MamaMichelle

Wow, look at us!! Thanks Hanna you are so on top of things... :lb24: (way to go)

Welcome to Bandland Linda!! :lb10:

Mac- You can use a website like http://www.fitday.com to track your calories, you can add custom foods by just imputing into the site the info from the nutrition label or use the preloaded calorie/protien/carb info they provide for all of your various foods. It's a quick process and the site is FREE!

Those temptations like wedding, family reunions, birthday parties are the WORST when it comes to temptations... everyone expects you to stuff your face full of food and if you choose to use some restraint and only eat a little you get strange looks and questions about why you're not eating much (lol usually they are asking out of jealousy because they too are gorging on food).. I live in Las Vegas so there is a buffet on every corner lol, I just told my husband he would have to go alone because the price of admission usually isn't worth it given how little I can eat!!

AnnieLou, How are you feeling, did you get your staples out?? Hopefully you are doing well, please keep us updated! :lb4:

:lb9: Congrats on being newly banded, it's not surprising to me everyone who's banded at the OCC has such a wonderful experience.... They are the best!!

Hey Denise, It's great that you are coming to Vegas let me know if you'd like to get together for lunch while you are in town (no buffets for us, lol) I love meeting fellow bandsters!

So Sorry we are going to miss you Claresta, I think we need to plan a 1 year reunion party :lb21: for all of us in Feb 09!! Just think of how wonderful we will all look, Dr. O will want to use our success stories on the cover of his next book... lol

Karmin- Are you sure it's physical hunger or do you think it could be metal "head hunger"? A good way to tell the difference is head hunger comes on suddenly where physical hunger usually comes along more gradually... Pretty much all of us have had to fight the head hunger battle which is why the post op diet is a well needed detox from food!!

Sara- Here's a link to instructions on how to put a ticker in your signature: http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?showtopic=5317 :lb10: to all of you girls on being newly banded!!

I just noticed that your ticker info may need to be edited... It's saying you've lost all your weight already lol Just click on the ticker image and a pop up window will open, just put in your pin number and edit your starting and current weight then click create ticker!! You don't have to go back to the signature box or anything on this site it wil automatically change itself on the forum after you've edited it on the ticker factory site!

All you have to do is type in whatever text you'd like either above or below the ticker text (just make sure you don't mess up the ticker code) Here's the text I use, feel free to use it as a guideline if you'd like: Starting/Highest Weight 01/01/08: 247 lbs Date of Surgery Weight 02/28/08: 226 lbs (-21lbs lost pre-op) Post Op/Current Weight 04/10/08: 205 lbs (-21lbs lost as of 6 weeks post-op)

Very Cool!! Thanks Admin :lb13:

Wow Kris, You are looking GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREAT!! It's so wonderful to see that you have had such great results even if you have struggled some as you said above! Way to go...

Brittania, Sounds like you are making some great progress so far, though I wouldn't push it on getting a fill so soon... Even if you feel like you have no restriction now you really wont know till you are on to solid foods and even if you have lost all restriction by that time that doesn't mean you are fully healed and ready for a fill... Sooooooooooooo many of us have gone through the "bandster hell" phase and know what you're thinking and feeling if you're really that concerned about re-gaining weight then I would try returning to some form of the pre-op diet (like replacing one or two meals a day with a shake) it will hopefully keep the scale from creeping back up!! Again you are doing so well, congrats!

Hey Bobbi- Congrats on your progress so far! You're so lucky that you were able to speak with a therapist, I can tell your head is really in the right place since you're not obsessing about the numbers on the scale and trusting yourself by how your clothes fit!!! Isn't it great when you see friends who make it a point to compliment you on the weight loss, sometimes that's better than anything the scale can tell you!! Keep up the good work, let us know how things go on the 24th! (lol see there I go again, I am a self proclaimed scale junkie grrrrrrrr)

Cookies are a big weakness of mine as well, you learn to not miss the junk food when you're only able to consume a small amount of food... One thing I will stress is to use the time you're on the pre and post op diets to detox your mind from these cravings and make sure your husband is ready to make the changes too! My husband used to bring me food whenever I asked, and would indulge me with little treats the same way... lol he also had to re-learn that food is meant to be fuel and that continually offering me food could no longer happen, even if he felt guilty eating in front of me he would just have to deal with it!! Don't let the little hurdles get you down, everyone stumbles!! You just have to get up and say tomorrow is another day where you can only improve on the prior day's shortcomings... Before you know it you'll have a week of great choices behind you and the scale will surely reward you!!

Hey Starlight! Congrats on your surgery date!! I was banded on 2/28 with a great group of girls so my advice is to get to know your fellow bandsters that share your surgery date!! They will be a HUGE part of your support system, when your normal friends can't give you advice, or when your husband is tired of hearing you complain about being hungry these will be the people you can contact because they are going through the exact same thing!! Our crew has stayed in touch and 5 of us will actually be returning to the OCC on April 18th to get our first fills together!! That will be the morning after your surgery so if you're still around the OCC at about 9am you should see us there, and of course you can ask us anything!! Best of Luck with your Surgery!

Wow Jena, You are making some great progress I too started my pre-op diet early so I could lose as much as possible before being banded, and I think having that long-term experience has totally helped with my post-op success! I know it's not possible for everyone to do and you and I know it's hard as hell but the long road is totally worth it! Best of luck sweetie!

Great job, you did it!

It is an exciting time, I think the more you're able to stay positive and realistic about your goal the better progress/results you will get!! I know there are a lot of people who struggle at various stages while banded and we've all been there but you just have to keep telling yourself THIS WILL WORK FOR ME and believe it!!

I get mine from another doctor's E-store I pay $16.75 for a box of 7 shakes... Yes it is the Optifast 800, the 800 is how many calories minimum you should eat in a day... each shake has 160 calories in it so you can have 5 a day or more depending on your weight loss needs/goals. The reason they want you to get it through a doctor is because they want you to be on a montoring plan if you are eating so few calories.. Like I said I replace 1-2 meals with a shake per day, taking up 320 calories which leaves 680-880 that I can have for my 3rd meal...

I am scheduled for my first fill on Friday the 18th! I am going back to TJ with 5 others that were banded on the same day as me 2/28, of course I'll be posting my experience too! Hope mine goes as well as Mac's!

Fighting the head hunger is the hardest part, you have to think as a bandster with a good fill no less... It sounds like you're already watching your portions which I'm sure is a big step forward if you used to eat like I used to eat!! It does get easier and with a good fill (like Mackenzie has) it should become effortless...

Here's a link to instructions on how to put a ticker in your signature: http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?showtopic=5317