BabyGotBack

I can't believe I lost 17 pounds!!!! I feel so good! And I am happy that I am eating solids with no problems. Take care and keep in touch!

Here we are coming to the end of January!!! It feels like yesterday that I was banded! I can't believe it went by so fast! Congrats to all that are entering Bandland in the next couple of days! Let us know how you are all doing! We get to travel down this road together! I am also so happy to have a group of such great people! We always stay positive and just try to support and motivate each other. Thanks for making it an enjoyable and safe place for us all!!!! Audree

Thanks Sandy! I am planning on starting to workout tomorrow and need to do it consistently. I have to understand to utilize it so I can lose my weight and tone at the same time! I have heard that type of yoga only here it is called something else and I forgot what it is. But I think the room is at like 130 degrees. Our stats sound about the same. I started at 190. I am 5'5 and my goal is 135, but I have to see how I look when I get down toward it. If I look good at 145 I will stop. I don't want to be too skinny, but I do want to be lean since I have NEVER been like that. Thanks for sharing from your experience and I hope to see ya around! Audree

I felt like I ate all day! I got in about 1230 calories which was my goal. I had a sirloin patty for dinner with mushrooms and 1/2 cup of black beans with cheddar cheese. I feel very satisfied. I had to sit up and take a deep breath so I knew I was done.

Now I have to go!!! Thanks for keepin me accountable!!!

Great! We will be here! I remember the first time I did south beach and did the 2 week phase 1 I lost like 8 pounds!!! I wonder how much faster I will lose doing the south beach banded than if I was just eating whatever I wanted. HHMMMMM we will just have to see!!!

I had a good day too! I had a sirloin patty with cheddar cheese for dinner. I was able to get in 1230 calories and 81 grams of Protein. The fat grams were high at 80. I don't know if they are supposed to be that high. I will have to check. I don't plan or counting calories but I just want to make sure I am getting enough calories in. I am supposed to start going to the gym tomorrow. So, keep me accountable! this is what I had today: Breakfast: coffee with 1/2 cup soymilk and splenda Lunch: 2 crab patties with mayo/relish Snack: 2 string cheese dinner: 1 sirloin patty, 1/2 cup black Beans with cheddar cheese Liquids: 24 ounces crystal light (after lunch) and I plan on getting at least 24 ounces and more 1 hour after dinner.

Today went well. I was able to have a sirloin hamburger patty with mushrooms, 1/2 cup black beans with cheddar cheese for dinner. I got in 1230 calories, 81 grams of protein. I knew I was done when I had to sit up and take a deep breath. I feel comfortable and satisfied. I didn't feel like pbing. My fat intake was high, 80 grams. I think that is too high. I guess I can only takle one thing at a time. Today I was tring to focus on getting 1200 calories in and protein. The higher calorie foods are high in fat. I have to work on that. Today was a good day!

You are almost there!! Cool! Our stats sound the about the same!

The pre op diet is supposed to shrink the liver so that is can be lifted up during surgury. If the liver is too big, they sometimes will not band the patient. I wanted to know the same thing myself and watched the video of how they do the surgery. Then I "saw" why my liver needed to be smaller and I didn't cheat on my pre op. Here is the link if you want to watch it! http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3190472028990485080&q=lap+band&hl=en For me I think it also helped with emotionally detaching from food. Changing my relationship with food until it didn't bother me anymore.

I am by far not an expert, but may have some good advice. What helped me the most was pouring over these boards and taking notes, learning from everyone. I stocked up on what I'd need for pre op and post op diet and after surgery. Gas X strips, heating pad, liquid tylenol. Also, accepting that the band is only a tool and that I'd have to follow a healthy eating plan and exercise. I should have started exercising before the band so It would be easier now that I can start. I hope that helps!

Congrats on entering Bandland!!! How are you doing?:biggrin1:

I know you have heard it, but it is something I have to remind myself everyday, the band is a tool. It seems like some can eat what they want and still lose and then there are people that need to eat and make healthier choices like the ones suggested by the bandster rules. I for one, am sensitive to white flour products, unhealthy carbs, and sugar. So, I made the choice to start off this journey with protein first, veggies, and a healthy carb if I have room. In my opinion, and I could be wrong, but for me, I feel this journey was going to involve better choices, not a diet per se, but some kind of plan. I always tell myself if I fail to plan, I can plan to fail. The thing that I see different this time, is I will lose the weight and using myself as an example, am choosing to do the South Beach. A lot of surgeons suggest it too, since it goes hand in hand with the bandster rules. It is by far, not low carb and not a restrictive way of life. It is just learning to replace some unhealthy foods with healthier choices. Like whole wheat pasta and whole grain breads, whole wheat tortillas, etc. When I get to the end of this journey, the band will keep me from regaining the weight. I will be able to maintain for the first time in my life. To lose weight, you need to eat between 1200-1500 a day. I belong to another forum where someone on there actually wrote a manual for bandsters that doctors use. I am waiting for her permission to post it here. With the bypass, you lose it fast, but have problems with certain foods and loose skin since you lose it so fast. You can also stretch out the pouch. I think you made the right choice and just need a fresh start! The band does take work and I am also implementing as many tools as I can. The band, an appetite suppresant if I need it and haven't since starting solids, The South Beach and exercise (which I am starting on Monday) If you feel you need a fill, don't be embarassed. They are there to support you and not make you feel bad. They probably see this kind of stuff all the time. I hope this helps!!!

By the way Carlene, I have always found you to be so supportive and helpful!! Thanks for all your help and those great recipes!!!

I crossed my legs for the first time very comfortabley today. I am a size 12 now and 5'5.

I have a bmi of 31 and Dr. Ortiz will do lower bmi's! His website is obesitycontrolcenter.com It was the greatest. If you go to my journal, you will get all the info you want on him!

You are almost in Bandland!!:clap2: :clap2: Just try to get a good night sleep! Let us know how it goes!

My stomach was never really sore from the surgery. I did have gas pain in my stomach for about 3 days. The shoulder pain is gas too. The reason I didn't have such bad gas was because I threw up after surgery and when I was throwing up, gas was forcefully coming out of my mouth. It was so weird. Tylenol liquid helped me in the beginning. Also a nice heating pad on the stomach and shoulder. I used to lay on mine at night. My friend told me it took a month for all the gas to come out!

Hi! Congrats on the 28 pound weight loss!!! That is great! When did you get banded? I am GOING to start exercising on Monday. I need to keep telling myself that! How many calories are you having a day? I started using fitday.com to kinda give me and idea.

Hey Buddy!!! I am so glad you want to join! This way we can keep up with each other easier!!! I am on day 2 solids and am feeling good! I had two crab cakes for lunch no prob! How are you doing? I called you the other day. I wasn't sure if I got the right number.

Cool! You can do some meal planning and be so ready in a few weeks! I am also using Fitday.com to make sure I am getting enough Protein and Water.

I think once threads start moving in a certain "direction" they should be deleted. This is not the place for this type of behavior. We come here for support.

This is the link to my journal. <CENTER>http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=AudreeV</CENTER>

This is day 2 for me on solids and South Beach. I felt very tight in the morning so I had coffee for Breakfast. I think I didn't drink enough Water yesterday and it made me feel like someone was squeezing my stomach. This is what I ate so far: Breakfast: 1 cup of coffee with 1/2 cup plain soymilk (60 calories) Lunch: 2 crab cakes (370 calories) I will not be counting calories later as on the South Beach diet as you don't need to. But, I want to make sure I get 1200 calories a day. Once I know I am getting about that much and how much food it takes to get there, I will stop counting.

No prob!!!