jtag10_4

Grocery bill down too :-)

Per my Dr's instructions peanut butter thinned with skim milk was allowed during mushies? liquids? I cannot remember exactly - but it was on my list of appoved foods REALLY early on, it is an excellent source of good fats and protein...check with your doc! Good luck!

DIVA!!! UR back! How are you feeling?

No, I've known about lap-band for 5-6 years and its been in the last 2 or 3 months I've seen the commercials and I RARELY watch TV so they are def doing some advertising!

Hi AppleSmith - I had to post and say that you are just so adorable! I have so much fun reading your threads/posts. I do not have any advice about being hungry all the time, that only happens 7-8 days before my TOM, but for those 2-3 days I can't seem to ever be satisfied...so I just grin and bear it and load up on my protein...but for the rest of the month I'm actually ok....sorry! I hope this next fill gives you the sweetest spot you could ever dream of!!!

I agree - it is the easiest start to my day! The whole point to the not drinking liquid calories IS THE USELESS liquid calories i.e. milkshakes, Frappuccino's, alcohol - there is nothing useless about 150 calories and 20 grams of Protein as a meal! My Dr also requires us to get 65-75 grams of protein in a day - I can't eat enough food to get that much in, and protein supplements are HIGHLY recommended in order to meet the dietary requirements.

That is what I used for my pre-op weight loss - 2 protein shakes a day in place of meals and a regular lunch. And I am still doing that today, even though it's liquid the protein curbs what little hunger I now have for at least 3 hours. Then, I will have 2-3 small meals during the day. There are some days where I just cannot take another shake in the evening, so I'll eat fish instead.

I think we were in the same pre-op class of Dr. Johnell's!!!! I didn't realize you were scheduled for December yet! I'm not sure if you remember me, but didn't you come with your brother??

a2m2p4- How are you doing now? Hopefully much better! Jtag

4 days out is not fun! You are in the worst of it right now, soon you will turn the corner and feel 100% better each day! Your weight will be up and down, I varied by 10lbs in a matter of days, due to the anethesia and the fluids they pumped into you via IV. Understand fully about the sweet thing and by day 4, I was exactly the same! Creamy Soups, broth and soupy mashed potatoes could not come soon enough! But follow your doctors orders. And.... although it added no nutritional value when I started drinking PLAIN Water, I felt so much better! My frustration was at my all time high on days 3/4....hang in there, you should see some good improvements in the next couple days!

Thanks Jill and Chrisann! Yeah, at the time it was hopeful dreaming via the clearance racks, but now I have clothes (new and old) for the next 60-70 lbs! I should not have to buy anything new till the end of summer?!? Don't you guys have every size in your closet from say 12-22??? I just kept packing them up and hauling them with me - sad then, but now I'm excited again. Keep up the awesome work January Bandsters - I WANT TO HEAR MORE STORIES!!!

Alright New Years Knockouts - it seems like this weight has just been falling off and everytime I turn around I am able to do something different like tying my shoes anywhere now - not just sitting on the couch! Speaking of NSV's, this morning was a BIG one! I am wearing (comfortably) a pair of pants that I bought back in 2005 that were too small in the hopes that I would lose the 10lbs I needed in order to fit into them (you know, motivation). Well, it never happened, I went ~40lbs the other way and the tags stayed on and they stayed in my closet thru 3 moves and countless "closet re-organizing, spring cleaning"....Well today, I pulled them out of the closet, finally pulled the tags off and I AM WEARING THEM....3 years later - they fit! And I have 10-15 other pieces bought around the same time with the same 10 lbs intentions. This is really fun! I am so happy I want to tell complete strangers on the street, but I figured you guys were a better audience!

Hey Penney That is awful! I can't believe that doc! How much were you supposed to lose in 1 month? Now, I'm worried because I haven't been focused on how much I am losing, just making sure I am getting my Protein, Vitamins and eating slowly and small quantities - and I go in for a fill a month from now! I am back to being able to eat lettuce - WHICH IS HEAVEN! I never thought I would crave salad but, I was so happy with my 1/2 cup of lettuce! I even had lunch with a student that I tutor and was able to get through it with her not even noticing how little I ate! That was a major success! The best thing you can do is keep track of your calories, quantites, protein and vitamins - that is what tells you that you are doing everything right, no one else!

1 month out! How are you doing?

Time to update, PenneyD....how's it going?

I've heard that Special K Protein Water helps...I haven't tried it yet, I have been adding protein powder to my Crystal Light and broth....seems to help a little. Good luck...the 1st couple of days are the worst then it's amazing how quickly you feel better!

Hello Penney! I was telling my mom, I have an incredible knack for jinxing myself but so far I'm doing really good! Slight dizzyness/nausea before I left and almost passed out when I had to go do the upper GI swallow thing....I was home yesterday by 4 pm, I got liquids down no prob, slept well, no problems ect....so far! Wishing you a SPEEDY recovery - hopefully we are almost at full force this next week!! Good luck! Jtag

Hello everyone...haven't been on here in a while but I hope those of you who have crossed over to Bandland are doing good! Yeah, my doc is ULTRA conservative...which is good, I'm not radical by any stretch of the imagination so it's really pushed me to get serious. AND I've been REALLY good and I hit 20 lbs this morning! With 4 days to go and I will be on liquids Tues/Wed and get "cleaned out" Wed too so I'm feeling much better about making my required weight loss. Plus I just advanced how much closer I am to being in onederland !!!!! YAHOO!! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Hey Band Sista! I totally feel for you! I am scheduled for Jan 10th, but I only have 2 days of liquid diet ahead. I have though, been doing Protein shakes x2 per day to get the 15 lbs off required for surgery - I'm teetering on it right now! So...by next Wednesday I'll be past that! We're starting out about the same #'s too except you must be taller than I :-)...Hope you do well - I'll check on you Thurs/Fri!

Of course! I think it's normal, your about ready to jump off into something totally unknown - all these fears came up when I got insurance approval (of all times) I was excited but then I was thinking that maybe I was making the wrong choice.... The things I thought about were 1) I've been fat for 10 years, I haven't been able to do stick to anything to truly manage it successfully 2) I see my extended family and how unhappy and unhealthy they are - and I want to change, I would never want this life for my kids (don't have any yet) 3) It was either choose life (lapband) or death (slowly and painfully eating myself away) - I chose LIFE - probably the most courageous thing I have done! I read on this board over and over again "It is the best decision I have ever made" - I have taken a leap of faith I am going to be saying those words too! 4) I had to really give into the fact that I don't know what I am doing when it comes to food...it has been very humbling but I am ready to LISTEN to professionals and follow those bandster rules 100%! Esp if it means I could run, ride my bike, have energy, put my shoes on anywhere in the house, put a drink between my legs in the car, and FEEL GOOD everyday!! Good luck!

Hey guys - I'm scheduled on Jan 10th and I am totally starting to freak out!! I have to lose 15 lbs which sounded easy...I'm down 10 with the help of protein shakes and I feel like a wrestler who has to make weight - totally making me nervous, they will cancel the surgery if I do not hit the 15. So, I got a free 30-day pass to 24hour Fitness - I'm going to turn my nervous energy into something positive....Wish you guys luck - it will be here before we know it!

I added myself, I'm scheduled for Jan 10th! Hello everyone! Dec 31- Chrisann (honorary member of the Jan 08 bandsters) Jan 1- HAPPY NEW YEARS! Starting the year off right! Jan 2- phowell, Megmarie21 Jan 3-WOWOX7, Woodsy Jan 4- KUgirl Jan 5 Jan 6 Jan 7- CallmeJim, comepickmeup, NukeChik, mamato3 Jan 8 Jan 9 – Redtulips3, FLMan Jan 10- luvsrocks, Hilary, Jen25bl, jtag10_4 Jan 11- brez1015 Jan 12 Jan 13 Jan 14- CoreynVA, acalpn Jan 15 Jan 16 Kathy-CA Jan 17- SJK, Alfie, L.A. Jan 18- RuthE? Jan 19 Jan 20 Jan 21- Jan 22 Jan 23- min Jan 24 Jan 25 Jan 26 Jan 27 Jan 28- Jan 29 Jan 30 - Stephanie/PortuguesePrincess, Amberwaves/Amber Jan 31 __________________

There is a wonderful product out that I am using called Muscle Milk light - they are Protein shakes but lactose free and have 20g of protein and 150 calories - they are AWESOME!! You can find them at GNC but they are pretty expensive I found them on Bodybuilding.com This is what I am using from my pre-op and it's amazing - much better than slimfast....

CONGRATS! I remember that call, the approved call - I WAS CRYING I was so happy!

Naw - I'd rather have food! :hungry: and my life is MUCH calmer...eliminated the stress and I don't have kids (yet) so...life's not so bad!