MeredithMcFee

Scrambled eggs for me, lo mein, chicken, cucumbers. Hmm, what else? Right now I'm down to eating hormel 99% FF turkey chili, Refried beans, Boca Burgers and Lean Cusine Sante Fe Rice and Beans. I'm in a 10cc band and only 3cc's since late January.

I agree with Grandma3. Sugarfree ice pops pre-op and post op! My husband & I {both banded} love our SF FF ice pops a few times a day even now. Going out to the store now to buy 2 big boxes for the week! And yes, move, move, move.....

Ironically, prior to lapband surgery, I never was hungry as I always had food in my stomach! I only learned the feeling after surgery and realized what it was and I actually like it as it tells me that it's time to eat for sustenance, not any other reason.

Scroll up and hit photos and you'll see all before and after from there.

Congratulations. It's a Onederful feeling isn't it? Keep it going.

Meridy, My husband & I bother were banded this year approx 8 weeks apart. Originally they were scheduled a week apart but he needed arm & wrist surgery first. We are both elated that we took the plunge and did it. The surgery for us was not a problem at all. Our doctor requires us to stay overnight to make sure there are no blook clots after surgery. Other then that, we got into the post op liquid diet, then mushies and then onto solids. It's a life changing journey that must be well thought out beforehand. Many changes from old habits to new habits. We're learning to find other things that take place of food being the end all to everything. {we dropped our daughter off at the airport yesterday and my husband wanted to know since we were near Atlantic City did we want to stop there and or get something to eat.Just something to do to kill the time since it was 4pm. #1 we don't gamble, ever, and #2, no need to go out for dinner for steak right now. So we came home and just hung out, read, then walked the dogs. We would do it all over again!

When my long time {former}boss/Dr saw me in the office and didn't recognize me!!! {Among airplane seats, walking up the stairs, knees hurting, etc etc} He didn't say anything, it was written all over his face.Standing there in front of him wearing what I thought was a great poncho that hid a multiple of sins, all he could see was a big fat face! I even commented to him saying, "what, did I gain that much weight that you didn't recognize me"? He didn't say a word but just hugged me. Months later I bumped into his wife at the grocery store buying my pre-op liquid diet and told her we were having WLS surgery. She confided in me then what her husband had said about me when he got home. I've yet to see either one of them lately but even though I need to lose a good 35lbs more, I think they will definitely recognize the old me. And that was just one person. Now, after the surgery, I'm hearing from other friends & loved one's who held their tongues re: my recent weight gain and are my greatest supporters now!

Congratulations on your wonderful success! You are an inspiration to all of us here as are so many here on the site that I don't want to leave out.

Denise is so right on all of the above. I had my thyroid removed in 2004 due to thyroid Ca. The most important thing is to take your meds daily, best at the same time, never with your iron pills and always an hour before you eat or 3 hours after you eat and go for periodic check ups {blood tests} with your Endo or PCP to keep an eye on your levels. That innocent little butterfly shaped gland is not so innocent and can wreak lots of havoc throughout your body. And to add to Denise's comments, Medicine is not an exact Science in general, let alone on the individual. Good luck with both thyroid meds and upcoming WLS surgery.

Actually you don't need to be a member on SB. Just go on and pull up the recipes. I've done this and printed a lot of them out and made my own SB cookbook with tabs for all foods. It's amazing how many great recipes there are on there that one wouldn't even think about. My husband & I have been banded this year. Since our surgeries were 8 weeks apart, it always seemed like someone was on a liquid diet or mushie for the most part. Now we're caught up and I look forward to start cooking real meals from my SB diet cookbook.

I do. I'm out over 5 months PO and my red alert while eating is a hiccup. That's when I know to stop eating. Do I, sometimes what I'm eating so much, I have one more bite, which ultimately gets me in trouble.

Caroline, good question here as I like a drink now and then. Prior to surgery I enjoyed a dirty martini or two on the weekends. Typically Friday and Sunday night. Sunday after noons in the pool I enjoyed a lemonade crystal light and vodka {no martini's those nights}. A month or so after surgery I tried red wine which I'll have in the winter once in awhile, and took two sips and just wasn't into it. A week or so later, I tried my go-to drink, d-martini and that too I lost the taste for as well as I felt it burned a hole in my stomach which made me eat a whole trader joe pizza!!!! {totally unrestricted back then}. Since then, I will have an occasional d-martini {two being my limit} but I eat some crackers and cheese beforehand. I don't get all worked up over it, as I am losing, as well as exercising. As they say, everything in moderation. Good luck to you.

Research the Bariatric practice there first.If you're going through insurance, find out what surgeons are participating with your insurance company. Don't always go with convenience. Research the Bariatric practices' who are covered by your insurance company. Are they board certified? Do you know other's who have had their surgery by this practice? After all this, once you choose a doctor, call their office to see if and when they have a seminar and make an appt. At that time, if you're comfortable, they typically have a surgical coordinator there who will make an appointment for you for an initial visit with the doctor and staff. Good luck.

Onederland is when someone's scale hits 199 and is out of the 200's. That is a "Onderful" sight to see!!

Hi Meg, I've been on the SBD phase I a few times in my life. If you like eggs, I hard boil them, and take the yolks out and put some hummus, tuna fish, guacamole, in them. Eggs have good Protein as all the other "stuffings" here. I did this after I was able to start eating solids post op with the lap band. It stays with you for hours. lunch, was probably a boca burger with some salad, or tuna fish and a salad with oil & vinegar. dinner was mainly chicken, Chinese take out of steamed chicken/broccoli or steamed shrimp and broccoli or any other Chinese green veggies. Steamed. Go on SBD online and you can get lots of ideas in their recipes. Last I knew you didn't have to pay to be a member. Good luck to you.

Jen, love your comment re: your Victoria Secret stash! I just found mine, well I knew where they were, shall I say, I'm now able to fit in some of them comfortably and looking forward to the day when I can get back into all of those sexy undies!

Welcome Trina, You came to the right place and website. I found this by accident and have no desire to look for others'. Everyone on here has been so supportive and positive and if we're feeling a little negative, it's at ourselves, we're never negative towards other's, there's always someone to pick you up. What ever you decide to do, I wish you the best.

Both my husband & I have been banded this year and have no problem telling people. I'm an open book for the most part and was happy to tell family & friends. These were people who were concerned with our weight and were happy to hear we were doing something about it and encourages us every time they see us. We even shared our surgeries with the restaurant we frequent. Reason being, we use to get everything from soup to nuts to dessert and even a drink or two before dinner. Now we get a bowl of french onion soup or a salad and a burger without the roll! No alcohol, no water, just soup/salad and a burger. If we don't finish and ask for a doggie bag, they're concerned if something was wrong with their food. Ha! So, we shared with a few of the wait staff who know us and told them the other night. They were releived to hear it wasn't their food as well as being happy for us despite losing some of our business!! It's ok, they won't starve, and neither will we. :-) Like someone else said here, if someone disagrees or thinks we took the easy way out, that's their problem, not ours.

Denise,what a great sense of humor your husband has. I love it. He can probably make some extra money by "selling" them to some of us. When I'm home alone and have gotten stuck, I do the heimlich on myself with the top of the back of our kitchen stool. Perfect height and it works. Not that it happens often thank God but it helps me.

Eyeononderland: I'm sure I can speak for many on this website, you are NOT alone! I just put some photos of myself taken 2 weeks {vacation cruise} before my surgery in January up on the gallery here. There's still one that I haven't put up but keep on my desk to look at from time to time. It's me in a bathing suit on that same cruise. It's awful. Like other's here, many questions I asked myself. When did it happen, Why did it happen and how come I never noticed how bad I looked but other's could? It happened now I'm doing something about it. As are you. When is your surgery date? Don't get discouraged. Put those pictures away, find a more positive photo of you and use that as your inspiration. We're all here for a reason and it's giving hope to one another. Good luck!

Yes, Need2lose. It's a gurgling sound. I get it if I drink water too fast or even eat to quickly. I liken it to filling a funnel up too much, and too fast and it bubbles and gurgles. I'm learning even though I'm out 3.5 months. I still have a hard time not drinking liquids when I eat but after a few stuck episodes, I think I'm getting it. Not a good feeling. Chew chew chew,,,, small bites & eat slow and no liquids. It's becoming my mantra these days. Good luck to you.

This is awesome and you deserve that beautiful smile. Much continued success!