Giby97

Happy for you. Your on track and will succeed. Thanks for the tips on the carbs and look forward to your new receipe's. Ken

Hello All Bandsters, I am solicitating any advice on traveling-mainly meal choices. What did you do on your trip? I will fly to Florida next month and return Oct. Going to feel nice sitting in my seat and being able to buckle up EASILY, hehehehe. Any advice on eating while flying, and once at your destination, what choices are recommended. Would like to know how you adjusted to this situation. Thanks Ken.

I am a retiree. I was covered by TRICARE. See your representative, and get the required documentation and submit it. You need your receipts for actual costs. TRICARE pays nearly 75%. I paid about 6,800.00 and received 4,500.00 back, so actual cost was less than 2,000 for me. I saw my representative, and he gave me my paperwork to submit, I mailed it. Hope this helps

Calories is it, and multivitamins. Really patience is our virtue. Relax and take a deep breath. Take one day at a time and one task at a time, I do, cause I have the same feelings, of lots to do and no time to do it in, and my patience is low when it concerns time. Anyway being a lapbander, it's patience that counts, our weight loss is gradual and for some they are lucky to see more than a few #s each week and month. Protein is the key and calories--eat enough to get your metabolism going. I read that vitamins will help in the loss of hair department. Your just fine, just relax, and readjust your schedule to the new you.

OK First I am down 43#s and I like you had doubts at first, not now. But, with all of the posts on this site, one can take that advice, begin a diet program that's been working for lapbanders for free. Yes follow the advice of the bandsters and diet yourself. Liquids the first week, mushies the second week, and so on. Try it to get your system used to being a true bandster. You can learn from all of us and not spend $$$$$. Why not give it a try? Then decide to get your band. The ball is in your court.

Mine lasted 5-8 days. Try V8 juice as I did. Soups. Then mushies: mash pot's, pork and beans. Good luck on your journey.

Hi, I am going on my 8th month now since surgery in Jan 10. I first began using V8 Juice right after surgery. Then some shakes like Ensure and now SlimFast with a multivitamin in the mornings when I don't have time to fix breakfast. I have eaten cheese omelet, two eggs over easy with a toast, or oat meal. I don't like smoothies, as I read one pack and it was high in sugar, very little protein. I recently bought and am using Whey Protein, Professional Strenght 52g Protein. I like this product. I have lots of energy and usually get up at 3 am in the mornings. I usually plan my protein by eating chicken, fish, or beef with a veggie. Love the fish. Baked chicken is a plus as I boil it first the bake in oven for two hours. Sometimes I try a tuna salad sandwhich. Of course water is a must throughout the day too. Good luck on your journey

Hi, for the road I usually have a SlimFast shake and multivitamin, or Ensure drink, or other Protein drink, high in protein. Another option is an omelet with cheese. I usually cook two eggs over easy and have one toast. This holds me over till lunch which is 4.5 hours away. Then it's a microwave meal hight in protein with veggies. or a bowl of chili beans or a bowl of mac and cheese, or some tuna salad and six crackers. After that it's water for 4 hours, then at home its, baked chicken, baked pot, small helping of pork and beans. Very filling. I like baked fish. Also I try some soups with a few crackers. Hope this helps you. It's working for me.

I was banded 4 Jan 10, and I don't think I could have went through an eval like you all. Of course I am in South Korea and all I was concerned was, how much and how long does it take and finally when can we do it. Yep those were my only questions. Only pre surgery was cholesteral level was high-he prescribed some meds on 4 Dec and by 4 Jan my surgery date, my level was ok. My wife and her sister coordinated my surgery due to language barrier, but the doc's and staff do speak English-yes. One Great Doc and fabulous staff too I might add. Recently had my 4th fill, and I expected to pay but guess what--it was free, love my doc's and staff. Oh I was allowed to eat up untill 1200 mid-night the night prior to my surgery. I went with the family to OUTBACK'S and had steak and salad. MY LAST GOOD MEAL! So I thought. Even banded, one can enjoy some dining, but at a much smaller scale-like a cup here and there of one or two items. Still not bad. The band helps curb the appetitie and when restriction is evident, you know it. At one point in my journey I tested the limits and not surprized, the band won-my bad. I am now enjoying my band, I love my band, and I do weight myself every morning. If I splurge some on eating, I don't get discouraged and resort back to the basics-soups, mushies, and solids. It's all control, willingness, and determination. One Key word discribes all Journey's= PATIENCE. Be patient and don't become discouraged if weight loss does not happen-it will happen, so don't worry. Best of luck on your journey and have fun, enjoy and be happy. Your on the right track to living a fuller life. ken

Nothing to worry about...you will loose the #s. Patience and following the rules will allow you to succeed. It was a great move for me. Since the 90's I was overweight and struggled. Now at a moderate pace with my band, I am seeing results, sometimes not as fast but be prepared to average a 1.5 to 2 # loss a week, maybe even more. Set small milestones (goals) and your ultimate goal. Work in small steps to achieve them. I see that once the goals are achieved, maintenance kicks in. You will still be able to indulge some but at limited levels of intake. It's been a very pleasant and enjoyable journey for me and will be for you. Just stay the course and be positive. Have fun.

Remember you should have at least 60 to 80 proteins a day and multivitamins. Adding powder is ok as long as you stay within the diet plan for daily intake of proteins. I cound proteins each day.

I tried Ensure and was satisfied, now I switched to Whey Protein, professional strength (52kg protein). Protein 26g and Sugar 3g. When I am not having a shake and Multivitamin (always take a multivitamin daily) I have two or two eggs and toast in the morn. Lunch I have Tuna and crackers or a bowl of chilly, or a small microwave meal from the store which is high in protein. Evenings, I try to have fish, or chicken, or sometimes just veggies and pork and beans. Green salads are fantastic and filling. I enjoy sugarless popsicles in the evening when I feel hungry, or I have a piece of string cheese stick. There are some new snacks out there that are only 100 calories. I have tried them and still promote my weight loss. Enjoy your journey.

Hi I started 4 Jan 10 at 270 (123.1 kg). Now, 7 mos out, 229. Loss of 42 #s. Your off to a fantastic start. My pains did not go away until the 8th day. I weight myself daily and today I weight 103.9 kg. I reside in South Korea-where they use kg vs actual #s. Conversion by 2.2 for me to get weight. Figured my goal wt out: 77kg and my plan to reach it is 4 Jan 2011, my band anniversary date. Good luck on your journey and hope it is as fantastic as mine is. So sit back and enjoy the ride as a fellow bandster.

Hi, I don't think anyone should worry about loose skin after their surgery. For one fat turns to muscle and it tightens up particularly when one exercises three to four times a week. Loose skin is when you have Liposuction! Our weight loss is gradual so much better toning. I am in my 7th month now after surgery, toning up all the time and I really have not started my hard exercise program yet. Don't worry about loose skin too much. Just be patient, and follow the diet plan. Remember exercising tones muscles, (fat turns to muscle-possibly no weight loss--cause your toning up) Then after it reaches a peak, whammo weight loss will happen. I have lingered for one to three weeks without a loss, but then one day there you go. I have seen a gradual loss during my 7 mos. I started at 270#s and now I am 229#s. Goal 170#s(Jan 11-my one year mark). Best of Luck on your journey. You will look fabulous when your done, so hang in there.

Janet, you are truly amazing. Patience and Will Power go hand in hand for all of us bandsters. Our communications in this forum will help many others achieve what you have so far. You are an inspiration to all of us. What I have learned as a bandster is be patient, time is on my side and my foreseeable results will be in sight and achieved in due time. I have adjusted my behavior to ignore all negative thoughts of me by others, I am in charge and I am on the road to success as I see you are too. Our Lord Jesus Christ is on our side and he will hear us and guide us. There is a reason why things happen. Living a happy lifestyle and with very little or no stress is our new way of life. We should all be happy now, Hope all fellow bandsters are patient and positive, problems have a way of working out for the best whereby creating a much better happier life for us.

Yes I drink my coffee still, and I drink it Black. I get up at 4 am and make coffee and have at least two cups prior to having my breakfast-shake and vitamin at 6:30. I also drink coffee at work maybe two cups the whole day. I do however eat my meals at 4.5 or 5 hours apart. Tuna and crackers for lunch or chili beans, or mac and cheese. From lunch to dinner I drink water, 4 cups. Then it's dinner time, tuna salad sandwhich. I manage to drink water for a few hours and may have a sugarless popsicle. Most bandster's tailor their eating habits to their own life style. I love my coffee and my doc says it's ok. There is nothing like that first one or two cups of coffee in the early morn, sitting outside with my 4 dogs on the steps or my rooftop-this is my quality time I set aside for myself everyday. Best wishes on your journey.

Super Job!!!!You should be very happy with those results. I am impressed. We share the same goal, 170 then possibly 165.