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Aw, you guys are awesome. Thank you for the support and advice. I've always felt uncomfortable in my skin, from the time I was a sz 6 in high school, to a sz 10 in college, to a sz 20/22 for most of my post-college career and now at the smallest I've ever been which is a sz 3/4. However, I do plan to transfer to another position because in addition to not meshing well with my team, there are some things I really don't like about the administration at my school. I think I was able to deal with the administration better when I had the support of my team. It's kind of like being a kid with really strict parents and going from having siblings to help you get through to being an only child.

Surgery just got delayed by 6+ weeks and It's no ones fault but my own. I was so excited, I just completed my last options calss through kaiser and was suppose to meet with the surgeon on Tuesday and schedule a surgery date. Well part of our options program with Kaiser required us to do blood work at weeks 3 and week 10. Part of the blood was was an h pylori test. Well stupid me did the blood work but forget to do the h pylori test (it's a stool test). Well when I went for my week 10 labs they reminded me. All my labs cleared but my h pylori test came back positive so now I have to do antibiotics for 10 days then wait 6 WEEKS before I can retake the h pylori screen. I am totally kicking myself because had I done the stupid test in week 3 like I was suppose to I could be done with the antibiotics and be getting scheduled for surgery next month like the rest of my class... This SUCKS!

I was banded back on 10/13/08 and my recovery was very smooth. I'm down a total of 45 pounds from my highest, but only about 33 since surgery. Everyone says that once you reach restriction, it is a whole different world and many find themselves losing weight more easily. Ummm....well why isn't this happening for ME!! I faithfully went every 4 weeks for small fills until I felt good restriction. I've had one small .3 cc unfill because I was a little too tight. So why o why am I still at the same friggen fraggin weight? I don't eat that much and have fairly good daily activity. I wasn't too pleased that it took me about 7 months to finally get restriction, but I kept thinking that things will change once I'm at my sweet spot. These are those frustrating times I honestly wish I had chosen the sleeve over the band. Thanks for listening to my rant :grouphug:

I am on day 10 of my preop diet. I am only allowed the Bariatric Advantage shakes and Clear liquids. According to my documentation, I am allowed to use milk in my shakes. I have been consuming mass amounts of Crystal Light. Mr. Smith is right ... you have to get that ketosis to kick in and carbs prevent that. I am surprised that your surgeon didn't define exactly what you can and can't have. I have lost 18 lbs. in the last 10 days.

What is it that you like about the shakes? The coldness? The creamy thickness. The sweetness? I am an ice cream junkie. It is a trigger food for me. And by the way, I love all of the above. This is what has worked for me. First, the greens plus with berry burst. It really has reduced my sugar cravings. Everyday, at some point, I mix vanilla Protein powder, a tablespoon of Greek yogurt, four frozen strawberries, maybe 10 -15 frozen blueberries, about 1/4-1/2 c Water, ice cubes when available and blend in my magic bullet. It's cold sweet, protein, and I think it's a milkshake. One of my band friends does the above with chocolate protein, and a spoon of Peanut Butter with almond milk and ice, a little Splenda for sweetness. banana is a nice change of pace too. Just slice up the banana in 1/2 inch slices with the skin on, put in a ziplock & freeze. Break off the amount of slices you want in your fake frozen but yummy shake! Hope this helps!

Hi everyone, I havent post anything since September. a recap, I was banded on July 3rd weighting 238, today 12/29/12 I am 209. My first two fills didnt feel much of restriction only lost 21 pounds in four moths. I had my 4th fill on 12/17/12 and I have lost 10 lbs since than.. It hasnt been easy for me, I've been vomitting almost every day. The past two or three day I ve been better, I just need to keep in mind the small bites and shew shew shew.. After all, I am very happy of my weight lost and focused to reach my goal before my year bandnniversary.. I hope all of you are having great results as well..

I just got back from Disney a few weeks ago. I was 5 months post-op. I was worried about how I would eat there as well! I had nothing to worry about, though. Here are my tips: * You can pre-order any special food you'll need from Garden Grocer to keep in a refrigerator in your hotel room. They deliver to all Disney hotels. I ordered cottage cheese, string cheese, diet Jell-o and the flavored water I like. * I found that all Disney restaurants will grill chicken for you. You just have to ask. I had grilled chicken every day and was able to get my protein in that way. * I found that all ice cream vendor carts in the Disney parks sell Edy's no-sugar-added strawberry fruit bars. They only have 50 calories. * I brought my own protein bars with me. * I brought along sugar-free oatmeal packets and had that for breakfast every day. I stayed at one of the hotels with a "food court" in the lobby (Art of Animation resort). I got the hot water for the oatmeal at the beverage station. * Most restaurants (and the hotel food courts) had fresh fruit/vegetables available. * I brought along Starkist tuna in pouches. I got the one called "Tuna Salad - Sandwich Ready". It has 90 calories and 10 grams of protein and was easy to carry into the parks. I also brought crackers to eat with it. I was in Disney for a week and actually lost 7 pounds! And this was my first trip where I was able to actually fit through the turnstiles! Have a magical vacation!

I have had the alpine (fruit) punch, and the orange flavor of the pre mixed Isopure in the bottle. You get 40g of protein per bottle, and alot of your liquid requirement. I also have tried the powder in the same flavors... I personally cannot stand the thickness of the powder drinks.:thumbup: They come out quite chalky looking, and settle to the bottom of the glass after a few minutes. :embaressed_smile:The girl at GNC told me that that's the xtra vitamins and minerals they add to the powder mix that settle. I still prefer the pre mixed clear kind. Get a gold card, and save $$ durring the first week of each month. I think it's 10 or 15 % off your purchase! :frown: Good luck!

My elliptical- my wonderful, wonderful elliptical, is broken. One of the pedal wheels is broken. I ordered the part ($100!!!!!) and got it and went to change it and it looks like I'm going to have to take half the elliptical apart to fix it. My dh, though wonderful, is not at all handy nor helpful. I have been on SUCH a good kick! I'm up to 40 minutes- 10 min at level 1 and 30 minutes at level 2. SOOOOO- Of course I have other things to do- my Wii is broken and we're not replacing it until after the new one comes out around the holidays so I can't do my Wii Zumba. i do go to the Y for zumba 2-3 days a week, so that's covered. I have been walking in my neighborhood. I have TONS of The Firm videos, karen voight videos, etc- so there are lots of other options available to me. So, just reassure me that even without my elliptical for who knows how long I will still lose weight! I've been doing so well- I guess I should get one of those fitbits to see how many calories I burn with the other exercise. Just need my peeps to encourage me!!! LOL Reassure me that all those other things I can do are as effective (or is it affective? no, I think effective- this is the one that always eludes me). Thanks for listening. No one but DH and my mom know I"m banded irl, so I NEED all of you

Hi all, i am officially 4 days post op and i actually feel good. my surgery was a breeze, i remember telling my DM and DH i loved them, maybe a tear or two and then i was waking up! my dr. said my liver was perfect and the surgery went very well. i had to stay overnight in the hospital - which is annoying bcause you don't get any rest. i was up and walking to the bathroom maybe 4 hrs after surgery. i did have a sliming episode in the hospital - it involved chicken broth....:smile2: i have 5 scars -4 small and 1 big. i have some slight discomfort on the left side under my ribcage but other than that, not so bad. i have been taking my pain meds only 2 times a day - enough to relieve the discomfort that i have been having. My DM was here for a week, i love her, she made me all kinds of mushies before she left to go home today. i had to do liquids for only 3 days and then over to mushies. the only thing is, i don't know when i am full vs what is gas?? :thumbdown: I have been eating 1 cup of food at each sitting, breakfast an scrambled egg with bits of ham and cheese, lunch some turkey salad and dinner, mashed potatoes and small bits of chicken. i have 11 days of mushies and then on to regular food. i went for a 40 minute walk today - i ran short of breath before it was over, but i made it - i have to make it a habit to walk around my subdivision at least once a day until i pick a gym to go to. so far, no problemsthough. i will spend the next week off of work trying to work out some short term goals. First fill is 10/07 - a little nervous but i think i will be fine. Question - is it normal for your mushies to come right back out after you eat? i experienced that yesterday - i would eat, wait 30 mins, drink a bottle of water and would have to run to the bathroom. thanks for listening and any feed back will be good. any other 09/08 - bandsters, it would be good to hear about your experiences...

My name is Heather. I am 33 years old and have decided to have the LAP-BAND® procedure after a very frightening diagnosis of an ischemic stroke in the early part of summer. While the only effect of the stroke is a weakened left eye muscle, it scared me straight. I also have a co-morbidity's of high cholesterol (possibly high BP), migraines and some mild depression in the past. I am 5ft 9in. I have been on every diet imaginable and well we all know the outcome... Wonderful losses at first, then big gains! Woohoo!! NOT! Anyway, I am currently 249.6 pounds (10/26/09) and hell bent and determined never to make the 250 mark! (Pipe dream, I know!) I had my first appointment with Dr. Wilfred Aguila in Tampa, Florida on (10/26/09) and have my psych evaluation December 1st to find out how crazy I really am! I met with the nutritionist on Nov 12th, and then the packet of information goes off to my insurance company, (Humana). Then my surgery date.. target date is 1st or 2nd week in January 2010. I am excited and really ready to take care of ME!!! but I can't do it alone! ME3.... ME, My doctors, and YOU! :thumbup: Very much love and wishes of success to all. Heather

I'm pre-op and went tonight. There were about 10 people, I guess. Seems like maybe it's mostly the same group each month...or a lot of the same people anyway. I enjoyed it though.

OMG... I had mine 2 yrs ago love my new life I look 10 yrs younger, love to go to the store and pick what I like not what I have to buy, gotta be honest sometimes I miss to eat my big bowl of pozole but wgen I pick my dress size from 20 to 4 I said to myself..YOU DONT NEED THAT BUG BOWL OF POZOLE IN YOUR LIFE ... been sleeved its a bless life its different and not easy cuz you have to deal with haters but my support ppl are always there for me tho I stand for you my lady and pray for your great amazing job ????????????????????????✔✔ BariatricMatters

This is what someone else had posted (thank you!) and I have now put into my files. I just finished my first batch of the Turkey skillet and it was delish! Very filling. And the one at the end, the sausage and shrimp dish is mine and I love it! Easy Turkey Skillet Non-stick cooking spray 1 lb lean ground turkey 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped 3 tablespoons tomato paste 1 teaspoon each basil, oregano, red pepper and garlic powder ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper 3 tomatoes, chopped 2 medium zucchini, sliced & halved 1. Brown turkey and onion in non-stick skillet sprayed with cooking spray. Cook until turkey is cooked through and onion is soft (about 10 minutes) 2. Add tomato paste and seasoning. Simmer another 10 minutes. 3. Add tomatoes and simmer another 5 minutes. 4. Add zucchini and cook 5 minutes more. Serve hot. Serves 4 (about 1 cup per serving) Calories 181; Carbs 13g; Fiber 4g ; Protein 21g ; Fat 6g chicken Breasts with cheese and Spinach 2 ounces goat cheese or reduced fat cream cheese, cut into pieces 1 garlic clove, minced 4 (6-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken-breast halves Salt and black pepper 1 bunch baby spinach (3 ounces), washed, trimmed, and coarsely chopped 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil ¾ cup reduced-sodium chicken broth 1. Combine cheese and garlic in small cup. Trim excess fat from chicken; season with salt and pepper. Using a sharp knife, cut a horizontal slit through thickest portion of each breast to form a deep pocket. Stuff each pocket with an equal amount of cheese mixture and spinach. Press edges of chicken together to seal. 2. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Brown chicken, 4 minutes per side. Reduce heat to medium; add broth to pan. Cover and simmer, about 6 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Serve immediately, discarding any remaining broth. Makes 4 full-size servings Per serving: 209 calories 31 g protein 1 g carbohydrate (WLS patients should only eat ¼ - ½ a breast – about 3oz) Baked Ricotta with Marinara 8 oz of ricotta cheese ½ cup grated Parmesan 1 large egg, beaten 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning Salt & pepper to taste ½ cup marinara sauce ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese Mix ricotta cheese, parmesan, beaten egg, seasonings together and place in a oven proof dish. Pour marinara on top and top with mozzarella cheese. Bake it in the oven @ 450 for about 20-25 minutes (best) or nuke it till hot and bubbly. Creole Shrimp and Sausage Stew Total: 20 minutes ****** Yield: 4 servings (serving size: about 1 cup) Ingredients2 teaspoons olive oil 1 cup chopped green bell pepper 1 cup thinly sliced turkey smoked sausage (about 6 ounces) (I prefer ground turkey and I use a whole package of it--a pound maybe?) 1 teaspoon bottled minced garlic 3/4 cup fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth 1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained (such as Rotel) 8 ounces peeled and deveined medium shrimp 1 (15-ounce) can organic kidney Beans, rinsed and drained 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley Preparation 1. Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add bell pepper, sausage, and garlic to pan; sauté 3 minutes or until bell pepper is tender, stirring occasionally. Add broth and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Stir in shrimp and beans; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 6 minutes or until shrimp are done. Sprinkle with parsley. Nutritional Information Calories: 191 Fat: 6g (sat 1.7g,mono 2.7g,poly 1g) Protein: 21.3g Carbohydrate: 13.2g Fiber: 3.5g Cholesterol: 97mg Iron: 2.9mg Sodium: 694mg Calcium: 127mg Karen Levin, Cooking Light, SEPTEMBER 2009

I have had bursts of energy, too! It almost makes me feel like I'm getting a little manic! I've been doing yard work like crazy on the weekends and feeling like I've lost at least 10 years! The more I do, the stronger I get, the better I feel! I still feel tired sometimes, too, but I just try to pay attention to what my body wants/needs at the moment. Ride the high!

She had her surgery on 12/10/18. Good luck trying to get me in for a 2 1/2 hour psych eval and test post-op. LOL!

I had RNY, not sleeved but for 10 days following surgery my surgeon has patients give themselves a shot of Lovenox, it's a preventative to blood clots. As much as I hated giving myself a shot every morning, the thought of a blood clot was more horrific.

No compression stocking. Had the ones that squeeze ur legs hooked up to me the whole 48 hrs I was in the hospital (hubby was good at detaching/attaching them when I had to pee - every 10 mins after they took my catheter out). I was just told to walk often. Cound't hurt tho

My dr.did five cuts also,the biggest eas very sore for a week. Its normal,I coukdnt even put my shoes on by myself for 10-12 days.even taking a shower at times was.hard,move the wrong way and it hurt

Post op day 4 and down 20 lbs!!?!! Well since I started my 10 day liquid diet. 9 lbs gone since surgery.

Hello. I'm scheduled to have my sleeve surgery on March 14. I am a violinist and have been asked to play at a wedding and reception the Saturday after (March 19). Would I be ready and able to play by then? Thanks for any advice!

Hi Bea and Elisabeth, I'm from AZ too, about 60 miles S/E of Phoenix in a little po-dunk town called florence. I had my surgery 8/19/11 and am stoked about it each and every day. I still have along way to go, but am confident I can do it. I wish you both the best of luck and what a great holiday gift to receive. Keep in touch. Zil