amylynns

I don't do well with artificial sweetners either, so would love some other options. I can't do Crystal Light products.

Great question!! My dad asked me almost the same thing. When I started my liquid diet and of course started losing weight he said, " Why don't you just keep doing that?" Well..you can't really live on a liqud diet, LOL. I don't know if you're like this, but I was SO SO sick of ALWAYS thinking about food!! What am I doing to have next....constantly feeling guilty about what I was eating...kinda like "restless monkey" was saying. Being obsessed with the whole diet scenerio. And honestly----JUST TODAY, it dawned on me! I'm NOT thinking about food. I have to sometimes make myself eat because I'm FINALLY eating to live---not living to eat. My mind is not consumed with eating and food. And I couldn't be more excited!! This was by far, the best decision I've made for myself!!

Hmmm, I'm not sure what size my band is? I'll have to ask at my next appt. I had my band filled the first time on Christmas Eve and I'm still feeling pretty good restriction. I'm pretty sure he said he put in 2CC's. I'd never heard of weighing my food in regards to the band. I'm eating about 1- 1 1/2C of food per meal and still losing at this point. Hopefully I'm not eating too much. I average anywhere from 800-1000 calories a day and I get in about 60-80g of protein. For the question about how long did it take to get a surgery date? I started my process in Feb 08' and I got the insurance approval the middle of October. My surgery was Nov 6th. It was well worth the wait! Well----ate a little bit of my daughter's popcorn as I was sitting here typing---not such a good idea I guess! OUCH! :frown:

I have a friend who hasn't been having a whole lot of sucess with her band, but I don't think she's using it to its' full potential. Sounds like you're having a similar problem. It's just a tool---it's not going to do the work for you. Like right now....I feel "snacky" But I have to really say to myself, Am I truly hungry? And I have to then make that decision NOT to snack on junk. It's all a mind game for me! :crying: And as far as exercise---I was 261 when I started this and I could exercise. I started just walking a few blocks and gradually increased the distance. I also have rheumatoid arthritis, so my joints hurt all the time. Now 33 pounds down, I'm just about jogging!!:frown: But honestly-----even losing 5 or 10 pounds gives you such a big boost, it'll keep you going! You just have to get your mind in that mindset that you're going to take control of this!! I know you can do it!!!!

Hello fellow Iowans! I'm near Waterloo/Cedar Falls area. My surgery was Nov 6th...doing really well so far! I'm glad I found some Iowa people on here!! Hoping those awaiting approval got approved!! I started my whole process Feb 08' and started my liquid diet on Oct 23rd. I had met all my out of pockets expenses through BC/BS, so I didn't have to pay anything towards the surgery! (well, other than a program fee paid to the surgery center) Anyway--hopefully some of you are still around!:frown:

I'm in Iowa----My surgeon is Dr. Matthew Glascock, in Cedar Falls. LOVE LOVE LOVE HIM!!!! I just had my first fill...went well.:frown:

This is my typical day....lately. Breakfast: 2 scrambled egg w/slice of cheese melted on them. Lunch: cottage cheese (1/2C) and usually Soup (maybe 3/4-1C) Supper: Baked Fish (3-4oz piece) steamed veggies (1/2-3/4C) Some evenings I have 1 or 2 popsicles too.:frown: 1 or 2 glasses of skim milk a day 50-70 ounces of Water 12oz de-caf coffee I'm interested in seeing what other people are eating though to get some other ideas!:crying:

I was just banded on Nov 6th, and I'm already loving my results! I've lost 32 pounds and I feel great! The worst part of the surgery for me was how nauseated I was after surgery. I've had a couple other minor surgeries and I'd never gotten sick with them, so I didn't anticipate that. I'm guessing it was a combonation of different meds they used for a longer surgery (?) and just the fact that it was a 2 hour surgery compared to my other surgeries that weren't over 45 mins long. I'm not sure, but that part was for sure the worst. They tried 3 different meds over about a 10 hour period, finally the 3rd one worked. Pain wasn't bad, they gave me an interthecal (SP?) block. ( I think that's what it's called) That pretty much covered my pain for 24 hours, then I went to a liquid pain med that I drank. You said your sister was just banded 2 wks ago? How's she doing?