Marimaru

There is a difference between "full" and "satisfied". You are likely not to ever feel "full" again, unless you load up on Water before your meal, or other liquids. "Satisfied" is more a feeling of "Okay, I don't need anymore". However, getting stuck in the first couple of bites (assuming you are chewing to mush in the first place) could be what we call "first bite syndrome". Probably 70% of my meals cause this for me. The first couple of bites get stuck right away, and I have to wait it out until they go down, and then I can have a comfortable meal. If I push it when those first couple of bites aren't moving, I'll PB, almost guaranteed. If I wait, 90% of the time, they'll go down without a problem, and I am able to have a good normal bandster sized meal and be 'satisfied'. Sometimes starting on something like a cup of low cal Soup will help this not happen, or I'll even get stuck on the soup for a couple of minutes, but it's liquid/mushy so it doesn't take as long as if my first bites were solids. Hope this helps.

Sorry, I misunderstood about the piercings and who had them. Either way, 5 is too young for any kind of diet unless a doctor tells you otherwise. And the mixed signals this really is irritating I'm sure "Here, have a third bowl of ice cream, oh, but you know, you really are getting a belly". I hope you are able to get them to understand to some degree...

Marc, welcome! I hope that you are able to find the support here that you need!! *hugs*

I couldn't really get into the sparkpeople thing either. The fitday downloadable client is GREAT! Kathy, in that, you can combine your ingredients into custom foods.

Hm. My antibiotic after surgery WAS a capsule. He said IF I have trouble, to open it up and dump the liquid in water and take it that way (which I did, because I was scared), but never said anything about not taking them in the future.

Even if your doctor is far away, you still need to go. It sounds like bad heartburn/reflux to me. If you are in that much pain and you think it is related to your fill, you need to at least call your doctor so he can rule it out, or tell you to go in for an unfill. Feel better.

Your doctor may not want to do the band surgery when he ties your tubes, because of the liquid/mushy/solids diet progression while you are breast feeding. If you aren't breast feeding, it might not be such a concern. Also, I don't think they'll do a procedure that requires general anesthesia when you will be breastfeeding either. Can't hurt to ask your doctor though.

Me me!! I've been diving once since I've been banded, and I am going again next month. The diving doesn't appear to cause me any issues, but the flying seems to. Now, I'm not sure if it's the actual flying (cabin pressure, altitude changes, dehydration), or just the general stress of traveling. Diving in hawaii, I was able to eat the fresh pinapple they give you in between dives. yummy!

Congratulations!! You look great!

maybe overcook the brown rice a little so it's a little softer?

I'm 2 years out, and while I'm a little frustrated at being a part of the turtle tribe, I would do it again in a heart beat.

I think you need to demand respect from your parents when it comes to your kids. Your dad should have never let your daughters get their belly buttons pierced if you'd already said no, and like everyone else has said, a 5 year old should never ever be told she is fat. Just tell them they can't see the kids until they can respect your wishes. When the kids ask why, tell them it's because grandma and grandpa aren't following the rules.

Diane, I hope you hear good news from your doctors and you are able to get this taken care of as soon as possible! *hugs*

I can see going to a consult before you get to goal, but I also see what you are saying about making sure you are at goal or even a little lower than it. Also though, are the people who are really close to goal, can't seem to lose more weight, and the ps would take off the lbs they can't lose and take them to goal. For me, I know I am going to want a breast lift when I get to goal, but other than that, I want to wait it out and see how much it comes back on it's own. I don't think it'll get nice and tight by itself, but if I let it tighten up as much as it's going to, I'll need less work done.

LOL, em, that's exactly what I thought when I made mine!

There are alot of doctors who seem to charge that fee, but there are also a number of doctors who don't. Is there another doctor in your area that you feel comfortable with? The whole program fee thing kinda rubs me the wrong way. I don't understand why they don't tack it on to what goes to insurance.

Do something if you can. Anything to keep your hands occupied. If you don't crochet, try taking it up. It took me hours just to get a line done and during that time I wasn't eating, because my hands were busy and I didn't even realize how much time had passed.

I have 15 lbs to lose to be in wonderland. I'm a turtle, so it's probably silly of me to try and join, but I am going to anyway!

desertmom- for the weighing thing, if you CAN HELP IT, try not to weigh until the end of the week... OR, work on getting to the point where only one day a week where you weigh yourself "counts". I weigh myself ALL THE TIME, but only Sunday mornings "count". If I'm up 3 lbs on Wednesday it doesn't mean anything if I'm back where I was on Sunday. Same goes for down too tho. The trick to this actually working is that you can't let an 'up' affect your mood for the day. It only counts on Sunday, and you have to know your body is going to fluctuate, etc. Something else to consider, is that it's likely that your body is going to fluctuate a bit whenever you make a drastic diet change. If you were low carbing, it makes sense your body would be thrown a bit out of whack with the change to this diet. The same would probably be true if you reversed it. Likely any of us who are doing this will find that we go up a couple of pounds when we 'quit' too. As for not feeling well the other night, that could also be your body kind of freaking out with the big diet change. But if it lasts for too long you should probably consider having it checked out.

I waited until I was 6 weeks out. Alcohol can be a major stomach irritant, and since you are on liquids it's highly likely to affect you much faster than it would if you could eat real food. I would definately follow ALL of the rules to the letter for the first 6 weeks after surgery. It's supposed to be the healing phase, and you don't want anything to go against your healing.

I am an apple, AND I have a very square shaped face. I've lost 65 lbs from my high of 280, and the only way I have a double chin now is if I look downward, lol.

"It's certainly better than the crap I'd eat otherwise. Yes, even banded." Me too, lol. That's why I'm giving this a shot. I really really really really REALLY want to get to onederland!!

I drink right up until before my meal starts. I try and Water load on a glass or two of water, or iced tea. I do sometimes drink with my meals, and I haven't really found it to make me hungrier sooner, but with the restriction I have, it can actually mean trouble if I try and drink while I'm eating.

Penni, I don't really have anything to say, other than to offer support. *hugs*

I thought about looking for a councelor that dealt with eating issues, but then I decided just to go with a regular councelor. I figure I'll get a handle on what is BEHIND the eating issues, and if they don't go away after that, then I'll tackle them. I've been going for about 6 weeks now and it's already helped alot. On the one hand, we're stirring up stuff that I had all nicely put away to never be touched again, but on the other hand, hopefully I can get rid of it so it's just not there anymore!