jhawkchick75

I was told during your 21 days to not focus on calories - just make sure you are getting lots of liquids and keeping your protein up. To be honest I never got that many calories in I was always full. I did protein bullets to ensure I was keeping my energy up and also did vitamins. Don't worry about calories and keep those proteins up and get your liquids in so you are hydrated.

SOOO glad to hear that someone feels the same way. I have lost all this weight, but I still feel fat. When I get compliments, I think in my head, yeah, but if you could see what is under these clothes! My stomach and arms are terrible and I too can't afford PS. Just recently i've really challenged myself to start working out more hoping it can help tone some of this up, but at my age i'm not sure how much that will happen. I'm gonna try my hardest though and have been looking up exercises online that can help my trouble spots. I find myself looking at myself in the mirror and just staring at myself, but I have to remind myself how much healthier I am now. I think back when I was bigger I was in denial of how big I was, and now i'm more aware of it and it's much harder. But I know this is sooo much better! Keep your chin up!

Super easy process! Mine uses and Xray, but not flouro. It takes no time at all and is fairly painless. On a scale of 1-10 i'd say the pain for me is a 1 or 2. When I go for a fill i'm in there literally about 10 minutes and that is mostly taken up by me asking questions of my fill nurse. I agree the needle is big so if they freak you out don't watch. Looks bad but really doesn't hurt and is a piece of cake. Best advice I can give you is don't expect a lot of your first fill. Not to be a negative ninny, but most folks feel basically nothing. Some get great restriction from their first and that is awesome, but don't bank on it. Just remember it is another step in the process. Good luck!

Agreed on the Slim Fast...it is very high in sugar and i'd recommend not doing it. Everyone has their own taste but I personally liked the EAS shakes best. Don't like the vanilla or other stuff, but like the chocolate. i'm not a big sweets person so the 21 days was rough for me, but if I can do it anyone can!

Happy Friday!!!!!!! B: None - took the day off and slept in a bit. L: Carl Budding ham dipped in light miracle whip and two hard boiled eggs Points - 5 D: Chips and dip Points - 7 S: Macaroni & cheese Points - 5 Calories so far:1,000 Points so far: 19 Exercise: Ran 3.25 miles and then did some weights - felt sooo good! Burned over 350 calories just running.

That was great! I agree we cannot do this alone. I even have a friend that used to live by me and we worked out together and really kept each other on track. She moved away but we still email back and forth and keep each other going. It really helps a lot! For me, even just coming in here makes a big difference. Even after I get to where I want to be i'll still come in here often. It seems many disappear after they hit their goal and it's mostly newer folks in here. But I need this even more I think after I hit goal. I don't want to get complacent and get back to where I was. It can happen quickly! I appreciate you all!!

Thanks ladies! Getting myself back on track I can eat regular again today so we shall see what kind of restriction I have. I took today off so i'm hitting the gym here in a bit. Since my brother's accident I haven't gotten to work out at all so i'm ready to try to get in as much as I can. Ready to get this last bit of weight off. I'm doing a 5 mile race in March so I need to get back on track running to get ready for that. Everyone have a great weekend!!

Thanks so much! It's been the best decision i've ever made and don't you EVER let anyone make you feel bad about it. That is issues within themselves not yours to worry about. They don't understand that the band is not a fix all but merely a tool to help you there. It is still a lot of work on our ends. Are you going to the Davis Doctors? I never miss that show! If so it looks like you will be in great hands. Soo lucky that you can get it all covered that is fantastic! Glad to have you here and good luck!!

On liquids and mushies until tomorrow so mine's gonna be a bit odd - more snacking rather than a B,L,D but here we go! 7:30am - EAS protein shake (about 1/2) Points: 2 11:00am - Soup at hand Creamy Tomato Points: 3 1:30pm - Garlic mashed potatoes Points: 3 3:30 - mac and cheese Points: 3 PM - taking applesauce and cottage cheese w/ me to work Calories so far: 670 Points so far: 11

I'm liking it and am excited to see what the new features are. Nice job Chad!!

Yeah, it really depends on what doctor you are going to. I know some that only do about a week of liquids then mushies, but I am so glad I went to Dr. O. His post op diet is the most strict, but it seems that he has so many fewer patients with complications. So even though it was tough, i'm so glad I did it! You have made a good choice to get the band! Best of luck and if you have questions definitely read through old posts in this forum and if you don't see them there ask away!!!

Welp, the vacation is over I got a fill after being partially unfilled last month. They couldn't give me the whole amount I had before back, but I got .8 of it. I'm not gonna lie it's been nice I could eat literally anything including bread which is my weakness. I tried hard to be good eating whole grain bread and not very often, but I did eat pizza and other stuff I shouldn't. It was so hard! Thankfully I only gained 3 lbs over the last month and with Thanksgiving in there i'm not too upset about that. The nurse was very pleased. I'm on liquids now then mushies tomorrow so not sure how my restriction is, but i'll find out soon. Hopefully I can get back on track have another fill scheduled for Dec 30th. Before my brother's accident my restriction was almost perfect, but the stress of all that tightened me right up. Not that things are slowing down I felt comfortable getting my restriction back. It was a fun ride, but I am sooo glad to have some fill back and hopefully this will equal the scale going down.

Find yourself some creamy soups and protein shakes you like. I hate being on liquids after a fill - it's amazing how I was able to do the 21 days just fine, but now I find it miserable to be in liquids. I love the Campbells fiesta nacho soup or the Healthy Choice creamy tomato parsmesan bisque. Both good and filling. Give your tummy a couple days to get the swelling down and i'm sure you will be fine. Good luck!

So I told myself good or bad i'd always post my food in here. Well here comes the bad!! I get a fill at 3:00 today and I could not be happier! I can eat literally anything! I know this is bad and I don't condone it, but for breakfast and lunch today I went and got things that I know won't go down (hopefully) after this fill. It won't get me back to where I was before, but will help a lot. Fortunately i'll be on liquids/mushies for a couple days then it's back to counting my points! This time unfilled has been quite glorious in a way, but also very stressful and HARD!! I'll actually be ready for restriction again and no bread! B: Burger King french toast sticks and hash rounds L: Beef burrito supreme D: Fiesta cheese soup

Great ones! I also love all the soup at hands and also EAS shakes - I only like the chocolate ones.

Yeah i'm really bad about getting on the scale! But i'm gonna try to work hard like you all and lay off. It really isn't good and it's become just a habit in the morning. If you are looking for a scale, I recommend the Weight Watchers one - I bought it at Target for not much - can't remember how much but i've had it almost 5 years and it is holding strong and seems to stay consistent.

I know it is so much fun to go to the shows! And now we are old enough to drink at them!

For anyone that wants to join us, we have under "lap band testimonials" a weigh-in Wednesday. I am bad about weighing in too much, but that is my only day that it "counts". We also have one under "diet and food" where we all journal our food each day. Helps me be accountable and i'm not a good liar so it keeps me honest!!

Wow...can't believe it is December!!!! B: 1 pc of Orowheat double fiber bread w/ ICBINB spray and low sugar spread and a handful of Kashi cinna raisin crunch cereal Points - 5 L: Forgot my lunch in the fridge - ugh!!! KFC 1pc meal with green beans and mac and cheese Points - 8 D: Cheeseburger (no bun) and small french fries Calories so far: 1250 Points so far: 25 Got a bit of a workout in today too! Nobody at the gym I work at at the end of the night so I was able to do arms.

You know we all have those times. I have not been good lately either and recently got my rear in gear. Not so much in the exercise department but in the food. I have started cooking all my meals on Sunday and portioning them out and getting them all ready so I have no excuse. I have gladware full of veggies, fruit, cottage cheese, and my meals I make so that I can just grab and go in the morning. I am very indecisive so having several options each morning makes me feel better but also in control of my day. That way I can grab whatever I am craving. I need to start getting on track w/ working out again too, but this is a start. Just keep in mind we all have those times when we slack off. Just get back on track and remember tomorrow is a new day!!

Kim....look at you hottie on Halloween!!!!! Too cute!!!! And Funmamma - awww yeah on the NKOTB!!!!! I've been to 3 of their concerts in the last about year and a half. I told Kim how jealous I was that she met Donnie!!!!!!

Happy Monday!!!! BLEH!!!! I made all my food for the week and portioned it out, so i'm ready to tackle the week!!! I made a list of all the stuff too and already calculated the WW points. Sounds anal, but it makes me feel more in control. I get a fill this week - WOOO HOOO! Hopefully it will help. B: Orowheat double fiber bread with ICBINB spray and low sugar jelly and cereal (dry) points - 5 L: Pack of Carl Budding turkey w/ mustard, carrots and light ranch dressing and one hardboiled egg. Points - 6 D: Cottage cheese, turkey slices, and macaroni salad. Decided I didn't want what I brought for dinner so I stopped at the grocery store deli. Points - 8 S: Chips and dip Points - 6 Calories so far: 1250 Points so far: 25

KIM!!!!!! So good to see you here!!!!!!!!! I've been wondering where you and a few others have been. Congrats on hitting goal that is so fantastic! I was getting close but had to have an unfill b/c of stress with a family emergency. I go for a fill this week so hopefully in the next few months I can start to get back on track. Don't be a stranger!!!

Just sent you a message!!!

Congrats on your decision you won't regret it! My best advice is to read as much as you can in this forum - go back months and months and read all you can. I actually got a small notebook and took notes so as I was headed that way I knew what to do, what to bring and all that good stuff. Good luck and welcome to the club!!!