Hey all.

So there's a bunch of us in this group, all split up into our different banding days. I was thinking that it might be a good idea to have one master thread as we move through the month, in which all of us could post as we go, from the pioneers going on March 1st to the finalists on March 31st.

I'd love to talk about our anticipation and any worries as we approach our banding date, for people to talk about exactly what happened from the moment they walked into the hospital door until the second they walked out, about how recovery is going, about weight loss and plateaus, about non-scale victories and challenges.

I was thinking that if we all contribute to one thread, it'll form a more substantial channel for information and support. At the moment, I was thinking that we might be too spread out into individual date, and that a central thread would be a really good backbone for the group, in addition to the date-specific threads.

What do you think?

Fenton

OK. EVERYBODY ON YOUR FEET!!! Its time to do the happy dance!!! I'm in the two's yea! I'm in the two's!!!! I am 299 lb. That's right. I'm celebrating. I had to lose over 30lb to get to the two's. I have not seen the two's for five years!!! YEA ME!!! Now I need to figure out how to change my ticker...

:w00t:Congrats enjoylife!!! What an accomplishment! You go girl!!:ohmy:

I'm not sure if thi'll work or not.. But I made some progress side by side pics for my Gram and Gramp today, and wanted to share.. Hope they work!

:)Kerri

WOW, WOW, WOW.....WHAT A DIFFERENCE.....especially in your tummy!

MOST EXCELLENT!

I kick myself for not taking before pictures.....I thought about it, but just didn't.....

Thanks Harley:).. And it's never too late to get pics! At least you'll have something to look back at!! It will so be worth it.

:)Kerri

fabulousness!!!!

enjoylife-WAY TO GO!!!!! I did a little extra dancing for the exercise.

HarleyGirl-Shop? What shop? I love shopping.

Kerri- I see it in your face and arms too!!

Those who are red and itchy- a little benadryl cream maybe? i've been using silicone scar sheets. Keeps the skin moist and is helping with the scars staying flat.

Taking a quick short break here at work, I go home in less than hour, finally, it's been a long day.

My schedule for food and Water has really been thrown off today, so now I'm behind in my liquids and I've only eaten a can of tuna for lunch and now I'm getting hungry again. I brought several things to eat today if I had the urge, but I've been trying to get my water and Protein drink down all day and just finished the water. At 5:00, I'm going to have some yogurt or pumpkin custard that i made the other day, not sure which, then I'll worry about more protein when I get home.

Lynn, I brought to work to eat today, tuna, light salad dressing to moisten my tuna, yogurt, pumpkin custard (taste like pumpkin pie without the crust, yummy!), string cheese, and applesauce. Like I said I've only eaten the tuna so far. I'm going to have to get a better handle on my scheduling beginning tomorrow.

Kerri, you look great, keep up the good work.

Geeze Kerri, that is amazing!!!! Doesn't it just blow the mind how much difference 24 lbs can make??? You look fabulous, and I can see the difference EVERYWHERE. Nicely done! :ohmy:

Wow enjoylife! I am doing the happy dance for you. Good for me to as I can use the exercise!

Kerri! WOW! What a difference. I can see it all over. Amazing what a difference that amount of weight will make!

I have to say that I am doing well. I still have the pulling sensation. Today was my first real day back at work. I am thrilled that I only work until 2 on Mondays. It has been a bit of chaos at work. It went so fast, I didn't really get the liquid and Protein in like I should. Time just zoomed by.

But, I am hungry. Maybe not back to the Lion yet, but I am not a kitty cat! I would love to have some real food, but I guess I'll wait.

I told a 3rd person about my band today. My cousin (who lives in TX) told me she is going through the process, so I swore her to silence and then told her that I already had it. It was nice to be able to tell another person.

enjoylife-WAY TO GO!!!!! I did a little extra dancing for the exercise.

HarleyGirl-Shop? What shop? I love shopping.

Kerri- I see it in your face and arms too!!

Those who are red and itchy- a little benadryl cream maybe? i've been using silicone scar sheets. Keeps the skin moist and is helping with the scars staying flat.

I work at our local Harley Davidson dealership.......in motorclothes.....

it's a great job!

At some point in this thread....there was a post that had sort of a guideline regarding how many calories a day were recommended for each stage.....I meant to copy and paste it in a word document, but forgot.....any help?

I'm worrying about how I'm eating.....I'm staying under 1000 a day and making sure that carbs are lower than protein.....staying lowfat....but still, I worry.

Feeling a little more hungry lately........may start thinking about an adjustment in the next two or three weeks....

My incisions are sooo itchy. It is getting worse everyday. They are also persistanly red. Anyone else have incisions that look like this 14 days post op? I just saw my doctor on Friday and of course the reddness started on Saturday. The itching has beent here for about a week intermittantly. Now it is constant.

Christine

Christine, I cant see your pictures, but I was having the same problem and now I use pure shae butter and it helps alot.

Diva good job!!!!! Cant wait till I'm in that position.

Kerri, you can definately see the difference.

Not sure this is a band victory but my husband surprised me with a trip to Bermuda today. He said it is a reward for all my effort and hard work. You gotta love that guy.

Harley

My best friends husband has a big hog of a motorcycle. I think it's a Sportster. Where ever I travel I get her a tank or Tshirt from the local Harley store.

Me, Im scared Sh*tless to ride those. But they sure are pretty!!

I was the one who posted about the guidelines. Here they are again.

Early post op:1 month=~500-600 cal/~60-70g pro/carb~80/fat~6

Rapid loss:2-6 months=~800-1000 cals/~70-80g pro/carb 80/fat~25

Stable loss:6-12 months=~1000-1200 cals/~80-90g pro/carb 100/fat~30

Beyond 12 months:

cals=1200-1400

pro=75-90g

carb=135-160g

fat=25%(35-42g)-30%(40-47g)

(so says L.Gentile, R.D.)