Angie38

Thank you all so much! Judy you could not be more right, it is a lifetime journey and I still have to remind myself of that. It is funny that our bodies change so much quicker then our heads!

Everyones post make me want to cry! I know exactly how you and everyone else feels. My daughter once said that she loved my tummy because it was as "big as the moon" *sigh* kids say the darnest things! The lapband does not cure the thoughts in our head. I am at goal weight and still have days where I think im still fat. I still double check a mirror when i walk by to make sure that really is me. I second guess some clothes I buy because I can't believe that I can actually wear those cloths now. You must do exactly what Shonette said, "be kind to yourself because change first starts within your mind and the thought process your develop creates your future actions".

Much luck to you!

Don’t give up and don’t what if yourself to death! You are doing a great job informing yourself which means you are committed! When I was first considering getting the band I did the same thing and almost talked myself out of it. Insurance would not pay for my band so in addition to all the questions that we all have I was also questioning spending that much money on myself which was extremely hard. In the end I got the band and have not looked back. Best money I have ever spent! April will be my four year bandiversary and I am VERY proud to say that I have kept my weight off! Things do go wrong for all of us some serious - some not. It is a learning process and you will do fine because you are already learning so much. The worst thing that has happened to me is reflux and I am still not sure it is the band it could just be me. I don’t have to worry about my band slipping as my doc attaches the band to your stomach so there is not slipping. And like everyone else, I have had vomiting when I ate to fast or two much so it is a matter of slowing down and knowing what you can and can’t eat. I wish you luck on journey whatever you decide.

#609

Today, 09:53 AM

Woofay vbmenu_register("postmenu_446132", true);

Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2007

Age: 38

Posts: 37

Hi Angie! Dr. K. doesn't do any tests at pre-op. His medical residents just go over that you can't eat or drink after midnight, how soon to be at the surgicenter, what to wear, he gives you perscriptions to get filled today so that you have them tomorrow when you are all done. That's about it. He asks you if you have any last questions and is again very reassuring. That's it. Oh, and they take your vitals and record them and make sure that you have been following a good pre-op diet and explain the need of the dulcolax suppository the night before.(not as bad as it may seem) They want you to buy hepicleans to wash your tummy with tonight and tomorrow morning before you go. Kinda dries your skin out, but I guess it kills all the micro organisms and stuff. And...when you get to the surgicenter tomorrow...don't pee before they take you back! They need a urine sample when they take you back and gown you...and I actually had just used the bathroom...so they upped the iv fluids until I could go...oops! But no one told me out front to not go...they even told me where it was up the hall. ha! Oh well.

Don't feel guilty about the money anymore...let it go. My hubby and I took a second loan on the house (heloc) to pay for this. And I'm sure that if you keep going over and over it, there are other things that the money could be spent on...but is there anything more important than your health? If anyone even knew the half of my family medical history, there would be no question that this is the best way to spend 10K. I've done this for more than just me, I've done this for my husband and my two boys, (one is 7 the other is 4) who deserve a Mom/wife that's a little more active and not always depressed and ashamed of herself.

I've not heard of the replacing one addiction with another though. I guess it's an interesting idea. That to me would be more like an OCD issue than addiction. Let's hope I replace mine with more meaningful things like scrap booking, playing with the kids and going to the park!

You'll do great and good luck with everything. Funny how people on this thread can mean so much to you without ever meeting them face to face. Hopefully we can all meet face to face!

__________________

Anita :wave:

www.lapbandrockies.com

Dr. Kirshenbaum

Banded: April 13, 2007

Still looking for others at this stage...WHAT ARE YOU EATING?

I'm definitely in a rut, but I just wanna get thru this next two weeks without breaking any bandster rules. I'm supposed to be eating mushie baby-food type things, with the exception of fish, eggs and well-cooked vegetables. I will just give you a list of things I've been eating:

1) Cottage cheese - every day - sometimes 2x a day. I puree 4 strawberries or canned pears, 1/2 c cot. cheese, 3 pkts of splenda...mix together. YUM

2) 1 c. Broccoli cheese soup from Quizno's or Jason's. I also enjoy the Campbell's "Select Gold" soups (or whatever they're called...come in a box container) but I make them a bit richer by adding some half & half and a bit of butter.

3) Vegetable tofu & egg drop soup mixed together from my fav. chinese restaurant. Generally I don't like tofu, but I don't mind it in soups and it adds protein.

4) Homemade smoothies - berries, 1/3 banana, yogurt, scoop of unflavored protein, raspberry ice Crystal Light for added flavor & ice. Whirred around in my magic bullet.

5) Baked tilapia, mashed potatoes and canned green beans (about once every 3 days)

6) 2 scrambled eggs made with half-n-half and butter fills me up like crazy. I love 'em for a quick dinner.

7) Today I brought a beautiful, ripe avocado to have as a snack. Just sprinkle w/ salt! Very good for you.

8) Cream of wheat (cooked, not instant) with butter, cinnamon and DaVinci SF praline syrup. Also add some unflavored protein to this.

I track what I eat on on www.fitday.com and transfer the data to my journal here on LBT if you want to see what kind of calories I'm eating. Sounds to me like you aren't getting very many! I'm supposed to be shooting for 1000-1200 but I haven't made it yet.

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Today I am leaving work at 2:00 to go to my pre-op appointment at 4:00. I am excited and not real sure what to expect. I am not feeling very good today, :sick probably the change in weather, but I dont want to tell my doc for fear that he will want to reschedule. My surgery is tomorrow. I hope that gives the doc enough time to read all my tests before surgery? I had to reschedule my pre-op because we had a blizzard last Friday. So far on my low carb diet (it has been 8 days) I have not cheated once and have lost 4 pounds. I guess that is good for 8 days but I wanted to see an even bigger loss but oh well. My nutritionist said I just have to lose one pound before surgey and I have that covered. :clap2:

Date Posted: Yesterday at 02:18 PM - Comments (0)

How many calories do YOU need?

How much protein do YOU need?

Protein Whey cool!

Hydration calculator! Getting enough water?

I thought this was very cool! Here is a link to her page:

http://www.kimswlsjourney.com/6901.html

#5

info againDate Posted: Yesterday at 02:14 PM - Comments (1)

Fear of losing the weightloss battle - author unknown

You won't lose the battle if you are willing to work with the band and do your part. But I can almost guarantee:

You will have plateaus when you first switch to solids until your body gets used to being fed instead of starved (most likely one-two weeks but could be three like mine.)

During many plateaus you will lose inches not pounds and then finally a larger loss.

Your loss in the first 30-40 days is a "never to be repeated" experience so enjoy it. Then you begin the long slow journey downward.

You will learn the fine art of "PBs" and what causes them for you, it is swallowing air when you eat. Eating too fast....NOT chewing well or too big of a bite. Eating the wrong food for you...and not recognizing the "no longer hungry" after 1/2 cup (satiation) versus an "I WANT TO EAT MORE CAUSE I CAN or IT TASTES GOOD" or I crave it [head hunger].

You will watch your body shrink and will walk a bit taller-literally- and figuratively...start slipping into booths in restaurants. Sit in chairs with arms, stop worrying about how strong the chairs are, not having to ask for an extender belt on airlines. Finding it easier to, and you have more energy to walk/go up stairs. Clean house and do a million other day to day activities. Slip in and out of bath tubs where the water goes all the way around you instead of damming up and it doesn't kill you to stand up from sitting on the floor. Watch the years fall off your face and drivers license picture...got to a restaurant and order an appetizer and still end up with leftovers to take home.

Go through doubts and several fills/unfills until you hit the "sweet spot" fill level for you.

You will have to stop several times along the way to reassess your eating habits (I could eat certain foods and get away with some cheating a bit quantity wise at 359 and still lose...that had to go at 250).

I have also found that I have to keep reminding myself 1/2 cup of solids three times a day--only--and drink my water (1 hour after meals until the next meal but not with meals).

Eat protein first...fruit and veggies second, and non-complex carbs last. (Keep the fats, sugars, and non-complex carbs low...still have them but keep them low).

And believe it or NOT a plateau that indicates that you need a fill is:

1. No weight loss for four weeks.

2. You are following all the band rules (8 out of 10 of us want to be able to break the rules and still lose figuring if we get a fill it will miraculously start us losing without us having to do our parts).

3. You are hungry an hour after eating (really hungry not cravings) and the 1/2 cup doesn't stay in the band for 2 1/2 to 4 hours.

4. You are drinking 60+ ounces of water a day and not drinking with your meal or for at least an hour after.

5. Once you move from mushy to solids--as much as possible get your nourishment from food that is solid. If you have problems with it sticking in your stoma, try it again chewing it well. Cut it up finer or chew it with other foods to keep it from recombining in your pouch and forming a plug (i.e. potatoes).

6. Try to avoid soups and/or protein drinks if possible (if you are able to eat your protein you will be full longer--some people have tight bands in the morning and can't eat so have a protein drink).

7. Whenever you hit a plateau, keep a diary and log everything, including water, which goes in and measure your 1/2 cup of solids. (Mine grew twice from 1/2 a cup to almost a full cup without noticing).

8. Try weighing in once a week to begin with, not daily. Later move to once every two weeks or once a month. When you are losing slowly, weight fluctuates daily with hydration levels, etc. At least this way you normally will see a loss and not a fluctuation or gain. Yes the loss is smaller but they are down not up.

9. Measure yourself monthly, often you lose inches before you lose pounds.

10. Don't compare yourself to others. We all lose at different rates based on age/metabolism/food choices/activity level...but we can all lose.

#4

websitesDate Posted: 04-12-2007 at 08:58 PM - Comments (0)

My dr.'s off ice gave me 4:

www.vistavitamins.com

www.bbvitamins.com

www.vitalady.com

www.bariatricadvantage.com

I get mine from www.dpsnutrition.com on the left side go down the IDS then look for IDS New Whey Liquid Protein! I love the Blue Raspberry (only 25 g. protein and both the Orange and Grape 42 g protein. I have usually add them to a bottle of propel water but have just drank them by themselves.

__________________

Sorry it took me awhile to anwser you. I didnt know how to tell I had comments. Duh! My BMI is 34-

My surgery is seven days and a wake up call away! I can’t stand it, this seems like being pregnant and waiting for that baby to come… the minutes pass so slowly. Anyway, I got the money which is GREAT news. I will pay on Friday at my pre-op appointment and then it will be even more real. I started my pre-op diet yesterday which is low carb high protein. Lucky me I didn’t have to do the dreadful liquid diet before hand. Yesterday I ate, Atkins Shake, four deviled eggs, chef salad dipped my fork in the dressing, chicken with mushrooms, asparagus and salad for dinner. So far today I have had my Atkins shake, and two deviled eggs. Brought a can of tuna and salad for lunch:hungry: . I am posting it here so I can look back in a year and see my struggles, and my progress. I think this will keep me accountable. If you are reading this keep your fingers crossed for me. I just can’t wait to enter……….. BANDLAND.:clap2:

Commenter: girlinnychow high IS your BMI??

My BMI is 34.

Today I am feeling blue! I have applied for financing and am not getting a response! I am almost 99% sure my insurance will not cover surgery b/c I do not have a high enough BMI and no risk factors. I am getting discouraged and the longer I wait the guiltier I feel about all the “other” things I can spend the money (if I ever get it) on. My husband is supportive one minute and then tells me all the reasons I need to be more patient and wait until we can really afford it the next minute. Has anyone else ever been through this? Then I read about some folks who have only lost 20lbs in 8 months… good grief… then the “what if’s” come. I wish I could have the surgery today and get it over with. I am not patient and don’t want to keep waiting. :scared: