NancySmiles

Congrats Greg!!! I knew you could do it!!! N* :banana :banana :banana

OMG Greg!!! Don't tell me someone with your perv sense of humor can't remember what Sex is!!! Not gonna believe it!!!....Maybe you DID throw it away.....I'd ask for a refund!!![/size]

Actually, I found that baby foods, stage 2, worked well. Gerber's are natural and have no additives or extra sugar. They came in handy for lunch when I went back to work. My favorite was squash.

Welcome Pippy and again Bright!!! Great to have you both here with us to share our trials and triumphs!!! Congrats to you both on your new lives!!! Nancy*

I should probably clarify my note on soup for lunch. When I was first banded, I ate (rather drank) this kind of soup during the in between liquid and solid stage. It really did stay pretty long at that time; but now it doesn't. THe kinds of Soups I eat now are either lentil or black bean. Have not had a problem with the Beans ...yet.....but these give me some good Protein and fiber! I usually have veggies or fruit with it. I've discovered some AWESOME organic lentil and bean soups at Trader Joe's!! IF you have one in your area, it's worth checking out! Any other suggestions for lunch foods? I need something I can eat at work that will stay with me. Sometimes salads do not go down quite right...so I try to eat things that are "safe" at work. Any ideas? Thanks Jammin! and Leatha! N*

It helps ALOT!!! Sounds like most of your groups include some of the Staff, which I've always agreed we should also..... Thanks for your input!

What's "Dr. Bertha's Take 2 Project" ???

I'LL DRINK TO THAT GREG!!! Water of course.....maybe.....LOL N* :banana :banana :banana

Hey brighteyes!!! Dr. Boutt is AWESOME!!! And I agree, extremely handsome!!! I worked with him in the ER when he was a senior resident at St. John in Detroit and he excellent!!! Everything he's told you is correct. You have to follow what your doctor says because there are so many different protocols right now. I had to be on full liquids for two weeks before the surgery and do not regret it one bit! I know that I could not have gone cold turkey off food when I came home from the hospital, so I appreciated the head start (not to mention the 14 pounds I lost in those 2 weeks - what a great feeling!); but everyone's different and every doctor is different. You are in good hands and don't worry about a thing.....cuz then your blood pressure will go up....we don't even wanna go there!!! :speechles Good Luck on the 11th and say hello to Dr. Boutt from Nancy at St. John Hospital !!! Keep us posted....you'll do fine! You're on yoru way to a happier healthier life for you AND your family!! (Another member of the site is Tall Guy who also had his surgery by Dr. Boutt - I would look him up and see what he has to say....which I know is all good things!) Nancy

By now you've been banded and are starting the first few days of your new life!!! Congratulations on your decision to get your life back! I find that things turn out best when done spontaneously...at least for me anyway....I work better under pressure; making on-the-spot decisions (working in the ER on midnights for a few years helped me in that area), not worrying about details, or having time to talk myself out of it. Usually my FIRST instinct is the right one. And "everything happens for a reason".....Please keep us posted ......hope you're recovering well.....relax....it's a pice of uh er fruit~! yeah that's it! Take care... Nancy*

...oops...hope I didn't offend anyone.....yikes!!! But after looking at the joke thread....hope I don't get in trouble on here!!! :eek

Oops...forgot to answer the question..(I tend to get carried away sometimes)..it's definitely not more helpful than this site...but there are hundreds more banders here from all over the country/world which makes it even BETTER!!! If you have questions....you can always get them answered here cuz someone has most likely hone through the same thing. Just like so many of you...I AM ADDICTED!!! Nancy

We meet once a month in the lobby of the doctor's office. Usually the secretary is there to help and get info if people want to weigh in or ask about getting started with approvals and all. DEBBIE is AWESOME!!! She is the Lap Band QUEEN!!! There were only 2-3 times when the Dietitian was there, and it was really helpful as for obvious reasons as Alex said. Then we start at one point and go around the room introducing ourselves and give the usual stats like name, date of surgery, weight loss, and whatever you wish to tell about your weight loss history or why you had the surgery. Pretty much up to you. In between banders, people will pop up with questions and either they can answer or anyone can if they have a different perspective. It's kind of informal (meaning discussion, not dress) and if it gets too out of control, we try to get it focused again to the discussion. I am now taking minutes, recording the weight losses, and hope to do a newsletter when things at the surgeon's office are back to normal. They had a flood during the holidays and it's been a madhouse! Greg (grt138) and I are working together to get it organized and have some type of line of communication going, which helps! We're gettin there! slow but sure....just like our weight! What are your thoughts?

WOW!!! No way!!! Vegas? How often does that happen??? We got about 5-6 more inches last night!!! Hey...I'll take 6 inches any day!!! Let's see how long it takes before your minds go straight to the gutter!!! Well....that's why I said it and that's why my email is NautyNnce!!! Keep Warm! Nancy*

This was EXACTLY what I was looking for!!! Don't stop now...we're on a roll...just don't eat it! I wanted to compare notes kinda to see if all are pretty much run the same way. I'm sure there are differences due to how large the practice is and how many patients; but the basic concept is probably the same. It makes it difficult since the Lap Band physicians don't all have the same protocol; which I hope they do one day. It would make things a lot easier! Maybe some sort of consortium when things get really popular, even though it is now. I'm sure they follow most of the same idea; but there are so many differences as far as food lists, when to eat what, when to have or not have fills...but reading this board DEFINITELY helps answer ALOT of questions!!! I've checked several websites for pre & post-surgery info; but this site is THE BEST for support!!! And of course all of you are AWESOME!!! Keep up the great work!! Nancy

Just curious and would greatly appreciate your input.... Our Lap Band Support Group meets once a month in the doctor's office. Some weeks it seems to get out of control, off-track, etc. Questions: - Are your Support Groups formal/informal? - Are they run by a moderator? - Does anyone from the staff attend to answer questions? - Does your group have a newsletter? There are probably a hundred more questions I could ask...but I am going to hand it over to you now. Any ideas or information would be AWESOME!! Thanks In Advance (the friendly TIA) Nancy*

hmmm does it really??? Details please..... :cheeky

Great ideas here so far...here are a couple of mine: Breakfast: oatmeal and 1/2 banana cottage and applesauce frozen whole wheat waffle Cereal with milk (or yogurt cuz Greg swears by it!!!...don;t tell him I said so...but it IS good!!!) Southwestern EggBeaters scrambled cheese and crackers when I am in a hurry Lunch: Tuna to Go package, applesauce chicken salad and crackers Soup at hand by Campbells Dinner: this is the tough one cuz I am starving when I get home lately...waiting for a fill next week...but I try to have veggies and some kinda Protein. Need ideas.

Hello Everyone! I had a thought today, at work, staring at the computer. Imagine that??? I think we all need some variety from time to time and with only being allowed a specific amount of calories, it's hard to come up with ideas to keep meals interesting and not boring....and also simple, portable, etc. Would you be interested in sharing your menu plans? Would love to know your thoughts on this. Does anyone feel this would help them? We could list our Calorie Count (the one set by your doc or Dietitian), total calories for each item, or meal, or total for the day. Any other ideas would be great!!! Whatdya think?! Would this be helpful? Nancy*

You are a GORGEOUS couple!!! What more can I say that hasn't already been said? You both look so happy!!! and in love!!! Marriage is difficult no matter what.....it takes a lot of hard work to keep it going for so long..... Hold onto your heart!!! N*

I know EXACTLY how you feel!!! WAY TO GO LEATHA!!! WOOHOO!!! :banana

Great to see you back here Donali!!! You are so sweet to think of us after all you've gone through yourself!!! You're the brave and strong one!!! And you know WE ALL KNOW how hard it is to shed pounds...that's why we're here!!! Your letter was awesome and even though we haven't chatted much on here, I have read your numerous posts and you are a true inspiration!!! Keep that awesome smimle....it's all in the attitude.....we really "DIG" you..... he he Nancy

I've read it here and on other lap band sites...and heard it too; but have never heard it from my doctor or the dietitian. I always heard it didn't matter about the order of the food...but what you are saying makes sense. Eve before I was banded, I felt I needed to eat the Protein and veggies first cuz of, as you say, the limited amount of food. I knew it would affect my diabetes if I ate those small amounts as the wrong type of calories. I have been so busy lately I forgot my basics. I plan to make a big effort this weekend to look through my info, plan out my weeks ...and get back to the basics. I need to get back on track. Even though I'm losing, I'm not losing as well as I can.....did great before Christmas...then the day AFTER, I got weak...broke down and had a few things that are "red light" foods for me....and now I am paying big time! I need to get back on track. Need to start over.....before it's too late!! Got sidetracked here, but I think maybe that's what triggered this thought process of mine!...thanks for your help! Nancy*

that makes sense.....cuz Protein is the important food!! and yes....Veggies are carbs too...I am diabetic and this is what they teach us!!!,,,,good carbs and bad carbs.... N

This is the first of multiple times I have read to eat the meat first, then veggies, then carbs!....Maybe this is what I am doing wrong!!! But I asked my dietitian and she said it didn't matter....Can you tell me why your docs suggest to eat meat first???? Anyway.....about starting with the Protein first. I asked my dietitian about that and she said she'd never heard that....but I have read it several times on here....Maybe there is truth to it cuz I have been eating the veggies first and then the mushy carbs....then the protein; because I figured I would get more veggies in that way.....what do they say is the theory behind eating protein first??? Thanks! Nancy