NYYnNYGFAN

LOL...all my friends think I'm strange because I love salads. I even order a salad at Wendys...even before I got my band! I love salad bars but make an effort not to put croutons & alot of cheese on it. I'm glad to find out that salad is considered a "slider" because I don't have any restriction now since I only have 1cc in my 14cc band. Cya! Jo

I love salad too! Before I hit the gym...I go to the A&P (which is right next door) which has an awesome salad bar. I also like the Balsamic Vinegarette or the Raspberry walnut vinegarette which are both low-fat & low in sugar...Ken's makes good ones. I just figure on a tablespoon to measure...chicken slices, chick peas, hard boiled egg crumbles, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries...yummy.

Thanks everyone! Guess I have to have patience!

I was banded in Nov. 2010 and my incisions think they healed nicely. They are flat and smooth but one is almost a deep red or purple color. Does anyone know how long it takes for them to fade and if they do...are they still noticeable? Just wondering..!

I decided to go more conservative with my 14cc band and don't mind taking it slow. Also...I want my band to be a tool to eat more sensible but still enjoy eating socially. Another hope is that I won't have to deal with sagging skin if I do this slow! I only got 1cc on 12/28 after being banded on 11/8/10. I am going for a followup this Thursday and will decide on either another 1cc or maybe 1.5cc. I did notice that my portions are a bit bigger but I'm not going overboard. I've been losing & gaining the same pound for 2 weeks so I think its time for a fill. Anyone going the conservative route too?

You've done so well...go back and look at your earlier posts. You were so excited and had to brag about losing 50 lbs! Remember that feeling? Now do me a favor and kick me in the ass! I've plateau already but it was because I decided to get very small fills and do this conservatively. I only have 1cc in my 14cc band and still managed to lose approx. 35 lbs. But now I'm losing & gaining that same damn 2 lbs! Called my doctor to see if I can get another small fill. I still want to enjoy food and make sensible choices but I think my portions are getting alittle bigger. Anyway...here is your kick in the ass! Write me if you want to chat! Jo

I LOVE MY BLENDER BALL! Its a plastic shaker with a wire ball inside just like one of the other posters said. Cheap on Vitacost.com (buy the large size so it shakes well).

Thank you for the brownie recipe! I'll keep it for the times I need to have dessert on hand!

I was banded in early Nov and quickly lost 28 lbs by the end of Dec...all with an empty band. Currently, I can eat anything I want...rice, pasta, bread...I'm just enjoying these foods in smaller amounts. I feel like I'm eating like a "thin" person already. My old breakfast was 2 eggs, bacon, hashbrowns & a bagel. Now its 1 egg, 1 turkey sausage link and 1 slice of toast...maybe even alittle potatoes. I'm hoping I won't have any sagging skin issues by doing it slow. Also, I can still enjoy going out to eat and I'm not afraid of any "stuck" issues. (I HATE to throw up!!) The band gives me incentive to pick the right foods and not over-indulge. I even told my doctor that I went to McDonalds and had 1 cheeseburger and 1/4 bag of small fries...that's better than my normal large #2 meal with an order of 6 chicken mcnuggets! I feel like I still have a quality of life with eating...not quantity! Just hope my willpower stays the same. At times I wish I can see a big jump on the scale but know that this is for a lifetime...not just right this minute. With this all said...I only got 1cc fill on 12/28 and have lost 2 lbs since then. My doctor said to see how much I lose in 4-6 weeks and that's when we can decide on another small amount or maybe a 1.5cc fill. Good luck to all!

Your post made me laugh...looking at the serving sizes now just crack me up. I saw a box of Pasta has 7 servings ... OMG ... I thought it barely fed 3 people! But I now rethink everything...I use to just pop something little to satisy my cravings but it takes me 40 minutes to burn off 300 calories on the treadmill...I'd rethink that brownie!! But we all have to enjoy life...my enjoyment is ice cream! Instead of the huge Cereal bowl with 4-5 scoops...I use alittle bowl for 1 scoop, I'm interested in the applesauce instead of oil...please post if you know the measurements!

I was banded in early Nov and quickly lost 28 lbs by the end of Dec...all with an empty band. Currently, I can eat anything I want...rice, Pasta, bread...I'm just enjoying these foods in smaller amounts. I feel like I'm eating like a "thin" person already. My old Breakfast was 2 eggs, bacon, hashbrowns & a bagel. Now its 1 egg, 1 turkey sausage link and 1 slice of toast...maybe even alittle potatoes. I'm hoping I won't have any sagging skin issues by doing it slow. Also, I can still enjoy going out to eat and I'm not afraid of any "stuck" issues. (I HATE to throw up!!) The band gives me incentive to pick the right foods and not over-indulge. I even told my doctor that I went to McDonalds and had 1 cheeseburger and 1/4 bag of small fries...that's better than my normal large #2 meal with an order of 6 chicken mcnuggets! I feel like I still have a quality of life with eating...not quantity! Just hope my willpower stays the same. At times I wish I can see a big jump on the scale but know that this is for a lifetime...not just right this minute. With this all said...I only got 1cc fill on 12/28 and have lost 2 lbs since then. My doctor said to see how much I lose in 4-6 weeks and that's when we can decide on another small amount or maybe a 1.5cc fill. I Hope everyone has a great year!

I take the MegaRed...NO PROBLEM! I don't have all of restriction right now but the pill is much smaller than those HUGE fishy ones and the is practically no taste at all. My doctor said that this will be fine as I get more restriction. It's alittle cheaper on vitacost.com but I find it sometimes on sale at Walmart and it usually has a $1 coupon inside the box. Its twice the cost of the fishy ones but SOOOO WORTH IT.

You are my twin in life! I have always been the party girl...until the past 4 years since my father has been sick and I turned into his caregiver. During that time...I gained alot more weight and that's when I started to feel horrible. My weight never stopped me in life...always popular, good looking boyfriends, confident. Until my dad passed away in Feb 2010...I realized that the extra weight has been preventing me from enjoying life as I had. My husband was initially nervous that I was going to drop a ton of weight and leave him but now he's OK with everything. I only told close family members and a few of my very BFF who I see often. I figured the friends who I only see occassionally will assume I'm dieting & told them I joined a gym. (I'm doing fills very conservatively...don't want sagging skin!!) My best friend joined Weight Watchers when I had my surgery. I want to drop 120-150 lbs and she only has 50-70 lbs. to lose so the band isn't for her. I noticed that she wants to end our gym time early all the time or has an errand to run so we don't go. We used to talk daily and now it may be 1-2 times a week. I still love to cook for my family which she always joined but now she finds any excuse not to come. We NEVER talk about how much weight I lost. I'm sad because I'm losing a friend who was initially sooo supportive...she even took me to the hospital! Hope our true friends will come around and appreciate the healthier you.

Question Mistybrooks...I thought I was told that cereal was on the NO list? I used to LOVE my bowl of cereal in the morning! I assumed that it was not good since you have to have milk and there's no liquids with meals? Anyone else eat cereal?!

In the Asian culture...a woman's daughter is a reflection of her. My mom had a beautiful figure when she was young and it disturbed her to have a "chubby" daughter. As thought by making comments and giving little insults would propel me to lose weight. But in fact, it did the opposite...just made me prove that I still was beautiful even with some extra pounds. I was always very popular and never had any problems getting good-looking boyfriends which mystified my mom. She thought I was beautiful but always said..."you have such a pretty face...such a shame you are heavy". Even when I was looking at a bridal magazine and made a comment on a tightfitting dress...she quickly told me that I was too fat to wear that dress! All I said was that the beading was pretty...not that I was thinking I could wear it! But I know that being from a different culture...she loved me but didn't know how to help me the right way when I was young and for years I sabbotaged myself to prove my personality outshined my weight. We had a long talk once I realized what I was doing to myself and she realized that her "helpful" comments all backfired. She was heartbroken but because of this...I became a strong, confident, happy woman. Because of this...I was happy with my life & comfortable with my body. Until my father's medical problems finally ended his life last Feb, I do not want diabeties or any of the health issues he had which is what lead me to getting the band on 11/8/10. Comments can help you or break you down...you only have to prove something to yourself!

Anyone only get really hungry at night? I can go all day without any hunger pains and actually have to remember to eat & drink my protein shakes. This all changes after 9pm....seems like I'm so hungry! I want to nosh on something...anything! I usually try to only have a few crackers with 1 Laughing Cow cheese and a few slices of apple. That does the trick but I crave something every night? I have a decent dinner too so is it just bad habits?

Thanks for all the ideas! I didnt think about the sf popicles! I love ice cream but I just don't buy it anymore. Good luck to all!

FYI...protein shake helped curb the hunger! I just read somewhere that the cold drinks help tighten the band at night. Maybe this will be my new routine...I'm just into my 2nd month so I'm a newbie!

I posted this question because I was sitting here thinking about a snack too! Think I'm going to drink my Protein shake instead. Good luck everyone...send me a note instead of eating a snack! Willpower in groups! LOL! Jo

I was banded in early Nov and quickly lost 28 lbs by the end of Dec...all with an empty band. Currently, I can eat anything I want...rice, Pasta, bread...just enjoy these foods in smaller amounts. I feel like I'm eating like a "thin" person already. My old Breakfast was 2 eggs, bacon, hashbrowns & a bagel. Now its 1 egg, 1 turkey sausage link and 1 slice of toast...maybe even alittle potatoes. I'm still losing but of course at a much slower rate but I'm hoping I won't have any sagging skin issues by doing it slow. Also, I can still enjoy going out to eat and I'm not afraid of any "stuck" issues. (HATE to throw up!!) At times I wish I can see a big jump on the scale but I know that this is for a lifetime...not just right this minute. With this all said...I only got 1cc fill on 12/28. Didn't feel any difference. My doctor said to see how much I lose in 4-6 weeks and that's when we can decide on another small amount or maybe a 1.5cc fill. Hope everyone has a great year! Jo

I got banded in November and looking for new friends for support on this journey. I have lots of friends but they can only listen and support me to a point. Would love to have friends that can understand that the path I've chosen wasn't the easy way out. Would be great to even go out with other banded friends that can eat slow so I'm not the last one at the table! LOL...anyone live in the Wayne or surrounding, NJ areas?

I can't wait to buy a regular pair of jeans and the kind with the elastic band at the top! I tend to have a bigger tummy and small thighs so "big girl" buttonfly jeans are huge and look like clown pants! I just want to buy normal clothes. Won't be for a while since I have years worth of different sizes to keep me out of stores for now. Its just when I get into the sizes I haven't seen since high school! Good luck and have fun!

I'm so jealous! Got my 1st fill today and I guess I feel more pain than most ...boy did it hurt! More than a pinch...my doc even said he'd change the needle and the 2nd attempt was less painful. I decided to go more conservative since I'm doing well and don't mind taking it slow. Also...I want my band to be a tool to eat more sensible but still enjoy eating socially. No stuck feeling except for my 1st experience this Christmas when I felt like my pants were way too tight and I had more of a clogged feeling. This was hours after I ate...no more cheating! Good luck to you and everyone!

At my first outing...I order French onion soup and asked the waiter to just give me the broth. I just told him that I was on a liquid diet. Sipped it very slowly. Then I ordered Jello for dessert. I was FULL! Got me through the event!

Hi Banded Diva...I guess I feel more pain than most cause my first fill was today and boy did it hurt! More than a pinch...my doc even said he'd change the needle and the 2nd attempt was less painful. I decided to go more conservative since I'm doing well and don't mind taking it slow. Also...I want my band to be a tool to eat more sensible but still enjoy eating socially. No stuck feeling except for my 1st experience this Christmas when I felt like my pants were way too tight and I had more of a clogged feeling. This was hours after I ate...no more cheating! Good luck to you and everyone!