HeatherinCA

Yea it's like 75% what you eat and your habits, 25% the band keeping you from being hungry. I'm never hungry, but that doesn't mean I don't want to eat, it's a struggle everyday, with my mind. For me, this is normal! I don't want to band to make me sick, I don't want to be deprived of food. This is my life, it's not a quick fix diet.

Hmm you have a PPO and they don't cover it? Maybe call them up and make sure...

I have Anthem Blue Cross ppo, and I pay $30 copay for my fills. It should be just whatever your copay is

I don't do many snacks, I'd rather have larger meals, but I like almonds, maybe crackers & peanut butter or a laughing cow, or a SF pudding or fudgical.

Just get in your protein! If you are on liquids have at least 60+ grams in shakes. That should be 3-4 shakes a day. Try bean and bacon Soup pureed that has a lot of Protein. If you are adding in mushies be careful, and make sure it's protein rich (I would aim for tuna, cottage cheese and chili, before I'd go for mashed potatoes). The first few weeks, just suck.. that's how it is, but you can do it! Pay attention to your body, make sure you aren't just bored, or sad you can't eat. Distract yourself. The fills are to help you with hunger, that is what they are for

Yea, I would, i wish I had done it a few years ago. I don't think I would ever consider Gastric Bypass. It's just too drastic.. I mean, if you are seriously overweight then I would consider those (like 400 or 500 pounds) But I think with the bands help I can manage to lose 120 or so lbs that I need to. Everything is going smoothly for me. No problems, it's a little different than I thought it would be, and I thought the weight would come off a little faster, but it's actually fairly easy if you follow the steps, and I'm never hungry! which is great

I love just eating a good portion of chicken or solid protein, or eggs at each meal. I don't need to supplement with liquid protein. My new fav is turkey meatballs, 21g for about 4oz (which is 4 meatballs), or even Egg Beaters, 1/4 cup is 6g of protein, I usually do a 1/2 cup.

http://www.exercisetv.tv/workout-videos/walking/2-mile-walk-5861 I really enjoyed it!! It was much harder than I imagined, and it only took up a few feet of space (my apartment is really REALLY tiny so thats good!). This is a good one if you are feeling lazy, or it's really cold outside. Or for me, when I walk outside I always day dream and end up walking slow, this helped me keep my pace and she keeps you motivated. There are quite a few variations of this on Exercise TV, and i know there are DVDs available. Actually a lot of nice stuff on that website, if you haven't been there before.

Yea, I'm losing motivation too, but I know I got to do it! Can someone workout for me?

LOL really simmer down.

I had a gigantic cyst and my ovary removed a few years ago, that was zero fun!! I wouldn't say it would make much difference about the band as long as everyone knows about it... After surgery you feel crappy and don't want to eat anyways. If you can only eat jello, only eat jello it won't hurt you when you are recovering.

Just eat ONE piece of chocolate not the whole box haha you'll be fine.

LOL if I'm at a restaurant I just get Water. But don't drink it, I didn't order once and the hot guy waiter gave me the 3rd degree about it I was so embarrassed and had to explain haha. If I'm at fast food, I just don't order one, nobody really has questioned it. Jenni, I never order from the kids menu, I just eat less of a full entree, kids menus are always like chicken fingers and macaroni haha I want adult food.

Yea i had to get a new one because it was too big. You might need surgery later, after you lose all your weight, it can wreck havoc on your boobs

Oh of course, somethings just have waaaay more calories than necessary. One of those things that surprise you.

Yea, I eat everything.. just in moderation. To me, somethings just aren't worth the calories. Like, I don't want a tiny hamburger for 400 calories.. I'd rather eat an entire meal for 400 calories. Looking at their nutritional content (we don't have sonic here, but some suggestions)... a Sonic burger has 800 calories... but a Jr. Burger has only 310. But remember all the condiments have fat and calories The Grilled chicken salad has 250, plus dressing you can get light ranch for 70, or FF Italian for 25 thats not bad. Or a grilled chicken wrap is 390 calories. http://www.sonicdrivein.com/pdfs/menu/SonicNutritionGuide.pdf

I wouldn't drink.. I guess you could, but it just washes the food down right? It isn't really about weight, it's about size, because your stomach is small.

Yea I didn't eat 1/4 cup.. maybe closer to 1/2-1 cup Just be careful and don't go crazy, and watch your calories, and start not drinking with meals. I bought little ramikins to put my meals in, and baby forks and spoons that way I didn't feel so deprived.

Hmm I can eat pizza, so i'll usually have one slice. Or get something normal just don't eat much of it. Parm is fried and has a million calories, so does caesar dressing.

I liked chili and oatmeal

Are you honestly hungry or is it mental??! I know for me I always want food but if I pay attention, it's not hunger. Hmm gosh after I eat oatmeal I can go like 5 hours! Sticks to my insides or something Also obviously you won't be full with 1 piece of cheese... eat more solid Protein that helps me. Can you have chicken or tuna salad? That has like 25g of protein.

My parents started weight watchers online a few weeks ago, my mom is loving making the recipes on their website. We made something together when I came to visit the other day. It was good! I don't feel the need to join it though. I'm already weighing myself, and tracking my calories. Weight watchers is basically a diet and we already have one! I don't really feel the need to pay them for one. Besides, I think Weight Watchers is a bit too much food for me.

Have more shakes!!! I had 3 or 4 a day. Make sure you get at least 60 grams of protein, that should keep you full, the pudding and broth have no nutritional value, so it's not going to satisfy you. For me, I had the shakes, then if I wanted to taste something else I would have broth or a pudding, but I didn't consider the other liquids "food"

For the first couple of weeks, you can feel things in your stomach, but now, I can't tell I have anything in there. all the aches and pains are gone I feel normal.

Restaurants bother me now! I mean how can everything on the menu be like 1500 calories!? That doesn't include like chips, or bread, or appetizers, or dessert... You can't get healthy food almost anywhere, it sucks. I'm just not sure how we got like this as a country, and how not everybody is fat