Maurdan

Ok December bandster buddies, I need help. What is a good, high Protein snack I can eat in the afternoon so I'm not starving when I get home? I can't do cheese because I've learned I can't control myself when I have it. Any other suggestions? I'm on mushies for a few more days but then I move to solids. Yay.

I am so happy I read this thread. I was feeling the same way as the originator and getting discouraged. I now know I just need to hang in there, make good decisions and schedule my first fill as soon as I can.

Wheetsin, I'm sure you've answered this a million times, but I need some inspiration. How did you break bad habits (aside from the tricks you mentioned above)? I'm so scared I'm falling back into them and I don't want to screw this up. What do you think are the best things you do that has helped you have so much success?

I think I'm going to have to do that, too. I just hate to cook, especially in the mornings. I feel like I'm slipping into old habits and not listening to my band so it scares me. I don't want to screw this up!!!

Nathalie, I'm sorry you're having a bad day. It's been an "iffy" week for me, too. I keep trying to hang on until my first fill. Old habits are hard to break!

I'm going to start mushies soon and I have a question. When you moved to mushies, did you measure what you ate before you ate it? Did you stick to 1 cup or smaller? I feel like I have no restriction right now, but I don't want to damage anything so I'm curious. I was going to try and stick to no more than 1 cup, but I'm afraid of the hunger and eating more if I'm able to. How did you handle it?

So would I! That's amazing.

Wow, that's not the experience I had at all. I mostly dealt with Jessie and mainly through e-mail, but I had all my questions answered and never felt like I was bothering them. That's too bad.

I definitely feel like I have no restriction. However, I'm waiting the 6 weeks as my doctor recommended because I read my op report and getting a fill too soon could pull the sutures.

I'm one that isn't an original to your group. I jumped to a negative conclusion when I heard about this thread, but as I read it I realized the reasons for it. I'm not going to "infiltrate" this thread, but I would like to read it because some of you I have enjoyed reading ever since I found this forum. I learn a lot from your experiences. I may not say it to you all because I like to read more than respond, but I really do enjoy reading what many of you go through each day. I rarely post anyway, so I hope I'm not one that's going to make you hide yourselves or go elsewhere. You all truly have a lot to share with us newer people and I really appreciated it. I haven't seen many of you post in the December thread so I'd like to continue reading this one so that I know how others are doing and can compare it to how I'm doing. So, I replied just to get notification of new posts. Otherwise, I probably would have kept my mouth shut.

I am going to go with FillCentersUSA.com. They have an office in St. Pete and I heard they use fluoro. I'm going in about a month. Can't wait!

I had no idea people had left. That kind of sucks. I thought we were all supporting each other. Ah well, I kind of lay low anyway.

I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Rumbaut and his team. I don't regret for a second having my surgery with him. He is so friendly and positive, as is his whole team. He's also very experienced. I wish I could go back to Mexico for my fills because I'd love to see the team again, but it's more cost effective for me to get them done here. I do plan on eventually going back though to check in with him, maybe once a year.

Well, I made my goal of getting into the gym 4 times this week. 30 minutes of cardio each time, too. I'm going to build up to 45 minutes (adding 3 minutes a week for 5 weeks). I feel great. Probably ate too much for dinner, but I'm still working on the portion control thing. I have it down for Breakfast and lunch, but dinner always gets me.

When you do, please let us know what s/he says. I'm concerned about this too, I love to drink crystal light.

Thank you so much. That definitely helps.

For me, the surgery is way too drastic and I didn't feel comfortable with it. Also, you have to eliminate certain foods completely and I don't think I can do that. Finally, I saw people gain weight after having gastric bypass (stretching their stomachs?) and I knew that would happen to me. I prefer the lapband because I can control how much restriction I have and if I start to gain I know I can re-evaluate what I'm doing and perhaps get another fill.

Is a cup too much?

I just want to wish all my fellow December bandsters a Happy New Year. Thankfully, when the ball drops this year I won't have to look on the past year and become depressed because I didn't lose weight. Instead, I can look ahead and know I will be successful this year. It's exciting. I'm staying in because I just don't want to be tempted by food and alcohol this soon after surgery.

I had to do a 10 day clear liquid pre-op diet. It was hell, but I'm so glad I had to do it. It really helped me make it through after surgery and adding in full liquids felt like a treat!

For the past two years I have run out and bought that issue, read each person's story and couldn't wait to try AGAIN to lose weight. This year, after being banded, I'm not even interested in reading their stories. I have finally realized I canNOT do this on my own. I have tried repeatedly and failed repeatedly. I have tried everything from pills to therapy. There is something in me that doesn't have the follow-through. Ever since I came to this realization and made the decision to have the surgery, I've been at peace with myself. I don't CARE if someone else can do it without the band, I don't CARE if some people tell me I'm cheating. I'm doing what I need to do for ME to be successful, for ME to live a longer life.

I did a search for Mexican lap band doctors on the Internet. Then when I came to a site, I read everything on it. The next step was finding an unaffiliated site (such as obesityhelp.com and lapbandtalk.com) for another opinion. I really lucked out because Dr. Rumbaut's site (gastricband.com) was the first site I found.

I lost 9 lbs the first week, and this week (my 2nd) I'm up 1 lb today, though official weigh in day is Saturday. It's a bit frustrating, but this board has helped me deal with it realizing this happens to a lot of people. I do feel better already, though!

At the last minute we had a glitch and I was afraid I'd have to go alone. I was determined to go no matter what, so if I had to go alone I would have. Thankfully, it all worked out and my mom came with me. I have to be honest, I don't know how I would have gotten through it without my mom (or someone else there to support me). I had a few rough Patches and she helped me through it. I do know people who have gone alone and been just as successful, I just think that it helps to have support with you.

I went to Dr. Rumbaut and am extremely pleased. The poster who said he has a great bedside manner wasn't kidding. It's awesome.