SunneeHunnee

I am pretty tight in the a.m. but I love to eat FF cottage cheese with a just a few nuts and a little splenda canned fruit. My weight loss is slower than most, but steady and I am not being "extremely" restrictive about carbs, I just don't go overboard. SUnday brunch (today) is half an avocado on 1 tortilla and salsa. Added lemon pepper, salt and hot peppers... YUM>

YES, YES, YES! I would do it again. My 1 yr anniversary is 12/11/10. My weight loss has been clow and steady. My diabetes is sooo much better, I feel soo much better and though I am still over 300 pounds (My highest weight was 382) I haven't been at this weight for over 25 yrs! "The future looks bright..I gotta wear shades." Best 17K I ever spent!

I don't blame you. I have read this sort of uppity " I am better than you tone" in several of the posts and that is scarey. I am sorry it happened to you.

Mix cottage chees with SF pistachio pudding mix, some choped nuts ( if you can eat them) and some fruit. Yummie. SOrry, I didn't notice what stage of eating you are currently in. Also blending it with yogurt and fruits is good. ALso, you can mix t with milk or soy milks, instant coffee and and protein powder.

COstco will take it back! I purchased Muscle Milk light and didn't like the taste after trying 6 pouches. I returned it no questions asked.

I am probably fortunate that I had the moneyn savings. I had worked real estate in addition to my regular job for about 5 years so I saved a little enst egg. Having said that, I have no regrets in spending the money even though there are layoffs at my job and I will give you my reasons. A. I feel better than I have in 10 years! B. I had the first NORMAL blood sugar reading I have had in over 10 years! WOW! C. Everyone says how great I look and I know it is true. D. If I have to look for a new job employers will look at me a bit more favorably,(though I am still fat) just not as fat and just overall look better! E. I am spending a bit less on medications. F. You can't put a price on your health. If you have to use all your credit cards to do it and you know you can pay it back even if little by little, DO IT! If you have ahome see if you can get a 2nd mortgage ( i know not easy. ) If you have a 401K or 403B take a loan out against it. FInd all the crap in your house you don't use and sell in on e-bay or Craigs List. I mean EVERYTHING! Have a yard sale and out the money away. STart cooking more and don't go out to eat and save that money. Turn off your cell phone or cable or Netflix for afew months and start saving $$. JUst my 2 cents. :thumbup:)

I had a protein shake for brkfst, water and zero vitamin water un between and late lunch 300 calorie healthy choice and i am STUFFED! YAY. :thumbup:)

That sucks. I work for a local health dept and our insurance co-op does not have it for an insurance option even if the employer wants to purchase it for additional dollars. The governing board for the health insurance co-op votes on it very year and they want to keep costs down for the members so they vote to never add it as a rider or benefit. "stamping out obesity" is the soup de jour of my employer and yet, I got no help with my surgery. I spent 17K for the surgery. My insurance did cover the pre-op screens because they put my diagnosis of diabetes. Other than that, I took my life saving and did it. I have not lost weight fast as many other have, but I am taking less meds and feel SO much better. There is no one in the world better to invest in than yourself. GOOD LUCK.

Congratulations on your hard work! You look wonderful. :cursing:) It is encourgaging to see that work pay off. I had surgery on 12/11/2009 and my weight loss is slow, down about 50 plus pounds and 60 plus since my highest point. Do you mind my asking about what your daily meals consist of?

Congrats on your surgery date! Head hunger will still happen where yo feel like you want to chew, but, overall, once you start having a few fills you will not be as hungry. I think about food less often and can't eat what I used to. My weight loss is slower, but I am in my fifties, have a back injury and am diabetic. I am still losing weight and feel so much better. You will be amazed at how the band can keep one in check as long as you go for your fills AND drink water.

I weighed 382 pounds at my highest weight. I felt that if I didn't do something I was on my way to some major issues besides the diabetes I already have. I paid the 17K out of my hard earned life savings to pay for my surgery. I am glad I did and would do it all over again. I am down to 325 now. I am not losing as fast as other folks but, hey I have a major back injury and I am on my fifties. Nevertheless, I feel great and am taking less medication than I was. I prayed about it for 2 years and I know I made the right decision. God Bless you and best of luck with your journey.

what is important is that you are full after one cup. THAT is what you want to look for the full feeling and stop eating. Easier said than done sometimes but more achievable if you eat slow.

I know how you feel. I have been holding steady since the end of March, though two trips out of town on vacation I am sure had an impact. Those Vegas buffets are killer to anyone watching what they eat. Plus, I drank alcohol, which I hadn't since before my surgery. I try and examine my deepest feeling and intention and realize I am in this for the long haul, not the short term. My diabeyes is much improved, I bought some new clothes in a smaller size and got into some other clothes I hadn't been able to wear. Everyone says I look great and frankly, I agree. :Dancing_biggrin:) Right now is a new moment and tomorrow a new day. I have an appt with my doc next week and maybe we will decide I need more restriction. I have had a tough time with completely giving up bread and Pasta ( whole grain of course and in moderate amounts.) I was eating those items even and the scale was still moving down. I guess we just have to try a new tactic, drink more Water, and be gentle withourselves and also, honest. I wish you the absolute best with your journey. We will both make it and feel successful.

I wonder why people are posting their political rants and raves on a site for Lap band? There must be other sites for that!!???

THAT is a good question. I had surgery a week after you did and since the and of March I am not losing any more weight. In fact, just staying steady at the 35 lb mark. Mind you, my diabetes is much improved, I feel better and have lost 52 lbs all together. I am in this for the long haul, but need to pick up the pace ( so to peak.) I have a follow up next week and I am not sure what to say to the doc. I have only had something stuck 3 times since surgery though I can certainly feel restriction higher up. WHat foods are you eating and what foods can you not eat? By the way, congrats on your fine success. :Dancing_biggrin:)

I totally relate to what you are experiencing. When I was on my pre-op diet I had a really hard time with mood swings, anger, anxiety and frustration at the 3rd and 4th days! WHOA. I was about ready to quit and join weight watchers! :thumbup:) I drank mass water and frankly, I cheated just a little. By the 5th day I was kewl and it seems my mood imporved as well.

not sure which pre-op diet you are on, but be prepared to possibly feel a little spacey and/or on the edge about the 3rd-4th day. JUst be patient with yourself, schedule yourself lightly, and make time for bubble baths, showers, or reading some books or seeing movies at home. You will be surprised how after that 4th day or so your body adjusts. DRINK Protein drinks you like the taste of.

I feel blessed to have had Dr. Neal perform my sugery. I hae worked in the medical field for many years and have rarely seen a surgeon have his pleasant and caring bedside manner. He is patient, encourages questions and is a warm and caring professional. He knows what he is doing!

I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Neal's office. He did my surgery and their staff is so kind and competent. If I had to make a 2.5 hr drive to have them do my fills, I would do it! Hope that helps.

Thank you so much for being honest and real. I too was scared about having surgery and I tore my insides out ( emotionally) about making the decision to move forward with surgery. I was 382 at my highest weight and that is the number that got me thinking about it. I am diabetic, though otherwise fairly healthy. I had my heart, pulomonary function, psych eval in 2008 after I went to my initial surgercal consultation. I did lose 17 pounds on my own in 2009. In sept 09 I went to a different surgeon a friend recommended and I knew he was the right one for me. I had to do the Green medifast diet before surgery and lost 7 pounds. I had my surgery on 12/11/09. Other than the post-op pressure in my chest from the Co2, I was great! I feel better, my blood sugars have improved some and I am down about 28 pounds. My weight loss is slower as I am not to total restriction yet, but, even so, I can tell a difference in my clothes, and how I feel. I can even bend forward easier now that some of my belly is gone. I would do this again and would have done it sooner had I known. The longer one waits the worse our health can get and nothing is more important than our health; it is priceless! I know you already know all this. Fear is powerful and you are courageous to consider surgery. Allow that courage to drive you forward and challenge you to greater things. God Bless you! :tongue_smilie:

I know how you feel! I am on my third fill and though I can't eat what I used to, I know I need more restriction. My doc does encourage us to let them know if we are hungry, etc. My surgery was 12/11/09 and my first fill 1/14/10, the next 2 were about 2 weeks apart. I get another on 3/2. Just hang in there and insist on getting fills more often. we did not go through all this to have to use WILLPOWER all the time. The band is the tool to make it somewhat easier to control hunger! I am with you girl!

My surgeon gives us a reminder card for each fill that states, solids only up until 4 hs before and stop liquids one hour before and only consume liquids for 48 hrs afterwards. Hope that helps.

All I can say is you are amazing and what an inspiration this is to me. 115lbs in 8 months is just incredible! How many fills did you have? What size band? what does your daily diet consist of? Again, CONGRATULATIONS!

I added tofu ( mashed up) into my mashed potatoes and cream soups. It takes on the flavor of whatver you cook it with. Add it to potaotes, yams and you can also try mashed avocado; all are good sources of protein and may help with the hunger.

YOu know, I started analyzing how I ate different this week. I was so missing salad and I was able to eat that this week. I think I ate too much salad with higher fat dressing and not enough solid protein and the scale went up a pound! DANGIT!!!! I don't want to stop losing so soon into this whole venture. I had a fill on the 14th and going to call and ask for another one this week.