sld21

I am sure it is different for everyone but to go back the next day to teaching, I couldn't do it. I'm a teacher and a special ed at that. What if someone got into a fight or got mad and kicked you. You would have just had major trauma to your body and put yourself at risk like that and I doubt your surgeon will sign off that you return. I was required to take my ten days or until my two week follow up. If you were to get hurt and they found out you had surgery they would not cover it in workman's comp. You need to let your body heal. It's not an office visit. I was sore and shuffling around and sleeping uncomfortably for a few days but by day five, I was walking the track at the YMCA comfortably. I don't know what grade, specialty, etc but IMHO, I wouldn't risk it but I am not a doctor.

I was teaching at one school last year and everyone noticed. I have lost 60lbs off a 5'6 frame. Sure people notice but they were aware of what I did as I told a few select people plus I had taken 10 days off. They had been nothing but supportive. But I am at a new school now and I have told no one about my operation and if they see an old pic on my desk, I just tell them I have lost a lot of weight. The only thing that kills me is "what's your secret". I have told them weight loss and exercise because its the truth but still feel like a liar when I dont mention the band, but still feel its personal, if I choose to keep it that way. Family or friends is different; if they haven't seen me or know anything about it and remark, I usually tell them diet and exercise but that I couldn't do it alone without the help from my band. My colleagues don't need to know especially since they are new and its not necessary. So does it make me a liar?

I am pretty tight with 9cc in my Realize band and popcorn is not an issue, a small one at the theatre especially if I havent had dinner and we catch a matinee....then I have a really light dinner, mostly protein. I just dont do it often because of the fat or calories unless you are only getting the microwave 100 cal kind. I would much rather have it every now and then at the theatre or a few bites of my husbands.

I am so immature...talking about farting makes me LOL. I blame the dog(no one else can)....so when I rip and people look at me in the house..I say "Gucci!" in a very motherly, wagging my finger tone.

WOW...a D cup to an A cup...that is a big difference...(and I thought mine were deflating) I have lost 60lbs but just still dealing with the old bras though they are really loose in the cup(I can always tighten them up) I had went to the flea market last time they were in town and got some dirt cheap ones that were too tight but went to the fabric store and bought bra extenders for like $2 to help loosen the tightness and that seems to help. I figure when I get down this last 40 or so then I will go to a department store and get measured properly and invest in a $50 bra.

I would honestly steer clear of the mashed potato...they are a slippery slope and a gateway "drug".

Jillian Michael's whey protein powders are very delicious if not sinful and only 100 calories, 7 carbs and 15 protein for one scoop. $10 for a tub at Walmart. Its the first powdered version I like and drink every day. Before that I went broke on EAS, ATKINS, and MUSCLE MILK, pre-mades because they taste great.

I love eggs but it has been no-egg land here because they get stuck very quick. Maybe if I had them at dinner they wouldn't but who wants them at dinner. I have tried a boiled egg and can eat it better than scrambled but I prefer scrambled because I don't like the yolk in one bite(yuck),,,,I might try just scrambled egg whites (which I love) because I think its the yolk which makes it harder to get down (plus all the Protein is in the white) and I do remember not eating the yolk when I ate the boiled egg because I don't like the yolk unless its scrambled nor do I like runny eggs.

depending on the height of the person, 174 could still be overweight. Maybe the doctor feels they are not just there yet. Is this person a male or female? I think if you went as far to have surgery to lose the weight, you might as well go all the way to a normal bmi and tone it up. You dont have to be a stick just fit.

My surgeon told me there was no reason to crush or break apart medicine because there were too small to get stuck no matter how big they are. I swallow all of my medicine and a huge vitamin daily without issue. I am also tightly restricted (9cc in an 11cc band) You could at least trying one pill at a time.

I would not throw it out. Someone might buy it at the drs office cheaper than they are selling it or on Craigslist. I would also keep it in case you need it or ran out of the other. It would be a year or more before I would think it would go bad. Someone here would buyn it cheaper than the online company or at their drs office. Other people would use it too to supplement their diets not just weight loss surgery patients because it is the most complete protein.

I was going to say the same thing. I look at my insurance statements that they send when someone has submitted a claim. The doctor may charge $150 for his office visit but may only get $50 depending on the contract prices that the doctor negotiated with the insurance. Even though self pay seems cheaper, insurance companies are paying self pay prices to the doctors. What gets my goat is to get a .5 of a fill and still pay a specialist copay and the doctor still gets his office visit charge to the insurance. But I can understand for safety of the patient but geez. I have Humana and my surgeon no longer takes my insurance because they wanted to cut him even further. When I do need a checkup or fill (I am at restriction now), I will have to search for another dr or pay out of network fees (which I can't afford). I asked the office what a self-pay fill would cost and they told me $100.

and you will eat again..I promise...maybe even a slice of pizza (well the topping for sure but maybe not a lot of the crust when you hit restriction) I get full from the topping now.

I am five pounds from it as well and its been six months...almost 60lbs off. I am a teacher and there is two more weeks before school starts in my district. I am hoping to get it off in 2 weeks. It seems reasonable.

yes...restriction to me when I wasn't hungry all the time and could be satisfied with a very small meal(bites sometimes) and stay full for hours. Restriction meant that I wasn't "dieting" anymore, more living. I can eat things that I wouldn't dare to eat when I was "dieting" and still lose weight and my blood sugar stays the same because I can't eat a lot of it, only a couple bites until I am forced to put the utensil away. Its the moderation diet without the willpower fight and the emotional feeling that I am missing out on something because now I either dont want it or my band says no, no, no. I have lost almost 60lbs in six months. I had no preop dieting. This has been eating right, portion control (thanks band) and Jillian (the elliptical at the Y)

They are gross as mine still sit in the side door of the fridge but I can tolerate them i you pour half of the tube in a bottle of water (drink some water down first) and mix it with a flavor pack(I have fruit punch protein shots and koolaid packs, so they are very doable then and I just drink on them when I feel that I haven't had enough protein for the day but I am pretty good at it through food since I am six months out.

oh and after surgery I had a dream about a nice cold diet coke, fizzing and crackling (like you see in the movie theatre greetings) It was almost sexual.

I haven't had one since surgery which was on January 8, 2010. Although I wasn't a chronic drinker(maybe a couple in a week) I don't enjoy tea, coffee or many things besides a diet soda(I like a few but if its brown it has to be a diet coke because diet pepsi is way too sweet) Every day I probably want one especially if we are eating out. I love Water and all but get bored. Fruit drinks and fruit-flavored drinks are carb-ridden so I drink Powerade zero, Fuze low carb or flavor packs in bottled water. I make a pitcher of sugar free koolaid, like Crystal Light. Every day I want a soda and think about it, I just remember well I've already gone this long without one, why break the streak. It's more of a competition with myself. I have fought my willpower all my life and it is just one more area in food where I will triumph and not live to eat rather than eat to live. Now icecream is another story. Plus I have something to brag about....."so your not drinking a soda", "no, I haven't had one in over 6 months", "oh that must be why you are glowing so much", "thank you so much". Plus now that my sugar is stable, I am not as thirsty as much and completely hydrated due to all the water I inhale. Weird...since surgery, no sodas and weight loss, I don't even have a desire to really drink alcohol, I think I might have had a beer or 2 in six months and one or two cocktails, it all has just left me.

I am not a vegetarian but do seek Protein sources other than animal a lot of the time because it can go down easier without a struggle (though I do eat meat too) Beans (experiement with them all), I love beans all kinds Soy, tofu, yummy, I use 8oz of soy milk in my Protein shakes because regular milk tears me up. Then it also depends on what kind of vegetarian you are. Protein shakes can be your best friend or you can get unflavored whey and add to vegetarian recipes or Water throughout the day. unjury makes a really good unlavored one that you can add to anything and not taste it.

I am also a teacher and since it is summer I love to sleep in. If I eat breakfast too early I'm really tight but if I wait till mid morning 10ish I can eat something small like the sausage I ate this morning. bR: Small smoked sausage link with a spoon of grits(cooked for hubby) Lunch: 4 oz of vegetarian chili(I got some nutrisystem meal at Big Lots, suprisingly good an a couple of crackers but it took me a minute to work it down Snack: sugar free icecream serving Dinner: 4 chicken wingettes(the drum only)

Once you are banded and at tight restriction for weight loss, the very few calories really don't bother you or you may not notice because you are not hungry. I believe she exercises daily as well. I eat several times a day to maintain blood sugar but it can often be nibbles compared to meals. Breakfast: Protein shake (Jillian powder, banana, 8 oz soy milk) Lunch: Maybe a serving of deli meat and a cheese stick(usually takes me a minute to eat it so I don't slime and a few wholegrain chips or crackers(very few) Dinner: A little of whatever we cook(meat and green) Sometimes a low sugar or low carb icecream of some sort since its summer. I am tighter in the morning so I usually stick with yogurt or Protein shakes because as much as I love eggs, they stick every time. Today I had a piece of smoked sausage for breakfast (I know fatty but yummy) but couldn't get the egg in no matter how much I mush it around.

What was the date of your surgery? January 8, 2010 How healthy did you/do you eat? pretty healthy, moderate carbs, veggies, lean Protein but have my moments, sometimes once a day. How much do you exercise? 3-5 times a week at the YMCA which consists of 30-45 minutes usually on the elliptical but sometimes I will ride the bike or walk on the treadmill or track, occasionally I will swim if I am sore or tired. I just started more strength training, every other day. How much have you lost? 54lbs Are you happy with your results? very happy, little side effects besides a couple slimes, other than that, diabetes is normal, cholesterol is normal, now hopefully my cycles will kick in. 6 more pounds till onederland and then only 40 to go to goal.

I have 9cc in an 11 cc Realize band and would have never got the bread in and maybe some of the meatballs so to me, it's a lot of food. I would have ate the meatballs slowly and been full. I haven't had success with bread since hitting restriction but that's okay with me. I haven't had a sandwich for a long time and I love them. I just eat the inside and a couple chips and I am satisfied. But you can see what others say. Bread or anything doughy usually sticks me. And many Proteins but I chew the heck out of them.

My husband and I visited Philidelphia/NYC this past weekend. We have family there. We live in Kentucky though. I found my band unusually tight while away, for example; not hungry until lunch, then 2 chicken nuggets, a light dinner, stuck easy from Thursday through Sunday. But then I get home on Sunday and yesterday and today I'm fine; or example today: B:Protein shake L:a piece of turkey with a cheese stick wrapped inside and some wholegrain chips D:Small leftover square of lasagna, a tiny sliver of homemade birthday cake (husband's bday) Question: Anyone notice that their band reacts to different geographical locations(we drove but I just didn't know if it was because I was up higher on the east coast compared to where we are now) Is that a silly question?

depends on what kind of liquids you can have. If its just protein shakes, clear etc, then you just cook and deal with it(why should they suffer when this is for you?) I didn't have to do a pre-op so I can't understand, but the post-op was just as hellish because of liquids only. But whatever they had (I fixed tacos one night and blended some of the meat, cheese and salsa and it tasted like taco soup) I ate it just in a different way. You could also make a lot of soups with meat and potatoes and blend them but still if they are liver shrinking you, you just kind of have to deal with it. I wouldn't want to tell my husband to fend for himself or my kids to eat junk (though I can understand why you would want to). There's no better time to deal with willpower than now(it'll be worse after)