They have added a forum for us - let's post here... So we can share with the new people....

I'm with Phyll. There's a lot you can eat. You have to experiment. On special occasions I eat differently. I still limit but may use slider food. I enjoy the food and get back to a more restricted protocol the next day. If I know I'm going to something special I only have 2 protein drinks that day. Every once in a while I have a day where I'm craving something. Sometimes I just have it. As long as I get back on the horse there are no lasting effects. I've lost 50 and have 20 to go. I have another fill on the 27th. But I still have a lot of restriction when I stick to the denser proteins. My problem is at night when I haven't that much restriction. But I'm making it. Feeling better and being healthier is wonderful.

Exactly! She asked... what do I do if I go out on a date... this has to be a LIFESTYLE CHANGE!! If we tell ourselves we can never again eat certain things, we won't stick with the program. It's like balancing a checking account... plan ahead for those times when you're going to deviate from the program. Check the menu online, if possible, of wherever you're going when dining out. Cut your calories the rest of the day. Do some extra exercise. Get right back on program the next day.

I don't understand asking for advice and then rejecting what's offered. Sorry... but I was a little offended by the response I got, so I appreciate the support I got from a couple of other "veterans", fellow sojourners! Thanks!

Gosh I wasn't rejecting it... I hate having to type stuff. Sometimes it comes out not the way it was intended. I was only replying with what I've been told to do. My keyboard locks up on me so I was trying to get the message typed before it screwed up on me and I sent it without reading through it. Sorry it appeared I was NOT taking your advice. Definitely wasn't the case!

Ell, everyone's Dr. is a little different. One thing about these Dr.s is that very few of them have actually experienced food addiction. I balanced what my Dr.s nutritionist told me to do with what I know about myself and my addiction. Rigid adherance to any highly regimented restricted diet has always backfired on me. But when I find myself getting off track repeatedly without planning for it, then I get back to the basics until I've got a handle on the food again. You have to find your own way. Most of us started with exactly what our Dr.s said. Then we read what others do and tested things and found what worked for us. None of us does exactly what other people do. Most of us have found that too much rigidity backfires.

You'll find your way.

Ell1021, Ifyourstomach... has very good advise. Follow your doctors directions while you are early in the process. Learn how the band works for you or doesn't work for you. After you start getting fills, you will find your way.

When I go out for dinner, often I just order an appetizer or a salad. I can eat lettuce and find it a great way to get a little extra roughage in my diet. You just learn what and how much you can eat...eat slow, chew thoroughly. You'll do fine.

Thank you. That seems to be what I'm determining from reading the posts. I think I'm getting a little over anxious and trying to over analyze. Monday is my surgery, I just got home from my pre-op tests. I think I'm trying too hard to "plan" how to live with the band ... I best take it one day at a time and feel my way, like a new baby. Thank you so much for the advice..... you make me STOP and realize I need to slow down my brain. It's a simple process and I'm trying to make it way too complicated. Thanks for the grounding!

as far as eating out goes, I usually have an appetizer... my fav since banding is MUSSELS, they are HIGH protien and are chewable in all cases... I just love them... although I wouldn't touch a seafood before banding... I now find that FISH is a nice light well tolerated alternative to meat...

Now, don't ge tme wrong I still LOVE Prime Rib, but I usually just eat 2 - 3 oz off of my DH plate.

Eating slowly and chewing 20 - 30 times per mouthfull... I actually had to COUNT my chews when I first got banded as I was always having 'first bite syndrome'.... counting really helped me to not SNARF my food down.

Good luck to you and keep us posted on your results.

Peaches

Hello everyone,

I am 52 years old, and am having lapband surgery tomorrow.

I was asked to report to the hospital at 8am, but my surgery is scheduled at 12noon. I am so pleased to meet

you all. I am sure I will be looking to all of you seasoned

bandsters for guidance. It's nice to have a special place

for us 50 and over gals!!!

Hello everyone,

I am 52 years old, and am having LAP-BAND® surgery tomorrow.

I was asked to report to the hospital at 8am, but my surgery is scheduled at 12noon. I am so pleased to meet

you all. I am sure I will be looking to all of you seasoned

bandsters for guidance. It's nice to have a special place

for us 50 and over gals!!!

WHere are you from Pina??

I am from Fountain Valley, California.

I am from Fountain Valley, California.

Welcome!

Headed to Palm Springs area for the winter. "Snowbirds" from WA state.

Welcome!

Headed to Palm Springs area for the winter. "Snowbirds" from WA state.

Is that Palm Springs...Cal or Florida?

I am from NY and you go on vacation to Florida and the whole state (NY and NJ) are there

We have a joke with friends that it is easier in the winter to take a plane down to Florida stay for the day and then come back home....lol....you might laugh but if you spend a day in the city between parking etc ,,,, you might as well go to Florida..a shame

I luckily do not live in the city

I had extraordinary compliments from my step-daughter whom I hadn't seen for a few months. Went to see my husband's granddaughter with him and my step-daughter kept saying I was beautiful, just beautiful. What a difference 50 lbs can make. Welcome to all newbies. You're going to love your band.

Is that Palm Springs...Cal or Florida? I am from NY and you go on vacation to Florida and the whole state (NY and NJ) are there. We have a joke with friends that it is easier in the winter to take a plane down to Florida stay for the day and then come back home....lol....you might laugh but if you spend a day in the city between parking etc ,,,, you might as well go to Florida..a shame. I luckily do not live in the city

I grew up in Buffalo NY so I know what you are talking about! But... FL... Palm Beach, Palm Springs is CA... don't think there is a Palm Springs in FL. There are a lot of "Snowbirds" in Palm Springs in the winter, but traffic is not nearly as bad as in other parts of CA, or in FL. Haven't been to FL in quite a few years.... lived there in the late 60's for 18 mos. and then visited a few times 20 years later when our son was in the Navy. It had changed a LOT in those 20 years and I can only imagine what it must be like now!

Phyl,

I grew up in Rochester, NY. Now I go back a few times a year to visit friends.

I prefer the warmer weather. Even Delaware is warmer than Rochester. Last time I was in FL was 25 years ago, and I have never been to CA..but really want to get there.

Everyone enjoy life

Welcome Pina

I grew up in Midway City and spent all of my summers at the pier in Huntington Bch. Lived there from 1958 until 1988. We moved to Catalina Island and lived there 16 years. Got tired of island life and moved to Murrysville, PA. I really love it here. That area has changed so much. When I grew up there, it was all farm land and orange and lemon groves. It was beautiful. There wasn't much in Fountain Valley.

I am 58 and have had my band since May. It's one of the best decisions I have ever made.

I am one of the lucky one who can eat anything I want. However, I do have to really watch how much I eat. A small amount is enough, but with 5.5 cc's in my 9cc Realize band, I can eat more if I want to. That's the tricky part.

I have not had one problem with it. I wish the same for you.

As you can see I have lost 37 of the 82 lbs I want to lose. I havn't lost anything the last three weeks. This is the second time I hit a period like that. Fortunately it passes.

It does take some work but it's sure is worth it.