sprinkles

I am from MS as well. I was banded on July 29th and as of September 14th had lost 42 pounds. I don't weigh myself at home and won't go back to the doctor until November 9th, so I am anxious to see if I have lost any additional weight. :w00t: I definitely know I have lost inches, so I am happy with that! Hopefully you will be approved quickly. I don't regret this surgery at all; the best thing I ever did for myself!! It is good to see someone else from MS!

My husband and I were in the grocery store the other night and we got separated. He couldn't find me.......he said he didn't recognize me because I look slender now!!:w00t: Still have a LONG way to go, but this was a huge NSV for me!

You all are awesome! I was banded on July 29th and as of 9/14, had lost 42 pounds with no fill. I do not own a scale and don't plan on buying one, although I am tempted! I am trying to weigh only when I go to the doctor, which won't be again until 11/9. I am sure when I go in November, I will get a fill. I am just now beginning to feel a little hungry between meals now. I have gone down 3 pants sizes and couldn't be happier with my band!! Keep up the good work everyone!!:puke:

I use Protein Rite shakes from Protein Rite High Protein chocolate Drink (7 Servings/Box) To me, they are really good. Just mix with 8 oz. cold Water and I add ice and shake it up! They don't have that Vitamin taste or smell and they have 15 grams of protein per drink. The hot chocolate ones are good too for cold weather!:thumbup:

Congrats to you as well! You are doing super. I don't weigh myself, so I don't know if I have lost anymore and I don't go back to the doc until 11/9. I may have to invest in a scale!:smile2: I am sure some of my weight loss is through sheer willpower, but I will never know how much is the band or me. I know before I had the surgery, I made my mind up that this is it, so I will not jeopardize my efforts at all. And surprisingly, I don't miss any of those pre-band foods. Sweets used to be my weakness and now I have no desire to eat them. I agree about the hunger pains! They are almost nonexistent, unlike before the band. It is finally cooler here, so I am beginning to walk at lunch time and that makes it easier to get the exercise in! Good luck to you!

I certainly disagree that my surgeon is a moron! And yes, I do have restriction. I eat only about 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup per meal and I am full and stay that way. As soon as I feel full, I stop eating no matter what is left on my plate. Pre-band, I would have been able to stuff it in, but no longer. Throughout this whole process I have never had the hunger that other banders talk about. I know that I will need a fill eventually and he told me if I start to get hungry between meals to call and schedule an appointment for a fill. Natalieg, I am exercising about 3x per week and have the goal of increasing this to 5x per week. I have a Protein shake around 6:15 or 6:30 in the morning and only snack on days that I teach/attend class to avoid getting that hungry feeling. My Snacks are usually 2% string cheese or reduced fat Peanut Butter and fat free crackers. For lunch I usually eat chilli, deli turkey, or chicken salad with 5 fat free saltines and if I am not stuffed on that, I will eat some fruit, such as a sliced fresh peach. For dinner, I usually eat some sort of sea food and a green vegetable. In between times, I either drink Water or crystal light. I stick to the list of acceptable foods that was given at the Doctor's office. Good luck to everyone! I am so glad that I had this surgery!

Just returned from my surgeon's office today and I am thrilled to report that I am down 42 pounds since my surgery on July 29th!:thumbup: I am also down 26.75 inches all over!! I finally feel like the weight I am losing will never return. The lap-band is a fabulous tool! Still no fill.....Doc says I am "smoking it" so no need to mess with the band!

It does get better when you start on mushies! I am 4 weeks post-op and just this week, feel like I am getting most of my energy back. Hang in there and good luck!!

Mine was my senior year of high school when I wasn't really that heavy! Silly awards are always given to seniors by the junior class where I went to school and I was given the "Pothole Award" because I had enough fat to fill all the potholes in the parking lot!! I will never forget that!

I was banded on 7/29 and discharged from the hospital on 8/2 and was told not to drive until I had my follow-up appointment on 8/11! I am about to go stir-crazy!!

I was banded on 7/29/10 and was unable to keep anything down for 5 days and stayed in the hospital until 8/2 when they figured out I had 4 cc's of Fluid in my band that should never have been there. So....I guess I am a little behind in the healing process anyway. But...how long before the swelling goes down and I can eat something other than liquids? My post-op diet says after 3-5 days add Optima Slim Fast as tolerated and after day 7, I can add mushies, such as mashed potatoes, or scrambled eggs. Also, what time do you stop drinking/eating at night? Thanks!