bama_belle

I don't know what the deal is with shrimp, but so far, I haven't had any problem eating them. I may later on, but I just take tiny bites and chew really well. Watermelon, on the other hand, is apparently a BIG no-no with me. I hope they get you scheduled and in before the big insurance change. You have Tricare, right? Have you checked into getting Tricare Prime? You should talk to someone about it. Heck, it only costs us $115 every QUARTER!

I think mine is a 10cc. I don't know how much was put in during the surgery, but on Tuesday I had 2cc put in. According to my Dr., I've done so well on the weight loss that he didn't really think I needed a fill, but did a small one so I would continue to lose and not get discouraged. I'm on liquids/softies for the rest of the week and then back to solids. Yesterday I was starving, strangely, but today, not so much. My question is, do you guys exercise on the days you're on liquids/softies, after a fill?

I've been eating a lot of tuna salad and chicken salad. But I don't make it the traditional way. Instead of mayo or miracle whip (ugh) I mix the tuna or chicken with spinach dip, or artichoke dip. Two tablespoons of the stuff only has 90 calories, is really good and you get a bit of extra vegetable in your diet without even thinking about it. Frankly, the salad turns out much creamier and yummier than with mayo. We had burgers the other day. Now, I don't eat much bread, so I have to be creative with my burgers. I used the spinach dip instead of mayo, and it was AWESOME! I may never eat mayo again. LOL

I had my first fill on Tuesday, so I'm back on liquids/soft foods again. I read what some of you are eating, and I think I'm eating wayyyy too much? Yet I've lost 28 pounds so far, so I don't know. I just feel like I should be eating way less than I should. I keep track of everything (nutrition, water, exercise) with my SparkPeople page. For the most part, I've managed to stay less than 1500 calories every day. http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/nutrition.asp

First, I think Cahaba Valley only does the Lap Band surgery on Thursdays. That's when I had to have mine done. I was back to work on MONDAY. Of course, someone else had to drive me, but yeah, I was back at work. I was easy and careful about what I did, and I was really tired by the end of the day, but I felt fine, otherwise. My starting weight was 271. I'm 5'2" (barely!) and like you, my goal weight is 150. I'll probably reassess when I get there, but for now, it's a good goal! Hang in there. It will happen. It just takes a little time. And, btw, you've picked a great group. CV's folks have been super!

I had to fight with United Health Care, because they wouldn't pay. (we have both insurances). I have Tricare Prime. I went to my PCM, he wrote the referral and faxed it. I had an appt. with Dr. Stahl within two weeks. That was April 7th. I saw him, they submitted the paperwork that week. Within two weeks I was approved. That was April 14th. I had the surgery on May 29th.

I have never met Dr. Sherer, but I do use Cahaba Valley. Dr. Stahl is my doctor, and I think they are all fabulous! They really worked hard with me to get my insurance stuff approved, and have taken great care of me. I went for my first fill on Tuesday, and Dr. Stahl was great.

Unfortunately, Andy, I think you're right. I'm willing to travel a 1-2 hour distance, and even willing to carpool, but it doesn't seem like there's much interest. I'm willing to help put together something here in the Birmingham area if anyone's actually interested in meeting. Why don't we pick a date, say, for instance the 20th of September? It would be a little cooler then, and more comfortable than this awful heat we have right now, and would give everyone ample time to plan to be there. We could plan on Oak Mountain for the Birmingham meet.

Hey... I haven't posted in a month, it seems. I didn't realize it had been that long. The only other place I've been is sparkpeople.com which is where I log my food and exercise. It's just been really,, really busy.

OK. So it's been a month since I've posted here. I didn't realize it. It's been a busy month.... I went for my first fill on 8-6. 2cc was all he put in. That was a strange experience - but not painful, which I was worried about. Anyway.... I was banded 5-29-08. As of today I've lost 28 pounds. I've gone from 271 to 243!

I was banded on May 29 as well and I'm not having my first fill until August 5! I had my first post-op visit today. Up until yesterday, I could feel my port easily, and then all of a sudden it was hard to find it. I asked my dr. if something had happened and he laughed and said no, that eventually it becomes harder to find because of weight loss, muscle change, etc. Mine is below my rib cage on the left side, btw.

..... during family outings you order a small cup of ice cream as your meal (choices being slim) and you wind up giving half of it to a family member because there's no room...

... you force yourself to walk up and down the street in front of your house after walking the neighborhood so you can actually say you walked 30 minutes....

Your current favorite meal is hot & sour soup.... without the crunchy noodles and all the veggies strained out of it. Daughter keeps telling me I'm ruining a good bowl of soup!

Well, I was banded on May 29, 2008. That was 19 days ago. I've dropped 12 pounds. It seems like such a small amount when I compare it to what others have lost so far, but I'm happy with that 12 pounds. I went a year without losing an ounce, and in 2 wks I've dropped 12 pounds. That's over 1/2 a pound a day. I'd probably have lost more if I had gotten more exercise in, but because of work, and traveling for work, that was all but impossible the past two weeks. But I visited the Dr. today. I'm released to do whatever I feel like. So there you go. Look out world!