MeredithMcFee

Now that I got the rule of thumb down on PO fills, thanks to all of you who replied, I now am wondering about what we put in our mouths on a daily basis. As I'm using MFP and Fitbit, I'm concerned if I'm eating too much fat and carbs. I know most nutritionists/surgeons don't put emphasis on how many calories we should be eating daily but typically, how many grms of fat and carbs {complex} is too much in one day? Right now, I'm not really counting the two as much as trying to get in my proteins which can be tuna salad {1/2 cup} with regular mayo and even protein drinks {one in the morning with 1 tsp of peanut butter}. I am losing weight which isn't an issue but just wondering if we there is a standard amount of fat & carbs we should NOT go over in a healthy manner.

Honk, I like your thoughts on choosing something bad to eat, and having your dr see you eat it! Adorkbl &b Stephy: Love avocado's! However,there're two things I will not improvise or switch re: foods. Olive oil, extra light virgin, and Hellman's Mayo with Tuna or Shrimp salad. I use hummus alot in place of other foods. When I eat either salad, it's very little so I'm not concerned about that. It's just other things I eat, noticing after journaling my foods on MFP, the high numbers of carbs and fat.

Congrats to you Chrissy for enduring the weekend marathons. Now, take a hot bath, relax, and enjoy your evening and day off tomorrow. You deserved. And Kudo's on the weight loss. Elizabeth: Congrats to you. Sounds like you had a "stuck" and PB. I've had a few of them lately. Not fun at all. Didn't chew well enough and wrong choice of food for me. Glad you like the website. Funny you mention, LB Cacique bra's. I LOVE them and swear by them for support and look in tops. This will be one thing I'll miss from LB when I no longer require their services. I had my 2nd fill Thursday night and having difficulty eating this whole weekend. All he gave me was 1cc but I'm just having such discomfort and not able to even drink Water without gurgling noices, and discomfort. I'm just hoping it's temporary but if it's still like this tomorrow, I think I'll have to call the Dr and go in to see him.

I'm not sure JDI130, do you have a fitbit? If so, I would check the calorie counter before working out, then after and see if that gives you a better idea. I tried the video Zumba at home and just couldn't keep up with it. I am a free style dancer, and probably do those steps on my own, but when I have to do them with a group, forget about it!! But I still did my own things and it was a real work out. That was before I really built up stamina in the gym. Since working out and being more active, I should try it again. It looks like a great workout. Speaking of workouts, has anyone here tried spinning? My neigbor has been doing South Beach for over a year and has lost lots of weight and swears by Spinning. She's trying to talk me into the gym and getting into it. I personally like working out on my videos {DVDs} and treadmill as I have so many different choices, kick boxing with Denise Austin, Yoga with who know who, Walking with Leslie Sansone, and running and jogging on my treadmill with my Ipod playlist. As well as lifting hand weights etc. But being pear shaped, my claim to fame are the "hams" on my thighs that need to be whittled down some and I'm thinking spinning might be the way to go! Also, thanks to my 2nd {1cc} fill the other day, and the 2 day liquid/mushie diet, I lost another 2lbs!!! I put on a pr of old 18W LB jeans last night to work out in the garden and they were so lose in the thigh and butt area! I've been seeing more inches in my upper body since it's smaller, but finally, I'm seeing a significant amout now starting to shrink in my pants. And before surgery, I couldn't even get them above my thighs!!!! It just felt so good wearing them lose, I didn't want to take them off! :-)

Congrats to you on your weight loss Ladybandito and glad to se you on here. Plateaus come and go and that's what we're all learning here. I was on one too for a a week or so after hitting the 25lb mark. I suspect our body is finally catching up with the whole shock of our surgical changes, it needs time to stop and recharge. Enjoy your sun filled day on the west coast as some of us are hoping for the rain in the forecast to disappear here on the East Coast. So far, I woke up this morning in NJ with the sun out. Cross our fingers.

That is awesome. You must be flying high right now. I know I would be and will when my day comes.

Hey gals, s;eaking of bathing suits, not only do we try to avoid wearing them, it's always hard to find stylish one's and not matronly ones in the stores. If you haven't heard of it before, I've used a Plus size website which I love. Of course we're all trying our best to take that awful word "plus size" out of our wardrobe and vocabulary, however, in the mean timewhile we widdle down our bodies, if you're looking for good quality and stylish suits go to www.alwaysforme.com. I've gotten quite a few of their suits over the past few years and love the fit,feel, the style, and they wash well. They go from 16W-26W. And they're not all matronly looking.

I know I'm being partial here but we are a great group aren't we? Chrissy: Good luck getting some sleep tonight and getting through the weekend run{s}. I'm sure you'll do great! Kudo's on the pants. It's a wonderful feeling when we see those NSV's. It's makes our day. JDI130 Congrats to you on your findings in your closet. I'm also finding mostly tops that are smaller that I put away a few years ago "for when I lose weight". I am pear shaped so the bottom is taking time to chisel down but it's getting smaller. But like I said before, I'm finally embracing my curves that I hated all my life. Thank you Kim Kardasian for showing the world that curves are a wonderful thing. No offense to those who do not have curves, it's just my time, and I'm taking that brass ring!!! LOL

Thanks all, I so appreciate it! I will write that down for the next fill. Just had a spoonful of shrimp salad and it's not going down so well. Duh!

I had my second fill yesterday and while the Dr was giving me my instructions afterward, my ADD mind was elsewhere. I forgot the rule of thumb PO. Is it 24 hrs liquids? I know all Drs have different methods but for the most part, what are the rules? Thanks so much.

Just came back from having my second fill. Also found out I have a 12cc band or as the dr. referred to the size initially, a "regular size" one. I just got 1cc today so now I'm up to 3.5cc's. Like it's been said before on here, each doctor has different ways of treating us. Most of you seem to be on your 3rd fill and have a good 5+cc's in your band. Oh well, I am doing well so far, I'm not complaining. It's still a good thing. It was quick and so easy with a little pinch and he was right in!

I'm going for my 2nd fill this afternoon. Only have 2.5 cc's "under my belt". I have to ask him today what size band I have. I've been getting stuck and having some PB's lately. Think it's the choice of food and not chewing properly. Taking big forkfuls {bad habit} but chewing it as best I can. WRONG! Nicole, I too enjoyed your bathing suit story. I use to get my suits online. They had great bathing suits, great designs, styles and good quality. I never cared for the suits in thes stores, even LB, for me. We went on my first cruise 2 weeks before surgery and I wore a bathing suit and took a picture of myself in the stateroom mirrow w/o DH there. I actually blew it up and printed it out and it sits hidden on my desk behind papers for only me to see. Ugh! I'll put the website out there for all as summer is coming and no matter what our weight, it's nice to have a nice bathing suit that fits.

Oh yeah, I'm in New Jersey, at the Jersey Shore. Not THE Jersey Shore with Snookie and the Situation. I'm north of them between Asbury Park, Bruce Springsteen's home away from home back in the day and Monmouth Racetrack, Oceanport.

Nicole, we're all here for you. I had some issues for a few years with hubby/stepdaughter who came with lots of emotional baggage and me being the last person she wanted to see when she woke up in the morning. I ate and even started drinking to numb the pain.{where I put on all this weight baggage}.Finally after a few years and intervention, things are much better. Never thought I would come out alive and not become an alcoholic too as well as being a foodaholic.Didn't meant to share this here, but you're not alone when it comes to family dynamic. We all have it one time or another. Unfortunately, you have now. My favorite saying is, "it could always be worse", although there have been times when I looked up to the skies and whispered, "it could always be better, damn it". At least you have one less thing to be unhappy about, you are losing weight and feeling good about yourself. Hang in there and again, know we're all here for you. You're awesome!!!

Justdoit: I agree with you on the LB issue. I am not going to cut off my nose to spite my face. I'm not a user, but when it comes to LB, I'm going to be! I already have re-enstated my old catalog where I use to buy some of my clothes before gaining all this weight called Boston Proper. I'm cutting out ideas and styles that I like since I have to "find" myself again. I never was able to buy their slacks or shorts before, only tops and accessories, but this time, I am determined to buy some smaller sized pants, etc. That's my final goal which I can patiently wait for since I'm seeing major changes now. I might even think of lowering my ultimate goal down another 10lbs.

My motto always is: If I put it out there, then you can ask. :-) I have a herniated {bulging} disc in lumbar spine area which is also effecting my legs. It's been going on for too long and I finally did something about it. I promised myself the beginning of this year, this is the year for me to "fix my body in many ways, my mind too!" Lapband, surgery, check, Nerve block, check, Colonoscopy: still working on that one!! :-)

Congrats "Justdoit". It's an awesome feeling. I got on the scale today and found out I finally broke through my 3 week plateau. I lost 2lbs and finally I've down 30lbs! This Thurs I go for my 2nd fill which I can't wait. My first goal and promise to myself was to cut up my Lane Bryant card when I lost 30lbs which I mentioned in the beginning. I think I'll hold onto it for maybe another 10lbs or so, since my weight is mainly in my bottom and I'll still need LB for my slacks and jeans. I just never had any luck with other brands of jeans so I'll stick with LB until I'm truly able to go into Macy's or some other cool store and buy them. LB has a brand called Seven jeans that really fit me well with my curves and I think I might need to buy one more smaller pair when I lose another 10lbs or so. It feels so good to look in the mirror and see the pounds and inches coming off. My husband went to hug me this morning and told me my upper back is feeling more muscle, not fat. That felt real good. He's lost 17lbs since his lapband in mid March. We see food so differently now. I just came back from having a spinal block and was dying for coffee and some food so we went to a nearby diner. We ordered light but we watched the amounts of food that were being devoured by area tables. It was incredible to see the large amounts of food and most people finishing it. Not judging, as that was the two of us before the band. We now have left over containers in our fridge that we can stretch out for days when we do go out. It's just amazing how America has decided how much food we want and need, when we really don't.

Otaknam quoted: I had my first out in the publics eye for a event yesterday and all I heard was OMG you look great!! I wanted to say " I have always looked great! (on the inside)" But I was nice and said Thank you....... I just love your "inside voice" comment, "I've always looked great!" Its a wonderful feeling to get accolades when we lose weight but no one knows what we are feeling on the inside as a heavy person. Kudo's to you and all of us on here who always looked great before, during and after losing our weight, getting healthy and feeling GREAT!

Chrissy, congrats to you. That's awesome. I'm still plateauing but that's ok. I'm not complaining. I get my 2nd fill the end of this week so we'll see if that helps. I was bad last week and exercised only one day instead of four so I can only blame myself. I think it's a good idea if you push it a few more pounds. If you don't make it, you still made it with your original goal. :-D

Yes, I was lucky, he was at Bayshore already. My husband has his surgery don 4 weeks ago today. Still not filled yet. He went last night for follow up and goes back in two weeks for his fill. I think we're very lucky to have someone like Dr. Strom and his entire staff so close by. When I hear some of the stories of those who have their fills by PA's {nothing against them} however, I like my surgeon to do the fill since he knows where he put it. Also, some go to the Dr's office, get the fill there, then go to the nearby hospital, have the barium and then back to dr's office if it's not the right amount, etc etc etc. Like I said before, one stop shopping. :-D

It does get better. While focusing on the post op healing, one day you realize, the discomfort is gone. It does take time, and everyone heals differently.

I was banded by Dr. Strom also. At Bayshore. He is awesome and so is his staff! It was great to have everything all in once place, nutritionist, psyche eval, and suggested area doctors for all pre-op tests.

Holly, you wear it on your wrist with a band they give you. Somehow, it tracks your sleep activity, how long it takes for you to go to sleep, how many times you wake up and how many hours you actually sleep. It's cool.

Many of us January Bandsters have the fitbit. The first I heard of it was on here with all the others'. I think Amazon and BestBuy had a major spike in sales in February due to many of us buying it! I love mine and am never without it. Love the MFP/FitBit programs too!