NancySmiles

the key is in the CHEWING and EATING SLOW!!! I have been learning this ALOT lately...even after 7.5 months!!

I hear that God doesn't give you more than you can handle....and it's true. H truly knows how strong you are and it's only a test.....sounds to me like you are passing with flying colors!!! Even though it doesn't seem so right now...there is an end in sight!!! And you have definitely earned your angel wings!!! Not many can do what you are doing without going totally insane!!! And to lose 6 pounds after quitting smoking, driving 1200 miles with your mother in law, and going through a funeral and taking care of all that!!?!!?!? HOLY COW!!! You actually really deserve sainthood!!! The 6 pounds will go away PLUS more after all this stress is gone....and you will be much better for it!!! Your mother-in-law is going through all the typical stages of grief and once she is back on her own and with people her own age, she will start to do for herself again....and will feel better about herself.... She needed someone to take it out on and unfortunately...we only hurt the ones we love....she WILL remember all you've done for you....may not be right now...but she will! hang in there Babs....you can do this and WILL!!! Hugs.... Nancy

OMG!!! You are hilarious!!! You should be a writer!!! how about for the Slim Fast or Atkins commercials??? Then Blue Bell would not stand a chance!!! I am with you too..ice cream is only ONE of the many things I absolutely CANNOT bring into the house.....!!! And won't....ask me in a year....see if I feel the same...if I do....then I consider this surgery a total success!!!....which i feel it is anyway!!! N*

Hi Ladies....I was banded on 9/24/04 and have to say that the surgery is a piece of cake (low fat of course) :-) and the part abotu the tube....well they always intubate you when you have any kind of surgery where you will be asleep. It's inserted once you are asleep and removed before you even wake up, so you don't feel a thing! You're in for less than 24 hours and will not even be hungry after if you can believe that!!! I've lost 75 lbs so far and feel great!!! No regrets at all!!! It was the beast thing I did for myself!!! And this website is awesome!!! A great help! If you have any questions, please feel free to email me! Nancy

I've been using a combination of all of it....prune juice, baby prunes, Benefiber, etc.; but normally one cup of coffee in the morning does it for me!!! Normally...is the key word...not anymore! Watch out with the laxatives.....You can be in some serious trouble with them.....not to mention PAINFUL!!! I called my gastro guy and he prescribed Glycolax which is a very mild, slow acting, laxative; kind of a mild Benefiber. It takes a few days...but when it finally works it is very easy...no pain at all. Good luck!

I was told to have about 1200-1400 calories per day. Our Dietitian gives us a copy of the ADA diet so it is based on the number of grams of fats, carbs, and Proteins, and dairy you have per meal. I agree with you Pat. I have an easier time with crackers too!!! And I love crunchy so it's hard for me to control the portion; but my band lets me know! I've tried a half sandwich with turkey and whole wheat bread and still cannot make it through 2 bites. Good luck!

oops....that was 4 - 8 oz. glasses - Yikes!!! I'd be floating....!!! What do they say about hope? HOPE FLOATS??? sorry...best I can do today! Have a great evening!!!

Breakfast: coffee w/FF SF flavored cream 1 Ensure High Protein (using 1 liquid protein per day per doc - too much restriction but he does not want to unfill me till I see him next week....may not need to now.) Lunch: refried beans - 1/2 cup 1/2 cup canned spinach water Snack (having late dinner) 1 rice cake 1 tsp peanut butter 1/2 tsp SF jam Dinner: not sure yet Calories: Water: 4-80z glasses so far

Everyone is different....it's hard to say what the average is...my doc says 1 1/2 to 2 lbs per week is great! Good luck and don't be in a hurry! :-) it took us a long time to get this way! N*

Check out the Website if you haven't already! dinner, Entertainment & Dancing. Join us and help make the FIRST ANNUAL MICHIGAN BANDSTOCK 2005 a success! Come Celebrate your life-changing decision with local and long-distant friends. See you there! Nancy

Check out the Website if you haven't already! dinner, Entertainment & Dancing. Join us and help make the FIRST ANNUAL MICHIGAN BANDSTOCK 2005 a success! Come Celebrate your life-changing decision with local and long-distant friends. See you there! Nancy

You're in my thoughts and prayers....as well as Jacob and the families and friends of both young girls....hoping that they will find comfort in the memories during their sorrow.........

I actually thought I might be able to stop my Aciphex that I take for GERD...but spoke to others who have lost weight, had the band, etc, and they still take it. So now it all makes sense why ....thank Sarah!

PS - I used BOOST HIGH PROTEIN....LOVE the chocolate!!...and recently bought some protein poweder supplements to add to my coffee etc...

I have a few questions: 1) Will the gas ever go away? YES most definitely!!! Byt the time you read this it is probably gone!!! 2) Has anyone used any of the scar therapy treatments to shrink/smooth the scars? If so, what brand and how soon should I begin using it? I've never tried them...was more concerned with them healing and the scab falling off so I could go back to Water aerobics back then.... 3) Does anyone know where I can get any good multi-Vitamins in liquid form? Try this site http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/search/query.jhtml?q=liquid+vitamins&x=16&y=15&intsource=main I've heard good things about the "Source of Life" Liquid....read the ingredients...it will amaze you! 4) I am still debating over whether to tell friends and co-workers about the surgery (only my immediate family knows). Does anyone regret telling friends about it? The only people who knew BEFORE the surgery were my family and my boss (didn't want her to think it was a life-threatening surgery and she was/is very supportive!).... I was still in the "fat person" mind set...always thought that when I told people i was on a diet or anything, i was set up for immediate self-sabotage....soooooo...I waited till after...and when people started noticing that i was losing and I was convinced they would think of it as a good thing....if they asked how i did it...I told them...didn't want to lie....there is only one person I work with who i feel uncomfortable around...because she was convinced WW was the answer....and it worked...till i gained it all back and then some...well you know all that....but she kinda stays away....luckily i dont work closely with her. sweet gal and it makes me feel awkward....but that was the only one. now everyone who asked knows and I also speak at the seminars and am in charge of the support group so it keeps me motivated.....no regrets at all...was the best thing i could have done for myself! Thanks in advance for your support in answering any of my questions. This website has been a Godsend.

only 15 more to go!!! HOW AWESOME IS THAT!!!

I do the same as Babs....I can eat toasted wheat bread; have had only one or two half-sandwiches since banding as they are difficult; can eat crackers and breadsticks with no problem. I even tried lavash, pita, and tortillas and forget it....too doughy... I am fine with crunchy things too.....but i love crunchy anyway!!! Nancy

Hey Christina! Looks like I just missed you.......again. I hope you get some answers at the office this week. Would probably check to make sure he is there. Either is a good choice to talk to. Let me know how it goes. Left you a couple voice messages so hope we can hook up soon! Take care! Nancy

I started strength/weight training after my 2 week checkup....and was fine. Normally do water aerobics but my scars had not completely healed yet.....so I did a 10 week session with a perconal trainer while I waited.

I take the candy to work and leave it in a central location in the middle of the building. It only lasts SECONDS there!!! So if I have any left after the basket filling, there it goes.....!!! Can you give it away???

Announcing the FIRST ANNUAL LAP BAND REUNION being held by Dr. Hawasli & Dr. Meguid of the Eastside Surgical Specialists. Wednesday, May 18, 2005 6:00 - 9:00 PM St. John Hospital & Medical Center on Moross Rd at Mack in Detroit Auditorium & Lower Level Conference Room Please RSVP by May 6, 2005 Please bring a guest of your choice Send your Before and After/Current Photos all 586-774-8811 Join us to Celebrate our 1st year of healthy lifestyle changes. E-mail: NancySmiles@gmail.com

I went to see my doc this past Monday because I had trouble with proteins (meats mostly) going down and needed to get them in. Chicken, beef, pork, anything. I chewed till I was blue in the face but they got stuck. I know at the beginning, they said that if you have a problem with sticking your esophagus will swell a little from the problem and to wait a bit before trying again. I have been losing consistently so he did not want to do an un-fill. He said to try liquid protein supplements once a day or so for another month...and see how that goes. Plus I really needed to take the time to eat....i was eating way too fast. I am so glad I waited....I have been taking more time eating (reading books or magazines while I eat) and i have been fine all week! I do drink a Boost when I need to. Also heard that you have lots more restriction in the morning for some reason, so I try to have oatmean or a yogurt, something that goes down easy. Good luck!

Paula: You must have ESP or something!! I have been asking my daughters to help me choose a new scent. I love the one I wear right now and choosing a new one is so challenging! I purchase my perfumes on www.fragrancenet.com since they have great prices. I love it because they give a description of the KIND of scent it is. So when I look for a new one, I kinda stay in that same category because I like those types of scents. I work in a large health system and always kept my scents light so as not to offend patients, as we were always told. But I found it bothered me too, so I keep it light. Here is an example of my current fragrance from that site: DESIGN HOUSE - Jean Paul Gaultier YEAR INTRODUCED - 1993 FRAGRANCE NOTES - fresh spicy amber, vanilla and wood, an alluring scent RECOMMENDED USE - casual Hope this helps! Also, I get a weekly ad from Marshall Fields and they have samples in it; so I can test them out at my leisure. Good luck! If you find a nice oriental, woodsy, light kinda perfume let me know!!! Nancy

Now I don't feel so RIDICULOUS!!! I have been so dry since surgery.....dry lips, dry skin.....wish the Water i drink all day would get absorbed in the right places!!! good to know it's normal...i think!

Dear Philip ~ Nobody can even begin to understand the pain you are going through ~ but as you said, please feel comfort in knowing that Carolyn was doing exactly what she wanted to be doing on the last day here with you ~ and how many of us can say that? I looked again at her picture and her beautiful smile, happy eyes, and sunshine blonde hair and how young she was. "Blossom"....what a perfectly fitting name for a beautiful young woman who will remain in our hearts forever..... Yes by William Stafford "It could happen any time, tornado, earthquake, Armageddon. It could happen. Or sunshine, love, salvation. It could, you know. That's why we wake and look out -- no guarantees in this life. But some bonuses, like morning, like right now, like noon, like evening." Like "Blossom", Like Carolyn........