Kime-lou

I ate a small slice (1 in by 1in) of my Dad's B-day cake today. My mom wanted to send some home with us, but I told her no, send it home with my brother, he has 6 kids at home, they will polish it off tonight. I am determined to stay on track, but during the craving time I really have a hard time.

There can be so many things that could cause these issues, but only a doctor can figure it out. Get back to see your surgeon ASAP.

Yep, I think it's a curse. When my sister-in-law came in November to visit and we went shopping she told me I really needed to go get another bra. I ended up getting a genie bra- it holds me well, comfy and doesn't make me look like I have lost to much in that area.

I can find both the dressing and marinade in NC and VA. I use the marinade on chopsteaks.

I am a PB junky to. My nutritionist said a couple Tbsp with an apple is a great snack. We need good fats, of course the Protein is great for us. As for apples- I am partial to pink ladies - similar to gala. I make a chicken and noodle dish (Thai food kinda) and used a Peanut Butter sauce on it - it is so yummy.

Any medical expense paid out of pocket co-pays, bills, medications, vitamins, any thing that is a medical expense no matter if it was related to this surgery or not if it was a medical expense and you have the receipt or bill you can use it. My husband had an experimental eye surgery that cost 50,000 and insurance didn't pay one penny and we used every medical expense we both had that year and it added up to a great deal.

I have used milk of mag and miralax. My doctor recommended the milk of mag. It's not fun at all. I am now on stool softeners daily (3) and that is help, but I still only go about every other day. But, it is starting to get better. This is apparently common with WLS patients.

I really thought I was going to have a horrible time with this, but I honestly haven't. I tried drinking a sip of my hubs Dt. Dew one day and I thought it would kill me. The carbonation made my mouth feel like it was burning and made my tummy hurt. To get flavor I use Crystal Light water powders and propel and there are several other really good ones.

Like many others I also drink up until I start eating and then stop. My PA said that the fluid goes right through the band so it doesn't effect it. The only rules I was given about drinking is..... not while eating, no carbonation (can bloat the pouch), no caffeinated drinks (caffeine can stimulate hunger), no liquid with empty calories or count them.

You have done so amazing. Such an inspiration. So glad you are on this site.

I started with the Crystal Light Peach Ice Tea. Now I have gone to Crystal Light Peach Mango Green Tea, it doesn't have the green tea taste (I don't really like green tea), but it is awesome!!!!! I absolutely love this stuff.

My hubs and I invested in an elliptical and a total gym. We LOVE them both. However, I can say that there are some days that I am still not motivated to hit the machines.

My nutritionist recommended that I wait 3 months before trying a salad, so that is what I did. I don't have issues with it now.

You look great!! Congrats on all the success!

I had the exact same problem last June when I was banded. I called my nutritionist and discussed the problems with her. She ok'd on day 5 for me to begin adding yogurt to my protein shakes or a banana in the blender to it. This helped a lot. She believed it was likley my surger levels.

I don't like the cold weather at all!!! I was born and raised in northern NC southern VA area, but could very easily be talked into moving to Bermuda!!

Here is my 2 cents worth..... Lapband "way of life", "diet" what ever term you want to put on it or Weight Watchers either one will work or it won't work totally dependent on the person's committment to the plan. If you commit to getting your Protein, Water, and keep your calories at your doctor/nutritionist limit then you are going to lose weight. If you commit and follow the WW diet plan you will lose weight. The person just has to find what is going to work best for them from this day forward, not just this month or the next 6 months. WW works for a lot of people, but they often gain the weight back because they stop attending meetings and eating the WW way. Weight loss is all about the committment and the "want" power to stick to it.

Ok- here is the pychologist in me..... Anger is a secondary emotion and in this case I think the anger mostly stems from fear of the unknown or jelously. Let me give you an example.... My BFF had gastric bypass in 2009 and lost 120 lbs in a year. After her weight loss she went to an orentation for a new job. (She is a nurse) The people in her group were discussing WLS patients. One of the guys in the group said "I can spot WLS patient a mile a way, they look horrible, all that hangin skin and sunk in eyes- I'd rather be fat". (the guy was obese) My friend ask, "well do you think anyone in this group has had WLS?" He said "no, everyone looks pretty normal" She smiled and said, "thanks, but I had WLS a year and half ago and have lost 120 lbs.". We figured this guy was just afraid of WLS, while he could benefit from it he was scared. To each his own, but I like you wish people would just respect another person's choice.

I have figured out that a lot of the reason I use to eat had nothing to do with hunger. see something- eat it. Smell something- eat it. Board- eat Worried- eat Meal time - eat I ate my way to almost 250 and I knew it had to stop. Now I am much more selective about what and when I eat. I now eat 3 meals a day and sometime one snack. I still eat things I love, but I eat less or them. Today I walked into the breakroom at work, there was a smorgasborg or treats: grapes, cheese, crackers, pimento cheese, rolls, celery. While these foods aren't bad foods, I didn't eat them, I wasn't hungry. In times past I would have fixed a nice rounded plate and gone back to my corner office and ate up. While my mouth and mind were saying yummy, just one bite, my tummy was saying, but hey yo I don't want any, not hungry please don't. My eyes, mouth and mind get me in a lot of trouble when it comes to food. My husband in blind, but very strong resourcful, brillant wonderful man; but he can't see the foods laying around. He never picks and taste at things, he doesn't graze. He eats his 3 meals and about 2 snacks a day and that is it. He isn't tempted by the stuff laying around because he can't see it. Now at meals he eats well, but that is a different story. But, I think I need to become more like him; blind to the food just laying around. When I make a concious effort not to indulge I am fine, but when I uncounsiously peck I will pay with weight gain. In my wieght loss journey I need to get my mind, mouth and tummy all on the same page.

I was told that the only reason they say afford caffine is that it can increase your appatite. So try it and if you find you are hungyer then go back to decaf.