MamaHerm

Hi Ddem! I was wondering how you get in your 90 grams of protein a day. Would you share an example of what you eat in a day? Are you eating just three meals a day, or are you adding snacks? I'm having a hard time eating enough protein. Thanks for you help!

Hi Ellen11703! Yes, I was thinking the same thing about us being triplets! I think it is so cool to be able to chat with someone who is experiencing this journey at the same stages. You are doing great with the weight loss, and I know that you will enjoy shopping for new clothes. You have earned it! I was so excited last week to be able to buy clothes in a regular store. I've gone from size 34 to size 24, so I had to get some new duds. Before the weight loss, I had to travel 55 miles to Catherine's (the only store in Houston who carries size 34s). Otherwise, I ordered my stuff online. Last week, I bought some outfits at J C Penneys, Ross, and Walmart. Mind you, they don't have a large selection of size 24s, but I felt like a "normal" person by being able to shop at these stores. About the Malt O Meal box. It has a picture of a bowl of Malt O Meal on it. The little boy would be cuter. O well! I've noticed that I've started thinking about next summer, too. I've been thinking about the neat clothes that I will be able to wear, how great I will feel, and how much energy I will have. Truthfully, I had it in my mind that I would be obese forever. Now I'm excited and convinced that I will be a healthier new person. Isn't it great? I'm so glad we're triplets! Let's keep in touch, Ellen and Tiny Dancer! We have some things in common. We're about the same age, and we live near the Water. As we chat, I'm sure that we will find more!

Hi notsotinydancer, Sorry to be slow in responding. I've been in Dallas. Is San Benito near Corpus? My husband has family who live in the Portland area. That's a nice area -- I love being near the bay. We live about 40 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. I had my surgery in Sugar Land, which is near Houston. Dr. Guillermo Ponce de leon did my procedure. I can't eat much until late afternoon, and then it seems like I eat a lot. My husband is afraid that I'll overeat and stretch my pouch, so I try to eat less than a cup of food at a time. I know what you mean about the weight loss. I want it all to be gone now. I've lost 27 pounds since surgery, so I'm losing at about the same pace as you. Let's keep comparing!

Hi Ellen11703! I was also banded May 7th, and I got my first fill on June 18th. I guess we're also twins. LOL! I've felt more restriction with the fill and was doing great until this morning. I'm usually very tight in the mornings but am able to take my meds and eat about 1/2 cup of Malt O Meal. Usually I swim for about an hour after I eat, but today I decided to take a nap. Big mistake!!! I have sleep apnea and use a Bi-Pap machine and have been swallowing air (I guess) because I wake up burping air. I told my doc about it, and he said not to worry. I woke up burping air big time and then had dry heaves. It was a horrible feeling!!!! Anyway, I learned my lesson and will have better days ahead!!!!

Hey Notsotinydancer, I lost 59 pounds before surgery and 23 pounds since surgery. That's 82 pounds gone forever!!!! I feel great. In fact, I haven't felt this good in years. By the way, what part of Texas are you? I'm near the coast -- midway between Houston and Victoria. Good to hear from you. Keep up the good work!

Hey neverB4, Where do you find protein jello? That sounds good!

Hey neverB4, It's my 2nd day, also. All of my cuts were super glued -- no staples! I had the shoulder pain for about 4 hours after surgery, and then it went away! I started massaging my shoulder in the recovery room and didn't stop until it was gone. I don't know if that helped or not, but it felt good. I also feel like I just had a baby, my belly is so big! I'm a little sore, but not in any pain. But gassy!!!! (Stand back, LOL!) Glad to know we are on our way!!!!

Hey May 7th bandsters! We did it!!!! How are you feeling? I hope you are doing as well as I am. I'm doing great. A little sore, but really very little pain. Let's keep in touch!

Dear notsotinydancer, The purpose of the liquid diet is to shrink your liver. The diet shrinks your liver by 40%! They have to use retractors to lift the liver off your stomach. If the liver is lighter, there is less chance of damaging the liver. Also, if the liver is too large to lift with retractors, the surgeon has to make a larger incision so that he can lift your liver with his hand. Hope this info helps.

My date changed today from May 5th to May 7th. Two more days of liquid dieting! But my husband says that it gives me 2 more days to work (yuk!)

Add me to the list! My surgery date is May 5th. Good luck to you May 1st folks -- tomorrow is your day!!!! Katie

Hi all! I just read a book titled Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band: Everything You Need to Know Before and After Surgery to Lose Weight Sucessfully. It's written by Robert W. Sewell, MD, FACS, and Linda Rohrbough. I found it to be very informative. It explains how the band functions, what to expect before and after surgery, fills, complications, lifestyle changes, skin care after surgery, plastic surgery, and a chapter that addresses the people who live with bandsters. It will be one of my tools to help me during my journey.

I bought mine at Barnes & Noble, but I noticed that Amazon has it also.

Whoever wrote me and asked about using "my" Shrinko De Mayo hat -- it's not my creation, I borrowed it from another poster. --Katie

I bought it at Barnes and Noble. If they don't have it in stock, they can probably order it for you. Its ISBN is 978-1-60094-002-6.

Mavy, I'm being banded May 5th, and I have experienced some indecisiveness; after all, this is surgery and a life-style change. I, too, wondered why I should have surgery if I can lose the weight "on my own" before surgery. I did some deep soul-searching and am now totally committed to having surgery. I have lost weight using Weight Watchers, Atkins, etc,, but I always regained it, plus some. I have come to realize that the band, diet, and exercise are some of the tools that I will use to become the healthy person that I want to become. I also feel that by addressing the mental aspect of overeating -- emotional eating, stress eating, eating from being bored, etc.-- will help me to achieve long-term success. I feel that the whole team -- my surgeon, my dietician, my support groups, my family and friends -- is vital to help me to lose weight and keep it off. I'm reading a book called the Ultimate Weight Solution by Dr. Phil. I chose it because he addresses the psychological and behaviorial issues associated with obesity and dieting. One thing he says is, "Get up each morning, look at yourself in the mirror, and see yourself not as someone who is overweight or out of shape, but as the someone you will become, a person with a greater level of dignity and worth who, for probably the first time ever, is finally going to succeed -- for a lifetime." Yes, I will have to work at changing the way I feel about myself and how I eat. There will be ups and downs. But I will be successful, and so will you!

Time2bandme, I agree with everyone about adding more protein to your diet. I'm on the liquid diet, also. My dietician suggests 4 to 5 EAS Advant Edge meals per day (2 servings = 1 meal). I also use EAS Myloplex Lite, K2O water, and the South Beach Diet protein powder mixes. Good luck!

I'm also a "Shrinko Dey Mayo"!!! I'm getting nervous, excited, and uncertain all at the same time. It's like getting ready for my wedding. All the planning, researching, excitement, and now the big day is getting close. I'm going to be married to the band. WOW!!!

Jaimee21005, I am being banded May 5th and have been hearing the same "unsucess stories" and feeling the same uncertainties. And Kat817, you made a great point about the tool. I am dedicated to making the life-style changes and have been doing Weight Watchers and exercise, and have lost 50 pounds. What's the difference in using Weight Watchers as a tool and using the band as a tool?

KKitchen, I just noticed that you take Prednisone. Have you been banded, and have you had to take Prednisone? If so, how did you do? I haven't been banded yet, but take Prednisone, so I wondered how you did with it.

Marla, Your guidelines sound like what my doc's are. Who is your doctor?

I'm sane too, but that long test is a joke, isn't it?

Great news!!!

My diet will be 4-5 protein shakes and nothing else. I'll be chewing lots of gum!

Wow, bands going on everywhere!!! Best wishes to all of you!!! You're in my prayers. Let us know how it goes!