Oregondaisy

I do go to a gym. I would never get any exercise done if I didn't. I would sit on the couch and convince myself it's time to get started, and before I know it, the time would be up and I would be getting ready for work. I do it in the mornings before work. check around for some other DVd's you might like, if you're good about exercising at home.

I don't necessarily think Jello is bad for us, but I do think that depending on bullets after surgery as a main source of protein is not a good idea.

Can't wait to hear how it goes. You'll do fine and we will all support you through your post op liquid stage, like everyone supported us. The post op diet is not fun, but necessary and you are welcome to complain and say how sick you are of it. I hope you have an easy recovery!

You will not be able to eat the size of a portion of a lean cuisine if that's what you're asking. In the beginning, your stomach is very tiny and when you move off mushies, you can only eat a few bites of solids. The reason for the slow progression from liquids to mushy to solids is the staple like has to heal and you don't want to put any stress against that staple line.

Went to counseling today and we discussed the death of my husband, the death of my fiance, and my dad's recent death. We also discussed my low self esteem and where that comes from. It's amazing how the things that we were told as children shape our brains as adults to the point that it's really hard to change. I wish I could afford to go every day. Change does not happen instantly. It was nice to have them validate some things for me .

I have the chat window open early tonight if anyone wants to talk.

I know when I went on plateaus, they sometimes lasted a long time. I had to bump up the cardio to at least 45 min a day of breaking a good sweat. Then all of a sudden, I would drop 5 lbs in a week and go on another plateau for another few weeks.

Sometimes I do cut my meat into tiny little pieces before I put anything in my mouth . I think that helps a lot. Sometimes I make up a little game of it, like how much more can I possibly chew this. I do the best when I chew it up until it's complete mush in my mouth. If I take too big of a bite, I make sure I don't swallow all of it. It's definitely a learning experience.

Have you been having soup? A lot of people put cottage cheese in tomato soup to bump up the protein. You should be able to on mushie foods now, and there are a lot of choices for soft mushy food.

Ruthi, I didn't say you would post one without my permission. I said it's okay if you post a group one, but I am not sure if want to post mine. Like Mac said, maybe (if I can figure out how to do it) I'd put one up and then take it back down. I have to see them first. I know you guys said I looked good, but I am very critical of myself. I never think I look good. One of the main reasons I don't want my picture on here is I share things in here that I don't share in support group. I feel more anonymous here and I think it would be embarrassing to me for people in support group to read everything I write in here. At least if they read it, they don't exactly know it's me.

That's too bad. It's really annoying my surgeon here that most ins. will not pay for the sleeve. He said it's been frustrating for him. I hope you can win on appeal because the band is misery.

Wow, sorry to hear you had such a rough time of it. I had none of those problems. I had left shoulder pain immediately after surgery. The next day I was walking all over Mexicali in my bathrobe because I was so bored in my hospital room. I never had any pain what so ever after the first night. When I came home, I could have gone back to work that day if I had to. I honestly could not tell I had surgery. I am only saying all this because everyone is different. I am sorry to hear it's been a rough recovery for you, but I don't want all new people to worry that they will their recovery will be rough also. I hope every day you feel better and the pounds start melting off!

We all feel that way. We have all been on every diet that is out there. We have all lost weight on our own. If any of us could keep it off on our own, we would not have had the surgery. What you are feeling is normal. The sleeve is great and I have not regretted it for one single second. I am not hungry and I love getting full on such small portions. There are some people who do gain some of their weight back, if you don't change your eating habits. You can still snack all day long, after you are off the post op diet. Only you know whether or not you are ready to change your eating habits and exercise, and not eat junk food which will sabotage your weight loss.

No that is not a joke. Jello is either made from boiled cow hides or hooves. I can't remember which. the Protein bullets are made from collagen which is boiled cow hides.

Honestly, mine are so tiny I started taking them as soon as I was home from the hospital. I guess that was 4 days after surgery. Nobody told me I could not take them.

Here I thought it was crystal lite. I had no clue it was apple juice.

By the way, chili would be considered a mushie. We can eat more soft mushie food than we can eat solids. Solids would be something like steak. I can definitely eat more soft foods than I can dense foods like steak.

Believe me, it's not fun. The first time I ate too much, I was in terrible pain. I felt like my stomach was going to explode and I was really afraid I was going to do something to the staple line.

I have a friend that I chat with in the lap band chat room that is so bummed out after losing 100 lbs with the band, it slipped. She has to have her band unfilled and leave it unfilled and now wishes she had gotten the sleeve. She is so unhappy. A slipped band is very painful. She spent a long time in a lot of pain in the emergency room before she was able to get her band unfilled. I feel really bad for her.

I got in late because I got an important phone call. It's 9:30 Pacific time so if anyone on the west coast still wants to chat, I will leave the window open.

I got my hair trimmed and Vegas Angel showed me how to use her hot rollers to curl it before we did the pictures. I don't like the idea of having my picture online though. If Ruthi posts a group one that's okay, but I won't be posting any close ups of me. I have had people tell me of some bad experiences with having their pictures online. I may put one on FB though, since I have it set so that only people I know can view them. I have also heard some horror stories about FB pictures being posted in other places. I know I am quirky but I believe in being careful. One reason is I know my surgeon here has people in his office that check the boards. I really don't want them seeing my picture on here. I also feel sort of funny about people that go to my support group reading everything I write on this board.

Anyone want to chat tonight? What time?

I think the risk of a leak is lessoned after 6 weeks. That's why it's so important to follow the post op diet.

How do you know you over ate? When I over eat, my mouth fills up with saliva and it just keeps coming into my mouth for a couple of hours. I have to keep spitting it out and my stomach feels like it's going to explode. It's miserable. How much did you eat that you consider over eating?

I always over think things too. To me, this is a no brainer though. If you go to lapbandtalk.com go and read the complications section of that board. If you get a band, in the beginning it may work great for you. You won't have restriction at first, and many people complain that they wouldn't have had the surgery if they knew they would have to wait so long to get the fills right so they weren't hungry all the time. Most people love the band at first, if and that's a big IF, they are losing weight. Then the acid reflux starts up, and they have to go in for an unfill, then they are hungry again, and start gaining weight back. If you get a band, you are looking at spending plenty of time going back and forth to the doctor for fills, unfills, and tests to find out what's wrong.