PattyGirl66

Sometimes nervous is good. It's good energy. Look at it this way, tomorrow is your "birth"day. You get a chance to start over and do it right this time. Good Luck and Congrats!

Good luck to all of you...
I was banded on June 1st and I am already feel great today.. the toughest day was the second day at night but after that I almost back to normal... I even start feel hungry but I am stick with the liquid diet to give my stomach time to heal... I am already down more than 14 pounds 10 pounds pre ops diest and 4 post ops...

I am super proud of you! I don't know you personally and couldn't be happier for you. You are one of my favorite people on here (you know that). You have been more than helpful and always always respond back to me with any questions I might have.
Keep up the good work my friend, you deserve this soooo much
-Patty

Also I have stocked up on sugar free ice pops as well. Really helps with the sugar cravings!
Best of luck

How are you feeling so far?

Congratulations!!!!!

I am excited to say I have lost 65 lbs and slowly but surely gonna reach that 100 lb mark. I was banded Dec 19th 2011. It hasn't been an easy journey but so worth it!

That's a little plus plus for me cuzz I have a little man (@@) that I'm hoping they go away.... LOL

sounds good. thx

Veggie Soup of any kind is really easy to make. Normally you boil the desired vegetable with some stock and then blend to a smooth consistency. Most Soup recipes have some potato in them but you can leave that out if you want. To add extra Protein throw in a can of lentils,chickpeas,kidney Beans or similar. So you can make any kind of soup you want.
Experiment with different herbs and spices. Things like a teaspoon or 2 of curry powder go really well with pumpkin or cauliflower. Or stir in a teaspoon of seeded mustard to your pumpkin soup before you serve it, that really gives it a special taste.
Have fun.

Okay, so I am not banded yet but I am trying out new recipes for when I get to the 'mushie' stages in my weigh loss journey. I tweaked a recipe I found for pumpkin Soup and made it super low fat and packed with Protein. I enjoyed this and you may too find this recipe a favorite or you can tweak it yourself
Makes about 4 cups (great for freezing leftover portions) You will need a blender for this ...
Ingrediants:
1 can of Pumpkin Puree (16 oz. can) Pumpkin is packed with fiber!
3 cups of low sodium chicken broth
1 cup of non fat milk
1 tbs of low fat margarine ( i use smart blance with flax)
1 scoop of 'unflavored' Protein Powder
salt/pepper desired to taste (I do not use salt because I have high blood pressure)
Preperatations: Take your 1 cup of non fat milk and warm it in the microwave for about 25 seconds and add the 1 scoop of unflavored protein powder (mix until powder is dissolved and set aside). Next, in a 2 quart saucepan you want to put in the margrine and melt, add in chicken broth, pumpkin puree, and the milk with the protein powder. Simmer for only 15 mins. Pour into a blender for about 30 seconds until super creamy.

Head hunger, definitely. And I still battle it pretty regularly. I constantly have to ask myself "Am I actually hungry, or do I just want to eat?" More often than not I just want to eat and have to just wait until the urge passes. It's like I tell others, the band may lessen your appetite and be a great tool, but we all have to fix our own heads. Changing my relationship with food emotionally is MUCH harder than just eating the right things.

Oh, I saw this months ago he did a very good job explaning why its important not to drink when you have just eaten your food.< /p>

I am 11 days away and I can tell you my anxiety level is a little on the high side right now. I won't back down because I know I have to do this! I just think its normal to feel this way and I am trying to just stay focused and keep my mind busy. Doing a lot of reading, spending time with family. I went to the movies yesterday with my daughter and saw Snow White and the Huntsman. Spending time today with the hubby watching movies. We just have to stay really focused and know we are doing the right thing

Honestly, I just eat "normal" food *laughs*
Breakfast- I have a Protein shake for Breakfast every morning, I like the powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury.
Lunch- tuna with fat free mayo on a piece of toasted whole grain bread, and a piece of low fat American cheese melted on top. Small garden salad with fat free ranch dressing.
Dinner- 4oz of boneless pork chop, 1/4 cup mashed potatoes and 1/4 cup green Beans
Snack- 1/4 cup of low fat cottage cheese.< /p>
This is what I had yesterday. Today I'll make a Lean Cuisine for lunch, and for dinner I'm making whole grain Cheeseburger macaroni Hamburger Helper, but with 93% lean ground turkey instead of ground beef. It's only 303 calories for a cup if you use the turkey instead of the hamburger and skim milk.

Very good advice and wise words here.
I started with over 200 pounds to lose. I originally was going to Gastric Bypass and at the last minute canceled. Logically I just couldn't rationalize cutting up and permanently changing a perfectly healthy organ without at least trying something less drastic first. So, I got the band.
So far I've lost 92 pounds in just under 5 months. It's work, I've had to change my eating habits completely as well as learn how to eat with the band. But I have zero regrets and would recommend it to anyone willing to do the work necessary for success with the band.

I had the band and have been very happy. The band does not stop you from eating "Bad" food. It does not contain a computer. You will have X amount of space for food once you are at restriction. The doctor places the band and creates a pouch; as I like to call it a funnel. Once you are at restriction you will eat remarkably smaller portions. The pouch however doesn't say "chicken breast come right on in but ice cream your history!"
In fact anything that melts in your mouth or can be chewed to mush will go right on through the pouch/funnel; and will not make you feel full. Solid foods like chicken breast, carrots, other veggies will make you feel full. Some people at restriction have trouble with some foods. For me doughy cheap white breads are a no go (though I can eat high quality breads with grains) and raw baby carrots (I can eat them with hummus.). Other than that I can eat everything else. I have to choose to eat healthy food.
This is a lifestyle not a diet.

I am super proud of you! I don't know you personally and couldn't be happier for you. You are one of my favorite people on here (you know that). You have been more than helpful and always always respond back to me with any questions I might have.
Keep up the good work my friend, you deserve this soooo much
-Patty

I have been fat my whole life and always hated scales, but today, if I could've hugged my scale I would have.
As of today, I have officially lost 100 pounds since being banded 5 months ago.
I know I still have a long ways to go, but finally hitting that 100 pound loss mark has made me so happy!!!!
I seriously love my band. It is the BEST thing I've ever done for myself. It's changed my life!!!

I agree with the poster above. Ultimately it will be your final decision on which type of surgery to have. I too have over 150 pounds to lose and chose the lapband because if I work really hard at it I know I can get that weight off of me. I really don't want to drop a ton of weight all at once because of fear of either getting sick or my skin sagging too quick. I wan't to try and combat this in a timely manner so maybe I could have exercised some of the skin back to its form (not all), but some.
Best of luck with your decision

I found that between meals I will make myself a slushie using crystal light and New Whey Protein (tastes like koolaid) I mix 2 crystal lights with 1 Protein shot and add about 28 oz Water. I then blenderize icee to a snow cone consistency and pour the drink over top of it about a 1/4 at a time= about 45 calories and 11 protein. I sometimes do one between Breakfast and lunch and then sometimes after dinner.
I will use a spoon to eat the crushed ice. It usely takes a good 30-45 mins to empty the cup. The added protein keeps hungar at bay and the sweetness makes me feel like i'm having a treat.
Keep trying different things...hopefully you will find something to help you get through the day.

uhm congrats but i wouldn't call walking 2 miles 5x a week very little exercise - just sayin' LOL!

tomorrow May 23, 2012 i have to be at the hospital at 545am for my realize band! So many mixed emotions, i cant believe the day is here, i cant believe i finally decided to go through with it, i currently weigh about 455 and am 27 years old. I hope everything goes well tomorrow and i can finally start to enjoy life and get out of this hellish trap being morbidly obese my entire life has held me in! NEVER EVER LOOKING BACK!

Absolutely! It's elective surgery and all surgery carries risks, so it is normal to be anxious. I have had about 10 major surgeries and I was the most apprehensive about my banding, because I chose to do it. Try to think about how you are going to embrace your new lifestyle and your healthier body. This is the time to treat your body like a new baby, and your mind like an incorrigible teenager, lol. Best of luck to you!

Quote: You are your own worst critic. Don't listen to the inner dialogue that continues to put you down despite your success. Because it won't suddenly start happening once you get plastic surgery. Choose to Celebrate your achievements now.
Well said!