Oregondaisy

Thanks for reminding me to look at the before and after pictures! How inspiring! I tend to just come here because that's where my email sends me. I sometimes forget there's the whole rest of the board to explore. Everyone's doing so great. Isn't this amazing? I feel so lucky that this is available to us in this day and age. It's going to feel so nice to get the weight off and get some self esteem back. I went shopping today and bought some more Protein powder to add to stuff. I really don't have any trouble getting a lot of Protein in because the cans of chocolate I bought from the drs.'s office has 35 grams in it. Slim fast only has 20. My daughter gave me some left over chocolate coconut ( she had RNY) that's really good and it's got 20 grams too. I bought a bunch of stuff at the doctors like Soups, drinks and hot chocolate. I am really trying to get a lot of protein in because I really don't want to lose a bunch of hair. My daughter's is so thin right now. Tomorrow I go back to work and I know that's going to be challenging. They are always eating candy. That's one good thing about the Liquid Protein. I have stopped craving sweets and that makes me really happy! JonandJem, I do live in the Pacific Northwest and it has been pouring down rain in buckets for days on end. It's beautiful here, but the rain does get old. I probably go the the gym on Sat and walk on the treadmill. It helps with my moods. The dreary days get depressing. Well good luck to everyone tomorrow! You are doing so well with experimenting . I am so lazy I just open one of those cans. Maybe I'll get bored soon and start experimenting too.

By the way, I would love it if someone would write me. Eveyone is doing so well! It's easier to keep my spirits up when I come and read the board. It's hard to keep up with the board though because it moves so fast. It's nice to know that there are so many others having to drink liquid protein right now. It gets me through the day knowing I am not alone in this!

Glad to hear about everyone's progress. I am happy that I have lost 7 lbs in less than a week. I hope that doesn't stall when I get on mushies. I think it's important to keep the carbs low, so I will try to find mushy things that don't have a lot of carbs. I read the food thread to get more ideas for liquids. Right now it's easier just to pop open a can of Protein Drink. I am really curious to see how much I will lose in 4 weeks on liquid. I am amazed that every doctor has a different opinion on how long you have to stay on liquids. I just hope I can make it the entire 4 weeks. If I keep losing, I think it will be easier to not worry about having to be on liquids. It will be worth it if I keep losing. Does anyone know when or if for sure we will experience hair loss? I really don't want that! thanks Denise

Hi all, I am surprised to read that some of you are already eating food. All I can have are those protein drinks, liquid soup that I bought from the surgeons office, (it's pure liquid) sugar free popcicles, sugar free jello, and sugar free hot chocolate. It's getting old in a hurry. I don't want to cheat but it will be a miracle if I make it 4 weeks this way. I am so tempted to go and buy some crackers! lol but I really want to try my best to do as the dr. ordered. I have lost 7 lbs since I was banded on fri. so that helps when I think of another protein drink.

Wow! Wheat thins! I am scared to eat anything. My dr. wants me on Liquid Protein for 4 weeks. Wheat thins sound like heaven. I don't know how I am going to make if for 4 weeks. I don't get why these drs. all have different opintions on how long you have to be on liquids. I don't want to mess anything up. I might not make it 4 weeks but I am going to try to do at least 3 weeks before moving to mushy. I was banded fri. and I am going back to work tomorrow, tues. I was going to take a week off, but I don't see the point. I am not in any pain. I went to the movies today. I just feel like I did a lot of sit ups. I would call it a little sore, but not pain. I feel bad for those that are in pain. The only complaint I have is I want to eat! It's better today though than yesterday. Yesterday, I thought I would starve. Today, I have had several Protein drinks and keep thinking that I must be losing weight. I haven't weighed yet, but I am going to do that tomorrow morning. I would really like to keep in touch with everyone who was banded in Dec. I know I am going to need the support. Good luck to everyone!

Thanks everyone for your support and responses. I don't feel quite as hungry today as I did the first couple of days. I think my stomach is getting used to not having big meals. The oatmeal that I have is some I bought from the dr.'s office. It's not like regular oatmeal. But I have to thin it way down so it's completely soupy. It's pretty high in Protein, I think 20 grams. I was also wondering, do you still have to wait an hour to drink Water at this stage, since the band is wide open with no fills? I have been doing that and it's really hard. Once I get to eat food, it's REALLY going to be hard! I watch the clock to see when I can have a drink. I seem to be thirsty all the time. I guess that's good. I will try the slim fast optima and see if it sticks with me any longer. I am just thrilled that this has basically been pain free. I am really surprised! Thanks again:)

I am just wondering what will keep the hunger away the longest? I am off work right now, but it's going to be hard at work watching other people eat when I am so hungry. I bought some high Protein oatmeal from the dr. which he said can be used at the liquid stage when it's thinned down with skim milk. It seems to stick with me longer than Protein drinks. I have been staying at my daughter's house for the weekend, and they don't have internet at their house. I just came home for a few minutes to ck the board. I am going to take tues. off work and then I will have time to research the food threads regarding the liquid stage. I want to thank eveyone again for being so supportive! Denise

I am amazed that I am feeling so well! I have a headache, but I think that's from not eating. I can' t have any protein drinks until after I have my swallow test. My stomach is growling, but at least this day is almost over with. Right now a protein drink is sounding GREAT!

I am jealous of everyone who says they are not hungry. I am hungry all the time! I got banded 3 days ago and I have lost 3 lbs. I don't know how it's going to be possible to stick with a liquid protein diet for 4 weeks if I am this hungry all the time. Anyone have any suggestions? thank you! Denise

To tell you the truth, I don't even know what my bmi really is. I am 5'2" and weigh 210. I would like to get down to 135-145 in that range. I will join you in this lower BMI conversation. Can you tell me what my bmi is? I think my surgeron said 39 when I went for my first consult. but I can't even remember! I am amazed at how great I feel after having this done! Denise

It's day 3 now and I am stil feeling great. Just hungry. Those protein drinks don't take the hunger away for very long. I still haven't had any gas pains. I wonder if they are still on their way. Everyone has told me the gas pains are the worse part of the whole thing but I have no gas pains (yet) Thanks everyone for being so supportive. Bandsters are the most awewome people!

I am so excited and nervous. I know this is normal. Thank you everyone for being so supportive to me. I have discovered bandsters are amazing people! I am glad the weather is supposed to be nice for a few days. I can walk on my dead end street. I want to feel better as soon as possible. Not looking forward to 4 weeks of liquids, but at least I should (hopefully) be losing during this time. That should make it worth while! thanks again everyone, Denise

Sweethot. You are so lucky to have it done for 5,000. My first 3 fills are free, but I paid 10,000. Plus a nutrition class for $300 and the first consult was 260.00 So that is 10, 560. Now I have to go for a swallow test at the hospital and I am sure that will be expensive too. Nothing at the hosptial is free. Oh wel, I keep telling myself, I am worth the money

I am excited! I am not in any pain at all. I hope the worse of it isn't on it's way. They said th 2nd day is worse butso far, it's not. Thanks for the welcome. Everyone here is so nice!:):) thanks again! Denise

Wow! I have to be on liquids and yougurt for four weeks! I would imagine I will take some yogurt and a Protein drink to work. I haven't told the people at work about it. I work in a school and had it done at Chrismtas break. I don't imagine I will be a fast loser, and I will be following my surgeons diet anyway, after liquids. He wants us on 70% protein and 30% fruits and veggies until we hit our goal. Good luck to you. We are very close together on our surgery dates! Denise:)

I got banded this morning. I am really looking forward to my new life. Good luck to everyone who is just starting their journey, or waiting for a surgery date. I feel pretty good, but I am wondering about tomorrow. I have read that the 2nd day is much worse. Oh well, I am on the road to recovery! Thanks everyone for being so supportive! Denise

Hello all, I am getting banded tomorrow. I just read on another board where someone who was going through menopause and on hormones said they are not losing weight. This scared me. I am on hormones too and I have wondered about that. Does anyone know if this makes a difference in weight loss? Thank you. You have all been so wonderful! Denise

I do exercise frequenly. I joined a gym 3 years ago but didn't lose anyweight, even with working out 6 days a week. That's why I decided to get the lap band. I hope now I can lose. I have to take them because I have terrible insomnia and the hormones help with that. 1/3 of all women get insomnia after they go through menopause. I wish I was in the other 2/3rds!

Wow you are lucky to get to start on mushies already. My surgeon wants 4 weeks of liquids. I don't know how I will do on that. If I didn't have a food problem, I wouldn't need a band. I hope I can stick it out. I want to do as I am told. We will be on this journey together! I get banded tomorrow 7am. Hope to be talking to you, Denise

I have been going to his support group for over a year. It's the 2nd and 3rd tues of the month. The 3rd one is better though because his nurse holds it and usually has a topic. I learned about lap band through that support group. I started going because my daughter had RNY by Dr. T a year ago today. If there is anything else you want to know about his support group, please feel free. I am getting banded on friday, so I will need all the support I can get! thanks, Denise

Hello! I am wondering how all of you are doing all that cool stuff. I don't even know how to post my signiture. I don't know how you're doing that ticker either with the weight loss. I need my daughter to come over and show me, I guess. I can't see anywhere to go and make those things. Getting my band now in 5 days!

:nervous hello everyone! I just found this board. I am getting banded in 12 days and I am getting really nervous. I want to get to know everyone because I am sure I will need all the support I can get. I have read a lot of posts, and like a lot of other people, I am not as worried about the pain as I am about going 4 weeks on a liquid diet. I know I am going to really want to eat. Why else would I need a lap band if I didn't love to eat, right?! Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself and I hope to get to know people. It will be great to have a place to come where people understand how I feel!

It's great that so many of us are getting started right about the same time. It will be really helpful to have others going through the same kinds of things. I know it won't be easy at first, but finding this board will make it much more manageable. Best of luck! I am getting banded on friday, and getting nervous.:omg:

Wow! That's 3 of us having surgery on the same day! Yay! It will be so nice to have two other people to go through this with. I am kind of freaking out, because I am such an emotional eater. I am worrying that I am going to get depressed that I can't eat what I want. :help:I just have to picture myself buying clothes in the regular department instead of the plus sized. That will be so much fun! I am really happy to hear that there will be 3 of us at nearly the same weight, having surgery the same day. I am sure I will be whining to you really soon. It's a week from today. How did you put that surgery date and your town in on your post? I am so computer illiterate!:biggrin1:

HI there, Thats so cool that we are getting our bands on the same day. It will be really nice to have someone else going through this at the same time. I am glad I found this board. We are the same height, and almost the same weight. I weigh 210 right now. I am just hoping not to gain any weight from now until then. But today I had a Baskin-Robbins ice cream cone. I keep telling myself I have to eat the things that I won't be able to eat soon. I know thats the wrong way to think. I have lost all my will power that I used to have. I hope the 4 weeks on liquids will tame my sugar cravings. Well I am really glad we found each other. It will be really nice to have someone to share this experience with. keep in touch! Denise