ihomeschool4

How about making a progress chart and tell everyone you'll post to it once a week...if they see a loss they can congratulate you and if they don't they'd better not mention it!!! I don't know the relationship you have there, but I'll bet there are lots of people asking because they genuinely care about you and want you to do well... It'll come...

Keep it coming!! Lots of insight that I need right now...I'm hazarding a guess here...I bet others need it as well! My Oscar...hmmmmm...I'll have to think about that one...

I was also just remembering that there were posts (can't remember where - but somewhere on LBT) recommending breathing exercises as well. After surgery, I just made it a point to make sure I was taking deep breaths...A couple of times a day, I would make it a point to breathe deeply and slowly in and out for about 5 minutes at a time... Have a great evening...I'm gonna head to beddy-bye:notagree

Kat, Just thinking about you and Rick and wondering how things are going today! Hope all is well! Will be praying for you both (and your family).

Sounds silly...but jiggle your belly lightly for about five minutes...I did that the first week or so andytime I got any gas pains...It really seemed to break them up! Hubby said it worked for him as well! Chin up!!!

Hey Judy, I am in the process of catching up on the posts for today, so someone may have already answered to this...I'll see as I keep reading. My hubby and I are going back to Dr. Rumbaut in Mexico May 24-25 for our first fills. It's just before our anniversary weekend, so we're making it into a date! 13 years!!! God provided me with the best hubby in the world! So glad to be going through this expereince WITH him! I go to the Doctor tomorrow (Thursday) to see if I can get to the bottom of this fibroid cyst thing...I'll post if I find out anything!

Tammy, It sure is easier when you're eating for the babies, isn't it?!?! Congrats on your trips!! That's awesome!!! As for fast food, I'm with you!! If I go there, they'll entice me and I'll want to go back to all the bad stuff!! It's so easy to get back into the wrong mindset...I am so happy to have you guys here! I probably sound like a broken record, but I can already tell that this board is going to be a MAJOR instrument in the weight-loss goals my hubby and I have set! I'll join you in the boycott - but I sure will need support! Fried Chicken just sounds sooo goooood (even though I was never a huge fan of it before banding!) Well, I'm going to have to go to bed...I took pain meds for a migraine and they hyped me up, but I'm beginning to crash and I want to be sure I'm in my bed when I do!!!LOL

Denise, 475 calories isn't much...but it's a fine line...if you're not hungry, don't push it, but if you feel hunger at this point (your body IS healing) you need to respond to it. Over the last several days, I have had tuna with light mayo, baked fish, SF pudding (although it seems kinda hard to get down), scrambled eggs, finely chopped pulled pork (a treat - definitely not a habit!), my mom's AWESOME chicken salad finely chopped and spread on crackers, yogurt smoothies, carnation instant breakfast, baked potato, potato soup, tomato soup, sauteed veggies, noodle-less lasagna (baked with tomato sauce, lowfat ricotta and cottage cheese and sprkinled with parmesan), broth...I'm trying for variety so I won't get burned out like I did on the liquids!! It took a good 8 days after surgery to even get my appetite and I was on liquids for 10 days pre-op and 14 days post-op. At this point in time, I'm not even the least bit interested in moving to solids...although sometimes my brain wants them! I imagine that my body's cravings will change soon from the other posts I've read!

Denise, I think it sounds great...I'm no expert, though!! I am eating about 1,000 calories and trying to make sure it is protein and vitamin rich...kinda hard on mushies sometimes!!! We had baked fish and very well-done sauteed onion, summer squash and zuchinni (olive oil to sautee and lemon pepper, garlic salt, basil, and cilantro for flavor). If you want a little extra protein, Carnation Instant breakfast has a Sugar-free mix that I make hot chocolate with in the morning...with the skim milk or calorie countdown milk, it's really reasonable on calories and it's a 13 protein gram treat! I also drink the lemon flavored K2O special K Protein water on occasion. Not the greatest, but palatable...I get in an extra 5 grams of Whey Isolate protein.

adorable - great pictures!! I need to see if I can get mine! also, I want to thank you guys for your support! I ended up with a migraine today on top of everything else (probably because of the stress of everything else...). I told my hubby that I just don't like being me anymore... Kat - I have taken your advice to heart and will make sure to really talk to my doc on Thursday...she's a good one and I think she will be helpful! I am still praying for you and Rick. I sincerely thank you for taking the time to encourage all of us when you've got so much on your mind! This board is truly a blessing! I really appreciate everyone!!

Laura, You're not but about 45 min to an hour away from me...if you come up with some things you'd like to be able to make, let me know...I love to cook and would love to help you out! My kids love to cook as well (good helpers! my oldest daughter helped hubby cook dinner tonight). We could just have a Saturday cooking day and you could take the stuff home with you and freeze it! I'm really serious! It will probably be three or four weeks, but if you're interested, PM me and let me know!

Sorry for posting so many times!!! I am still losing, albeit slowly - averaging about 1 1/2 pounds a week since surgery), but I have hit a snag...I have a fibroid cyst in my uterus and as a by-product have been bleeding since April 5th...needless to say, with that, recovering from surgery and being on liquids for 25 days (started mushies last week), I am anemic...I can't even do a load of laundry without pooping out for a good three or four hours. I really wanted to have these few weeks after the surgery to get into a good exercising habit, but I feel like I am stuck. I was thinking about a May personal exercise challenge, but it's a challenge just to get a shower these days (and I don't think showers count as exercise:o ). Anyone else dealing with anemia? I started Elemental Iron Supplements last Friday and it seems that all I've gotten from those is nausea... Anyway, sorry to whine - again...I'm really not a whiner...usually pretty upbeat...I just hate when things don't go the way I expect them to. :help: :faint: :faint: :faint: :faint: :faint: :faint: :help:

Infant Simethicone drops work just as well...Mylicon is the brand name, but WAYYYY expensive. I always bought the Wal-Mart brand for about $2.50 a bottle. They come in two ounce bottles, but a dose of two droppers full is plenty...that gives (if I remember correctly) about 12 or 14 doses per bottle. I used them when I had my two c-sections because they were in the house and easily accessible.

Do you have a link to that board...my PCP mentioned the possibility of a hysterectomy...I may find out for sure as soon as Thursday...I wanted more children...:think

Hey txkbh, When my mom and dad saw how serious my hubby and I were about this, they offered to give me part of my inheritance early. We also opted to go to Dr. Rumbaut in Monterrey, Mexico. We were consdiering Dr. Ponce in North Georgia - one of the Docs that participated in the clinical trials for FDA approval in the US. Through LOTS of research, we discovered that Dr. Ponce actually studied with Dr. Rumbaut and Dr. Rumbaut supervised him placing his first band. Dr. Rumbaut has placed 4300+ bands and actually uses extra stitching techniques to help prevent slippage. If I had to make the choice again, I'd go back! The facilities are top notch, it's less money for a higher level of care than in the US, to this day I still have direct access to the team of surgeons via the phone, the follow-up support is good...I just can't say enough about the great experience we had!! They also have finance companies they work with. Anyway, that's my two cents worth...I wish you luck in your search. Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions you'd like for me to answer. Also keep me posted on your progress!

Just prayed for you and your hubby! Keep us posted... Take care of you and yours...we'll be here when you are able to come back!!!

<p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Hey tinybelle,</p> <p> </p> <p>I was banded on 4/12 also...I have been having feminine issues and retaining TONS of fluid since April 5. I am only down 5 lbs. since the day of surgery (down 30 overall since Feb 28). My hubby was banded the same day and yesterday was down 12 lb since surgery...I get discouraged, but I keep telling myself...</p> <p> </p> <p>"I'll never get as big as my highest weight again!!! I may fluctuate a few pounds here and there, but it's a downhill slope from here!!!!!"</p> <p> </p> <p>We have a tool in place that we have paid a price for (physically and via the wallet). We're going to use that tool and we have tons of other people here at LBT that are going to support us!! Don't despair...just know that the weight is coming off! It has been banished from returning!!!! It's a decision we have to make!<img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/decision.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Decision" smilieid="226" class="inlineimg" /> </p> <p> </p> <p><img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/clap2.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Clap2" smilieid="217" class="inlineimg" /> <img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/wl/welldoneclap.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Welldoneclap" smilieid="376" class="inlineimg" /> <img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/clap2.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Clap2" smilieid="217" class="inlineimg" /></p>

Glad to hear from all the newbies today! Well wishes and prayers!! I think I speak for most everyone on this thread...thanks for posting ALL of your experiences...it has really been helpful going into this with so few surprises!!!

Congrats!! How awesome is that?!?! I haven't taken any actual measurements...I think I'll get hubby to do that today! I haven't seen a size 16 since high school! I'm shooting for a 28 for a short term goal. I've already picked out the pants I'm going to use as my "goal." I'm still waiting on a bunch of swelling and feminine issues to be resolved before I even think about weighing...My feet and ankles and hands are huge and I don't want the disappointment of weighing with all this extra fluid on me. Have a dr. appt this afternoon...maybe I'll get some resolution! In ER last week, they said I was anemic, hemoglobin was 9.1 and I was dehydrated. Been bleeding since April 5th - before surgery and still going strong with no sign of stopping...OB put me on birth control pills and said the surgery caused the disruption...funny that it was there BEFORE surgery...called my PCP and she is going to see me today...I fired my OB!!! UGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!

oh yeah, my hubby blended the crab and the mayo in the blender to make it more spreadable...don't know if that would make a difference...

My husband's first mushy last night was crab mixed with a light mayo. He splurged and bought the real stuff and savored every bite he ate...it wasn't much, but he sure did enjoy it...something to look forward to. When do you start your mushies?

Brennens - 04/26 BeckyNtN - 04/26 JDarnwest - 04/26 Flax - 04/26 Adorable - 04/26 TracyinKS -04/26 I'm excited for all of you!! Today is the day! Can't wait to hear how you are all doing!!! Today is my first official day on mushies...I actually started 12 hours early...boy what a difference in the way I feel...no more headache, fatigue seems to be going away, not as short-tempered with my poor kiddos:) ...Couldn't eat much at all, but it was so nice to chew something...I haven't had anything I could chew since April 1!!! I'm finding that I like the way my mushies taste, but they just don't FEEL good after I've eaten...no pain or anything. I think it's just because I can feel something sitting in my pouch when there hasn't been anything there for almost a month. I had 2 tablespoons of tuna with light mayonnaise and 4 crackersyesterday around 5:30pm...I felt full when I went to bed 5 hours later!!! Wow this REALLY IS going to work!!!! I am really excited...I guess I had some doubts, but there really is restriction there! I had half a scrambled egg for breakfast 3 hours ago and am still full. I am planning on a small skinless baked potato for lunch - if I get hungry - and I am cooking some lasagna for dinner (sans the noodles): Ricotta cheese Cottage Cheese Tomato Sauce blend together, spread in pan, sprinkle a little parmesan on top and bake it til it's warm. I'll let you know how it is. Well, I'm gonna go and work on some school with the kids. Have a great day!

DO housework as you feel like it. If you only vaccuum half the room, that's okay...you can do the other half tomorrow. As for the protein drinks, AdvantEDGE Chocolate Fudge (Vanilla and Strawberry are NASTY) by EAS (Wal-mart carries them) and the Isopure protein waters (GNC) are decent. The only Isopure I have tried is a red one - I don't know the name of the flavor because it was in Spanish and I haven't taken the time to look it up. The waters have 40 g of protein and the AdvantEDGE have 17 g of protein. The disadvantage with the waters is that they are 20 ounces, and I am just unable to drink them in one sitting - they are only good cold. That goes for both of these drinks...COLD COLD COLD! When you can have skim milk, the Carnation Sugar Free Instant Breakfast is good and with milk, one 8 ounce cup has 13 grams of protein... Hope that helps!

how about April Showers. With all the liquid we've been taking in, it almost seems appropriate...heeheehee...I started liquids April 1st and will move to mushies April 26...almost the entire month...I'm afraid the references to flowers would scare off the guys... Oh, BTW, if you're on full liquids and looking for something tasty, I have made a new discovery... I love french dressing and I love green olives, so I drained some of the olive juice from a jar of green olives and mixed it with some low fat/low cal french dressing til it was pretty thin and came to about 2 pablespoons of liquid - mostly olive juice....wow....what taste!!! I think I'll have that as a treat each day...lots of sodium, though. If I close my eyes, it's almost like eating (drinking) a salad.

wanabethin, Sorry to hear you are sick...our pediatricians trick...1/2 teaspoon of Benadryl and 1/2 teaspoon any flavor of Maalox...gargle then either spit it out or go ahead and swallow it. It really helps ALOT!!! Hope you feel better!