suzbuni

Today I was at post office puck up mail I had held from vacation. The postmaster was staring at me for a good ten minutes while I waited on the long line. When it was my turn , I asked for my mail and she was amazed. She said, I thought that was you but you look like a total different person. She is heavy set and asked in front if very long line of people what I was did. If the i other ten or so people weren't all listening I would have given her more details maybe . but I just said, it was time for a change so I made a comitment to myself and made the change happen. It not easy but I'm worth it. -So not a lie but not the whole story.

I cooked things they liked that I really didn't so much. Also I drank my protein shake well I was cooking, I was full. I also made stuff before hand and froze it. I had my friends take turns making dinner when I was just home from surgery for the first week. Kids enjoy it, friend lived to be useful and to help in someway. I won't let any of my favorite foods in house during liquid phase. Good luck. You can all do it as a family.

You don't have to overload in the "feel good" foods. They can still be your friend. Only after your banded you will see them differently too. A bite or two of french bread crust. Not the whole basket will be enough. A small portion of pulled pork, well chewed. You can still have them in your life if you want. Some foods will be hard because of te texture or dryness, chewness. You will see what works for you, and what foods don't agree with you. I did the last supper dinner deal the week before my surgery. A few times to be really honest. But you outlook changes after surgery. I just got to Atlantic city for a week long trip with my mother,aunt and my three kids. My mom took us the the hotels All you can eat seafood/ prime rib buffet. as I watch person after person pass me by with plate loads of food, it kinds of turned my stomach. My kids had some crab legs which I busied myself at opening , cleaning them for them, a cup of Soup and then moved on to dessert table. All mini size Desserts. They tried a few Bites of each and shared them. I had about two single crab legs, 2 shrimp and a couple bites of veggies, and two bites of dessert peach cobbler, rice pudding. My mom and my aunt had two plates full of crab leg clusters each and about a pound of shrimp, some fish, and a salad. It was odd, because u could and would have done same thing a year ago. ( wait - I did - we were here last June ) today I was happy with my small portion. it didn't bother me that I wasnt getting the most for my money. ( ok if I was paying I wouldn't have chosen the buffet restaurant at $26 per person when I was only going to eat a half a fist full size of food. - it would have bugged me a little more then. Anyway you can still enjoy but in smaller doses. Good luck.

You got lots of friends here.

Wow. We had fried hot jalopeno pepper chips/ slices at lunch. I only had a couple, first must have been milder, but the second one gave one hell of an after bite. I couldn't drink anything to cool down my mouth. Didn't think of that before I ate them. still they were tasty.

Or you can add sugar free jam to Greek yogurt.

I usually just have coffee or tea early6 or 7am. . Then eat about 9-10am. So that make sense.

Welcome. Rest while you can. Good luck.

The biggest issue I seen with band in the office I go to is, if you don't use it as the tool it is, you won't lose the weight or can gain back. You still have to be responsible and have more choices. You need to be able to make the right ones. Saw a few patient that came back for gastric bypass because their band " didn't work". When I asked them about it as I was still preop and making up my mind. They said it didn't stop them from cheating. They could eat ice cream and candy and weren't losing weight. You need to be able and willing to eat right and try to beat the band. The band works if you use it right. Good luck again.

I choose lapband because I have three young kids and could not be "off" for the recovery period needed for gastric. I also didn't have any co morbidities. I didn't want to change my body permently. However gastric bypass has some advantages too. My sister had gastric bypass 3 months before my surgery date. She had more to lose then I did. Her kids are older and she was able to take month off after surgery. There are is no real long term follow up needed with gastric by pass( as compare to lapband)Once done, it's done. - again that was also part of my reason for choice lapband. Could be good or bad. Had seen people i knew who had gastric years ago that looked sick from mal nuturtion. With band you need to do regular follow up, adjustments fills, unfills and still watch what you eat, chew chew chew. Things can get stuck more then with by pass. My sister has to get monthly B12 injections, and Needs to make sure she takes all her vitimans everyday because of malabsorption. She cant really eat any sugar or has dumping syndrome. But she has less hunger then me. She fills full faster- full in band terms is different. Different feeling then being satisfied. My sister lost weight faster 120 lbs in 9 months. In beginning she had a really hard time getting enough to eat - what she need because she just could eat enough. I'm down 65 in almost 8 months. Both of us had issues with hair loss at around 3-4 months post op. if I had to do over again. I would make same choice. Band works for me. Either way your life is changed forever and you need to take care of yourself and your new lifestyle. There is also the sleeve which is another option. Good luck hope that helped.

They took my weight watchers info fine. Yes I line the practice. Are you going to mapke lawn or the other office. Tina- manger/ insurance preop nurse- is really helpful. Have seen both doctors for fills. Both nice. Surgery was at St Agnes hospital. - Great staff and super supportive nurses. Everyone on floor was for WLS. First went in office in August 2011 had surgery 12/19/11. Started at weight watchers in June 2011. Lost 65 pounds so far. Bmi was 43 I think. Now 32. Good luck.

I was never told anything special before a fill. By Friday you should be good. Don't try anything too big or hard to chew on your trip. I would pack a few protein shakes just in case. I went overnight weekend camping after my second fill ( fill ob wednesday- canping on saturday) with my daughters brownies troop. I packed a few premade shakes and some protein powder. I drink them if I thought I might have trouble with the camping meal. I also had a cooler with Greek yogurt and hummus. I did ok. It was easier for my to stick to liquids and soft foods then worry about getting stuck in the woods. I made it thru weekends no problem. No one even realized I was having my protein shakes in my sports bottle. Good luck. Just be prepared and you will be fine.

Good luck.

Hey girlfriend works at Victoria secrets. I went and was fitted- now I can fit in their bras- anyway she worked with me on find right bra for the underarm area. We went lithium a wider side that helped smooth and hide a lot if it. The smaller width sidebands didn't look right. Plus victoria secret will let you return and exchange bras you bought there if you change sizes. So save you receipts and bring them back when you lose some more weight. That something I never knew til my friend told me. Good luck!!