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My Last Fat New Years Eve 2010 The holidays have come and gone and it's time to make some serious resolutions and make sure that I stick to it, stay focused and make 2011 the most fabulous year yet! I ended up going to a costume party on NYE in downtown Los Angeles. It was so much fun putting on the afro puffs and sparkly headband, glitter sprinkled everywhere but I made sure to cover up my arms, tummy and butt. But, not next year. I loved all the crazy costumes that the people were wearing. There were lots of frilly tutus and bathing suit tops. Brightly colored hair and makeup and while I may never actually get to the bathing suit at a night club stage. I will feel more comfortable shining a little more brightly. RESOLUTIONS 2011 Lose 52 pounds Learn Spanish Commit to My Yoga Practice Read a Book a Month Walk 5 Miles a Day Create an Amazing Online Cookbook Blog Every Day Teach My Daughter to Be More Independent Have a Positive Attitude Open Up and Online Shop Save $$ Art I'm going to Use the S.M.A.R.T. Goal planning system to figure out how to achieve these goals which will give me a clear path to follow to get where I want to go. Tomorrow I have my first appointment at the Lindora Clinic to help me jumpstart my weight loss effort. Tuesday I have first checkup with Dr. Liu and maybe I'll get my first fill. My goal is to lose 2.5 pounds per week so I should be down 15 pounds by Valentines Day. *Fingers Crossed*

The Holidays are over and that's not why I'm happy. I'm happy because I had great times with my great families. I never felt deprived of anything during this food filled time of year. I was able to enjoy a sweet here and there and some savory delights along with my friends. My birthday came and went and again the food became the center of the celebration. What makes me so happy is that the scale only jumped a tad and for the first time in many years I know that I will be able to lose the pound that I gained and continue to lose in the coming year.

Gas X doesn't really work since the gas isn't in your stomach it's all around your internal organs. The best thing I found was to take tylenol and put a heating pad on my shoulder while lying down and then walk and move a lot. It helps dissipate the Co2. It is miserable but it went away after day three.

I really like this author and his books. They come with a self-hypnosis CD. I have "I can Make You Thin" and just ordered "I Can Make You Confident" on amazon. Maybe give it a try http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1402769229/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=1278548962&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0952330830&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1Z5G6WN26S1JY0BPGF2T

what are they? I don't think I had those

OMG I'm cooking soooo much now that I've been banded. I'm having a blast. I'm still on soft foods for another two weeks, but I'm having so much fun creating recipes that my family will like and that I can adjust to my diet.

Im only two weeks out and it looks pretty good

So yesterday I started my venture that I've titled "Around the Whirled in 14 days". My goal is to find two weeks worth of foods that I can cook for my family and then convert to a puree/soft meal for myself. So last night we ventured to Ireland and made Corned Beef and Cabbage. I've put the recipe in my Cookbook that is linked to this page. Cooked for 8 hours while I was at work and the house smelled amazing when I got home I removed just enough ingredients to make myself the perfect portion and soft version of my family's dinner Voila! The "Irish Tower"

I'm with you all. Day 3. I made corned beef and cabbage last night. Here's the recipe Lap-band Irish Tower

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus is one of my favorites. I also make it with white Beans without the tahini and it's great. Lentils is a great idea and Tofu I add to everything to bump up the Protein grams. Lentils would be great tonight actually. To bad I'm stuck at work with no food on my first puree night.

So I am officially two weeks out from my December 6th surgery. I've managed to survive 16 days of liquid diet and I am down 12 pounds. I start on soft foods after I get clearance from my doctor tomorrow and I'm wondering if anyone has any recipes that the particularly loved. I'm trying to put together a cookbook that I can pass on to friends that are considering the surgery. I sorta created a self imposed challenge that I'm calling "Around the Whirled in 14 days" I'm going to try and create an ethnic or regional dish that falls into the soft food / pureed food category so if ya got any I'd love to try them. So far I have: Thai Land - Tom Kha Kai Soup Italian - Creamy Polenta with Eggplant Parmesan Mexican - Chile Relleno Casserole Ethiopian - Kik Alicah (Yellow Split Pea with Berbere) Irish - Colcannon with Corned Beef Argentina - pumpkin Stew Puree Persian - Fesenjan (Chicken Pomegranite Puree on Pureed brown rice) French - Potage Bonne Femme (Carrot, leek and potato soup) Oaxacan - Chiles en Nogada (Stuffed Peppers deconstructed in Walnut Cream cheese sauce drizzled with Chile Pomegranite reduction) Japanese - Sashimi Tower Louisiana - Etoufee I need more suggestions.

I am trying to put together a nice Blog that will serve as a resource guide for new patients. I would love to dedicate an entire section to Before and After success stories. If you wouldn't mind me posting your photo please let me know. All I need are the photos, First name and where the surgery was preformed (doctor) I'm just another person on this journey but I thought this would serve as inspiration to others. Here's a link to my Blog http://lowbmilapbandbeforeandafter.blogspot.com/ Thanks Shawnee

I was banded this past Monday and went back to work on Thursday. The first day I was really sleepy and only got up every few hours (as per my doctor) to walk around and have a sip of Water. Day two I had to deal with the phantom shoulder pain which my doctor refused to give me meds for (I get it now, it's nerve pressure so muscle relaxants and pain killers weren't going to help). Day three I walked five miles on my treadmill, drank plenty of Protein shakes and was sure that returning to work was going to be no problem. I was kinda wrong there. I am an artist and I sit all day and paint. The sitting is really bothering the port and causing pain in my upper back and shoulders. I have been sitting on the floor on my knees just to keep my body stretched out so I don't feel the pain at the port. It's totally bulging and the worst thing I have to deal with thus far.

brilliant analogy to alcoholics. I've never thought of it that way, but it's true.

I'm going to learn how to swallow fire, stilt walk and hulahoop, maybe not in that order. But those are my goals! I want to be able to do a forward bend with my chest to my thighs (stomach gets in the way right now) I want to climb one of those silk ropes that are hanging from the high bars in Venice Beach. I'm going to use a SUP board this summer in a bikini I'm going to go to vegas and wear a very risque evening dress! I can't wait!!!

I was a punk rock / new wave kinda chick too! A stage dive sounds like an amazing way to Celebrate the loss.

Good luck to you. I was banded on Monday and I am so excited to start this journey.

I had a BMI of 32 when i went in for a consulation. I actually drank a liter of water to put on a few pounds before the doctor weighed me, but it didn't matter anyways. I was a cash pay so they were more lenient with me. At 5' 4" and 185 I had gained and lost the same 60 pounds over and over again since 2003. I tried 30 different diets, half of which were expensive and supervised, but nothing was lasting. I didn't have any co-morbidities but I knew it was only a matter of time. My sister and mother were both morbidly obese and I was struggling. I paid out of pocket and have decided this is my "new car". I'm only a couple days out from the surgery but can all ready tell this is the best decision I have ever made.

I was banded this past Monday. My birthday is the 26th of this month so this was a combo Christmas/Birthday gift to myself. Now all I can think about is how great I'm going to feel this summer. This is the most exciting thing that I have ever done for myself.

I was banded on Monday. I slept most of that day but towards the end of the evening I had the sore shoulder which I guess is a phantom pain caused by pressure on the phrenic nerve. It's totally gone today. Yesterday (two days post op) I was able to walk 5 miles on a treadmill which helped relieve a lot of the gas pain. I have struggled with heartburn for the last two nights but I was told I am allowed to take protonix to stop this. I'm back at work today with only mild soreness at the incision sites. Good luck. The pain does subside, but you have to get up and move around.

I was banded this Monday the 6th and last night started having horrible heart burn. It was while I was sleeping and I hadn't had any shakes for hours so I'm not sure what is causing it. I don't seem to have the shoulder pain this morning which is wonderful, but the heartburn has taken it's place for irritation of the day. Anyone know if we are allowed to take protonix or other pills for GERD. I also had I hiatal hernia repair when the band was put in place.

I'm scheduled for tomorrow too! Good luck!

I went in for a consultation last Tuesday, November 30th and I'm scheduled for surgery tomorrow December 5th. Phew....it has been a crazy week trying to get all the evaluations and tests run. At least I didn't have a lot of time to rethink my decision.

I'm going to be banded tomorrow at Noon! I'm nervous and excited at the same time. I'm starting off at a lower BMI of 32 and my goal is to lose 60 pounds. I was going to wait until after the New Year to have it done, but when I went in for my consult last Tuesday, the doctor surprised me by saying he could do it the following Monday. So last week was a whirlwind of tests and evaluations. My birthday is the 26th of December so I'm looking at this as a birthday present and a rebirth of sorts.

Hi all. My name is Shawnee and I'm what is considered a low BMI candidate for the surgery. I'm 5'4" and 185 pounds. My doctor has agreed to do it and is actually submitting a study on Low BMI banding this month. Because my BMI is 32 my insurance company would not cover the surgery so I'm paying outta pocket and it's not cheap. I know that I probably wont see the dramatic and immediate results that some heavier people experience, but I want to make sure I optimize my loss and do it right. I'm hoping others can give me advice, tips, pitfalls that I should avoid, etc. I'm having the surgery this monday December 6th and noon in Beverly Hills. I'm excited and nervous at the same time