Yvette1026

Let me start by saying I am SOOOOOOOOOOO tired. SO SO SO tired...and I realized as I went to set my 2.19 down for my sugar free redbull....I can't DRINK IT... UGH Red bulls are how I make it through when I have too much too do and I need sleep....what's a girl to do??? Oh that's right i've had those 5 hour energy drinks before, they're not HORRIBLE and they don't fizz, I guess I could.. Eh wait there's isopure I'll just drink one of those, the protein should keep me up or something zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz *Note to self* Isopure grape frost is good, but it doesn't keep you awake. I need a nap, but alas I'll be going back to the store for that 5 hour energy drink... Zzzzzzzz

Let me start by saying I am SOOOOOOOOOOO tired. SO SO SO tired...and I realized as I went to set my 2.19 down for my sugar free redbull....I can't DRINK IT... UGH Red bulls are how I make it through when I have too much too do and I need sleep....what's a girl to do??? Oh that's right i've had those 5 hour energy drinks before, they're not HORRIBLE and they don't fizz, I guess I could.. Eh wait there's isopure I'll just drink one of those, the protein should keep me up or something zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz *Note to self* Isopure grape frost is good, but it doesn't keep you awake. I need a nap, but alas I'll be going back to the store for that 5 hour energy drink... Zzzzzzzz

I got this one.. Beaded waist crinkle dress | Lane Bryant and this one... Cowl neck sweater dress | Lane Bryant in black and... This one Icon Collection silk dress | Lane Bryant Two-fer dress from our Icon Collection | Lane Bryant Leopard print dress from our Icon Collection | Lane Bryant Last night... then today I went and go these:

I was at the chandler mall - they had it there. PV may have it, fiesta I try to avoid, even though I went there too last night lol.. I'm sure superstition probably has it too they carry the nicer lines, same with the one in santan village, all of which are a drive for you.. but I'm east valley so they're all close to me. Arrowhead may have it as well.

We hear it all the time... "I love my band", I'm going one further and saying "I love my life!" I've said this a lot prior to the band, but with it I find myself saying it much more often. That sense of confidence that comes with it, the great feeling of knowing that I'm doing everything I can to be successful and extend the life I love so much and of course, the changes my body is making that make me feel good and seem to be making people compliment me for. Yesterday was intended to be a very special day for me, and although things didn't go exactly as I had planned, I did have a few interesting surprises. I have a date for myself every month where I go and get all of my girly things done, mani, pedi, waxing, etc... If you do it on the right day (within the first 3 days of your period) the results will last for 4-6weeks as opposed to 2-3 weeks. Anyways... as I said it was intended to be a special day so I decided to go a step further and get my make-up done by a friend of mine that works at MAC. Just as we were finishing up, Surprise #1, our mutual friend pops up to come "supervise" to make sure my make-up is right for the evening/event that was supposed to happen and that I'm dressed how she wants me to be dressed lol -ok you'd have to know her to appreciate it lol. Our friend instructs on the necessary changes for my makeup, more dramatic, more blush, etc... few mins later we're done.. wow it was "pretty" the first time... now it's umm WOW... Next stop lane bryant, as my friend has decided that what I was planning on wearing wasn't good enough and would be too big, as it seems the majority of my clothes are these days. (YAY!) She decided I needed new clothes. Definitely God's favor as they had just laid out the Icon clearance rack. For those of you that are fashionistas you know that Icon is the upper echelon of Lane Bryant, most stores don't carry the Icon line, you have to order it online and you're going to expect to pay typically around $100 for each piece or more. Everything was marked down so that the most you would pay is $12.99 per item....WHAT?!?!?! Ok surprise #2! - JACKPOT!!! $300 worth of dresses for only $26.00 later...we decided on two dresses. One sweater cowl neck dress and one cocktail/party/special event dress. Either would have fit the scheduled event. Shoes to match? Check.. (Really one pair that matches BOTH dresses?!?!?! - YAY for surprise #3) Cheap accessories that look expensive from the skinny girl shops? CHECK! - WHO KNEW??!?! I tend to avoid these shops, no real reason to go in.. Found jewelry in these shops that's nicer than what you find in LB, Avenue and Torrid at a fraction of the cost... $2.90 for a tennis bracelet? 4.90 for a long necklce, etc.. it was great! - Good lookin' out Surprise #4! lol I get home and get the look together...FIERCE! You couldn't tell me NOTHING... I knew I looked good. And as I came to find out, so did the people around me. LOL... As I was waiting for my companion (before I cancelled (surprise #5 because this is the love of my life who has been away for over a year in iraq) cause he was taking too long - long story involving kids, bedtimes, saying good night and different time zones by the time all of that was done it was now 10pm our time and um I'm going to need to go on a date at a respectable hour, yes yes I know I pushed from lunch to dinner.. but this was too much and too late, but I digress...back to the blog...) As I was waiting on my love to sort out his family things, I decided since I was already dressed, to go to another mall near my house to see if they had the shoes the other mall didn't have. I go in and who do I run into? My most recent ex-boyfriend! (surprise #6) the store he moonlights in happens to be next to the store I was going to.. but normally he doesn't work on wednesdays... but as fate would have it, he was last night lol. 60lbs lighter, inches smaller, mani'd, pedi'd, waxed and make up done...lookin' SO good.. in my new form fitting dress and shoes, I see him staring as I walk by and his eyes...his eyes all but literally POPPED outta his head, he was so taken aback. YES YES YES!!! I LOVE MY LIFE!!! LOL I ended up going into his store so he could get a better look lol, there's nothing between us, defintely don't want him back, he was a 6 month rebound. But I must admit, I did love his reaction! LOL...Yep I love my life lol !

We hear it all the time... "I love my band", I'm going one further and saying "I love my life!" I've said this a lot prior to the band, but with it I find myself saying it much more often. That sense of confidence that comes with it, the great feeling of knowing that I'm doing everything I can to be successful and extend the life I love so much and of course, the changes my body is making that make me feel good and seem to be making people compliment me for. Yesterday was intended to be a very special day for me, and although things didn't go exactly as I had planned, I did have a few interesting surprises. I have a date for myself every month where I go and get all of my girly things done, mani, pedi, waxing, etc... If you do it on the right day (within the first 3 days of your period) the results will last for 4-6weeks as opposed to 2-3 weeks. Anyways... as I said it was intended to be a special day so I decided to go a step further and get my make-up done by a friend of mine that works at MAC. Just as we were finishing up, Surprise #1, our mutual friend pops up to come "supervise" to make sure my make-up is right for the evening/event that was supposed to happen and that I'm dressed how she wants me to be dressed lol -ok you'd have to know her to appreciate it lol. Our friend instructs on the necessary changes for my makeup, more dramatic, more blush, etc... few mins later we're done.. wow it was "pretty" the first time... now it's umm WOW... Next stop lane bryant, as my friend has decided that what I was planning on wearing wasn't good enough and would be too big, as it seems the majority of my clothes are these days. (YAY!) She decided I needed new clothes. Definitely God's favor as they had just laid out the Icon clearance rack. For those of you that are fashionistas you know that Icon is the upper echelon of Lane Bryant, most stores don't carry the Icon line, you have to order it online and you're going to expect to pay typically around $100 for each piece or more. Everything was marked down so that the most you would pay is $12.99 per item....WHAT?!?!?! Ok surprise #2! - JACKPOT!!! $300 worth of dresses for only $26.00 later...we decided on two dresses. One sweater cowl neck dress and one cocktail/party/special event dress. Either would have fit the scheduled event. Shoes to match? Check.. (Really one pair that matches BOTH dresses?!?!?! - YAY for surprise #3) Cheap accessories that look expensive from the skinny girl shops? CHECK! - WHO KNEW??!?! I tend to avoid these shops, no real reason to go in.. Found jewelry in these shops that's nicer than what you find in LB, Avenue and Torrid at a fraction of the cost... $2.90 for a tennis bracelet? 4.90 for a long necklce, etc.. it was great! - Good lookin' out Surprise #4! lol I get home and get the look together...FIERCE! You couldn't tell me NOTHING... I knew I looked good. And as I came to find out, so did the people around me. LOL... As I was waiting for my companion (before I cancelled (surprise #5 because this is the love of my life who has been away for over a year in iraq) cause he was taking too long - long story involving kids, bedtimes, saying good night and different time zones by the time all of that was done it was now 10pm our time and um I'm going to need to go on a date at a respectable hour, yes yes I know I pushed from lunch to dinner.. but this was too much and too late, but I digress...back to the blog...) As I was waiting on my love to sort out his family things, I decided since I was already dressed, to go to another mall near my house to see if they had the shoes the other mall didn't have. I go in and who do I run into? My most recent ex-boyfriend! (surprise #6) the store he moonlights in happens to be next to the store I was going to.. but normally he doesn't work on wednesdays... but as fate would have it, he was last night lol. 60lbs lighter, inches smaller, mani'd, pedi'd, waxed and make up done...lookin' SO good.. in my new form fitting dress and shoes, I see him staring as I walk by and his eyes...his eyes all but literally POPPED outta his head, he was so taken aback. YES YES YES!!! I LOVE MY LIFE!!! LOL I ended up going into his store so he could get a better look lol, there's nothing between us, defintely don't want him back, he was a 6 month rebound. But I must admit, I did love his reaction! LOL...Yep I love my life lol !

Congratulations and good for you! I feel you... I went yesterday and did my normal beauty stuff, mani, pedi, eyebrows, etc.. then because it was a special occassion I decided to have my friend who works at MAC do my makeup.. My other friend drug me to Lane Bryant and they were having an amazing sale (Got $300 worth of dresses for 26.00) and then we hit up the skinny chic shops for cheap accessories (the joy of skinny friends LOL) and once the look was put together... WOW you couldn't tell me NOTHING lol.. I had to check myself to make sure I was staying humble lol. The looks and compliments were coming but then the ultimate. I ran into my most recent exboyfriend...60lbs lighter, inches smaller, makeup done, hair done, lookin' fierce.. His eyes all but popped outta his head. LOL YAY ME! I love my life lol - so go head and accept those compliments and praises you deserve them and you better WORK IT! LOL

They actually told me/us in the pre-op class, not to use viactiv because they get stuck. I would check with your dr's office first.

LOL this is WHY I don't weigh myself anywhere but at the doctor's office when I get fills because I would have SURELY thrown a scale or two by now LOL.. Although the one at my surgeon's office does the same thing I just close my eyes and tell the nurse to tell me when it's over lol

Thank you so much and awww don't be most of that was water weight lol.. but i'll take the 7 inches lol.. thanks again!

Get in with out of the cattle call places like true results.. (I had my surgery through them) they'll have appointments available every day and will ALWAYS "fit you in" (even if you have to wait over an hour for your scheduled appointment, but I digress). Go to a more high volume place that can handle it. On the upside you're probably getting flouroscopy done with the radiologist doing it. But on the other side.. you're waiting.. so call around to other doctors, see if they'll assist you with aftercare fills, I'm sure there's a few offices out there HAPPY to take you and your insurance money on lol good luck!

I completely agree with you...there seems to be a group of people on here who seem to just be negative and do nothing more complain and/or self-sabotage, then complain some more about why the band isn't doing it's job, then complain about fills and anything else that comes to mind. I try to stay clear of those posts..But the joy of the internet is it's all pixels on a screen, everyone goes away with the click of an X lol... But let me guess your issue happened in the forums? Yeah I try to stay outta there... dangerous out there LOL. Then again those of us like you and me who have survived real issues and real life problems don't see the use in whining and complaining because we KNOW life could be alot worse than having to pay for a fill or two... I totally feel you on that. Most people don't realize who truly blessed they are and how thankful they should be.

POSITIVE THOUGHTS...POSITIVE THOUGHTS...POSITIVE THOUGHTS! Keep positive thoughts and only speak the positive... as with most things frame of mind is essential to the healing process and the journey you've begun. You can do it, it does get easier...around week 3 you should stop the urge to want to hold your stomach and "feeling" your band... everything you're going through is normal.

Congrats to you for having the tenacity to go out and earn what you wanted and do a self-pay but I think you're missing the point for those people who are upset. Most people posting on here are upset because they didn't get approved (even though their insurance does cover it for some people) and have to go through appeals etc... And then there's the group that has paid and paid and paid for medical insurance many of them rarely using it, and now that they want to, they find out it's no good. Understandably, it's a bit disappointing for them. Then there's the next group who make comment on the obscene amounts of money that is being charged to their insurance. Unlike a flat fee with a selfpay You would expect ok it's 15K self pay, they'll bill my insurance probably 20 25K..no big deal, then you see your 45 min, 3 hrs and 39 min total stay in a surgery center, not even a hospital is 80K. Sticker shock to say the least. - Yes the last part is my personal experience. All of that being said, I understand where you're coming from but again I think you missed the point on where other people are coming from. Oh and for the record, not everyone gets fat from eating like you mentioned. I think if you take the time to get to know some people here instead of judging everyone you might find that out for yourself. :thumbup:

Exactly! Best wishes too you! And don't feel bad, we've all had a slip up or two.

I went back to work on the 4th day, then again I work for myself and from home, but I had several meetings that day that I needed to take. So day 4, meetings, errands and I totally felt like I over did it by the end of the day, so I went to bed early... woke up and made it through the rest of the week then thanks to the holidays had some down time :cursing:

Many people will disagree with me here... But I'm a FIRM believer in listen to your body, not your doctor. I did what my body was telling me (moved to mushies on day 3) and my recovery was rapid. I didn't have nausea or anything like that though, where you would need to be careful because you do. I had the nurse scold me for moving up too fast but when I sat down with the surgeon he said it was fine. That if I was intune with my body enough to know what it needed to continue doing that because it's obviously working for me. However most people are not. That being said, if you call your surgeon chances are they'll allow you to move up to mushies, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, etc.. As for the BR visits I can't relate, but it sounds more like you're having a bad reaction to the anethesia than the band.. Either way double check with your Dr and make sure everything is ok then get something in you, if you think you'll feel better.. can't hurt to try it. Either way, Hope you get to feeling better soon.

I use the Zone bars as a meal replacement option, so I'm not worried about the calories,sugar,fat. Even though they're 140 calories 5 grams of fat and 9 grams of sugar. It's the good kind of sugar (agave nectar, etc...not refined sugar) and they're 14 grams of Protein. To me the coconut cluster flavor tastes like a candy bar, like a whatchamacallit or something so I love those ones. I'll eat one of those and be good for hours. Target sells them in boxes for around 4 dollars for 6. Most stores sell them separately for 1.50-2.00 each. Speaking of which I'm out of bars time to go to target!

Soups, chili, tender meats, mashed potatoes, bakes potatoes, etc... There's lots you can come up with. Eggs, omlettes, keish recipes, casserole bakes, etc...

I understand where you're coming from. I researching the lapband for 5 years before I decided to do it, to be met with the 6 months waiting. It went by before I knew it. Looking back on it, I actually found it helpful as I was told to practice eating like I already had the band so my system didn't go into shock. My portion sizes were much bigger but the order of food and chewing is now 2nd nature to me. I don't have to question or wonder. Also depending on where you're getting your surgery through and your insurance you may not have to lose any weight. I was told not to lose more than 10lbs during my 6 months or my insurance wouldn't approve me. I lost 12lbs before I was approved, but I believe the form was put in showing 8 or 9lbs lost. Then the liquid diet and post op weightloss. All and all I'm down 54lbs, 22.8lbs since surgery on 12/18. This has been THE BEST thing I ever could have done for myself, and you sound like you will benefit equally as well. Here's to the next few months FLYING by for you! Keep us posted on your progress!

Well let's speak the positive into it.. You've come this far, you've gone through surgery and lost 4lbs. Starting today and every day after you'll make healthier choices in food and not resort back to old habits. You realize that the band and fills is NOT what makes you lose weight, and that it's just a tool to help YOU lose the weight by restricting portion size. Going forward you will think about everything before you put it into your mouth. Is this going to help me get near my goal or further away from my goal? Is this going to help me succeed of fail? Remove all the garbage and sweets from your house and know that for you all the fast food places are closed. If time is an issue you will prepare most of your meals and package them on Sundays, find protein shakes as meal replacements and avoid all of the fattening foods. If you need some assistance on healthy recipes I can assist you, but you really need to figure out why you're sabotaging yourself so early on? Have you dealt with the issues of WHY you eat? If not seek counseling or a lapband support group in your area to help you deal with the underlying reasons. Best wishes and God bless!

Have an appetizer or a salad or fish or whatever is easy for you to eat. I go out to eat with people who don't know I'm banded all the time, nobody ever asks anything or even notices.

54 grams of protein

60-70 grams of Protein is the average daily recommendation for most people. And it's fairly easy to obtain. I've had my first meal scrambled eggs and turkey sausage this morning and that meal alone was 25 grams of protein 12 from the eggs and 13 from the sausage. 360 calories. Later I'll have a protein smoothie, 2 scoops of whey powder (36 grams) with 1/2 a cup of fage greek yogurt (10 grams) and 8 oz of skim milk (8 grams) mixed with strawberries, bananas and apples with a slash of agave nectar, blended with ice. The fruit doesn't have much protein in it, but it's important to stay balanced the entire shake has 54 grams of protein in it. 392 calories not including fruit, with the fruit it's around 500 but it makes 44 oz so you can split that into various servings that come out to about 100 calories each. Add that to the 25 from breakfast I'm already at 79 grams of protein for the day less any Snacks or dinner. But as someone else suggested, simple things like mixing protein powder into sf pudding or fage yogurt with sf Jello is a very easy way to get extra protein while keeping your calories down and curbing any hunger. Good luck!