Kime-lou

My band does tighten when I am sick. I haven't had to have any fluid removed yet. The last time I had a bad cold with the coughing and I knew my band was tighter I just went on mushies and liquids for a few days and that did the trick.

Many times nerves will fill like that. I had that burning pain at one of my incesion sites for a couple of months before it faded. They cut nerves and it will take a little time for everything to heal. But, as always, keep your doctor in the know about how you are doing and feeling. The doctor can't help if he/she doesn't know what is going on.

You are in the rough zone. My first month was the toughest after that it's been easier, however I still fight with urges to eat when I am not really hungry and to eat things that I shouldn't. Keep on walking the walk and the weight will come down!

I was told that it depends on the person. I have my levels check (right now) every 3 months. After I get further out they will be check yearly. As long as all my levels are fine I won't take anything but my B and that is because my B has always been low. However, as we age most people expecially woman need to take some form of Calcium. It is best to go to the doctor and have them check your levels and help you decide what is best for you. Vitamin toxicity is possible so that is why it's good to have the draw blood and figure out exactly what you may be needing.

I have 6 cc in a 10cc band and I can eat anything I want except thick goey things (bread or cakes). As long as I chew well I have no problem with any meats. I am with Missy I would seek a second opnion or just have a plan out ole heart to heart with your current doc.

Oh, my goodness you went through a horrible time. I hope you heal quickly and are able to be happy and healthy from this point forward.

There are so many pleasures that I never knew in my life. Simple Pleasures: Walking or power walking with the dogs on a pretty day. Breathing clean and clear without wheezing. Walking fast and not having to stop and catch my breath before I speak. Walking into a store and buy a pair of pants where the size doesn't start or end with W. Not getting the worlds worst wedgy when wearing short. Not having my full coverage panties (granny panties) turn into thongs. Having energy to not only do what I must but wanting to do more. Not being feeling self conscious all the time. Not being afraid to step on the scale at the doctors office. Being willing to stand up for myself rather than just wanting to fade into the back ground. Having my life not revolve around food. There are so many more simple pleasures that I am sure I will find as my weight continues to go down, but these are the ones that I am seeing thus far. What simple pleasures are you enjoying?

It's not really a feeling of it's coming back up, it just more of a feeling or whoa I am satisfied stop now. For me I never really feel like it's coming back, I just feel like I am bloated if I eat to much.

Grits, applesauce with Protein powder added, greek yogurt, couscous (not really a breakfast food, but so yummy and you can add any flavor you want). If on solids there are lots of options- Cereal, english muffin half with one egg and a piece of turkey bacon, fritata (egg and veggie casserole - lots of recipes online), cheese cubes with grapes

"If you pinch the skin on your arms and it stays up a few minutes then you are dehydrated if not then you are not. I would still go to the er and see if they can remove some Fluid." This is not always the case, I'd heard that to, but when I became severly dehydrated from having a stomach virus my skin did not do that. However, all other body organs (heart ect) show signs of dehydration to the point I was dizzy, nauseated and would pass out if I stood. They ran 3 liters of fluid in before I ever needed to urinate.

Yes, it sounds like dehydration. I would go to the ER and get some IV fluids.

Try counting calories (myfitnesspal is great) to see what you are doing in a day. Muscle does weight more so if you are doing strength training that can knock things off a little. Make sure you are getting enough Water it is key! If possible try and see your nutritionist they can help a lot on getting you on track.

It all depends on the person and what works for them. I eat Special K with protein and I eat Nature Valley Granola. These do keep me full about 3-4 hours. Some people say the cereal slides for them and they opt not to eat it. My NUT said it was fine as long as it worked for me and I am not eating the high surgery ones.

I literally had to make a cacoon of sorts. I had 2 body pillows - one on each side and one pillow over my abdomen and two under my head and one under my knees. There was barely any room in the bed for my husband. But, this was the only way I could sleep for the first week and a half.

I can relate Audrey and Shell. I started at 244 and now am hovering in the mid 190's. I know that it is my fault the weight isn't moving down quicker, but I still haven't gotten in major geer. I have a great week working out daily and eating right and then the next week my motivation is gone. I have got to get on track and stay on track.

You are very right. Perspective can make a big difference. With the right perspective it's easy to see all of God's blessings that He gives each day.

Well it's been an odd week for me. The hubs Big 40 was last week. We had a party for him last Sunday night. Instead of B-day cake he wanted his fave cheesecake and I made brownies to. Most of the left overs I sent home with friends. Kept a couple and we had those the first of the week. Mid-week my PMS mode hit, which means grumpy and craving. Since being banded I haven't really had any horrible cravings for sweets, I've wanted them, but not to the point I have this week. I am guessing this is a case of your mind gets a little and it wants more of that drug. On Friday of this week NC got hit with an ice storm - nothing horrible, but enough to send us home from work and keep us in until afternoon on Saturday. Friday my hubs wanted pizza. Well this hasn't been an issue for me before, but.... I ordered a large since I could get it for free, just figured we would eat on it for a couple of days (WRONG). For lunch I was starved and ate 2 slices of my veggie side and felt way to full (I know this wasn't good for my band and I shouldn't have, but I can't change what was only what is to come), at dinner I wasn't really hungry, but at another piece anyway and felt even worse. By bedtime I felt like crap. My tummy hurt and I felt bloated. Lesson learned.... I am feeling like I am reverting back to my old ways and that scares me worse than anything. My band is there to help me, but if I refuse to listen to it, it can't and won't help. I know that I must get back on track and get myself back on the plan and biggest thing listen to my band. As my mom said when I was little there is a big difference in hearing and listening. I hear my band tell me no I don't want that, but I ignored it this weekend. Today after returning home from my Dad's 65th b-day party I found myself standing in my kitchen looking around for something to eat, yet I wasn't hungry. My feeling down and out today doesn't help eating issues, but at least I am realizing what triggers I have and trying to change which I have not done in the past. While at Dad's party, sitting with my niece who is a cute perky 17 year old size 0, I watched what and how she ate. She ate really slow. She got up to toss her plate and still had half of her cake and some ice cream on it- she said she was full. I guess that is why she is a size 0. She opts to stop when she is full no matter how much is left on her plate. This is something I can learn from her. Like I have often said this journey isn't the easy every day, but it is a journey worth making. For those of you support and encourage me thank you from the bottom of my heart. I know I am going to fall from time to time on my journey and it helps having the awesome people on this site to help me stand back up and keep moving forward.

Do you use quick cook rolled oats?

I wasn't told not to eat popcorn and nuts, I was told not to for 6 months and after that they were fine. I eat a lot of almonds, cashews and pecans. I make cheese lace "cookies" crackers- whatever you wanna call them and they are yummy and satisfy my taste for salty. I spray a cookie sheet with pam and sprinkle a little Colby jack cheese in a thin layer and bake for a few. They get crispy.