Great Idea - I will do it right now !!

Hi

I am Janet and I am a recovering food addict :wink2:

I was banded 7/17/07 - My starting weight was 250 - I'm 5'4

Today (just over 10 months out) I am 154 - size 8 pants (was 18/20) Medium tops (was 22/24)

I got banded as I wanted to extend the years that I have left on this planet and to do that I knew that I needed to lose weight.

The band has been the tool I needed. For the first time in my life I have been able to achieve this goal (actually getting to my goal weight)

If you want a buddy - support - help - suggestions - Please feel free to call upon me - I will gladly share my journey with you - the journey is still on going and by helping you I will be helping me (staying motivated and accountable) and then one day you can pay it forward and help someone else.

Hi Janet:

I returned to work today and a full 12 hours. I teach at at Technical College for the state (so I don't work hard) but it is a very long day and I am very tired. I will have another long day tomorrow. (Day and night classes)

I have done ok on the food, I got my band on the 6th and have the new Realize band with no fill. I can tell I have some restriction cause I can't eat much, if I do my tummy feels really full! Most of the time I feel like I have eaten a huge meal on just a soup at hand or a litte cottage cheese.

I am trying to think of things I can bring to work to eat on these long days. Our campus is in a very rural area and not many restaurants (besides I would rather eat my own food. Any suggestions? I have a Protein shake in the mornings for breakfast and then try to eat something for lunch. I am on the mushy stage and can progress to solids slowly next week.

Thanks for all your support!

BTW, I have lost 15 lbs since my pre-op and feel great!

Hi Cathy

Do you have a microwave to heat your food??

If so - Soups - left overs from dinner - lunch meat are usually allowed on mushie. Refried Beans with a little low fat cheese - I made navy bean soup - pinto bean bean soup and mushed up the beans...

One pot wonders

onion bell pepper garlic white ground turkey meat cabbage chopped real fine - saute onions bell peppers in a little evoo add ground turkey & garlic crumb it up real good - cook till done add cabbage - soy sauce - some Water cover and cook till done - you can subsitutue zuchinne for the cabbage - delete soy sauce and replace with tomatoe sauce....

I will have to go look at my food diaries - all of a sudden my brain is blank - you understand the 50+ issues - I will go dig out my books and see what I ate but I am pretty sure a lot of left overs from dinner warmed up in the micro wave.

Will let you know in a bit.

Cathy

Went back and ck'd my food diary - looks like I was eating 1/2 cup refried bean with a sprinkle of cheese and creamed soups for lunch during the mushie stage.

I had 10 days each stage - full liquids - mushie - soft then regular..

Recovery wasn't bad - ya surgery hurts - Woke up saying wtf have you done but after a few hours was better - next day bad gas for a minute but the last pain shot too it away -- I was banded on a Tues back to work the following Monday (Desk Job) Port site was uncomfortable for the longest about 2 or 3 weeks but not bad I wore dresses for a few weeks nothing tight around my waist.

I have been on a lot of diets programs - and for me the band was the tool I needed to help me put to use all I had learned from like weight watchers (I am a ww girl)

During my mushie stage I came home from work tired and hungry - started to make cream gravy (bacon fat flour milk) to put over my mashed potatoes - I looked at it while it was cooking and said ya it's a mushie -but is it healthy - did you have major frickin surgery so that you could / would continue to eat unhealthy - I said NO - threw the crap away - didn't eat it..

I have read alot of self help stuff - We eat to sooth our feelings to self medicate - I now think before I eat - am I really hungry (99% of the time I am not truly hungry) I eat healthy 98% of the time allow for treat about 2% of the time - but they are within my calorie budget for the day.

I count calories - Protein grams keep a food diary and exercise.

Thanks for the feedback. I am definitely still sore from the surgery, but doing pretty well for only 4 days out. I am with you when you say why did I have major surgery if I am going to bleep it up.

I have already started feeling hungry. The good news is that a glass of Water will usually fix that- today-not expecting that to last.

I also have an assortment of soy based cream soups that taste amazing and fill me up for a long time.

I feel like I have entered a new universe. 1/2 cup and I am full to bursting? I have seen people eat like that but I have never been one of them. I wanted 3 hamburgers when I was 6 YO.

It has been one week since I was banded and all is well. I go to the hospital today to begin an exercise program. I have not had any vomiting or sliming. Today I get to start on oatmeal, cream of wheat, cottage cheese, applesauce, mashed potatoes, pureed meats and peas along with the full liquids. What a "gourmet" menu but it sounds good to me.

My left side is still quite sore and I cannot decide where my port is yet. the other three incisions have never hurt at all. I seem to have some internal burping when I think I am full. It is all so new that I really don't even know what I am feeling most of time. I also have some coughing after I eat that I take as a sign to quit eating or drinking. I am anxious to get on the scale at the hospital this afternoon to see what I have lost. My scale says I am down 9 lbs.

The photos look great Janet!! I can't wait til I have some like that!!

I had a great NSV yesterday, went shopping, went into a normal store, GAP, and bought a T shirt a size XL but still it was a normal store!! I bought it thinking it would fit down the road and it was incentive, I've not bought something in a NORMAL store in years!! I tried it on at home and IT FIT!!!!!!!!!!! I think it's snug but my daughter, husband and friend all say no that's the way it's supposed to fit. I'm so stoked, now I want to go back and get one in every color!!!

Cathy, I'm eating lots of refried beans and a tad of cheese these days on mushies. Also some scrambled eggs and soups.

Thanks for the feedback. I am definitely still sore from the surgery, but doing pretty well for only 4 days out. I am with you when you say why did I have major surgery if I am going to bleep it up.

I have already started feeling hungry. The good news is that a glass of Water will usually fix that- today-not expecting that to last.

I also have an assortment of soy based cream soups that taste amazing and fill me up for a long time.

I feel like I have entered a new universe. 1/2 cup and I am full to bursting? I have seen people eat like that but I have never been one of them. I wanted 3 hamburgers when I was 6 YO.

Kat - yep this is a whole new experience - I am still amazing 11 months out ..

It has been one week since I was banded and all is well. I go to the hospital today to begin an exercise program. I have not had any vomiting or sliming. Today I get to start on oatmeal, cream of wheat, cottage cheese, applesauce, mashed potatoes, pureed meats and peas along with the full liquids. What a "gourmet" menu but it sounds good to me.

My left side is still quite sore and I cannot decide where my port is yet. the other three incisions have never hurt at all. I seem to have some internal burping when I think I am full. It is all so new that I really don't even know what I am feeling most of time. I also have some coughing after I eat that I take as a sign to quit eating or drinking. I am anxious to get on the scale at the hospital this afternoon to see what I have lost. My scale says I am down 9 lbs.

Jill - Yep mushies never knew we could be so excited

Congrats on the 9lbs :tongue:

The photos look great Janet!! I can't wait til I have some like that!!

I had a great NSV yesterday, went shopping, went into a normal store, GAP, and bought a T shirt a size XL but still it was a normal store!! I bought it thinking it would fit down the road and it was incentive, I've not bought something in a NORMAL store in years!! I tried it on at home and IT FIT!!!!!!!!!!! I think it's snug but my daughter, husband and friend all say no that's the way it's supposed to fit. I'm so stoked, now I want to go back and get one in every color!!!

Cathy, I'm eating lots of refried Beans and a tad of cheese these days on mushies. Also some scrambled eggs and soups.

Long - Great NSV I had one on Friday - My GS asked me why I was walking so fast - told him i am just walking - before he would always be 10 steps ahead of me :thumbup:

It has been one week since I was banded and all is well. I go to the hospital today to begin an exercise program. I have not had any vomiting or sliming. Today I get to start on oatmeal, cream of wheat, cottage cheese, applesauce, mashed potatoes, pureed meats and peas along with the full liquids. What a "gourmet" menu but it sounds good to me.

My left side is still quite sore and I cannot decide where my port is yet. the other three incisions have never hurt at all. I seem to have some internal burping when I think I am full. It is all so new that I really don't even know what I am feeling most of time. I also have some coughing after I eat that I take as a sign to quit eating or drinking. I am anxious to get on the scale at the hospital this afternoon to see what I have lost. My scale says I am down 9 lbs.

Jill,

I am with you on the full thing. Holy s***! I have no way to interpret the signals my body is sending me. Last night I kept wandering around my kitchen looking for? I have no idea. i suddenly realized-I'm thirsty, not hungry. Weird. So I drank Water. Amazing. It worked. I am 5 days postop and I think I have gone down the rabbit hole. I haven't weighed in yet. I think I am a little scared to.

wow! what a fabulous transformatiion!

wow! what a fabulous transformatiion!

Thanks DJ...

I went to the hospital to start my exercise program yesterday and I have lost 10 lbs!!!!!! I did 15 minutes on a recumbant bike and another 15 minutes of some type of machine for arms. I am proud of myself. It is not much but it is a beginning. I go again on Friday.

I was able to tolerate the oatmeal, eggs and cottage cheese quite well. I like the Campbells Soup at Hand , especially the chicken and Stars and the Cream of Chicken. You just heat and sip.

All is going good so far.:drool:

I went to the hospital to start my exercise program yesterday and I have lost 10 lbs!!!!!! I did 15 minutes on a recumbant bike and another 15 minutes of some type of machine for arms. I am proud of myself. It is not much but it is a beginning. I go again on Friday.

I was able to tolerate the oatmeal, eggs and cottage cheese quite well. I like the Campbells Soup at Hand , especially the chicken and Stars and the Cream of Chicken. You just heat and sip.

All is going good so far.:smile2:

:thumbup:CONGRATS JILL ON THE 10 LBS:thumbup:

Exercise - slow and easy that's the way i started

Never thought something as simple as eggs would taste so good

Good Morning Ladies

How's everyone doing today - How are things going.

Found this article in the Lapband magazine - and it's great info

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f197/lap-band-learning-curve-65033/#post879194

That was a great article. I'm going to print it and take it to my doctor with me next week.

I'm doing much better since the weekend and concentrating on making healthier choices.

Have a great day!

Alice

Banded April 8, 2008

271/243/150

Ok. Maybe I had to have a bad day. Major pain in my left shoulder for the first time. Couldn't sleep on my side. Little nauseated, but otherwise OK. I think I am over the worst and I know tomorrow will be better.

Ok. Maybe I had to have a bad day. Major pain in my left shoulder for the first time. Couldn't sleep on my side. Little nauseated, but otherwise OK. I think I am over the worst and I know tomorrow will be better.

Yep Kat gas is worse that the stupid surgery - it kept in the the hospital an extra night cuz it hurt so bad when the doc came to release me - Gas X strips and walking and sleeping on your side will take a little time - since I am in my golden years :smile: I don't remember exactly how long it took me but I think it was only a couple of days - you have to do is slowly,

Hope today is a better day for you - walk and gas strips some even said heating pads - but since I live in the desert and was banded in july a heating pad was the last thing on my mind:lol: