imagine923

CONGRATULATIONS on your huge accomplishment!! You should be so very proud and feeling empowered! I just began my journey with surgery on 12/30/10 and I hope I am as successful as you. Good luck on kicking the butts....when you are ready....it will happen. Just don't stop trying.

this taco Soup sounds delicious! thanks for sharing that recipe. I'm going to make it this week and it really should take care of my craving.

Do you think the Magic Bullet could handle this or should I get out the Cuisinart!?? LOL

My exercise is walking. I walk as much as I can. I park far away from the stores and walk for at least 10 minutes on the treadmill. I know it's not high intensity, but it feels good to do it. I'm looking forward to CHEWING, I don't mind the liquids that much, but I'd really like to bite into something. Or, just some different flavors will do. I never thought about a pressure cooker, I'll have to check into one.

I've only tried ground turkey once and it wasn't very tasty. What brand do you prefer? Do you think that ground sirloin like a 90/10 would be just as healthy as the turkey?

thanks for the ideas. I took your advice and picked up hummus. I got the roasted red pepper..sounds so good.

Hi ChopswyfT I'm not sure what Egg Foo Yong is. Does it have a chinese food taste? That would help with my chinese cravings. Man.....I think I'd try a blended up rubber tire right about now! LOL

Thanks Melissa I'll defiantely check out the white chicken chili. It sounds really good. I bought stuff at the store to make regular chili, but chicken chili would be good for a switch.

A blended taco may just do the trick. I read last night about a lady that blended up a chili dog....hmmmm I'll try that too!

Thanks, Leo I actually wondered about the taco salad, that's one of my cravings right now. ANYTHING mexican! I can live without the potatoes and rice....they are fluff to me. It's going to be a whole new game when it comes to making/planning dinners from now on. Right now I am not cooking and DH is fending for himself. I must say I enjoy not cooking and especially the clean up.

Hi Nicole Thanks for the reply. OOPS! You're right I don't think I'll be eating the chips in the mushie stage, but my brain is already progressing onto the next step of solids. LOL I can't wait to try the Wendy's chili...wonder what kind of looks I'd get if I blended it right in the restaurant?

This has probably been asked before, so please forgive me. I am moving into the mushie stage and I'm so looking forward to something other than Protein drinks and Jello. :-) Making a trip to the grocery store today, and I want to be prepared. What do you dip? Can you eat tortilla chips? What about snack crackers? And my other question is "what did you have for your first solid meal?" Thank you for all the inspiration and encouragement I've gotten from these forums. It's so great to speak with someone that's "been there" vs. a non banded person.

Hi Southern Leo Hope your surgery went well! I am post op 10 days and I finally get to start mushies tomorrow (I think) I had a small hiatial hernia repaired and was told that I shouldn't need my Nexium at all after the surgery. I also take a bp pill and anti depressant. I haven't been real good at remembering to take my meds since surgery. Normally if I would have forgotten my Nexium I would have been awful sick with heartburn by 3pm and I haven't had any problem with it at all! I go to my PCP on Tuesday and I hope that I can cut back on my bp. I am currently 35+ lbs down so I hope I don't need them at all. I would so love to have NO meds that I have to take! Imagine the copays I would save! Best wishes on your journey!

Congratulations!! How great it must feel to receive those compliments AND to get a new pair of jeans! I can't wait! By the way what is NSV?

I am 53 and I was just banded on 12/30/10. I am on day 8 of the full liquid diet and I am so ready to chew something! LOL I'm doing great in the weight loss. Started at 253 in June and am currently 215. I am so happy with the way I look and feel! I was able to walk for quite a ways today without getting winded....something that would have happened for sure 6 months ago. I finally feel that I can be successful at weight loss!!

please add me imagine923@hotmail.com chris lamore

Went to the mall yesterday to do my walking, and it was so good to be able to make it around the mall 3 1/2 times and not getting winded! Granted I wasn't going for time so my pace was not super fast, but it just felt really good to walk. The WORST part of walking at the mall was walking past Auntie Ann's pretzels and Kilwins Chocolates (as they were making caramel corn) and the food court. I had to convince myself how nauseating those smells were. LOL

I want perky girls!! Where can I find EBW bras? Also, while we are talking undies, does anyone wear body wear similar to Spankz? I have a cami that is similar and I love wearing it, but have heard it may not be a good idea. Seems to make your muscles weak. Anyone have thoughts on this?

3 days post op and feeling good. Looking forward to the rest of my journey.

I am 3 days postop and I'm doing good. My insicisions were pretty sore and made it hard to position myself in bed, but today is so much better. Tomorrow I am going for an upper GI to make sure everything is in the right place. If all is good I plan on getting on the treadmill tomorrow. I am so glad to be on this side of the banding and can't wait to eat something solid.

I have spent hundreds of dollars on gimick diet products, they always worked and I was always able to lose the weight. But, I put it right back on, plus more. This time I have invested more emotionally, physically and mentally. I've gone to therapy which helps me understand why I eat the way I do and how to handle emotional eating. I've already lost 33 pounds and I'll be losing much more. This time I'm going to be able to keep the weight off.

I figure that most surgeries are on a "need to know" basis. I did not tell a lot of people because they just don't need to know. When I start losing weight, IF they ask, I will tell them that I have made a lifestyle change. If they persist and want to know how, I will tell them I had lap band. Most people will probably stop at the lifestyle change and congratulate me and move on. I don't think you need to lie, you just don't need to tell them everything. A lifestyle change should be enough said. As far as a healthcare provider, I would probably tell them only because of the lap band itself. He shouldn't laugh or talk about it with anyone based on HIPAA requirements. If he does, I would find a new chiropractor.

I didn't tell a lot of people, because I figured that not all surgery needs to be advertised. Now, if someone asks me what I had done, or notices that I am losing weight and looking healthier, I'll gladly tell them the I've made a lifestyle change. If they ask HOW then I will tell them that I've had lap band. I don't feel like a loser because I had to resort to surgery, I've never had trouble losing the weight, it's keeping it off that I have trouble with....until NOW. Now I wlll be successfull and I WILL live a healthy happy life. Frankly, the people that really care will be the ones to support me. The other's opinions don't really matter. I didn't do this for them, I did this for me. Congratulations on your decision to have lapband, and keep moving forward and don't look back.