finallyncontrol

Yes I should have added to my statement as emetyb01 said..if you flush your protein then you will be hungry sooner..so you need to keep your protein in you as long as possibly can.

Moderation is the key to success! I never once looked at this as a diet. This is a lifestyle change. I eat everyday foods but very small amounts. I never say that I will "never eat" that again because I will more than likely eat it again. With that being said there are some foods that I have put on a list that I can't eat but it is very small list (5 things) and in no way do I feel deprived. Considering I have lost 105 lbs in 7 1/2 months I would do this again in a heart beat!! I wish you the very best!! Good luck on your journey!!

What you actually do is "wash" down the protein you just ate is basically is the simpliest way to put it. Once you start getting fills (or restriction) you will not be able to (or should not be able to). I actually get stuck if I have anything (and I many anything) to drink while I eat. A couple of ideas that might help is to make sure you do not make yourself anything to drink so there isn't any tempation or to make yourself a glass of ice and set it on the counter and when it has melted then you will have an ice cold glass of water. Yes, old habits are hard to break but an old saying is that it only takes 21 days to make a new habit..so do it for 21 days and then it will be old news!! I know you can do it!!! Take care!!

I see my surgeon every month. He is the one who does my fills. The nurse only does my blood pressure and so forth. He does all of the rest..how am I doing, what am I eating. Actually the entire office staff (from the dr down) and I have became friends since I have now known them for over 3 years. He has done a few other surgeries on me as well as I fought the insurance company for 2 years.

I personally do not use it but of heard of others on here posting it in there recipes!

You will do wonderful tomorrow! I will include you in my prayers tonight and tomorrow! The best thing I can tell you is as soon as you possibly can..get up and walk! That will help you relieve that gas. As soon as you can do that the better you will feel!! Take good care and you will do great!!

I know what you mean about putting your family into to day..was I doing the right thing or not. I am so so happy I went with my heart!! I am also so happy to hear your attitude. You will succeed. The right attitude is a huge portion. It keeps you focused and that is so important!!

Fantastic!!! I am doing the same thing!! I have been toting around these clothes that I haven't worn in years..now I go on "shopping sprees". They are awesome!! and of course the fond memories that go along with them are great as well. They are soooo motivating!! Keep up the great work!!!

You really look great!!! You are doing a wonderful job and are a true inspiration to many of us out there!!!

Missed you!! I will be thinking of you on Sept 21st..just put you on my prayer log for that date!!! As loseit said..you have to be right with your decision and only you! Take good care of yourself as I know you will and if you ever need me personally you can reach me at dsmith16@tampabay.rr.com

I wish you the very best!!! These nurses are wild..mine told me how to eat around the band. They had a different surgeon than mine!! I was flipping out as to what they were doing. I kept thinking I would never do what they were doing and never did!! I was banded on 11/23/9 and have lost 105 lbs...in 7 1/2 months...don't need to do the drastic gastric in order to lose it fast..

I wish you the very best on your journey as well as speedy recovery! The best advice I can give you is to walk as soon as you can after surgery..it will help with the gas!! Take care!!

Absolutely fantastic!! Don't rush any fills! If you feel that you are doing great, then don't get one. You can always call the office and schedule one if you feel that you are needing one!

Hey, I wake up with a smile on my face everyday..why not blog it everytime you blog!! Tell the world, tell strangers, tell the dog..tell anyone..Isn't it wonderful to be so happy than what we were before?

Take care!

I wish you the very best!! Sorry to hear about the family problems in the past! What I liked to hear is your words..."I know I can do this" with that being said I think you have the right mindset this time!! Stay positive and keep your mind focused and anything can happen. Keep blogging..that will help you stay focused!! Take care!

Enchantress I feel for you!! You are in Bandster Hell at its fullest!! Let me show a positive light!! I also have a 3 year old son..I know how that goes as well!!! he is a mamma's boy too! I have peace and quiet now that he is asleep..ahh you can hear it too? LOL

Yes you are starting to get hungry now..you do not have any restriction!! The next couple of weeks are going to be extremely hard. Until you go in for your first fill do your very best to concentrate on this is your "healing time". Your band is trying to adjust to being inside your body as well as you are trying to adjust to being banded. Your emotions are running wild. You may or may not be losing weight right now...do not worry about that..concentrate on healing right now!! After you get your first fill then you focus on losing weight!! Make sure you are getting enough liquids in!

I was banded 11/23/9 (Thanksgiving of this past year) and I have lost 105 lbs. I have 21 lbs to go. I feel wonderful. This is the best decision I have ever made. I walk and work out in my pool every day (that is if it doesn't rain). You need to remain positive and believe in yourself and your band. You can do this! Keep your chin up and then anything can happen that you set your mind to!! You can always email me at dsmith16@tampabay.rr.com I am usually online!! I wish you the very best on your journey!! Take care and hang in there! Trust me it will get better!!!!

Wow it sounds like you are doing really well! 4 weeks off is really fantastic. I haven't heard of anyone being off that amount of time so that is really good too. You have really been about to take advantage of allowing your body to heal, getting into the groove of adjusting to band life and dealing with all this without the stress of working...excellent!!! You go girl!! Down 36 lbs is very good!!! When you do go back to work they will all be very shocked!! That will be a fun day!! Keep up the awesome work!! Take care!

I ditto Yvette's response!! Congrats! and you should be on liquid pain meds and the bleeding does worry me...

Take really good care of your self! I wish you the very very best! You will be great!!

I was wondering what happened to you. To me if there has to be trust in one another. I was married once to a person who I thought that really loved me..he controlled every aspect of my life..who my friends were (didn't have any but his), how long it took to go to the grocery, wasn't allowed to attend study groups for school projects, showed up at work all the time to bring me flowers, lunch, snacks or whatever (really just to make sure I was there and doing what I was suppose to). It took me many years to realize this was not love that is was abuse. I am now married to the man of my dreams. He is my soul mate. We have so much trust between us. There is nothing I can't do and nor do I have to ask for permission to do anything. He is well aware of this site, my Facebook site..he knows that I chat with males that I worked with or went to school with or are losing weight with but he also knows that I would NEVER do anything that would put my marriage in jeopardy or even come close to it. I am very happily married and that is very important and I take my vows very seriously. I also love to talk to people as well as my husband does. This is very long I know Jmunks but I think you need to really step back and see where you two are in life. I only want the best for you! Take care.

I think the hardest part when I was on the way up was when I quit wearing skirts and tried to make pantsuits look good (which they can but they weren't me). Now as you said the first time I crossed my legs..oh did I look up and say Oh thank you God!! and now it is skorts galore!! These are called NSV (non scale victories) so keep them coming!!!

crsti I wish you the best!! I would like to hear how your meeting went! I do go to a monthly meeting as well! I do get quite a bit out my meetings. We exchange recipes, ideas, hope and have developed friendships. Someone brings in a dish to share that has been approved by the nutritionist. We gather ideas for what should be talked about for the next meeting..IE: what are good lunch items when you don't have a frig at work.

I hope it all goes well for you!!

Yes, Welcome newbie!!! The best advice I could give you is to follow your doctors orders as best you can for the pre-op to ensure the safest surgery possible. The more you can shrink your liver the easier it is for the surgeon to perform the surgery and then it will be easier on you for recovery. As soon as you enter recovery..start walking as soon as possible to get the gas out of you. Do not rush the healing process. You need to take the time to heal this will help you in the long run and help you have a very successful journey. Bandster Hell is just that and that is the first 4-6 weeks after surgery. Your body is healing and adjusting to having the band in you. You can be very emotional or be on an emotional roller coaster..just depends. Do not worry about losing weight during this time....this is time to focus on healing. You will not have restriction during this time, you do not worry about losing weight until after your first fill (about 6 weeks after surgery). You are too swollen and need to heal first. As you can tell I have mentioned the word heal numerous times..it is that important to heal first and then focus on "how much am I losing". I hope this helps! You have already made the most important decision and that was to get banded!! I wish you the very best on your journey. This site is fantastic and very supportive!! Take care!!

You can always contact me at dsmith16@tampabay.rr.com It must be miserable not to be able to talk to your mom about what is going on. I only told 3 people about my band..my mom, my dad and my husband...and yes they were very tired of hearing nothing about the band before it happened and then the first few months. You will find so much support here and of course you can blog all you want to share (or vent). We all will always be here!! Hopefully your mom will come around once she sees how successful you are and how healthy you are becoming! I wish you the very best and please do not hesitate to send me an email..I am usually online and I LOVE to talk about being banded. Take care!!

I use pineapple juice and it will make it either come up or go down instantly (for me). I get the small cans of it. All it takes is a couple of sips and bam I am all cleared up. It fits in my purse in case I am going somewhere and I am not sure what I might be eating. Don't you just love the early days and all this learning..LOL it does get better!! Take care!

I have two dogs and a 3 yr old son..I call them "my posse" they go everywhere I go and I mean everywhere. I have plenty of conversations with them..sometimes I might want to pay $100 to talk to someone else..LOL. Every since I was banded I have had low blood pressure so you might find it harder than you think to get it up while working out. When I had a stress test done the only reason they had to stop the test was I was about to fall off of the treadmill..heart beat was fine, not out of breath, blood pressure 117/80 still not elevated but the speed and elevation of the treadmill was outrageous. They kept asking how much I work out. I said I walk and work out in the pool everyday it doesn't rain. But for some odd reason I am having abnormal EKG readings all the sudden?? Not that I am not taking it serious..it is something else for me to figure out. Take care and have fun working out! Keep up all the awesome work you are doing.

I know in my daily prayers I say one for all of my fellow bandsters and all of those considering to become one!! I basically say your last paragraph word for word. I truly feel it and mean it!! God Bless you!!

WOW now that is an eye opener! I am just too shocked to say much more than that!! WOW!!!

crsti to hopefully make you laugh...my band hates tortilla chips..when it is that TOM and I am really desperate and my head takes control...I have been known to lick the stupid things just to get the flavor and salt. I know I can't eat them so I have gotten past that finally (it took a couple PBing episodes to convince my brain) but then I took up the licking now if I could learn how to quit buying them...hmmm I tell myself the salsa is for the quesadillias but then I will grab a bag a chips sometime before the salsa is gone...As Sandradee said this is a lifestyle change and Yvette said you would have ate more without the band and J_bandranger summed up you don't hit your sweet spot until your 3rd fill or so. So hang in there! You are doing fine. Don't keep beating yourself up. Tomorrow is another day. Take care!