reverie

I'm 20

Congrats on your date! Best of luck.

I doubt it'll fix itself. Once the skin is stretched it's not going to go back perfectly or become "flat" no matter how much exercise you do. Try ab exercises and overall continue to lose weight, but I doubt your skin is gonna go back. I started at 245lbs, at 19, and mine hasn't budged so I'm all saved up for a tummy tuck. Good luck and congrats on your loss!

I'd not advise eating 2 cups, especially of mashed potatoes...maybe try a cup at most.

Exactly what you do I usually give in as a craving ignored usually leads to a bigger binge. I usually workout a little bit longer on those days and that's about it. I'm slowly learning that no food is bad. Everything is okay in moderation, and it wasn't 'bad' food that made me fat; it was overeating on ANY type of food and no exercise.

Breakfast: 1/4 cup steel cut oats, turkey bacon, 2 eggs Snack: Nature's path blueberry cinnamon Cereal, 1/2 cup grapes Lunch: Tortilla with chicken, black Beans, lettuce, and salsa. Snack: Peanuts and 1/2 Protein bar Dinner: salad with chicken, cheese, almonds, craisins, and blueberry pomegranate vinaigrette. Calories: 1362 Carbs: 71g Protein: 116g.

Nothing wrong with oatmeal Unless you're eating the instant kind, then yeah all the good nutrients are gone. Look for rolled oats and steel cut oats. I eat oatmeal everyday now and love it!

Early morning snack: Cottage cheese baked with pumpkin and Torani SF English toffee syrup Breakfast: 1/4 cup steel cut oats, 1 egg, 3 pieces turkey bacon Snack: High Protein bagel with PB and cream cheese lunch: Turkey meat with rice, Beans, and queso. Snack: Protein shake with PB2 dinner: salad with tuna fish, carrots, and grapes. Calories: 1373 Carbs: 66 Protein: 136g.

Is salad on your post-op diet this early out?

You're fine; just don't eat too much of it. Thicker soups don't go down instantly.

It all depends on you; your weight, your height, your age, your exercise levels, etc. I generally eat a cup of food or so a meal with 3 small Snacks. 1300 calories (1400 next week), under 80 carbs, and at least 115g Protein. I workout for almost 2 hours a day. Try this calculator, it may give you a range to shoot for: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/calorie-calculator/NU00598

Congrats! Mine is on my ticker.

That's all normal!! Good luck. Your date will come quicker than you ever thought!

My surgeon always asks if I want a fill when I see him; I always decline. I'm only 12lbs from goal and got here without one fill! Good luck if you do choose to go on without fills. I snack throughout the day; 3 meals and 3 snacks. I see nothing wrong with it and it helps me get my calories in.

Eat more maybe. Maybe up your exercise. Play around with your calories and see what works. BTW 30lbs gone is great!!

I know exactly the forum you're mentioning. Keep in mind that those stats aren't the best/most reliable. Remember that the amount of weight you lose is based on your own personal preferences. I have lost 112lbs but 12 more to go. You'll find that plenty people have lost 100% of their excess weight with the band

Onederland is when you're under 200lbs; ie 199. 1 instead of 2

<FONT face="Arial Narrow" color=#008080 size=2>There was a tv special on this not too long ago; Lady had it done and she did lose weight. I think it's a bit crazy, but if it works it works I guess. I'd never do it, I'm too stubborn.

Welcome and congrats on deciding to have surgery! Lapband too was my first surgery so I know how you feel. It was well worth it and really not painful at all.

Yep! There were days I forgot to eat. I still don't think about food much/crave things unless I'm bored and doing nothing, so I try to stay busy.

I am not a big greek yogurt fan either; I'm not a fan of any sort of yogurt, something about the texture and consistency. Could you try to add more fruit to it? Maybe a sugar free sweetener, honey, or agave nectar? Add it to a Protein shake? I know some people use it as a dip and add garlic, onions, etc. Or try a sweeter dip with cream cheese, fruit, etc. I'll stick to my ricotta/cottage cheese for my protein.

Doubtful your band slipped. You probably had too big of a fill. If you can't swallow spit you need to go to the doctor ASAP before you become dehydrated..

Very helpful post. Everyone should keep this in mind, banded or not. Glad to see you're okay!

I believe I cheated a few times, but nothing serious. I think the pre-op diet is a big test of your will power and your ability to comply with new things. It IS hard. It was hard seeing other people eat normal food and there I was drinking sodium filled broth. But, it was well worth it looking back. Try your best to stick to your diet; if you're going to cheat don't go too extreme. However, remember you'll be repeating it all over again post-op, so you may want to try to get used to it now. Good luck!

Pureed soups? egg drop soup?