anonemouse

If you like butterscotches, Dollar General sells a sugar-free one that is actually very good. Most sugar-free candies are too sweet or have a funky aftertaste, but not this one. It really tastes like the real thing.

I only had to do liquids the day before the surgery. It just depends on your surgeon (mine didn't require a pre-op diet for any BMI).

I used the high Protein Boost after surgery, but that was just because I hadn't bought any protein mixes yet. Even the high protein Boost, though, iss only about 14 or 15 grams of protein per drink, and that isn't a lot for 220 or so calories. Ideally, you should be going for something with lower calories and higher protein, but if that is all you can get at that point, just make sure that you definitely include it in your calorie count for the day. Like WASa said, Matrix chocolate is a good one, and so is whey Gourmet Chocolate Peanut Butter. If you want to try a bunch of samples, Bariatric Eating - Protein, Vitamins, Gastric Bypass & Lap Band Info, Post-op recipes, and Help sells a sampler pack.

I don't know. There isn't anything online (well, other than pop-ups) that irritates me more than seeing an entire post that is nothing more than IM-speak or one that doesn't contain any form of punctuation whatsoever. I know we've all seen them here. The way I deal with those is that I ignore them completely. I bet a lot of other people do too, judging from the other posts in Rants and Raves about pet peeves. So to me, that's a little bit like shooting yourself in the foot. On one hand, they are trying to post to a message board and get responses from people. On the other, they are making their posts in a way that is very difficult for many people to decipher, reducing their chances of getting responses. I just don't get it. And I really think that I haven't said anything online that I wouldn't say to a person in, well, person. I don't make unfounded or unnecessary attacks on someone. Anything I have ever said on this site, I would be willing to say to that person, if I ever met them. Yes, I think that people who willingly enter into debates in RnR are fair game. The whole point of a debate is to argue and converse with other members. If those other members can't read or understand your posts for love or money, you shouldn't be debating. I'm not talking about a few misspellings or grammar mistakes. Those are understandable and, in most cases, a person can read around them. I'm talking about whether or not someone can actually read the post. If a post in a debate makes literally no sense whatsoever, I don't see any reason to not tell the person that made the post. It's not rude, it's participating in a debate. But honestly? I still haven't said anything in this forum that I wouldn't say to someone in person. If I'm debating someone in person, and they give me a non-answer or an answer that doesn't make any sense, I let them know.

Honestly, what helps me is having decent restriction. It makes it very uncomfortable to eat the foods that I would usually crave (pizza, bread, etc.), so I don't even want to eat them anymore.

The Molina band was the original non-adjustable band. I think that's the one the OP is talking about. So yeah, definitely assure your husband that the Molina band is nothing like the ones they use today. Today's bands are completely adjustable and easily deflated or removed if anything should go wrong.

Holy.... A T-CUP? Her back must HATE her. I was a 20 at 222 pounds. And that was a tad snug, to be honest. Like you said, I don't see how a 250 pound person could POSSIBLY be a size 14. But yeah, the way people wear their fat really makes a difference in sizing. I carry my weight in my belly, for the most part, so I always have to look for larger sizes than a lot of people that carry their weight in their chest or hips.

I ditto that!

Can we also add "9. No posting in a manner that would lead the other members to believe you are A) high as a kite, idiotic, or C) drunk as a skunk, and if you do post in that manner, you can't get pissed at the other members for referring to your A) high as a kite, :eek: idiotic, or C) drunk as a skunk posts as such.

My parents nearly named me Lucy. And Katrina. And Sandra. And my brother REALLY wanted them to name me Priscilla (I think he cried when they didn't, from what they've said). I think I'm very lucky, as a whole, to have come away with Lauren.

You have the wonderful talent of making me spew various liquids and not-so-liquid stuff (like chili, that time) out of my nose. Of course, that is sometimes less appreciated than others, but in this case, I worship you. :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Matrix Chocolate, Whey Gourmet Chocolate Peanut Butter, Nectar Fuzzy Navel, and IDS Multi-Pro Whey Vanilla-Cinnamon are my favorites.

The Quaker Granola Bites 100-calorie packs are yummy, and they are a pretty decent serving for a bandster.

Feels awesome! The only bad part is that now I have to go spend some money on new pants, since I have only one pair in this size!

And then they get PISSED if you point out that you have absolutely no idea what they've said!

On the rest of the board, I completely agree with you. That's why I have never, to my knowledge, corrected anyone on the support pages. In Rants and Raves, though, one of the major components of the forum is debate. And there can be no debate if someone's posts are either completely unreadable or not understandable. At that point, it's not rude to point that out.

You said it, Wheetsin. Damn things stretch the page.

Many people don't feel restriction after their first fill. I had very, very little after mine. I waited two weeks and then went back for another. It took one more to get to the restriction I'm at right now, which I feel is ideal for me.

It's general anesthesia, so you are completely asleep for the surgery.

Well, for me, the lidocaine shot hurts (those shots are EVIL), but I go completely numb after that, so I can't actually feel the fill needle. I don't actually feel the band tightening, either. It's a REALLY funky feeling when they pull the fill needle out, though, because of the suction of the port.

It's because it's a poll. Whenever someone new votes, it shows the last person that actually submitted a post, and it puts the time that the new person voted.

That's what I'm hoping for! I haven't been a 16 (well, at least a comfortable 16, anyway) in several years. I LOVE seeing the scale go down, instead of up!

Ha! :bounce::heh: Another myth I LOVE is that "what worked for me, will work for you" or "there is only ONE way to do things." Bull crap. People are individuals. What works for one person will not necessarily work for another. Some people do well on solid Protein. Other people do well using Protein drinks. Some people can't eat white carbs. Other people can eat carbs very easily and still lose weight very easily. All that matters is that you are happy and healthy, and that your surgeon and nutritionist are happy with your progress. Other than that, who the heck CARES? Band rules? Bah humbug. Other than chewing well and drinking enough Water, there are no "band rules," simply because every single person has individual needs and abilities.

I am officially down a size from when I was banded. I am now fitting comfortably in a size 18!

The brownish purple stick thingies are taro.