AquarianCrab

Another diabetic here. My band doesn't allow me to eat much - and I haven't had a fill yet. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I'm seriously never hungry. In fact, I often have to make myself eat. That said, I was also taken off my meds on surgery day, and was told that when I do eat a carb, to be mindful of the glycemic index. I was told no white carbs - ever. Brown rice, dark orange yams, stone ground whole wheat tortilla shells. If you read Sugarbusters, you'll get the idea. I did very well on that program, and lowered my sugar significantly, but couldn't keep it up because I was eating too much. The band has gotten my portions under control, but it's up to me to choose the right types of carbs.

I bought my vitamins in really yummy gummy form. I call them my candy and eat them every night a couple hours after dinner as a "treat". My only other indulgence is Revival protein chips I bought from Bariatric Eating. I get them in sour cream & onion and honey mustard flavors. They have about 100 calories per pack, about 7 grams of protein, and taste just like potato chips (my only nemesis besides ice cream). All other snacks are non-existent. They don't enter the house. If my husband craves something he goes to the store, buys it and eats it in the car - he doesn't bring it in the house. We both know better - if it's within reach, I'll eat it. He also does all of the convenience store runs so I won't be tempted.

How strong are you? Will you be able to limit yourself when your friends want you to join them at the mall and eat all kinds of junk? You will need the willpower to do this, because if you overeat with them, you will be running to the bathroom to throw up - very embarrasing. Bottom line is, only you can decide if you can do it and if you want to do it. If you are 100% positive that you can, then go for it. I was skinny until my first pregnancy, when I blew up like a balloon and became diabetic. I had no way of knowing my body would react like that, and I've been almost as heavy as you ever since. Thirty years later I was taking 9 pills a day for a variety of health issues. I wish I would have gotten my band years ago. Best wishes to you whatever you decide.

I definitely think you should tell her something. Kids are very perceptive, and she will know something is not right with you. You'll be in pain for a few days, and won't be able to hide it. If she doesn't know anything about it, she's likely to get very scared which is unnecessary. I agree the surgery to get healthier explanation is a good one. Add to it that you want to be sure to be there for her graduation, wedding, and her family. And I'm willing to bet you won't have to ask her for help - I'll bet she offers the help on her own. I was more afraid telling my adult sons. While one was very supportive, the other initially was all over me to just diet and exercise. They tend to be much more judgmental when they're adults.

For me, it's bras. I feel fine when I'm not wearing one, but when I am, I feel like someone tied a band around me to get me to throw up. My mom took me to Cacique to buy me a new bra to celebrate 50 pounds (my bras were way to big for me). I was fitted for it, but I've only worn it twice because it makes me ill.

Every friday, since my kids were small, we had pizza. It was their weekly treat, since I really couldn't afford much. They're 30 and 28 now, and still they come over every friday for pizza. Don't think for one minute that I'd give that up! The only difference is now I eat one slice instead of 6 - and I'm still losing.

I tried eating some of my mom's homemade clam chowder, made with chopped clams, and had the worst stuck episode ever. Very painful. I thought since the clams were chopped I'd be okay, but I wasn't.

Here ya go..... http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2008/08/protein-ice-cream.html

No, I was told "water-based liquid" by both my nutritionist and my surgeon. Right in my handbook that was given to me by the surgeon it lists decaf coffee/tea, crystal lite/wyler'slite, and diluted fruit juices. Therefore, I am not "cutting corners" as you assume, but following doctor's orders. That said, considering how different surgeons are in there instructions, I think your comment was uncalled for.

I'm 8 weeks out and haven't had a fill yet. My surgeon told me at my last visit that as long as I weigh in less than the time before, no fill. He said fills should be done slowly, each time a plateau of no weight loss occurs. He said that after each fill I'll lose but eventually my body will get used to the situation and will need another jump start (fill) to resume losing and if the band is filled too much too soon your body gets used to it and you can't lose any more. I'm not worried, because although I can eat 2 slices of pizza, it's way less than before my surgery when I'd eat 6. My husband is amazed at how I'm eating less than half the amount of food I ate before. Before my surgery if it tasted good, I kept on going until I was ready to burst. Now I'm rarely actually hungry and sometimes have to check the clock and force myself to eat.

Good for you!

I was told by my nutritionist that tea and coffee count.

I love home-baked bread slathered with butter. I love sandwiches especially on a fresh, chewy kaiser roll. It's going to be a very tough summer without sandwiches for me.

It is painful to get stuck. My doctor told me never to try to throw up when I'm stuck because it can cause your bottom stomach to prolapse up through the band and cause even bigger problems. As per his orders, I do nothing. It takes about 30 minutes to an hour for the pain to go away. It's a great deterrent and after an episode I'm much more vigilant about what I eat for quite a while. Then, when I forget what getting stuck felt like, I think I can have a particular food and next thing you know, I'm stuck again.

Stop using the scale and start using a tape measure. Muscle weighs more than fat, so while the scale may show an increase or no change, the tape measure may indeed show a loss.

I don't know. Something just doesn't sound right about meat that doesn't have to be refrigerated. Must have an awful lot of chemical preservatives in it. I prefer to eat fresh food I've cooked myself - that way I know what's in it. That said, my aunt tried it and gave me some when she decided she'd had enough. It was nasty. I threw most of it out.

Sure can. I'm only 8 weeks out and haven't had a fill yet. Mom made some clam chowder and if you love clams, you know how hard they are to chew into small pieces. In fact, you can't. You have to chop 'em up before you cook 'em. Anyway, the clams were chopped so I thought I'd be okay. Wrong! I was in pain for about an hour.

I got the same comments from my family. Luckily, I was a yo-yo so I have several different sizes stored away. The only problem is that they're a little outdated fashion-wise. I also don't want to spend money on clothes at this point. I'm also having a problem parting with the stuff that's too big. I just can't get over the idea that I need to save them "just in case".

Just the opposite for me. I could care less about sex.

Ice cream is my nemesis.

Right now, absolutely nothing. My arthritic knee hurt so bad Sunday morning it woke me up crying. I just finished a series of injections that the rheumatologist swears will be noticeable in about 6 months. I'm not sure I can go on that long. I still have some pain pills left from my surgery and if it gets too intolerable on a weekend I just might go for it but I don't want to take them during the work week.

I'm 7 weeks out and still having trouble getting in all of my water, even when I count the two cups of coffee I have every morning!

Oh my, I absolutely love popcorn! There's no Trader Joe's around here, but I'm interested in learning how to make my own. What is this Presto Micro thing mentioned?

Yep. I was told no NSAIDs for life. I can't take tylenol either, because my liver enzymes have been high. I've been battling a headache for two days now. Also, because of no NSAIDs my arthritis is really causing me some pain...literally!

You mean all I have to do to eat ice cream is exercise for 30 minutes two or three times a week?