shues138

I just have to say I ordered this today, and it was soo good and filling I couldn't even finish it! Thanks for the suggestion, I'll definetly order it again!

I found this recipe in Martha Stewart Everyday Cooking magazine, and the best thing, is you do it in the microwave!!!!! I can't eat it yet (I'm still on soft foods), but someone try it and let us know. Asian Chicken with Cashews Serves 4/Prep time: 10 minutes/Total Time: 20 minutes 2 T Soy Sauce 2 T Fresh lime juice 1 t cornstarch Ground Pepper 1 Red bell pepper (ribs and seeds removed), cut into strips 1 bunch scallions (about 6) cut into 2" lengths 3 Garlic cloves, thinly sliced. 1 Piece fresh ginger (2"), peeled, thinly sliced and cut into thin strips 4 Boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (6 oz each) 1/2 cup roasted cashews (I would omit these to save on fat grams and probably hard to digest!) 1. In a 2 1/2 quart microwave-safe dish with a lid, stir together soy sauce, lime juice, and corstarch; season with pepper. Add bell pepper, scallions, garlic, ginger, and chicken; toss to coat. 2. Cover, and microwave on high 8 to 10 minutes, turning chicken halfway through. Thinly slice chicken crosswise. Transfer to serving plates, and top with vegetables and juices. Scatter with cashews, and serve with lime wedges, if desired. Nutrition Info: Per serving: 282 Calories 7.5 g fat 42.6 gram protein 10.5 gram carb 16 gram fiber

Hey everyone! Just checking in, I've been really busy with work and school, but it's all good! I haven't weighed myself, I'm going to wait until my 1st month post-op (2/26), but I have to go to Target today and buy a smaller bra. I'm keeping my old bra to remind myself I'll never be at that place again! Last night was the first time I had a sit-down dinner with my parents. My mom made a crabmeat and scallop casserole with ritz cracker topping and she had asparagus wrapped with phyllo dough for a side dish. So I took a SMALL scoop (less than 1/4 cup) of the casserole, threw out the ritz crackers and split the asparagus with my mom (I just ate the tops), and I did good! I was so nervous. My dad's friend of 40 years comes over every thursday and he was shocked that I was full from that little amount. I also had my first alcoholic beverage. A small glass of merlot before dinner and let me tell you, I was feeling it after one glass! I guess I'm going to be a cheap date from now on. The only bad thing that happened this week was that my PMS symptoms yesterday were SO bad! My ex-boyfriend called to see how I was doing (he found out I had "gallbladder" surgery through the grapevine), and I started crying and had to hang up on him. Then I cried watching a movie, then cried watching American Idol and Grey's Anatomy! I thought I was going to have to call a therapist today, I thought I was going through post-op depression, but no, it was PMS because Aunt Flo is in town! LOL. Oh yeah, and I have a line of pimples across my chin, does anyone know if your PMS symptoms get worse if you are losing weight because I get one pimple a month, not THREE! So, overall, this week has been great for me, I was so scared about eating in front of people, but I'm doing okay with that, so hopefully my next step is eating out with friends in a couple of weeks. I can't wait to weigh myself on the 26th to see how much more I lost (if any)! Talk to everyone soon and keep up the good work!!!!!

Tonya, I'm so glad that you shared your 1 month journey so far. Mine will be on the 26th. It's amazing how much our bodies change in just a month. I haven't weighed myself since 10 day post op, but I feel a difference. I started exercising it helps so much with stress. Hope everyone else is doing okay. I had the day from hell at work 8 hours straight no food, no break so far I've only had an egg to eat for the day. Oh and some ricotta cheese, but I felt like crap at work. They'll never get it there. Everyone have a great rest of the weekend!

I'm starting to actually enjoy exercise since I know it will help my body kick in more weight loss! I know my body is not used to having so little calories so maybe it will enjoy more exercise instead!

Hey everyone! Just an update, things are better between me and my mom. I called her sister and told her what was going on and she gave my mom a lecture and a half (it's funny because my mom is the oldest child). So I came home and it was all good. When I was at my cousin's I helped her make choc. covered strawberries for her hubby and I didn't even want to eat one! It's weird how my tastebuds have changed. I went to my ob/gyn today and she was proud that I took the step to surgery. But, she was a little upset that I refused to have my weight taken but then let it go. I also told her I wanted an IUD and she said no because I don't have children. Does anyone else have this problem? I really don't want to get pregnant for a long long long long time. She also won't put me on any birth control for the next three months to see how my cycle is and how I react to my medications once I'm able to swallow them. So now I have to be REALLY careful if I get romantic until May :faint: I also found on Comcast OnDemand a walking program. It was with a workout lady and a bunch of senior citizens and I started doing it, and man did it kick my @$$! I didn't finish it, I think I'll start them in our March exercise challenge. Hope everyone has an AMAZING weekend! Keep up the good work everyone!

Hey everyone, I just wanted to say thanks so much for your support, it means a lot to me. I'm still staying at my cousin's tonight. I have to go to the grocery store after work and get my "supplies" ie: cottage cheese to sustain me for a few days since we're suppossed to get some snow and I might not have a choice but to stay there for a few days.:faint: This thing with my mom is still driving me nuts, I have to just let it go I guess. It gives me more motivation to move out after I graduate. I already applied for some jobs out of state since living in Connecticut is so expensive for a single girl like me! Hopefully I'll be moving to the metro DC area by June 1st. So there is some motivation I guess. I'll keep you updated when I get home tonight if anything changes. Everyone keep up the good work on the weightloss and exercise! :kiss2:

Hey everyone, Well I had the morning from hell with some family stuff going on. Needless to say, before surgery I probably would have eaten something really bad to supress the anger I have right now. Now there is nothing I can do. I can't wait to heal completely I swear I'm going to take boxing lessons at a gym in my town (old school gym). With the family stuff a lot of issues about the band came up. I think my mother is a little envious about the fact that my dad okayed them paying for it out of their pocket. She told me if dad wasn't around, she would have left me being "fat and miserable". I think because she sees it as she can do something more productive (in her point of view) with $15,500 than the lap-band. So, for tonight I was asked to stay somewhere else so she can clear her head. I'm going to stay at my cousin's and call a therapist tomorrow because I think I need someone to talk to about these things. And I think she does too. I told myself I wasn't going to get depressed after surgery but this fight kind of put me over the edge where I want to cry. A lot. Any support, advice, or kind words are so appreciated. I feel like you guys are the only ones who get this whole journey, so I would appreciate it!

Last night, I had a mushy version of some soup my mom made. I had a 1/4 cup and hung around a little while. I then forgot I had to take some medication that I have to crush up and it tastes HORRIBLE! I thought I would mix it with some hummus to help it down. I ate it, I felt okay. I went upstairs to bed, and I had this horrible discomfort right below my diaphragm, and it wouldn't go away! It felt like gas pains all over again! Now I'm so scared that I'm going to stretch out my stomach or revert back to my old eating ways, but after that episode today I have been really careful and watching how I feel after I eat. I'm also going to start writing what I ate today on here so that I can keep track I hope no one minds, maybe it'll give you guys some ideas on what to eat when you're going through the stages. Breakfast--1 scrambled egg w/ mustard Snack--1/4 c. hummus Lunch--1/4 c. Dannon Fit and Light Rasberry White Chocolate Yogurt Snack--1/4 c. Protein Drink Dinner--1/4 c. Mushroom Bisque

I talked to my nutrtionist about the whole "how can I only eat X amount of calories and only lose a few pounds?" She told me that when we go from eating 1,000+ calories to 400-800 calories a day, our metabolism goes into "survival mode" and stores all the calories that it can because it is getting used to such a big change, therefore a slow weight loss in the beginning or no weight loss at all. Also, as stated before, we are all still in the healing stages. Exercise helps kick that metabolism back into gear. I think we should get some sort of exercise thing together to keep us all motivated. Maybe around March when we're all healed and the weather is a little better everywhere?

Yay! I'm glad you're feeling better! The gas pain is the worse feeling in the world! Don't run yourself out too tired. I worked for 8 hours yesterday and I'm in a lot of pain, so my advice is take it easy for a while, I should listen to my own advice, I'm working another 8 hours today :mad: Everyone keep up the good work! I'm so proud of my January Bandsters!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Good morning everyone! Just wanted to check in, went to the movies last night and I was not tempted at all by all the treats there. Actually I wasn't very hungry since I ate dinner before I got there. I'm still in my mushie stage and discovered my love of hummus. It's a little high in calories, but tomorrow I ate 424 calories so I guess that's not too bad. How many calories do you guys eat on average? I'm going to start writing what I eat on fitday.com and see what the average is. This is what I ate yesterday: Breakfast: 1 Scrambled Egg with mustard Snack: 1/4 C. tomato and basil hummus Lunch: 1/4 C. Pureed lobster and scallop bisque Snack: 1/4 C. tomato and basil hummus Dinner: 1/4 C. Ricotta Cheese w/ 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1 packet of splenda. So far today I've only had a scrambled egg. I'll probably have some applesauce for a snack. Have a good day

I drive a VW Golf that has automatic triptronic transmission. Basically when the car is in drive you can move the gearshift to the right and then push the gear shift up or down to go up or down on gears, it's like stick shift w/out the clutch. Anyways I digress, usually when I drive, my leg used to lean against it, and push the gearshift to the triptronic mode. Today I was driving home and noticed there was a 1/2" gap between my leg and the gearshift! I know it's something small, but it's the best NSV I had! Also I walked for 15 minutes today in the FREEZING cold with my dog. I'm going to try for 20 tomorrow in the afternoon when it's a little bit "warmer". Keep up the good work! :clap2:

Hey everyone! Just checking in, sorry I didn't post as often, I'm so busy with school and now work, that I just go home and go to bed after the end of the day! I went to my surgeon's for my follow up and everything looks good and I lost 20 pounds since my surgery! Now I'm on a puree diet for 2 weeks, soft foods for another 2 weeks and then back to solids. I go in for a fill on March 14th. I can't believe I'm doing this! I never thought I'd lose weight. I can start exercising too, my school has a gym i might sign up for that since it's only 40 bucks for a semester. I'm glad to hear everyone is doing okay, we are all a support to each other! Keep up the good work everyone!

good morning everyone! Just wanted to check in, I'm at school right now. Just a little sore and gassy. I've been doing okay but I get tired after school and take naps and then can't sleep all night. So Friday the parents, the dogs and I are leaving to our house in New York so I can just RELAX (when was the last time I've done that? :faint: ) I haven't weighed myself and I won't until I go to my surgeons next Wednesday (one week!) hopefully I lost something and hopefully I can go on mushies next. I'm craving pureed tuna salad like crazy! Thanks for your support!

I can't believe how quickly I recovered. I'm a little tired but I think it's the afternoon slouch. I took a week off from work, but I'm still going to school I called my dr. and made a post-op appt. for 2/7/07 so I have to stay on a liquid diet until then, but to be honest, i'm not hungry. I was going to have some sf jello at 4pm but i think I drank too fast because it feels like a bubble in my esophagus. so I think i'll wait until 7pm to have my dinner. does anyone else have that feeling when they eat or drink? Do you guys have restriction even though we haven't been filled? The only time my tummy has rumbled is when the gas goes through!

I hear ya with the gas, that was more painful than anything! And what is with the shoulder pains? I just called my dr. and the office said to take the chewable gas x and pepcid at night and it should help. Other than that, just walk it off, that's what I do, I think I wore out some carpets in my house walking off the gas.

Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't posted in a while, well I got banded on the 26th and I feel a lot better than I did a few days ago. The only thing is the gas!!!! But I think that is slowing down. I already feel restriction. I only "eat" a 1/4 cup at a time and it fills me up I'm also drinking a lot of water, crystal light and flat diet sprite. I only take tylenol with codeine at night and I can finally sleep on my side. The only problem I had yesterday was showering and washing my hair, but I got to do it again tonight so hopefully it will be better. I can't wait to see how much weight I lost, I'm glad everyone is doing okay.

Well, two weeks from now I'll be banded, I'm nervous but excited too. I'll be on vacation for a week so it'll keep my mind of it, or maybe it'll make me think more! Went to my PCP today and she was so supportive of my surgery, she was more excited than I was, and wants to see me 6 weeks post op and hopefully decrease my blood pressure medication. I had my endoscopy yesterday, I was so nervous about it, but I don't remember anything. I just remember being wheeled into a room, having some numbing spray sprayed in my mouth by Dr. Valin, and then we were all talking about vacations, next thing I know I saw him inject something into my IV and he said nighty night, next thing I know I'm in a recovery room singing along with a Rolling Stones song (I hope quietly!). I felt good after that, I wanted to sleep, but I didn't until about midnight but I feel okay. How is everyone doing? Hope you have a good weekend, I have to pack and get ready for vacation!

Audree--Glad you're banded and okay, good to hear that you're back Sheila--You sound just like me!! I told my mom the same thing about the walking and she said "well see how you feel". I think you're getting banded before me (I'm 1/26) so I'll see how you do on the pain level! I don't know but I'm really anxious lately. I don't know if it's from one of these things 1) I'm leaving for vacation on the 14th and I HATE to fly 2) my job is really stressing me out 3) I have to get ready for my last semester at college or 4) I have my endoscopy of Thursday. I think once I get back from vacation I'll be a lot more relaxed!

I am so much more informed about PBing thanks to the last few posts. I was so worried that it was going to be like when you have the stomach flu and you vomit so much that you feel like you did 100 stomach crunches. At least I know what to expect. I have another question to ask, how long after you had your surgery did you start drinking? I'm a social drinker and enjoy an occasional glass of wine way before dinner. I can't drink any fluids with food. I guess that's good because my nutritionist advised me not to drink 1 hour before and after eating. Also, are any of you bandsters getting an oral endoscopy before the surgery? My surgeon requires one, I'm getting it on the 11th, I think I'm more nervous about that then the surgery itself. My mom's been in the medical field and when I told her I had to get it, she was like "oh that's the worst ever!" :faint: I guess I'm going to have to deal with it, I have a high tolerance for pain so as long as they knock me out pretty good I think I'll be okay. I also had another thought today. I leave on the 14th for vacation that's hopefully going to be an annual thing. I'm so depressed about packing because nothing looks good on me. Then I thought that, in a year I'll be able to pack with excitement with my new body. What a focus of motivation! Hope everyone has a good weekend, I have to work tomorrow :cry

Hey guys, got a phone call from the Dr's office on Thursday. Was told that my payment was due on 1/10 even though I was told payment was due 10 days before surgery (1/16?). She then informed me that it was 10 business days and the office is closed on Tuesdays. So, I was freaking out, I already had the change my date once already and my boss is getting pissed off, so I thought I was going to lose my job and postpone my surgery until May. My mom said there was no way the payment could be made by the 10th because of the closing on the loan was scheduled for the 13th. But, she called the bank in New York and they changed the date to today and my dad is going to put the cost on his credit card and when they get the cashier's checks, just pay off the balance on the credit card. I feel so bad, but he told me in the end it's okay because they got a better interest rate on another loan to build a garage because he'll be paying off that big balance all at once, so he thanked me as well. LOL. It was a pretty hairy Thursday though, I'm glad it's over. 20 days to go (hopefully) I just have the bad luck gene in me. LOL.

Hey everyone, Sorry I haven't posted in awhile, I've been out of town pretty much all of two days this past week. Either NJ, CT or MA. Pretty crazy and exciting! I called my surgeon today and I have my endoscopy and pre-op bloodwork scheduled for 1/11/07 and my meeting with the surgeon on 1/23. I'm so nervous and excited. I don't know what to feel! All I know is that in a year, I'll be a completely different person in all ways of life, and I know 2007 will be the best year ever for all of us!

The fill centers around me do not have flouro, is that good or bad? I'm in Connecticut and my surgeon is going to charge $400 for a fill, that's why I'm glad I found fillcenterusa. Any advice is appreciated.

Hey I'm a January bandster too in Connecticut. Jan 26 2007 at St. Raphael's in New Haven. Good luck!