Woodys

I'm all for it.....will be starting solids in 1-1/2 weeks so this will help me keep control and not get too eager. At 184 right now, would love to be at 173 by that date. Good luck everyone! Carol

Mr. Yo.....you have your whole life ahead of you with the band....only good can come from that....so, what's a short few weeks on a special diet. I had to go on a yogurt and cottage cheese fast for two weeks pre-op. It was difficult, but you will be surprised how fast those few weeks go by. Isn't every thing you want / expect from having the band worth it? Suck it up and stick with it! Carol

Buffie: I know its boring and just like all of us you will get impatient. But stick with what the Dr. set out for you...they have their reasons for the way they designed the post op treatment. Simple science says that if you expend more energy than your body requires i.e...cutting your calorie intake and exercising, then you will lose weight. If the scale isn't moving much right now, it will eventually. In relation to your entire life ahead of you...the next few weeks should be regarded as insignificant...look at the big picture instead of just a few "post-op" diet weeks. I had a rough time too because it was soup, soup, soup......but I thought about the entire journey I was embarking on.....and I was rellishing in anything I was losing because at least the scale was moving in the right direction. Good Luck Carol

Definately carbs for me too. I only ate 2 meals a day but they were very big ones. One of my favourites was to get a family size of fries from the local fish and chips store....pile all kinds of goo on top....gravy, ketchup, etc.....then I'd eat the entire thing...all in one sitting. Now, I can't even imagine doing that again.....I can't even believe that I did this, and on a regular basis too. Carol

Hi Buffie: Try to eat food you make yourself. The first 2 weeks I was eating just my husbands Soups and fresh squeezed juices. I was losing an average of .8 pound a day. Then, the third week I started to get a bit bored and was buying commercial soups and drinking clamato. It was all very salty. The quantity I was consuming was no different. I ended up gaining 1 lb and then the scale stayed there for 3 days until I figured it out....once I went back on my husband's home made soups I started dropping again. I would be careful of high sodium foods....it sure has a negative effect on me. Carol

I didn't keep track, I was just watching it with the smoothies because they can be approx 200 each and I would have them early in the day, I didn't want to overdo it in case I wanted to have a creamed soup for dinner. I was told by Kathy at TLBC that we could have as much as we wanted on any of the liquid diets as long as we took 1/4 cup at a time and took it slow, and we could keep doing this until we were satisfied. Carol

I suppose you can, I was trying to keep the calories down. Just make sure it well blended and thined out a bit with the ice. Carol

Hi Buffie: I made smoothies.....they taste just like liquid cheesecake. 1/2 cup low fat plain yogurt 1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese 1 cup ice 1 - 2 packages of sweetner Flavourings: 2 tbs of unsweetened cocoa power - or - 1 teaspoon (or to taste) real vanilla -or- 2 tbs of sugar free jam or whatever you like Blend in a blender until very smooth They are yummy. Carol

I did one week clear fluids, 2 weeks full fluids, 2 weeks pureed...then onto solids. I'm on my first week or pureed. I didn't find it too bad, got tired of Soup but for those who have more of an imagination, I'm sure they did better. It is important that you follow what your Dr. instructs.....do not judge what you should be doing by what everyone else says....there is a reason for what you Dr. instructs and its best if you follow it. Carol

Atta boy Saul!!!!!!!!!!!!!:clap2: Carol

I'm just wondering how Saul's wife is going to feel when she finds out that she no longer appeals to him because she isn't 90 lbs any longer, and that his eye is wandering to other females.......I bet she'd feel like "she's not good enough anymore"....that's how most women feel when their men behave like this. What a pity! Carol

I don't think it was deliberate, dessert usually follows dinner. Would any other choice be less tempting?....and how is she to know what that choice would be? My husband is a professional chef and he cooks for us just like he cooks for our customers. When I was banded I asked him to please not change his habits because I will have to get use to, why should he suffer anyway, I have the band, not him. It is helping me tremendously, I'm learning that I can do what I need to do and that I'm very strong when it comes to resisting temptation.....shows me that I'll make it! I'm afraid that this is something you will have to adjust to. I think it is unfair to expect that every situation will revolve around you having the band. The band is just a tool, the entire venture includes a lifestyle change. You can do it, just like me. Good Luck. Carol

Congrats!!!!!!! btw.....what does NSV mean? Carol

In that case Saul, I would say that your marriage has always been in trouble....if you truly loved your wife, it would not mean a hill of Beans except simple flattery that some women may be exchanging looks with you. And so what if she isn't the petite little ballerina that you married...big f***** deal, are you the same man she married? All I can say is......Shame on you! Carol

Why is your eye wandering Saul.....she was good enough for you before you were banded. She stuck with you when you grew bigger. Carol

Yoda: how did it go today? Carol

If he is stupid and he's an "ex", why do you allow him to do that to you? He is already and ex! Don't worry about your picture....my husband is a 52 year hippie with long black hair and facial hair....his picture came out looking like a terrorist! Carol

Terisita: what is your recipe for cabbage soup. Carol

Dr. C: I had the Johnson & Johnson Swedish Band installed on June 8th...most banders I have talked to have the mid-band. Would there be any particular reason my Dr. would have chose the J & J band for me? Carol

Not to worry....I never had anything before going to the OR, they walked me in, I got up on the OR table and in less than 5 minutes I was out. They worked so fast that I didn't have time to think about what was going on. I had 3 of them working on me at the same time....one on the arm, one with a mask, and one putting massage pads on my legs. Next thing I remember was the Recovery nurse waking me up, she comes several times just to make sure you are okay, then finally she tries to get you to your feet, I made it first try. You'll be fine. Carol

I'm 2-1/2 weeks post-op and still have a hard time determining whether I'm full, gassy, or dreaming....LOL. We will learn to recognize these feelings soon enough. The body is still in the healing stages so we will be feeling all sorts for things. As for the depression......I left that behind the day before I had surgery. I am so elated about having this surgery that nothing or nobody can bring me down.....There is no time for depression now, that stage of my life is over....I spent enough of my life being depressed over being overweight....no more! I'm so happy I could spit! No way will I spend precious time grieving the very thing that put me in a position to have to have surgery in the first place. I say....good bye and good riddens to all that crap in my past! Carol

I already have a fabulous skinny wardrobe that is still in style, I did this just 2 years ago but I can't keep it off. I want to have a dirty weekend with hubby somewhere I've never been before....can't wait til I'm not feeling self conscious with my own husband. Carol

I'm 5' even......my Dad always said I should sue the City for building the sidewalks too close...LOL, I would like to be 125. Carol

Yoda....do you know what the difference is between the Mid-band and the Johnson & Johnson Swedish band is. It seems that most have the Mid-band but I was given the J & J. Also, my records don't indicate the J&J comes in different sizes. I haven't had a fill yet so still very inexperienced. Does the procedure hurt? Does the actual expansion of the band hurt? Also, is there a minimum amount of wait between fills? I sound like a big baby, Huh? Well, I'm not that sensitive to pain, just want to know what to expect. Good luck with your 3rd fill. Carol

I was told the wait for your first fill is a minimum of 5 weeks post-op. Carol