or fruits. Other foods that have sugars ie carbs I don't eat like bread, Pasta, rice, crackers.

It sounds to me like you are too tight. I have never had acid reflux since being banded.

I like Vitamin Shoppe. I think their people are knowledgable and are'nt trying to just sell me what ever product is on sale that week. You can also sign up for "frequent buyer" club which means I get coupons a couple time a year that are 50% off. They will also take protein powder back and let you exchange it for a different brand/flavor if you don't like it.

Hi. I wish I had done this surgery years ago. Specifically before I had a stroke at 39! As mentioned previously you can cheat the band. Consider the pouch created by the band a funnel. Anything that would pass throuh a funnel will go right through. Sooooo liquid calories are your enemy (after healing from surgery that is). drinks with calories: milkshakes, coffee with cream and sugar, sweet tea need to go. Anything that disolves in your mouth: candy, cake, crackers, chips is called a slider and again will pass right through the pouch and will never make you feel full. Are you friends eating slidder foods? If I said "I had chicken breast for lunch" Does that mean baked chicken no skin or Original recipe from KFC? Are your friends choosing healthy calories or unhealthy calories. I'm not a saint my life isn't just twigs and roots. I do however try to live by the 95/5% rule. Eat healthy 95% of the time and 5% of the time you can attend birthday parties. If your doctor does not require sessions with a psychologist who specializes in eating disorders find one. I got so much out of those meetings. Helped me recognize foods that triggered me to eat more. I don't keep crunch complex carbs in my house because I can't be trusted with them (crackers, chips). This will be a will power diet until you get restriction. I wish more doctors were up front about that. And after restriction you still have to make healthy food choices. You need to develop a new relationship with food. Yesterday I was a Target and it was starting to be dinner time. Four years ago I would have gone to their food section and bought some candy based snack and eaten half the bag. Instead I bought a Vitamin Water Zero and drove home to eat a healthy dinner.

Hand to God! I am far from perfect but that is a step to far even for me. I once read an article where a woman got it in her head she could eat ice cream after attending a meeting where the nurse told them McDonalds shakes where not acceptable post op liquids.

No acne issues for me.

Tricia, I glad you are making healthy food choices. I commented about making good food choices because just last week someone asked if anyone had been making their protein shakes with low cal ice cream.

Being too tight you are more likely to maintain or gain weight. When you are too tight you are more likely to resort to high calories sliders like milkshakes, mash potatos, etc.

Yes, it can take up to two weeks for a fill to take affect. I do think having a cold could make the band feel tighter. I would stay on liquids or mushies for a day or two. If you then try solid proteins and can't get them down you are too tight.