Electrawoman

That is the million-dollar question, isn't it? If it's truly boredom, then try to distract yourself with things that aren't boring. However, most food issues go deeper than that. I am still waiting on the answer to your question and the closest I have gotten is that you have to figure out why you really overeat and make peace with whatever that reason is.

You look great! COngrats!

I wouldn't be satisfied with waiting until December 28. Your doctor needs to at least examine you. If he refuses, go to the ER. This is not something to mess around with, especially because it is making you nauseous.

I believe that when something is meant to be, it will be easy and everything will fall into place. You go, girl!

That is sooooo amazing. I could actually feel your excitement from here. Next step...belts!!!!!

You can do it!

That's awesome! It's good to know that a quick recovery is possible. Now, you have made me hungry for seafood!

I think this is yet another case of the Food Monster fighting against you. Mine keeps telling me that if I am going to go through all this trouble anyway and strictly dieting, why CANT I just keep going on like this and forget about the band? The answer for me is...because I can't. I have tried. I keep on for awhile and then I quit. So, now I am placing those Food Monster thoughts in the adversary category of my brain and liken them to the alcoholic who hears "oh, one more drink can't hurt you. You've been sober for 6 months. You have a handle on your drinking and you are not an alcoholic like the others. You're cured so now you can drink socially." No I can't.

I have not tried the Isopure but if it's that yucky, I don't want to! I am curious about the protein shots. Anyone tried those?

Thumbs up! I call mine the Food Monster. I told him (yes, it is a HIM) that he could have free reign over my diet for two last days and then it was over.

Ok I am sorry for laughing at your pain but NO HE DIIIIINT write his room number with a sharpie. I am so glad you bailed. Ha Ha!

OMG thanks you guys!

I started my pre-op diet today after two days of last-mealitis and binging. I tried to fit in all of my favorite foods just in case I never get to eat them again. Let's see... I went to two fast food places, Taco Cabana and Jack in the Box. I don't know why I chose Jack in the Box. I never eat there! But I loaded up on tacos, chicken sandwiches, flauta, fajita taco, cake, eggrolls and more. Then last night, I hit the bakery at Market Street for a lemon torte and a fruit tart. I bought an eclair and a napolean but never got around to eating them. I also bought a shitload of diet food, fearing that I would be deprived if I didn't have everything I could possibly want at my fingertips. Today I am have a protein shake for breakfast. The new diet is low-fat, low-carb, and vegetarian. So basically, I can eat protein supplements, veggies, and fruit with an occassional cracker. YUUUUUUMMMMY! [she says with intense sarcasm] I think my biggest problem right now is the overwhelming fear that this, like many other things I have tried to lose weight, will not work. My brain is scrambling with the question, "What if I change my body and put myself through all of this and remain fat?" It happens. And it would be just my luck that it would happen to me. That is very negative thinking but I am afraid, nonetheless. I am also cranky and stressed out about losing my food "friends". I know that in a couple of months, I can still enjoy them, just in smaller portions but I am not sure I trust myself to have a bite or two of something I love (like a bagel) or that my body won't reject something that I love (like a bagel). Speaking of Bagels, I went to Einstein Brothers Bagels twice this week and loaded up on lox, asiago bagels, pumpkin bagel and bagel dogs. Now, back to the protein shake. I am using Herbalife Formula 1 shakes. They are really good and as much as I hate to admit it, really satisfy my hunger. They are not too sweet and you can use the powder in other recipes. I get mine from Ajay's Fitness (home of the 4-minute workout...no kidding. It's amazing). Nutrition products are available for shipping anywhere. I am also logging my food intake at Myfitnesspal.com. It's free and has a good library of foods to add to your food journal.

I started my pre-op diet today after two days of last-mealitis and binging. I tried to fit in all of my favorite foods just in case I never get to eat them again. Let's see... I went to two fast food places, Taco Cabana and Jack in the Box. I don't know why I chose Jack in the Box. I never eat there! But I loaded up on tacos, chicken sandwiches, flauta, fajita taco, cake, eggrolls and more. Then last night, I hit the bakery at Market Street for a lemon torte and a fruit tart. I bought an eclair and a napolean but never got around to eating them. I also bought a shitload of diet food, fearing that I would be deprived if I didn't have everything I could possibly want at my fingertips. Today I am have a protein shake for breakfast. The new diet is low-fat, low-carb, and vegetarian. So basically, I can eat protein supplements, veggies, and fruit with an occassional cracker. YUUUUUUMMMMY! [she says with intense sarcasm] I think my biggest problem right now is the overwhelming fear that this, like many other things I have tried to lose weight, will not work. My brain is scrambling with the question, "What if I change my body and put myself through all of this and remain fat?" It happens. And it would be just my luck that it would happen to me. That is very negative thinking but I am afraid, nonetheless. I am also cranky and stressed out about losing my food "friends". I know that in a couple of months, I can still enjoy them, just in smaller portions but I am not sure I trust myself to have a bite or two of something I love (like a bagel) or that my body won't reject something that I love (like a bagel). Speaking of Bagels, I went to Einstein Brothers Bagels twice this week and loaded up on lox, asiago bagels, pumpkin bagel and bagel dogs. Now, back to the protein shake. I am using Herbalife Formula 1 shakes. They are really good and as much as I hate to admit it, really satisfy my hunger. They are not too sweet and you can use the powder in other recipes. I get mine from Ajay's Fitness (home of the 4-minute workout...no kidding. It's amazing). Nutrition products are available for shipping anywhere. I am also logging my food intake at Myfitnesspal.com. It's free and has a good library of foods to add to your food journal.

Amaris, if you have Tricare standard, you don't have to get a referral from your PCP. That's the beauty of Standard...no referrals! Anyway, I had all my pretesting today---upper gi was WEIRD. I got the final total of costs. My surgeon gets 392, which includes a 25-dollar book and a 150.00 deductible for the year that you might not need. My actual coinsurance cost is about 165.00. The hospital only costs a 25-dollar copay after you have met your deductible. My preop diet starts tomorrow---low fat, low carb, high Protein.

No hoops. The hardest part was finding a psychologist to do my psych eval. It has to be a PhD and it has to include the administration of the MMPI 2. Keep that in mind when you are looking for providers. (Tricare kept giving me lists of Psychiatrists and they don't do psych testing.) I went to a seminar on the 4th of November, got approval two days ago and all I had to do was see a nutritionist once to learn the way I will be eating after band. I also had to get that psych eval. I have no real comorbidities but was 200% over ideal. Either way, I hear that Tricare is not real picky. They are supportive of WLS. My surgery is scheduled for November 30th. I will pay my coinsurance to doctor (total 352.00). I am still waiting to find out what I will have to pay for the hospital and anesthesiologist. It will be about 15% of their total fees. Knowing that most surgeries end up costing around 10K when all is said and done, I am planning to set aside 1K for unexpected charges. Hopefully, it won't even be half that.

I didn't take anything with me to my first visit though you will need a list of meds, surgeries, and illnesses if you can't remember them all. Tricare did not require med-sup diet for me. I saw the doctor for the first time on November 4. I was notified of the approval today (12 days later). All I had to do was meet with a dietician who explained what I was in for and have a psych eval with MMPI2 (scheduled for tomorrow). My surgery is scheduled for November 30 with two preop/pretest appointments prior to that. Oh, and a low-fat vegetarian diet prior to surgery starting today. (They are giving me a break and letting me start that when I receive the diet in the mail, though--that means I get to have my farewell to food AYCE lobster meal tomorrow).

Hooray! And, I finally found a PhD to do the psych eval they require. Will be doing that tomorrow. Waiting for surgeon's office to call back for scheduling.

Your Doctor works for you. DOn't let him intimidate you into hurting your body. Whether he is a prick or not, get back in there and make sure everything is okay.

See another surgeon!

I don't have my band yet but it sounds like you need a fill. Also, don't be so hard on yourself! You've lost an average of a pound per week. Thats really good! I bet you will do even better when you're tightened up a bit. Meanwhile, have you ever had cottage cheese with tomatoes for breakfast? I also like tomatoes with low fat sharp cheddar or parmesan melted on top in a toaster oven (on a whole wheat english muffin is good if you can tolerate breads). Here are some other ideas: Peanut Butter and banana (by itself, in a Protein shake, or with crackers/triskits/wasa toast...) soy sausage (Morningstar Farms breakfast patties are the best) with fruit, yogurt, or egg (microwave the sausage and keep hard boiled eggs handy) veggie egg-white scramble (microwave) oatmeal made with apple juice and fruit! It makes a huge difference in the taste. I hate oatmeal but love it this way. (microwave) Plain greek yogurt with fruit, granola, or honey Hope these food ideas help!

I might have a hard time with the breads. Pasta and breads are some of my favorite foods and I have always had a hard time getting in all the Protein I need. Somebody explained the breads to me like this: if you want to make home-made play-doh or home-made glue, you start with flour and add Water. If you want to make bread, you start with flour and add water. I am trying to tell myself now that bread=glue in my body. I am also hoping that, like a lot of bandsters, I will lose these carb cravings. [crosses fingers]

Nancy, I see that you are losing now. WHat have you done after band removal to lose weight?

"We hate it when our friends become successful" It's just plain old jealousy and fear. Your friends are afraid you won't like them anymore if you switch sides and move over to the skinny camp. There is usually competition between even the best of friends. (Have you heard the term "Frenemies"?) Long before I was ready for a band, my friend had GB. I had always been the skinnier and prettier of the two of us and I was threatened by her weight loss. I didn't say anything to her but my most basic urge was to discourage her so we could remain on the same level. My heart wanted to scream, "Noooo don't do this! What will it mean for ME?" I tried to be supportive but instead asked her all the negative questions like "What are you going to do about all the loose skin?" and "Do you have a therapist to help you with emotional eating--you have to have one or it won't work" or "What if you turn out like our other two friends and stretch it all out again?!" I would like to say that I was thinking of her safety but I was subconsciously trying to discourage her. I don't know about you but my fat friends and I spend a lot of time hating on skinny folks. It makes us feel better about ourselves. You are becoming one of THEM and it scares your friends. If you remember that, you can send love and good energy to calm their fears instead of taking it personally.

I have had the worst time finding someone to do my psych eval. TriCare requires that the provider have PhD or MD credentials and gives the MMPI as part of the evaluation. The doctor my surgeon recommended does not take TriCare. My guy is not a PhD. TriCare provided a list of Psychiatrists instead of Psychologists and they don't do neuropsych testing. So, if you are in the Dallas/FW area (or quite frankly, anyplace in Texas for that matter) can you share the name of your TriCare Psychologist? BTW, I have already used their online search but it's not much help because it doesn't list who does testing and who does not. Thanks!