Cindy2013

Good for you! If it were me though, I'd be putting those cookies somewhere out of sight. I've already told my family that if they bring sweets home, they can't leave them out on the counters for me to see. And the ice cream stays in the downstairs freezer so that it isn't easily accessible to me. With your attitude, you will be a success story. Tonight, you already are. Sleep well.

whahoo--counting down now! Good news about adding the shakes. Working such a long shift would be hard. And um, yeah, passing out with the inmates wouldn't be good. You are amazing to do the 5Ks and things. I'll bet you do kick butt at the next one! Being a flight nurse would be a wonderful job. I had pre-term twins and was flown to SLC before they were born. Now 23 years later I still remember the flight crew. Fat surgery? I would not have been able to keep my mouth shut if someone said that to me. I'm keeping my surgery quiet, but once i have lost some weight, word will get out. I was one of those people who thought WLS was the easy way out. My eyes have been opened, and I want to help educate people in my small community. But not until I'm successful at it.

I actually wondered the same thing, because it would be easier to just grab a protein shake than to figure out what I am supposed to eat. But I can't imagine doing only those shakes at this point, so I'm thankful I get my veggies. Would it be possible to have a protein shake and some veggies rather than the low carb diet you are on? Have you asked your nutritionist if it would be okay? I know you said you don't really HAVE to do the diet, but what would they tell someone who does? After seeing the variety that everyone does, I don't know how our doctors decide what is right or wrong. I'd like to know why the variance between diff doctors. Please post what you decide to do. Good luck. Cindy

I'm just finishing up day 2 of my 14 day pre-op diet. I'm surprised by all the different instructions we get. I think I like my diet better than some of the others, but I want to lose a bunch of weight during the 2 weeks. Probably won't happen since my diet isn't as restrictive. My doc just requires 10 pounds and the purpose is to shrink the liver. I get a Protein at each meal, fruit for Breakfast, veggies at lunch and supper. No Snacks. Just lots of Water when i get that hungry feeling. Today wasn't too bad, but I'm not up and about burning any calories either. Kate, what is Orange-vanilla carrots? How do you make them? Did you find a free sample offer somewhere? I'm thinking I better get to stocking up on my post surgery stuff soon. Chocolate Splendor sounds tasty. Jen, that is wonderful that you have a hernia--wow that wording doesn't sound good. But for financial reasons, it is good. I have one too that my doc will repair. can_do, I want your doctor! I do think that it is a good idea to start practicing lapband eating habits though. Good for you. mg25, I'm glad I DON'T have your doctor! At least I can eat a few solids. My doctor's plan is to teach us how to eat during this pre-op and we are supposed to be chewing each bite 30 times, waiting 1 minute in between, no liquids for 30 minutes before and 45 minutes after each meal, etc. I'm happy for the practice. But more importantly, a total liquid diet would take way more determination I think. Danielle, I hope you are doing well with your pre-op. Remember, we WILL get through this. mg25, , jen, kate, danielle--keep working hard. I will too. This is the first part of our lapband experience, and when we make it through this pre-op, it will prove that we are all strong people. Then the other members of this group will read that we made it through, and they can too! I feel like a dorky cheerleader with all these we can do its! Cindy

Congratulations Cheryl! I know this is early on, but what is the timeframe for when your book hits market?

3 days left? You've so got this! You are almost there. I'm watching you and following close behind. How much weight did your doctor tell you to lose before the surgery? I was told to lose at least 10 pounds. All you can do is your best. If few pita chips is the worst you have done, it can't be that bad. I'd say just put it behind you. Good luck.

Good advice there. I'm okay with not having the chocolate milk at night. I have researched this whole procedure for 2 years, and I have a good feel for the changes that are about to happen. I am ready, so I hope I didn't make anyone feel like I am not. 2013 is my year. I will own this, and I WILL do everything in my ability in order to be successful. I WILL DO THIS!

I'm just new to learning about all of the diet restrictions and such. Everything I read says to use sugar free Jello, sugar free popsicles, sugar free this or that. Why? Will it cause erosion of the band? Or is it because of the added calories? I have a stockpile of jello, but it is not sugar free. We typically try to have a year's supply of food on our shelves. I would prefer to use what I have than go out and purchase new stuff. I'm just wondering if the no sugar is a calorie thing or if it can cause damage to the band. If it is because of the calories, I can cut in another area to compensate. I'm already going to purchase $50 worth of Protein shakes every month, and extra veggies that I wouldn't have normally eaten. Add to that the expense of going to and from doctor visits, therapies, etc. and I am putting somewhat of a burden on our family finances. We don't have a lot of extra money in our budget, and I have to make it work with what we have. My favorite indulgence is a drink of chocolate milk before going to bed. Honestly I don't want to give that up. I will if I am not losing, but I'm thinking that if I use skim milk and drink a smaller amount than my normal, it should be okay. I think in every diet, you have to still get some of the things you like or you will give up and quit. Is it unreasonable to want to hold on to the chocolate milk at night? Or the sugar in my jello? Please educate me.

Thanks for your opinion. My doctor does not want me to drink my calories, other than the exception of one Protein shake per day for the rest of my life. I will follow his suggestions as he knows what is best for me. This is the wording in his guidelines: 1- Your Goal is to get 60-80 grams of protein every day. 2- Eat the protein part of the meal first. This ensures you don't fill up on foods that are poor sources of protein. Also, protein (mostly in the form of meat) seems to keep food in the upper stomach pouch longer. 3- Because your upper stomach pouch size is small after banding, it can be difficult to get enough protein thru food alone.You will be expected to have a protein supplemental shake every day for the rest of your life to guarantee adequate protein intake. It should contain at least 20-30 grams of Protein per serving. The grams of total carbohydrates per serving should be less than half the amount of protein per serving. Do not look at the amount of sugar in the supplement--it is already included in the total carbohydrates. Only mix skim milk, soymilk, or Water with powdered protein. Do not add yogurt, fruit, fruit juices, or any other calorie containing foods (adds too many carbs). So There you have it, straight from my doctor's instructions. Maybe I will be able to get enough protein without using a supplement, but I will follow his instructions until I know. So many varying opinions...

Can you take some cold-eeze to see if it will stop the symptoms? Dose up on a bunch of vitamins and see how you feel for the next 24 hours. I would have a hard time rescheduling the surgery date and then starting the pre-op diet over again. But then again, you don't want to be sick. Sorry you are finding yourself in this situation. I'm sure you will do whatever is best. Maybe try the vitamins for 24 hours and then call the doc if you still think you are getting sick.

Oh my goodness everyone! This is such a fun group of people. I'm enjoying reading your posts and learning your personalities. I look forward to all of us being great friends and helping one another along our journeys. I have a daughter who spent this last summer in Peru on a humanitarian trip. I so want to do something like that! I used to think it would never be possible, but who knows. When I get all this extra weight off of me, perhaps my health will be better and I'll feel alive again. Wouldn't that be something? I'm sure all of us want to feel alive again. We have hosted 2 exchange students from Paris over the years. I would love to be able to go visit them. Maybe, just maybe... Danielle, my official pre-op diet began today. I have been trying to adapt those eating habits a bit over the past few days so that it wasn't such a shock today. I didn't much feel like eating, but I obeyed all the rules today. You mention a headache. I actually am on day 4 of a horrific spinal headache from a procedure I had on thursday. I'm going tomorrow for a blood patch to fix the spinal fluid leak, so hopefully this monstrous headache will ease off. I'm sort of okay if I am laying down, but the moment I am upright, the pressure increases and it is awful. But that is another story. I hope your headache gets better. I told my dietician I was worried about the headaches that come when I feel the need to eat, and she said everyone gets them and it is just part of the process. Hopefully it will get better.

How did you to today? Stay strong. You can do this. I'll be following close behind you soon.

That is great to hear. If I can get enough protein in, I will gladly forgo the shake. I already have very thinning hair on top, due to some other health issues through the years. I'm told that I can avoid losing more hair by getting enough protein. So that is a priority. Time will tell. I'm glad to hear that you get enough protein without the shakes.

I think I have enough information now to make an educated decision on the chocolate milk. That is what is great about a forum--people who are doing the same thing and who know what they are talking about are the first ones I should be asking. I did have a similar conversation with my nutritionist and she just said the rules are sugar free everything, but she couldn't tell me why. I wanted to know why. Now I do. 2muchfun asked why $50 worth of shakes. I will be drinking 2 per day for the pre-op, so that is 28 shakes right there. Then 1 a day for the first 7 after surgery. 2nd week post op will require 3 per day, so add another 21. 3rd week @2 per day. + 14. 4th week and for the rest of my life, 1 Protein shake per day. That 6 week period alone adds up to 77 shakes. My doctor said he does not wants me to rely on proper foods, but that it is so difficult to get 60-80 grams of protein in every day that he has all of his patients do a Protein Shake for their entire life. It sounds like every doctor is different in their instructions. Perhaps my bedtime chocolate milk will be replaced with a Protein Drink.

Is your diet strictly liquid? Mine is a 700 calorie diet that includes fruits and vegies. I get one protein, one fruit, and one dairy at breakfast. That could be 2 eggs, some berries and an 8 oz glass of skim milk. Lunch and supper are a protein and 2 cups of veggies. My preop protein choices are: 3 oz cooked meat (lean meats only--no processed meats such as hotdogs, bologna, bacon, etc., and not fried). 3/4 cup low fat cottage cheese or 3/4 cup egg substitute, 2 whole eggs, or a protein shake that has at least 20 grams of protein and no more than 10 grams of carbohydrates., I like the chocolate premier protein ones. I think the difficult part for me will be no snacking between those three meals. Once I eat 2 cups of veggies, I will be full! But I don't think it will last very long. Maybe strictly liquid would be easier because you don't have any other choices to make. But I think I prefer mine over a full liquid. Of course the week after surgery is clear liquid only. They want me to drink more than 200 ounces of liquid per day in that first week post op. Wow, that is a lot of drinking. I'm still struggling to get to 60 ounces.

Shellee, I know this sounds like a crazy question, but did you have ketchup with the roast beef? Or had you drank V-8 tomato juice or anything else red. The reason I ask is that I have a daughter who once called me freaked out after vomiting, thinking it was blood, but she had eaten some watermellon earlier that came up with the vomit. Sounds silly, but it does happen.

I can't believe I'm just under 3 weeks away from my big surgery day, February 11th. It took me over 2 years to make this decision. In fact, I first met with the surgeon in January of 2011, but I chickened out because of the fear of how drastic the life style changes will be. I guess my biggest fear is how much this will effect my family. I'm the only one overweight, but we love to eat. Every time we get together, food is a big part of it. We get together to play games, there will be chex mix, brownies, chips and dip, etc. Yesterday the family wanted me to make caramel popcorn. I LOVE caramel. I made it and was okay until I saw the leftover caramel sauce that I had poured onto a tray. There is nothing like that chewy buttery flavor. At the start of making the recipe, I felt strong and that I would be able to make it without even a taste. By the end, I lost my resolve. I have not yet begun my official pre-op diet, but I am trying to ease into it. In my mind I gave myself permission to eat some of the caramel because I "still have time." But I know in my head that I should have been strong enough to resist it. This tells me that I will no longer be able to cook those yummy treats for the family, at least not in the beginning. Overall that is much healthier for all of us, but my family will still want it and I am a pleaser and have a tendency to put them before me all the time. It breaks my heart when I give them what they want. My other fear is of the exercise. I have a spinal cord injury which limits my exercise ability greatly. I can walk slowly on a treadmill by holding on to the handrails. What if this isn't enough? My doctor has assured me that the trainer will work with me and help me to find things I can do. Water aerobics is one, but I live so far away from a pool that this will be a problem. My positives are that I want this! I WILL find a way to adapt with the family. My college daughters were all home this weekend and wanted baked potato Soup, filled with cheddar cheese, bacon bits, and sour cream. They can still eat it without it going to their hips! I cooked it for them without being tempted to eat it. I had some pineapple and a Protein Shake and felt completely satisfied. So for regular meals I think I'll be okay. I am confident that I can follow the rules regarding quantity of food. Yes, I know it will be hard, but I can do it. I just have to avoid the sweets. I'm the only one home during the day. Evenings will take the most strength, and my family tells me they will help me, so I'm very optimistic. I have struggled for 6 years with being basically homebound. I used to be a vibrant energetic person who didn't let anything stop me. The SCI stopped me in my tracks though, and I spend a lot of time in bed, mostly due to pain. I am having a trial for a pain pump on Thursday (January 24th). So I have a lot of hope for 2013. My goal is to get back to living again. At a weight of 270, I get tired from even the most basic activity. I stand for 10 minutes and need to go sit down or lay down. I walk for 5 minutes and can't go anymore. I'm tired of living like this. 6 years is way too long. For me, this surgery is about feeling better. this surgery is about living my life again. Losing weight will help my pain. Losing weight will help me to function better. Getting the pain pump will help the pain too. I decided that I can't do anything about my injuries, but I can use whatever tools are available to help me get back to living. The lapband and the pain pump are key to my future, and I will make both of them successful. My goal is to weigh 160 at the end, but that is because this is a healthy weight. More than the pounds, I want to just feel better. Losing 100 pounds should give me a big boost. I look forward to doing this together with all of you. 2013 is our year. We can and will do this. I will need lots of encouragement, so I'm happy to have found this site. Also, I will give lots of support, so please feel friend to become my friend.

Hey Miss V. It is good to know someone else has the same surgery day. Where are you from? Do you feel ready?I've had family home all weekend, and I did fairly well until they wanted me to make caramel popcorn. I LOVE caramel and I succumbed to a few pieces of the lucious smooth caramel that was left over from the popcorn. I always make too much and if I were to pour all of it on the popcorn, it would get soggy. So we have a plate of caramels that I just can't avoid. But then again, I haven't officially started the pre-op. Still have another week before it starts. So I could look at it this way--this is the last time I will enjoy those silky smooth delicacies and I deserved to eat it one last time. Man I've gotta change that attitude! I really am looking forward to the big day and I will be good. I have to. I want to feel better.

I had to sign a contract with my doctor that I will exercise. I gave him my word, so now I have no choice. I know it will be difficult, especially because of my spine issues effecting my legs, but I've already started a little bit on the treadmill. I'm only up to 6 minutes, but it is a start. I can't walk outside or in a mall because I need something to hold on to. But the treadmill works. So for me, I'm going to exercise for the rest of my life! Maybe not gung ho enough to gain major muscles, but enough to get myself feeling better. That is what it is all about for me. Not being skinny--I just want to feel better.

My husband and I want to go on a cruise for our 28th wedding anniversary in November. We've never really been anywhere without our kids. I want to feel and look fabulous, whatever size that may be. Just hope I'm at least 50 pounds lighter by then.

I don't officially start my pre-op diet until the 28th, but I've been slowly starting it. The Breakfast won't be hard at all for me. Right now I seldom eat breakfast. With my diet, I get one Protein, one fruit, and one dairy for breakfast. Of course the dairy choices are low cal. For example, I can have a Protein shake, 1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce, and 1 low fat string cheese stick. I tried that yesterday and it was difficult for me to eat that much. Like I said, I haven't been a breakfast person. My lunches and suppers will be difficult though. A protein and 2 cups of veggies. I have never eaten 2 full cups of veggies ever at one sitting. The no Snacks in between will be difficult too. But all in all, I feel like it won't be too bad. Until the headaches set in. Yuck. My surgery date is February 11th. Thought it was the 12th at first, but now it is the 11th. I'll be watching for posts from you ladies that are a little ahead of me. Good luck to all of you. And yeah, I'm scared too. Not for surgical pain, but for the huge lifestyle changes we are all about to make.

I love your statement "To accept that I am worth this." I am brand new lapband. My surgery is February 11th. I've read a couple of your blogs. Please keep going. I'm so concerned about the menu part and feeding my family at the same time as I restrict what I eat. When members like you post their menus, it gives me ideas. I can't really give advice on the 2 pound weight gain, but congratulations on the overall 30 pound loss! Cindy

I've been searching for the cheapest price. You can get it at www.premierprotein.com for $37.95 for 24 in a case, plus shipping. Costco is $24 for 18, which is a better price, but if you can't find them anywhere else, they are available online. I'm currently trying to find a coupon somewhere, but so far no luck.