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It IS totally unbelievable, isn't it?! The hilarious thing is I'm really still eating the same foods as I was before, but the portions are so-o-o much smaller! I used to use two instant maple oatmeal packets in the morning--and now I'm using 1/8 cup quick oats with 1/4 cup Water and I'm full!! My husband and I used to eat an entire box of Kraft macaroni and cheese as a SIDE DISH for our meals (with maybe 2 - 3 country ribs each) -- likewise with Tuna Helper-- we would eat the entire package for one meal, made with 3 cans of tuna and a package of peas!! And I would be the first one to declare that we weren't eating that unhealthily! The best part is that my husband is now eating much less too, so it's been good for him. But this portion control tool is absolutely fabulous!! :tongue:

Thanks for the hint about the radishes!! And I'm going to find cherry juice for sure! I'm definitely going to try those! About "red meat" though, I don't generally eat red meat--that's why I was baffled! oatmeal for Breakfast, 1/2 can of tuna for lunch generally (last week I had pinto Beans every day for lunch) and dinner was lentils, maybe a piece of chicken and one day I had a rib. Having it in my foot was bad enough--I simply cannot imagine it in my knees!! (My podiatrist did say it only attacks one area at a time, PTL!) I've got meds now--again thanks for all the support everyone--I'm going to try to hobble into work tomorrow...

Well, I'll be the first to admit that I don't drink enough Water to cleanse my system--I never have and I know that I've got to begin drinking plenty! Everything I've read says gout is caused by ingesting too many purine foods, i.e. legumes (beans), organ meats, broths & consummes, yeast, mushrooms, spinach, cauliflower, and also from drinking too much beer. (No, no not me! I drink no alcohol!) The kidneys deposit uric acid crystals around a joint and that's what causes the arthritic inflammation and pain instead of ridding the bloodstream of them. Don't really think it's WLS related--but some bodies (like mine) have a perpensity for it, I guess--and I really brought it on by eating too many legumes and not drinking enough fluids to flush my system. I sure learned my lesson!

Walking on a treadmill is great almost from day one. But I waited to go back to Curves five weeks and to the YMCA seven weeks (and then it was too soon for the Y!) As has been said in many threads, although the incisions outside look like they are healed, the muscles INSIDE have to totally heal too--and that takes a LONG TIME! At seven weeks, going back to weight training felt great the first three times I went--except for the severe pain I had in my side. I was positive I had a hernia! At ten weeks I went back to the surgeon for a fill and discovered it was just my port I was feeling!! It is secured to muscle and I must've been pulling on it--so I waited another two weeks and went back last week--and now it feels much better! (AND I've adjusted my routine to accommodate for the port pulling). So my best advice to you all is to just be patient... Walk on the treadmill all you want but working with weights must wait!!

My surgeon with the Bariatric Center in Greenville does my fills--unsure whether he does them generally or just for his patients...sorry...:biggrin:

Thanks so much for the info!

I was to be on the pre-op diet for seventeen days but I was lucky enough--my surgery was rescheduled and I was only on it nine days! Here's what I would say to you: Try to get a Protein shake in each day (hopefully powder, low carb) which will curb your appetite. Also, if you've begun working out, work out more! After working out, you really don't have much hunger. If you haven't started working out, now is your best time to start!! And at the end of the day--go to bed early--you won't be thinking about and tempted by food!! It is just terrific that you want to begin your new life as soon as possible!!

I can eat things like barbequed ribs (with Sweet Baby Ray's Sauce!) but I make a Buffalo chicken Dip for get-togethers that tears me up! And the first time I had fish (which I'm not crazy about) I slathered on the cocktail sauce and took a big bite------------that was the last time I will EVER have cocktail sauce!!! It burned the whole way down! Well, my calories weren't up that day!!!

All I will say to you, Trish, is be careful when you buy Protein at a store. If you get whey protein concentrate, it has lactose for fillers (I'm lactose intolerant ) and you must blend it up in a blender or it will lump up on you. The most pure protein is whey protein isolate -- and that's all I buy. BUT when I go to the drugstore, the label may say "Whey" but I've found it hard to determine which it is. That's why I buy mine from the Internet, Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, books, DVDs & more and I make sure I get free shipping. There's a gazillion flavors to choose from (my personal fav is belgian chocolate powder) so I buy it in 5 # buckets. If you don't mind the lactose and have a blender, any whey protein will do the trick. These bodies of ours are certainly worth it, and this is for the rest of our lives... :rose:

Great story--you do us proud, Patty! (Loved the "Easy Way Out" reference!)

Sorry about the pre-op diet, but almost all of us had to go through it. I was scheduled for 17 days of pre-op diet before surgery but was lucky enough they had an opening for surgery after nine. I'm also sorry to tell you that the last days are not the hardest--because by then you are losing weight and used to the routine--the hardest part at least for me was the first four days! Here's my suggestions: Drink a Protein shake at least once a day (powder if you can, low carb) and if you are currently working out, continue but maybe more often! Working out takes time and afterwards you really don't feel much hunger! And then at the end of the day--go to bed early!! Hey, it's just an answer!

So my question to you is "How long have you been doing this routine in the morning?" I have been working out since 1983 and one thing I find is a constant, if I get too excited about a routine and get into it like you are, I will burn out within six months--and then I have to force myself to get back into it. I'm at four days a week now, two at Curves (30 minutes) and two at the YMCA weight training (1 hour 15 minutes) but I really LOVE the weight training more! I just thought with the upcoming three day weekend, "Hey, I can go to the YMCA on Saturday AND Monday AND Wednesday with Curves twice in between!" But I KNOW myself and I know that if I do, I will get 'burnt' and tire of the routine in a few months--I am safer keeping myself down to four days a week (Friday's I work 10 1/2 hours--banking). So it's great you're getting in all the cardio--but maybe you could just mix it up a bit with a little weight training? Whatever you do, you're doing your body good!!

Hey Reif78, I'm from Slippery Rock!! Do they have any support groups out of Butler Memorial? Would have preferred to go there, but UMPC only had approved surgeons in Greenville and downtown Pittsburgh. It IS a small world!

Hi you guys! I'm from about an hour and 15 minutes north of Pittsburgh!! Had my surgery with Dr. Barkan at UPMC in Greenville Pa--what a professional set of people UPMC has! I too had the six month's visits with the nutritionist as a prerequisite to the approval of UPMC Insurance--but hey, it gave me all the more time to study what my future life would be like! It's great that you all seem to be attending like seminars! (Mine was at UPMC in Greenville..)

Elyssa: I had such difficulty at first, I made up these instructions for anyone who needs it: For the Ticker Factory: go in and create your own ticker (be sure to remember your password!) At the end, highlight everything in the top box (the bb: box), right click and hit Copy. Then come into this site and go to UserCP in the Menu Bar. Go to Edit Signature on the left. Left click in the big box. Then right click and hit Paste. You should see your ticker appear. Be sure to go to the bottom of the page and click on Save Signature. When it comes back, you'll see your ticker at the top of the page. (Then to change it, all you have to do is to double click on the one at the top of the page)...<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> __________________ <o:p></o:p> <o:p> Good luck to you!:tt1:</o:p>

Yes, everyone is so-o-o right about the cost of groceries--you would just be amazed at how little food you would be able to eat! I was also taking Nexium that was costing me $50 a month plus 5 Zantac a day (At $20 for 80, that's another $40 a month I was spending!). So if you can, I would seriously consider being a self-pay (even though if you can get on insurance that covers, might be cheaper and easier!) :tt1:

BUT it IS less the 7.5% of your income everyone, and you have to be able to fill in a Schedule A and beat the deduction the government gives you. To everyone who can, congratulations!!!:pray2:

Wow! A celebrity in our midst!!! I am so proud of how much you have lost and how great you look--I'm sure you did us all proud and we will be looking for that interview this weekend! You are so-o-o right about "taking the easy way out". It's what a lot of people think about WLS. I'm sorry to say I even thought that before I knew what was involved: Five years ago when I first joined our new Curves, they had a "contest" to see who could lose the most inches and the girl who eventually won lost 75 inches altogether--which was almost unbelievable, until I found out she'd had bypass surgery and I actually thought to myself, "Cheater!" Life is full of lessons, isn't it?!!! :pray2:

I am totally with you!! So many people on these threads swear by unjury but to put it simply, I'm not impressed!! I thought the chocolate was bland and the chicken soup is just "interesting"--it's good going down but then it leaves this aftertaste in your mouth. Like you, I'm using the unflavored in sugarfree fatfree puddings--I'll make them up and have one serving each night in place of a shake (I double up on the Protein and put in two scoops). I tried it in Campbell's soup-in-a-can thinking it would be good (and I did NOT make it hot) and it was just nasty! Some people here say they use the unflavored in mashed potatoes and oatmeal (but again, do NOT make them hot or it will lump up). Like you, I bought big containers of chicken soup, unflavored, and chocolate. I finally got the chocolate used up last week but still have some of the others--I WILL use them eventually. Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, books, DVDs & more has a wide variety of whey protein isolate powders (I use belgian chocolate--yummy mixed just in water!) and I always make sure I get free shipping. They also have the canned shakes and I found one called "Zoic" which has just over half the calories of Slim Fast Lo Carb, much less fat, less carbs, and more protein. BUT, a canned shake is a canned shake -- tinny tasting and only good for convenience!! Good luck in your search...

Since I was banded in October, I have had no issues with PB (Productive Burp) or Sliming (Throwing back up with Digestive Enzymes) because I follow the rules--you have to eat slow and chew, chew, chew! I wasn't a real red meat eater before the band and fell right into the protein-rich foods I had loved from before: yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese, tuna, canned chicken, Beans, chili, baked chicken. I have difficulty eating beef, lettuce, pineapple, celery, onions but that doesn't mean I CAN'T eat them--I just have to be extra careful when I do (and I must admit that I generally take the easier way out!) The biggest change in my life is the Protein shake that I have twice a day to ensure I'm getting in the 60 - 80 grams of protein daily that we need. I'm always making sure I have enough whey protein isolate (belgian chocolate--yum!) and buy it in 5# containers. (from Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, books, DVDs & more and I make sure I get free shipping). For me it was a godsend--this band really works!

Yes, my surgeon says we need to get a minimum of 60 - 80 grams of Protein a day. I've counted mine (did a log for three weeks last month) and I'm lucky to get 40 grams in a day through eating just food! My favorite whey protein isolate is belgian chocolate which I mix into Water and I have to tell you, it tastes absolutely delicious!! There are a ton of whey protein isolate products at Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, books, DVDs & more and I always make sure I get free shipping!!! This is for the rest of our lives and my body is worth it! :smile:

I was wondering what your outcome would be--I am SO happy for you!! (And also for the rest of us, there IS hope a diet may correct band slippage). :smile:Thanks and take care of yourself...

Goes to show you--all surgeons are different in their approaches. I'm a "No, didn't have to get" to the B12 question also... And yes, I understood it was for the bypass patients only.

As we get older, I like to think we become wiser! Yes, I agree that the Band is definitely our way to go--much, much, much less invasive! My foods haven't changed a lot--but it really depends on what you are eating right now. Oatmeal or eggs for breakfast--tuna, beans, yogurt, cottage cheese for lunch--chicken, meatloaf, chili, turkey, veggies for dinner. I never was much of a red meat eater--some of the tough foods for me is beef, celery, onions, bananas, pineapple, lettuce--now I'm not saying I CAN'T eat these foods--I just have to work harder if I do (and sometimes I take the easy way out!) The biggest change in my life is the protein shakes twice daily to get in my protein--I'm always making sure I have enough whey protein isolate for a while and buy it in 5# buckets now! My very best to you in this journey...:smile: P.S. Yes, Yes, Yes---it works!!!

Squishee, in looking at your daily intake again, do they stress in the UK that you are not to have liquids with your meals? I'm seeing skim milk (and honey) with your shredded wheat, soup, and stew, all of which are very liquid. Any liquid ingested with the meal will cause the food to "run through" your pouch, not allowing you to feel "full" and basically defeating the purpose of the Band--you will be hungry a lot sooner. Our doctors require that we finish drinking 30 minutes prior to a meal, have NO LIQUIDS WHATSOEVER with the meal, and then not begin drinking again for 45 minutes to an hour after the meal. And besides counting Proteins (at least we should mentally), we also have to watch our "carbohydrate" intake. Good luck to you, m'dear...