LifeStartsNow

Hey Picklesix - great ideas about the water! I'll have to try that. So far, my favorite Protein Drink is adkins mocha (target) and Premier Protien (30g protein) from costco. I'm getting a little jittery - but I know that's to be expected - I know I'll do fine and so will you! Best of luck to you!

what are you eating bubble? I am so impressed with your weight loss and really enjoyed your post about chosing a mexican sugeon. I also am struggling to get calories in - I am drinking protien shakes - but what are you eating on average? thanks!

Hello everyone - I'm getting banded Monday. I've lost only 7lbs so far, but looking forward to getting the surgery part behind me so I can move on and get this all started.

Hi all! I'm on day 6 of 3 protien shakes a day and unlimited green vegetables. It is hard, but I'm learning which protien shakes are best for me. It has been really difficult, not so hard at work b/c I'm so busy all the time, but at home its harder. I'm finding the more Protein I eat, the better I can handle the hunger. I'm also not drinking enough Water - so I'm a little dehydrated. I'm at 227 this a.m. and started at 236 last Saturday. I know that is mostly water - clearly. I am using the site: Calorie Counter Database - Free Online Diet Program and that is keeping me motivated and making me aware I should consume more calories. I really love this site - its completely free, no annoying ads/mail, and I love the analysis reports as well as the diet profiles you can take. My surgery is Monday, March 9th. I have to fly cross country and will by flying home Wed, march 12th. Good luck all you lucky losers!!

Congrats Bernadette!! You're on the wagon! good luck to you too!

Wow Girl! you did this as outpatient surgery? awesome! I don't have a choice and have to stay overnight. Your account makes me hopeful that all will be just fine. I think I have higher tolerence for pain also -so I hope that is on my side as well. Keep us posted so we all learn from you - the more info the better! Congrats to you!!! One more week for me!

Thanks for sharing Sommerbreez! I can completely understand why you feel so hungry! Smart of you to also get some nutrients in - and from food not just shakes, powers, and vitamins. I think a mix of both must be healthy. Does anyone know why appetite supressants aren't prescribed like the first 2-3 weeks after surgery - just to keep you from feeling overly hungry? Just wondered. thanks again for sharing! Sommerbreez are you drinking 3 shakes a day? Are you feeling better everyday? Hope all is going well for you! Good Luck!

Great advice - I'll have to get some gatorade for that reason. I hope that you get your fill soon - when are you scheduled for that? By then you should be able to move onto more food and feel better -but also not be famished!!

Hey vala - i just noticed your ticker and I'm starting at exactly the same weight as you. Not sure how tall you are - I'm 5'4". Your losing 23 lbs in 2.5 weeks is really amazing! Congrats to you!

Vala - I agree with you - I think the best thing we can do is listen to our bodies. I'm doing 3 protien shakes per day per Dr. Ortiz's dietitian - for the 7 days prior to my surgery and I'm very headache-y. How do you guys feel - I mean in the week or 2 after surgery when you are eating so very little? And those of you who don't feel banded - do you get headaches from being hungry? or headaches from not eating enough? I just can't understand how you don't feel light headed even if you don't feel hungry like youchutup describes. Does it feel like the flu - like when you just don't have an appetite but you feel the weakness? I'm really worried - as mrriceguy's dr & vala points out - that the diet immediately after surgery just isn't nutrient/protien rich enough. 3 protien shakes a day are only 675 calories total. Won't that lack of calories begin to breakdown the protein in our muscle? I'm still learning, still researching - or is 9-1200 enough to keep our bodies from going into metabolism shut down and not go into starvation mode? I completely agree with going off clear liquids - at 3 days - its similar to when you have the flu and can go a few days without eating much at all. MrRiceguy - what is your daily caloric intake? what are your liquids for you personally - as you say you feel great? I'm really worried about my energy level plummeting after surgery. I'm so happy to hear the reality of what to expect -thanks to all of you commenting here!!

Thanks for sharing. I've never tried the bullets before and today I purchased 2 from Walmart. They are the Body Fortress Super Whey bullets in tropical punch. Have you ever tried these or did I waste my money? :wink:

Wow - Vala - thanks for taking the time to type all that out. I have a lot of questions and you really helped! thank you! I'm being banded March 9th and really appreciate your post!!!

OK - I'm taking you up on your offer to help! Am I not able to create a glitter tag without out signing up to the list and giving up my email addy? I'm trying to not give out my email to avoid spam and such. what do you click on once you're at the site? I clicked glitter generator and got to the page where you have to enter you email address and I also don't want to download anything. Thanks for the help!!

Miss Cheryl - I feel the same way you do. I am questioning myself somedays and then snap out of it others. Today I'm feeling great about the decision and I think my sadness comes from being afraid of not having the comfort of food. But then I wake myself up and I realize I will still eat, I will still enjoy food - just less of it. And I KNOW from past weight loss attempts how your body adjusts in a good way to not wanting all the things I want right now. And its not going to be a situation where I never, ever eat again. Its a few months of 'resetting' my body through the liquid diet. I am seeing it as cleansing and doing something for this wonderful body of mine that is trying to be healthy despite what I am doing to sabotage it through overeating. Somehow when I think of it that way - and as a way of making this body of mine healthier - and paying it back for taking good care of me for almost 40 years now - it makes me feel empowered and no longer sad. I feel like this is going to allow me to live the way you're 'supposed' to live. On 1200-1500 calories. That's what we're designed to do and this band is something that I'm doing to care for myself and live longer and healthier. I deserve and my hardworking body of mine deserves this. *I promise I don't refer to my body in the 3rd person often! LOL* It is just what is helping me conquer my fears and sadness as you put it. I have to stop thinking about it as the 'last' time I'll ever enjoy food again and as an awesome step toward being who I want to be - for real this time! I hope that helps and you help me too by making me see also that my seemingly irrational thoughts of fear, sadness, depression isn't just me! My surgery date is March 9th - I'm still scared - but I'm constantly reminding myself of all the great people here that I know will support me and already have.:wink: Sorry for the long post!

tibbie - did you get your date? I'm still reading through posts, but I think you and are are the only ones self paying at the OCC so far for March. My date is March 9th. Best of luck to you!

Glad someone posted this bc I'm considering the same thing. I have a date for March 9th in mexico, so I'll travel coast to coast for that, flying home on Wed. Then, 3 days later, I have a pre-planned family trip to LA (again coast to coast) and am wondering if I need to plan the surgery after the LA trip instead of before. Costs go up on airfare - to do that, but I'm just not sure what to do. I'm pretty strong and generally recover well in other medical things (childbirth, minor surgeries, etc.). Please keep the replies coming!

Thanks for sharing - I've never heard of it. Also thanks for sharing the pics of the dragon fruit. I've heard of lychee before and love to try new stuff. I'll be traveling to see my sister in CA in a few weeks and I am always amazed at the variety and different taste of the produce and fruit on the West coast. I can't even imagine what it must be like in Hawaii. Your posts read like a gourmet restaurant to me!:frown:

Yes, I'm going to the West coast from the East coast. :frown: And yes, I'm going to go to the OCC which is in Mexico. I'm also supposed to be traveling the following week to LA to see my sister. So it will be another East coast to West coast trip the very next weekend. That worries me a little bit. I just don't know what to expect. So yes, one day from yours! Are you getting ready? What are you doing to prepare? Love your glitter tag!

Well, I went to the dr's office today and they advised that I would need a 6 mos supervised diet. Which obviously means, I would be past the date my current insurance which covers it would run out. My previous diet wasn't documented monthly, so if I wanted this done, I have to be a self pay. They charge 17,500.00 and clearly I'm not going to pay that much. Instead, I left without even seeing the Dr, called the OCC and scheduled a surgery date of March 9th as a self pay. I'm disappointed but sick and tired of waiting! Tickets to SanDiego are only 240.00 round trip! So - no more waiting, life starts now! :frown: So, I'm definitely going to be a luuuuuuky Loooosaaaa! woo hoo!

Luv - How exciting about Costa Rica!! And you had to have an un fill? I hope all is ok! I think I will end up with a tummy tuck and boob lift after I'm done too. My mom had a tummy tuck this after having new boobs after reconstructive surgery following her mastectomy due to breast cancer. She looks awesome but she's always been slim and beautiful - I don't think she needed it - but she did and that's all that matters. My mom and both sisters are both slim and beautiful - they are wonderful and have never ever said anything whatsoever about my weight. It will be nice when I am slim and look like I'm actually related to them! LOL. I'm the only one in my family who is overweight. Even in my own family - dh is slim and handsome, kids normal. I just want to be normal too - and I will be! One time, my son who is 7 said to me "Mom? what aren't you straight like me and Dad?" I asked "what do you mean? straight?" He gestured with his hands starting at his chest and slid his hands 'straight' down to his stomach - and said "you know, straight!?" I laughed and said - well that's thanks to you and your sister that my tummy isn't "straight" like yours and Dads! To which he promptly retorted "but aunt shelly and aunt marcie are straight and they had kids!" LOL - he got me there! I'm looking forward to being "straight" someday even if that means I get a tummy tuck to make that happen! LOL! I can't wait to hear about Costa Rica and when you might be considering doing it. Something for you to look forward to! And I'm SMILING! :thumbdown: Thanks to you!

Thanks HarleyNana! I'm wishing I was going to Dr. T on your side now! Thanks for the advice on the fills. I would use my Dr at the Wellness center if I have to end up doing a self pay. I am so comfortable with her and trust her immensely. I inquired at Dr. Ortiz, and they sent me infomation about Mexico (I'm still unsure) and they quoted a price of $7300. I checked & flights right now to SanDiego are about 230.00 with tax and fees through USAir. I'm going to see my sister in CA Mar 14-17 (going with my sister and my mom) just to spend a long weekend in Santa Monica and we got tickets for the same price (230.00) which is fantastic. We're trying now to get tickets to the Ellen Degenes show, I'd also like to go see Jimmy Kimmel live or a game show. How fun! Best part is we're all going without kids or husbands! woo hoo! Thanks again! I'll be glad when this roller coaster is over and I can proceed down one path or another and set a date. My goal is March or bust (ha! literally! hee hee) I appreciate everyone's care and recommendations - and also sharing your experiences. I'm listening and learning - thank you! PS - I changed my user name from rhc to LifeStartsNow - because that's how I feel. I'll be 40 in six months and I'm ready to do what it takes to get my act together, lose this weight, and start living life the way I really always wanted to. I hold myself back from so many things because of my weight. I don't want to do that anymore.....

kcmagu - that's some exotic food! wow! I wish I liked papaya! and pineapple coconut pancakes? wow and yum! last what is mong chong? I've never heard of that!