I agree with Kath and Kate. Don't get too tight and don't let yourself get too hungry. I live by those rules, have been lucky to be very successful with one fill, never PB, never experienced sliming, never thrown up and never have had a stuck episode. I definitely don't take small bites all the time, but I only eat so much food each setting and am satisfied. Everyone just has to find what works for them.

Hope all is well with everyone! Been away for awhile preparing for surgery, hip replacement! Got down to my goal weight and I was still having excruciating pain in my left hip so Ortho dr agreed it was time to fix it.

So three weeks ago this Thursday I had mt left hip replaced. Was very painful at first until they could find the right pain meds. Been receiving therapy at home and I go in for my first post op visit with the surgeon tomorrow.

Thank goodness for my band, it has really helped me through all of this so I have not eaten the entire house while I have been laying around! I actually still lost a little more, but it was probably muscle.

I work out three times a day, but limited to my physical therapy which feels like nothing now compared to what I was doing! Hopefully tomorrow I will hear good news and continue to move forward with more PT. I am still non-weight bearing on that leg.

I can't wait to get back to working out!

I am with Crystal. When I was losing, I cut out all white bread, pasta, sweets. I exercise every day about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. I mix it up sometimes bike ride, swim, lift weights, etc.

I did not drink any of my protein, only real food. I was only eating 500 calories a day for quite some time and only ate two meals and two snacks,

1 c of dense protein (chicken, fish, ham, roast beef, pulled pork, eggs, turkey cheddar brats) with 1/3 c veggies and a little fruit for my two meals. Snacks were celery with peanut butter, Cabot 75% reduced fat cheddar cheese with Special K multigrain crackers, almonds with banana chips and Quaker Oat Squares (my trail mix).

Glad you are back and good luck!

Thanks!

You look awesome. We are all so proud of you! Happy Bandiversary!

Welcome back to both of you. Best of luck to you as you have both made the conscious decision to restart! Take baby steps and start the program again. Yu can do it.

Wow! Thanks for sharing. You are awesome!

Building more muscle are you! Way to go Bette. Kudos for getting out in that crappy weather!

I won't tell you it was 82 today. I wanted to go to the pool so bad, but instead I put down 30 bags of river rock in my flower beds! Resting tonight so I can do it again tomorrow.

I used Premier premixed chocolate, Syntrax nectar unflavored and mixed it with flavored or Fortress (Walmart) whey protein powder and mixed the chocolate and strawberry with a little ice and water. You will have to try things to see what you like. Experiment!

Congratulations on your decision! I was banded a little over a year ago (1/30/12) and have lost 149 pounds. No problems so far. I have had one, yes, one fill. Keep reading and listening to the good and bad here so that you understand what may or may not happen to you. I always believe that you need to know everything, not to scare you, but to educate you.

Welcome and keep us posted on your surgery date. I see you said your insurance end soon, what then? How will you get your followup?

Congrats and thanks for sharing!

Here is a great dessert idea! Take a container of cottage cheese and add to it any flavor of SF jello and a small can of SF fruit (strained). Stir it all together and let it sit in the fridge for a couple hours. It firms up a little.