Aquarius12459

I was born in 1959 and was given up for adoption at birth. I was adopted and released at age 3 months due to having conjunctiveitis as a newborn. I love my adoptive parents but they are both very thin persons and here I am or was the cute chubby kid that grew into the cute fat adult with a few years of being a sexy thin person in my early 20's thanks to large amounts of Dexatrim, excessive exercise and starvation eating. My parents were told when I was adopted that my biological mother was 5' and 200 lbs or so and that there was a chance that I would also be short and heavy. I'm 5'2" and presently 260 lbs. At my highest I was close to 310 back in 2005 and have somehow managed to lose about 50 lbs and keep them off. I'm a nervous eater so when things weren't so hot in my life, I would eat - anything. Throughout my childhood I was fairly active riding bike, playing outside, softball, kickball and running around the neighborhood with the neighborhood kids and marching band in highschool. My mother took me to doctors for my weight starting around age 7-8. I was put on some synthetic thyroid meds and something else. I also suffered from severe constipation for years. (This was resolved at age 25 after I had lost 95 lbs and it was discovered that I had a deformed coccyx and it was pinching off my large intestine at the bowel area. I had surgery to have it removed and it was the best thing that I have done so far.) My mother claims that if she would not have taken me to the doctors, I would be heavier today. I'm not sure that is the case. She kept tight reigns on what I ate - at least what she saw me eat. She wouldn't let me have chips, cookies, I had a half sandwich for lunch with a half slice of lunch meat and an apple. Many of the kids I ate lunch with probably would have killed for lunch meat but I would have killed for their peanut butter and jelly whole sandwich. I got food from other sources and sneeked money out of my piggy bank to school in my shoe so that I could buy candy at the penny candy store across the street from school. If my mother wasn't home when I got home, I was in the potato chip can and cookies and sometimes even had a whole slice of lunch meat depending on how much was left. I truly think that I would not have done some of these things if I was allowed to have them in small amounts or as a treat. Who knows. I do believe in genetic predisposition though. When I was 30, I found my biological mother and family. My mom had given me information and encouraged it so that we could find out any health/medical information and see if anything ran in the family. I had an adoption support counselor make contact for me and found out that the day she called, was the day that they were burying my birth mother. I had 2 half sisters though and my birth mother had a sister and 2 brothers that were still alive. It took a couple of years and finally I received a letter from birth mothers youngest brothers wife. It was warm and inviting and eventually I was able to meet everyone, including my 2 half sisters that were 11 and 12 1/2 years older than me. That aunt and uncle have 2 adopted kids themselves -a girl my age and a boy a year or 2 younger. Over the years it has been a struggle - yo yo dieting - up down, down up. I'm afraid to try things like Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem and weight watchers because they tell you what to eat or limit what you can eat and you have to visit and get weighted. I have aversions to being shamed if I gain a little and not given enough credit for when I do lose. (At least that is my opinion that stems from the childhood). My willpower is low. I'm not sure having surgery is the way to go because I feel like I should be strong enough to do this on my own. Surgery is so permanent (I know that band can be removed but what is the purpose of getting it if you have it removed?) and I would never have a gastric bypass. My half sister had one after she went up to nearly 500 lbs due to bad knees and knee surgery that didn't take and couldn't exercise. She is back down to around 240 but can't seem to lose more. The insurance company won't approve the surgery to remove the excess skin which would be about 40 lbs. Personally, I think that is cruel to do that to someone. It should be a package deal. Anyway, I couldn't stand to have that be me. I would rather be heavy than have all that loose skin hanging down. (I love you Ruthie). Sadly, our older sister Sandy passed away almost 4 years at age 60 of a heart attack brought on by uncontrolled diabetes high blood pressure. I myself am diabetic but pretty controlled with just glucophage and borderline high bp that is under control with a low dose of bp meds. So, I decided to research out the LAP-BAND®®®®®® because I understand that since you lose slower than with gastric bypass, that your skin has a chance to shrink and isn't as bad, however, I'm 51 now and not 25-30 where things are still more elastic. I attended an online webinar last fall presented by the center/surgeon that my pcp referred me too. I had almost made up my mind to go through with it but then I learned that it could take up to about 6 months or so before one would have surgery or that I might have to go on some other diet for 6 months before my insurance would determine if they would pay or not - even though being diabetic with high bp and knee/joint issues should get me approved. I mentally couldn't handle that as I am of the nature that if I decide something, I want it to happen relatively fast so that I don't change my mind. So that is where I am right now. Not sure I want to commit and not sure I have the willpower to do the 2pre/2post weeks of liquids only and then my mind goes into the "what if I am one of the ones who has issues and problems afterwards forever"? I don't think that I am strong enough to be able to handle that. I found this site March 13 after I started looking into more information. My best friend called me and said she was going to have the surgery and was supposed to go for her first consult March 18. I sent her the link to this site to be supportive of her decision. She called me on Tuesday and said she changed her mind and wasn't going to have it done. I've created my own diet plan using the liquid protein, high protein, soft/mushie foods, lots of water and calories limited to 800-1000 to see if I can stick to it and see where I am by May 1. I'm still considering LAP-BAND®®®®®® surgery but I need to know that I can have the willpower to do this. If I have lost enough on my own so that I can start walking daily 30-45 mins on the treadmill and continue the diet, then maybe I will be strong enough to get off the excess lbs that I would like to get off without the surger. I have thin cartilidge in my knees that at the moment at my current weight they (knees) don't allow me to do any extensive walking other than in the stores as they go out of place and sometimes swell. I've decided to use this forum as a support for myself - for my diet my way and perhaps live vicariously through those brave persons who have already made the commitment. I truly wish the best of luck to all you on this life changing endeavor and hopefully you will all be able to be my inspiration. Yours Truly and Pat and :waytogo:

Think regular milk of magnesia only much, much thicker. Bleh. Had one done probably close to 20 years ago and would have killed for a hint of banana taste. LOL The good side is that the procedure is painless and I don't recall any needles or anything. They did find that I have a baby or mini hyatle hernia.

I voted for you too! Good Luck!

Best of luck to you and Happy Birthday. Today is the first day of the Best of your life!

First, do you have a surgeon picked out? If so, then I would go back to him and see what can be done or get another opinion from a different surgeon. Have you been on other supervised diets such as Jennie Craig, Weight Watchers and have failed? I had either heard or read something about if you have been on something of this nature and you didn't lose or didn't lose as expected and it was documented, that could be submitted to the insurance company for plea for them cover the surgery. I believe it was for a 6 month period. Maybe you could try something of this nature for the 6 months and then go back to your doctor? Good luck to you.

Once a week? Twice? Every other day? Every day? Only at the doctors when you go for fills? For those of you using the tickerfactory.com tracking to track your losses, how often do you update it? I tend to want to weigh myself everyday because part of me thinks it helps to keep tight reigns on it but another part of me would like to be surprised and only do it once a week and hope that everytime I step on the scales, the numbers go down. :scared2:

I mix a serving of low fat/fat free cottage cheese with a serving of my favorite low fat fruit flavored yogurt. It doubles the volume and makes a nice lunch for about 200 cal and around 15g +/- protein total depending on the brands of each. Another thing that can be done with the cottage cheese is this. Make a 3oz pkg of sugarfree jellow and let it partially set up. When it is partially set (real thick but not wiggly) add a half cup or so of CC to it and mix it up and then return it to the bowl to let it set up. any flavor of Jello works and if you use 2 packages, adjust the amount of CC you use. A little crushed pineapple can added also when mixing. You can use a hand mixer or blender.

I'm just drinking my first one now. I decided that I really need to use a straw as I cannot tolerate the cardboard container taste/texture on my lips. LOL Anyway, just googled Premier Nutrition. www.premiernutritution.com In checking out their products, it looks like they have individual packets in both chocolate and vanilla that you would need to mix with Water or some liquid but the online cost seem a little high at about $2 per packet. They also have some fruit (punch) and mandarine flavored packets that you add to a bottle of water and shake up that are 140 cal each and the online price is about $2.15 pack. They have 30g of protein also. I can't remember if costco had them or not but I think I remember seeing them - Titan as well as the Pro2O packets that you mix with water that are 5g of protein and 25 cal and 5g Fiber. The online price is about .80 ea in the 30 pk mixed flavor box or $1.00 ea in the 7 pk box of all one flavor.

I didn't get the muscle milk yesterday, opted for the Premier, however, I'm thinking of checking the local GNC out. I think I remember seeing the MM in singles there so I'm going to check it out. Also interested in some of the other yummy flavors that they have in the powder. The banana sounded yummy as did a few of the others.

You're very welcome! I'm sure that you have a lot of emotions and things going on that can cloud your thinking somewhat. You will do just fine. Are you allowed any bouillion or clear broth? I picked up a container of beef bouillion cubes at costco yesterday. They are 5 cal each - 1 to a cup of boilng Water. Thinking they might be a good substitute for decaf tea/coffee and stave off the growlies between meals. Is there a set amount of water you are supposed to drink each day?

Sounds to me like you need to contact your doctor. :scared2:

Ohm, I know you said you already eat a fair amount of Beans but I saw this yummy looking recipe in the Feb issue of AllYou yesterday while I was at the hairdressers waiting for my color to take. It was a blackbean burger and looked good enough to eat right out of the magazine. You might want to check out a few cookbooks by Barb Bloomfield - Fabulous Beans and More Fabulous Beans. I was in costco today and picked up a 6 pack of their brand of egg beaters so they are all whites and even way lower in calories than the real eggs. Going to make some more of those "eggypeggies" as you dubbed them (love that name!!!!)

Just got back from costco here in Leesburg, VA. They had a case of chocolate muscle milk in 250ml or 8.25 oz containers. It was 160 cal each 20g Protein. I'm thinking what I saw on the website for 100 cal for the 8.25 oz only pertained the mocha latte. The cost was $28.00 for 24 servings. I opted for the Premier Chocolate Protein. 18 - 11 oz servings for $24. 160 cal each and 30g protein. We'll see.

I think you did well and I don't think the extra 200 will be an issue for 1 day. Can you take a couple extra with you tomorrow and keep them in a drawer in case you forget again?

ajd7, check out my post on this thread that I addressed to you about the muscle milk. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f84/liquid-diets-111678/ The RTD shakes are either 14 oz and 160 cal or 8.25 oz and 100 cal.

Can you have broths - chicken, beef, veggie bouillion? Swanson chicken broth is 10 cal per 1 cup serving. Each serving has 1g of protein; Beef is 15 cal per cup & 2g Protein and the Veggie is 15 cal also but no protein. Maybe 3-4 cups a day would be enough to boost the weakness and help with the headache. Could the headaches be from caffeine withdrawel? Just a thought.

Will al the stories I am reading on this forum, I'm beginning to think that maybe the pre-op diet ought to be 3-4 weeks long with a gradual decrease in calories per day each week and restrict what foods you can eat til you get down to the just the liquids the last 10 days-2 wks or so. Kind of like the post-op plan but backwards - a little food, then mushies and some liquid down to just liquid. 2 weeks of just liquid seems a little like trying to quit smoking cold turkey. I admire the will power of all you who were able to do it.

Check out the Muscle Milk Light powders. They have 195 calories for 2 scoops and 25g protein, 11g carbs, 2g sugars. Not sure if they come in as many flavors as the regular MM Powders but at 25g protein with a half banana the calories would be about 250 so that would be a saving of about 50 per shake. Granted, the protein is a little less per shake but 4 per day would be about a 1000 cal and 100g of protein. You could cut the banana out of a couple of them to save about a 100 cal. There are also premixed liquids in bottles of 14 oz servings for 160 cal and 20g protein and an 8.25 bottle for 100 cal and 15 gr protein. Calories in Muscle Milk - Muscle Milk Light

ajd7, I've been combing the cytosport websites and comparing the products. The regular powder comes in a very impressive array of flavors - 2 scoops in 10-12 oz of Water is about 300 cal and 32 grams of protein. The muscle milk light liquid chocolate and vanilla comes in 14 oz bottles at 160 cals each with 20g protein. They also have a Mocha Latte light flavor that comes in an 8.25 oz serving that is 100 cals and 15g protein. Muscle Milk Light Powder mix is 195 cal for 2 scoops (I'm assuming 10-12 oz of water again) and 25g protein, 2g sugar, 11g carbs. Hope this helps. Let me know what you ended up purchasing and how you like or rate the product. :tongue2: :wub:

Is there any type of store close by that you could run to at lunch time and purchase one? I think most drugstores and convenient marts have singles for sale and they might already be cold.

Just mixed up some scrambled eggs for brunch. 3 large eggs, a TBS of milk, a couple TBS of chopped onion, some Mrs. Dash, fresh ground pepper and sea salt and topped with a sprinkle of grated parm cheese.

Dr. Eric Pinnar is the main surgeon there for the lapband procedure. Good Luck to you!

It's been quite some time ago but I have tried them. I bought them to use as a meal replacement like Slim Fast except since I am diabetic, there is less sugar. As I recall, I wasn't crazy about them but then I'm not a dark chocolate fan - prefer milk chocolate or chocolate malt - like chocolate and vanilla mixed together. Anyway, colder is always better. I thought they were a little on the thin/runny side. Let me know how you make out as I might be convinced to try them again.

Check out Advanced Weight Loss Solutions There are 2 offices - Rockville and Reston. I attended one of the online webinars last fall and it was very helpful. There is also a section about finance and paying etc. I'm sure they can assist you in providing information/options etc. Will all your other conditions, it shouldn't be considered cosmetic for you. Also, you may need to have referal from a Primary Care Physician if you have one. Good Luck. :thumbup:

Good Luck to you! Perhaps "a" piece of pizza is more realistic instead of 1 pizza. :thumbup: