tonya66

OMG - that is my FAVORITE show. That is really the only show I watch. No one is allowed to call me on Wednesday nights because I am glued to the show. I have watched it too every since it began. I loved the fact that Matt & Suzi hooked up. But it looked like he has gained some weight back on his appearance last week. Suzi looked GREAT!

My doctor told me that each bite should not be bigger than your finger nail. Look at your thumb nail (if you have long nails, you have to invision them smaller), and vision a bit that size. I'm not banded yet, but thats what I was told and when you get really tight restriction, your bite will be reduced to the size of your pinky nail.

I got a call from the Hospital and they stated they received a fax from my doctor to schedule my appointment for an Upper GI. I thought this was kinda weird since I'm still not approved yet. But I guess they are starting the process with my test. At least I know the ball is moving. I'm supposed to go in on December 14th at 7:30 am, however, I'm thinking about changing it until the first of January. In January I will have $4,000 on my Payflex account card to be used for any medical cost, right now I have ZERO. So I will more financially able to handle all the co-pays and test cost if I wait until January. So I'l calling back and rescheduling the first week of January. I don't want my surgery until January anyhow, so this will work better for me. I'm just excited that things are moving, even though I'm still waiting on the darn insurance company! I know, patience.

I got a call from the Hospital and they stated they received a fax from my doctor to schedule my appointment for an Upper GI. I thought this was kinda weird since I'm still not approved yet. But I guess they are starting the process with my test. At least I know the ball is moving. I'm supposed to go in on December 14th at 7:30 am, however, I'm thinking about changing it until the first of January. In January I will have $4,000 on my Payflex account card to be used for any medical cost, right now I have ZERO. So I will more financially able to handle all the co-pays and test cost if I wait until January. So I'l calling back and rescheduling the first week of January. I don't want my surgery until January anyhow, so this will work better for me. I'm just excited that things are moving, even though I'm still waiting on the darn insurance company! I know, patience.

What a wonderful boss to take time out to call you into her office to tell YOU how proud of you she was. That was great! Girl, eat it up, you deserve it!

My, your in a tough spot, and I feel what you are saying. First of all, congratulations on losing an incredable amount of weight, you have done so great with your weight loss! Now, if you are feeling weak, and depressed, you need to eat more. I'm sorry, but that is the simple truth. Now, to maintain the weight, have you been exercising? Perhaps eating more and adding exercise will help you mantaining your weight. I'm sure you look absolutely wonderful, but I know you want to feel as good as you look, so you need to have some substance in your food, good quality food. Add some strength training and aerobics. Give it 12 weeks of eating right and exercising and see the difference in the way you feel.

I agree with you guys, there is a reason we have to do the pre-op diet and it is medically necessary for the surgery. So I will focus on that thought from here on out! I think it will make it easier to stick to the plan. I sure would hate the surgery to be aborted because my liver was so darn huge.

I agree, a Physical Therapist or Occupational therapist can help you. They can show you some exercises that will not hurt you, but help you heal. And I know that you do not want to gain weight, but please remember that you are healing and that is the most important thing right now. If you do gain a few pounds, don't sweat it, you will get them off when you are able. Just try and eat healthy and get better. You don't want to over due it and hurt yourself and you end up being hurt for even longer. Take care and I hope you have a speedy recovery. I'm so glad that you are able to "tell" about accident. My neighbor and his wife were in a car accident coming home from Thanksgiving. A deer ran out in front of them and he tried to miss the deer, swerved and flipped thier SUV. She was dead at the scene, he survived. It is a sad story and I can't keep thinking about the survivors guilt he has. Okay, sorry to ramble on.

Well, that is one of my reasons the doctor is listing in the letter of medical necessity. But I hear that sometimes bandsters can have it even worse after surgery. So I'm not sure if it the surgery will cure mine or not, I'm hoping some weight loss will.

Okay, talk about scaring me to death! lol

I agree Susan, I am not looking forward to the liquid phase. However, I do find that warm broth seems to curb my hungar. I buy the Low Sodium, crystals and mix with hot Water. I've tried it a few times when I'm trying not to go snack on junk food and it does seem to help. I haven't gotten my surgery date, but I suspect sometime in January I will be following th pre-op diet. However, the thing that scares me mostly is the post-op diet. 4 weeks without any substance, my doc has you on 2 weeks liquid, 2 weeks,mushy, and then gradually add one food at a time back in. I hear the 5&6 weeks are pure hell because your starving, and no fill yet. Anyhow, I keep telling myself it is short term and a year from now I will be glad I did it. PS - WE CAN DO THIS!

I've been thinking a lot about the Band, and actually what I want the band to help me accomplish - so here goes some things I am hoping to achieve in the next few years: 1. I want back in my bikini! I haven't worn it since, well, 14 years ago. 2. I want a fit body, not just healthy but toned, I want my atheletic shape back - the one way to do this is EXERCISE (note to self, get off the couch and MOVE) 3. I want to buy sexy clothes again! and not only buy them, but be able to wear them and feel good in them. 4. I want to be able to bend down and tie my shoes without the breath being knocked out of me. - DONE! 5. I want to be able to get in the tub and not have my ASS take up the entire tub, side to side - oh this sucks. - DONE! 6. I want to be able to cross my legs. - DONE! 7. I want to be able to wear shorts without them riding up my crotch. 8. I want to be able to walk without my thighs rubbing each other and sweating in the summer and leaving that horrible heat rash! 9. I want to be able to push food away and not feel the need to clean up the entire plate.- Still working on this one! 10. I don't want food to be my focus in life.- Getting better! 11. I want my kids to be proud of me. 12. I want to feel beautiful again and not 40 & fat. 13. I want to be able to buy a low rise pair of jeans without my stomach hanging over. my current jeans go clear up to my belly button. 14. I want to be able to have sex with my DH and not feel the need to "turn the lights off". 15. I want to become where exercise is a part of my life, where I crave exercise like I crave chocolate.- Becoming more and more part of my life! 16. I want to inspire other people to lose weight. 17. I want to become a personal trainer. 18. I want to buy attractive Teddies to wear instead of my sweatpants and tee shirts to bed. 19. I want to be proud of my weight, not ashamed. 20. I want people to be shocked that I am 40 because I look younger, not shocked because I am 40 and I look 50. PS - my weight this morning 229.2

FYI, I had my gallbladder out and had to go back to the hospital about 3 weeks later with the same pain....you guessed it, I had stones that had gotten stuck in my bile duct. I ended up with a infection in my pancreas which can be fatal. So go back to your doctor immediately!

I have been on 11 cruises now and my favorite cruise was when I book a shore excursion to swim with the Dolphins in Cozumel. It was truly wonderful and I loved every minute of it, it was worth every penny I spent! I wish I could go, but with all of our remodeling in our home we had to do (new oven, new fridge, new central a/c & heat, new range), I'm broke. lol. If anyone has the opportunity to do it, I promise you will love it!

My trainer told me if you are trying to lose weight and exercising you need 1 gr of Protein for body weight. The body builders do 1 1/2 grms per body weight, but they are trying to build muscles and protein enables that. When you are dieting, you lose muscle if you don't have enough protein. Bandster rules state that you should have minimum for 60 grms. Its hard to get more, but if you can, you should. Protein is the most important part of our diet. Protein shakes will help. I add a scoop of Rocky Road Optimum Nutrition to my chocolate pudding and this helps me get my protein in. Also, a lot of people mix vanilla with their oatmeal. Just make sure you are getting at least 60 in a day. It will also help with the hair loss, if you have problems with that.

I was thinking the same thing! I plan on making me a silver bracelet with a round charm hanging off it for every 10 pounds I lose! I'm hoping to have 10 little charms on it to represent 100 pounds some day! This way it will always remind me where I can from.

Hello to you two. I am waiting to be banded as well. I don't have a surgery date yet, but am hoping to get one soon. I am waiting on my inusrance approval. Oh man, I'm so jealous Girlin that you are headed to Cancun, its one of my most favorite places in the entire universe! Cozumel is my all time favorite - I'm hoping they can get it completely restored like it was BEFORE the hurricanes. Anyhow, just wanted to say good-luck to all you future bandsters.

Okay, I'm not even banded yet, but started my journey of Eating the Bandster way - I started out at 248 Today I weighed 229 I've lost 19 pounds so far, just eating my Protein first, veggies 2nd and starches last (usually none). I'm trying to get back to exercising, still having a hard time with it, but working on it. I am still waiting on insurnace approval.

Yep, old habits are hard to break, but you will get there!

I've been thinking a lot about the Band, and actually what I want the band to help me accomplish - so here goes some things I am hoping to achieve in the next few years: 1. I want back in my bikini! I haven't worn it since, well, 14 years ago. 2. I want a fit body, not just healthy but toned, I want my atheletic shape back - the one way to do this is EXERCISE (note to self, get off the couch and MOVE) 3. I want to buy sexy clothes again! and not only buy them, but be able to wear them and feel good in them. 4. I want to be able to bend down and tie my shoes without the breath being knocked out of me. - DONE! 5. I want to be able to get in the tub and not have my ASS take up the entire tub, side to side - oh this sucks. - DONE! 6. I want to be able to cross my legs. - DONE! 7. I want to be able to wear shorts without them riding up my crotch. 8. I want to be able to walk without my thighs rubbing each other and sweating in the summer and leaving that horrible heat rash! 9. I want to be able to push food away and not feel the need to clean up the entire plate.- Still working on this one! 10. I don't want food to be my focus in life.- Getting better! 11. I want my kids to be proud of me. 12. I want to feel beautiful again and not 40 & fat. 13. I want to be able to buy a low rise pair of jeans without my stomach hanging over. my current jeans go clear up to my belly button. 14. I want to be able to have sex with my DH and not feel the need to "turn the lights off". 15. I want to become where exercise is a part of my life, where I crave exercise like I crave chocolate.- Becoming more and more part of my life! 16. I want to inspire other people to lose weight. 17. I want to become a personal trainer. 18. I want to buy attractive Teddies to wear instead of my sweatpants and tee shirts to bed. 19. I want to be proud of my weight, not ashamed. 20. I want people to be shocked that I am 40 because I look younger, not shocked because I am 40 and I look 50. PS - my weight this morning 229.2

I love making jewlery too. I mostly make earrings, similar to yours. Love making them with crystal & silver. I have earrings to match my pj's these days. lol. If I have an outfit and nothing to match it, I just whip me up a pair of earrings to go with it. It is so much fun to me. I haven't tackled necklace yet, but thinking I might try - I have made several bracelets.

Wow, what a "thinking" question..... My 18yr old self 1st would be totally shocked and embarrassed that I have gained so much weight. The 18yr old would be shocked that the 40 yr old enjoys staying home on Friday nights instead of hitting the town dancing. The 18yr old would be shocked with who I married, he is not the jock/athletic type I always dated at 18, but the outdoors mans man type. The 18yr old would be shocked I have two kids and really enjoy being a mom. But all in all the 18 yr old would realize that I am a good person, but am quite a bit different than I was at 18. I love everything about my 40 yr old life (except my body) and I loved everything about my 18 yr old life, they are both totally different, but enjoyed/enjoying them both!

I can say that I have personally tried the recipes I listed, I have also tried some of the posters (NYCHICK) recipes, like the deep dish pizza (my mother loves this one also), I freeze it in individual peices too. I've also tried the egg muffins - so I know they are all good. I can't say if they would work for the bandsters or not, because I'm not banded yet. I wouldn't see why not? But again, I'm not banded yet. I just know they are low in carbs and very tasty!

I know, it sucks being wrong!

Well, I'll be honest, Vanity DID play a huge role in my decision. Turning 40 and being fat was not fun for me. Health is starting to deteriorate too, so I'm telling my DH its for health reasons, but deep down, I want to be sexy again! Its like Justin's song goes "I'm bringing Sexy Back!"