BrownEyedGirl

2 Fiber Gummies 10 cal --------------------------------- 10 Breakfast: 1 egg 60 cal 1 sausage 150 cal 1/2 banana 40 cal ---------------------------------- Total 250 Lunch: 1/2 slice of Tomato Pie 130? 1 Slice of deli turkey 10 cal blueberries and cherries 40cal ---------------------------------------- 180 Dinner: Tuna 30cal Sake 120cal Edamame 3 pods 20 cals (?) Sukiyaki Beef 200 --------------------------------------------- 370 Daily Total 810 3.5 miles on treadmill 60 arabesque squats 48 oz water

I considered putting this under Diet and Nutrition but thought maybe this would be a better place for it. Anyway... So, I just finished my first meal. I finely diced some lowfat sausage without the casing and scrambled it with an egg. I also had 1/2 a banana. It took a long time to eat and I wish I had timed it. So far, nothing seems stuck. There is something that does stands out, though. I can't say I feel "full" but I'm not hungry either. I didn't even finish my food but I probably could eat more but not out of hunger, just cuz I could. At the same time I could have eaten far less. After I was done I remembered what Dr. O said about testing my band to see how little I can eat. I wish I had. Now about not feeling full. I really thought about this and what I'm not feeling is "engorged". I have a sense of fullness up top but I don't have that full feeling all the way down past my belly button. I sense that I never will and I'm totally fine with that. I'm not hungry at all but that "full" sensation, that really just borders on discomfort, is not there. One thing I don't think I can do any longer (and we aren't supposed to) is scarf down big bites. Face it, when some of us eat we like shoveling it in and overfilling our mouths then swallowing it down in a big clump. And we keep doing that until we're stuffed. Well, that aint happening. I'm not full but I'm not hungry. It's more like I don't care. And that's what I want. The other day I was watching Emeril's cooking show and he had his panel behind him that he fed as he completed each dish. There was one very fat (yes, I said "fat")girl on the panel and I watched her and how she handled the situation. When he gave someone else their food first she couldn't keep her eyes off it and you could tell she was fighting asking him for a bite. The others on the panel just continued to watch Emeril cook and could care less. They gave it a glance as it was brought over but then moved on. They knew they'd get their plate. I was watching her so intently because I know I've done that myself. Looking at someone elses plate and thinking, "Oh, their chicken skin looks crispier than mine". I want to be like those other people that didn't care and that's how I'm feeling right now. I ate because I had to so I don't starve. I didn't eat because I had to eat something yummy and get bloated until I couldn't cram in another bite. Now I just wish I had eaten less. I'll have a smaller lunch.

I highly recommend going in beforehand for a consult. It will allay so many of your fears, including your mother's. My husband was afraid and against having surgery in Mexico but when we went for a consult he became their biggest cheerleader. After seeing their facility I started comparing every other medical facility I went to to it. We took our son to a specialist and I pointed out to the doctor how dirty his floors were. I'm sure he really appreciated that. Some women have gone alone. It is easy to cross the border, go to the McDonald's and take the cab they recommend (I forgot what color they are) and go to the office. Then they arrange a taxi ride back. However, I'm a chicken and don't even walk alone in certain areas here in the US and am always checking out who is around me when I'm in the parking lot. Also, your husband may enjoy watching your fill. Well, maybe not "enjoy". Also, sometimes the wait to walk across the border into the US can be looooong but you can hire a driver to take you across. It cost us $15. They're hanging out next to the line. As far as recovery, I know someone who had surgery the same day as I and was playing tennis in less than 3 weeks. I was having a difficult time bending until just recently. But I think my pain was due to the cold I caught and all the sneezing and coughing I had done. My incisions weren't able to just chill for almost 2 weeks after surgery. I'd have to sit down and curl up if I felt a sneeze or cough come on. I've had worse pain though. And NO heavy lifting for some time. So, you'll have to sit down first to hold the babies. I've seen what happens when someone lifts while having an incision. Trust me, you don't want to spend weeks packing gauze into a surgery hole. Barf.

Ok next30 years (I'll go by the initial D. on the forum) looks like you and me in TJ. Let me know when you're going and I'll set my appointment too. First day on solids. My hubby will probably go too. Have been eating my breakfast for about 10 minutes and am so scared. I'm taking a break from it now.

"Kim"?! Who the heck is Kim?! Was she the one at the other end of the hall? I was in the first room. Was she in the last? Or was Kim the brave one that came alone. Add "not very memorable" to my description.

In preparation for tomorrows first solid breakfast in 21 days, I made some crustless quiches with all kinds of healthiness tucked inside. They filled the house with their heavenly aroma as they cooked whilst I took my first bath (don't worry, I've been showering). When the buzzer sounded I took them out of the oven gazing upon their beautiful solid foodiness. After cooling I went to take them out of their little muffin compartments. They came out so easily and I was imagining plating them tomorrow topped with greek yogurt and sprinkled with chives with a few pitted cherries alongside. That's when I noticed something not quite right at the bottom of each one. Then I looked at the muffin tin and the nonstick coating had completely come off and was part of my quiches. They did have a crust, a teflon one. Blech! Very disappointing. I guess it's oatmeal with cherries for breakfast. I used up all the eggs.

Your boyfriends are going to be very dismayed to discover that they are gay by proxy.

*waves at Steve the lurker who got banded same day as she did* Steve, you were a lurker at the surgery center too! That is, until you skipped out early!

My husband eats Ezekiel bread with peanut butter in a pinch. Ezekiel bread is pretty dry especially when toasted. It may be something some of can eat. Not sure. When I brought it up with Dr. Miranda she said it was Dr. Ortiz' favorite. Not sure I trust myself with peanut butter in the house. I can eat it until it's gone. Well, that was pre-band. Let's see how I am now. Maybe I won't be prowling the kitchen all day looking for something to drop into the bottomless pit.

YES!! That's what I drank. They're really good! The creamy chocolate is good too. Not the pre-made kind but the ones you do yourself. Not as good as berry creme though.

From what I can tell you are to apply Mederma 3x a day for a few months on new scars. I threw away the box so I can't be sure. Also, bio-oil is available at wal-mart. I bought some yesterday. "as a side note, those with a darker completion have a higher tendency to have a more obvious scar, and it doesn't fade nearly as quickly as us fair skinned people." Yah, rub it in Lindsay.. but we look tanned in the summer!

Oh wait.. I DID have a bad experience at OCC. I woke up from anesthesia and saw Dr. Ortiz at my side and realized he wasn't my husband. I was traumatized. Still trying to get over that tragedy.

That sucks. I know I'd be very frustrated to be doing all that you are and to be finding myself in that position once again. I talked to someone who was keeping a food and exercise log and went to her doctor complaining of her weight gain and the doctor brushed her off. If I remember correctly, she then went to another and he tested her and found out she had thyroid cancer. That shushed all those naysayers. If I was you I'd take my food and exercise journal to a doctor and get tested. Not saying you have cancer but you could have a thyroid problem. Anway, hopefully you'll hit your sweet spot soon. We're all in this for the long haul and maybe it will take you longer to lose the weight you want but you will have lost it and if you're like me, you've tried and tried and never succeeded. I'd rather it take a few years and stay off forever than keep going up and down the rest of my life. Hang in there. It will happen.

lols @ the jello slip up. I'm not sure when I'm going. I just asked Janellody the same thing. If she goes to OCC for her fill maybe we can all go together. I want to keep going down and getting my picture taken with the sombrero, zarape, and the lucy the donkey. I wish I had shown more of my "before" body. I hid under the zarape. I plan on having a progression of down to the skinny me. So far I have great restriction, but then I'm still swollen. Hopefully, by week 6 I won't be so hungry that I want to eat everything in sight. Let's all try to plan it together.

I've no complaints and would say that even if the doctors weren't cute! lol. Janellody, are you going to OCC for your fill? Maybe I'll go at the same time and meet you there. We were only a few days apart with surgery.

I think the minimal hassle of going in and out of TJ is worth going to Dr. Ortiz to get it under fluoro. For some amount extra you can have a driver pick you up and take you to your car at Border Station Parking. If you are going to stay in San Diego or OC for fills, just make sure they have fluoro. Many people do have success with blind fills though. I also suggest making an appointment with Dr. Ortiz for a consult since you live so close. You'll be put at ease when you see the facility and he was very thorough in answering my questions. Didn't rush me at all.

I agree with B2010. I also get paranoid too. I was under the impression that sugar free jello was part of the diet and had some the first few days. I freaked out when I was told it wasn't. I wrote Dr. O thinking I had just flushed several thousand dollars down the drain. He told me I should be fine but they'll check when I get my fill. I guess Jello used to be ok and some centers still call it a clear liquid. But I wanted to follow everything perfectly. I also thought that creamy soups started the same day as drinkable yogurt. again.. WRONG! But was told I probably didn't do any damage. So, I know how you feel but I think we'll be good. I'm sure people hesitate to say, "Don't worry, I had a bite of hamburger and I've lost 100lbs" because then that would encourage people to cheat and for some that would make the band slip. What we know is that if you follow the plan, your chances of success are greater. Why risk a bite? And whatever you do... don't think "oh well, I blew it already" and sabotage yourself. How many times have I done that on a diet? I'm getting fluro too at OCC. When are you going down?

I think Debbie is able to stay on that diet BECAUSE OF THE BAND and you are having success with WW because of it too. We've all been on diets and failed because we were so freaking hungry the entire time. I've been drinking liquids for almost 20 days now and I know it's part will power and partly the band. Of course it's her diet, that's the idea behind the band, to help us manage our diet better. I know I'm still going to have to say "no" to foods I want. I'm still going to want yummy cocktails and chocolate and I don't expect the band to prevent me from wanting that. But I'm hoping that it will at least help with curbing my massive appetite that makes it even harder to say no. I KNOW that most of this will be me. My husband bought peanut butter and chocolate syrup (because he's from the devil) and you don't think it crossed my mind 10 million times that I could have a liquid Reese's Peanut butter cup (my favorite)? I threw them both out and reminded him that I'll keep doing that because I need to lose weight. However, since I'm feeling restriction like never before it was easier to say "no" and throw it out. Cravings and constant hunger are a dangerous combo (is there a K.D. Lang song in there?). I'm still craving, like I'm sure Debbie is, but the band is cutting down on our hunger. One of the things Dr. O told me during our consult last year was that one of the reasons people were thinner back in the day was because there wasn't as much variety. People ate the same things. That stuck with me and even before I saw Debbie's meal plans I figured I'd try to stick to what worked and then "treat" myself to some variety now and again. Every meal doesn't have to be a blow out. Anyway, when I saw Debbie's meal plans it just confirmed it for me. I saw she was doing something she probably couldn't do before (I know I couldn't) and she inspired me. Still does and will continue to. I wanna be Debbie when my band grows up. *update* something else Dr. O and Dr. So said. "Don't test your band to see how much you can eat. Test to see how little you can eat and walk away satisfied." That let me know that I got work to do.

Is ANYONE with this band having success?? Has anyone reached their sweet spot with this band? I'm worried now.

One of my goals after losing weight was to go to surfdiva and learn to surf! No joke!! I've had to sit and watch others take lessons while I sat on my fat arse missing out on yet another great experience. Sign me up! I need baby waves. I'm pretty shaky on my ankles having broken both but that may change once those spindly things aren't hauling around all this extra weight.

I talked to Dr. So today and he reinforced what Dr. O told me (hehe "Dr. So & Dr. O"), and that was not to test the band to see how much food you can eat but to test it to see how little you can eat and still feel satisfied. He also told me to stay away from protein drinks and to have a solid breakfast and to eat my protein first (Kristi told me that yesterday too). We were all told that it's not a magic bullet but a tool. I know when I'm hanging a picture I don't lay the nail and hammer down and look at them wondering why they aren't working. I have to apply my effort too. I paid quite a bit for this band and I really hope I don't flush the money down the drain or down my gullet. I too am writing down what I'm eating and I'm still at the liquid phase. I know how easy those extra calories can slip in. I'm also fortunate that OCC is a short drive away so I can get my fills with fluoro.

I was discussing your lovely experience over lunch yesterday. Thanks for the laugh.

I know you said 10 days but I'm sooo scared. I really really want to take a bath. Are you 100% sure 10 days is ok to take a bath? Pinky promise? Anyone else hear 10 days? I still have scabs. I'm skeered!

This is something from one of our forum members and there are some useful comments. Maybe it will be helpful. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG7clGnwYpA&feature=channel