Shamrockgirl60

I can understand that, I feel hungry also, did eat a nice little fillet mignon last night with a salad. I was craving MEAT. Back on track today. Having shakes for BF and Lunch. And a chicken veggie stir fry for dinner. I want to lose a few more pounds. I thin the difference with the liquid diet now and after surgery may be the key. You can't eat a real meal because of the surgery so I will be easier. As the doctor told me yesterday this is a TOOL and if used right it's an enormous help with weight loss and the weight staying off. We won't WANT to eat big meals because it hurts and makes us ill. Good luck.

Hey met my surgeon Dr. Brahm at Lahey Clinic today, he's very nice. Said I have been doing great, my BP is perfect, heart and stuff, also I lost 13.3 lbs. which is 1.3 more than they wanted me to lose, he said keep up the protein shakes for BF and Lunch and have a light dinner then small low fat no sugar snack if I want it. So I picked up two little fillet mignon's and some nice salad greens will make that for hubby and me with a side veggie, no starch and a nice small glass of red wine. Trying to eat well if I can. I'll spurge on good stuff and just have small amounts when I am back on solids. I would like to lose another couple of pounds in the 10 days I have till my surgery. Even with the 13.3 lost I can feel it. Imagine when it's 10's of lbs. how we will all feel. I am so looking forward to it.

What are "protein bullets" please?

Hi, yes one of the oldsters here. I am retired so that is a bit of a help. Only my family and a few close friends know about this. At this point I say what the heck LOL. Good time to get healthy and happy. I'm seeing my surgeon for the first time...today and excited and scared. One more week till surgery. It will go fast I am sure. I will surely post all my progress and how the surgery goes. take care Pati

I know from having a couple of colonoscopies that you can't have any red jello or red drink because it can stain your colon. Clear liquids only. Maybe that's why it stains your innards.

As for the fruit I would get fresh fruit, and then if you need to cook it...cook peaches in some water with a bit of splenda. Then when it's soft, coll in the fridge then put in the blender and make a peach puree. Strawberries I think can be just pureed fresh. I would get pineapple in it's own juice, strain the juice and even rinse the pineapple in water to get off the sweet juice and then puree it. I am on my own pre-op since I was told to just lose 12 lbs. before surgery. Eating one small meal a day and having protein shakes for lunch and breakfast. A small Fit and Trim Low carb and no sugar yogurt for a snack in the afternoon.

Wonderful news M4, you can show your husband all the info on Lap Band and what it is all about. I'm sure when your face to face and tell him how much you want this for you, him and the kids he will understand. Take care and God Bless. September will come before you know it. I have one week to go for my surgery. I am sooooo excited.

I have the EAS Advant Edge chocolate drink have been drinking it for a week but it still has a slightly chalky taste. Using two ice cubes and a cup of 1% milk. I found Hersey's sugar free syrup in the store and did a squirt (chocolate but they have strawberry also) into the blender and it sure boosted the flavor and it tastes more like a real milk shake. I bought

Oh good on the "freak outs" my family says I'm acting a bit crazy LOL. I have one week to go, and tomorrow I meet the surgeon for the first time and I am so very nervous. Been eating very little solid food and drinking lots of water to flush myself out and my protein shakes. Want to make sure I am OK for the surgery, my scale here at home sucks. A new one is on my to do list next week. But have to watch the pennies since retired. I have stocked up on what I can have after the surgery. I think it's OK to be scared any surgery is scary. We have to change so much of our past eating habits, which got us to this point in our lives where the food was ruling us and not the way it should be, we rule the food. It's like saying we are failures. Hard to admit to this but for me it's true. I was having no control over my appetite. It is like that big lion on the TV ad for Lap Band Surgery. And making it a little kittie is a good thing. So all you August All stars....it's only going to get better....and we are going to get thinner.

Oh I can't wait two more weeks. I am on my own pre-op diet, send for some nifty Protein drink stuff advertised here. Ujury or something like that LOL Got my clear broths and crystal light, have to get some sugar free Jello and make some the day before surgery Cleaning all the "junk" out of my fridge now. So nothing in there temping. Putting hubby on a high protein and low carb diet also so his recovery from his heart surgery goes well, he's amazing after a week home he's almost back to normal. Have to keep him from doing stuff he can't do for weeks.

I have two more weeks and can't wait. My insurance company had no problem with my approval. Since I had the co-morbidities. I keep trying the CPAP but I end up ripping it off in the middle of the night. I have another month before I can get a new mask or nose thing. I'll get the nose thing. Hope that in a few months I won't even need it anymore. I was advised to bring it to the hospital when I have my surgery. I am staying overnight. They make all Lap Banders stay one night.

Thanks for the list, I have purchased a number of the items. I sent for the protein drink they advertise on here. And got a lot of stuff...have to go shopping right before my surgery for some stuff.

Yup no more demons. I made low cal stir fry lots of veggies a little meat and some brown rice. Had one serving of each....and Protein drink for lunch and yogurt for Breakfast. 5 days before seeing the surgery and 12 days before the surgery itself.

Hey I can understand this so well from when I was working for a company that had a lot of catered lunches brought in for the staff, not to mention big huge cakes when production was good LOL. Hey have the shakes for breakfast and dinner. Eat a light lunch. Order a clear Soup and small lunch salad. I bring my own dressing now every where, the stuff in the squirt bottles are very good and keep well and are small enough to carry in a medium sized purse. good luck and just think in a year we will all look great :biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2:

Hey I ate all the stuff I love last week, only gained 2 lbs. So I am now ding my own pre-op diet. LOL I know that 90% of the pre-diet food is and will be a no no for me. But I got it out of my system. My demons are ice cream and bread in that order LOL

Wow Frangipani, you now weight 119 lbs. that is amazing. I used to weight that. Hope someday by next August to be close to that weight. I have a goal weight here of 130 which would be great for my age of 62. I am doing the Protein Drink two times a day and one small meal. I had a nice salad with some chicken and no calorie dressing. One piece of no fat/no cholesterol pita bread made with whole wheat and flax seed. (small pita bread) I am so full now. I send for the shakes that I saw advertised here the unjury ones. Some folks say they are good. Sent for 2 chocolate, 1 strawberry, 1 vanilla and 1 Chicken flavor. I have stocked up on low sodium broths in cans and some tuna in Water in 3 oz. cans and sugar free pudding. Have to get the Jello, which I despise but will most probably taste good LOL when I am out of surgery. I hope to lose more than my 12 lbs pre-op so that my liver isn't too fat LOL. Thanks for the encouragement.

Hey I'm also getting banded August 7th. My pre-op diet was just lose 12 lbs. by the day of surgery I lost 8 gained a few back, so with one week to see the surgeon I am doing the Protein shakes and salad for dinner. I started yesterday and hope to get those 6 lbs. off by August 7th and maybe a few more. The less you weigh the best for the surgery..it's that darn "fatty liver" thing. LOL I have to get some more shakes. I tried the Advantage one and it wasn't too bad. Very filling I must say. Had one for dinner last night. I had my regular food for lunch. And had the shake for Breakfast and I'm still not hungry. Wow two weeks and I'm getting excited and nervous. Hubby had his heart surgery last week and all went wonderfully. He's home now and feeling better and stronger every day. He has his aortic valve replaced. Best of luck to everyone...glad I was invited here. Pati

Heather, time for get another Cardiologist. This one sounds like he's and he has not idea what it is to be overweight and how hard it is to lose the weight. You may like him for other reasons but there are a ton of heart doctors out there just as good if not better and more understanding of your life.

Just a note, (being banded August 7th at Lahey Clinic) My husbands open heart surgery last Monday went very well. He's home now and doing great. He had his aortic valve replaced. It's something we knew would have to be done but didn't think it was going to happen so soon. He's only 62. So he's on his way to recovery. Next is me...with much less recovery time for sure. Getting a bit nervous but very very anxious to start my new life. take care all and good luck Pati

Love the glitter thing. Only two weeks to go....till my banding. Getting very excited. Hubby's aortic valve replacement was on Monday and it went very well, he's sore but feeling better every day, he should be home on Friday or Saturday. I am going to start my own diet on Monday, use the liquid protein drink for two meals and then small meal of protein and veggies for dinner. I want to lose the 4 lbs. that I have to lose by August 7th. Good luck to everyone Pati

Had my last visits yesterday morning with pre-op admission, and with my nurse practitioner. Now one more appt. with the surgeon on July 28th and then surgery on August 7th. Love the "August All Stars" awesome name. Hope we all do well.....

Do you have any other conditions that are partially or fully caused by being overweight. Such as Type 2 Diabetes, sleep Apnea, or joint and arthritis pain? Also high blood pressure and other heart related weight problems? If so the doctor should put them in the letter. My PCP did and It was taken to the Bariatric doctor and clinic at the same hospital. The Bariatric doctor then has you go through steps and other things each hospital or clinic is a bit different. Then when your just about set for surgery, this doctor informs your insurance company and you usually get approved. I hope this helps.

Thanks Orea, I will ask the company that I got my equipment if they have that one when I get to change my masks in a month or two. If now I'll buy this one and see if I like it. I appreciate your help.

I have 4 lbs to lose before my August 7th surgery. They explained about the liver during a pre-op visit to the hospital yesterday. The liver gains weight first when you overeat. And when you lose it it loses first. They prefer a liver that is not too big, they have to inflate your stomach cavity with gas to move the organs around to reach the stomach without harming it or other organs. It sits right in front of the stomach. So I myself am doing the liquid diet for 7 days before surgery to get used to it..and to shrink that liver and lose the 4 lbs. and maybe a few more before the surgery to make it safer. More pre-admissions stuff tomorrow morning. Good luck everyone. Lahey has a wonderful program.

Hi great, my surgery is scheduled for August 7th at Lahey Clinic in Burlington, MA. Have pre-op meetings tomorrow. They called today to ask me if I wanted July 17th for surgery date cause they had a cancellation. But my hubby is having his aortic value replaced on July14th and ill probably be still in same hospital till July 17th or 18th. So I am sticking with my original date.