glindab

I know it has already started, but I would love to get my name in for the July Challenge. Or if not, when will the next one get started? I need something to challenge me to keep up with this. Thanks!!

Oh yeah. they are good. I love the creamy chicken. I went to the dollar store today and bought all they had. Okay, that was only 8 -- but I have a hard time finding them.

Kim2b -- I see you are going to Vegas in October. Have a great time. I was there in April and had a great time as always. I hope to be able to go again next year and NOT ASK FOR A SEATBELT EXTENSION on the PLANE...WHOOHOOO. That will be awesome. Are you seeing any good shows?

Chele, I want that same straw!! I am almost done with 2 of my 4 weeks of liquids. Unless when i go to the doc next week I can talk him into moving me onto soft/pureed. The 4th picnic was hard. There i am with my cream soup watching everyone else eat -- but it was satisfying to know that i did it. Plus, that morning, i went into my closet and I was able to wear a shirt that I hadn't been able to wear in over a year. That was super sweet. Made creamy chicken soup taste good.

I am proud to say that i stuck to my campbells soup while everyone else eat their hamburgers & hot dogs. It was SOOO hard, but I did it. I am still in the liquid stage for 2 more weeks.

MMMMM -- that sounds great. (pretty sad when i think a FF hotdog & baked beans pureed together sounds good......LOL) Are you on full liquid stage or pureed stage? Thanks!

I too am having a better day today. I called my bariatric coordinator and told her how weak I was yesterday after working for 4 hours at a desk job. She told me to proceed to full liquids. YEAH -- never thought I would be so excited for a Protein drink. But I sure am. Faithmd, you made some great points. But I also think about the expectant mothers who smoke. Some give it up, and some do not. They can't because it is an addiction. My sister smoked, and even though she knew the dangers it could present to her baby, she couldn't do it. Doesn't mean she didn't care about her baby. Well, I, like a lot of others, have a food addiction. Doesn't mean I don't care about myself. It means I have a weakness...an addiction. And unfortunetly, it is with food which is something that we all need for survival. (just not as much as I ate in the past). I think that is why having a food addiction is as bad if not worse than other addictions. Thanks again for your post. It did make me think, and it made getting through the night easier. I don't want to cheat, but I never 'wanted' to cheat at any of the other diets or programs that I tried. But I eventually did, because of my weakness. So as much as anything, I have to work on my addiction. One day at a time. Okay, I am off to have my carnation instant Breakfast drink. WHOHOO. Good luck everyone. Another day down.

The last few days have been hard. I totally can relate to you both. And the Nachos -- oh yeah, my girls final softball game was last week and I watched everyone else eat them, and I did not. Talk about hard. I know every doctor has their suggested diet for a reason, and we shouldn't try to cheat it. But i had to. I had to go back to work today and I was so weak yesterday. I have no energy. But i have been on chicken broth & crystal light for a week, plus the pro-op diet before that. But at least I was getting some protien. So I added creamy soups to my diet today, 1 week post op. I felt a little better, but could still only work 1/2 day. And I have a desk job. I hope that it doesn't hurt anything. Man - eggs sound really good. But then again, everything sounds good when you are not allowed to have it. Hang in there. We can do this.

It does make you wonder why there are so many different variations of the post-op diet. I have managed so far to do only Clear Liquids again today. But each day is getting harder and harder. Today, i made me french onion soup. Okay, without the bread, and no cheese, and I strained all the onions out. So basically, i had beef broth, but it tasted good. What ever it takes. God bless my friends though. We went to watch my friends kids play in the softball championship game earlier - they all would go to the other side of the field to eat their hotdogs & nachos. They would not eat it around me. How sweet. Actually, they were probably afraid i would tackle them for it. LOL

I need in on this challenge, but I was just banded on 6/25, so I will start slow. My goal will be to walk at least 15 minutes 4 times per week.

bkat - I think i will follow your plan. Then it would only 2 weeks of liquids before I would get pureed food. I guess the saying it true -- grass always looks greener on the other side. Thanks for sharing your diet with me.

Crazy, but I was also given jello in the hospital, and then he told me no jello at home. I think I am going to give in today.

Yeah, for some reason, he wasn't it to be warm clear liquids. No Jello, no popsicles. I am thinking I am going to have to add jello. I did the preop diet of liquids and the jello really helped. My doc is very strict about his post op diet. 2 weeks clear liquids, 2 weeks full liquids. Then pureed foods. UURRGG If i were able to stay on a diet like that, i wouldn't have needed this band.

I wish I could have Jello. My doc says 2 weeks of Clear Liquids, 2 weeks of full liquids, then soft food. UURRGG....I wasn't hungry until today. I am 4 days post-op. And they are telling me 24 more of just liquids. I am really worried that I won't make it. I wonder why such differences in what the doctor's recommend?

I just came home today , i had my surgery on 6/25. I will be on clear liquids for 2 weeks, and then full liquids for another 2 weeks. Then I can move onto pureed foods. That is going to be tough, but doc said to do it, so there must be a reason in his opinion.

Well I am home now. I had my surgery yesterday morning, and no major complications. My blood pressure (which normally runs high and I am on blood pressure meds) dropped really low during surgery and during the night. It was 88/68 last night. But today it was better -- 110/68. So they let me come home and told me to quit taking my blood pressure meds. That was one of the reason's I wanted the sugery so I could get off those meds, just didn't think it would happen over night. HEHEHEHEHE Boy am I sore though. I now that will get better. But for those of you who said I would be thinking "what the heck did I do" -- YEP. I thought that a few times. But again, I know that will go away. Lapband_ago -- I hope your surgery went well yesterday. Please let me know how things are going for you. Thanks for all your thoughts & prayers.

Lapband_ago -- It has been an emotional day, but I know this is what I need to do. We will do fine tomorrow, and we can compare notes after the surgery. I am suppose to be out within 24 hours as long as everything goes well and no complications. Good luck tomorrow!!! And to all the June 25 bandsters.

Okay, I have been very excited since my insurance company approved my surgery and then the date was set. Now, I am 11 hours away from surgery, and I am starting to have doubts. :confused: I have read on some other sites about people dying from the surgery (although the risk is small, i know it is there). I think I should just go to bed now. :notagree Maybe it is the hunger causing my last minute doubts. I have just finished up my 2 week pre-op diet of Protein shakes, SF Jello & chicken broth. Or maybe some doubts are just normal. I know I am just being silly. Everything will be fine and I am just beginning the new me on the road to a healthier life. (and looking better in my jeans won't hurt either). Okay -- my surgery is set for 7:15 am. :clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2: You guys have been such a great inspiration. Thanks for all your suggestions.

My surgery is 6/25 -- i was just wondering if there are any other WV bandsters out there. I am having my surgery at Morgantown, WV with Dr. Longhi. I would love to chat with anyone that has also had their surgery with him. Thanks!!!

I am 5 of my 14 day liquid diet and I am not doing well. I have also cheated -- not a lot -- but a little every day. 1/4 cup of cottage cheese -- a few carrot sticks. A french fry at the ball field last night -- just one. It is so hard sticking to this. I am trying so hard today to have a perfect day because i don't want to dissappointment my surgeon nor do i want to make the surgery more complicated. But I am SOOO hungry. My family has tried to help - they are doing the cooking so I don't have to. But it is still hard. So i guess now, i am second guessing whether i can do this. If I can't manage to stick to a 2 week liquid diet, can i still to the liquid/pureed/soft diet after the surgery? Was the liquid diet harder for you guys before the surgery or after the surgery?

**where is the 'live' surgery link to watch. i can't find it. Thanks!!! Glinda

Great Job!!!