TerriDoodle

What was my experience with what? Hunger? Oh, i was getting hungry by week 2 or 3 for sure. I had my 1st fill at 3.5 weeks. I've already had 4 fills and one unfill! Your experience is not all that unusual....just be on notice that someday you may find yourself scrounging around for food all day long and the scale hasn't moved for 3 weeks! If/when that day hits, it's time for Fill #1!!

What are your doctor's orders about drinking before/after meals? They're all different it seems. 1 before and 2 after??? That seems extreme to me! I can drink right up to the time I eat and 1/2 hour after. You will probably loosen up before too much longer and you will be hungrier and you will be able to eat more at one sitting. I don't think yo'll have trouble getting Protein in....most of us can easily unless we're super restricted. If you're losing 3# a week i seriously doubt your doctor will consent to a fill. Why restrict you if you're doing so well without it? No, he'll wait until you stop losing weight and start getting hungry quickly after just eating. some people never need a fill!

Hey....there was no voting button for 2-3x a day!!!

You are probably seeing posts from people at their most restricted. It's true that all those foods can give you problems if you are really tight. But that choice is yours! I just got a slight unfill because I was not happy eating soup all the time! But that was just for a short while after a 0.5cc fill....which just turned out to be too much! I'm feeling much better now and fully expect to get back to my diet of being able to eat just about anything....AS LONG AS I CHEW VERY WELL. As for the what else do you eat question.... you do adapt! You peel your fruit, you cook your veggies a little more or enjoy them in Soups and stews. You make sure your chicken is moist and your steak is a filet! You eat more fish and less bread. Remember....you only need to eat less than a cup of food anyway, so it doesn't much matter so much anymore! I had all the same fears that you just mentioned....all of them. I absolutely adore my band and wouldn't trade it for all the tea in China. This feeling of finally being in control is so worth the things you may have to give up.

I went back to the gym today for just a light 30 minute workout. Guess what? I had a hard time getting my heart rate UP!! Usually I'm kinda fighting to get it down to my target of 125-130. You think quitting smoking has helped already?? Even though it's only been 11 days? I softened up my exercise goals for September a bit. I'd rather exceed them than not meet them. Maybe October I'll try to hit it hard again. Thanks for all your support, lovies! Ya'll are the best!

Hi all! Ohhhh, I'm so glad to be a part of the food-eating crowd! I ate things like baked potato soup, bananas/peanut butter, and hummus....good ol' mushies...but nothing got stuck or gave me the tiniest pain whatsoever. YEA!!! I'm FREE!! The hunger was OK....I fought it hard for an hour before lunch. I expect that to get better when I graduate to solids. I went to the gym tonight!! Yipee!! My back is all better and this girl is back on track! Watch out! Tracy - Ya'll have a great time this weekend and be careful!!! Sorry about TOM, what a drag. Poor DF prolly needs a break anyway! Michelle - Yes, dear...this too shall pass. Have a glass of wine ...it's all over now. I can't believe that lady did that to your poor little daughter. Makes me sad to think of her upset. Some people just haven't a brain in their head. Everybody is losing weight like crazy! How about we give a shout to those who lost this month!? HOW MUCH DID YOU LOSE DURING AUGUST?? I'll let you know tomorrow when I have my official weigh-in! Hey, did ya'll know we have the 3rd highest views of any thread on LBT??? #1 is the B&A, #2 is Share Your Scars (I think), and We're #3!! Wooo Hoo Violets!! We soooo rock!

Well, that IS interesting. If you can stand being away from it, I (personally) would wait a solid 4 weeks. The risk is tearing the stitches that hold the band and port in place. If you tear the band ones, you are at higher risk for slippage. If you tear the port stitches you are at risk for flipping it....both of which would require surgery to repair. I don't think it's worth it...but that's me!

Same here, Wombat. DH has to make a special effort not to 'land' there....and it sounds like our ports are in the same spot.

LOL.... I thought you meant a date with a GUY! But this is even better!! Congratulations! Wheeeeee!! Here ya go!!

Old habits are not going to be broken overnight just because you WILL them to go away! We are talking about the most instinctive part of your brain...the one that ensures your survival without your conscious effort... this part of your brain is HARD wired by 55 years of building neural pathways that help dictate the way you eat to ensure your survival. Asking that part of your brain to change will be met with the strongest of resistance, hence the 'cheating'. A good way to combat this (build new neural pathways) is to focus on the positive things. Reward yourself (or at least recognize that you've done well) when you DO follow a healthy eating plan, get your exercise, drink all your Water, etc. See what I mean? Baby steps!!

1) Prepare yourself mentally. Read inspirational material and books that focus on how to reach a new goal. I recommend this book very highly: Half.com / Books / This Year I Will...: How to Finally Change a Habit, Keep a Resolution, or Make a Dream Come True Watch your negative thinking and focus on the positive....always. 2) Stick very close to LBT and hook up with a group ...like the Sept 07 Bandsters or any other group... knowledgable support is essential!! Read all you can here. 3) Follow your doctors instructions and the general lapband rules as closely as you can. They're all there for a good reason. Best of luck to you!

Oh, how exciting for you!!! That's a long time to wait! Buckle your seatbelt! It's a wild ride (but a great one)!

Brace yourself Zannie....there's not a damn thing you can do to stop him from introducing them to her. Not in Texas, anyway. [edit: Oh, that's right! If you can support that she is half crazy then that is your best chance! Especially since she has made threats. Sole custody is very hard to get unless he is a drug addict, alcoholic or otherwise is shown to pose a risk to the children.]

Did you tell the answering service that this is an emergency?? They can be such numbskulls.

I would get in the car and start heading that way....no doubt about it. Call them from your cell and tell them you are on your way!! If you can't even get liquids down then you are dangerously tight.

This is indeed a struggle and you should most definitely give yourself a huge pat on the back (or a massage, or pedicure or a new Coach bag!) for passing on that potluck dinner! Every positive adjustment we make is reinforcement for that behavior in the future...especially when coupled with a reward or expression of gratitude. Your brain starts to think, "Hey! I want more of this!!" and it begins to re-wire the neural pathways that control your responses to impulses. So, it sounds to me like you are well on your way ...just keep doing it until it becomes a habit! GOOD JOB!!

I'm a hiccupper! (is that a word?)

Ah, September! The renewal of hope is in the air as kids go back to school with the promise of straight A's and I with my promise of exercise!! I didn't like the pressure I felt last month with the 'specific' goals I outlined and it made me feel bad when I didn't measure up exactly. So I'm going to relax them just a little bit and break it down into Cardio sessions and Weights sessions, like many of the other Violets do. 8 - Full Body Strength Training Sessions 10 - Cardio Sessions of at least 45 mins. -------------------------------------------------------------------- This book is so awesome! This Year I Will.....How to Finally Change a Habit, Keep a Resolution, or Make a Dream Come True by MJ Ryan. I plan to buy several for Christmas gifts this year. I'm almost finished with it and when I am, I'll start it over again. Awesome. 8/30 - Got back to the gym today after my little sebbatical :car: and it felt good. I actually had a hard time getting my heart rate UP! Could the quitting cigarettes only 11 days ago improved my performance that much already?? I did quit hacking and couging by day 3. Hmmmmm. Cool. 9/1 - Tried the rowing machine today! I like it!!! I especially like the idea of a total body workout on one machine and in less time. Was getting soooo bored with the other cardio machines. time to play racquetball!! 9/2 - Rowed again today for about 15 minutes and then the elliptical for 10 mins. I feel like I've lost something...can't seem to get a good workout in. Maybe I need to build up to it. 9/8 - Just had one of the most stressful weeks of my life and it was HARD to get thru it without cigarettes, food or booze. I think this Chantix is messing with my moods too....I can't wait to get off of it, but I'm not nearly ready. Exercise went by the wayside again this week. I think I got 3 workouts in. Pitiful. Discovered a 'fitness test' on the stationary bike computer and it said that I have low-very low O2 volume. I should have never taken that test. Here I felt like I was getting into pretty good shape and this computer tells me I suck. Well, whatever....I'm fast approaching 30# gone and that feels great!! 9/20 - Got back from a week in Vegas and California - ate anything I desired while there and gained 2#. Lost it all by Thursday. Yea! Got back to the gym last night by doing 30 mins on the stationary bike and reading. that worked out nicely - the time flew by! Scale at 186.6 Day 31 of not smoking! :mad:

Hi Haydee!! :wave: You're not gonna happen to be on this side of town at lunchtime tomorrow,are you? Josie and I are meeting for lunch if you can come!! Y'know...I was thinking about "weight goals" this morning on the way to work. I don't like setting a goal that says "I will weigh XXX by XXX date. Oh, for me that is just ASKING for failure!! I know my body well enough to know that it will lose the weight however it wants to lose the weight and on its OWN time scale. Even though I seem to be failing at these too , I prefer to set goals that are more within my control... "I will workout 45 mins per day, 5 days a week", or "I will keep my calories under 1000 for the rest of this month". Although I did kinda think I would/could be at goal by Christmas, I'm already starting to revise that and accept that it could be more like next summer!! OH WELL!! I AM GRATEFUL FOR THAT!!

Excellent point, Bjean. I've seen this happen at least twice to good friends of mine. Sounds like your ex was a bona fide narcissist. Yuck.

I picked up this card at my doctor's office yesterday. I found it interesting to note how very slight the difference is between the different stoma sizes. No wonder the sweet spot is so elusive!!

(((Laura))) Oh, man....do I sympathize with you!! My EX-husband was just like that....except on a much regular basis!!! He never would admit what a factor his drinking had on the demise of our marriage...only said that if I didn't behave the way I did, he wouldn't HAVE to drink!! LOL My poor kids have really been catching the brunt of his drinking the last year or so and I am now 'talking to my lawyers'. This is gonna stop one way or the other. Such a shame that he is such a nice guy during the day....and such an asshole at night. Anyway, I feel for ya, honey. You are smart to define your boundaries now. Be strong. I am sorry your trip turned into such a nightmare. Yuck.

I'm watching Steel Magnolias.... booooooo hoooooo hooooooo!!!! WAAAAHHHH!!!! :Cry: Kat, Kinsey sounds like the sweetest baby on the earth. :love: Hey, we did a pretty good job when we prayed for her....I'm sure we can do the same for you!! If you're not worried, I'm not worried. I hate medical tests. I don't mind a mammo-cram but I hate ob-gyn exams. I put them off as long as possible. I'm over due now ....grrrr. Speaking of 'grrr'....Michelle?? You feeling better?? We've all days like that! I cured mine with menopause and Lexapro! Better living thru chemistry! :girl_hug: TracyK - I'll take a brow lift and an eye job! Seriously... I am gonna do that next summer. Ya'll wait and see! Hey, maybe we can all get our surgeries done at the same hospital! We've been wanting a get-together! :girl_hug:

Good Job, Hala!!

The ultimate test: Do they fit into a Pringles can?? "Anal" seems to be working pretty well for ya!! :girl_hug: Better than a slovenly narcissist like me! Judy - is this your first cruise? Prolly not eh? Alaska's supposed to be the ultimate. Lucky you! My SIL is leaving on a Mediterranean cruise in 2 weeks. Never liked her. (j/k) Hi Pammy!! :wave: Hang in there! Only 9 more months!! LOL Went in for my unfill today instead of tomorrow. Feel better already...and hungrier! :girl_hug: