mattie7632

Yes, cook until soft, same way I cooked the Pasta boiled on the stove top!

Yum! another idea, add chicken!

It doesn't help matters that so many foods (processed) are filled with additives that actually cause physical addiction! Having all that in your diet makes it 100 times harder to make healthy choices!

It probably depends on what you do. I have my own business so no real time off was taken. But there are days still that I am not feeling great so I don't work then. The weeks following surgery you might get more colds due to the immune system weakened, or have tired days. So in all my surgical experiences (3) you won't be back to 100% for at least 6 weeks, but certainly able to work if it's not physical, within days.

The reality is that "healthcare workers" really are "sickcare workers". Healthcare is fixing symptoms of sickness, not teaching one to be healthy. So no, this is no surprise to me!

The gas thing passes, they say to walk, though I never did any more than usual. It takes about a week or so. I have been on and off sick since surgery, a lot in my chest too. I'm not sure, but definitely believe it has to do with the anesthesia plus our immune systems are weakened from the surgery.

Yeah I don't care so much who knows now. I don't go shout it to the world or anything but not ashamed to admit it. There are a few people I know that I don't tell, but that's because I don't like them knowing any of my personal business, not just this.

oh hmmmmm.....yet another bit of mis-information I received at the seminar. I'll just start referring to that now as the sales conference.

Yum! Lot of great ideas here. Can't wait to try them

Wow, that's scary to know then that doctors will actually perform the bypass and sleeve on so many people who don't "need" it. By need, I mean, those whose immediate health is not in real danger due to their weight. I'm just never ceased to be amazed at the medical profession......

If you google "liver shrinking diet" you will see the foods allowed, mainly protein. But I think also the purpose is to clear the digestive system so all is quiet during surgery. So if you are eating solid food your digestive system would still be active....

I am definitely trying that next!

Get a head of cabbage, slice it anyway you want, but I sliced it skinny trying to mock "spaghetti" noodles...cook til soft. Put spaghetti sauce over it, add ground turkey and seasoning if desired, or however you make your sauce. It tastes awesome and very low cal! I won't say it tastes exactly like pasta spaghetti, but it's a darn good low cal meal and quick to make.

Ditto that! Then we can all meet in Vegas to celebrate

I know! Makes me want to try those cauliflower mashed potatoes now!

Well, unless you're my husband that is. But there's no way I'll ever get him to substitute crappy foods for healthy vegetable stuff! Okay, honestly if you take a bite of cabbage spaghetti then take a bite of real spaghetti, you are probably going to notice the difference. But, let me tell you, cabbage spaghetti was GOOD! I made it with ground turkey, spaghetti sauce, spices and cabbage. Very very tasty and filling. It has got to be tons less calories.......

I can't see myself only eating 6 bites of food...but we'll see I guess! I have no fill so far, but one thing I've noticed is I'm eating a lot of smaller meals throughout the day. Up to 6 at times which technically is proper if you figure 3 meals and 3 Snacks. Before I used to eat a big lunch and dinner, and snacks later in the day. I'm not really losing weight, but not gaining either. So that's a start I guess!

The hospital staff were super nice. BUT I'm a fainter...and they took blood for a pregnancy test, then gave me a shot in the tummy (forget why) and gave me the IV all within a few minutes of each other....I was like "uhhh, I'm going down.....". ! The sensation of nearly fainting is very unpleasant. That was the worst part of surgery day for me. That night I had to pee constantly due to the IV, and I was getting sick of no sleep as a result!!! Oh, and the Ice-chip dinner they give you is the bomb! NOT!

I like how you put that "doesn't live up to the expectations of many people". I think that may have put the nail on the head. I understand the business need to not turn off potential business...ie doctors not telling the whole truth with the cons of the procedure, but still I wish I got more honest facts ahead of time. THANK GOD for this forum as I am learning many realistic things and how I will have to be more in control of things to be successful!

So, I lost about 16 pounds with the pre-op diet and the 1st week post op diet. I know I stopped losing weight when I started with mushies, I could just tell. I now believe I'm in the middle of "bandsters hell" when I can eat almost anything and am quite able to overeat. I haven't even weighed myself in a week or two because I fear the results. Well today, I thought....I'm just gonna get on the scale and see what the damage is and figure out what I have to do to make sure I don't sabotage myself before I start getting fills. To my surprise, the scale was teetering between the same weight and a 1/2 pound less!!! I am shocked! This is good news because this tells me I AM capable of losing weight. Some adjustments with the band and my eating habits and I believe I should have no reason to fail at this! Happy about this!

I used to love to go out to lunch or to meet at BreadCo or Starbucks for latte's. So, I still do that but found I am eating a ton less....I've also read a book last weekend which I haven't done in ages...

LMBO! Don't hold anything back now....

Good job!!!! Makes some of the pain worth it huh.....

Wow that's another thing I never heard of.......does this come on when one's band is filled to the point it hits this nerve?

Yes, for me it was the doctor's office. All over their website are before/after pictures of success stories, and someone who's lost a ton of weight comes to the seminar and tells you all the good things, but not the bad. The doctor specifically said "the band makes it so you can eat about 6 bites of food and then feel full, and you will stay full for 3,4 and some people up to 5 hours". Then the doctor asked me how long I'd been looking into it, I said a few months. He didn't then test my knowledge or say anything like "the band won't work if you don't diet" just "you're a candidate" and "the average weight loss is 40-50% but some do better"..blah blah blah. He is highly recommended and the best in the city so I didn't have reason to doubt. The psyche consult person did say it's a "tool" but I took that as they are covering their a$$es, who wouldn't in today's day and age right? I mean all I was exposed to were awesome results, other than some friends who told me about someone they knew who threw up all the time, but I understood that to mean if you ate too much it would come right back up.