Meredith2424

ddgal~ I'm in. It looks like we are in almost the exact same boat!!! I started at 278 and am down hovering in the 175-180 range right now. I was banded in June of 09 and am ready to get this last thirty or so off! I am recommitted and have been tracking my food, exercise, and Water at www.livestrong.com using their daily plate feature. When I was really losing weight in the beginning stages, I found that this tool helped me immensely! Do you like to cook? I've been working on some recipes to make this journey easier as well. I found a website that my dietitian recommended to count the calories in each recipe www.caloriecount.about.com Just a few suggestions! Thanks for starting this thread! Good luck to everyone!

Ladies~ I was banded on June 26th and I am in the same boat as all of you. No restriction what-so-ever! I mean NONE! I'm doing mushies. I'm not even going to try to eat real food bc I will probably go berserk! I've been counting my calories though. I stick around 800. Today I had 910. I just couldn't get full for some reason. Anyhow, I couldn't sleep because I'm kinda nervous about all of this now. I cannot wait for some restriction! -Meredith

I have this same pain also!!! On the left, near my port, it's normal my surgeon said. However, just recently, it started on the right side. I see my dr on mon.

I just got banded on June 26th. I had to do the liquid diet for 2 weeks. It is true, it gets better after 3 days, but now I also have to do the diet for 3 weeks after now so that my band can heal. May I suggest this for you? Breakfast: Boost High Protein Lunch: Boost High Protein Snack: Light Yogurt Dinner: Boost High Protein Light Yogurt Snack: Boost High Protein This is from my dietitian at my surgeons office. A lot of the hunger that I experienced was "head hunger". You will for sure know the diff once you are banded. Also if you want something else to eat, I was allowed two 1/2c. servings of sugar free Jello and two 1c. servings of low sodium broth per day. Hang in there and good lucK! ~Meredith

Good points everyone! I agree with all of you in that the Doctor worded the post improperly. Anyhow, most of the time, like tonight, if I eat a salad, I get grilled chicken on top of it, And, add cucumbers, tomatoes, and carrots with a vinegar, lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil dressing! This should be a lesson to all of us that we need to do our own research on what works best for everyones individual bands.

Hi, I see that these posts are from a few years ago. What was your experience with BCBS MESSA? I have just begun my process and am nervous about providing 6 mos. documentation.

Thank you so much everyone! I hope that with all of my insurance stuff I will be able to be banded by the end of May or early June! I am so excited to become the new me!

Hello! I am also new to this site, and to this process. I am meeting with doctors and will soon set my surgery date. Also, I am from the Detrot area as well (scs), and I am going to be having my surgery at St. John Hospital Detroit on Moross. Dr. Hawasli will be doing it for me. Is there anything that I should know about before setting up my surgery? Meredith

Hello everyone, I have just begun my journey to a healthier me! I went to a seminar with the surgeon that I am going to have do my surgery and made an appointment with him to have a consult and set my surgery date. I thought that it would be helpful for me to begin my journey here with others that have experienced the same things that I have and am about to experience. I am just looking for some guidance and support from others. I want to learn what to expect and the basics of what I need to know to be successful in this endeavor. Thanks everyone! I am looking forward to conversing with all of you. -Meredith