slm2007

Today, out of habit, I thought to myself...."self, I better get a 1/2 salad because that Lean Cuisine I have in there just isn't going to fill me up." Yes, this is how I still think and I'm learning this isn't the case anymore and I'm so thrilled. It's been a long 6 months!
Anyhow, I went out for lunch and forgot to pick up a salad and came back, heated up my Lean Cuisine and guess what....I'm full! I'm actually full on a little Lean Cuisine dinner. NOW, if I could just learn to listen to the band I'll be better and not "think" that I need more food. I'm working on this still but doing so much better and my portions have been cut down dramatically,
I'm now paying attention to how long I stay full. That's the next step but I think 5.5 cc's is good for me. I'm starting to finally like my band and understand it. :woot:

I said something like this to a friend of mine when I told her I was second guessing myself and I said "after all this is an elective surgery and not something I have to do" - she freaked out on me.
She said to me (cutting and pasting her email to me)......"This is not "just" an elective surgery! This is a life altering surgery. You have struggled with this since before you and I became friends. You are a beautiful young woman and your weight has effected every part of your life. This is not only a good thing to do it is a wonderful thing to do. You will find your entire life changed and only for the good. Okay?????"

Don't necessarily agree with the "beautiful young woman" but do agree with the "life altering surgery" vs. using the term elective surgery! I think that we second guess because everyone is usually against us and it is such a "stigma" with WLS.....yes, it is considered elective, but sometimes even "elective" is necessary.

Oh, NO WAY, are my pics going to be nude either, I was just saying that despite him seeing me that way (ick), I couldn't bear him taking pics of me in my stretchy pants and t-shirt as a "before" - - - heavens NO will there be "necked" pics of me EVER - geesh!

I have to have my sister come over and do it.....despite my husband seeing me naked...I just can't bear the thought of him taking these pictures...stupid, eh?

I'm getting banded on 4/18 and when I met with the surgeon I had the same questions. His response was they both do the same, AGAIN...it is how you use it and he told me that honestly 90% of the work is up to the user and not the band. I'm going with the REalize because of the low profile port. I know the Lap Band has a low profile port too but the physician assistant told me that they don't use the low profile port for Lap, just the regular one..so I opted and told them I want the Realize band. There are supposedly pros and cons with both. I liked the low profile port and the fact that they say the Realize is a low pressure vs. high pressure band. But, that can be a negative because supposedly it might take me a little longer to get good restriction? It's a crap shoot, so my winner was the low profile port. If they used a low profile for Lap, I wouldn't have cared which he put in me. Not that I've helped you at all

I've been using the ready-to-drink Oh Yeah brand. It does come in an 8 oz. bottle and has 15 grams of Protein in that and the 14 oz bottle has 32 grams of protein. It has 220 calories in the 14 oz bottle but I can drink it and that is important. It isn't going to do me any good no matter how many grams of protein and how little calories if I can't get it down. I'd rather have 20 extra calories and be able to drink the stuff. I've gotten samples from ww.vitalady.com and the Dessert line is pretty decent. I've have samples of the Unjury and haven't tried those yet. I've also heard that you can mix your shakes with SF pudding mixes to add some flavors. Thanks for the tip, EAS is one that I haven't tried yet.

I've been trying different premade Protein Drinks so I'm ready when surgery arrives and I have to rely on these. I went to Vitalady and ordered some samples and even some ready made "shakes." I am picky and wishing they tasted like a Wendy's chocolate frosty but have been unsuccessful. Today, I opened an OhYeah Cookies and cream...success. I can drink this one......granted I have a cold but it tastes pretty good. I've tried Pure Protein in the bottle and pitched them. I'll buy more of this OhYeah brand. so far so good.

I'm a prebander and I'm scheduled for surgery on May 16th (whoo hooo). Anyhow, I've been doing the 6 month diet and really took it seriously in January and then kicked it into high gear in February...... the reason I'm telling anyone who will listen this story is because I sometimes read posts and wonder "if it's worth it", or "can I really do this"....today I put on a shirt that I noticed for the first time is loose around my stomach and looks actually a little big. That is when it hit me...."Yes, I can do this. I'm doing okay without the band imagine how much more successful I can be with a little more help from the band." I know I've made the right decision for myself and cannot wait to get this done because I'm going to be a good story in a year when I can say....I've lost over 50 pounds. See, I'm not trying to be unrealistic. I have over 80 pounds to lose but I'm not going to set myself up for disappointment by not losing it all in a year. I'm going to be satisfied with an average of a pound a week...If I lose more...all the better, but I'm happy with slow and consistent weight loss. I didn't get huge overnight - well, actually, I think I did because one day I woke up and wondered who the heck was staring back at me in the mirror - but it is going to come off...I'm going to make it come off. I've done it before w/o the band and this time, I'm going to do it, change my life for good and the band will help me keep it off. Okay, I'm off my soap box but it felt so good to have this shirt fit loosely around my midsection....that is positive step for me. Thanks for listening.

Funny, but this is my main goal. I will be so thrilled the first time I can buy clothes at a normal store and not in the "plus" section....seriously why do they make such ugly clothes for "women" sizes? Maybe it is to encourge us to lose weight lol.
A size 16 in the 'Normal" section will be amazing......my ultimate goal is to be a 10/12. I'm not looking for "skinny" and considering that a size 10 is considered a "PLUS SIZE" model in the modeling industry, I'll be happy with that.