Allison0927

my surgery was 7/5/11 and i'm down 21 bags of sugar!!!!

couldn't live without - heating pad, EAS carb advantage shakes (chocolate vanilla or strawberry), crystal light, sugar free popsicles waste of my money: powdered Protein shakes (bought ready made instead - i was lazy), gas-x (won't help the torso gas - gas x is for intestinal gas which is different)

Awww you're so sweet (and beautiful yourself)! Good for you on figuring out the financing on the TT - I'll have to look at some of those avenues myself! Yes, I'm sure it's hard on our husbands to suddenly see the guys coming out of the woodwork with compliments and more. I'm sure there's some insecurities there as there would be with me if the shoe was on the other foot. Still, i'm never going to let something like that deter me from my goal of being fit, attractive and mentally happier. If the men don't like it they can step up their games!!! LOL

Congratulations!!!! you must be so excited!!! The day of and after were FINE. Take your pain meds as needed and have someone around that first day to help you. The gas pain set in around day 3 and lasted to about day 6. that was the worst part - and i thought it would never end but it did. It's not intestinal it's from the surgery so gas x etc. did not help - just a heating pad, walking and time. Believe me i'd do it a thousand times over to be where i am today - just 8 months and over 100 pounds later. BEST OF LUCK YOU WILL DO GREAT!!!!

i do not know if i'm in the "green zone" or not - but i do have restriction - i'm at 9ccs in 14 cc band - i hit some restriction at 7.5ccs and good but not perfect restriction at 8.5ccs - i opted for just 1/2 cc at last appt- think i'm going to stay put at 9ccs for a while - at least another 10-15 pounds i think - i hear you lose restriction as you lose weight - the band gets looser - not sure about that but we'll see!

me too - i need to start saving because i definitely want one of those!!!

I drink coffee every day - several cups - black but flavored (i.e., hazlenut, vanilla etc.) - it's just black cofee with a hint of flavor but no cream or sugar etc. so little to no calories. I've lost over 100 pounds in less than 8 months - so it hasn't harmed me on my journey! I have given up diet coke (and all pop/carbonated beverages/beer) - that about killed me but WELL WORTH THE SACRIFICE!!!!!

I usually go by the weight on the scale the morning I started the pre-op diet (2 weeks prior to surgery) since i equate the pre-op diet with the surgery (i bundle it all together). Even though I have been higher than 276 in my life (when pregnant etc.) I go with 276 since that was the day I started this "journey".

FABULOUS AND CONGRATS!!!!

ARE WE MARRIED TO THE SAME MAN???? LOL - great post and a ton of it sounds very familiar - like someone had my house bugged!!!!!!!

WOW YOU ARE DOING FANTASTIC AS WELL!!!! GREAT JOB!!!!!

THAT IS FABULOUS - HOW MANY MORE POUNDS TO GOAL???

Good luck!!!!:-)

It's bandster hell. The good news is "this too shall pass". Just take it one day at a time.

Ditto what the above posters have said. Diets - been there done that and lost a lot of weight - but always re-gained - it was just a matter of time. I need to be physically stopped from overeating - period. This was truly the only way to go for me.

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU TODAY - YOU WILL BE JUST FINE!!! There was little pain for me after surgery and it all went away within a few days. I'd do it a thousand times over!

NO BIGGIE AT ALL! If it scared you straight all the better - i've been off all carbonation since pre-op and at new years i totally forgot and had a champaign toast at midnight - no harm no foul but i haven't done it before or since - you'll be fine!

I am one of those that did it for vanity reasons. I knew i was too pretty to be fat. Even at 276 pounds and a 47 BMI (age 38) I had no health problems at all - YET. Of course if I stayed the course I'd have them. But really, who cares WHY we do it as long as we do it??? so great post B-52 and congrats on your success. BEST OF LUCK TO US ALL ON OUR JOURNEYS!!!!

there is a light yogurt that is only 60 calories - banana cream pie flavored - have to look at calories of light yogurts some are much higher than others

string cheese - light 50 calories - i think it's sargento's - a fair amount of food that settles hunger for 50 calories.

it took me 4.5 months and 4 or 5 fills to get restriction - push for as many ccs as your doc will do - some will let you have a "say" in how many cc's they give you. The first 4.5 months for me was just willpower - like any other diet. Just as i was getting sick of the diet and would normally give up and start regaining the restriction kicked in.

my nutritionist said that one of the men she counseled spent the 30 days before surgery (not sure which type) going on a "farewell tour" of all his favorite restaurants - including several buffets. He gained 30 pounds before surgery. Not sure what happened for him after surgery. All I can say is I think you will find that a lot of people did at least one, two or 3 "final meals" right before starting the pre-op liquid/limited diet. I know I did - but 8 months and more than 100 pounds lost later - i know it didn't hurt anything. Just don't go overboard!

i know EXACTLY what you mean - i just started shopping in the regular section myself and every time i walk in a store now i have to stop myself from going straight to plus size. No one would undrestand that but us - but you are right it is a SURREAL experience - hard to get our minds wrapped around the new reality. i was at a thrift store yesterday and just for the heck of it bought 2 pairs of size 10 jeans (i started at 276 am now 169.6) - thinking i would just lose more weight and eventually get in them. I brought them home and both pair fit - a little snug but totally wear-able. I could not believe it. BEST OF LUCK TO US ALL ON OUR JOURNEYS!!!!

i want to know about it too - i'm about 30 pounds from goal and will be starting the PS rounds soon thereafter - and that one's on my list after TT, breast lift, and brachioplasty.

i was gonna say the food looked awesome but obviously way too much and i could never get down all that bread/pizza crust if i tried - but it was pretty to look at (food porn LOL!!!!)