GR8

JanieBug -- Thank you for sending me the book. I received it Saturday -- and will start reading this week, this should also help motivate me!!!!!!!!! Thanks again!!!!!

Hi Everyone! I have to confess -- I am in the FUNK as well. I had a fill on 10-18 (Thursday) and stopped losing on 10-21 (Sunday). I was 4lbs away from having a 100lbs lost. I have been ashamed that I am up 3.2 lbs since 21st - as of today. I admit - I have not been a perfect bandster - I am so tight that it is easier to eat the bad stuff. "How bad do I want it? -- obviously the bad stuff has won out here recently." With Thanksgiving this week - I am going to just try to stay stable, BUT watch out the following Monday -- I will get committed. Eatting right - and exercising! Who is with me -- MONDAY following Thanksgiving to Xmas --- Committed - Committed - Committed. KAT -- LOTS OF PRAYERS, HUGS AND KISSES!!!!!!!!

Hi Everyone -- Kat's husband Rick provided an update and wrote today: "I hope this is the right place to put this, I am doing this for my wife Kathy. She is probably getting out of the hospital today. Her blood pressure is too low it was 52 over 36, she is getting extra Fluid in an IV. She is awake, alert, but is hurting. I imagine she will be home later today. Our computer is not making connection in her room. She said to be sure to tell you all thanks for the prayers and she will talk to you all when she gets home. Rick" Lots of prayers, kisses and hugs to Kat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If anyone was interested in getting the BodyBugg -- I just purchased one with the wrist display for $279.18 - that was a $169.77 savings at 24hourfitness.com Good Night everyone!

***********IMPORTANT MESSAGE*********** Terridoodle got a call from Manda (Kat's daughter) to let us know that she just came out of the surgery and she's fine. Most importantly, the growth was entirely benign!!! Her phone was cutting out so she's not sure what happened with the intubation...Manda said she thought she was asleep, but Terry thinks Kat was in the background shaking her head 'no'. So we'll find out more about that tomorrow. Also understood that she should be discharged Saturday. I'm sure she'll be glad to get home! GREAT NEWS, KAT!!! __________________ Get Well SOON -- I miss you Kat!

Hi Everyone -- just catching up on posts - I have been traveling in Atlanta and Alabama. This is absolutely the best cake I have ever eaten. Enjoy for the holidays! Preheat oven to 350 1 box Moist Deluxe Butter Recipe cake mix 4 eggs 1 block cream cheese 1/2 cup oil 1/2 cup water 1 tablespoon lemon extract (Mix all the above together in the mixing bowl, I usually put everything in and then cut the cream cheese in four chunks and add the lemon extract at the end after beating it all together and then a mix in the extract). Bake for about 30-45 minutes, watch in the oven, depends on your oven until it is brown on top. I usually stick through it to make sure it is completely done inside. Flip it out of the bundt pan onto the cake plate and let sit about 5 minutes. Mix Confectionary sugar and lemon juice together in measuring cup and drizzle on top. I just put the sugar in and then add the lemon juice (no particular amount) until the mixture is still thick but thin enough to pour on top. Enjoy - Enjoy - Enjoy

If anyone was interested in getting the BodyBugg -- I just purchased one with the wrist display for $279.18 - that was a $169.77 savings at 24hourfitness.com

I just ordered my BodyBugg and Display for total of $279.18 --- what a deal. I can't wait!

This is so cool -- thanks Laura!

Whey 42 Liquid Protein Fruit Punch by IDS Sports - VitaminShoppe.com and Myoplex Rtd Cookies & Cream by EAS/PAS - VitaminShoppe.com

Welcome to Band Land! Liquid stage is very important - you need to heal and it is a must. Follow your DR's recommendation. I used IDS New whey Protein bullets - mixed in a empty 16oz Water bottle 1 tube (3.2oz) and filled with water -- in my early days. Now I place 1 tub and fill the tub with water and add so -- 1:1 ratio. Fruitpunch was my favorite flavor. I know use EAS Protein drinks (42gm protein 17oz Fudge something flavor) - Ready to drink -- available at Walmart and many other locations. They also have 11oz ones with 25gr protein. Doctor turned me onto them. Best wishes.

Welcome to LBT Sarah. You will find great support and friends here. Good luck on your new journey and speedy recovery when you have your surgery!

HarleyNana - Kat817 went down to Austin I think - hasn't returned yet....She was celebrating Anniversary and working on some property they have there in the area as well - if I remember right. I miss her also!

FYI: Here are the basic Bandster rules: Ten Rules for Success - Guideliness and Nutrition 1Eat only three small meals a day.Once properly adjusted - you require only small amounts of food to reach fulliness.By eating three meals a day, you will fill your pouch, feel full, then allow enough time to empty it to feel hungry again.You only need to fill the pouch three times a day with appropiate food to give the body adequate nutrition. 2Eat solid foods, slowly, and chew thoroughly. (approximately 15 to 20 times a bite).The brain takes 20 minutes to detect that the stomach is full.Chewing thoroughly will permit you to eat adequate amounts of food, without food clogging the stoma.A properly adjusted band will permit you to eat only a third of the volume of food you were used to eating. 3Stop Eating as soon as you feel full.Because yo uare eating slowly, you can detect when your pouch tells you that it is full.Stop. Push the plate away. Just because you CAN shove more food in, doesn't mean you should.Remember your band can be at risk if you push it to it's limit. 4Do not wash down your solids with liquids.Liquids creates a slurry of food and allows it to slip down the stoma faster, which defeats the goal of getting the pouch full in order for the hunger signals to turn off.Don't drink within 20 minutes before a meal, and an hour after. (Some recommend 2 hrs after a meal.) 5Do not eat between meals.If you eat three regular small meals of solid foods and are properly adjusted, you should not be feeing hungry.You may have psychological hunger, also called head hunger and emotional hunger, but it is not real hunger.Learn ways to examine possible causes and ways to defeat it. 6Eat only good quality foods.Cereals: Prefer gains like beans, lentils or whole wheat bread or oats.Vegetables: Prefer broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, eggplants, leafy greens (spinach, collard greens), mushrooms, onions, peppers, oumpkin, tomatoes, and winter squash.Fruits: one piece for breakfast, one at lunch, and one for dinner. Try apples, apriocots, blueberries, cantaloupe, grapefruit, kiwi, oranges, plums, pears, watermelon, and mango. Avoid canned fruit, dried fruit, and coconut.Meat, poultry, and fish: Serving size=deck of cars; most people need two or three servings a day. Prefer light meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, legumes, egg whites. Avoid hotdogs, bacon, peanut butter, sausage, duck, fried poultry.Milk, cheese and yogurt: Two servings a day, three if you are a teenager or pregnant or a lactating woman. Prefer nonfat and 1% milk, low fat cottage cheese, nonfat yogurt. Avoid whole milk and whole cheese whole yogurt, milk shakes and ice cream.Fat: you do need fat. Three servings a day is good. Prefer avocado, veg. oil, almonds, and nuts. Avoid maynnase, lard, butter and margarine. 7Avoid fibrous foods.Certain vegetables (asparagus) and fruits (pineapple) and some meats contain many fibers that may clog the LAP-BAND, even if they are thoroughly chewed. Eating these can only cause regurgitation and vomiting. This in turn can upset the normal function of your band. 8Drink enough fluids during the day.Drink at least six to eight glasses of fluids per day.Many banded people drinl a great deal more.As the body burns off fat, it creates waste product that the fluids are critical to providing a channel for excretion through the urine. 9Drink only low-calorie liquids.Drink only low-calorie liquids. Water, tea and coffee without milk and sugar and other non-caloric beverages, are acceptable.Crystal Light can be a satisfying alternative.Consuming carbonated beverages are for the most past not encouraged. 10Exercise at least thirty minutes a day.Phyiscal exercise consumes energy and sustained exercise increases your metabolism.You can start off slowly with walking and using a pedometer walk 10,000 steps a day and then add more strenouse exercises, such as joining a dance class, yoga, or wahtever is of interest to you that will offer you vigorous exercise. Best wishes!

Correct! Here are the basic Bandster rules: Ten Rules for Success - Guideliness and Nutrition 1Eat only three small meals a day.Once properly adjusted - you require only small amounts of food to reach fulliness.By eating three meals a day, you will fill your pouch, feel full, then allow enough time to empty it to feel hungry again.You only need to fill the pouch three times a day with appropiate food to give the body adequate nutrition. 2Eat solid foods, slowly, and chew thoroughly. (approximately 15 to 20 times a bite).The brain takes 20 minutes to detect that the stomach is full.Chewing thoroughly will permit you to eat adequate amounts of food, without food clogging the stoma.A properly adjusted band will permit you to eat only a third of the volume of food you were used to eating. 3Stop Eating as soon as you feel full.Because yo uare eating slowly, you can detect when your pouch tells you that it is full.Stop. Push the plate away. Just because you CAN shove more food in, doesn't mean you should.Remember your band can be at risk if you push it to it's limit. 4Do not wash down your solids with liquids.Liquids creates a slurry of food and allows it to slip down the stoma faster, which defeats the goal of getting the pouch full in order for the hunger signals to turn off.Don't drink within 20 minutes before a meal, and an hour after. (Some recommend 2 hrs after a meal.) 5Do not eat between meals.If you eat three regular small meals of solid foods and are properly adjusted, you should not be feeing hungry.You may have psychological hunger, also called head hunger and emotional hunger, but it is not real hunger.Learn ways to examine possible causes and ways to defeat it. 6Eat only good quality foods.Cereals: Prefer gains like beans, lentils or whole wheat bread or oats.Vegetables: Prefer broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, eggplants, leafy greens (spinach, collard greens), mushrooms, onions, peppers, oumpkin, tomatoes, and winter squash.Fruits: one piece for breakfast, one at lunch, and one for dinner. Try apples, apriocots, blueberries, cantaloupe, grapefruit, kiwi, oranges, plums, pears, watermelon, and mango. Avoid canned fruit, dried fruit, and coconut.Meat, poultry, and fish: Serving size=deck of cars; most people need two or three servings a day. Prefer light meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, legumes, egg whites. Avoid hotdogs, bacon, peanut butter, sausage, duck, fried poultry.Milk, cheese and yogurt: Two servings a day, three if you are a teenager or pregnant or a lactating woman. Prefer nonfat and 1% milk, low fat cottage cheese, nonfat yogurt. Avoid whole milk and whole cheese whole yogurt, milk shakes and ice cream.Fat: you do need fat. Three servings a day is good. Prefer avocado, veg. oil, almonds, and nuts. Avoid maynnase, lard, butter and margarine. 7Avoid fibrous foods.Certain vegetables (asparagus) and fruits (pineapple) and some meats contain many fibers that may clog the LAP-BAND, even if they are thoroughly chewed. Eating these can only cause regurgitation and vomiting. This in turn can upset the normal function of your band. 8Drink enough fluids during the day.Drink at least six to eight glasses of fluids per day.Many banded people drinl a great deal more.As the body burns off fat, it creates waste product that the fluids are critical to providing a channel for excretion through the urine. 9Drink only low-calorie liquids.Drink only low-calorie liquids. Water, tea and coffee without milk and sugar and other non-caloric beverages, are acceptable.Crystal Light can be a satisfying alternative.Consuming carbonated beverages are for the most past not encouraged. 10Exercise at least thirty minutes a day.Phyiscal exercise consumes energy and sustained exercise increases your metabolism.You can start off slowly with walking and using a pedometer walk 10,000 steps a day and then add more strenouse exercises, such as joining a dance class, yoga, or wahtever is of interest to you that will offer you vigorous exercise. Best wishes!

I am going to Atlanta this week and possibly over to Moody, AL -- thought it might be nice to meet. I will PM you my cell # if you wish to get together - or you can PM me yours. I think you are line 15mins or so away - correct?

SherryW -- Have you seen the Paula Deen episode she makes Bread pudding? Oh my goodness -- she uses hot and fresh Krispy Creme Doughnuts - and of course can't resist eating some as she makes it. WARNING - food PORN: Bill Nicholson's Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding with Butter Rum Sauce Recipe: Recipes: Food Network

No drinking at all -- 15minutes prior and 1 hour after eating.

Restriction - when you eat you feel the restriction of the band not allowing you to gulp food - must be thoroughly chewed - small bits work best and eat slowly and purposely, or you will feel tightness, (if you continue-stages-->)mouth will fill with slime - and can become severe and painful - maybe even resulting in coming back up and out. You will have restriction immediately after surgery due to swelling of the stomach from being irritated-then for most goes away. 6 week usually doc does a fill and you should have some restriction - but could take a few more fills to get to the the sweet spot -- I read somewhere majority get there in 3 or less, a generally all within 6 fills. It took me almost 6 months to get to consistant sweet spot. As you lose fat - especially in the beginning it will reduce restriction and you need a fill (or typically) Some have never needed a fill after surgery - or only 1 and are fine for a year or more. This is very different for each and everyone of us. Best wishes -- keep the questions coming.

Where in AL are the two are you located?

Do you have a friend that could come and stay at least 3 or 4 days? Or someone you can go stay with? That would be the best deal.

Jenn - I understand completely where you are at. For me-weekly I reflect on my past week and results and determine WHAT I need to concentrate more on - make a list of 3-5 items that I will concentrate on in the coming week. Then review the list daily - journal my food intake as well. Examples: 1. Getting in my 90gr of protein daily 2. Getting in my 64oz of water daily 3. No snacks - 3 meals only. 4. No drinking 15 minutes before; or 1 hour after eatting. 5. Exercising daily Best wishes -- you are not alone!

Welcome -- you are at the best place for support, information and wealth of new friendships.

I was in and out the same day. Some insurance requires overnight stay, or if there is any questions that they want to continue observations. How cool is that. I will be in Atlanta next week and maybe visit Moody AL. How far are you from Moody or Atlanta?

Did you get it for the 69.95 sale price? or pay full 99.95?