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My DD just picked up Bethany. I know if I kept her everyday I would lose weight. My band gets so tight from lifting her I can't eat. She is so cute. She keeps that smile on her little face that she had when she was born. She has big dimples too. Eva, Woohoo! on the contract. I had a friend that financed a home like you are doing. It sure helped her income during retirement. My zucchini are up to three inches and the yellow squash plants need to be thinned tomorrow. I can't believe how fast they have grown. Janet, thanks for the props. I could not have done this without your mentoring thread and the support of all of you. I know I should be eating less, but it is tough. 1100 calories add up fast. So far this morning I have had a boiled egg and a yogurt. For lunch I am making tuna with another boiled egg. dinner is chicken breast and broccoli and another yogurt. That should wipe out my calories for the day. I may can squeeze in some strawberries. I have a few left. I may just go down to the market and get a couple of pints. I think today is the last day they are picking from the strawberry patch.

Hey Girls! I had a Janet moment at the grocery store today too! I was in the dairy aisle after I picked up my fat free yogurt and was walking past the cheese. You see, cheese is my absolute downfall. There were these containers of cheese spread and cheese dip. I love all of that crap. Well, NOT TODAY!!!!! I looked at it for a longing few seconds and said to myself "Self, it is not worth it! You do not want that, and it is going to make you fat!" Then I felt like I wanted to stick my tongue out at it. I didn't, but man, was it tempting. I won that battle. I am envious of all of your travels!!! Have a wonderful time Apples and Great. Be safe but have soooo much fun. The both of you deserve it. Lori~ Any news on your daughter and the baby? Did the test results come back yet? Did I miss something? I try to keep track of each post, but somtimes I am trying to multi-task. Also, WTG on your exercise!!! Jodi~ That party sounds like something!!!! Wow. She is a lucky girl. I will try to get back on for more later, but I am going to spend some time with Andrew now. food for the day: Breakfast~ Slim Fast Lunch~ 1/2 of Protein drink, 4 cubes of cheese, 4 "party tray" sized slices of salami Dinner~ 4-5 oz chicken Breast (poached in Balsamic Vinegar, low sodium chicken broth, water), mixed veg, 1/2 redskin potato Haven't calculated calories, yet, but around 800.

Congratulations!!!!! You should stock up on plenty of liquids (non carbonated). Some that worked good for me were V8 juice, Crystal light, and the yogurt smoothies. Also stock up on mashed potatoes, yogurts, tomato soup or any soup that is not too chunky, and if you can handle it baby food. Get plenty of protein shakes!! This is some of the stuff that you will need. The V8 juice was awesome. I got so tired of eating things that were sweet and not filling!! Pop sicles are also good for the swelling. Good Luck and keep us posted! Angela

I was sooooooo bad yesterday!!! I always tend to overdo it when I'm sick and (lucky me) I have strep and a sinus infection. So, I was already dealing with the munchies. Yesterday I took my son for ice cream. I ordered the fat free sugar free yogurt and the machine wasn't working...so I decided to have a regular chocolate cone. (my first bad) Then about an hour later, I'm at my parents for Father's Day and I see that they have the tastykake peanut butter candy cakes. I ate it! (my second bad!) Then after dinner I had a rice krispies treat! (my third bad) I was obviously have a "gimme something sweet" attack. Turns out that my "monthly friend" showed up this morning. I suppose that would explain the cravings. Yesterday was a bad, bad day!!!! LOL!!

Betty, we don't want that plane turning around because someone is foaming at the mouth! LOL How long is the flight? I probably wouldn't eat on there either, unless it was soup or yogurt. Tpagern, I had to do the sleep study too. Who can sleep all wired up with wires hanging and stuff stuck in your hair, cords stretched to a bedside table, EGADS!!!! You just have to wad up, lay on it and try to pretend nothing is going to mess it up and then go to sleep. I was helping strip sheets at 4:40 a.m. Left by 5:00 a.m.! Oh, getting up to go to the bathroom was an experience in itself. lol

I was banded in July 2009 and have been experiencing left shoulder pain since. It bothers me all the time and feels like a pinched nerve (burning/pulling sensation). It's terrible because I sleep with my left arm under my pillow so I've had to alter my sleeping position. Thank you to the bander who posted the use of a heating pad. I just ran in and grabbed my heating pad and am hoping this works! Also, thank you to the bander who posted about the diaphram. I've had terrible acid reflux, heartburn, pressure like a brick sitting on my chest for the past two weeks. I called my surgeon and he put me back on liquids thinking that something was stuck in my band. After 6 days I was finally able to eat yogurt. on the 8th day I tried eating a piece of baked chicken and a few very soft green Beans and I'm back to square one... PAIN and Acid Reflux. I can only sip on liquids and sometimes they come up too. My surgeon doesnt have office hours on Fridays, so I'm waiting til Monday in the hopes that something gives. I'd love to hear from anyone else with the same symptoms and what it might be... band slippage, restriction, food stuck, hernia, ???

Hi Vlynnfogg. I am still on the liquid post-op diet. Just made me some potato soup, thin. It is yummy. I guess liquids don't hang up so I never feel like I am over doing it. Hope I am not. Did you feel that way at this point? I will be glad when I can have food so I can feel the band working. It is still awhile before I start solids. next week is purees,pudding yogurt and even soft scrambled egg. I guess I will be able to tell more then?

I had my surgery July 3rd so I'm on my first day of "full liquids" -- according to my dr's diet plan I can drink soups, protein drinks, yogurt drinks and even watered down cream of wheat! Not really hungry today though. Not like day after surgery or even yesterday. I'm down about 21 pounds since I started my pre-op diet. I'm not really in pain just some minor discomforts -- the big incision is "tight" so I can feel it but I wouldn't call it pain. The shoulder comes and goes. I've done some walking -- the last few days have been perfect for walking. I've had a few hic-ups and was able to burp without too much problem. I'm tired but it could be that I took some codeine in the middle of the night to help me sleep better. I think it's making me drowsy today so I'm going to try and stay off it today and tonight. Good luck to those are getting banded this month! d

I've heard several people on the board talk about DaVinci Gourmet sugar free Syrup and I finally found some yesterday. This stuff has no calories, no carbs, no fat...just 10 mg of sodium per 2 tbsp. I got the vanilla and kahlua flavors. I used some in my coffee this morning and it was pretty good. Just wondering if anyone could share some creative ways to use it, other than coffee. In greek yogurt maybe?

Hi Everyone. I had my pre-op Doctor visit yesterday. Was pretty uneventful. My Doctor is very nice and knowledgeable, but I think he has done this so many times, he is a bit jaded by the whole experience. He's very nonchalant, and nothing is a big deal. Maybe he's that way with me because he seems confident that I will do great. I can pick up my daughter they said. Just have to squat and lift with my legs, not bend over. We talked about me being a "poor healer" and my concern about the incisions healing. I asked him about steroid cream or a shot. He didn't like the idea of a shot, but said it was necessary we could look at a cream. He didn't want me to heal too fast or too much, so I would not develop keloids. I agree! So I bought some anti-bacterial body wash for the shower to help out with that. I got permission to go home the same day, so I don't have to inconvenience my family with driving back down to Dallas to get me and arranging for extra time off to watch my daughter. I was surprised when they said I would be admitted. I thought their regular practice was all out-patient. I went about bought all my liquid/chewable vitamin/supplement replacements @ Sprouts. If you have a Sprouts in your area, I highly recommend them. The produce and meat department are amazing. And, the produce especially is no over priced. They run lots of sales, too. Anyway, they have someone that works in their Vitamin/Medicine department full time who is very knowledge and helped me a lot. I take several supplements and wanted to continue taking them. I just hope they are not horrible tasting. I was little leery about the liquid Omega-3 options. I am not real keen on swallowing a few tablespoons of fish oil! But, I got this really cool product that is like a smoothie consistency. It's strawberry-banana flavored, and you only take 2 tsps. So I figure I can stir it in some yogurt, if all else fails. Going tomorrow morning to buy stuff to make a large pot of chicken stock. Going to make up a bunch, so I will have it for broth, and to make some cream soups for when I get there. I still need to get some unflavored protein powder. Blah Blah Blah! I'm rambling. Good Luck to everyone that went yesterday, today, and tomorrow!

Hi everyone, I am home! I am 4 days post op and feeling Great. My Dr has me on a complete clear liquid diet for 7 days. I'm not even hungry. I have been drinking, water, Propel (for vitamins etc,) broth, and now that I am home some SF jello and SF popcicles. I finally lost 2 lbs. I think it is because I retained water after surgery. With being in the car for 8 hrs straight 2 days in a row and in hot weather (up to 112) and just what surgery can do to you, my body has just been in shock. On day 8 I can add 3, 1/2 cup servings of LF yogurt, with no chunks. Then on day 10 I add protein drinks, at least 30g. Then starting day 22 SOLIDS, and NO more protein drinks ever. Of course with this I am supposed to be taking my vitamins, walking and always staying hydrated. So far this has been easy. I was also told NEVER to drink anything carbonated as this can cause the band to slip. Was anyone afraid to take the first bite of solid food? I have absolutely no restriction when it comes to drinkink clear liquids so I don't know if I have much restriction at all. Leila, thank you so much for reminding us that all those little calories add up, and that the band is a tool, not a guarantee to weight loss. Barbara, thank you again for keeping us posted with those being banded each week! You are awesome! Congrats to all those being banded this week! We have such an awesome support group here. Please don't leave just because you are banded...stay and share and continue to support. We all have a long journey ahead of us!

Wow welcome to all the joiners of this thread For the record I have 200 lbs to lose total and I know I can achieve that goal! A friend had bypass a litte more than a year ago and is now already fighting to keep from gaining her back. She lost 200 lbs in a little less than a year and will spend the rest of her life with an alterred body that may or may not be able to absorb necessary nutrients. It will take me a couple 2-3 years to reach my goal and that is ok. The band isn't for everyone and for some the bypass is a good choice, only you can ultimately decide that. I say try the safer first if it doesn't work well for you, you can always switch to some other wls method later. Dezadoo youa re in week 2 it looks like. Mushies at week 2, while I am not your doctor, I truly believe you are safe to move on to mushies, just always excersise caution, go slow and start with stuff like yogurt and move up to stuff like scrambled eggs and refried beans. As for hunger, you will be hungry till you get restriction Grats on being banded

LOL... I'm back! Need those words of encouragement. I have been eating like crazy this morning too. I ate a yogurt, 1 pack of cream of wheat, 2 hard boiled eggs and a snack size of gold fish crackers...STILL HUNGRY! I know what it is and you won't believe me. There is a full moon!

i found individual greek yogurt cups at sams today. i am so excited. just thought i would share.

Karen, Thanks for your support. I am doing much better now, gas and few aches here there is it. (I am a bit concerned about slippage just due to all the previous heaving.:sick I THINK I am down about 11 pounds as of today. Have not figured out how to move my ticker?? I am eating soups and yogurts and few other very liquid mushies. I move to full mushies Wed. I have already found it I don't drink slowly I get a tightness in my chest. I walked today for the 1st time, it was nice to get out! I also have one shoulder that is sore because its the side that I have been sleeping on..I thought it was gas but don't think so now ..?? How are you doing? Do you still have all your tape on? One of mine came off in the shower today..?? Dpingl, I didn't have staples, so no tape! The surgeon used a type of glue that will wear off after awhile. It has been nice to not feel the "pull" of stitches/staples, or to deal with leakage. I know from experience how much better you will feel after the staples come out, so hang on until then! As for your shoulder, I had that for the first 4 days, now it is just a pain in the left side.... 11 pounds down??? WOW!!! Is that since your surgery or from the pre-op diet?? WAAHHHHHH :cry I want to have lost 11 pounds!!!!! Good for you! Karen

What is special about greek yogurt?

Hi Ailbhe, I didn't go on a pre-op diet I was just told no alcahol for 48hrs before the op. It would depend on your bmi if you are above 45 it might be useful to go on the milk diet for a couple of weeks before surgery, what this does is it reduces your liver size and makes it easier for the surgeon to access your stomach. As for the last supper, there is no such thing, for the first week it will be difficult to eat (in my case the first three days:redface:), you will be able to eat fairly normally once the swelling starts to come down, and thats within the first week. I was told to eat a lot of protein in the first week post surgery, to aid healing. This was achieved by eating yogurts, low fat custard, rice puddings and slim fast or any good protein drink. It wasn't difficult to do this as I didn't really feel like proper food although as I said earlier I did have a few sneaky dips into my hubby's plate from about day three. This is the week when you will have your optimum weight loss. And in most cases it stays off and some people will even lose a little bit more before their first post op app. For most people and you just have to look back on this thread, we are begging for a fill by the first appointment. So don't worry about "the last supper" there is'nt one.:tongue: Stock up on some low fat custard and rice pudding portions and some soup and protein drinks and also yogurts. Make things easy for yourself for the first week post op by having little or nothing to do. Accept any help thats offered and take it easy. The best of luck and do keep posting.:smile:

I just want to say that everyone here is doing sooo good! All of you inspire me! Whosya and Renewed~ you two ROCK!! Ya'll are my little running heros, lol! Kathy~ you are progressing soooo well! Keep it up girl! Oh, and kudos for sticking to the scale challenge. That's what I call dedication!! luluc~ I love reading your post, here and all over the board. Your exercise regime just baffles me. Les~ you are doing great too! Good for you for getting back on track and starting over fresh! Jeannie~ look at you progressing! Good for you! As far as your questions go, I agree with everything Renewed said. I always eat a healthy carb before I run (usually whole wheat triscuits or protein cereal mixed with yogurt) and I also drink milk afterwards. Sugar~ I know how you feel. I haven't ran either, gotta get my butt in gear! How's your legs? Bonnie~ you are doing soooo good! I still want to commend you for doing this now and not waiting until your surgery. I think that says a lot about you. Keep up the great work girl! Lyn~ You amaze me! Only a couple of weeks out of surgery and you were running again. I could not have done that. Keep up the good work! Oh, and thanks for the "two" breathing suggestion...I gotta try that! tootie~ you're doing great!! Keep up the wonderful work! Serenity~ you're doing an awesome job! Keep on truckin'! Mamato~ How are you? I've been thinking about you and praying for you and your hubby. All of you have inspired me to get off my pity party butt and do something today. I've been soooo bummed about my knee (which feels better again), I've gotten off track. I've had some other health issues going on too, one of them being I have a staff infection under my right arm. For the past week, any movement with my upper body has been painful. I'm on antibiotics and feeling much better now. So, I'm gonna quit moping around and go to the gym tonight. If nothing else, I'll ride the bike. Something is better than nothing!! So, thank you all for inspiring me to get back on track!

I think I am going to call the doctor for an unfill. My fill was about 3 weeks ago. As of late, I am having trouble eating yogurt and even drinking fluid. It hurts in my chest and sometimes I hear this crazy gurgling sounds. I did okay for Thanksgiving dinner, but it has been down hill since then. I have not vomited, but the pressure everytime I eat soft foods or drink is driving me crazy. I plan to pick up my treadmill tomorrow if I am not at the doctor's office.

alexandrea) Nykee, you're supposed to be getting 60 or so grams of Protein a day, and milk can't be your only source girl) I DO. and no one told me it had to be from any different source.. I even had a nutritional counselor tell me I had to be sure to stay UNDER 80 grams a day.. and to be sure to do THAT.. (I drink alot of milk at night) Alex) You're really heading for nutritional trouble if you continue down this road. (Are you taking Vitamins? I hope I hope? There are lots of chewables out there; even if all you can find are children's vitamins those are fine if you take two.) girl) I take a flinstone chewable like they told me to. And I KNOW I need better nutrition.. I have a long ways to go.. I know this is a "I'll do it later" kinda thing.. but I think I will once I get maybe 100 pounds off, I will be more likely to.. anyway.. I wont have so much stress.. I can have my surgerys.. lots of reasons. Plus I am college educated..and I did alot in that feild.. I KNOW what nutrition is.. (so thats not a problem, like it is for many) alexandrea) If you're determined to stick with this too-tight level of fill, do yourself the immense favor of trying to find better foods to eat. (I AM) alex) Think about high-protein mushy food like cottage cheese, eggs, string cheese, hummus, yogurt, things like that. If you take in more calories in high-quality protein you will be less hungry later in the day, I promise! girl) Well... I got the cheese.. I can eat those slices (A 20$ block a month for the kids) but I avoid them cuz the fat.. but I still have them, And I like eggs but no one will make me any.. lol (and I aint about to) I love the yolk when its kinda mushy and I KNOW THAT would go down (at night) yogart, I cant get into.. or applesauce or pudding.. I dont know why.. I like it.. but I just dont since being banded. (I think cuz it takes up room where I cAn drink milk or juice) BUT aGAIN.. i AM not EATING at night cuz I am hungry.... I am not hungry and hunger doesnt motivate me.. I am a snacker.. The milk and juice and thin soup I get down before night time is enough.. I am not hungry. alex) From the amount of juice you're drinking it seems like you're not having trouble with liquids, so soup shouldn't be an issue unless you're trying to take it in too fast. girl) Well.. it changes throughout the day.. like It was about 12:45 pm, just back from the doctors and shopping and I had to crush pain pills and drink OJ.. and I could only tolerate about 3 ounces.. BEFORE my last fill, I woulda gulped 12 ounces of OJ EASY and be still sipping on it now (or chocolate milk) Around 3pm.. (a kid comes home) and I will get some tomatoe soup and I could try a peice of cheese (even though yesterday I SWORE not to try that again!!! I slimed trying to eat before night and I hated it) alex) Chew everything very, very well and wait a good minute between bites. Girl) I DO!! yeah.. finally something right.. lol I SWEAR.. I AM TAKING care of my band.. IF its true that the slimimng and the PB and the golf ball feelings and all that are what can make your band slip and all that (I know it can anyway) I really really got that under control... I KNOW thats usually very hard and even like completely against the rules.. but thats cuz it leads to so much band abuse and my band is FINE> THANK YOU...... I appreciate your posts cuz your talking my language.. your trying to get through to me in a way I can listen.. (very skillfull you are!) anyway.... I am so glad your here to be someone I can HEAR.. loves

Hi Guys! I'm not from Maryland but it sounds like you guys are really good at journaling so I hope you don't mind if I join y'all?!?!?! I've been using the "Food Journal" thread but it doesn't seem like a lot of people are keeping up with it. So here goes the past few days: Ok, so I'm catching up on my journaling. Come on everyone!!! And yes, this REALLY is how much I eat. I barely let a bite get in that I don't count. ALTHOUGH, there's probably some skim milk in my coffee that I don't count for. No sugar in the coffee though. Anyway, see below for me "Weekend from Hell Due to Booze" and then the past two days of "Retribution" !!! Friday -- 4/21 Protein bar -- 230 2 Protein Bars -- 380 Half a Quesidilla -- 400 3 Margeritas -- 510 4 vodka sodas -- 280 soco lime shots --150 __________________ 1950 Cals - 1800 RMR - 160 cals walking and dancing = -10 Saturday half chicken parm -- 200 carnation instand bfest -- 220 Edamame - 50 cals 3 mojitos (160 each) -- 480 2 chu-cumbers (150 each) -- 320 sake --30 3 vodka sodas (70 each) -- 210 2 soco lime shots (70 each) -- 150 __________ 1660 cals - RMR - dancing -- holy cow batman!! look at all that booze!!! :faint: Sunday half a milky way -- 130 3 bloody marys (120 each) -- 360 one bottle wine -- 150 2 chicken fingers + 3 french fries - 300 2 vodka sodas -- 210 1 soco lime -- 75 Armurulla -- 275 half mac and cheese -- 220 half chili -- 170 _______________ 1865 - RMR - walking to and from yankee stadium Monday half bowl of Cereal -- 100 box of mac & cheese -- 500 2 chocolate bars -- 500 crackers with lowfat cheese -- 90 tuna fish sandwich -- 220 pint frozen yogurt -- 600 ________________ 2010 cals - RMR ARGH!HH!!! H!H!H! Totally hungover from a weekend of nonstop drinking! Mac & Cheese???? chocolate bars??? What was I thinking!!??! :angry Tuesday 4/25 Grilled chicken 150 Protein Bar 280 Chili 190 Cracker with cheese -- 60 Milky way 130 Popsicle -- 60 _____________________ 870 total cals :clap2: Wednesday 4/26 cup of milk -- 90 cals 1 cup of grilled chicken + broccoli + light dressing = 150 protein bar-- 240 big leafy salad with cucumbers, 1/2c grilled chicken + light dressing = 150 FF popsicle-- 60 cals ______________________ 690 total cals :clap2:

I had a nice weekend. On Saturday, I went to a breakfast on the beach sponsored by Kashi cereal. Breakfast was served on tables on the beach with white tablecloths, umbrellas and sunflowers in vases. There was yogurt, juice, cereal, milk, fruit, coffee and tea. Then they had several activities going. My cousin and I did the yoga class, a walk on the beach and kayaking in the ocean! I had never kayaked before. It was really fun and not too hard! We even saw 2 dolphins swim by! Then we all got a gift tote bag with a big towel, Kashi cookies, granola bar and cereal, a bowl and a sports bottle. It was a Chamber of Commerce Day in San Diego too-just perfect weather. My scale has been the same for awhile now, but I'm not worried. I have no fill and I'm not gaining! I will redouble my efforts once I'm off for the summer. Work is just too stressful right now. Hope everyone had a good Mother's Day and has a great week.

Reginia - try eating an activia everyday (like yogurt). Make sure you get the one for regularity. I was having awful problems like you and I started having Activia. It really seems to help. One of the things I noticed is that if it is "bad" for you, the band will allow you to eat it. I have been really "afraid" to eat things off the program. I'm not good or better than anyone, just scared. I have read so much about the problems that I'm scared to try things. I was so surprised that we can eat tortilla chips. My doctor says its OK, just not a lot of them. I eat them with my chili con queso as part of my meal sometimes. I haven't tried candy, cake, pies, pasta, rice, or popcorn. I do like my animal crackers and sometimes pretezels. Both of those foods you can chew until they are nothing. I sometimes have ice cream, but try to resist. I am going to try eating more protein and see if that helps to keep me full. I am very hungry now with the unfill, but will stay on mushies for a few days. I don't want any more problems. I think we can eat hot wings and nachos during football as long as we count it as lunch or dinner. The real problem I see is forgetting what you are doing and not chewing well or eating too much. Never lose concentration. :welldoneclap: Hang in there everyone. We're going to make it.

hi fishsy i don,t start my pre op diet till 14 days till i am banded . so that puts me at june 22 yuck i am not looking forward to it fatfree yogurt sugarfree jello &yes fatfree cottage cheese which i don.t like all i can eat so i don,t want to do it till then haha my last supper everyday till then loriely

I haven’t much energy right now, but I wanted to touch base before too much time went by. My surgery was at 8:30am on the 15<SUP>th</SUP>, and I came home (to my parent’s house) at 4pm on the 16<SUP>th</SUP>. The procedure went well, and I felt really good yesterday except for some very strong pain at the actual port site. Bending over to do ‘anything’ is so painful at the port! I was up & walking around very well by 6:30pm. I even went to the Lap-Band support group that happened to meet last night at the hospital. I crawled into bed at 11pm feeling so encouraged, despite the port pain. This morning at 3am, however, I woke up to pee & felt flu-ish (as if every muscle ached). I could hardly move my legs & chalked it up to sleeping the hospital bed. By 7am, when the nurse woke me to check my vitals, I couldn’t even left my head off the pillow. :sick And I had a slight fever (100.6), too. But my surgeon checked me out & said that flu-like symptoms were often a side effect of anesthesia. I feel like I’ve been hit by a Mac truck, but so be it. I left the hospital with my hubby at 1pm, dropped of my Vicoden Rx, and browsed through a discount store next to the pharmacy while waiting on the prescription. After that we came back to my folks’, I hugged on my babies (who were none the worse for my absence :-P) and took a nap. Now I’m off for my dinner of a protein shake. That is my main diet for the next 2 weeks. My clinic recommends 16-24 oz daily of protein shake made with skim milk, supplemented by plenty of water, and broth, Jell-O, pudding & yogurt for the 1<SUP>st</SUP> 2 weeks. Such fun! Well, my shake is gonna separate if I don’t get to it soon, so... Good luck to all of you, too!