Jasper

Anytime..Hope you enjoy it!!

Hi everone!!! Just have a question for all you experienced bandsters. How come there are certain foods that go down real easy without getting stuck? And, these foods I can eat tons of and not feel like I am going to get ill? For example, the other night I ate 1/2 bag of popcorn and felt fine, I probably could've eaten more, but shared with my husband....I notice that some foods there is really no restriction on....

Hi there, actually making it is pretty easy, and has less sodium than the Chinese restaurants. Take a can of low sodium chicken broth. You can season it to your taste, onions, garlice, etc. Then beat a couple eggs in a bowl and when the soup is boiling, slowly pour the egg into the soup while you stir the soup. The egg will cook immediately and as you stir break up into pieces. And it's done and ready to enjoy. Make sure you stir the egg in slowly or else you will have a big omelete in the middle of the soup.

Congrats!!! To Both of You!!! I am glad that you made it and are feeling well. I, too, had a hard time downing the 3 oz in an hour, and found that I barely got in 15 oz of fluid a day. My prob was the more I seemed to drink the more gas pains I had. But, definitely try your hardest to drink the fluids, you don't want to become dehydrated. I did at one point, showering felt like running a marathon. You will soon be on protein shakes....and as each day passes it will get easier. Good Luck on your new life and journey. Can't wait to hear your progress and questions.

Eileenja, that's great news!!! Good Luck tomorrow with your surgery. My prayers are with you. Please let us know how you are doing afterward....

Hi Panda, I will be at the support group tomorrow. You probably did lose the weight if the scale at works says you lost 12 lbs, or at least close to the 10 lbs. Good Luck tomorrow. Hope to see you at dinner!!!

That's great Norma. It sounds like your doctor is very supportive and has time to listen to you. It's the same way with my surgeon. His staff as well as him is so wonderful and they take time to listen and answer all your questions. It's good to find a doc that you can connect with.

Hi Porcln...I stayed overnight because this was my first surgery and I was SCARED! Well, I thought that they would insert a catheter in me b/c I didn't urinate before going into surgery. But, NO they didn't. I woke up having to go so badly!!! I used a bed pan and was fine. I think surgeons have different routines. But, it seems like Dr. Kwon doesn't use a catheter. Just tell them how you feel to make 100% sure. Good Luck.

Well I didn't always follow his instructions. It was real hard to stick with the protein shake phase and I cheated at times, but I was honest about it. The mushies i am loving though...Thanks for the encouragement.

Hi Norma. No on the 21st I will be able to officially start solids. Then I will go back to the doc 2 weeks after that to report how much I can eat, how long I am full, and I am sure how much weight I've lost while on solids. I am already filled 2.5 cc and I have a 4cc band. They filled it that way during surgery, because the doc said that I was real thin inside and if he didn't this lap band surgery would be a joke to me. So after the 2 weeks on solids they will determine whether or not to fill me more. I think I need another .5 cc bc I am by no means as hungry as I was pre-band, but I can eat and not feel like omg I am going to puke. Actually, I've noticed that since the band I am wanting healthier more wholesome foods, and processed stuff grosses me out. I HOPE that lasts...Cause food is and was my best friend, and of course all the garbage, fried, fatty, goodness! I actually tried a couple handfuls of popcorn today and I felt okay...but I don't want to push it. I 've had fish, some mushy fruits, right now I am eating chilli from Wendy's but it's soft.

I will be the first one to tell you that I HATE exercise!!!! But, I joined a gym, try to go 3-4 times a week. I just started so right now I do 20 min on the treadmill. Hate every second of it, but try to tell myself that it will do me some good. Boy are gyms intimidating when you are fat and out of shape!!!! Anyone have any ideas of how to tone up at home?

HI again! Well the reason I am still on mushies is because my next doctor's appt. isn't until Mar 21, then I will be officially able to eat solids. I do 90% mushies right now. What are some of the things you have tried so far now that you are on solids?

Hi everyone. This is a wierd question. I was banded on Feb 10th. I am still on some mushies, but I notice that right after I eat a meal I have gas...I never was a gasy person before the surgery. Has anyone else experienced this, or could there be something wrong?

Don't let me fool you ..I hate to cook too...Eggplant parm was a leftover from a restaurant, spaghetti squash my friend cooked for me, the only thing I did was take the broccoli out of the freezer, boil it, and puree it...:banana

I ate one piece of egglpant parm, spaghetti squash, and pureed broccoli...I ate too much cause I was stuffed afterward. All of YOUR dinners sound DELISH!!! :lick

OK...So I admit that I have had a McDonald's chocolate milkshake and dipped french fries in it, also a Wendy's frosty with French Fries. I also put pretzels in ice cream or dipped them in peanut butter. I tried peanut butter on pizza, pretty interesting. And used to make popcorn, add sweetened cereal, cookies...made a good mixture of some sorts....

Hi Sharon. I am sorry to hear that you are frustrated. But, I did have the surgery with Dr. Kwon in Feb. I, too , had do go through all those requirements. My initial reaction was lose 5% of my body weight? Are you NUTS?!?! If it was that easy, I wouldn't be here inquiring about surgery. I learned that a lot of insurance companies require that before they will authorize payment, bc they want to be sure you are serious about this band. It sucks, but it is what it is. Also, I find that the staff at Dr. Kwon's office are wonderful and caring...maybe they were having a bad day. But, everyone is different and not all people clash with others. I, too, travel over an hour to meet with the Doc. I feel that it's well worth it! I have nothing but nice things to say about him. He's genuinely caring, strict, and that tells me that he's not out for my money. If he doesn't feel that it's safe to do the surgery he won't! I feel that it's a good thing. My insurance company wasn't contacted until 1 week prior to my surgery and they gave the OK immediately. If you decide to do all these Pre-op tests and then decide not to use Dr. Kwon, there are other doctors who also require pre-op testing and will honor those results. So it's not a waste if you go ahead with the testing. Also, if you do loose those per-op pounds and another MD doesn't require it, just think of yourself ahead of the game...now you won't have to loose as much after surgery, AND, you will be slightly adjusted to your new way of eating for life. Best of luck to you, may you find the doctor you truly connect with. Please let us know how you're doing. Warm Regards

Hi there Norma. I am still on the Mushy phase too, and it's delicious compared to the protein shakes. I still do one shake a day to get in that extra protein, I can't seem to get enough if I eat 3 mushy meals a day. I've had spaghetti squash, with some meat sauce, or with cottage cheese and parmesean. It's a veggie but tastes like a pasta with the different variations of sauce. I made home made black bean soup, added sour cream and shredded cheddar, shrimp salad, egg salad, omelets, egg fritatta, sugar free pudding with some extra protein powder, I actually tried some soft egg plant and that stayed down fine, soft fish...Those are my ideas....Hope you're doing well!! Enjoy!

I am going as well as Paccomomma...Hope to see you there!

Hi all, I used Mauri too...I like her, but I felt that her psych eval was a waste of my money. I could've done the same interview that she did. I hear that the other guy in PA does a REAL psych eval...3 hrs, so it's worth the money. The only thing that's good about using Mauri is that her support group is free. I've been once and really enjoyed it, it's very supportive and informative. Hope you can come it's held every other Monday evening at her office in Goshen from 645 to 8 PM. The next one is on March 7th..Hope to see you there. It's quaint and everyone is real nice!!!

When you can only fit a couple of shirts and pants in the washing machine. Then you have like 3 loads of laundry for one week. When you don't go to a bar with your friends because you can't get up on the bar stool. When you sit at a table in a restaurant because your belly is too big for the booth. When you can't buy nice leather boots because your ankles are too fat and you can't bend down to zipper them.

Hi again. Who did you use for your psych eval? He's REAL strict and YES I believe that is a good thing too. It shows me that he's not just out there to make money, he really cares about his patients and if they're good candidates for the surgery, that's why we have to go through so many hoops before he will set a date. I was born and raised in Orange county....New Windsor...Where are you from?

Hi there. I stayed overnight, but my doc gave me the choice to go home the same day. I would reccomend you stay overnight if possible.

For you long term bandsters : Does this brain hunger ever get better? I've been banded since Feb 10th and I deal with brain hunger every day. I know it's going to be a long journey, but does it ever ease up? It's awful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It controls me.

Hi Christy, Welcome to this website. I believe that you'll find it very informative and supportive. Congrats on your surgery! If you have any questions or just want to chat don't hesitate to email me.