jhawkchick75

Here is what I use: http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2830571 You take half in the am and half in the pm b/c you shouldn't do more than around 20g of protein at a time. I just swig half of it no need to put in water or anything. They are great!

Unless they have changed the rules you can have jello/pudding during the 21 days. I agree some type of pudding dish would be nice. You could also take a soup. I've seen a lot of recipes for things like cheesy potato soup and things like that. You can sift out the chunks and enjoy!

Hi there! I was lucky and have yet to have any major hunger problems, but here are some suggestions: * Many times when you think you are hungry you are actually thirsty. Are you getting enough water in? * I take fiber choice weight management and I know some others so benefiber and other types. If you take them around 10am and around 3pm, it helps between meals. * Also, it takes time to figure out and everyone is different, but make sure it's not mental hunger. A few times when i've found myself thinking I was hungry, it was due to stress or it was "time" to eat. * Are you getting enough protein? Focus on protein first then veggies. Also, I do protein bullets and they really help. As I said I can really eat whatever - nothing gets stuck and I do just fine so I definitely don't have much restriction, but I make sure and follow these steps to help myself along and so far i've done great. Good luck!

Congrats! Now the fun really begins!

Yeah, it stinks but guys do lose quicker than us. One of the times (the many times) I did WW there was one lone guy in our group and he seemed to hit a 5 lb mark every week and all the women would just glare at him. Felt kinda sorry for him! Just remember as long as you are doing all you are supposed to do and following all the rules then you will be fine. As long as it is coming off - regardless of how quickly - that is what matters. Keep it up!!!

50 lbs what a great accomplishment! That takes some real dedication to stick through it even when it's going slow. So great job!! Thank you also for posting pics!!

That is so fantastic thank you so much for sharing with us. I love to see everyone's before and afters. It really is a huge motivator for me.

Congrats to both of you newbies! I am not that far ahead of you - just banded in Oct. I can't stress enough to take time to look through all these posts and take notes. Go back quite a while there is some great stuff in here. Also be sure and ask any questions you have. Best of luck!

Completely understand. Now that it's been long enough I really need to get to working out again. Most people don't like it, but they say it takes 2 weeks to form a habit, so if you can push yourself to work out for 2 weeks, I know in the past when I got in a good routine after a while if I missed out then I just didn't feel right the rest of the day. Also, try to find things that you enjoy. I have found a few dance dvd's that I like that help the time go by faster. Also, for me I get on my treadmill which isn't so exciting but I watch TV while i'm on it and it makes time go by so much faster. But I do have to be careful b/c I am prone to trip on the treadmill if i'm not paying attention! Another nice thing about watching TV on the treadmill is I am multi-tasking. There are times I don't want to work out, but I tell myself I can be doing the same thing (watching TV) but do it on the treadmill and that helps. Again, find things you like and try to incorporate that. Good luck!

Mine was just a few days after 6 weeks and I agree i'm glad I got in and got started ASAP. Although I don't have a lot of restriction, it keeps me motivated and helps me know i'm on the path there! I also scheduled my next fill that day as well so I could keep them as close to a month apart as possible.

Totally did the same thing! I did kind of a farewell tour of sorts with my favorite places before my pre-op. I was really good on pre-op and then the night before my procedure my mom and I had seafood in San Diego. I had no problems the next day, but they do say don't go too nuts the night before. To be honest, I ate wayyy too much, but it was still a lot less than i would have eaten in the past. My stomach had shrunk some b/c of the pre-op. I wouldn't have eaten quite that much, but I was banded a day early and wasn't planning on being done that day.

Whoo Hooo!!! You will do great and they will take excellent care of you. Be sure and let us know how you are when you are up and on your feet!!!

Completely understand! I was around 210 at my highest and i'm 5'2. Congrats on your loss so far that is great! No matter how much or little we have to lose it's all significant. Without this procedure who knows how high my weight would have gotten. It will be nice to nip it in the bud now.

That is what I always did too! That way I could eat it before I got home and not get the look! It's funny, the only time I get really head hungry as I call it is when i'm in the car! That is my worst time to battle the cravings! Glad to hear i'm not the only one!

Just to ditto what everyone has said don't let it get to you. I know it is frustrating, but from what I understand most people gain once they start on solids. I gained about three and it took me 3 weeks to get it off. I still was up a bit at the time of my first fill, but my doctor was amazed I was only up by .2 at that time and not more. It took me a lot to get back to where it was only that much. Once you start getting fills, that is when the weight loss will begin. If you do lose any before that it's great! Don't let it frustrate you - until your first fill that is all healing time. And even with a first fill that is more just a preparation for your stomach for real restriction. Remember this is a process and will take time. Good luck!

Great questions! Here are a few thoughts from me: 1. In regards to droopy arms, I am pretty sure I will have this issue. My arms are naturally bigger and even though I haven't lost that much, mine are already sagging. I'd rather deal with that though than a larger body! Ive been reading up on how to avoid this and i'm making sure i'm drinking lots of water and i'm looking into weights exercises that might help. 2. On the topic of the girls, I hear most women lose there first. A lot of it depends on the ratio of fat/muscle in your breasts. I am large chested but when i've lost in the past they did not get any smaller. Around wise yes, but not in cup size. I've been as low as 140 and they haven't gotten much smaller. Just depends on your make up. 3. After the 21 days, I worked my way up over the first 2 days. I started with some mini raviolis and then my next meal was not my choice I was at a meeting at it was pizza. I just took it slow and ate small bites. Before you start getting fills you won't have any restriction, so you should be OK. But still watch your portions. Your stomach will have shrunk so much from the liquids that you won't need to eat half of what you did before. So don't push it! I really like to do refried beans as well as egg beaters. 4. I recommend doing flouro the first time just so you can put your mind at rest that all is OK. Then after that it will be up to you really how you do it. Whatever makes you feel comfortable. 5. Everyone is so different on the shakes it just depends on your taste. I personally like the Atkins the best. The vanilla are too sweet for me, but I like the chocolate. I also can do the EAS shakes. I have a busy schedule so I didn't have the time to make my own shakes, but I hear those are better.

Absolutely true! I did the same thing and realized how much I was spending on fast food and I about died! Last month, I was worried I hadn't paid a bill because it felt like I had too much in my account and then I realized it was because I was eating so much less and not going out to eat. The healthier food costs more, but it still is cheaper than what I was spending. Just another perk of the band!!!

That is so awesome! I had one of my co-workers tell me today that i'm not allowed to wear the pants I had on today ever again. She said my crotch was hanging to my knees. I knew they were way too big, but I really like them. Guess I need to go buy more and just get rid of those.

I agree with ya Kim. After having the tummy tuck are you going to have 10 to lose? Everyone is different with their expectations, but i'm the same way I would never want to be too skinny. Luckily with my hips and chest that won't be an issue! But I think after your tummy tuck you will be very happy. Glad you were able to get a good consult!!!

1. Name: Shelby 2. Location: Kansas City, MO 3. Age:33 4. Band Date: October 23rd, 2008 5. Married: nope, haven't found a man that is good enough yet! 6. Children of the human or furry kind: want lots of dogs, but I work too much. My brother lives with me and he has a German Shepard mix named KC 7. Hobby(ies): Sports (watching, not playing) and spoiling my niece 8. Work: College Administrator 9. What was the deciding factor(s) on getting banded: Was just sick and tired of being sick and tired! So I started doing research and found it was right for me. I've been a yo yo dieter since I was in high school, so now i'm ready to knock it for good! 10. Interesting factoid: I'm scared to walk on those grates on sidewalks. I have this fear of falling in.

You have done such an amazing job! Your success in just 6 months is wonderful. Congrats and thanks so much for all your help through this process. You rock!!!

Same here - I ate it almost every day for lunch and dinner as well. Then a few breakfasts now and again. It's still hard, but this band has made it so much easier not to eat fast food as when I was on other diets in the past. I know it's just the beginning though - got a long way to go! But we can all do it! =D>

Oh I am a pintos and beans freak these days...just had them for lunch today! LOVE THEM!!! I did the same working my way up on the food. I had egg beaters for breakfast my first day and some mini raviolis for lunch. Dinner was 1 piece of pizza and it took me forever to eat it I ate so slow. Work your way up and you will be able to gage what you can handle. Biggest thing is to eat SLOW! That way you fill up faster and know right when you are full. Before, I would eat so fast I didn't realize I was full until like 10 minutes later.

Oh yeah that is gas! Although it will slowly go away, you still get it from time to time as you go on. Use the Gas X strips and walk around to get that out. As long as you all aren't chugging the soup you will be fine. Take it slow.

I started bigger than you, but I had a lot of folks asking me why I was having it done asking if I was big enough. Don't let it phase you - you have to do it for you! I me the criteria and after struggling all my life it is the best thing that has ever happened to me! No matter how much you have to lose it is still very hard. Oh and I must agree with Cindy - the tomato bisque is the BEST!!!!!!!!