SueBee01

I love bugs on a log, celery with peanut butter and raisins. I like Walmart brand or Peter Pan reduced fat or the whipped.

If you continue to do this well, I would think twice about getting another fill. If you are full on 550-750 calories, you don't need a fill! I only ever had one fill. Don't get one just because they scheduled it. Every time I saw the doctor, I just said no fill this time!

I have a Care Credit account already that I use for my dental work and for the vet so I will have that too! Just have to get the nerves up to do it. Now I am back into the mode of wanting vacation (cruises) so I have to decide what is more important!

That's a great tool. I can't imagine ever getting that many calories in unless I drank them. I would say don't eat to just get the calorie count in.

I only ate two meals a day with two snacks while I was losing. Now I eat three meals a day with a snack or two. My NUt always said, don't eat unless you are hungry, real hungry, not head hungry. She said eat healthy and enjoy what you eat. Don't worry about the protein or calories if you eat healthy and only when hungry. It was hard to force myself to do it because you grow up eating three meals and snacks. Hard habit to break, but it worked for me!

Welcome! Glad you guys are doing well!

I ate 600-700 and burned 500 each day while losing. Now that I am at goal, I eat 800-900 a day and still exercise each day. If I lose a little, I up my calorie intake a little. I am still trying to figure out the maintain thing.

My feeling is calories in calories out. If you eat what you burn, then you are defeating the benefit of burning. While I was losing, I ate 600-800 a day and burned 500 a day. Lost 165 pounds in 14 months. You have to find a good balance that works for your body. Everyone is different. Everyone eats a different amount of calories and exercises a different number of days each week. You have to experiment and find what you are willing to do and stick with it.

I also found my taste buds really changed and when you get off the carbs you don't crave them.

With my recent hip replacement, I found the pain meds did that to me. As soon as I was off them, it cleared up.

Nicki, your weigh in is awesome! You must feel great. That is motivation for the next week. Keep up the great work. I am doing well with my recovery. Not much pain at all. Just if I am out too much during the day, shopping or walking around or if I sit too long at one time. I am on week 9 now and am hoping that at week 12 I will be free to do most anything I want! They haven't allowed me on the treadmill yet or the elliptical. Just stretching and strength training with 2-5 pounds. Really waiting to get on my bike, play golf and then tennis! Can't wait. I feel a little stronger each day and my balance is better every day. Actually wore platform heels to work this week and it wasn't bad at all! Thanks for asking!

Keep in mind that you are not on real food yet so there is a big difference. Continue to eat and drink your mushies and don't worry so much. When you get to the real stage of food, eat your 2-3 ounces of dense Protein, 1/3 c of veggies and 1/3 c of good carb, wait 20 minutes before seeing if you are still hungry. You should never feel "full" but you should be satisfied with what you ate and you will not die if you don't eat more. Your head may tell you that you can eat more, but your body does not "need" it. Just think of do you "want" more or "need" more. The answer is usually "want." That is the head game! You should be able to do this every 4-6 hours and be good. Just don't eat unless you are hungry. Sometimes I would have a small healthy snack between meals if I had to schedule my meals. My spouse was really good about letting me control the schedule, not the clock or old habits. My meals were usually at 10 or 11 am and then 6 or 7 pm with one snack in between. You just have to find what works for you. Don't get a fill to not eat, get a fill if you cannot control your hunger time. It is a big head game that lasts several months. Just be prepared for that. Find something else to do, your body will not starve. Good luck!

I hated the thought of the crap machine too. I stopped breathing 80 times! I felt the same way, but did it. I hated it, but after a few nights I slept so good it was unbelievable. And my spouse slept better! I hated it every time I wore it. As I lost weight, I would wear it for four hours and take it off whenever I woke up during the night. But I did start off with it every night. Also, as I lost weight, they were able to lower the air pressure and before a year was up, I no longer needed it! I agree that it does help your body and aide in you losing weight if you are breathing and sleeping better. Good luck with whatever you decide. But know that it is not the end of the world.

I hope to walk in your path. My PCP is now working with me to get some good documentation to see if my ins will help out at all. Anything will help! Glad you are doing so well! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for giving us the updates. Sounds and looks like you are doing great! I have gone to a couple consults for the same surgery and it is a little cheaper here so I guess it also depends on where you live. It is about $10,200 in N. FL. I am looking to do the same procedure. My legs are in worse shape, but I feel like I can cover them with longer shorts easier than sleeves!

I always feared the "getting stuck" and it has helped me to take small bites, eat slow and follow the rules.

Try again later is newly banded. Things change as we progress through this journey.

Keep us posted.

I had one too and didn't even know it. He fixed it at placement of the band and I haven't had any problems eating anything. I always thought that tomatoes just didn't like me! It made the recovery a little different because of where that incision is. If you are well endowed, go braless for a couple days so that your bra doesn't rub on that incision and it will help it to heal quicker.