daisydoodle

are you from Louisiana? If so, what part? I'm from Shreveport and my doc was the first in this area to do the lap-band. I can't say enough wonderful things about him. I don't have too much advice for you since I'm only one month postop. I can tell you that I haven't thrown up once though. And I've never felt like I was going to. I'm not on REAL food yet though. Still doing the safe mushy stuff. Good luck in whatever you decide. I'm happy with my choice.

Confession: I ate a piece of chocolate. I put it in my mouth until it melted to almost a liquid form and then I swallowed it just a tiny bit at a time. I AM SO FREAKING WEAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've only been at this a month and I've already cheated. Bad, bad daisy! I feel incredibly guilty. (yes, it did taste like a morsel of heaven I'm sad to say...) Someone please tell me that they have crumbled this early in the game and have gotten back on track and stayed there...

AMEN Paula. I'm sitting here struggling. I'm still on mushies and start soft Proteins on Monday. I've almost convinced myself that those marshmallow peeps covered in sugar are a MUSHY food. Yeah, right. Just yesterday someone from my office brought some homemade chocolate chip Cookies (my favorite) to work and gave me a ziploc bag full. (Noone knows I'm banded.) I was trying to figure out if I could let them get really soggy in milk......UGH! I didn't give in to temptation. TELL ME THIS GETS EASIER!!! The advice my doc gave me is this: Nicole, whatever your favorite pleasure food is, well---THEY ARE NOT GOING TO QUIT MAKING IT. So he told me to just give it up for one year. And then at the end of that year he swears that I will be so happy with my progress that it won't seem so appealing to indulge. Hope he's right. I got 11 more months of deprivation to go! Good luck Paula. I love those chocolate covered PB eggs too.

Yaaaa!!!!!!:banana I'm betting that this is the beginning of MANY victories for you. Get lots of rest and drink plenty of liquids....daisydoodle is coming to LV in exactly a month!

Lisa, we didn't hit the powerball so we MUST do the calendar.

thanks for the tip...at least these are good for something!

Stanley....the powertool?

hey bella.... ROI is Return On Investment....

I thought I replied to this already...but it's not showing up! Anyhoo...I'm pretty sure we have the same coverage with UHC. My husband also works for the railroad. I received the same letter that you did and my surgery was paid for in full. Just make sure you use and in-network facility and that your anestesiologist is also in-network. Good Luck to you!

I HATE CONTROL TOP PANTYHOSE!!!!! Sorry, sitting at work and thinking how much more comfy my tummy would be feeling right now if I didn't have to endure this restrictive torture device. Well, I suppose you would say that I don't HAVE to wear them....but actually, I do. I wear a suit to work and what else can make you look half way normal? At least they minimize some of my lumps and bumps. Ok, feel better now. Thank you.

I've never really been modest...even at my size. I've been quite vocal about if I could get down to 145lb I would wear clothes as seldom as possible. I had a boobjob back in 2000...so I would just consider this ROI. And at least it's for a good cause. Lisa, we'll just have to keep this secret from my hubby!

Ms. May here..... I'll be spread eagle on top of a car....like the whitesnake video.... hee, hee

I buy powerball tickets every week. Pretty much as a joke....but you never know??? This week I will buy an extra one and write "LISA" on it. If it wins, then your financial surgery problems will be solved! Hang in there....I'm rootin' for ya.

I've always preferred dark chocolate. Remember.....in MODERATION! http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=571&ncid=571&e=3&u=/nm/20050321/hl_nm/chocolate_dark_dc

Add me to this challenge! I got my band on the 28th....I was 216 then. I'm 205 now. Jonathan, will you please add me to your site? It's great!

Hope you are feeling ok. It's all downhill from here. Welcome to the other side!

I don't think there is anything that I can say that has not already been expressed. My sincerest condolences.

You're gonna be ready for your swimsuit this summer!!!!!! Congratulations.....you've worked hard and deserve this recognition.

Jamie~ Welcome to the other side. Each day is remarkably easier than the previous. I'm a little over two weeks banded and I have to REMIND myself that something is different. I have no discomfort at all.....just so you know it really does get better! Take it easy....watch some movies...not regular TV because there are too many food commercials to remind you of stuff you can't have! Take care!

I've never had much sympathy for drug addicts. I always thought that it was a choice they made. Ignorant me. Since I don't have the food to depend on, I found myself really enjoying the numb feeling that my liquid lortab gave me after surgery. I really wasn't in any pain after the first couple of days, I just loved the feeling the drug gave me. I was sooooo sad (actually depressed) when I sucked down that final drop. I remember thinking, "how can I get some more of this stuff?" And then it hit me, BAM! I was using this pain rx for the temporary relief that food gave me in the past. Still don't know why I want to feel numb sometimes. (I would categorize myself as a pretty happy person). At least now I recognize that I do it. Anyway, I've got a whole new respect for people with any kind of addiction. Anybody want to mail me their leftover RX? (Don't worry....I'm only KIDDING!!!! That would be SUPER illegal.)

From the beginning, I really liked Carrie Underwood. When she auditioned and did Bonnie Rait, I was sure she was gonna be the next winner. However, she's been pretty ordinary since the real competition has started. Bo is my favorite...I think he has the most "star potential" out of all of them. The blonde guy that had the trach as a kid, he makes my skin crawl. Too much of a sissy boy to me. Constantine reminds me of the bad boys that I used to hook up with in my drunken youth. (Mind wandering..... ) Poor Mikaela, I'm embarrassed for her. Cute girl, but really can't sing. She needs to be voted off before she does so poorly she's not able to live it down.

Light Blue by D&G Oui by Lancome Happy by Clinique All are really light and "fun" scents....I still don't like anything on me that's too musky or strong....makes me feel too grown up!

OK, I have plans to be the "model" bandster, so in theory I should NEVER pb, but pobody's nerfect. Y'all are scaring me to death with these stories of carrying around "spit cups" and hurling on your new clothes! Tell me that this is the exception and not the rule PLEASE!

Patty, I am so proud of you! You are leaving me WAY in the dust on your weightloss! I had my postop appt. on Monday. I've only lost 7 lbs. since surgery and 11lbs since my initial weigh-in. I actually do feel hungry from time to time, and it's not just in my head. I've really enjoyed the last couple days of mushy. I've had some refried Beans and some chicken salad blended to a paste that ended up being DELICIOUS. I broke down and bought one of those magic bullets that everyone is raving about and I'm glad that I did. So while I'm jealous that you are "beating" me...I'm so proud of your accomplishments. My next appointment is in 6 weeks and that's when he said we would talk about my first fill. Good Luck!

Hi Mayra, We were banded on the same day! I went today for my postop visit. I'm officially on mushies. I am allowed to blend up normal food now and eat it if I like. It needs to be the consistancy of babyfood though. You could try doing that for your St. Paddy meal. Keep in mind that different docs have different rules, so check with him or your nutritionist first. Mushy is like a whole new rebirth! I put some leftover chicken breast, dab of light mayo, and a hard boiled egg in the blender tonight. Voila! The best damn chicken salad I've ever had in MY LIFE!!! Of course, it will probably last me a week at 4oz. a serving. Good Luck and stay away from the green beer!