Terry Poperszky

specifically Androgel? If so, what has your weight loss done for your levels?

I was banded on 1/7/13 and one of the things that my instructions talked about was that during the "Healing Phase" of my eating, many patients stop losing or actually gain weight. With this in mind I have been very careful to log all my food and count calories Even thought my NUT said that calorie counting wasn't necessary, she told me to shoot for between 1300 - 1500. So, this morning I was able to go back to one of my pre-band rituals of Saturday morning breakfast with a friend, but I was scared because I was flying solo, no scale, no measuring cups, just me and "Mistress Band". So, the result? I ordered two eggs and hash browns, I pre-cut all my food to the proper size, and tried to focus on the conversation and my eating. Pretty soon I hit a soft stop (hiccup) and then each bite I started asking myself why I was taking that bite. When the answer because "Because it tastes so good" I put my fork down and moved the plate out of reach. At that point, I was satisfied, not full, but satisfied and it looking at my plate, I realized that I had eaten about the same as I would have if I had pre-measured it. Maybe one day, I will be able to move rely totally on listening to my body and my band, but until then, I will log and count.

This is how I play computer games now, I built a treadmill desk, and I hook up my laptop start a game and start walking. It catches my attention like nothing else and the before you know it I have been walking for an hour.

You aren't doing anything wrong. Different people react to the surgery different ways, just hand in there and stay hydrated. BTW, I had a hiatal hernia repaired as well, and I don't believe that is adding to your pain.

They are so obvious now, because the band is putting the physical hunger into the background. They were always there, but where hiding behind your physical hunger. Now that their mask has been pull off, they stand there in their ugliness and we have to start admitting to ourselves why we were really eating. I can't count the number of times in the last couple weeks that I have thought to myself "OMG, how much was I really putting into my body???" Keep your eye on the prize, and find different coping skills that will serve you rather than control you.

My surgeon told me to get used to drinking a Protein shake in the morning because the band will be so much tiger (and it is). Most of his staff have been banded, and in talking to them that is all they start their morning with. This is my morning ritual: 5:30 - 9:00 8 oz skim mik, 16 oz coffee, 11 oz Protein Shake, .5 c steel cut oats. I start with the skim milk, because it gets my metabolism out of the night time fasting mode.

If I only ate when I was physically hungry, I would not have gotten the band. emotional hunger, habit hunger, reward hunger, boredom hunger are what put the fat on me. There is article on the site http://www.lapbandta...to-swallow-r110 maybe you can gan some insights from it on how to handle it.

A little gas is one thing, but people are starting to complain about the draft I am creating.

I was really hungry when I got home tonight, so I grabbed 1/2 cup of baked Beans and ate it so I wouldn't be tempted to snack while I cooked. So, 45 minutes later, dinner is ready and Mistress Band has just informed me that those beans were my dinner, and I WILL NOT be eating anything else for a while. She suggested that I head down to the treadmill and walk a couple miles while the rest of my family eats their dinner. Such is the life of the banded...

Look at vegetable protein

1. For me GB is too invasive. Getting the band was a big step, I wasn't willing to re-route my internal plumbing and the associated malabsorbtion issues. 2. Sleeve is too new to know long term effectiveness. My PCP suggest GB or LB, but wouldn't suggest Sleeve because of that. 3. LB has the least complications, is the least invasive. My surgeon was able to produce stats from over 900 procedures that he performed. 4. I know someone who had GB and has stretched their pouch out so much that they could out eat me, un-banded. Plus they told about something called "dumping" which I wanted no part in.

Well, it is an annual event so like I said, if not this year than next. There is a 40 mile baby version of the ride that would still give me something to shoot for this year with out killing myself. Thanks for the input.

I am afraid will not be able to consume enough calories to build the muscle necessary for the event. I am on track to loose 30 pounds my first month, with that type of weight loss, it seems counter intuitive to add another 1K of exercise a day. As for gaining, right now that really isn't a fear unless I start eating butter with a spoon, I am just now starting to get 1300 calories a day in and my BMR is 2600. Before the band, it didn't matter how much exercise, I could out eat it. But Road Cycling is a thin persons game.

Coffee already has a flavor, why would you put anything in your cup besides more coffee???

The instructions my Surgeon gave me said that during the healing phase (time before your first fill) that a patient may stop loosing, or even gain. It is one of the reasons that I am logging everything I eat and watching my calories like a hawk. As for not seeing your surgeon, Tina, he has seen it all. You have a partnership with him, it only works if you see him and are honest with him.

I was banded 1/7/13 and I am in my mushie stage. I make a pot of the steel cut oats at the beginning of the week, and then each morning I take half a cup for my Breakfast. Right now, I will add a little hot Water to make them a the proper consistency. That and I follow the rules and eat them very slowly, making sure they are throughly chewed. The steel cut oats have a different texture than rolled oats and I have come to like them more.

I have had steel cut oatmeal, with a teaspoon of butter and a tablespoon of real maple syrup every morning this week.

My instructions are to eat my Protein first.

I'm still in the healing phase Donna, I will be up to a cup of food eventually, but my surgeon wants me to be uber careful about putting pressure on the band.

I use it as I would sour cream, if I am eating yogurt, I go for one of the flavored varieties. The plain, I use to give my cooking added nutrition and flavor.

You will not believe how good things taste now. The band is curbing your love of eating, now you are free to concentrate your love of food. As for over eating, I sit down at the table with my 1/2 cup, when it is gone, I am done, soft stop or no soft stop. Mistress Band taught me the hard way what will happen if I go back for seconds, besides if I only eat my pre-measured amount the changes of me stretching my pouch or causing a band slip are negligible.

My poor dog has been hiding in her kennel, she thinks I am growling at her...

Chobani Greek yogurt plain 0% fat.

She is "Mistress Band", Black leather and stilettos and when I am bad, she digs one of those heels into my chest.