Veronica72

Yoplait makes a lowfat fiber yogurt that's pretty good. It's also under 10 grams of sugar per container. The key lime pie is my favorite flavor. Yum.

Thanks China...and thanks for starting this thread and getting us revved up.

That's due to good ol' southern cooking! A lot of us have a "few" pounds to lose. Mary Washington is down the street from me. Obama campaigned there in the fall. What an amazing crowd that was!

I'm a lifetime VA resident. *sigh* I'd love to move somewhere warmer, but my job (Quantico) keeps me here.

Thanks Pete! I lived in Stafford for 10 years, but moved (back) to Spotsylvania a few years ago. (Pentagon Pete makes more sense now.) They're calling for ice storms tonight. When I was a kid, we got nice fluffy snow. Now that's a rarity and ice is the norm. BTW - Congratulations on your spectacular weight loss thus far. My doctor is making wait 6 weeks before I exercise. :wink_smile:

Ooooh! Oooooh! Add me to the challenge! My highest weight was 225. My surgery was December 12th. Surgery day weight was 220. (No pre-op diet.) I'm now at 205. My goal for January is a 10-lb. loss. My goal weight is 140. (I wouldn't complain about 130!)

I keep wanting to exercise also and know how important it will be, but remind myself that right now my job is to heal, stick to the diet, and walk.

I've been able to eat runny Cream of Wheat since a couple days post-op. I happen to like it, but I've come up with something to kick it up a notch and get my Protein in at the same time. I make the runny Cream of Wheat, mix in a scoop of chocolate Muscle Milk, a packet or so of Splenda, then a bit of skim milk to cool it down. It's really not bad.

I like the Slimfast High Protein myself. However, you may want to up your protein grams per drink. Try visiting the vitamin/nutrition store. I've been using Isopure which has 50 grams per 2 scoop serving. I just use one scoop, blend with a Yoplait Fiber one (fiber plus?) yogurt and about 6 ounces of skim milk. I think it comes to about 250 calories, but I only need 2 per day (lunch and dinner) to meet my protein requirements, plus some. I've also come up with a new favorite... I'm allowed to have cream of wheat as long as it's pourable. I mix up my cream of wheat (with water), add a scoop of chocolate Muscle Milk (16 grams protein), cool it down with a bit of skim milk and mix in a Splenda. It's almost like a thick hot chocolate. Well.. maybe that's a stretch, but it's not a bad way to get your protein in.

I was 220 morning of surgery, 210 now, hoping to get to 140.

Hi China. When I woke up this morning, the shoulder pain was a whole lot better. Not completely gone, but a whole lot better. My one-week went well. The doctor was pleased that I'd lost 10 lbs. I go back on the 19th of January to see if I'm ready for my first fill or not. When I mentioned the shoulder to the doctor, he seemed to indicate that you just have to wait for it to go away. I was going to buy Gas-X, but from reading on here, I got the impression that it didn't do much. Hmmm... maybe I should have tried it. I've been walking about a half a mile each day. After I reach that point, I feel a little flush, so think maybe I shouldn't push it yet. Before surgery, I'd walk 2 miles at nighttime, but not not consistently.

I'm not having trouble drinking at all. I do take small sips all day long, but haven't limited myself as to how much at one time. Since it's just liquid, I don't think it just sits in your little pouch. I'd think it would just go right through. I'm pretty much subsisting off of yogurt, protein drinks, crystal light and water. Congratulations on your 20 lbs! That's great! I've lost 10 since surgery. I had my check up today and the doctor thought that was pretty good.

That's good to hear. My throat was sore the first day, but my shoulder has been really sore since surgery. I go for my 1-week check-up tomorrow and will ask the doctor if there is anything that can be done about it. I have a feeling I'll just have to wait it out.

I've been keeping track of my ounces of liquids and grams of protein every day with the goal of getting 64 ounces and 50 grams. I'm sure if I wasn't tracking it, I wouldn't be getting in enough. Be careful! You don't want to get dehydrated!

How is everyone doing? My shoulder still hurts a lot, but not all the time like it had been. My stomach feels fine. I'm down about 7 lbs. from the morning of surgery. I can't believe it! I haven't had any hunger... it's amazing. I know this will change as I heal and the swelling goes down, but if the fills can also get this feeling, it'll be great! I'm sticking to a schedule of drinking my protein drinks then getting a lot of fluids in in between... keeping track of my grams of protein and ounces of water. I think the best part so far has been the peace of mind that comes with not thinking about food all day long.

I'm banded! Woohoo! I had my surgery December 12th. I was the last one of the day and didn't the option to go home same day. I am glad that I stayed overnight though. Everything went smooth. My tummy isn't in much pain, but my shoulder and neck are killing me. Hopefully this gas finishes working itself out today.

Mine went great as well. Not too much pain the tummy area, but my shoulder definitely hurts. I was the last surgery of the day and didn't get the option to go home same day. However, I am glad I stayed overnight. Hopefully these gas pains will go away soon.

Belive me, I wasn't happy about it. I was the cut off. They did the patient scheduled just prior to mine, but didn't know if they were going to do mine or not. I was on the liquid diet for 6 days not knowing what was going to happen. Fortunately, Dr. Halmi's office took on Mary Washington's patients, scheduled extra operating room time, etc. to make it happen for all of us who were already scheduled. I'm so thankful. Instead of my original date of the 11th, I'm having the surgery on the 12th. My tests would have expired on the 19th. Whew. I was close to panic.

Hello! Where at in Virginia? I'm in Fredericksburg, but getting banded in Woodbridge since the Fredericksburg hospital decided to do away with their bariatric program less than two weeks before my surgery.

I'm getting pretty excited. :angry_smile: The 12th is just around the corner. I need to start a journal and create my mini-goals, the first being my current jeans fitting comfortably. Boy, will that be nice.

I'm December 12th also! BTW-I love the "taking sexy back" idea.

My husband will aprove of that! I fizzled out with this last 20 lbs. I put on. I'm hoping to rev things back up! As far as walking, working out, etc. I've got that covered. I have about 2,000 songs on my Ipod and walk a lot now. I also have a cross trainer and a Bowflex at home. Exercise isn't really my problem. Controlling my appetite is. I'm thinking more of quick distractions that can get me past that initial craving. Puzzles are a great idea. I actually have one of those ready to go for after my surgery. I work in a library, so books are readily available. I think I'll pick up a couple of those puzzle books. The kind with crosswords, logic puzzles, etc.

That sounds like a good idea. I hope when I do get healthy, I'll get out a lot more and enjoy it and not take it for granted. I didn't get the Wii Fit yet either. Dance Revolution... I bet that's fun. I've seen it and thought about it, but haven't bought it. Maybe I will. Anyone have the Wii Fit? If so, what do you think about it?

The head work is important. I've lost the weight (as most of us probably have) in part or whole several times before. This time I feel more prepared. (I'll get the tummy tuck this time, too!) I'm looking forward to the extra help the band should provide in getting it off and keeping it off. So, does anybody have ideas for filling up the time they used to spend eating? Any "go to" ideas for when they're stressed or bored and won't be able to reach for the bag of chips anymore? I bought an Wii and lots of games as a family gift for Christmas. I'm thinking that will be a good distraction, but am looking for more ideas.

Thanks Rosey! I'm so excited and I'm so ready to do this. I can't believe my time is almost here. It's reassuring to read posts from people that have just had the surgery. I'm not worried about the surgery itself, just the bouncing back and adjusting that will come along with it. Once I've lost 20-30 lbs. maybe I'll be brave and start posting pics. lol