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Those work perfectly. You may want to Water it down and add some spices/herbs to it.

I agree! My surgeon and I joked at my last appointment saying he banded my brain lol. He even asked why I was banded because I've done SO well without any type of fill. The band somehow made me want to stop being lazy and doing absolutely nothing. I've gone from being entirely sedentary to someone who works out at least an hour and a half a day..and I love it!! Somehow the band was the push I needed. I don't think it's all in your head however, but I do know your head has to be in the game to ever be successful with any type of weightloss no matter if you have the band or not. I wasn't really a boredom eater, just a volume eater, and the band has helped with that. I eat "foods I shouldn't eat" all the time and love it because in the end it's all about moderation and knowing your caloric intake. People often look at me and ask how I can eat ice cream, Cookies, cake, etc. and lose weight.

None really. Never been healthier, more active, confident, happy, smaller, healthy, healthy..did I mention healthy? I do like my band for many many many reasons, the most important one being the fact that it somehow gave me the push I needed to not only get off my lazy butt and move but also to learn and read about nutrition and how it all works. Of course, the 115lbs lost and the size 2s are just extras. If I had to semi-regret anything, it's the fact that the stupid "low profile" port sticks out like a tumor on my body LOL! I hate it and want it gone so bad; maybe one day.

Eh you had surgery 4 weeks ago; surgery takes a lot out of you. Your body can take 6+ weeks to heal. Maybe calm down on the exercise and really focus on resting. Though it may not seem it to you, being banded is an invasive surgery and your body needs time to get used to the new changes. I wouldn't sweat it. Focus on your protein intake, water, and be sure you're taking a multivitamin.

I was/did until I realized that the scale was the last and poorest way to measure my success. I now only weigh myself every Sunday. I focus on all the inches I've lost, the tone I see in my body and the fact that I'm wearing size 2s. Soon enough I'll be monitoring to scale to go UP; so maybe then I will weigh each day; who knows.

If you can keep food down, I doubt your band has slipped. Maybe stay on liquids/soft foods for a few days to allow any swelling to go down before you go to Mexico.

Too tight. If you can't keep water down you need a small unfill.

Try powder otherwise go to a doctor for medication.

Normal. Swelling often occurs when the band is placed therefore your appetite is MIA. It'll come back once the swelling goes down. Enjoy it! Per the lack of a BM, normal. You'll go much less than you ever did as you'll be taking in a lot less food. Just be sure to focus on getting your water in as well as your protein. Most importantly, rest.

Portioning out my food has been key for this. The band will provide you with the full/satisfied feeling, only you can put the fork down.

Amen. However, I don't agree with certain foods being taboo or unhealthy; everything has calories, calories and nutrients and we need them. Yes some things need to be eaten in moderation, and I think that's key. I eat ice cream, cake, anything..but in moderation. But yes, I do believe we make our own journies. You have to decide you're ready to be healthy. The band helps but it won't do it all.

Awesome! And that's how it should work

Ahh the what if game will drive you nuts; don't play it. Keep the positive thoughts flowing. If something does happen with your insurance, deal with it IF it happens Don't try to think about the negative it only makes things so much more complicated.

False. Starvation mode isn't real, but anyway. I lived off of 600 calories for the first 4-5 months after being banded. I exercised. Did Slim in 6 along with P90 and P90M. I didn't feel extremely tired at all. I lost amazingly, and yes it was all done with a low carb high Protein diet. I don't believe everything the government says or puts out for the public to read, but I also know that HCG and other diets are mere fads. If you want to take HCG for the rest of your life, go for it, I guess it's what works for you. I can't judge what works for another. The country doesn't feed anyone anything. Grocery stores are full of healthful low carb foods; you choose what you put into your shopping cart. Carbs don't make you fat; excess calories do. The only people who really suffer from eating carbs are those who are insulin resistant. If you are, I understand carbs being the "enemy." If you aren't...it's more than the carbs.

It's wise that you are weighing all of your options but is there a solid reason why you think you will lose your insurance? If you know for a fact there is a high risk of you losing it, I'd go for the sleeve. I do love my band but I do know that the cost of fills and unfills along with the necessary routine visits to the doctor can get pretty pricey pretty quickly. If you're just thinking what if what if with no real reason as to why you'd lose your insurance, go for the band. You generally don't need that many fills a few months out and if you do it's a fill/unfill here and there as your band adjusts due to weight loss.

I originally used Muscle Milk Light in the powder form; got tired of it; still have a jug at home just collecting dust. I moved onto RTD Protein shakes, got tired of them as well. I moved myself off of Protein Shakes as they arent meant for long-term use, IMO and I was already getting 100g+ of protein a day without them. I am not a huge fan of whey and the smell is something I cannot tolerate nowadays thanks to my 4 weeks of having to drink the things. Nowadays I buy casein protein Tastes much better. I bake with it, make protein pudding, etc. I haven't had a shake in months and I like it that way. I can't get into them anymore, haha.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/22/hcg-diet-controversy_n_826837.html I think that article says it all, along with many other references to this fad diet. Sure you lose weight on the scale, but at 500 calories a day I can assure you you're also killing your metabolism and dropping muscle mass; not pure fat. Just my opinion.

Read about "eating around the band" and you'll understand why I said what I said. Nothing about the band makes you put the fork down, only you can. I could eat ice cream all day if I wanted. Anyone can eat past the full feeling; it's not hard, I've done it plenty, hence me saying the band cannot MAKE you stop eating; only you can. It's up to you to understand your sense of being satisfied. The band will give you that feeling, it's up to you to listen to it. I guess an extremely tight band can make one "stop" eating, but again, slider foods go down very easily and the full feeling rarely occurs with them.

Welcome and good luck My advice is to look around the forums/browse the various sections here. You'll find a lot of good information/tips.

Last supper syndrome is common. The only thing I can suggest is to remember that being banded does not mean there will be foods you cannot eat anymore, if anything you won't be able to eat the same amount of food, but there is no food that is considered "off-limits." What you can and cannot eat depends on how tight you choose to keep your band. Mine is unfilled/relatively loose compared to many and I can eat most things; sometimes I get myself into trouble when I don't chew/eat too fast otherwise I can/do eat what I want, just smaller portions. ie. pre-band I could eat bowls of rice; now I eat 1/4-1/2 cup, measured out by weight.

Walmart sells a similar product as do most health stores; try looking in GNC/Vitamin Shoppe/Vitamin World. They generally sell them in singles. I've never had one but I'd imagine they'd be better mixed in with water to reduce the sweetness.

Maybe look into buying Nature's Best Isopure clear protein drinks. They come in all sorts of fruity flavors. You can also buy a vanilla protein powder and add your own fruits/SF syrups. There are plenty of protein shake recipes online.

Thanks!! Best of luck on your journey

They are delicious I buy them packs at a time; highly recommended especially if you like almonds as they are the main ingredient.

Congrats and good luck. Happy healing!